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Post by Wysteria Edwin on Oct 31, 2007 1:51:54 GMT -5
A coold breeze brushed against Wysteria's cheek as her legs dangled off the Astronomy Tower ledge. The weather was becoming a bit colder as the last few nights had the smell of fall in the air. The slightly cold but now shivering feeling that makes one think they might smell a fireplace burning wood. She closed her eyes and listened to the night sounds around the castle grounds. The crickets were further away, but the owls seemed closer. The strange but innocent noises she couldn't recognize would make her eyes snap open, scan the area and search for the prickling of her senses which meant that shadows were nearby. But nothing like that came. She hadn't been to the Tower in several weeks since she was actually getting a decent night's sleep for a change and rather enjoyed not having to find a place to wander around in the wee hours of the night.
However, Wyst also had the feeling that she might see Zee again is she traveled up here. And, when hit with the insomnia bat that night, she took it upon herself to make the most of the situation. She found the young man rather fascinating in his own right. Handsome, sure, but that hadn't ever mattered to her. She had seen horrible evil disguised in exotic physical beauty, so she didn't put much stock in appearance. But even if she claimed this, Wyst could not deny a certain...pull she had toward him. But this was more annoying than anything else, the idea that she might be behaving in an irrational manner.
As she heard someone coming up the stairs, she made no effort to turn around as a small smile spread across her face. She knew who this had to be.. Wyst heard the door open and someone enter the tower.
"I would call you predictable, but then I would be saying the same about myself," she said without turning around.
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Zane Lucifer Bishop
Slytherin
[green]6th Year Slytherin[/green] Elemental Master of Metal
You people all have to learn. This world is going to burn.
Posts: 483
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Post by Zane Lucifer Bishop on Oct 31, 2007 4:04:40 GMT -5
Really? Again? You've returned to the tower every night since you last watched her leave it. What is it you're hoping for? She hasn't been there in weeks. Can you not try and seduce her when you meet in the halls?
Not every night Zee told his reprimanding thoughts. He had made his way to the top of the astronomy tower on the vast majority of the nights that had passed since he last spoken with Wysteria alone up there, but not every night. He pushed the bothersome thoughts aside. Why was he even questioning his motives? Of course he wanted to grow close to the girl so that she could be his. So that he could take his pleasure in breaking her. She was strong. It would take time, and it would be so sweet when he finally accomplished it.
But then why did he feel such a desire to see her? He had sown the seeds. She would think of him, at least occasionally. He didn't need to speak with her more than occasionally to ensure the seeds were flourishing. Why then did he eagerly rush up the steps so often hoping to find her sitting there, her legs dangling over the edge and the wind making her hair sway just slightly? Why?
He shook his head violently, pushing away the confusion. He didn't often come upon questions he didn't have an answer to and was not pleased by the sensation. That's when he caught it. Just a slight whiff. Unmistakable. It was the scent of jasmine. It was the scent of Wysteria.
He was already at the base of the Astronomy Tower, and now he bounded up the steps. He slowed as he neared the top, back to a normal pace. He took a deep breath before pulling the door open.
"Well we both know you're not that, so clearly I must not be either. Splendid, these little similarities we keep finding between ourselves."
Shutting the door softly, Zee strolled to the edge right beside her. He did not sit however, instead turning his back on her and walking along the ledge, looking out over the grounds. He'd had an interesting episode out there. Perhaps it would come up at some point that night. No need to rush it though, or mention it at all unless it felt an opportune moment. He was certain they could spend quite some time up there making the observations they often did about each other. He turned and walked back toward her, enjoying the role reversal, as last time she had been the one pacing.
Though he may mention his common expeditions to this very spot over the last several weeks at some point, for now he would pretend he hadn't been so eager to meet her again.
"Insomnia? Pity. Is this your first bout with it lately or has it been recurring frequently since out last late night encounter? Or, is there some other reason you are out of bed and enjoying the high altitude this night? Curious to see if I could handle another dangerous creature perhaps?"
He timed his strides perfectly so as to turn away from her as the last words escaped his lips, leaving her unable to see the wide grin he had little doubt she knew he was wearing.
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Post by Wysteria Edwin on Oct 31, 2007 17:14:54 GMT -5
Wysteria watched him pace the ledge while she wore a small but amused smile; he was aware of the change in their positions or else he wouldn't have done it so quickly. She hesitated for a moment as he hinted about handling another dangerous creature. For a flickering instant she thought he was insinuating something, but Wyst quickly rationalized it as him playing a little joke on her. Not that it was anything new, he seemed to enjoy the annoyed smirk that appeared on her face when he said something in his slightly theatrical manner. She laughed softly for a moment before answering him.
"Yes I'm sure you'd love another go at a grindelow, or perhaps a giant spider might be more to your liking?" she said, looking up at the stars. She paused, thinking about her original sense of intrigue when she had first commented to him about the dangerous creatures. "As for insomnia...yes, tonight I found it a bit impossible to sleep. However, I've been sleeping quite soundly for the past few weeks so I haven't been up here in a while."
"You know, Ally's a very smart girl. She was right about you looking a bit too calm and collected after an encounter like that. If I didn't know any better I'd say that wasn't your first time with a creature that threatened you in some way or another." Wysteria said this casually as she began swinging her legs from the ledge again, enjoying the way the wind caught her robes and the black material made its soft rippling noise. She was anxious to hear his reply; wondering how much he would reveal and whether any or all of it would be the honest truth. Wyst had suspected there a sort of darkness in those brown eyes, but had no idea what it meant, only that it was there. She could sometimes pick up on it in other people, but she also thought she might just be associating him a bit too much with the alumni of his house.
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Zane Lucifer Bishop
Slytherin
[green]6th Year Slytherin[/green] Elemental Master of Metal
You people all have to learn. This world is going to burn.
Posts: 483
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Post by Zane Lucifer Bishop on Oct 31, 2007 17:57:10 GMT -5
Continuing his repetitive route, Zee shrugged at her first statement. He wouldn't mind another grindylow, though the second suggestion did not entice him much. A giant spider would be more threatening, but also less fun as it's alien features wouldn't necessarily contort in pain in a recognizable way. He also had a mild case of arachnophobia, but he wasn't about to confess that.
Pretending to stifle a cough with a hand raised to his mouth, Zee hid the knowing grin that spread involuntarily when she reported on her lack of insomnia lately. He himself had spent many hours at the top of those stairs waiting to see if she would appear rather than simply checking to see if she were already there. Yes, he'd been quite certain that she hadn't returned. It was unlikely that he'd simply missed her.
At her "offhand comment" about his experience with defending himself, he paused in his stride, deliberately showing hesitation. It was going to take some brainpower to make the web he would weave around her believable without in any way contradicting the lies that he had told to D'rorah. His pause however threw off his balance slightly and he teetered over the edge before managing to plant both feet solidly. Clearing his throat, he walked back to her a little further from the edge than he'd been pacing and sank gingerly to a sitting position beside her. He seemed more unnerved, though only slightly, than he ever had before around her. After a moment he offered a grin that was intentionally less convincingly confident than those he typically wore. It had to seem as though his mask were slipping, when in truth he was only revealing another mask.
"Dear woman, you can't just open up the book of my life in the middle and start reading. You won't make heads nor tails of anything. Now as for future bouts with danger, I was thinking maybe something more like . . . I dunno, a badger. I hear they can be quite vicious when they feel threatened, especially the females."
His grin grew mischievous again. It was an obvious attempt to redirect the flow of the conversation he knew. It was thus by design. He expected she would either shrug off his annoying joke and press on, or grow slightly aggravated at which point he could apologize and offer her the "truth."
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Post by Wysteria Edwin on Oct 31, 2007 19:05:12 GMT -5
Wysteria wondered for a moment whether he was truly uncomfortable on the subject of dangerous creatures, or if he has simply avoided the question to make her mad. She gave a simple shrug before standing herself, although not pacing. Wyst made few turn on the spot where she was, almost indicating that she might begin walking. She wondered how it would work if they were walking and met at the same spot. Turn around, or try to maneuver around one another? A small smirk spread across her mouth and she looked down at the grounds to hide it, letting her black hair fall in front of her face. Not wanting to allow too much time to lapse after his comment, she forced the smile away and turned back to face Zee.
"A badger? Perhaps, but even if I did open a book in the middle I'm sure I could find something of substance. Or are you such a complicated creature that you defy all logic and cannot tell one story about yourself without it confusing me beyond belief?" she asked, cocking her head to the side a bit and smiling. She was trying to hide her annoyance at him; the fact was he almost wanted to amp up his on mysterious reputation by avoiding questions. It was infuriating but intriguing, and made Wysteria all the more infuriated that she actually cared. But perhaps if she put something out there, he might respond.
"As for me, animals generally don't like me. I almost always have to go to the hospital wing after practical lesson in Care for Magical Creatures. That's why I'm not taking the NEWT level class this year--I got tired of breaking things." Wysteria said this with a smile on her face, but she was hard pressed to hide every bit of the resentment in her voice. It wasn't toward the animals....but toward herself. She had always thought they could sense what the other students could not.
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Zane Lucifer Bishop
Slytherin
[green]6th Year Slytherin[/green] Elemental Master of Metal
You people all have to learn. This world is going to burn.
Posts: 483
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Post by Zane Lucifer Bishop on Oct 31, 2007 19:41:23 GMT -5
Disappointing. Either she hadn't caught the reference to Hufflepuff in his badger comment or she had ignored it. Zee suspected the latter, but either way it made for less fun at watching her reaction. Sighing covertly he pushed himself back to his feet and walked away from her, again along the ledge. Falling back into the pattern he'd just abandoned, he turned and walked back. He thought he might have heard some genuine bad feelings in her final statement, but for now decided to laugh it off as if she'd been joking. A soft chuckle was emitted as he shrugged, pausing in his stride about a foot and a half away from her.
"Strange. It's said animals can smell predators. You wouldn't be a predator would you? Luring the poor Slytherin up here to devour?"
He winked as he turned away. That was sure to get a fantastic rolling of the eyes out of her. Honestly he had no clue about the predatory nature that ran through her veins. He had simply come to enjoy her expressions and reactions to such a degree that he often actively sought to bring them forth. As he walked away he shrugged once more and muttered just loudly enough for her to hear him but perhaps not catch every word.
"It wasn't the first time I've been attacked. My father made sure that I had first hand experience with defending myself."
The word "father" was spit out with some level of disgust, though to what extent was difficult to tell with his speech as low as it was.
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Post by Wysteria Edwin on Nov 1, 2007 0:07:23 GMT -5
Wysteria felt her heart rate go up slightly the moment she suggested that she was a "predator". Could he possible know? But...he didn't give any sort of meaningful look her way as if to suggest there was more depth to his comment. She decided to interpret it as Zee just trying to find a new way to ruffle her feathers; in any case she would have to react properly if he had any suspicions. His second phrase, however, made her eyes widen slightly with shock. First hand experience? Wyst had horrible images of a young Zee being forced to defend himself against a cruel faceless man, begging to stop...hurting the innocent. She gulped. Taking a breath, she wondered whether Zee wanted to further pursue the subject or simply let it linger and let him decide to take it further. She imagined it wasn't a comfortable subject to discuss, so Wyst wanted to lighten the mood first and foremost.
"Oh right, ok," she said, laughing a bit. "I think I'll have to retract my statement about you being charming. You're obviously not living up to that expectation," she said with a smirk, taking a small step toward him, swinging her leg a bit in a playful manner. Her eyes weren't serious though, but she enjoyed making a jab at him in return. If he only could know how close he was to unearthing the most secretive part of her...the part no one had seen in full, not even Alessandro. Her mind briefly flashed back to the first time she threw the silver stake so that it killed...she shook her head, bringing herself back to reality. A sickening dread filled her stomach all of a sudden as the smirk she was wearing faded away as her eyes scanned the dark night for some sign that she wasn't crazy. But how can the night tell you anything you don't already know?
Taking another small step toward him, holding her head higher and giving him a more appraising look, she regained the smirk she had earlier. Her jaw clenched for a moment, hoping he didn't think her insensitive for not mentioning his statement about his father. The truth was Wyst was far from insensitive; in fact she was TOO sensitive. She felt things deeply and for a long time, but this had been abated since she learned to regain control over her emotions, distancing herself from the world into an almost dissociative state. This way she could help people and deal with life without letting emotions cripple her. It was hard on occasion, feeling emotions threatening to bubble up and boil over...and her sometimes wanting them to do so.
"I'm sorry if what you say about your father is true," she said, her voice calm. Her face was turned toward him, but her eyes didn't search for his, guessing he might not want to look at her right now. "But you know, you can have the worst childhood in the world. All you have to do is survive it. You seem to have done that quite well. Fathers can often...do what they think is best for you, not necessarily what you need. Hurting the innocent is...despicable in my opinion. But, I'm not trying to insult your father just...letting you know I wouldn't be thrilled about the experience either." She said, leaving her statement at a point that he hopefully knew he could continue on, but not wanting him to feel obligated to do so. There certainly was much more to him than on first meeting...but perhaps she knew that at their first meeting anyway, which was why she returned to the Tower.
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Zane Lucifer Bishop
Slytherin
[green]6th Year Slytherin[/green] Elemental Master of Metal
You people all have to learn. This world is going to burn.
Posts: 483
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Post by Zane Lucifer Bishop on Nov 1, 2007 1:56:32 GMT -5
His pacing had abruptly ended again when he mentioned his father, leaving his back to her. He wanted her to see him, to see him looking vulnerable and open and honest. But He had to act as if he were ashamed of it and didn't want her to see. Sometimes Zee annoyed himself with how well he would play his roles. At her playful words he glanced over his shoulder and smiled weakly. His eyes were shining, the moisture thickly covering them, but no tears slid down his cheeks.
This was excellent. Her expression, her words, the movement of her leg. There was little room for interpretation. She was flirting with him. He was sure of it. She had shared a small bit of herself and believed that he had shared something very painful with her. Yes, she was breaking. She was opening up to him. She liked him.
An involuntary shiver ran through him, the cold breeze very noticeable against the warmth he briefly felt growing from within.
. . . Odd . . .
Dark eyes lowered to the ground at her next words. Obviously people in general would not be thrilled to learn the truth of him. This he knew. It was why he'd taken the time to become so adept at hiding it. He didn't enjoy her words though. Her words condemning all that she thought his father but was, but truly condemned himself. It did not please him to hear that she would think him despicable if she knew. Worse, it very much did not sit well with him that he cared what she thought. His eyes lifted and his mouth opened but no words came forth. He was honestly unsure what to say.
Relax. Things are going splendidly.
"I . . . yes. I suppose I have survived it well. And you? I do not mean to pry, but something I recalled when you impugned my charm just now makes me wonder. I remember that when you confessed me handsome and charming . . ."
A slight twitch at the corner of his lips and a nearly imperceptible raising of his eyebrows betrayed his enjoyment of reliving that admission.
". . . you also labeled me as arrogant and a loner. I . . . forgive me but I find this ironic given your own withdrawn nature. Oh you can converse with others easily enough, much like myself, but you truly share any of yourself with . . . I would presume too much to say with no one, but I know of none that you would say you are close to, other than your own father. You've told me why you do not wish to come to rely on others for support and that you find it works well, but if you go to the trouble of pointing out my own reservedness, it seems unlikely you truly see your own as a virtue."
Once more his eyes found the cold stone they stood upon.
"Perhaps I am wrong, and I do not mean to say that you are deceiving yourself. It seems odd to me though that you would encourage openness in me while denying it in yourself."
She rarely reacted well to his delving into her own character, but as fascinated by him as she was and as much as she wished to understand him, he had no less a desire for her.
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Post by Wysteria Edwin on Nov 1, 2007 2:34:06 GMT -5
Wysteria had to fight the anger or the...whatever was boiling up inside of her at his comments. How did he find just the words to make her feel vulnerable? She clenched her jaw and cocked her head, unsure how to respond for a moment. Why was he always...telling her what she hadn't quite said, then twisting them to make something close to the truth. Infurriating..arrogant...ignorant...
He was calling her on her own statements, which was something that hardly ever happened to her since most people weren't apt to take argument against someone who'd been whispered about. She loved that he wasn't afraid of her at all...although for how long that would last she wasn't sure. Taking a few more steps toward him she allowed her face to soften and gain a smile.
I don't know if I remember asking you to open up more to everyone. Although yes, I am a bit of a loner you could say. But that doesn't mean I can't have compassion. As far as opening myself up goes, I am just a very private person. There are always parts of yourself you don't reveal to others. Even with a best friend, you rarely tell them all of your deep dark secrets. I supposed that's not uncommon?" she asked, moving her foot as if to indicate she was going to take another step forward, but she held it in transit for a moment as it hung dangerously over the edge.
"I think maybe you misunderstood me when if I ever told you to be more open. Maybe..." she paused. Do I really have the guts to say this? Oh come off it, you can't do this but you can stab a distant relative in the heart?...Undead murdering relative...Jeffrey.... Thoughts whirled in her head for a moment as her foot hung in the air hundreds of feet above the ground as she stared at the tip of her shoe.
"Maybe I just want to know more about you. I find you intriguing," she said looking up to stare into his eyes, willing herself not to look away for a few moments before she took her dangling foot and placed it behind her. She pivoted on the spot and turned so her back was to him. She took a few steps away from him, and then turned again so she could see him. Raising an eyebrow she added, "why is it that whenever I ask a question about you it aways ends up being about me and how inconsistent you think I am?"
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Zane Lucifer Bishop
Slytherin
[green]6th Year Slytherin[/green] Elemental Master of Metal
You people all have to learn. This world is going to burn.
Posts: 483
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Post by Zane Lucifer Bishop on Nov 1, 2007 12:24:19 GMT -5
Those deep brown eyes focused on the stone at Wysteria's feet as they both stood in silence. At the sound of her voice they slowly raised again to her face. That beautiful smiling face. Smiling. That he had not expected, and his suspicion was that she had not been smiling during the silence. It was apparent to him that her fear of losing anything she'd come to depend upon had developed into a very real discomfort at letting anyone get even remotely close. It was no doubt quite aggravating for her to see him slowly chip away at the stone she'd encased her heart in. But some part, he believed, was hoping he would succeed. Some part of her wanted him to know her.
A crooked smile appeared when she spoke of her own compassion and privacy. His hands went out to either side in a gesture of apology and non-aggression.
"I never meant to suggest you lacked compassion. I know that you do not. As for your status as a private person, I simply wonder why, as private as you are, still you wish to get beneath the face that I show to the world."
Soon she answered that pondering though. His eyes were locked on hers as she admitted she was interested in him. Or by him. She turned from him and took a few steps away and as she turned back, she saw that his eyes had descended once more. He had been watching her feet as she stepped away, a huge grin having erupted across his face. It seemed almost as if he were trying, and failing, to suppress it.
Oh the possible ramifications of that one simple statement . . .
At her final question he raised his eyes back up to her face, though it looked as though it had taken some effort. The boyish grin upon his face widened slightly as a barely noticeable flush of color entered his cheeks.
"Wysteria, is it so difficult for you to imagine, even with your confessed intrigue with me, that just perhaps I find you equally fascinating and have no less strong a desire to know you?"
His eyes, still gleaming slightly from the moisture that had been brimming in them recently, sought hers, though not too forcefully. He did not press the issue should she decide to look away.
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Post by Wysteria Edwin on Nov 2, 2007 1:32:27 GMT -5
Wysteria allowed his words to hang in silence for a few moments as they reverberated in her head. So he DID want to get to know her. She had surmised as much, but wasn't completely sure that she trusted her instincts. She gave him a sly smile and made another step toward him, swinging her leg a bit as she did so and giving him the indication that she might go backwards or forwards. But when she put her foot in front of the other, her eyes moved from him to the inside of the Astronomy Tower. It looked so different during the day; she thought about how Zee's arrogance had affected her differently in the harsh light of the afternoon. Would everything else about him be different outside of the high tower? She turned her attention back to the stars and decided to ignore the idea for the time being.
"Well then we have a bit of a problem," she said, squinting at the stars, "we both want to get to know each other but we're both closed off to other people. I guess it comes down to whether you'll actually answer my questions about you or I'll reveal something equally devious about myself. Although...you have already told me about your father," she said, turning to him and giving Zee a small smirk, not really knowing what else to say on the subject. Wysteria wanted him to tell her about how he was able to stay so calm during the underwater creature's attack. But he had avoided it earlier...what to do...what to do....
"So, we have the same goal, the same objective. But also the same opposition to our goals," she said matter-o-factly. Wysteria took another step toward him and folded her arms as a question cam to her that might help her to decide how much Zee could know. She had asked other students the same thing when she thought about telling them her secret. It never immediately followed a confession, but sometimes it did after several weeks.
"What's the one dark creature you're most frightened of? Surely that's not too inquisitive...I already know your greatest fear anyway." Wysteria said, giving him a sly smirk and raising an eyebrow. Making him see this as a game might make him more receptive to her...and would dislodge suspicions about why she had asked this particular question.
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Zane Lucifer Bishop
Slytherin
[green]6th Year Slytherin[/green] Elemental Master of Metal
You people all have to learn. This world is going to burn.
Posts: 483
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Post by Zane Lucifer Bishop on Nov 2, 2007 3:41:57 GMT -5
Can you actually not stop smiling? That's a little pathetic. And why are you reacting like this? This was your goal, what you were expecting, is it not?
The broad grin upon Zee's face widened slightly more as she stepped toward him. She seemed quite receptive to the idea of them getting better acquainted, and aside from his nefarious purpose in wanting her to trust him, he found he had not at all been lying when he expressed his own desire to know her. He was truly quite entranced by her, though he continued to deny it to himself. His hand grasping his chest as if shocked, Zee widened his eyes in a caricature of surprise when she pronounced him closed off to others.
"When have I ever claimed to be a private person or refused to answer a question about myself?"
His smile took on the mischievous bent it often held, as he knew as well as she did that while he may not have bluntly refused any question, he had demonstrated a remarkable ability to deflect them. Zee kept his eyes relatively unfocused, not wanting to focus on her face, drinking in her entire self. Every movement, so graceful. Every word a melody. It had unquestionably been worth his trouble to grow this close to her, and would be just as worthwhile to endure the resistance he expected would continue.
"Ah, so you've decided to take me up on that offer to answer any question you posed about me. As you wish."
He rubbed the thin stubble on his chin , his gaze drifting upward as he considered the inquiry. He honestly wasn't sure. He could think of numerous creatures he had no desire to face, that would almost certainly be the swift and painful death of him. He found most such creatures rather interesting from an academic standpoint though and didn't feel as though he really feared them any more than he would a powerful wizard. He decided this was as good an answer as any he might fabricate.
"Well, a basilisk or a nundu are immensely powerful creatures that no doubt would be the end of me, yet I could just as easily fall before a dark wizard's curse or even strike my head on a stone while diving from a tree into the lake and drown. Some day I will die, and while I would very much like that day to not come swiftly, I think it somewhat silly to go about fearing it. Dementors are horrifying true, but my patronus is powerful and I feel little concern that I shall ever suffer their kiss. Werewolves I think are somewhat barbaric and vampires are . . . well, rather fascinating really. I've never met one but I've read a great deal. Did you know their eyes glow blue when they hunt? It must be quite a site. But I'm losing focus of my goal. In all honesty, I am most reluctant to confront boggarts. It may seem silly since a simpler spell than a patronus charm can nullify their power, but they . . . They create and feed on fear. It doesn't matter how brave you are, how few things frighten you, still a boggart will know and it will strike you where you are weakest. That to me is something I would rather not endure."
He was looking at her again as he finished, shrugging at the end of his explanation in a nonverbal admission that it wasn't a terribly heroic answer.
"And what about you my dear? What do you fear?"
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Post by Wysteria Edwin on Nov 2, 2007 18:35:31 GMT -5
Wysteria made little movement when Zee went down the laundry list of dark creatures that could possibly cause fear in others. The basilisk for sure, and even the dementor she was a bit surprised about him not being afraid of since that usually topped the list of other wizards she knew. His mention of vampires caused a small fraction of a movement in her head as she looked toward him more and tried to read his facial expressions. It was very hard to do precisely in the moonlight, but she was able to learn a good deal about his attitude from them by his speech. Fascinating? Yes....she had met a few vampires in Hogsmeade who were pleasant to be around, but that was probably because the young males would never look to her to drink blood and so she never had a reason to fear them. She knew something about how they could smell mixed bloods from a distance.
The fact that Zee had read about her kind made her excited and nervous, since that could be a good thing or a bad thing should she ever reveal herself. Some people were a little too fascinated by vampires and always asked her to show her fangs and bite their neck. It was annoying really, like she was some sort of side show attraction to be gawked at and paid money to see. But then there was the other reaction...fear. A person's eyes would get wide, they'd take a step back and pull out their wand. She could understand it somewhat if she was a true undead, but only being a mixed blood made her unable to spread the gene change in others except with offspring. She angled her head to the side as she looked at Zee, wondering which type of annoying he would turn out to be.
When he finally settled on being afraid of a boggart, Wyst was surprised. She had never really though about being afraid of something that should be easy to defeat. Although if the things you fear are fresh in your mind and keep coming at you...yes, that would be very hard to deal with. Although usually people that had difficulties with boggarts carried heavy burdens and their anxieties were at the forefront of their mind, like during times of war or sickness. Wyst wasn't sure if this related to Zee...and even less sure she wanted to know if it did.
"So you fear something which will be more psychological harm than physical harm," she said, nodding slowly as she affirmed what he had said. "That's very smart of you" she said, simply, moving her foot once more off the ledge and extending it out into the air.
"What do I fear?" she asked, placing her foot slowly in front of the other, trying to make the movement as imperceptible as possible. She took a moment to consider the question. A smirk went across her mouth as she found her answer.
"Paper-wrapped straws. Absolutely terrifying." Wyst said this with a very playful grin on her face as she drew out the words. She waited a few moments, trying to convince him that that was the only answer he was going to get from her. After several seconds, she broke into a dry laugh and shook her head. "Seriously? I'd have to go with dementors. Unlike you my patronus is not particularly strong so...I've still got that fear with them," she said, shrugging a bit. Wyst didn't like admitting faults within herself, so she looked away for a moment as she said this, hiding an annoyed sneer that was only directed at her own insecurities. It was somewhat ironic given her shadow warrior status, but these days she knew that surprises were a regular part of her life.
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Zane Lucifer Bishop
Slytherin
[green]6th Year Slytherin[/green] Elemental Master of Metal
You people all have to learn. This world is going to burn.
Posts: 483
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Post by Zane Lucifer Bishop on Nov 2, 2007 20:33:25 GMT -5
Wysteria's slight indication that she became more interested in what he said and how he said it when he mentioned vampires was not missed by the perceptive Slytherin. It's significance however, did slip by. In Zee's mind it seemed perfectly logical that her interest would increase as he got into his complex answer. No importance was attributed to the timing of her piqued interest.
His cocky grin returned full force as he shrugged once more at her compliment about the intelligence of his fear.
"Why thank you. Perhaps some of my arrogance is well founded after all."
As she pondered the returned question and stepped just a little closer, his smile lost the cockiness, returning to the warmth and sincerity it had held before. He loved that she continued to move closer, seeing a bit of symbolism in each choice she made to step a little closer. A full burst of laughter broke free from him when she quoted his answer from weeks before when she'd asked him his greatest fear. He had not expected it and was excessively diverted. He shook his head, grinning and waiting for her to give her true answer. He waited.
And waited.
After several seconds had passed and she was still simply giving him a playful smile, he put his hands on his hips, looking jokingly stern. Then she laughed and he relaxed. He had been a little concerned that she would pull back. Given her confessions of not enjoying relying on others emotionally, he fully expected she would withdraw at some point and he would have to give chase, but none too forcefully. He was not looking forward to that as he was unsure of the correct balance he would have to strike.
Yet another shrug was his first response to her true answer. He wished to be sympathetic without her taking it as patronizing. His face grew concerned as he looked at her, seeking eye contact once more.
"Do you believe you simply haven't practiced as much as you should with the charm? Or are you concerned it's deeper than that, that perhaps you lack sufficiently happy memories to power a fully corporeal patronus?"
He took a tiny step forward, more a slight shuffling of his feet than a step. Too much aggression he believed would cause her to pull away, but he didn't want to seem disinterested, which truly he was not. He knew there were dementors, and darker versions that he had no rightful name for not so far away, and was not pleased by the notion she may be vulnerable to their attacks.
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Post by Wysteria Edwin on Nov 2, 2007 21:11:44 GMT -5
Wysteria enjoyed seeing Zee's reaction to her repeating his own clever phrase back to him. She simply rolled her eyes as he suggested that some of his arrogance was unfounded. He was able to be so interesting and insightful, then rebound with a snide remark. But even still...it wasn't as annoying as before. But then he laughed out loud. It was good to hear him laugh. She found that she really enjoyed that sound, it was an honest sound; something he wasn't trying to hide or change with a well-placed gesture. A funny twisting in her stomach made her feel strange for a moment...wondering if she liked the laugh a bit too much. She cleared her throat and gave him a small smile, trying to release the thought from her mind. But the seed had been planted.
When he asked the very personal question about whether she didn't have enough happy memories, Wyst's small smile evaporated. She had gone too far. She had crossed the line from casual friend to possible confidant, which would mean trouble for her and possibly him if the Mage found out they were friends. Alessandro was there for any uncomfortable feelings she had, but even he didn't know everything. Wyst didn't know Zee well enough to have this conversation. A frown formed on her face, uncomfortably aware that Zane would see this rare display of open emotion from her and being apathetic about it.
She took a step back. Then another one. And another one. She did all this in a graceful but slow way, taking each step deliberately and with care as if deciding on something. She relived each bad memory, reminding herself of what she contained and why it wasn't good to let it out into the open. Powerful as it was, as much as it allowed her extra strength, instincts and many other good things as a shadow warrior....even though it made her stronger, more resilient and better able to understand those who had a darker side they didn't particularly like...
...Ambivalence really is an art.
"I used to be able to produce a patronus. It's a jaguar," she said in an almost monotone way. "You're quite brave to ask such a personal question. Let's just say I'm not perfect," she said, shrugging and stepping off the ledge and onto the floor of the tower. There wasn't an unkindness to her words, she was rather withdrawn now and she turned back to him and gave him a small smile.
"It's ok, I'm not upset. But I really should be heading to bed soon," she said, walking toward to door. Part of her wanted him to stop her...the other part wanted to flee downstairs to her dorm.
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