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Croquet Lawn
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anyone Mariel figured she'd be on her way out or at least headed that way, but she was going to take the long way around the garden just to make sure she had greeted or welcomed anyone that she needed to before she took her leave. And that way led her to a croquet area. That was.. quaint. Though the more she thought about it, the more the idea warmed up to her. It wasn't something that she would normally think of as an activity in which to partake.. she couldn't remember the last time she had played a game. Maybe when she lived in New Zealand.. But it was kind of a fun idea in a different, unassuming sort of way. Though actually playing a game was somewhat moot. There was no one over here and she wasn't sure she'd want to take the time for one anyway. If her husband was here she was sure she would have talked him into playing a game and the thought of it made her chuckle as she made her way through the playing area. That gave her an idea for another day. |
Aspen fingered the tips of her hair, a new habit since she'd had a surprising, unplanned hair cut as of late. It was becoming decidedly more evident that this was not the sort of scene that Aspen would have come to willingly. There were boats shaped like swans and an actual "station" to make bouquets. The Ministry annual party was romantic this year and Aspen was having none of it. Since Vi had more or less forced her to here, she forced Vi to the only area Aspen could stomach: the grass laid out, where few people were, and they could go violent on some balls. Aspen didn't say anything, knowing that Vi would supply conversation for them both, as she handed her lifetime friend a mallet. |
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She dropped two balls onto the grass, a red one and a yellow one, and then she pointed at them with her mallet. Aspen got to choose her color. Those were the rules. "Okay, I can imagine him doing both those things, but still. We're government employees. We'd do better at a bowling alley with loads of free pizza." Mostly because Vivi actually owned a really embarrassing bowling shirt and she wanted to stuff herself with pizza. "Play by the rules, or play by who can cause the most damage?" |
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She gave her ball a little test hit. This wasn't Aspen's game. West would probably like it. "We could stalk him and find out what he eats, how he eats, when he eats," if Vi wanted. That actually sounded like a good idea. It'd keep Aspen busy and busy was good. "Latter." Aspen reared back and whacked the living daylights out of her ball. |
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"Stalk the Minister?" Vivi considered that as she summoned her ball back to her and hit it again. Do over, y'know. "I suppose if the two of us can get that close to him, this place as a huge breach in security. Is he even here yet?" |
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Stalking the Minister was a terrible idea for many reasons. Aspen's mental list began, once again judging her long-time friend. Was Vi A) willing to do anything Aspen wanted because they were friends, B) pitying Aspen, C) A and B, or D) oblivious to the implications of that suggestion. Aspen quietly summoned her own ball back, then cast a dark glance towards the swans. She was thinking about Vi's suggestion of bowling. "You probably should have brought Max." Instead. |
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The murderous look at the swan had not gone unnoticed, but Vivi wasn't willing to put herself between her best mate and normally very-angry birds. Let them worry about themselves. "I brought you. Deal with it." |
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Aspen lined up and shot her ball towards the swans, then offered her first smile of the night. No explanation was given though, and in fact, if not for the smile Aspen was acting as if nothing happened. She toyed with the spider necklace around her neck. Deal with it. "You could take him home an anti-social bouquet." |
For Enzo Jasmine decided to go to the croquet side of the garden party. She didn't really know how to play but she had seen her dad play a couple of times at fancy parties. That was when she only spent time with her family was when it involved events. Anything else she would be ignored and have to fend for herself or be helped by the maid. But she was hoping to meet someone who knew how to play and teach her. She just waited on the side of the lawn and was observing the other players hopefully someone would introduce themselves or something. If not she would go back to the floral arrangements and see about making flowers. |
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"What does an anti-social bouquet look like, anyway? Flowers hiding inside other flowers?" There was a hoop kind of generally ahead of her, and Vivi smacked her ball in that direction. It pinged off a tree and came nearly all the way back to her. No big. Less walking to do. |
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"Sounds like something Chosen would do." Or, in fact, probably was doing. If Aspen felt up to it later, she'd make sure to steal all the food Legend had in his pants. Just for old time's sake. Aspen didn't hear screams from swan boats. Maybe it was too early still. She'd wait a little while and try again. That hadn't been exactly what Aspen meant, but she latched on to the idea and gave it a go. "All buds, no blooms." It actually reminded her of one of her awful cousins - and that sent her back to black, poisonous (literally) thoughts. "I'm not socializing," she declared, just in case Vi was getting ideas. She'd agreed to go to this work function with Vi for two reasons: 1. Vi and 2. Work. Nothing more and nothing less. |
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"Get another ball," Vivi reminded, since Aspen had gone and chucked hers at the swan boat things. She waited a minute before rolling her ball down the course with her foot, and once it came to rest near a wicket, she knocked it through. Wow, amazing athletic abilities happening right here! "He's all bud," Vivi decided. She liked that. Max bloomed for her. It made sense. "No one's asking you to socialize. Be mad at me for stuff I'm actually doing. Leaving the house. Putting on clothes." |
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Aspen wasn't interested in a partner. Van had told her ages ago to get one, to find one, but she'd never been able to do it. She had thought Kennedy and Chosen, too but in the end, Aspen hadn't attached herself to either. Her trust didn't lend itself to partners. Especially not now. She got another ball. This one was a dark shade of purple. Aspen whacked this one too, no regard at all of anyone else on the grass. They better be constantly vigilant. Aspen also wasn't interested in dating a flower, bud, vine, blooming or otherwise. She couldn't disagree, from what she knew and remembered of Max: All bloom. "I'm just stoppering any ideas before you get them. I'm out; that's good enough." Not to mention, dangerous. Aspen wasn't the only one that worked at the Ministry, after all. "Are you going to marry Max?" Seemingly random, but what Aspen was wondering. |
I'll Claim you MJ ^.^ Quote:
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oh yay! :D Quote:
Just as she had turned in the opposite direction, the brunette came face to face with a rather large man. Or rather.. even in her wedge heels, her eyes did have to travel up a bit to find his face. At the invitation, she glanced at the yellow ball as he dropped it on the ground in front of her, then at the wickets behind her. It hadn't been her intention, but as he spoke his name, it clicked in recognition with her brain as she turned back with a grin. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Orsino Kirby," she said, allowing his large hand to envelop hers as she returned the gesture. "Mariel De La Garza, Department Head for Magical Games and Sports." Lovely coincidence, she was often fond of those. And regarding the invitation to play, she shrugged lightly, the pleasant smile still on her face. "Sure, why not.." She still had some time, why not play and get to know one of her newest employees a bit. That was pretty much why she was here anyway. Blue was her color of choice and she wandered over to obtain a mallet and ball. |
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At least she hadn't lost an eye to the wild swinging of the mallet. That was something right there. "I have no ideas. All tapped out," Vivi exuded loads of false innocence. She was all ideas, all the time, and no mistaking it. Even right now, she was thinking about stealing food, stalking the Minister, breaking the jaw of a Minister's assistant, finding Kennedy to discuss an idea she had, finding Emily to discuss a different idea, going home and snogging Max, and going to a pub with Aspen to kick off their shoes and eat chips until they exploded. All that happening inside her brain. She hit her own ball, not nearly as hard and almost but not quite in the direction of the next wicket, before giving Aspen a measured look. "Yeah. I'm going to marry him. If he asks." |
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"Lie," Aspen pointed out. Vi wasn't capable of shutting her brain off and anyone WITH a brain knew that. In fact, her covering just led Aspen to believe that Vi was working overtime on ideas. Aspen was glad to be out in a "normal" capacity for work, but she wanted no part of a pity scheme. She began a very critical review of her mallet, measuring it with her arm's length and then testing it's strength with her weight. "If," Vi said if. "He seems the type that would drop hints prior." |
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So they were playing a game, and it was good enough for Vivi. "Then let's say... when he asks, I would say yes. He's... I loathe myself, but I think I can't live without him. So I'm going to keep him." |
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"If it's an if, it's an if," Aspen shrugged. She didn't now if Max would ask or not. IF Vi was using IF she must not have known either. If was fine with her; Aspen was judging but not in a negative way. She twitched a little, like Vi's words affected her. They did, but not in a way she could tell Vi. "Yeah," was all Aspen could say about it. Yeah. Keep him. "You could ask him if he doesn't ask you." Aspen was all about going for what you wanted, cutting down stereotypical sexists roles. |
Joćo had been avoiding people for all the party, but now it was time to socialise. He wanted to meet people, to show he was still there, to follow his dreams. He was strong enough. He could do it. Seeing Aspen wasn't in today's plans, but it didn't matter. He had survived her crazy brother, surely he could survive her. His hair had begun growing again anyway. He was all in black. Black suit, black socks, black shoes. Black, like the mood he was in. He walked to the things - whatever they were - and examined them. Did he need a partner, or could he do this alone? |
SPOILER!!: People Was it an if? Vivi mused over that as she kicked her ball through the next wicket and fiddled with the ends of her long hair. There was no harm in asking Max, actually, although Vivi was sure he'd say yes and she'd promised herself AND Ellie that she wasn't going to rush him. It was sort of a nitpicky conversation to have with someone to recently single, and not on good terms... Vivi would have gladly broken Kurumi's face several times over for being so happily engaged when she was going through her own ugly break-up. "I should ask him in a way so embarrassing and cheesy that it makes my father take off his glasses and polish them." Vivi mimicked the anxious motion with a big grin... that quickly faltered when she spotted the man who had joined them on the croquet lawn. The impulse to break a face had risen in the dark cockles of her heart once again. But he'd bleed on her very pretty dress. "Let's go get a snack." |
Aspen was so familiar with Mr. Branxton's ticks. It used to be SO much fun counting, documenting all the times and ways Vi's dad would clean his glasses. Unfortunately, Aspen was also intimately familiar with the man that had joined their quiet bubble on the lawn. She knew he hated sports, too, he'd hate this game even if he knew how to play it. Joao wasn't here to play, he was here to ... to what? Look at her? Prove some point? Admittedly, Aspen was near meltdown at his proximity. The last she'd seen him, it'd been through the (literal) glow of fiery rage, his and hers. Hidden behind her stoic mask was a belly full of fear and hurt. Aspen shook her head a Vi. No. No food. This clearly had to happen sooner or later and the odds were in her favor this time around. She got her wand out in an obvious way, for both Joao and Vi to see. Instead of retreat, Aspen waited for him to speak, knowing he'd be too polite to not be able to say something, to address at least Vi. |
So she was going to hex him, huh? Joćo would have sniggered bitterly, but she had taken even 'bitter' away, so he simply stared at her wand, her face and her friend - the only one, mind you, because Dylan was her boyfriend now. "Go on," he simply and softly said, his eyes looking into hers somewhat sadly, and he opened his arms as if to challenge her. He was polite, but he was also realistic - he could tell Vivi hated him now, so he wasn't going to waste his breath trying to be polite in vain. |
Oh, so they were doing this, then? Vivi didn't trust herself at all to be the coolest head, since that had never been the case in the past, but given the current crowd... it seemed like she might be the only one capable of making good choices. Like not getting into a knock-down drag-out at a Ministry function? Yeah. She didn't get in the way of Aspen and her wand, but she did step up so that she was sure they both could see her. Hiiii, remember the Auror? Standing right here looking fab in heels and a pink dress? "Mr. Neves," Vivi gave him a polite nod, although she shouldered her mallet in a clearly threatening manner. "Why don't you play through? We don't have time for your tragic hero act at the moment, and we were having such a good time, so don't let us hold you up." As in... get lost. Aspen had been doing well up until the man appeared. |
Aspen's wand flicked as she mouthed Expelliarmus. When his wand flew out, Aspen directed her wand at it again and sent it flying into the lake. Joao's NEW wand landed with a satisfying SPLASH near the swan boats. He could summon it back, but now he was unarmed. He'd asked for that, dared her, and Aspen would NEVER - not ever - wait for him to get the best of her again. All of Vi's words, as well meaning as Aspen knew them to be, were wrong. They drove her crazy. They made her itchy and feel wrong all over. Joao wasn't here to play, he was not a hero, and they had nothing but time. She swallowed the giant lump in her throat down, raised her chin, and let her wand tip tap into the palm of her opposite hand. "What do you want, Joao?" To see if she was still broken? Still sizzling? Honestly, what could he possibly WANT? Aspen stepped away from Vi, entirely hyperaware of her friend's presence. But if Joao had an extra wand, and Aspen wouldn't put it past him, then this wasn't Vi's fight. Didn't want her in the crossfire. |
Joćo groaned when his wand was taken from him. He didn't have an extra wand, because he was done with plots and Odessas in general. He folded his arms and tilted his head to left. "Ms. Branxton," he acknowledged the other girl, but his eyes were on Aspen's. He just shrugged at her question. "I wanted to see if your new boyfriend was around." Was that forbidden? "Oh, and, I want my wand back." If she didn't mind. |
Was she INVISIBLE? Vivi waved a hand in front of her face to check, but nope. She was here. Visible. Being ignored by Aspen, who was actually moving away... to protect her? Really? When Vivi was the one who was trying to protect Aspen? They obviously both had serious saving-people problems. Must be genetic. Vivi sighed loudly. Obviously. Annoyingly. And then she summoned the wand from the pond and dried it on her coat before tucking it down the front of her dress. "Isn't it tragic when we want things we can't have? I wanted a nice day in the garden, but I've just got myself a lot of trouble instead," she grumbled to herself as she wandered off toward her ball, mallet extended. Just playing croquet here. Nothing happening. Blasted wand was ruining her swing. |
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When exactly had Joao become so skilled, so precise in hurting her? It was hardly a month ago when she couldn't provoke him to utter an unkind word towards her (though she'd often tried) and now he cut through her like a steak knife to butter. She looked away from him, obviously not going to give him the satisfaction of mentioning Dylan again. He could take satisfaction in knowing she was bothered, upset, but nothing more. It was annoying that Vi summoned his wand though. Aspen had planned on telling Joao to take a swim. But, now Aspen didn't feel much need to worry for her friend. Vi was double armed and even Joao had an extra wand hidden away, Vi could take him with two wands. Aspen just wanted Joao to ask about West. So neither of them were getting what they wanted. "Don't do this," please, "... our fathers made the arrangement. You should honor your father." Either way, she was leaving. Aspen was leaving. She looked to Vi - was she getting this memo? Odessa out ASAP. |
"It is." Tragic. He briefly looked at his wand in Vivi's hands. "I won't cause trouble, though." She was hurting his feelings. He was barely a trouble now, wasn't he? He wanted to see how Aspen was, the girl who cheated on him just because he couldn't impress her brother. Except, he wasn't satisfied at all. If anything, he was further upset at himself. He hated West, but no matter what she did, he couldn't hate Aspen. "I want to apologise, Aspen," he said as softly and genuinely as his rough Latin accent would permit. He didn't want this. |
Odessa out? Vivi gave Aspen a lazy shrug and tapped her ball haphazardly toward... nothing. Just to tap it. "I'm bored." She wasn't, actually, nor was she lazy, but she was going where Aspen was going. When Aspen was going. Up to the point where Aspen told her to get lost, actually. "Sweat pants and pizza. Come back to mine, Asp, 'cause Max is out and I'll feed you." And she was keeping Joao's wand, by the way. Might even take it to the security office and have it weighed and open a file on him. She was an Auror and could bloody well do as she pleased. |
....was Joao asking her permission to apologize? Or just making a general statement? Her plan to leave immediately paused, just for a minute. Aspen's curiosity would drive her to insanity if she didn't wait to hear IF Joao would apologize. Or what he'd choose to apologize FOR. What he was sorry for. It was sadistic, she was sure - he was probably sorry he ever came back from Brazil, sorry for wasting time, money, and resources on her, etc, etc, etc. Sorry for getting mixed up with Odessas at all. Aspen wanted to hear him say it though, one way or the other. "You can't, you mean. You can't cause trouble. You're unarmed, outnumbered, and scared," Aspen informed him. Her head tilted ever so slightly - he'd know that was his invitation to go on with this "apology" if he was going to. Meanwhile, Aspen hit her ball to Vi. It wasn't part of the game, but Vi didn't have to be apart of THIS game if she wanted to bail. Aspen wouldn't blame her. "Just a sec," she told Vi. It was as much to Joao though, as Vi. Just a sec, then she was gone. Aspen was no coward, but this was too much, too soon for her. |
Joćo ignored Vivi. His wand was all clean, mind you, barely used. He didn't have anything to fear for. His eyes were on Aspen again, and he looked at her as he let his hands drop to his side to show he couldn't or wouldn't - didn't matter now - cause trouble. "I apologise for hurting you." At his house. He was sure Vivi knew what had happened, but still, he didn't say that part. Aspen would understand anyway, he knew. Would she... learn Occlumency with Dylan now? He clenched his fists. Dylan wasn't up to the challenge. Clearly Joćo wasn't too, because Lord West didn't like him enough, but still... Dylan just wasn't enough for her. It didn't matter now, though. He had apologised, now he was sure Aspen never wanted to see him now, so he turned to leave after studying her face for her expression. |
Just... a sec. Vivi raised one eyebrow with comment and turned her attention to moving both balls across the lawn with her mallet. She wouldn't leave Aspen behind, but it was obvious she was a third wheel at the moment. Best give them distance. Not eavesdropping, but not going far enough away that could couldn't hex Joao if he even looked at Aspen wrong. "Apologize. I apologize for nearly killing you like a twit," Vivi knocked one ball into the other as she murmured angrily to herself. "I apologize for having stupid hair. I apologize for being a pompous windbag. Bah. Apologizing." Could anyone hear her? Probably not. She didn't care either way. |
Hurting her? Aspen was insulted. He meant the whole fire thing, right? No. Aspen shook her head at him once. No. No, DONT apologize for that. That had been a lesson, a learning experience about trust, an important reveal into Joao's character. She didn't want him sorry for that. She glanced at Vi, who was trying and failing to not be heard. Pompous windbag with stupid hair, huh? "I didn't send him. I wouldn't ever," which Aspen wasn't sure Joao would know, or believe at this point. But Aspen would NEVER send West towards anything remotely dangerous, not for anything. Certainly for herself, for revenge. No Aspen would carry out her own revenge if revenge was warranted. Aspen moved towards Vi, but never quite turning her back towards Joao. She was ready to go. If Joao was wanting to talk now, or listen, it was too late. |
Joćo heard Vivi's murmur, but he didn't try to listen what she was saying. He didn't care her opinion. The moment Aspen shook her head, he was done here. Done with Odessas. Done with bonding to people, caring them, trusting them. He knew she didn't send West. He had already turned his back, though, so he didn't say anything back, but simly walked away outside to his precious car. He was also done with this place. She had been a lesson too, a hard one, about how there was only himself and his family in the world that mattered. The rest would just cheat on you like that. |
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