A Pleasure to Steal Your Acquaintance Finished

Howard continued to excite her. “My claws and your wand. They won’t stand a chance.” She couldn't help it. Him talking about them teaming up. She felt like such a kid... even though she was one, feelings like this were unusual to her, so they were definitely childish in her eyes. Whilst most girls dreamed of buying the perfect dress, or finding the perfect job and fancy house to live in, Falentra was taken away by the chaos and darkness that they both shared so freely now, as though there was no wrong in it. For every time she nervously slipped up a part of her darkness to him, and how he appreciated it so naturally made her grow closer to him that bit more. Were people supposed to open up this much so easily? And were they supposed to like someone so quickly? That was normal..right? Questions like these were ones she knew she just couldn't ask Howard. It was kind of embarrassing.

The moment the smile Howard wore left his lips, Falentra felt as though something had just hit her in the stomach. She wanted to clutch onto it to stop herself from vomiting. Did she just pull out the final straw? God, she hoped she didn't scare him away with her thoughts of the Future. She thought he was like her, so why would he? Again, those thoughts that threw themselves into her mind were clearly wrong. They always were, so why she still believed them she didn't know.
It was as if tears had appeared in her eyes, but instead of giving them the chance to fall, a deep sigh would leave her mouth and her hand would rest over her heart. She had been holding it in from the moment he began to talk about his own future. It was ridiculous to how he was just like her. Never did she think anyone could feel the same way as her. She thought she was crazy, but he was quick to reassure her that the feelings were nothing to be afraid of.

There wasn't much that she could really say at this moment in time. Falentra was just so taken by his words. Though the moment his finger would brush against her cheek, her pale complexion would slightly redden. She smiled and lowered her head to the ground, her fingers twirling the piece of grass she once pulled from the roots. '' Y-Yeah... I couldn't have worded that better.'' For all that he had just said, her response was so short. But she couldn't help it, she felt...shy? If that was what it felt like to have cheeks that burned and a mind that went all cloudy for a second. Just from a touch.
The Slytherin shuck her head and looked back up towards him, her cheeks how fading back to its ill-looking colour. She really needed to get a grip on her emotions. Learn how to control them unless showing them this much was actually normal to most. ''Uh.. I'm sorry.'' She scratched at her neck nervously before clearing her throat. There was really no need for her to get so flustered over a touch. The girl had just blurted out that she was basically destined to a road of darkness. It was best for her to just move on from this awkward moment, pronto.

''Hey.'' Falentra would sit herself up straight from the slump she once sat in, her frame beside his, although not facing him, but the lake. ''Is it....Is it weird...'' She paused a few times, unsure for what she was to say would be too much. She wasn't worried if he thought it was weird, she knew now that wasn't going to be the case but more so if he would laugh, or not understand what she was to say. She knew she didn't. Not completely, but it was her way of trying to express her feelings.'' Is it weird that knowin’ I'm to go down a dark path doesn't bother me but... but now that I've met someo- now that I've met you, I don't really wanna to go there.... alone.'' The way she said the last word was quiet. To her, it made her look scared of being alone. All her life was pretty much spent that way, but now having someone she liked gave it a whole different meaning.
Damn. Emotions were really strong for Falentra. She needed to learn how to express them and deal with them more privately.

The smile that had temporarily faded from Howard’s face returned double fold as the tip of his finger grazed the soft flesh of Falentra’s cheek. There was a spark the moment the two made contact, at least for him. He couldn’t help but notice the flushing in her cheeks and the quickening of her heart. If he was still able to do so, his body would have responded the same way as a flutter tore through his stomach. Hopefully his giddy smile and the light chuckle that escaped his lips was enough to show her that he too was affected by it.

Words couldn’t describe how grateful he was for her in this moment. Not only had he found another that shared the dark desires and tendencies that most would only deem acceptable for a psychopath, but she had also not shied away from his touch. Howard would hardly admit it to anyone, but there was a small part of him that hurt from the way others treated him. The way they either avoided his gaze or stared at him like some sort of freak show took its toll over time. He would never apologize for what he was, but this was the first time in a long time that he felt truly accepted. Sure, the magical community tolerated his existence, but it always felt like it came with a sense of superiority. As long as he was a good little boy he would be allowed live. As long as he suppressed what nature had made him and towed the line of a society he had not asked to be part of, only then would he be guaranteed a future. It was a feeling that would drive him further and further down the dark path, but at least here in this moment he would find reprieve.

“I’m glad you feel the same.” He would respond as Falentra agreed with him. It was such a relief for him to speak about it openly and he could only imagine she felt the same. “You’ve nothin to be sorry for.” Howard reassured her as she scratched at her neck nervously. He rolled back over onto his back, eyes returning to the sky as the slight awkwardness of the moment passed. “Yeah?” He asked as she began to speak again, stumbling over her words as she searched for the right ones. Her question would give him pause as he searched the night skies.

For so long Howard knew he was destined for a dark future. The ideas of family and friends seemed like such a distant memory. He had always assumed that the path he chose would be a path he walked alone. The Dhampir was sure that his mentality and course of action would guarantee him a future of solitude, but here, just next to him was a glimpse of hope. The bond that was quickly forming offered him a breath of fresh air. That maybe, just maybe, he might find a partner to share the dark roads that lied ahead. It was to soon to tell whether this would turn to romance or just a strong friendship, but the thought of someone else in this world having his back was enough to plaster a smile across his face.

“No. I don’t think that is weird at all.” Howard said in an understanding tone as he looked toward her, his hand reaching out to grasp hers with a reassuring squeeze that hopefully expressed that he too was feeling something. What exactly, was yet to be determined, but perhaps for the first time in their lives they could relish, for just a moment, in the fact that they just might not have to do it all alone. Howard’s hand would linger unless she pulled away as his eyes flicked between her and the horizon. The first light of day was fast approaching and as much as he may want to live in this moment forever, he would soon be forced to seek shelter. “The suns coming up.” He said with the slightest pout. “Walk with me back to the castle?”

@Howard White

He really did understand her. The smile that had made its way onto her lips wasn’t planning on leaving anytime soon. No matter how goofy, cute or giddy, like his own, it may of been. She was happy, and the feeling she felt was too nice and warm to get rid of just yet.

His hand would rest on her, squeezing it gently for the reassurance she needed for what she had originally said to him. “Glad to heat you feel the same way. Doesn’t make me feel as weird now.” She laughed awkwardly before tightening her grip on his hand in return.
Before her eyes too would wander to the sun that slowly began to rise, she would look down at Howard who led comfortable on the grass. Although this was their first encounter, she had never seen him smile this much before. He must of liked her company more than she thought. It wasn’t a bad thing. She was relieved and happy to be able to finally have an affect like that on somebody. It gave her those silly butterflies she had always heard about people getting, but never did she think she would be one of those people to ever feel that way.

“Mhm... Yeah, your right. Didn’t realise how fast the night had gone.” Her brows raised in surprise before releasing her grasp from his and lifting herself from the ground. She would dust herself off quickly then pull off his jumper, hesitant at first on giving it back to him. The cotton was so soft and warm, a cozy feeling she didn’t really want to let go of. But she knew she had to. Would have it been weird to want to keep it? She quickly shrugged the thought off before holding it out for him to take. “Think your gonna need this a bit more than me now.” Her head would nod towards the sun. It was still chilly, but the breeze had finally calmed and the Slytherin didn’t seem too bothered by the weather now. “Let’s get you hidden, Sparkles.” Her hand would reach out once he had redressed himself fully, although she would take ahold of his arm, and not his hand. Falentra wasn’t confident enough in reaching for that so easily. Not just yet. As much as she wanted to, she was still struggling on how to approach the whole liking someone part. Though there was no rush. She knew that. The pair would sure to be meeting again very soon. It was a thought that was already crossing her mind, but not really knowing how to ask him about when they could.