3 Oct 2018, 17:19
Toasty Bites
Dot felt a bit weird when Anastasia directly ignored her question, but Dot didn't push either. Maybe Anastasia was insecure on the topic - though Anastasia, with her nose high in the air, never looked like she'd be insecure about anything - and would not like to share much with a semi-stranger, because that's what Dot was to Anastasia, most probably.
If someone would have pushed Dot to answer some of her personal questions, she'd be angered and annoyed as well. Yes, she'd eventually tell a friend or someone close about her orphanage past, and her confused feelings for her biological parents, but if someone would force her, she'd never tell them anything - because forcing would mean they don't respect her opinions.
The cereal was almost finished when Anastasia herself replied with an apology for herself. From the inside, boxes of feathers and flowers burst in her stomach and she felt smug and smirker, but she concealed the feeling from her face with an easy shrug. "Like I said, it's not a problem."
Then she let Anastasia continue. Dot couldn't exactly understand her family problems, but when she said she was shaken by Lydia (and her parents') incidents, Dot nodded understandingly. But then the next words froze Dot's body completely.
The shock was present on her face like text from an open book - her eyes stretched wide, mouth slightly agape, eyebrows raised. For a whole moment, she was silent. And then, with that astonished look, she whispered in a small voice, "Disown you?"
If someone would have pushed Dot to answer some of her personal questions, she'd be angered and annoyed as well. Yes, she'd eventually tell a friend or someone close about her orphanage past, and her confused feelings for her biological parents, but if someone would force her, she'd never tell them anything - because forcing would mean they don't respect her opinions.
The cereal was almost finished when Anastasia herself replied with an apology for herself. From the inside, boxes of feathers and flowers burst in her stomach and she felt smug and smirker, but she concealed the feeling from her face with an easy shrug. "Like I said, it's not a problem."
Then she let Anastasia continue. Dot couldn't exactly understand her family problems, but when she said she was shaken by Lydia (and her parents') incidents, Dot nodded understandingly. But then the next words froze Dot's body completely.
The shock was present on her face like text from an open book - her eyes stretched wide, mouth slightly agape, eyebrows raised. For a whole moment, she was silent. And then, with that astonished look, she whispered in a small voice, "Disown you?"
"When I die, I want free Wi-Fi fitted inside my tombstone, just so people will visit more often."
3 Oct 2018, 17:34
Toasty Bites
Anastasia bit her lip and nodded. She wasn't sure how much more she wanted to say. On the one hand, she liked Dot, and they were on good terms again, but on the other hand, she didn't know her all that well, and she hated feeling vulnerable in general. Still, Dot's shock was a bit comforting in a weird way. She decided she'd explain a bit more when they weren't in the middle of the crowded Great Hall.
"Suffice it to say, I know that they aren't bluffing," Anastasia added, glancing at Dot as she said this. Why did she know that? Maybe because three out of her four grandparents had been Death Eaters. Maybe because her parents didn't bluff. Maybe because she'd seen it happen to her cousin. Her aunt and uncle were warmer and kinder than her parents, so if they would do it, there was no question in her mind that her parents were completely capable of doing the same.
Anastasia's dark eyes began to water, and she blinked several times to clear her vision. She was absolutely not crying here and now. She hated crying period, but especially in front of other people. There was no way she was going to start sobbing in the middle of the Great Hall. It just wasn't going to happen.
Long story short, I survived
Stats - Strength: 5, Agility: 6, Control: 12, Stamina:7
3 Oct 2018, 17:45
Toasty Bites
"Are you..." Dot searched for the right words. "Are you sure that they aren't bluffing? They won't really do that, would they? I mean, it's not your fault you're in Gryffindor," Her voice was a bit broken-like, as if she was scared she'd say the wrong thing and make Anastasia feel bad or hurt.
When Anastasia started blinking rapidly, Dot gulped. She was sure that Anastasia would start crying, but no, after a few blinks, her face was back to normal, as if no vulnerable moment washed over her at all. Instead of sympathizing - which Anastasia probably won't like, since most people nowadays don't - she stopped twisting the silver spoon in her hand and placed it in the now-empty bowl of cereal, maybe to show respect of some sort.
Dot really wanted to say something comforting to her, something that she won't mind and something that won't make her look stupid. She opened and closed her mouth several times, before finally settled on saying something. Her words sounded okay to her, until they came out. "I wish I could...I could help you in some way...I mean, like...I don't know, but..." She trailed off, slight pink gathering up in her cheeks. She mentally slapped herself three times (yes, she counted), then prayed that Anastasia won't give her a weird look and tell her to get lost.
When Anastasia started blinking rapidly, Dot gulped. She was sure that Anastasia would start crying, but no, after a few blinks, her face was back to normal, as if no vulnerable moment washed over her at all. Instead of sympathizing - which Anastasia probably won't like, since most people nowadays don't - she stopped twisting the silver spoon in her hand and placed it in the now-empty bowl of cereal, maybe to show respect of some sort.
Dot really wanted to say something comforting to her, something that she won't mind and something that won't make her look stupid. She opened and closed her mouth several times, before finally settled on saying something. Her words sounded okay to her, until they came out. "I wish I could...I could help you in some way...I mean, like...I don't know, but..." She trailed off, slight pink gathering up in her cheeks. She mentally slapped herself three times (yes, she counted), then prayed that Anastasia won't give her a weird look and tell her to get lost.
"When I die, I want free Wi-Fi fitted inside my tombstone, just so people will visit more often."
3 Oct 2018, 17:55
Toasty Bites
"They're not. Becketts don't bluff, " Anastasia said, wryly. She smiled bitterly as a memory sprung to mind. She'd been four and she'd told her mother that she was going to hold her breath until she got a chocolate frog or passed out. Her mother had told her that she'd like to see her try. Anastasia had tried it and stopped after a few moments, and her mother shook her head and laughed, then sent Anastasia to her room. Even seven years later, Anastasia could still remember her mother's words as Anastasia trudged up the stairs - If you threaten someone, follow through with it. Otherwise, you're bluffing and Becketts don't bluff.
Anastasia's jaw tightened at Dot's words. She meant well, but she didn't get it. This was Anastasia's problem. Intense parents with high expectations were just a fact of her life. It came with all the wealth and beauty, and Anastasia had long ago accepted it.
"There's not really anything to help. My parents just expect more from me. That's just how parents are," Anastasia said, trying to fill her voice with her normal confidence. It almost worked. Almost. She still sometimes questioned what more they could want from her, but never stopped trying to be better.
Long story short, I survived
Stats - Strength: 5, Agility: 6, Control: 12, Stamina:7
7 Oct 2018, 18:07
Toasty Bites
Becketts don't bluff. Something typical that Dot should have been aware that Anastasia will say. After all, we are talking about the pureblood rich family whose blood is clean of any 'dirty' traces. Dot almost made a face at Anastasia, but then she noticed her smile. It wasn't the kind that makes your eyes twinkle. Nah, this one felt more like...poison. Bitter.
Dot did not notice Anastasia go tense, as she reached for the toast she had recently placed in her plate. Grabbing a knife, she buttered it smoothly while listening to her talk. When she completed, Dot shrugged, as if not sure what to say, but then her lips worked themselves and the words, "Not all parents," came out. When it did, Dot silently cursed herself. What happened to me?! I think before speaking!
To make things seem normal, Dot didn't let her awkwardness and flush appear much on her face. She did not want Anastasia to think she was talking bad about her parents - that would be something, as long as Dot know, to get Anastasia upset, since she is under the impression that the members of her family (maybe including herself as well) were monarchs and should be treated as such.
As if nothing happened, Dot bit on her buttered toasty. Despite being out in room temperature for more than few minutes, the toast was warm and nice to taste. The butter made it feel good, and the crunchiness was totally worth it. Dot nodded after swallowing two yummy bites. "Hmm, so toasty. Won't you like some?" Dot gestured at the dish of fresh toasts with one hand.
Dot did not notice Anastasia go tense, as she reached for the toast she had recently placed in her plate. Grabbing a knife, she buttered it smoothly while listening to her talk. When she completed, Dot shrugged, as if not sure what to say, but then her lips worked themselves and the words, "Not all parents," came out. When it did, Dot silently cursed herself. What happened to me?! I think before speaking!
To make things seem normal, Dot didn't let her awkwardness and flush appear much on her face. She did not want Anastasia to think she was talking bad about her parents - that would be something, as long as Dot know, to get Anastasia upset, since she is under the impression that the members of her family (maybe including herself as well) were monarchs and should be treated as such.
As if nothing happened, Dot bit on her buttered toasty. Despite being out in room temperature for more than few minutes, the toast was warm and nice to taste. The butter made it feel good, and the crunchiness was totally worth it. Dot nodded after swallowing two yummy bites. "Hmm, so toasty. Won't you like some?" Dot gestured at the dish of fresh toasts with one hand.
"When I die, I want free Wi-Fi fitted inside my tombstone, just so people will visit more often."
20 Oct 2018, 19:55
Toasty Bites
Anastasia's dark eyes widened a bit at the suggestion that not all parents were like that, but she managed to keep the rest of her expression normal. All of the parents she had ever met were like that, although that wasn't saying all that much seeing as it was mostly parents from similar families. Those were the only kind of people that her parents considered it acceptable to be friends with.
She focused back on her eggs, rearranging them into yet another formation to make it look like she'd eaten more than she had. When she was stressed or emotional, she had a tendency to eat far less. Her father had scolded her about it, saying it made her look skittish and silly. Her mother had taught her how to better hide it. For a moment, she thought back to Dot's comment. Maybe there were parents who didn't operate the way hers did, but Anastasia wasn't inclined to believe so.
"All parents want their children to be the very best they can be," Anastasia said carefully, trying to keep most of her emotions out of her voice. "Maybe they have different ways of accomplishing that, but deep down, that's how they all are." Maybe it was a bit cynical, but Anastasia had just about determined that that was how it was. Maybe her parents were harsh, but she would have a better life than someone whose parents didn't have the means or the will to mold their child's future the way Mr. and Mrs. Beckett did.
She shook her head when Dot mentioned toast. She just didn't have an appetite at the moment. She assumed it was from the stress of talking about her parents. She was rather irritated at herself. This was the first time in her entire life when her parents didn't have complete and total control over where she went and to whom she spoke, and yet they were still affecting her.
Long story short, I survived
Stats - Strength: 5, Agility: 6, Control: 12, Stamina:7