Who: Ellyn and Tish.
What: Talking about family stuff. Not quite bonding but almost. And eating candy.
Where: Slytherin Girls Sixth Year Dorm.
When: Backdated: October 30th, during the dance.

With an expert slight twist of her wrist and swish-flick of her wand Tish cast the protection charms on canvas wall on which she was during her mural. She was stopping for the night, planning to sinking into a good story and lots of chocolate before going off to bed. Not far from exciting by any other standards but that was exactly how content she wanted to be, how she wanted to spend the rest of her Halloween night to be. Quiet, relaxed, and free from endless bouts of teenage drama that she was absolutely certain was going to show up during the Harvest Dance. She'd be just fine finding out that someone went mad and ended up hexing people or there was a major kneazle-fight second hand. Patricia always avoided falling center in the petty drama but the way things were, especially in the last week, even finding out about what was said, second hand and third hand was enough to give her a migraine from the amount of eye-rolling she'd done.

One last look at her mural, she cast a final charm, that obscured the images. Easily breakable by anyone who was truly curious, but it would take some doing. She was good at the practical side of the subject. But sadly, she was no Vindictus Viridian. She had to be satisfied with the fact she at least managed to keep those with a mediocre amount of nosiness at bay. Tish'd been letting people see her work but as weeks went by and it neared completion, she'd been particularly touchy about it and particularly picky about who got to see what she was doing. Especially since she was considering scrapping it all and starting all over again. Which was a shame because what she currently was doing, the reactions it would give would be enough to keep her laughing for years.

Clearing up her stuff, easily enough with her wand, leaving everything spotless and sending them back to where they belonged, she carried the most important tools by hand and walked to her doorm room, only to spot Ellyn in the room.

She had thought the other female, her ... cousin, had gone out for a smoke.

Ellyn was still laying low. She tried avoiding looking at her journal as much as she could, though sometimes boredom drove her opening it up once again. She had been rather amused at the fights that had gone on the previous weekend. It was nice to see that tensions were running high other than just amongst her and her fellow Housemates. Anything that made her tempter tantrum look civilized was alright with her, especially since no one she particularly cared about was under any attack during the whole thing. Ellyn had found it easy to laugh it off and stay out of it. Though she had been tempted to point out the fact that Eoghan's true nature obviously hadn't changed at all from what he claimed. So much for turning over that new leaf.

But considering her little visit to the Fifth Year Slytherin Girls' dorm last week, Ellyn knew that would be pushing it too far. She may have been impulsive and quick tempered, but she wasn't an idiot.Not to mention Ellyn had enough on her mind with the information Tish had recently given her. Ellyn knew she probably hadn't taken it the right way. To most people, it would have been good news. Surprising, but good. Ellyn didn't think it was bad at all. It was just much harder to wrap her head around. She didn't know how to treat family. Subconsciously, she might have been avoiding Tish a little bit. Ellyn hadn't meant to, but she felt like she needed to process some things before she could have a real conversation about it. She didn't know how Tish was taking it, but was curious. For now, Ellyn was trying not to think about it too much. Which was something she was usually better at doing.

When she saw Tish working on her mural alone in the Common Room, Ellyn quietly went back to her room to gather up the bag of candy she had been saving to eat while the others were off stepping on each others' toes. When Tish walked in, she stood up and dumped her stash on the floor and sat. It was her way of inviting the other girl to join her. "All I ask is that you don't eat the chocolate frogs. I'm running low on them."

She'd noticed Ellyn's avoiding her. Mostly because she'd been looking for it and had been sort of on edge, if you could call it that exactly, waiting for the other girl's decision. Her response to all of this. Other than thinking on all of this. Family was a tricky thing for her. There were her grandparents that she loved with all her heart. Parvati who she loved as well and some days, despised almost as much. Father who she'd begun to realize really did belong in the neutral position of dismisal and wasn't worth the energy it took to dislike him, let alone despise him. And there were Parvati's children. Who really were no family of hers. She supposed it would have been some cosmic justification if Ellyn had chosen to not acknowledge their familial relationship the way she chose to ignore the one between herself and her half-siblings. However, she wouldn't have taken it as that. Especially, when you considered the way Tish saw things. A relationship with the Viridians wouldn't hurt Ellyn in anyway form, emotional or social, the way one with those Brats could hurt her.

Which was why she looked upon Ellyn, when she first entered the room, with a sharply raised brow, looking entirely unaffected, and perhaps a little condescending. But when Ellyn dumped the candy onto the floor, the smile that brightened Tish's face quick and immediate. Normally she'd have done more to surpress it, she'd learned to keep her typically meruical emotions under control. However, Ellyn's action had taken her completely off guard. She could take it for what it was, as awkward as it was. Which was why, she walked to the trunk at the end of her bed. Put her tools in and pulled out a rather large basket, that was quickly running low on contents, and would obviously be finished by the end of the night.

Walking to where Ellyn was, lips slightly pinched, in as close to an apology she'd ever come to her previously haughty look, she responded with a short and simple, "Got it." Before emptying everything into a pile right next to Ellyn's chocolate.

Ellyn hadn't been sure if Tish was sore at her for ignoring her, though she thought she had been subtle about it. Tish was clever and observant though, so Ellyn wouldn't have been surprised that she noticed. Wouldn't have been surprised if she was miffed by it either. Ellyn didn't know anything about family dynamics, but she was pretty sure it probably wasn't a good thing to ignore people you're related to. She gave a bit of a small embarrassed half-smile when she saw Tish's reaction. Well, at least she had managed not to offend her or anything yet.

It was a little quiet for a few moments as both the girls surveyed the pile of sweets before them, made a choice, and unwrapped the candy. "Sapphira's costume looked pretty good. Wonder if Noah's wandering around in tights." Might as well start somewhere familiar, Ellyn figured.

Familiar was good. Tish liked awkward just about the next person, perhaps even less so because it tended to be a mutual thing, and those were so much harder to will away than other things.

She gave a slight snort at the image of Maloney in tights. Not because he'd look horrible in them, respect for a dorm-mate's property aside, the bloke was completely fit. It was just that as strange as he tended to be it, or maybe because of how strange he could be, the idea was just too amusing for words. Besides ... tights. Those were a no unless one had the right skirt and/or the right pair of legs. People who put them with shorts looked ridiculous. She supposed best one out of two didn't hurt, since it was Halloween. "Aye she did look quite grand." She agreed, years of academics and "breeding" hardening her Mid-Ulster accent to something very much English. It didn't hurt that the one who bred her was a Frenchwoman, no one quite understood the difficulties of sounding 'very much English' as the French. That is, unless one was Germanic. "I'd be willing to be this very pile of chocolate that Maloney is. I can't wait to see photos of the costumes." She appreciated a good outrageous costume, one that was imaginative, creative, and all of the above. However, she was willing to be there was some ridiculous, idiotic options out there at the dance. And she wanted evidence. "Do you think anyone's stupid enough to wear something indecent?" The answer would have been a typical, obvious yes, any other Harvest Dance. But after last week, she wasn't so sure.

"In this school? Probably. There's always that one dense kid who just doesn't get it." Ellyn rolled her eyes at the thought, though really she couldn't deny that she loved watching people make fools of themselves. And that was the only real reason why Ellyn would ever consider attending the Harvest Dance. Costumes were expensive and just seemed like a farce now that she was a werewolf so dressing up would be a hassle. "I always like to watch the girls who fight after finding out that they came wearing the same outfit." Such a stupid thing to care about, and yet girls always took it so personally. Never really taking any value in her clothing, Ellyn didn't understand what the big fuss was, though if she ever saw someone she truly hated wearing the same thing as her she had to admitted she would be pretty disgusted. She wouldn't claw their eyes out about it though. There were better reasons to do something like that.

"So...um." Ellyn felt tension knot up her stomach as she worked up the nerve to ask a question that was sitting in her mind. "What are...your grandparents like? That's who you live with, right?" Ellyn remembered vaguely hearing Tish referring to different people in her life, though she had to admit she didn't pay as much attention to it until now that it was relevant. She generally didn't bring family up in conversation for personal reasons.

Tish nodded agreement, mouth preoccupied momentarily with a small piece of chocolate, before she swallowed, and answerd the second part of Ellyn's statment. "It's because they lack the self-confidence to make the outfit their own." It was simple to her. Not that she wouldn't have gotten a bit self-conscious herself, if such a situation were to ever happen. (It had. Once. And she had been self-conscious, but she'd been young then). Ellyn might not see the significance, but Tish who was more Parvati's daughter than she ever cared to admit did. And on some level could understand fighting over a costume, however, in her own eyes she was so much better than the petty fights that Gryffindors would fall into. After all she was a Slytherin. Hello. Could anyone say resourceful? It was all about rocking what you had and being secure in yourself. A matter of knowing that you looked better in the costume than the other person did, and if by bad luck you didn't, improvising.

About to reach for another piece of chocolate her hand paused, at Ellyn's question. So much for settling away from awkward. However, she was fine with this. She could talk about her grandparents, and in fact, a rare fond smile curved her lips. She nodded, "Aye, I do." Hesitating for just a short moment before continuing, "I live with Maman and Papa," she said using the names she referred to them by only to herself and very close relatives. "They're wonderful. Papa is very much an artist. He writes books. On a lot of things but mostly on muggle and wizarding art. A few mystery novels. He paints too. He's patient and he listens, we connect better, than I do with Maman. Because we have the same passion. He can be a bit annoying about certain things." She said rolling her eyes, "He thinks that this muggle thing will be an "experiance". He thinks that people should have as much experiances as possible to be shaped into a well-rounded person, you learn through trying. Maman's much more stricter than he is. She's French, very French sometimes. I think it drives her mad that I'm not actively seeking a proper pureblood husband but I know she'd never want me to be like Fudge or a female Urquhart-McLaggen hybrid. She "despairs" but she really doesn't. They're both for me making my own mistakes, and just guiding me, though she tends to make more rules about certain things and Papa might step in for rules about others." Tish finished off. Not exactly clear, but there was a reason for that. It just worked seemlessly, and she supposed she could make it more clear. However, as much as she did want ... she didn't know. This was very strange, actively seeking family and sharing. She was a private person by nature. She'd already shared more than she ever had. Yes, she'd intended to but it was very different and she wouldn't be rushed or rush herself into it.

"They're very good people, my grandparents. They'd like to meet you."

This was the part of the conversation that terrified Ellyn. The part that she expected, without really meaning to, to be a disaster. Well, not a disaster, but a disappointment. Tish never talked about her family, and Ellyn didn't think that was a good thing. In fact, family never seemed to be a "good thing" in the Slytherin house, in Ellyn's opinion. There were people who claimed to like their families, like Ambrose and Sapphira, but they always sounded insanely controlling which Ellyn would never get on with. Not to mention none of them ever thought highly of werewolves, victims or not. No, families just meant ridiculous obligations. Some people got lucky, like Roland. But it was the exception, not the norm. Tish's wouldn't be any different. Ellyn wouldn't let herself hope that it wasn't. The letdown would just be too much on top of everything else.

No one was ever going to accuse Ellyn of being too subtle about anything. Really it was lucky that she even had the sense to start out talking about something like Sapphira first. But even Ellyn knew that the situation was delicate. Internally, she cringed a bit when Tish started to describe her family. She waited to hear about how they only had Tish's best interests at heart when they arranged her marriage at the tender age of 3 days. Or how they firmly believed that werewolves needed to be bound and caged at all times if not put down entirely.

When Tish ended without saying any of those things, Ellyn didn't relax but rather was confused. Her grandmother sounded a bit typical but not unbearable. Perhaps even likeable on some level. And her grandfather didn't sound bad at all. Ellyn's eyes flashed up at Tish at her last statement, her surprise momentarily betraying her attempt to appear calm throughout the conversation. Recovering, Ellyn looked back down at another piece of candy she was beginning to unwrap. She wasn't even really sure what kind it was at this point. Her hands were just trying to keep themselves busy. "Are you sure? Do they know all the details?" Ellyn didn't know if they had heard about the incident over the summer, though surely they had. The school was probably obligated to notify gaurdians about her condition. But it just didn't seem possible that knowing that they would still invite her into their home.

"Of course they do." Tish said, tone flippant, mostly ignoring the way Ellyn had looked at her at her previous statement. She knew the other female would react like that. Though she wasn't quite sure if it was the "good people" or the fact they wanted to meet her. She was willing to bet it was the second, though she wouldn't be completely surprised if she thought it was the first. Tish, herself, didn't believe much in good people. People were people, and her out-look of humanity tended to be Hobbesian at worse and best wouldn't have been very good if not for her grandparents. Her grandparents were all the better because they managed to be real. Unlike Zeller, pre-Summer debacle, and Bradley, pre-who knows what, that seemed to live in this sort of distorted bubble of reality, they seemed to accept life and still manage to be the better both despite it and for it. Which was perhaps why, Tish's view tended to be a lot less conservative than it could have been. Which was why they were sincere in wanting to meet Ellyn. Well, not completely sincere. Her grandmother was putting less of a disapproval because she was displeased with her father, but Tish knew the other woman would have ended up trying, because of her. "I needed to clear some issues up, anyway, so it was easier to tell them everything. Not that I wouldn't have anyway." Tish shrugged. It was just easier not to lie to her grandparents. Stretch the truth, always, but she'd never kept anything from them. Maybe, mostly, because they didn't want or need to know everything. And they rarely interfered. Well, her grandfather, rarely did, her grandmother and herself, managed to be in agreement. Most of the time.

"I told them everything I told you. That I know at any rate." About Dierdre having a granddaughter. Her grandfather had wanted to know, so she'd elaborated. There needed to be a point in lying. There hadn't been one, in holding back anything about Ellyn being a werewolf. It would have come out sooner or later, better on her terms and with less of a hassle.

Of course they did? Ellyn wasn't sure she bought this yet. Perhaps Tish was one of those people that thought more highly of her own family and didn't hold them to the same standards as the rest of the world. Even though nothing she knew about Tish indicated that she would think that way, Ellyn's predisposition to how a family worked was too strong for her not to be overly skeptical. She supposed there would be on real way of knowing until she met them in person. If she decided to go through with it.

It wasn't that Ellyn didn't want a family. She never really knew what it was like to have one and really didn't understand the way that they worked. From being around her friends, Ellyn had learned to predict their behavior -- like when Saoirse sided with Eoghan instead of her. Her choice didn't shock Ellyn, she just never understood how a person could feel such a strong yet sometimes illogical bond towards another person. The result of this misunderstandings was that Ellyn found herself usually extremely uncomfortable around any kind of familial setting. Though Roland's dad had been an exception just because he was so charismatic and...well, so like Roland himself that it helped sooth her nerves. But around other families, Ellyn would usually get much quieter and subdued than she would normally be. Choosing to submit herself to that, especially coupled with the possible outcome of rejection by her newfound relatives, was a big risk for her.

"Well...I guess maybe 'round...Christmas or something." Maybe, she thought. Ellyn knew better than to voice her doubts outloud though. This conversation had definitely not gone the way she had expected.

Tish raised a brow, lips quirked slightly with amusement and ... understanding. Her grandfather was always encouraging her to put herself in other's shoes, and it tended to bother her, both with the literal and figurative sense. However, she could understand, just a bit of what Ellyn felt, because family was such a strange topic for her and some of the nuances in certain relationships that seemed to be such a given to others, were new to her and rather dumb looking. The amusement was mostly because if Ellyn actually thought she could find a way to get out of Christmas, than she had a serious other think coming.

"Or something." She said non-commitedly, not pressing the topic. Except for ... "What kind of pie do you like?"

Ellyn didn't really pay that much mind to the strange change of subject. It was already a strange conversation by her standards. "Pumpkin. And I'm not just saying that because of the season." Pumpkin pie sounded good, with whipped cream. But for now another sugar quill would have to do. Ellyn chewed on one in her mouth, still thinking.

A look of concern flitted across Tish's face but it went as quickly as it came, however, her eyes were still observant. She could see how difficult it was, seeing that everything you'd held close as truth, or the fears that you'd nearly built up, didn't quite work out. It was a shock and there was the waiting of the other shoe to fall. The suspicion, that it would all backfire. Nonetheless, she went on, she wasn't going to press anything, unless she felt that she had to; she understood enough about having to convince yourself that it was real. Especially when it had to deal with family. "You can never go wrong with pumpkin pie with whip cream, it's my favourite too. No matter what the occasion or holiday," She nodded, brows quirking up as she paused, before adding, "And dark chocolate cheesecake with a fruity glaze." What could she say? She had a think for the bitter, yet sweet.

She'd probably have to steer the conversation to something else other than pie. She liked the food but she wasn't spending the rest of her evening talking about it. Not for bonding or anything else.

Transitioning to a new topic didn't prove as easy as Ellyn might have hoped. It took a few minutes before she was really able to pay enough attention to think of an appropriate subject. They seemed to have dived deep enough into family talk for one evening. Pushing the subject wasn't going to do any good for either of them. It would take time to really be comfortable about it. "So are we going to being seeing the completed mural anytime soon?" Ellyn had seen her working on it a lot, but never could really get a good look at it with her standing in front of it all the time. "Tell me it's something that will piss off the purists." She was partially joking since Tish had been clear that she didn't want to be told what she should paint. But of course, Ellyn would certainly be pleased if it actually did end up being something controversial.

Not the topic she wanted to be talking about. Unconsciously, her fingers began brushing against the bracelet that wrapped itself around her right wrist, before pushing it back. She was displeased with it, how it didn't seem to becoming the way she it to appear, the way she was trying to get it to speak with her. It felt ... stagnant; however, Ellyn's statement managed to pull her away-just a bit-from those thoughts. Her grin was quick and fast, before her lips twisted in amusement. "You mean the other purists." She was proud of her blood and her heritage, but she didn't think that meant she had to associate with Malfoy or Mulciber or the rest of them. Tolerate? Yes. She was a Slytherin after all. Spite your nose all you want, but just do it in private and suppress all temptations to cut it off. Unless you knew you could breathe without it. "But yes. It really, really will. They're reactions will be worth any trouble and I'm rather sure, I can wriggle out of it with the right words." She paused, finger skating towards one of her thumb rings. Fidgeting. "I might scrap it." The words were very negligent, breezy, and confident. Like she was fine with it. She wasn't.

It was her creation. Sculptures might be her preferred method of expression, but when she gave her time, her heart, no matter how much or little. It was hers and it always frustrated her when it didn't ... play out.

Ellyn hadn't meant to lump Tish in with the rest of the them. Really, Ellyn didn't think of people like Tish as purists. To her, purists were the Eoghans and Ambroses of the world. "I meant the arshole werewolf-hating purists." Even Ellyn could pick up on the uncomfortable body language that Tish exuded when prompted about the mural. She didn't really see why though. Along with the family type, she wasn't the artistic type either. "Why would you scrap it? If it'll make people upset it sounds like good art to me." Ellyn wasn't so much into paintings or sculpting types of art, but they certainly got her approval when they caused a stir. To her, that meant that they were at least saying something worth saying or thinking about. And of course the chaos was fun to watch as well. "I'm sure it's good. You're good at that sort of thing. I tried to draw a snitch one time and Sapphira thought it was supposed to Professor Potts with enlarged ears."

"I know." Her lip quirked slightly. To her purist was a bit broader in context than people McLaggen. She felt she could be a purist for her society without flouncing about neo-conservative view points. "I know you did. Believe me, If I was offended? You'd know." Her mouth curved into a tiny smile. She was about answer Ellyn when she just started laughing at what the other female had said. Professor Potts with enlarged ears. Seriously? What made it funnier was she could actually, see it. Still smiling in amusement, she asked, "Trouble drawing a circle? I can see it, Professor Potts wouldn't look that different with large ears though. Other than--" She out a wrist beside each ear, palms facing Ellyn, and wriggled her fingers once, "wings sticking out of his head. The thing is. If anyone could make it work it would be him." He was so goofy looking anyway, enthusiastic. And Salazar knew the number of times he caused something to explode, which would lead to something growing out of him. Ellyn gave a half smile at Tish's first comment. Truthfully, it was one of the reasons why Ellyn respected the other Slytherin girl. A strong backbone was definitely something she admired and liked to associate herself with. "Or just lack of any artistic talent in general. Based on that characteristic, no one would guess that we were related." Saying the last part was a bit weird, she just shrugged it off and kept the subject going. She let out a short laugh actually picturing Potts the way she had inadvertantly drawn him. "The man's bloody nutters. I wouldn't be surprised if he lost an ear one of these days from an explosion and walked around like he didn't notice."

No, they wouldn't. Artistic talent was common in her family but the determining factor; though she did wonder about Deirdre, Ellyn's grandmother. "Give me a few weeks," She said mostly joking, "I'll find something." A few weeks. Was that a voluntary bonding offer? She was surprised that she didn't quite know, but she wasn't quick to tell herself 'no' either. It was one thing to accept that there were related ... but this bonding .. thing. At least with Ellyn there wasn't any of the ... feelings she had with Parvati. Both bad and simply difficult. "At least the class is never boring." She would have preferred, most of the time, a more serious professor. However, Potts kept things interesting. She could appreciate that.