Ophelia (purevisions) wrote in carpediem_rp, @ 2016-01-18 17:26:00 |
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Entry tags: | character: alexei vetrov, character: ophelia sinclair, thread: complete |
Who: Ophelia and Alexei
When: Friday 1/15
Where: By the greenhouse
What: Conversation
Rating/Warnings: none really
Status: Closed/Complete
Ophelia wasn't that excited about walking the grounds today but she knew she needed to go out and get a few supplies from the greenhouse within the next few days. Potions still had to be brewed even though she was back at school, and honestly they were more necessary now. She wanted to get Lae’s new potion together, and while she needed Tracey and Ben to get the final ingredient she could gather the rest on her own.
When she approached closer, she frowned at the sight of what looked like Alexei, obviously downtrodden. That was not good. She quietly walked over and offered a slight wave. “Hello, Alexei. I hope you're well?”
Well… Was he well? He was healed at least from the bruises his Uncle had given him for failing to keep Sera in line. As if anyone had ever been able to do that with Sera. If her father couldn't, why would he think that Alexei - who was as much her little brother as he was her fiance - would be able to? "As well as can be, considered," he answered carefully. His words as measured as any Slytherin, but with the greater honesty of a Hufflepuff.
Ophelia nodded at his reply. She didn't like what Sera had done, though in many ways she understood it better than most. She too had been gifted with an undesirable engagement- though it hadn't been with someone as interesting and special as Alexei. He deserved better, and her mind fought against itself in this. Sera had always been nice enough to her, though they weren't close. She wasn't really close to anyone outside of Lae, not truly. “It is difficult, being placed aside. Can be painful.” Because while she had not liked Nico in that way, it still had hurt to be rejected so thoroughly.
Alexei very nearly snorted. Difficult. Painful. "It was her choice to leave the family, really." Alexei was trying to be… he was failing, but he was trying to act as though it didn't bother him. He loved Sera, and was wrestling with what happened and his role in it all too. He should've been able to keep her in the family. He was supposed to. It was his job to keep her in the family.
“It was, yes.” Ophelia absently tugged at some of her hair that had slipped from under her hood, her eyes moving to meet his. “It is still hard, what happened.” Especially since her choice had been to walk away from him when she walked away from the family. “It… Is not your fault, Alexei.” Because she knew she had blamed herself for what had happened with Nico. “Sometimes… Caring is not enough to prevent another leaving.”
"I was supposed to keep her." Alexei murmured honestly. It had been made abundantly clear that he had failed the family by failing to keep her part of it. That had been an important reason why they had chosen to engage them, beyond just keeping things clearly in the family.
“Sera… Isn't the sort to keep…” Because it was true. She couldn't be restrained like Lia imagined she would be one day. It was something that she knew she could fall into in a way that none of the other girls in her dorm could. She was docile. Sera was not. “It’s not your fault this happened.” Because he had no control. He hadn't known. “Alexei… Would you have been happy?” Because she didn't think so. He was traditional and needed a woman prepared to accept that. Sera never would.
No, she wasn't. Sera had never been that sort. It didn't make it less his responsibility. And he wasn't willing to admit his sometimes concerns about what marriage to Sera would be like. He began tapping at the table. One two three knocks for luck. Repeated. Three times. "I love Sera."
“I know that.” Ophelia dropped her eyes for a moment and pushed back the fact that it hurt, probably more than it had when Nico was with whoever that other girl was. She hadn't cared for him in that way. She cared for Alexei. “There are women who will want you happy. Women who will put you first, as you should be, and love you like you deserve to be loved.” Because he did deserve that. He deserved everything.
"I thought she did love me," Alexei admitted softly. They had grown up together. "But not that way, I guess." Not romantically. He had thought that they were quietly resolved to their future but apparently not or else she wouldn't have gone and married that other man.
“I am certain that she does.” That much at least was true. “There are different types of love.” Also true. She quietly fought back the next thought in her head and tucked back her hair behind her ear. “You should have someone who feels… Who is in love with you.” She would stop thinking of herself here. He needed to know he was not unlovable. “There are many pure girls who would be happy beyond words to be with you.”
Alexei shook his head a little. It was difficult. He wanted.. he just wanted his life to work out the way he'd been told it was going to. "Yea, my Uncle and Father are probably working on it already," Alexei murmured. However it was unlikely that the person was going to match the ideal that he had had in his mind before... He was resigned and convinced to the fact that things would continue to disappoint him.
“Perhaps they will allow you to choose a bride.” Ophelia was lucky in that. She couldn't have what she truly wanted, but she would at least be given someone she could care for in a way. Lae would have it no other way. He wanted her to be happy. “With your uncle’s status now you are the most sought after man around, I should imagine.”
Alexei shook his head. "It is unlikely." Given the family's new position, and his failure with Sera, he very much doubted that his Uncle and Father would trust him with that kind of decision. "I have duty to my family." And that eclipsed… most everything else apparently. It would only be worse now with Sera…
“You deserve to be made happy.” The fact of it was she thought he should be no matter what. This whole thing with Sera was hard for him but hopefully there would be someone that he wanted to be with, or at least could tolerate, to replace his cousin. “You are… Much sought after now, I should think.”
"As no doubt you are too." Alexei pointed out. Her father was unquestionably a powerful man. He wasn't Minister Alexei knew not for lack of skill but by choice. Diomedes preferred not to be the public, visible figurehead. He expected to hear word of her engagement again soon. "Laertes will be able to find you someone remarkable."
“He will allow my choices to be heard. I...don’t care much.” Because she didn’t think she could have who she wanted and so she just didn’t think on it much. Marriage was simply a requirement now and it was not one that she was strongly invested in. There were more important things.
"You have no opinion about it?" Alexei did. Or maybe less an opinion than an expectation. A picture he'd created for what it would be like. Now that things were over with Sera… he'd defaulted back to that vision when he thought about it. He was mostly thinking about his cousin though, and their relationship, and what she'd done.
“I know Laertes will want me happy.” Ophelia shrugged one shoulder. “I will be pleased if I can brew and paint. I don't need much.” She would provide heirs and hopefully have a husband that would allow her to do the things she loved. With Lae supervising it would be someone at least close to her age, pure, and devoted, which meant that she would find some sort of happiness she was sure.
It sounded like a nice life to Alexei - painting and making potions. "That is good." Both what she described and her confidence in her brother. It was good that she would be able to get what she wanted then.
Ophelia smiled faintly and nodded. “You will have something good too.” She wasn't sure what yet but she knew that he deserved it and he would have a number of candidates for his hand, which would allow his father and uncle to choose whoever was best. That meant he wouldn't have someone entirely distasteful.
"As apparently Sera has found," Alexei tapped three times again. The family pressures were greater on Alexei now, but it would be true for his marriage too. But he wasn't thinking about it yet. He would do what he was told when he was told, the dutiful son, nephew, heir.
Ophelia ran a hand through her hair and a thoughtful look crossed her face. “I suppose there is Lily. The Smith girl is also pure, if they wish to go in that direction. There’s choice.” A good number of eligible women for him, if his father and uncle cared to look. Sera was not the only option by far.
"Nari is sweet… but…" she was less virginal than his cousin Sera. Alexei didn't think that was polite to discuss with Ophelia. "Her family does not do arranged marriages… and she does not like me enough to suggest it." Lily was much the same - not a virgin, and more. "And Lily is as independent as my cousin." Which apparently he wasn't man enough to handle. "So I do not expect to see any arrangements there." He'd already proven he was not able to handle the independent sort of woman.
“I imagine once you have had time, your uncle will find someone suited to you.” Ophelia absently tugged at her hair, thoughtful. There were many girls that would suit in one way or another. She would not doubt that there would be someone he could care for. Even if he had loved Sera, there had to be someone else that would suit him. “Perhaps someone who will be calmer.” Because that would be important for him.
His Uncle had no thought to suitable and every thought of appropriate. But he would be aware now of Alexei's limitations an inability to handle strong women. "He will do that, no doubt." He wouldn't trust Alexei to handle another strong woman if he couldn't handle the cousin he'd grown up with.
Ophelia nodded slightly and shrugged. “You will make a good marriage.” Because at least that much was obvious. There was no way that he wouldn't. “Maybe she will even bring happiness.” Both of them knew family came first, though she did have a different interpretation of that than he did, she imagined.
Happiness hadn't been something Alexei had ever questioned… or something he'd thought about. He thought about things in terms of peace. "I just want to be comfortable." Alexei wasn't now. He was tapping his toe within his shoe in counts of three.
Ophelia nodded again, noticing the tapping. “You will have a good wife.” Which meant a measure of peace at least. She looked down and away, shrugging a shoulder. “Things will improve. I am certain of that fact.”
Alexei nodded. He didn't believe entirely her, so he didn't answer verbally. She was just giving platitudes. Not that he expected worse necessarily but more that he did not expect much to change really. Not on the large scale. But one thing he needed to do was to confront Sera about what she'd done and why.
Ophelia noticed the lack of response and assumed it was a dismissal. That was the easiest interpretation, anyway. “I should go. It was good talking to you.” She offered a small smile and wave, turning (and entirely forgetting she had a purpose for being out) to head back toward the castle.
"It was good to see you." Alexei agreed, not arguing as Ophelia took her leave. It would be rude to keep her. And he had things he needed to do, as she clearly did.