Ophelia (purevisions) wrote in carpediem_rp, @ 2015-12-21 19:30:00 |
|
|||
Entry tags: | character: alexei vetrov, character: ophelia sinclair, thread: complete |
Who: Ophelia and Alexei
When: 20 December, midday
Where: On the train
What: Conversation
Rating/Warnings: low/none
Status: Closed/Complete
Winter exams were over and done now, and given that NEWTs were upcoming at the end of the year for her, there were tasks even more complicated to prepare her, even over break. Her notes were useful, especially in the textbooks she had. Most of the recipes in her potions books were covered in scribbles because of what she considered improper instructions, and at the moment she was adding more notations to her work, ensuring that the potions she brewed would be to her own specifications.
A pause and she glanced at the parchment to her side, carefully listing a few more ingredients she would need over the holiday. She had a shop she trusted for things like this, and she paid the owner well enough to be discreet about what he obtained for her- much of it was for Lae’s medicine and so her parents allowed her access to the vault and any money she needed. She would be brewing for most of the holiday, both for him and for her aunt and uncle. They had been kind to her at thanksgiving and it was only right to repay that kindness with the best work she could do. Her notes were a bit less focused today though, the thought of the quidditch game and the conversation after still drawing a bit of a smile from her- even though it was probably less than appropriate to think of Alexei that way. Especially on the train- even with her books and notes strewn about, it was still possible that someone could enter.
Alexei was not aware of Ophelia's thoughts or the conversations she'd had since his Quidditch game. He had just been glad that his team had won. The last week had been difficult - exams brought out many of more ritualistic behaviors. He'd worn a hole in one of his socks because of the rubie in his shoe. Travel days were difficult too. He always worried that he had forgotten something, but it was bad luck to go back especially just to check. He'd gotten restless and decided to walk the length of the train. He'd been in the third compartment of the third car. Three cars and three compartments further he caught a glimpse of red hair. He didn't stop though. It was clear from a brief glance that she was working. And Laertes was probably just taking a break… although memory tinged Alexei that the older Slytherin had not been walking well of late. It was irrelevant - Ophelia always rode with Laertes. And Alexei needed to walk anyway.
Ophelia looked up from her book in time to see Alexei. It was like her brain had somehow given him form outside her train carriage. She didn't say anything. If he wanted to come in he would. She looked back down to what she was doing, though out of the corner of her eye she was watching. And he was there again, and gone again. Was he pacing? She frowned a bit and looked up as he approached her area a third time. She flicked her wand to open the compartment and smiled faintly at him. “Hello.” Because that was the polite way to greet someone. And hopefully a way to start a conversation.
Alexei had started counting the steps of the train at some point during his pacing. He was a little surprised then by the fact that Ophelia opened the compartment door to greet him. "Good afternoon, Ophelia," he greeted her in return, finishing two more steps before stopping. "Taking a break from your studies?" he asked, indicating her scrolls and such.
“Yes, I am.” Her eyes moved to meet his and a smile curved her lips. She didn't normally smile for people but Ash said it would be a good idea and he tended to have a lot of women around him so she assumed he would know. She motioned to a clear spot. “Would you like to join me?” Because for some reason that phrasing felt more right than asking him if he wanted to sit. It was more personal, she thought. She wanted him to join her.
Alexei noted her smile - it was nice to see her smile. He wondered idly what had prompted it. Perhaps her brother had found her a fiance she liked? Or she made a new advancement in her potions. That was likely too. Regardless, she was inviting him to join her, and that was not something to dismiss. "If you wish… I'd be honored," he answered politely, stepping into the small compartment. "Your research has been productive then?"
“It would make me very happy.” Ophelia was using more words still. Ash was right that she spoke more with Alexei than with nearly anyone else. It was just easy to talk with him, to get along with him. “My research is going very well.” She had been working on a theory presented to her and it was coming along pretty well. Better than most things she had encountered in the past. “How have you been doing lately?”
Alexei didn't know she'd been discussing him with others. He did know that they conversed easily. He found her interesting. "I do not know yet how our examinations went," Alexei shrugged. Obviously she knew how the game had turned out. Since then, exams were the biggest thing. They had been his focus. That and shopping. "But my shopping is done, fortunately." He'd been able to complete his list at Hogsmeade and did not need to battle last minute crowds.
Ophelia listened to him speak, nodding slightly. “That is fortunate.” With regard to his shopping. She had finished as well, though she didn't often have many gifts to purchase. She was close to very few people and that made holiday gift lists much shorter. “Are you excited to go home?” Because she knew some people enjoyed it more than others.
Alexei was close to his family, but things had changed a little since the engagement. There was a focus on the future and planning for it, but a tension about it at the same time. Alexei had never questioned his family's goals for him, but now… he knew his cousin wasn't completely happy with the engagement, though they loved each other, she was far more progressive than Alexei was. He worried a little about what their future would be. Still he barely admitted any of that to himself. Instead he worried at the pin hidden in his shirt. "We were just there, but it is always good to see them. And New Years is an important holiday to Russians." Alexei was excited about that if nothing else.
“Your Christmas celebrations are near the end of break.” Because from what she remembered, most European countries celebrated Three King’s Day more than the actual Christian holiday. She celebrated neither- Yule was more important to her, and celebrating the solstice was always enjoyable as well. “Do you have plans for New Years Eve yet?” Because that was another thing they could discuss honestly.
Alexei nodded at her first statement. It was celebrated as Three Kings day in some countries, but Ophelia was correct that that was the traditional day on which their family exchanged gifts. The celebration of the new year was also of great importance to his family too. "Yes, in January." Alexei agreed. "Although the Redfern party is obviously celebrated in December." Alexei was more than aware of the importance of participating in society functions. "Nothing firm for New Year's Eve… but New Year's Day is, obviously."
Ophelia smiled at the fact that she'd remembered that. She considered the heritage of the few she was close to important and she had always been friendly with Sera. The mention of the Redfern party drew a faint nod and a curious look. “I hope you will save a dance for me?” Because they'd danced at Halloween and it had been very nice.
Alexei smiled at her. "If you are so inclined, it would be my pleasure to dance with you again." It had been a nice break while his cousin danced with Ash and other of her friends to dance with someone who he found interesting. He liked dancing with his cousin too of course; they'd learned together after all. But Lia followed differently.
Ophelia had learned with her brother obviously, but dancing with Alexei was different. It was good, honestly. He was skilled and a talented partner, and she needed to flush her head of that thought now. She looked down at her hands for a moment and then up at him. “I very much enjoyed our dance.” A faint flush rose in her cheeks and she looked back down at her hands, embarrassed at her boldness.
"I am glad," Alexei answered honestly. She gave him another smile at the response. It was flattering honestly to evoke that kind of reaction from such a beautiful girl. It wasn't something happened around him, ever. Alexei wasn't like Ash to have girls blushing and swooning at his every move; Alexei wasn't nearly so flamboyant in that regard. But it was nice feel like he was that appealing to girls for a fraction of a second.
Ophelia would find herself confused by that almost as much as she was by Ash’s assessment of her attractiveness. After all, he (and most of the other boys around) had been with Sera and she was much more classically intriguing when it came to looks. Ophelia supposed she had the appeal of looking so different from the rest of the girls around and that was what Ash meant. “You are a very skilled dancer.”
"Thank you. I am nothing compared to my cousin, but it is something every gentleman should know how to do well." Alexei explained. It was not something he saw himself as particularly amazing at - skilled yes, but not beyond the expected. "I am glad you enjoyed it, as there are many skilled dancers here at Hogwarts." Ash among them.
“Don't like them. Not like you.” Ophelia’s eyes widened slightly as she realized what she said, and she ducked her head to allow her hair to cover her face. “I apologize. I am too bold.” Except not really. She had not even thought before the words were out, and she had no intention of saying them. He was betrothed. She could not have him.
Alexei frowned. What did she mean she was too bold? "How do you mean you are too bold, Ophelia? There is nothing untoward about enjoying dancing with an appropriate dancing partner." Alexei couldn't understand what was bold about that. It seemed perfectly logical to him that it would be something enjoyable. "I enjoyed dancing with you too."
Ophelia nodded. She had misspoken, but he had not seemed to notice the meaning behind her words. The fact that she did, in fact, like him better than any other potential partner. She could cover it easily to a degree though, she imagined. “It is forward for a girl to speak of such so freely.” Because it had been taught from a young age that she was not to appear forward, being given a number of examples of what not to do.
Alexei did not think that Ophelia was forward. Not like his cousin. Ophelia was quiet and discreet and entirely proper. And for all that she was also interesting - an accomplished painter and budding potions master. She was going to make an incredible wife. "I sincerely doubt anyone would accuse you of being anything but proper," Alexei countered. "You are a model pureblood daughter."
“It is all that I have been raised for.” Ophelia shrugged one shoulder lightly. “It has not done as much for my future as my parents have always hoped.” Because they wanted her to marry and produce offspring, and the attempt they made had led to her being set aside - no matter how Nico seemed to want to make it her choice to end things as they had been.
Alexei too had been raised to continue the Vertov line unbroken. Although obviously there was a concern that his position as heir needed to be strengthened by marrying his cousin, who was the daughter of the current head of the family. It was just a slightly concerning, but Alexei did what his family expected of him and trusted in that. "Your future is not yet set, as there will always be expectations for the next thing. Once an engagement is decided one is to plan the wedding, then the expectation is for an heir… it is not a process that ends with a single event."
“A rejection by one fiance does not make me very appealing to others. There is the question of the reason I was set aside.” Ophelia knew why, and she knew that Lae approved, but it did not make it easier to know that the only male so far that appeared to be even remotely interested in her was not free to choose her. Others may have found her attractive, but she supposed she would have to look at the older demographic to find someone free and desirous of a young and quiet bride. Perhaps a widower or something of that ilk.
"Your brother has made clear it your previous engagement was a premature announcement that had not been adequately vetted." Alexei might not be party to many of those sorts of conversations, but it was clearly occurring. "He's made clear not just anyone will due as a potential partner for you." Alexei tried to reassure her.
“Laertes has always had a high opinion of me. He wishes me to have someone I can come to love eventually.” A small smile. She had never really expected that, but her brother wanted to see her happy. She understood the sentiment, as she wanted him to be happy as well. “He is selective.” Because there would not be another mishap under Lae’s supervision.
"Any suitor would do well to be on his good side. He can be quite intimidating despite his lack of physicality." Alexei certainly found him so. He'd heard her brother speak French to the Ravenclaws, and then switch to Russian to say something to him without making a mistake in either language. And to have been hired as a Teaching Assistant as soon as his NEWT scores had been posted was no small thing.
Ophelia quickly stifled a giggle at the words, shaking her head. “Laertes is…” A pause, considering her words. “He is not intimidating.” Because she knew him far too well and too long to be intimidated by him. He loved her beyond just about anyone else, and while she understood he could intimidate others, she rarely saw it, even when others clearly did.
"You are his sister, of course you would not find him so," Alexei pointed out just slightly defensively because of her giggle. "He is intimidating on your behalf," he argued. She had an entirely different relationship with him because of that fact. However any young man who might be around Ophelia for any reason saw a different side of the Slytherin graduate.
“He wishes to know I'm safe.” Because that was his goal, as much as it was Ophelia’s in regard to Laertes. She supposed she didn't come off as quite as intimidating, though she was likely as dangerous in her own way. She just did not admit to it- people did not know about her extracurricular activities beyond what she let them know, and so she tended to come off as less of a threat unless one knew her.
"Yes, he does," Alexei agreed. It was a simple way to describe it of course, but it would do. Not that he didn't agree with Laertes. He wanted Ophelia to find a good match as well, though no doubt like her brother he did not doubt that would come to pass. She was too good of a witch not to find an incredible match. "There is no doubt that you will find a good match though."
“It will take time to find someone. A widower, perhaps, or one who knows my skills. A patron.” Because she did not truly expect someone of her age. It was not likely she would get someone young like she herself was. Most arranged marriages did not work that way, though she would be happy. Lae would accept nothing less.
"A young man who needed to earn his fortune and place before your brother would deem him worthy," Alexei offered another idea. That seemed to him the most likely, as he didn't envision her brother saddling her with some old man with whom she would have nothing in common.
“Laertes will find someone I am able to love.” Because he would want that for her more than anything else. She was well aware of that. She looked down and shrugged slightly. “It will be my choice, if I desire it, though many our age are betrothed.” Because there had been a rash of betrothals, narrowing the pool of their own age group.
"Yes, though not all are happy with the selections that were made. It is likely some will fail." Alexei was not optimistic about some of the matches. He wondered once in awhile about his own. His cousin was not the most traditional. He hoped it would work out. They knew each other well and got on most of the time.
“There are few I would choose.” Not that she wished to be picky, but it was hard to deal with the fact that she already desired someone and he was not open to her for that selection. Laertes had a broader view, she supposed, and he would find someone acceptable. She would get there. One day she would find someone.
"Then it will work out well," Alexei was glad for that; it seemed right that Ophelia make a good match. Someone who would appreciate her and who was a good partner to her. The man, whoever he was, was a lucky individual.
“I suppose, yes.” Because she could not admit that she didn't think it would. She didn't have the freedom to ask for the one she wanted now. She would have to settle for a second choice. It would be fine though. She would find someone she cared for, that would allow her time for painting and potions. That was what mattered.