cndromedas-blog

[cndromedas-blog]

Favorite sister?

honesty hour

—“both of my sisters have very admirable traits. there’s no way to choose a favorite.”

[cndromedas-blog]

( macmilluhn‌. )

＊ beck !

               andromeda  black  had  a  nasty  habit  of  always  looking  beautiful    .    he  used  to  tell  her  he  felt  sorry  for  everyone  else     ,     as  all  the  attention  would  undoubtedly  fall  to  the  middle  sister  whenever  she  would  enter  a  room     .      it  was  unavoidable            and  it  seemed  like  that  evening  did  nothing  but  prove  the  fact     .       he  vaguely  remembered  his  friends  going  nuts  when  he  told  them  about  their  break-up     .     they  seemed  more  heartbroken  than  he  did      ,      shouting  in  question  over  how  he  could  ever  let  a  girl  like  her  go      .     they  still  couldn’t  seem  to  wrap  their  heads  around  it      .    ❛       self-deprecating      .     that’s  a  new  color  on  ya     .     ❜      he  grinned  from  ear  to  ear     ,    happily  stepping  aside  as  he  offered  her  his  old  seat     .       ❛      all  you  gotta  do  is  count      .     c’mon      ,      give  it  a  try      .     i’ll  help  ya      .     ❜

“I BELIEVE ‘REALISTIC’ IS THE TERM YOU’RE SEARCHING FOR,” andromeda corrected gently with a grin. every time she and beck spoke, it became apparent why she’d become infatuated with him, still after such a long time his infectious grin had a way of making her feel more at ease. “count? that’s all?” she questioned, her head tilting to the side but took a seat nevertheless. “what did you do during your break, beck? anything fun?” andromeda asked after she’d gotten settled without there being a chance that her gown could get in the way of the game.

[cndromedas-blog]

What's the deal with you and Emma? Any cat fights in the future?

MEMES: NOW ACCEPTING HONESTY HOUR

—“there is no ‘ deal.’ simply the unfortunate fact that we have to work together regardless of if we want to or not. i don’t care enough about emma to get into a ‘ cat fight ’ with her.”

[cndromedas-blog]

pcndorc‌.

Words couldn’t describe how thrilled Pandora was to be back in the castle. Her home life was a happy one; it isn’t as though she was driven to Hogwarts through desperation. However, she was simply happy to be back with her peers once more. One afternoon at lunch, she stood against the cool stone wall of the Great Hall to have a better view of everyone interacting with one another. She wasn’t one that had a giant group of friends but getting to see everyone smile and laugh with each other was enough to remedy that. Munching on some pudding, she looked up only as someone approached. “Oh, hello! Aren’t you happy to be back?”

IT WAS UNDENIABLE THAT ANDROMEDA WAS a lot more at ease now that classes were back in session and another year, her last, as hogwarts was underway. despite the dour expressions that mostly graced the slytherin table, nothing had even gotten close to spoiling her good mood, even going so far as to move from table to table to greet her friends and acquaintances she hadn’t seen since classes had left out. “i am quite happy to be back, yes,” she answered pandora with a sweet smile. “and you? did you have a good summer?”

[cndromedas-blog]

svcnity‌.

THE   ARRANGEMENTS   OF   CIRCULAR   TABLES     and  waitresses  bustling  around  was  all  a  mindless  blur     ,     honestly     .     so  without  much  of  a  glance     ,     fingers  plucked  a  glass  from  a  floating  tray  as  she  continued  to  wander  through  the  room     .     is  this  a  good  hand     ?     black  heels  came  to  a  halt     ,     irritation  prickling  her  eardrums  from  the  familiarity  of  it     .     sure     ,     she  had  graced  andromeda  the  position  of  chaser  off  the  strict  criteria  of  talent     ,     but  that  didn’t  mean  emma  was  fond  of  her             more  along  the  lines  of  tolerated     .     still     ,     she  peered  down  at  the  girl’s  hand     ,     brow  arching  in  a  mischievous  way     .     andromeda  had  terrible  cards  truly     ,     but  that  didn’t  mean  she  had  to  tell  her     .      ❛     oh     ,     it’s  quite  good  actually     .     you  should  go  all  in     .     ❜     

EVEN EMMA’S VOICE WAS WELCOME AFTER SUCH a long time of having not heard it. despite the fact that she could say ( but never admit ) that she was happy to see the other woman, she didn’t trust a word that came out of emma’s mouth. “oh, really?” andromeda questioned, turning back to the dealer. “give me another card, please,” she requested, positive that it had to be some sort of prank that emma was playing on her. “all of the gigglewater in the world wouldn’t allow me to trust you, vanity,” andromeda drawled up to the other brunette, though, after a slight pause, she turned back to face her. “you’re looking well. it seems your summer did some good and put some color to your cheeks. i hope in the enxt year you’ll work on the sour expression you tend to walk around with.”

[cndromedas-blog]

( dorcasofthemeadowes‌. )

dorcas had ALWAYS known she was different from her mother. the differences became even STARKER once her father died. her mother seemed almost unbothered that he had died, or that her only daughter had had her innocence robbed from her. without intention, RESENTMENT began to flood in her veins. her once chocolate brown locks were dyed a cornsilk blonde, her  sketchbooks lay discarded on her bedroom floor, pages torn out. she got rid of any RESEMBLANCE. it took her two years to FORGIVE her mother, but even still spending the entirety of the summer with her was ALMOST unbearable. especially since she had isolated herself from most ANYONE besides marlene. a personal punishment for herself for what she had done to teddy.  after spitting lies all summer about how she was OKAY, she recognized the one dropping from andromeda’s lips easily. however, she also realized that she couldn’t COAX the girl into telling her anything. their friendship was NEW, TENUOUS even. she let andromeda guide her through the crowds towards the solace of the loo. once the girls had entered, dorcas took off her heels and jumped up on the bathroom counter swinging her legs freely.  “ what LYING or attending fancy parties? “ dorcas asked bluntly, now that they were in private she felt a bit bolder. she reached in towards her thigh to pull out her wand, casting a muffliato spell so that they would NOT be overheard. “ I’m good at KEEPING SECRETS. “

       THERE WAS AN AUDIBLE SIGH OF RELIEF when they entered the powder rooms with andromeda following in suit to kick off her own heels. while she’d known that dorcas would have no problems spotting her lie and calling her out for it, a quick flash of surprise went over the brunette’s expression, followed by a quiet laugh. while she and dorcas weren’t strangers, and had certainly come quite aways in their friendship, it was amusing to her how dorcas, almost a stranger, had come to be able to spot her fib that easily. “both, but mostly just...” andromeda trailed off, not even sure how to phrase the rest of her sentence. both was the correct answer, but how was she to say that she wasn’t grateful for the life she’d been born into? with many less fortunate than her, it was a sure fire way to end up sounding like a brat. “both,” she finished her thought, seeing no reason to even attempt to lie to dorcas anymore.

“it’s not something that i can explain or even a secret, really.” the black family was infamous for a reason, after all. “i would just like for classes to begin where if we had a ball, our parents wouldn’t be in attendance. after spending the summer with them i believe i’ve just...hit my quota of family gatherings.” she certainly couldn’t call it ‘bonding,’ after all. “but enough of that. did you enjoy your summer, dorcas?”

[cndromedas-blog]

( hcirss‌. )

his smile is waning even before it reaches his eyes, fading back into the vaguely sullen, wholly tired look regulus generally wears. the shadows beneath his eyes have been glamoured into hiding but there is still something in his gaze and the quirk of his lips that makes him look worn. “it’s better than the alternative, i suppose.” he can only imagine his mother muttering about others as soon as they’re out of earshot. at least there hasn’t been a scene, hasn’t been names thrown about. people already whisper about their family at school. they don’t need more fuel for the fire. “we can’t have that, then.” he smiles softly and shakes his head. “oh. no. i don’t -” want to be made a fool of, “know how to play, and don’t fancy having some tutor breathe down my neck the rest of the night. and you?”

       THE EXPRESSION THAT CROSSED her cousin’s face had her wishing that she could take her words back and drop the conversation as a whole, but unfortunately, they were and would likely always be a topic of conversation. “i suppose so. i would like to see one of our parents have to answer to the rubbish that comes out of their mouth for once,” she sighed wistfully. with as much as just her mother had to say about the majority of the other families in the room, it was sure to make for great entertainment. for a couple of minutes, at the very least. “i don’t know how to play any of it either, but wouldn’t it be better to attempt to learn than staying in the corner?” andromeda asked gently, knowing that she had no ground to stand on as she’d been doing the same thing, but she was worried about him.

[cndromedas-blog]

cndromedas·:

( bxnesbxy·. )

He bowed his head, as he was supposed to, the proper pureblood etiquette drilled into his head from a young age even if his family had never really bought  into the blood superiority aspect of it all, and smiled as he lifted his own goblet of punch to cheers hers lightly. “Andromeda, I would have expected you to have snuck out of the thick of the party by now. Your parents force you to make the rounds too?” 

He shrugged. He knew that he had a habit of being a bit more enthusiastic about most things than the average person, much less than a Black. “You could never curb my enthusiasm. It’s my defining trait, or so I’ve been told.” He smiled brightly. “I could use some fresh air though, if you’d like to join me on the balcony.” 

       ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, ANDROMEDA WAS WAVING her hand in dismissal, the gesture always succeeding in making her uncomfortable. she’d never understood why there was a division, why some families were to be respected more so than others. while her family would’ve preened at the clear sign of respect, it made her slightly sick to her stomach. “you don’t have to do that. i implore you not to, actually. not to me, at least.” a light chuckle left her before a slight shrug. “still doing the rounds, yes. i figured that if i stay near drink table they can’t reprimand me too much.” after all, that was where most of the foot traffic was, with people milling about and getting gigglewater and firewhiskey to make the party more bearable.

another little laugh her, before a nod. “i’d have to agree with you, there. i don’t think i’ve ever seen you without a smile on your face.” it was something that andromeda had always admired about the male. “actually, i would love to join you if you don’t mind the company.” the room had started to feel too stuffy a while ago, none of the drinks doing anything to alleviate that fact.

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[cndromedas-blog]

      GOBLETS OF GIGGLEWATER AND QUICK PULLS OF firewhiskey had helped fuel andromeda’s curiosity of the games that were being played. though she didn’t understand much of what was going on, she’d found herself seated at a table, watching in fascination as the dealer shuffled the deck and quickly, methodically dealt to each player. though she’d already lost some galleons ( and was sure to get in trouble for it later ), she couldn’t help but what to play again, and again  — or at the very least, until she won. with cards now in hand, her dark gaze roved over the different faces and symbols, only to come up stumped. yet again. “is this a good hand?” she asked aloud as someone passed by, leaning in a way that they would be able to see what she was referring to.

[cndromedas-blog]

                                 i just want to hear you say it.

               i need you to say it out loud - —                                 tell me I make you PROUD.

                                          i just want to hear you say it - —                               say it a little louder, please.

                         TELL ME YOU'RE PROUD OF ME.

[cndromedas-blog]

( macmilluhn‌. )

＊ beck !

                    the  boy  hung  his  head  in  feigned  shame     .     he’d  lost  yet  again     ;     certainly  god’s  way  of  evening  out  the  odds     .    after  all     ,      he  couldn’t  be  good  at  every  game      .   

                      when  asked  if  he  wanted  to  buy  back  in     ,     beck  shook  his  hand  and  chuckled      .     ❛     'fraid  i  know  when  i’m  beat      .      ❜      he  finished  off  his  drink  and  took  a  stand    ,     tipping  the  dealer  a  galleon  before  shoving  the  remainder  of  what  little  money  he  had  left  in  his  pockets     .       ❛     careful  now     ,      ❜     he  mumbled  in  kind  as  someone  walked  up  to  the  table     ,      ❛     alec  here  is  a  real  ball-buster     .     ❜      the  man  with  the  cards  chuckled  before  turning  back  to  the  game    ,     dealing  out  a  hand  as  beck  eventually  turned  away     .      ❛     who  knows      ?     maybe  you’ll  be  luckier  than  me     .     ❜

IT HAD TAKEN FAR TOO LONG FOR THE SPIKED punch to hit her system, a low thrumming in her veins a testament to just how many goblets she’d had. not nearly enough to join the sea of people on the dance floor, no; that was far too close to her parents, but enough that she’d left the outskirts of the party to wander near the games. her gaze flitted to and fro, taking in the cards and the dice as they reflected in the light, her interest going to the table where she’d spotted a familiar face. “oh no, i think you’d have more luck between the two of us,” andromeda answered, peering over back’s shoulder to watch the dealer. “how do you play?’

[cndromedas-blog]

( hcirss‌. )

regulus finds himself brightening at the realization it’s andromeda beside him. “sorry,” quick apology slips from his lips, softer now that he knows he’s in good company. lips press into a line at the mention of his parents - regulus has been sure to avoid their company as best he can. he cannot imagine the vitriol mother is spilling from her lips. “oh? how are they tonight?” a small smile returns at her last words, nodding. “of course. what kind of cousin would i be otherwise?”

“THERE’S NO NEED TO APOLOGIZE.” not to her, at least. and certainly not when she was just as entertained by the gala as he was. andromeda released a soft sigh, bringing her goblet to her lips for another sip of the spiked punch. “they’re...as well as to be expected. they’re humoring people at least, as are my parents. that’s all that we can hope for, right?” nice words for saying that while many of the things spitting out of both sets or parents’ mouths were dreadful, it was tame given their location and the families around them. “well, you certainly wouldn’t be the favorite anymore that’s for sure,” andromeda teased with a tinkling laugh, happy that he was smiling again, at least. “have you had an interest in any of the games? i’ve heard that they’re a lot of fun.”

[cndromedas-blog]

( dorcasofthemeadowes‌. )

dorcas’s mother is LESS A PARENT, and more a companion. it was her father that made the rules in her household. after he died, and after her ordeal, calliope had given her FREE REIGN. ordinarily dorcas wouldn’t be CAUGHT DEAD at a party like this. and if she was, she’d be in the loo smoking a joint of gilly weed.  she was here because of marlene, and maybe because she was SELFISHLY wanting to feel PRETTY for once.  dorcas was almost relieved that she had spilled her drink on a friend, rather than a stranger. OR WORSE, an enemy. yet, andromeda’s frantic words caused dorcas’s eyebrows to knit together in consternation. andromeda is the type of  woman that can walk down a hallway and own every single gaze. what does she have to be fearful of? especially here? dorcas would have thought, a place like this it would be her ELEMENT. she certainly looked the part.  dorcas’s voice drops to a whisper. “ why’re you so afraid? “ she asks softly yet  bluntly. her blue eyes dart around to see if they have any eavesdropper. “ I think I’ll go what’s the phrase, powder my nose. would you LIKE to join me? “

IT WAS A TESTAMENT TO HOW TRYING THE SUMMER had been that andromeda hadn’t even realized how her voice gotten shrill with fear, how her eyes kept darting in between the partygoers in search of her parents without a conscious thought. summers in the black household had always worn on her patience, but with her entering her last year, it had become apparent just how different she was from her immediate family. things that her sister could do and follow along behind with ease took longer for her to do, concepts harder for her to accept. unfortunately, with greater age came greater punishments; ones that andromeda wasn’t willing to endure anymore. not with how close she was to leaving.

“i’m not afraid,” the brunette lied easily through her teeth, those she was sure that dorcas, of all people, would easily see through it and make it known that she had. her friend’s suggestion of leaving the crowded hall for a couple of minutes prompted her to release a sigh of relief and a grateful nod of her head. “i would, yes. quickly,” she prompted, throwing another look over her  shoulder before she cocked her head towards the exit. had it been any other time, she would’ve grasped dorcas’s hand and escorted her with her, but the phantom eyes on her back prevented her from doing so.

“i don’t think i’ve had enough firewhiskey to keep doing this.” that was the first true statement that andromeda had spoken that night, said with a small smile as she glided towards the doors. the normally confident woman had been reduced to feeling like a small, no good child in her parents’ company.

[cndromedas-blog]

( bxnesbxy·. )

Edgar had a pep in his step as he made his way around the ball. He had already talked to a few of his professors and made what he deemed to be a damned good impression on a man he was sure to be a recruiter for the Appleby Arrows. He felt fantastic, the slight buzz from the few sips of Firewhisky he had added to his punch leaving him feeling confident and carefree, well, more so than usual. 

“Hey! Please tell me you’re having as good a time as I am.” He said with his signature crooked grin. 

       WITH THE TRIP TO THE DRINK TABLE COMPLETE, and another goblet of spiked punch in her hand, andromeda was content to return to the corner that she’d made into her solace for much of the night, entertaining the thought of sneaking out onto the balcony for the duration of the night. or at least, until her parents became tired of the festivities. she hadn’t, however, expected to almost collide with edgar, who seemed to be having more fun than she could have ever hoped to. “hello, edgar,” andromeda answered with a small, cautious smile. “i don’t want to curb your enthusiasm with my answer, but no. not really. i’m glad you’re having a good time, though.”

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[cndromedas-blog]

[cndromedas-blog]

( hcirss‌. )

     “i am sure there are more amusing things to do with your time,” he begins, looking not at who he’s speaking to and rather out across the crowd. regulus has chosen to seclude himself in a corner rather than engage with those around him in the hopes that it would leave him in solitude. it seems he was wrong, “rather than pester me.” arms cross and the motion sends the small silver stars embroidered across his deep blue tuxedo scattering, enchanted to react to his movement.

       “YOU WOULD BE INCORRECT IN SAYING THAT.” finding one of her cousins in this drab ball had been the highlight of her evening. “i have had the butter beer, i’ve had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of both your parents and mine, and now i would much rather pester you until this is all over. you will help me to be on my BEST behavior won’t you?”