clever as the devil & twice as pretty

( cis male | he/him | michael b jordan ) —— isn’t that CASSIAN ALDRICH MALFOY? yeah that is them, outside the three broomsticks! they used to be in GRYFFINDOR but apparently they now work as a PROFESSIONAL QUIDDITCH PLAYER ( SEEKER ) with THE MONSTROSE MAGPIES . sybill once said that they reminded her of confidence that could kill, a grin as sharp as a knife, clever as the devil and twice as pretty, body aching from his drive -- never satisfied till victory was in his grip, eyes that only craved the gold that had his broom lurching, half of a whole -- unquestionable loyalty for those who he was bound too, tainting anything within his reach - the man was poison. anyway i’ve heard they’re still a bit RECKLESS, ADROIT and NEFARIOUS, they’re TWENTY-SIX now but some things never change! i wonder how being a PUREBLOOD is affecting them after hogwarts, especially now they’re a DEATH EATER? i guess only time will tell…

       the  hum  that  coats  her  throat  is  a  clear  indication  of  her  understanding ,  arms  drawing  to  cross  against  her  chest  as  rosine  regards  cassian  with  a  nod .  “ just  like  everyone  else  here ,”  it’s  just  another  occasion  to  garner  influence -  something  so  dreary  like  a  funeral  could  serve  its  purpose  to  the  willing  subject .  “ but  what  is  the  count  now ?  …  two  times  in  a  week ? ”  a   smug  expression  replaces  the  somber  one  that  had  been  contouring  her  features  for  the  past  hour   as  rosine  continues .  “  i’d  be  brave  to  say  that  we  might  be  friends  rather  than  acquaintances .” 

    even  with  a  distorted  view ,  rosine  can  distinguish  the  other’s  elegant  visage ,  but  it’s  not  the  sleek  dress  robes  that  catches  her  attention .  she’s  seen  materialistic  riches  all  her  life ,   “ that’s  because  displeased  wouldn’t  be  the  right  word .”  rosine  knows  better  than  to  let  his  taunting  produce  a  reaction ,  but  it  doesn’t  stop  her  from  suddenly  snapping  her  gaze  towards  him  when  he  starts  to  pull  away .  it’s  not  begging  nor  a  plea ,   but  it’s  rather  close  :  “ you  wouldn’t .”  two  words  that  aren’t  a  challenge ,  more  so  an  observation  .  

“maybe it’s fate --” he joked, there was nothing about his self-assured smile that indicated that he even believed remotely in the concept of fate, oh no -- life was what he made it, every moment -- every second with her had been a choice and his pride could not be concerned with being humble or willfully naive.  jaw dropping as he feigned shock -- melodramatic to say the least as his hand rested over his heart, “we weren’t friends in your books? i wouldn’t have ever guessed --”. shoulders falling into a shrug as he drew closer to her while trying to remain a respectable distance, “i couldn’t resist --”

closed ; @cassianmalfoy​

      for  an  event  that  was  meant  to  memorialize  a  legacy  that  ended  too  soon ,  rosine  stays  in  the  front  row  of  the  venue .  appearance  always  mattered ,  she’s  reminded  by  her  mother ,    especially  since  it  was  her  blood  that  organized  the  event .  it’s  a  cheap  performance ,  one  mangled  with  prose  recounting  the  importance  of  family  from  rodolphus  and  other  bit  a  painful  farewell  to  what  innocence  was  left  in  grace  tuft .  whomever  done  it  had  a  stake  in  the  war ,  that  much  was  obvious  as  families  with  different  allegiances  stood  in  the  same  room .  this  was  a  rare  occasion  where  everyone  could  come  together  with  a  similar  thought : it  shouldn’t  have  been  the  tufts .  the  tight  squeeze  of  her  hand  only  relaxes  once  rosine  realizes  the  company  that  had  stepped  besides  her ,  the  figure  of  a  familiar  body  welcome  as  a  distraction .  “ i  should  have  known  you’d  show  here ,”  rosine  decides  that  cassian  needn’t  realize  the  relief  his  presence  brings  .  “ the  view  from  where  your  family  wasn’t  enough ?”

he should keep away -- there were far too many eyes and a chatter that had his ears ringing. he had been good, good for all but ten minutes before his resolve trickled away, she was standing at the front, the kind of beauty that he hadn’t appreciated till a well deserved tongue lashing -- she was a united front for rod, what was the harm of an old friend saying hello? a somber smile stretched his lips as he garnered her attention, “i had to pay my respects” he stated easily, as practiced as he was -- perhaps a part of him was sympathetic, he didn’t doubt the annihilation of the tufts would serve its purpose, but he certainly wasn’t enthralled with the idea of the lone wolf grace tuft would become. 

“l i s t e n -” he starts, pointing, laughing, “buying that box at the stadium was not clingy, it means i’m really fuckin’ proud you’re on the team, and i fuckin’ love quidditch and i want good seats, dammit!” he shakes his head, but he’s grinning all the same. “I clearly don’t neglect you that much.” he’s missed spending time with cassian, and he rather enjoys how easy it is to get back into a natural rhythm with his old friend, the laughter continuing to escape him.  “mhmmmm, so you get to come spend time with gus gus, but we have to be model gentlemen about it?” he queried, the mocking tone giving away his clear amusement at cass’ predicament - even he didn’t exactly enjoy irritating liz. “but that doesn’t mean we won’t still be having fun, even if we aren’t getting into trouble. because it was a damn good season.”

he rolled his eyes – he should have expected this, really he should’ve – but he doesn’t care all that much. hell, might as well let him have the first go, it’s what he asked for after all. “i can’t wait to watch.” really, he couldn’t. he hadn’t played since their school years, but he’d never lost his love for the sport, and, really, how could he when he was getting to watch cass in the pro leagues? you’d be hard pressed to find someone -cass excluded, of course- who was more thrilled about it, or proud of him for it. “you keep me around because i know too much… and so do you.” he aims another grin across the table, just for a moment before letting it fall,  nodding now, as he pretends to get a little more somber,  “and because for a half hour every fourteenth wednesday, i admit that i love you a little bit.”

“no, it was EXCESSIVE, as it was flattering --” genuine smile stretching his lips, “thanks mate --” the soft mumble, unmistakeable glee, he knew he had a lot to be proud of and he could list all the things he did right, but gus’ faith in him was special in its own way. he had seen him from the very start -- a scrappy kid that had a legacy that was daunting to say the least. “piss off - it was a good show and we both know much you crave it” it had been a messy game - bloody even, true sportsmanship in it’s GLORY.  “ i can’t afford her wrath at this time and i have another reason --” he admitted, he had been debating on whether or not he would share, he had meant it when he told rosine that he didn’t want a spectacle, but he could trust gus to keep his lips shut. “rosine lestrange --” giving the boy a look as he leaned back against the booth, fingers trailing along the rim of his glass, waiting for the flurry of questions --

@cassianmalfoy​

“Hello, Cassian.” Faith was unsure of how her cousin would react to her presence, but he needn’t worry. She wasn’t sticking around here too long. “Been busy?”

“faith” he greeted quietly - he was startled by her appearance, but should he really be? most would be happy to see their cousin,but what coursed through him was guilt. 

it did take a certain kind of patience to be in the position that rod was in. a lot of self reservation and temperance that he didn’t have when he was a child. he was a rowdy boy, liked being able to defy things as they came because he could, because he had been spoiled. though after a while he had been whipped into shape, knew what he needed to do by the time rosine came into the picture. by then, he was already an adult, at least that’s what it had felt like at that age, he was just a kid then, only having a couple of years of pure freedom before everything had gotten unloaded on his shoulders. it was easy now, the self control that he had clung onto so tightly, but there were times when he wished he could let lose more. everything needed it’s place in his life, all these little boxes of feelings and actions, they had to go somewhere, it often felt like an on coming storm most of the time. but it was moments like these, with friends, where he felt a bit of relief, his smile wasn’t so tight, and he could relax into his seat more and act like the person he used to be—whoever that was. 

“that’s one word for it, but you didn’t hear it from me.” he says with a smirk, sticking a note on josie’s desk and grabbing his coat and walking quite hastily with cassian. he understood the undertones that he was asking, was it worth it? maybe a couple of years ago, a lifetime ago, he would’ve been more honest, but thoughts change, and he was proud of himself and his accomplishments. he was in a position of power he had alway dreamed of being in. he liked being at the top, he wouldn’t lie and say that he didn’t. he looked at his friends and smiled. “of course.” he says, his voice an even tone, there were so many underlying tones to it though. he looked around him briefly, his smile his mischievous and dark, but it quickly fades as they step out. “moved, huh? where to this time?” he says, a bit of excitement of going somewhere new. it wasn’t that he was particularly chained here, but it was nice to have a different scenery every now and then. 

“glad to hear it --” then again he doubted that rod would tell him otherwise, it didn’t matter - he was already in that position and it was too good to simply drop. one look at him, he couldn’t help but think that he did seem pleased, either that or he was much better at playing the role than cass could ever dream of being. 

“well I know how you get when you’re feeling neglected, cass, picking up the tab’s really the least I can do,” he tosses back, grinning and chuckling as he echoes cass’ request to the bartender. but listening to what he’s missed only leaves him laughing  harder - “admit it, you’re already hiding from your groupies and fan club, aren’t you?”

shaking his head, he lets out a sigh as he settles, watching the bartender leave the new bottle. “i’ve been at the dream job for a while, so yeah… i mean, i’d probably say I like it. i’ll like it better when montrose wins another cup, though. it’ll be more impressive when I tell people embarrassing stories about you.”

“piss off -- i’m not the clingy one and we both know it” cheshire smile wide and bright as gus flagged down the nearest bartender and handed off their order, “--but if neglect is how i get by with free drinks, please keep up with the tardiness -- my vault thanks you” he joked, he could go out drinking every single night for the rest of his life and it still would barely scrape the contents in there and yet there was something so satisfying about someone else covering the tab. the groan that escaped him was riddled with exhaustion and exasperation of the fact that the prick in front of him was not wrong -- “it’s end of season buzz, i can’t go out anywhere, nearly had to beg for this and if i have anything but a smile on my lips, liz will gut me -- i’m not her project at the moment and i think it would be in my best interests to remain on her good side” he breathed out, his own laughter soon escaping -- pissing off his publicist was surprisingly something he would like to avoid, she would quit on him with out a single ounce of hesitation if he became too insufferable. “-- besides, my days of shagging groupies are over” he admitted, it wasn’t even him hiding from them out of pure annoyance -- no, he now had a duty and he doubted rosine was the type to turn a blind eye, he couldn’t imagine he would respect her if she did. 

“is it?” she couldn’t see how but she was forcing a smile anyhow, tight and measured. “oh no, my mother has her elves well trained, though i don’t live at home anymore, i haven’t for nearly a ear now.” she had moved out the second she’d learned of her mother’s treachery. she hadn’t done more than the bare minimum to maintain family ties since, not writing letters but appearing at family functions as expected. to keep up appearances, that was all she had consented to. 

“oh? for the team, then?” she nodded “well, i could always lend a hand in decorating, if you wanted the helpful eye.” she offered gently, not meaning to offend. 

“it is if you make it so -- if i assume that it’s entirely mundane, that’s all it will feel like, right?” shrugging, that and he didn’t truly want to admit that it was a tedious task, he already wasn’t the best option for small talk. “oh” that was a surprise, “it was time to spread your wings, then? where are you living?” 

       his  quip  causes  the  faintest  tug  at  the  corner  of  her  lips ,  already  half  convinced  by  cassian’s  astute  conclusion  regarding  himself .  rosine  hadn’t  needed  the  proof -  it  was  obvious  from  their  first  conversation .  the  portrait  that  his  own  parents  had  tried  to  hang  of  him  had  missing  parts and  the  critic  in  her  found  his  appetency  to  discover  hers  that  more  intoxicating .   the  malfoy  heir  stands  before  her  now ,  the  details  that  were  forced  to  hide  sketched  in  the  sarcasm  that  dripped  with  each  word  resonating  with  her  as  something  that  felt  familiar  .  “you  haven’t  got  to  convince  me  of  that ,”  rosine  says  with  a  small  nod ,  as  if  her  resounding  sentiment  was  enough  to  bring  round  the  idea  of  both  of  their  flaws  were  weapons  their  parents  had  over  looked .  “ in  our  world ,  being  perfect  is  the  closet  thing  to  being  ordinary ,  but  i  never  wished  for  that   for  my  life .” 

    rosine  basks  in  the  truth  for  a  moment .  there  comes  temptation  to  dress  herself  in  the  glorification  cassian  so  freely  throws  at  her ,  but  instead ,  she  stops  him  before  he  can  continue  on .  “ i  was  never  given  the  privilege  to  have  choices ,  cassian ,”  rosine  reminds cassian just how human she was .  “ arranged  meetings  with  men  who’ve  read  what’s  on  paper ,  but  it’s  always  easier  to  conquer  something  you’ve  imagined  than  the  reality .”  she’d  ignore  the  times  she  had  sabotaged  the  idea  of  marriage ,  especially  when  it  had  only  been  presented  to  her  as  a  transaction  her  whole  life .  but  cassian  steps  closer  once  more ,  every  attempt  she’d  made  breaking  .  he’ s  persistent -  

    only  a  small  moment  is  spared  to  imagine  him  seated  with  her  family ,  the  twisted  image  sparking  the  somber  but  smug  luck  to  crack .  “  you  could’ve  always  sent  me  an  owl ,”  that  would  have  lent  to  a  better  likelihood  that  rosine  would  have  entertained  the  thought  in  accepting  his  initial  invitation .  but  this  process  was  already  different ,  rosine  could  feel .  he  still  wanted  to  familiarize  himself  with  her  before  committing  and  that’s  something  she  respects .   “ montrose ? ”  she’s  not  entirely  sure  why  that  catches  her  off  guard ,  “ i  wasn’t  even  aware  that  you  had  land  there .”  the  skepticism  isn’t  intentional ,  cheeks  burning  at  the  realization  how  ridiculous  she  sounded .   of  course  she  hadn’t  known ,  there  was  bound  to  be  many  more  things  rosine  didn’t  know  about  him .  “ just  tell  me  when ,  and  i’ll  make  it  work .”  his  efforts  to  accept  her  wishes  mirrored  his  own  wants  ,  that  much  was  evident  as  cassian  watches  her  fixedly  for  her  response .  she’d  hold  his  gaze  for  only  a  moment  more ,  breaking  it  at  the  abrupt  scoff .  “ i  wouldn’t   start  counting  your  victories  yet ,  cassian . ” 

“as long as we’re in agreement” he chirped, even if it was at his own expense -- image was nearly everything, especially considering he was constantly in the public eye. there was no escape for it, and his parents didn’t think they were stretching the truth -- no, he was their first born, arguably one of their greatest victories, not only was he their male heir, but he was a non-reserve seeker for one of the BEST teams in the leagues. he was so busy being so many things -- appearing the way they needed him too, his own desires seemed to take a backseat. his own thoughts, the occasional distress, it was a weakness he couldn’t afford to show anyone but the woman before him and that was for the sole-purpose to prove that they were more alike than she thought. “what do you desire?” he question quietly, not bothering to disagree, she wasn’t wrong -- perfection was the bare minimum these days, that was already expected - but being EXTRAORDINARY was something entirely different.

it wasn’t pity that coursed through him -- it was more confusion than anything and perhaps it was because his sisters would simply take or at least he assumed that they would, he knew that he would never understand the limitations that came with being a woman and he would be a fool to try, but watching his mother -- she was a force to be reckoned with. he would bet galleons that it was power and her own fierceness that drew his father to her, “that’s a shame --” he breathed out, honest to his bones, “they thrusted their desires on you, i can grasp that and i won’t be ignorant to say that i understand it, but what you do with those choices is on you, is it not?” he questioned, earnest as he was to understand. “what i mean is -- look at me, yes, i could have been their choice, but you agreeing to dinner to an extent was out of your desire, is it not? your parents will not know of this, neither will mine -- you willed it to be on your terms. if you can’t beat them at their own game, you change it --”

@beforedawnstarters​ || location: leaky cauldron

coming back to the booth with a grin - and a fresh round of drinks - augustus slid easily back into his seat. “i know, i know, i spend too much time at work,” he said, rolling his eyes, “spare me, yeah?” with a laugh, he grabbed his glass and took a long drink before speaking once again. “i’m here now, and i’m buying, so let’s just have a good night. what have you been up to?  fill me in.” 

“excuses, excuses --” he drawled, he himself had arrived just a few minutes before, did augustus need to know that? no harm done with a little leverage. “you’re buying?” smile wickedly bright, “lets start with some blishen’s and build up to poorer choices --” he didn’t have an early morning, practice was well into the afternoon, he deserved to wake up a bit late. “relocated to montrose, thought it would be easier for practice, security is far more strict, can’t apparate directly in -- training is training, nothing but aching bones, but when we win another cup it will be worth it --”

a hurried errand to gringott’s, that’s all it was though she hoped to return to a more leisurely pace once it was done. she had opened a new account and had been secreting things away to store in it. an account her parents, especially her mother, could not touch. it would be important in the years to come. when she heard her name she paused but relaxed when she was able to associate it with cassian malfoy. now there was a man her mother would approve of, but even that thought didn’t stop her from taking a shine to the older pureblood.

“just adding a few heirlooms to the family vault.” she said cheerily through the lie, putting her key away carefully in a hidden pocket of her dress. “can’t be too careful these days.” she added as he’d likely seen her do so. “and you cassian, what brings you to gringott’s today?”

“that’s -- exciting” charming smile toying at his lips, sounded like an absolute bore and tedious, however his mum would have a fit, if he was impolite. quirking a brow curious, “i’m hoping you aren’t speaking from experience -- if it’s the household, my mother may have some more reliable elves available” 

      rosine’s  cheeks  threaten  to  burn  red  with  a  mixture  of  embarrassment  and  frustration ,  the  sheer  will  it  took  her  to  keep  her  lips  sealed  fading  with  each  passing  moment .  to  yield  would  stand  against  everything  she  believed  in ;  but  the  amusement  glinting  in  cassian’s  eyes  had  the  ability  to  drive  her  mad  if  she  let  it .  “i’ve  never  said  that  i  thought  the  perfect  picture  they’d  paint  for  you  caused  me  to  feel  anything ,”  it’s  a  poor  attempt  to  correct  the  male  before  him  but  it’s  the closet  rosine  has  got  to  the  actual  truth .  anything  she  allowed  herself  to  feel  simply  didn’t  fit  the  narrative  that  had  been  written  for  her .   however, she  is  still  trying  to  decipher  how  someone  like  him  even  cared  enough  to  see  through  that .  

     his  close   proximity  allows  for  an  opportunity  to   distinguish  the  scent  that  dresses  cassian’s  robes ,  one  that  was  so  sophisticated  but  sweet .  if  she  had  taken  a  second  to  see  past  her  own  prejudices ,  rosine  would  nice  the  side  of  the  male  that  didn’t  align  with  the  tabloids .  it’s  subtle ,  even  as  she  notices  the  smallest  bit  of  restraint  on  his  features .    “ i  was  just  checking  to  see  if  you’d  exhausted  your  other  options ,  at  least ,”  she  offers  sarcastically  ,  the  last  word  hanging  on  her  tongue  as  rosine  ponders  on  what  would  have  happened  if  she  had  shown  up  to  the  dinner  her  parents  had  infamously  organized  for  them  to  meet .  he’d  behave  ,  she  reasons  ,  but  at  least  she  would  have  been  able  to  nip  this  in  the  bud  then .

     or  that’s  what  she  would’ve  liked  to  think .  she  holds  his  gaze  once  more ,  arms  crossed  against  her  petite  frame  even  as  the  sound  of  the  hogwarts  express  is  welcomed  at  the  station .  any  other  girl  would  have  felt  charmed  by  his  words ,  and  it’d be  wrong  of  her  to  say  that  it  didn’t  coax  her  already  high  self-esteem  but  she  doesn’t  move  from  her  passive  stature .  she’s  reminded  of  rodolphus  and  bellatrix ;  a  marriage  that  had  been  arranged  for  the  sake  of  power  but  this  felt  different . there  was  no  power  to  be  created ,  no  wealth  needed  to  be  gained .  families  around  them  are  waiting  to  gather  their  students ,  but  all  of  her  attention  is  still  spent  on  contemplating  the  offer .  “ i’ll  only  say  yes  to  dinner  with  you  if  it’s  anywhere  but  at  the  estate ,”    rosine  concedes  ,  “ if  you’re  half  as  good  of  a  person  as  you  say  you  are ,  cassian ,  then  i  cannot  predict  a  reason  why  you’d  disappoint .”   

the chuckle that slipped his lips was hearty and genuine -- he didn’t have to know her like the back of his hand to know that he had possibly won their first little debate, it would be insulting to call this an argument - he knew she more than likely had more jabs tucked away, but he wasn’t that much of a sore winner either. he doubted flaunting his ability to be an arse would have her keen on him. “of course not -- i’m the farthest thing from perfect, rosine” the quietness that came with what was said might give her some insight on how much he resented that word. the perfect heir. the perfect son. the perfect seeker -- the perfect soldier. as much as he heard it, it had never grown on him -- he was extraordinary, he knew that much, but there was something about the perfect image that often had him far too riled, and yet he knew he was one person and one voice -- perfection was an expectation. he couldn’t help but wonder if the jaded woman in front of him was a product of that as well.

“you were my first choice” he admitted, there was very much a list - his mother had been passionate about doing this right and yet, her name was at the very top. justifiably so -- the lestrange family was well-known for its reputation and their children - blood as pure as it goes, they valued what mattered. however, the convenience wasn’t what him hooked, it was more so  the woman who refused to worship the ground he walked on  -- it was refreshing to feel normal and the more he was around rosine lestrange, he was sure that it wasn’t a ruse to draw him in. she truly didn’t care about that -- she didn’t care at all, about his reputation or him really and that made her all the more attractive. “you can’t tell me you didn’t have a list or a line of suitors” grinning wildly as he carefully drew closer to her, “you were the only one i cared enough to entertain”

          Sure, they lived in a world where there was death all the time, but Grace still felt alone. They felt like the entire world was crashing down around them. Death kept surrounding their world and they didn’t know how to make it stop. “I just want to know who.” That was something Grace hadn’t admitted to very many people. 

          “It is… it’s not great. There’s a lot going on. I’m having to learn things that I never expected and never paid attention to before.” Grace hadn’t expected all of this. “However, I’ll figure it out. Who knows maybe I’ll be better at this than my mum ever was. Or my grandfather.” They shrugged. “I grew up in the Ministry practically.” And while Grace might not have expected this, they weren’t clueless.

“would it make a difference?” he knew that was an ignorant question to say the least, “if you knew, what would you do? they’re clearly operating outside of the law --” rightfully so, considering what their society has come too, “bringing them to justice just might end with your life on the line --” as if it wasn’t already, “i don’t think your name should die with you, do you?” 

rod rolled his eyes, his smile still there but genuine this time. “it takes less muscles to smile than to frown.” though he would admit that there was a certain charade he had to play now that he was chief warlock, it was politicians work but he had been made for this. it had been a while since rod had a proper duel, though he had far less time to even think about it. “i’m not, but i can be.” he says, looking over to josie’s desk and back at his own. he really didn’t want to be here right now, having a drink with an old friend seemed nice, plus he had a couple of questions he needed to ask about his sister anyway. “let me just tell josie to cancel all my meetings.” it had been quick, and then he was walking out with cass. 

“you’re far more practiced than i am, we both know i don’t have the patience for it --” he could only be relieved that his family wasn’t pushing for more of a presence in politics, they held a seat and it was more for show than anything -- just a means of swaying a vote, he knew what his purpose was. “i would say that i’m flattered, but it seems like i’m saving you from a day of boredom --” 

it was rare when he found time for himself, there were always people walking up to him with questions and it truly was a test in his patience, which was normally very well maintained. today had been a rather late start, meetings seemed to drag on longer than they should and by the time that he got out he was ready to go home, but of course he couldn’t just do that. he had just finished talking to someone by the time he made it down to the main area, hearing someone calling out towards him he had given himself one second before turning around, a polite smile on his face before realizing who it was. “now who let you in here?” rod teases walking towards him now. “well i can certainly point my wand to your throat if you want to give these people a show.” he says, shaking his head. 

“i was just asking myself that as well--” he chuckled, brows raised as he took in his expression, “how’s your face doing, mate? i can imagine that your lips must ache if you have to plaster that smile on for everyone” 

          There were people Grace never knew that came up to her, but recognized her from the paper. She tried to keep herself from cringing whenever it happened. Sometimes she wasn’t always successful in that though, sometimes she couldn’t help it. Grace knew that her name, her face, had been plastered all over the papers after her family died. People were going to recognize her and act like they knew what she was going through. At twenty, Grace wasn’t supposed to have to worry about these sorts of things, yet here she was. 

          “Yes,” Grace said, simply, not feeling like she needed to elaborate. Clearly he knew who she was, a person really had to be living under a rock not to know, but that was beside the point. Grace couldn’t help but frown a bit at the next words. “Most people can’t. I wouldn’t expect many people to.” Maybe it was a bit rude, but honestly she was a little tired of people being sorry for her loss or not being able to imagine it. 

lips twitching as what could have resembled a smile at her blatant bluntness rather than wilting away in tears, “considering our world right now - death is more relatable than joy, is it not? the prophet makes it seem so --” the boy shrugged, every day, another loss. 

   rosine  notices  the  slight  crack  in  his  expression ,  almost  ready  to  take  the  victory  until  he  manages  to  twist  her  words .  she’d  rather  look  like  a  fool  than  admit  that  he  was  right -  “ who  said  i  was  talking  about  your  youth ,  cassian ?”  all  she  knows  about  him  though ,  is  what  she  had  been  told .  her  mother  had  sized  him  up  to  be  like  any  other  perfect  pureblood  mate ,   but  now  it’s  easy  to  know  she  had  received  the  same  grooming  of  his  character .  he  was  everything  she  absolutely  despised .  or  so  she  thinks  as  she  continues  to  give  him  the  time  of  day .       

   her  cheeks  grow  warm  as  cassian  continues ,  rosine  forcing  her  lips  to  stay  sealed  to  stop  herself  from  saying  something  regrettable .  she  wonders  for  a  moment  if  he  knows  that  he  lucked  out ,  rosine  couldn’t  walk  away  from  this  conversation .   “ why  stop  there?”  she  asks  instead ,  deciding  it  would  be  a  waste  to  even  argue  the  validity  of  his  opinion  of  her  .  “i’m  sure  daddy  would’ve  had  more  adjectives  about  me  if  you’d  just  asked .”  truthfully ,  she  had  expected  worse  since  she  had  been  so  quick  to  serve  her  worst  traits  to  him .  yet,  he  continued  to  surprise  her .  “ i  suppose  that  i  should  be  thankful  that  you’ve  decided  to  extend  your  best  efforts  on  me  ,  right ?  i  wonder  how  many  other  lucky  witches  there  have  been …”  she’d  be  a  fool  to  completely  disregard  that  cassian  was  practically  a  celebrity  of  sorts .  his  quiddich  career  had  marked  him  with  a  reputation  that  she  assumed  drawn  in  attention  from  many  families .  so  why  was  he  so  fascinated  with  getting  hers ?

   then  she  becomes  still  for  a  moment .  there’s  a  sentiment  written  in  the  margin ,  but  as  rosine  scans  his  features  ,  she  is  unsure  of  his  intentions .  “ you  love  the  challenge ,  don’t  you ?  that  i’m  something  feral  you  can  try  to  groom  to  your  liking ?”  that’s  the  only  scenario  she  can  imagine  in  that  moment ,  especially  when  that’s  all  she  was  to  her  parents .  “ because  cassian  malfoy ,  if  you’re  convinced  to  marry  me ,  i’d  suggest  not  offering  to  take  my  hand   here  at  king’s  cross .”  she  finally  breaks  his  gaze , “ i  might  not  be  like  the  other  pretty  prospects  you’ve  been  offered ,  but  i  still  have  standards .” 

cassian couldn’t help but look amused, especially as she landed exactly where he hoped she would, “it must be my youth, dear rosine --” word like honey, smooth and hushed as he drew closer, “because surely - if we had spent time together, it would be engrained in my memory and i know that you surely aren’t talking about what you’ve heard about me, that would be hearsay and i thought those assumptions were as presumptuous as it was insulting”. the smile at his lips was not even in the slightest humble as their debate had come full circle. brow raising as she became vocal about what truly laid beneath -- there was nothing endearing about daddy and if he didn’t know better, like most pureblooded children, “perhaps” he agreed, fairly sure that the lestrange patriarch would have painted the picture that he thought cassian desired. just like any father from a respectable family would -- it wasn’t about who their children were, no it was what they represented and how much value society put on it, it was as confining as it was irritation, he was sick of the ideal woman who was placed in front of him so carefully, he didn’t need a sullen woman in his life -- he wanted fire and excitement, two qualities rosine lestrange was proving she held by every moment that has passed.

“speaking to your father about you directly implies that you don’t have a voice worth hearing, don’t you think?” he challenged, “think what you may about me, rosine but i’m not a misogynist and i certainly don’t have time for a puppet”. brows furrowing with every word that was uttered, as much as he loved to hold on to his poker face -- he was nearly as besotted as he was confused, “that would imply that you are lesser than myself, wouldn’t it? that my attention should be something that should be vied for and i’m simply doing you a favour?” words plain as day, “i can’t imagine a strong woman like yourself would even for a second let myself - or any man make her feel as such” he uttered with a fierceness that he didn’t think he was capable of. “of course there has been women” there was no point in lying, tabloids of his days fresh into his professional career had been colourful -- so colourful that his mother had given him a rather aggressive lecture on subtlety and the importance of PRIVACY,  “i think i’ve made it clear that i’m here to discuss you, unless you’d like a list before you even consider me a worthy candidate of you?” he had been tempted to colour it as JEALOUSY, but he knew if he even had the slightest chance of linking himself to a respectable woman who wasn’t going to bore him to death, calling her jealous was certainly not the way to go.