(Untitled)

[homely_illiad]

 Date/Time: Talking to Strangers/ Sunday, October 15th, 2006/ 2:32 PM
Location: Slythering Common Room
Open to: Adriana
Currently Involving: Illiana-- I mean, Illiad

There was no way he was going to be able to focus.

This fact hit him suddenly, in the chest-- so suddenly, that he felt his knees moving against his will to shut the Arithmancy book sitting

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[adriana_winters]

Adriana Winters hated being bored. Very much so. Almost as much as she did Mudbloods.

This committee for the Minister was proving to be no fun at all, and a waste, in her eyes. Nothing of substance was being done, and she was left 'patrolling' the hallways for nothing at all. It, ironically so, made her feel like an Auror, and left her to almost sympathize with how bored they truly must have been last year

[homely_illiad]

Illiad, already completely startled and scared by the fact that he could no longer focus on his favorite book about his favorite subject (for such a studious child, it was frigtening, indeed), almost fell backwards in his surprise. Lucky he had chosen to sit on a sofa instead of a desk. It was his favorite sofa, after all-- the leather one that he could simply sink into. Moreover, everyone knew it was his because after the first week of school, even the first years dared not sit there, except if they wanted to beg his tutoredge.

"Adriana..." the name rolled off his tongue with a very relieved sound to it. "...by Merlin, I thought you were her." Only one day had gone by with the new arrangement and already Illiad was resenting his partner. "You nearly gave me a heart attack. And you ought to know I am no Narcissus..." he said, sinking back into the sofa so he didn't have to look at the table once more

[adriana_winters]

The smirk on her face only managed to grow at Illiad's reaction, not meaning to startle him. Head tilting in greeting, her expression lightened into more of a genuine smile as she watched him.

"Lord, you moved onto dating girls now?" Adriana asked, eyes widening slightly at the mention of this her. Oooh, intrigue! "Have I been away that long?"

Ah, sarcasm. It was a switch you just couldn't turn off on her!

"You have me there, just as I am Aphrodite," she agreed with a smug nod, smirk re-appearing a mere second later as Illiad mentioned someone was aware she was here. As she would hope so, thank you very much. More like the entire school.

"Lovely, thank you... and satiated out of my mind," she replied, accentuating her dislike of the final statement with a drawn-out sigh. Nose crinkling in irritation of her current state of utter boredom, she straightened up and came around to the front of the couch, taking a seat gently

[homely_illiad]

"You know me-- tits and ass all the way," he said, grinning at her and shifting so that she could sit more properly, pulling his legs up under him. So what if he sat a bit girly? He was comfortable, at least, wasn't he? He suddenly wished Brinley was there, and that maybe it could be his fourth year again, before things had gotten strange between he and the older boy, and the pair of them could sit and duel Adriana in sarcasm for all their worth. Really, when it came down to it, the trio shared a magnificent bond of banter. "Nice rack, by the way. What is I'm supposed to say? 'Was your father a baker because I want to hump you in an entirely animalistic way'?" Although he was always expressly vague with most people concerning his sexuality, Adriana was one that he had never lied to. Of course, it wasn't like she couldn't have seen the fact that he was madly in love with his older housemate. Anyone, really, could. But Adriana was the only one he'd ever really talked about the subject at length with

[adriana_winters]

Oh, a round-robin of pure snark and sarcasm sounded brilliant. Definitely something she didn't get enough of, now that she had graduated. Sure, there were a few people she would bicker with at the Ministry, but she didn't get to see them every day and the majority were old geezers who hardly spoke. Probably why Adriana found herself mysteriously in the Auror's offices quite often.

Adriana couldn't resist the snort of laughter at Illiad's attempts to be a heterosexual teenager, quite humoured and disgusted, all at the same time. Taking on an over-the-top flirtatious expression, she wiggled her eyebrows at Illiad. "I much prefer... 'the most stunning piece of perfection'," she said, lips pursing as she sat back against the couch, conveniently flaunting her chest out.

Yes, she did quite like her rackShe had known about Illiad's fondness towards the same sex for quite a few years, and there was a teeeeensy part of her that took flattery in that she was one of the few he felt he could confide in. Lucky for Illiad, Adriana didn't care

[homely_illiad]

Well, damn

[adriana_winters]

Just as much as Illiad may have been a good liar... he was talking to a good one. Pitting Slytherin against Slytherin wasn't normally a good idea, they practically cancelled each other out. Each knew of what to look for because they in turn had probably done the same at some point.

Besides... a DOOR KNOB? Sure, Adriana's hair colour was blonde, but give her some credit, thank you very much!

Raising an eyebrow critically, Adriana's expression tightened, showing her dislike of being lied to. Honestly, a door knob? She had heard better excuses from Gryffindors. It was obvious that something serious had happened, and she didn't appreciate being blatantly lied to. The notion of Illiad doing this to himself didn't immediate come across Adriana's mind, though it would be very alarming if she did know.

"Yes, Hogwarts really needs to do something about all these flying doorknobs," she commented dryly, tone dripping with sarcasm. "How many innocent students need to get whacked from walking in the corridors before Filch does something?"

[homely_illiad]

"I generally count myself among the bless'd," Illiad said sardonically, rolling his eyes. Really, he was quite ashamed of the 'doorknob' excuse. He really thought he was better then that, but there you were. He couldn't always be on his game

[adriana_winters]

"That depends on the actual explanation," she replied dryly, not bothering to even look at him. Illiad didn't like lying to her? Well, Adriana didn't appreciate being lied to! Particularly when it was so utterly obvious that it was a fib. Honestly, was he trying to insult her intelligence? She almost felt a bit offended!

"Yes, well, it's not as though I go around believing everyone is as talented as I am." With a sigh, she flashed Illiad a knowing look of pure cocky pride.

It wasn't as though Illiad needed to worry his bruised little head about what she'd do if she knew the truth about his marks. Adriana Winters didn't care all that often, and though there exceptions to whom she had feelings towards, she was not about to sound the alarms and get all worried for Illiad's health. What he did was his own business, in the end. She'd just have an opinion on it, of course.

"Flying monkeys?" she repeated, eyebrow arching rather comically. Of course she didn't see the Muggle reference, so was left with an interesting mental image. "However

[homely_illiad]

Illiad barely wanted to hear her opinion on his bruising himself, just as he hadn't wanted to hear Brinley's opinion on his starving himself when he had gone through that phase. There were just certain things that he didn't want brought out in the public, because that meant that they weren't his anymore-- and it meant that it could possibly get back to his family or, Merlin forbid, Louvika, who would no doubt throw down the entire school at the word of Illiad bruising his own face.

But the more the topic was discussed, the more and more Illiad felt sick about it. He wanted it over. He felt a sickeningly spinning sensation in his brain that hovered above his chest and stomach, and hung in his brain. He scooted forward in the chair and narrowed his eyes, staring straight at her.

"This bruise then? You really want to know how I got it?" he asked her, feeling quite peevish. "Slammed my head on a countertop. On purpose. Feel better?" he asked her, crossing his arms over his chest

[adriana_winters]

Merlin, he could have just told her in the first place. Saved them both the extravagant flying doorknob theory.

The truth was surprising, no doubt at all, but it didn't show on Adriana's face. A minor tilt of her head, pursing of her lips, nothing more of her expression to show that she was that affected by the confession. Years of masking emotions, despite the fact that the news wasn't that terribly startling to Adriana. She was not aware that Illiad would want to inflict any pain onto himself, but now she did. Wasn't a large deal to her. It wasn't her job to look after him.

"Tsk, no need for the hostility," she said, brow furrowing as she watched him. "Illiad, If you expect me to laugh at you, I'm afraid you're telling your tragic tale to the wrong person

[homely_illiad]

"It wasn't so hard," Illiad said, his normal insistance that he was quite brilliant (something he had to keep up often around his family-- although they'd probably disown him if they knew he learned the Cruciatus!) biting in before he could bite it back. "The Cruciatus Curse, I mean. It only took me four go's. My roommate found me after the third-- did it wrong and passed out, see? Asked me if I'd gotten my period," he said, glowering.

"Expect if I'd done it at home and my brother had found me, he'd have killed me. Not out of concern, but over the principle of the fact that I was using an Unforgivable. And no, I don't care if you don't care-- I didn't want your pity," he said, nearly spitting it.

He really didn't want it. He didn't want anyone's pity-- what he did was his decision and balls to anyone who thought differently. The last thing he needed was another Louvika, who'd nearly cried herself to death after hearing he's starved himself over Brinley Watson.

"I just don't like people knowing it's what I do. It's not like I don't

[adriana_winters]

She simply nodded, smirking slightly to herself at his words. Naturally, she could recall that he was always quick in learning spells, for as long as she knew him through Hogwarts, he seemed more intelligent than most of the Slytherins in his year. Illiad had strong determination, Adriana gave him that much.

Good. So they established that she wasn't going to start crying about his poor little need to hurt himself.

"Peculiar," she offered in thought, licking her lips quickly as her gaze moved off across the common room for a few moments. "Engaging, satisfying... I suppose it's a matter of perspective."

Adriana would practically assume that Illiad knew of her Death Eater status; she was here on the Minister's private committee, and it didn't take a lot of brain power to decipher how loyal Lucius Malfoy really was to the safety of Dumbledore-lovers.

She also thought it was fairly obvious that she was evil.

[homely_illiad]

"Satisfying. Yes, that one," Illiad added, his tone quick and light. "I suppose that is what I meant by 'peculiar'. But it is strange in other ways as well," he said, unable to not say it

[adriana_winters]

There were several other descriptions Adriana could suggest for the Cruciatus, really. It was a twisted means of a curse, in the end. Twisted -- just like her.

Probably made sense that it was her specialty.

"Yes, it does," she agreed, clear seriousness in her tone as she kept her gaze across at Illiad, expression almost as blank as stone. "You have to feel it, need to cast it. Simply wanting to is not enough."

Ah, devotion to evil. Well put, indeed. Sinister, twisted ways had followed Adriana along her whole life, an absence of love, even more so! Adriana had made her choice a long time ago; finally becoming a Death Eater made hardly a difference in her mindset. She knew what she wanted, and she set after it.

"One of the most exhilarating experiences," she replied, needing no hesitation to think of an answer. The first time she actually fired a full-on Cruciatus... stopping an Auror from escaping during a fight. Thrilling. Adriana's eyes seemed to flash as she sat there, recalling the complete power rush she felt every single

[homely_illiad]

The need to cast it. The need. Her words stung Illiad-- he knew exactly what she was talking about. It frightened him, to be honest. While he had always liked Adriana and admired her for her wit, her talent and affinities with the Dark Arts was never something that impressed him, nor something he longed to share with her.

And where they did share the absence of love, instead of ignoring those feelings completely, Illiad chose to chase them and cling to whatever he got so hard that to break it away might mean a tragic death of soul for himself or the person he was clinging to.

"Yes," Illiad said. "I haven't... I wouldn't have done it to another person," he said, suddenly feeling very weak compared to her. He wouldn't have done it to someone else-- it wasn't within his power. Even Andrew Frazer, who he hated more than anything, hadn't been on the recieving end of anything but a couple of silencing charms and more than a couple of punches.

"I mean-- I'm not... I don't do that...group," he said. He didn't know what to call it, although