friends closer than family

[Briar Rowan-Cullen]

Briar was now no longer a student at the school. dressed in her gold dress and scarlet uncomfortable heels still following her house colour scheme she had crossed the stage and become a full graduate. it was an odd feeling. she wondered what she would be up to over the next month, the next year, the next ten years. oping that she would be where she wanted to be. over the net month where she was currently aiming at was finding a job.
once the ceremony was over she headed over to where her family all sat. sure there was someone at the back of the hall who she was exited to talk to but her family would always come first. "Iris so glad that you are here, Madlyn, Min so glad that you are here" she said hugging each of them. she was glad that her family was here to support her, she had meant what she had said earlier these people were friends who had become her family.

 

[Minoas Stratis]

The graduation ceremony was over. The graduates had left the podium with their diplomas in hands to join their proud and happy families. Minoas was walking around the hall with hands shoved in his pockets while looking around for familiar faces. He had spotted earlier Briar but she was busy talking with someone so he decided to search for Madlyn who had to talk with for a long time. Surprisingly enough, he found first Briar who was with Madlyn and a woman that Minoas didn't really know but could guess that it was Madlyn's mother.
"Good afternoon." he greeted all three of them before accepting Briar's hug.
"You did a great job up there!" he stated proudly for his sister, nodding at the now empty podium.
"Ready to conquer the world?" he wondered whether or not Briar was ready for that huge step in life.
He had no idea how it would be his own graduation. It must had to be a really intense moment.

 

[Dederick Cullen]

Dederick showed up at Briar's graduation when he got a letter from her sister, saying there was a part of him that needed to be there. At first he decided against it, it took him a few weeks to change his mind. He didn't know how he would tell briar he was gone and he was stupid for hurting her in the first placed. When the time came, and the day arrived that he would show up for her graduation, Dederick could see in her that she had missed him just as much as he missed her. Through her entire speech, he kept his eyes gazing only at her, his hands folded right at his lap, he sat leaning forward, but he was listening, listening to everything there was needed to be said. "Wow, she's..." he would say finishing his thoughts in silence, she's amazing.

She's proved to have done better then him, even prove those wrong that werewolf can achieve greater goals. He felt that sensation, that proud moment, but it slowly slipped away when he realized they were no longer together. The feeling sink low into depths of his stomach, how could he have been so cruel and stupid? Dederick sighed standing up when all the graduates have passed and gone accepting their diploma. He was about to lave, and never say a word to Briar, but something held him back, Dederick looked around for the redhead, he spotted her next to her sister, the part - giant and some other woman, along their side was someone much younger, Dederick moved towards them, he spoke slow and stead, "Hey Briar, congrats on you're graduation, you did....good"

 

[Madlyn Ateara]

Madlyn smiled at Briar with her mom at her side, "Why wouldn't we come?" Iris patted Briar's hair, she gave her a hug very proud of her for doing such a wonderful job. Madlyn sort of just stood there, she had been so busy this morning, so she was a bit tired but she was proud of her sister just the same way. "Minoas this be my mother, Mom, well Iris this Minoas" the woman greeted the young boy, she was much smaller then Madlyn, so it did always seem weird when they were in public together. Then he came around, Madlyn was the first to see him, thanks fawking goodness, if he hadn't showed, Madlyn would've gone searching for him, because truly he had every rights to be there. "Seems like you have a special guest Briar.."Iris said before anyone else can say the obvious, Madlyn smirked, "Yeah, he's special alright" she looked down at her mom, and worded 'boyfriend'. Madlyn stood there just staring, this was much to awkward but she didn't mind it at all. She wanted to see what will happen between Dederick and Briar. "Oh Minoas this is Dederick.." she pointed to the fellow, she was being a bit cheeky for her own good.

 

[Briar Rowan-Cullen]

Briar smiled as Iris said there was no reason that they wouldn't come. "I don't know. but thank you anyway. thank you for everything you have done" she said hugging Iris back. her brother was the Next to speak and congratulate her. "thank you Min." she said beaming. she was really happy around now and didn't know how she could be more so she had her family with her and she had just graduated from school. she listened as madlyn introduced minoas and Iris, looking around as she saw another head coming towards them. she quickly looked back at her brother as he asked if she was ready to conquer the world. she frowned before a cheeky grin crossed her face. "you bet ya, well at least once i get out of these stupid shoes." she said slipping her feet out of the red heels "seriously Min, never wear heels" she continued jokingly sticking her tongue out at him. it seemed very unlikely that her brother would wear heels at all, but it was just a warning incase he ever felt the need.
when the next person arrived briar felt her pulse quicken and her stomach flip. She had seen Dee from the podium when giving her speech but as much as she wanted to she didn't have a clue what to say to him so as madlyn introduced him to Minoas she ducked down and picked up the shoes. so hide the slight blush that was rising on her face. how did madlyn know him anyway? she sensed something was going on here that she didn't know of. goodness this was awkward. "Dederick Cullen. I did not expect to see you here. How have you been?" she asked she wanted to ask him why he was here but didn't at the same time incase the answer to that question wasn't the one she wanted. and he was here to see another friend and had just come over to say hello to be polite. she looked up at her sister. "Madlyn how do you know Dederick?" she asked as far as she knew they had never met before but here she was introducing him to the rest of her family. which made her think she should do the same. "Dee, this is Madlyn, Minoas and Iris" she said introducing them before waiting for someone else to speak to break the tension.

 

[Minoas Stratis]

One moment the gryffindor was walking around alone, now he was surrounded by many people, some of them meeting them for the first time. He liked such kind of events. New acquaintances were going to make him forget that he was wearing a bow tie.
"Nice to meet you Mrs Margera!" he extended his hand to shake it with the woman standing next to Madlyn.
Since he knew that Madlyn had inherited her giant genes from her father, Professor Margera, Minoas had figured out that Madlyn's mother would be of nornal size. She was obviously smaller than her daughter but they looked like a lot. They were sharing similar features and Minoas could distinguish some similarities in their movement as well.

He turned to Briar and rolled his eyes as she was advising him never to wear heels. "For Zeus shake Briar, you should have told me earlier. What I'm supposed to do with my new stilleto heels that I bought for my graduation." he joked and then stuck his tongue out at her as well. While his sister had started using irony, he was going to continue with that.
"You should thank whomever was your source of inspiration to write this speech." he started saying as Briar couldn't stop thanking them for being there for her. "Honestly, for one moment I thought you were going to speak about centaurs, acromantulas and werewolves." he joked about her true nature that she managed to include in her speech in a more considerate way.

Then Minoas noticed another person coming their way. "Talking about werewolves and inspiration..." he whispered with a wink at Briar before the guy joined their little company. He smirked when he noticed Briar's reaction to the newcomer. Minoas could feel the euphoric wave coming out of Briar's expression, pounding everything in the surrounding area.
"...but she was hoping to see you here nonetheless." he murmured right after Briar's statement that she wasn't expecting to see the guy who was named Dederick Cullen. Minoas stopped wondering where he had heard the name Cullen before, when Briar introduced him to her friend. He thought that he had come across with that name in a book talking about vampire history but the guy was far from anything that had to do with vampires. On the contrary, he was a werwolf like Briar. "Pleasure to meet you!" he shook the guys hand with a smile. "Briar had talked countless times about you." he said as he broke the handshake. He wasn't sure if he was bringing his sister in an uncomfortable position but he was trying to help there with his own way. "You are the third werewolf I meet." he continued talking to Dederick with his own special way of referring to werewolves like they were the most common subject on earth. "It's going to turn into a routine. I should be starting hanging out with vampires as well." he commented and looked around at the crowd.

 

[Dederick Cullen]

He didn't prepare himself for this, all of this was just to much for Dederick. He nodded a hello to the woman, and glanced sideways at the part - giant. She was the one that sent out the invitation to him, she sent along detailed letter, Dederick was the one that had to make the choice to come or not. "Well I figure you'd would want me here or something.." he didn't choose his words so lightly they came as he said them, he bit down being horrible at chatting with someone whom he use to be with. That atmosphere changed when the younger boy approached them, he shook his hand, "Oh have she, well that's nice" he said trying to hide the fact his ex-girlfriend still spoke of him, made sense right? Why else would he be here, he spoke of her as well, just to random strangers. Dederick decided not to comment on the whole werewolf part, he wasn't Briar, he was secretive about it, but he did laughed at the vampire reference. Nice kid, he guessed.

Dederick turn to Briar and Madlyn,"Well she sent me an invite and I know I couldn't pass it up" he was discourage with her family around, but fawk it. Dederick shouldn't care, he realized he truly care about this crazy bint of a girl that was a werewolf, and he was sorry for being such an asshat. "I wanted to come and apologize for doing what I did" he said out in the open, "Look I'm sorry I hurt you, and it wasn't right" he added just staring at her alone, but it was something that everyone else here needed to know. Because he was sorry, and he hated himself for doing what he did. "Even if nothing else happens from here, just y'know tell you the truth" he swallowed back hard, all nerves and eyes were on him. He looked away, "Anyways congrats again, you all have a nice girl here" he said to the group as a hold, lovely bird indeed. He was in love with her and there just wasn't anything else he could do about it.Dederick thought of leaving the group, maybe later if she wanted they could catch up, otherwise he felt like he's said enough and if she would accept his apology well then it be grand. Dederick was leaning on hope.

 

[Madlyn Ateara]

Madlyn just stood there, not saying a word, everything that was needed to be said, Dederick was saying. And it was a good thing too, she smiled at Minoas, he was so enthusiastic about everything to do with creatures, she hadn't have to wonder why he was apart of their small little family. "Well then" Iris said looking at Dederick and then Briar, "Mom it's a long story you'll get the details later" she whispered down to the smaller woman, Iris furrowed her brow and nodded. "Fair enough" and then she started a conversation about how well it was going back home, Madlyn listen. Minoas looked away from the group, the conversation turned private but he did look as if he were about to leave. "I'll probably be seeing you around Dederick" Madlyn said raising her brow, she looked at Briar giving her a slight wink in the eye, they didn't fool her one bit, nope not at all.

 

[Briar Rowan-Cullen]

Briar could tell that she wasn't the only one feeling uncomfortable. she knew what she wanted to do, to say but she waited for Dee to talk first. but came her brothers voice came in asking about her not talking speech and not talking about animals "I did a little, but didnt want to bore people too much of give too much away" she said before anyone could say anything else Minoas was talking about talking about werewolves and vampires. she smiled she knew Dederick wasn't as open about it as she was. she hoped that he wasn't being put into too uncomfortable situation and was glad when he laughed in reference to the vampire, yet she noticed that he made no comment on the werewolves, but like she had said earlier it was everyones choice as to what truths were told and which were left to be kept privet, and she knew that her him being a werewolf was one of the latter. a moment later she was the one being put into an uncomfortable situation, as minoas said that she talked about him a lot, had she really? she knew he wasn't ofter far form her thoughts, but she had tried to keep them as that, thoughts, she pulled a face tsk, Min some things are meant to not be said" she chided though she was in too good mood to do so seriously instead rolling her eyes and looking back at Dederick.
As he spoke the rest of the noise of the hall seemed to fade. When it was reviled that madlyn had sent him the invite she smiled at her sister. "thank you" she mouthed grinning like the cheshire cat. As Dederick apologised her smile softened again showing more emotions. "you did hurt me, but i am glad that you are here and apologising means a lot to me" she said giving him a hug something that she had wanted to do again for a while. she pulled back slightly. "I think that I forgive you, if you don't do it again." she said a stern look in her eyes that only lasted a moment before softening. she knew she loved him and and wanted to be with him again, so she couldn't be too tough on him. "like I said before, today is about new beginnings. if that is what you want" she said offering to put the past six, eight months behind them and start again if he wanted to. she could tell he was really sorry for what he had done knew as soon as she had seen him that she had forgiven him so there was no need to drag it on and make it more awkward for any of them.

 

[Minoas Stratis]

Minoas recognised awkwardness in Madlyn's eyes, the same that he was sensing from the werewolf pair.
His comments had made their work and the two of them seemed that they needed some privacy. They had a lot to say apparently. Minoas looked around him once more, searching for an excuse to draw away Madlyn and Mrs Margera, for Briar and Dederick to stay alone. The room was really crowded with families, friends and graduates enjoying themselves but there was a different crowd forming at a specific corner of the hall. It was then that hit him. "Madlyn, let's go and show your mother the trophy you and Briar won during last year's wheelbarrow race." he suggested, pointing at the glass display cases that had been located in a corner of the room for this special event, for the guests to see. Minoas gave to his half-giant friend a let's leave them alone for a while look as he was taking the lead to the trophies' area. "We'll be back soon." he informed Briar and Dederick, although the way he stated that sounded more like, we won't be back for a while, take your time.

 

[Dederick Cullen]

Dederick was taken by surprised when she hugged him, well then. It made him a little comfortable to be around them now but at the same time he was just there, and there was so many things else he had to say. Just here wasn't the right time, and even though Minoas suggested to look over some trophy Dederick looked at them as they parted away, "No it's okay really, I have to go soon, I need to take care something back at my flat" he look back down at Briar she was close to him, his arms rested at either side of her. "Come over to mine when you're done here? Alright, we can talk more freely that way" he said for her only to hear, then Dederick leaned down and kissed Briar's lips, every emotion, everything that he said he pushed to that kiss so that she felt and she would know he wasn't going to do that to her again, he parted ways bitter sweet he would call it. He gazed her forehead as he whisper, "I'll see you later, alright? Take care" he squeezed her right hand, and then let her go. Dederick waved briefly towards her family and then back at Briar, he left soon after.

 

[Briar Rowan-Cullen]

Briar vaguely heard Minoas offer the others some place else to be to give them space. however she hardly noticed them she had a feeling that her sister wouldn't want to leave them, if she knew her sister as well as she thought she would she would want to be there and know what happened. her sences were still focused on Dederick he smelt the same as he had done before. when he said he had to go she looked down lightly resting her forehead on his shoulder wanting him to stay a little longer. however what he whispered in her ear gave her a little hope. she looked back at him and nodded almost unnoticeably, just for him to see not the others. the next moment he was even closer to her and they were kissing, as their lips touched she felt her breath catch in her throat and she froze momentarily feeling a little shy and uncomfortable kissing him in front of her brother, sister, mom, and the rest of the hall however soon this shyness left and she was kissing him back. She tried in doing so to put some of her own emotions into it. soon they separated, and she felt his hands move from her arms to her hand. she squeezed his hand back. "It was great to see you, I will see you soon." she said before letting their hands go. the wide smile seemed to be set on her face. she waved as he left before turning to her family. "Thank you for that, It was a huge surprise, when did you do it?" she asked excitedly trying to work out how her sister had organised that and managed to keep it a secret.

Out of Character:

Madz: I know it is your turn to reply but i will be off to bed soon and thought I should leave it with a new post.