Open where the music doesn't reach

[Marina Vortalis]

Most of the school was buzzing about the roses and whether or not they were going to the dance tonight, Marina had chosen the second option - ie, she didn't want to go. She'd gotten a couple of roses that she was happy about, but dances had never really been her thing. She'd only gone with Ares to the halloween one because he'd asked her and she didn't see why not, and then for Yule she'd invited him back because he'd invited her the first time. This time she felt like the quota was met so it probably meant she had no need to go - but also she just... Valentines day was always a hard day for her, because it was the last time she'd seen her mother and she didn't really want to be focusing on that. It had been years now and she still hadn't really figured out what had happened and since her dad didn't talk about it she wasn't sure if she would ever know. She didn't think she wanted to know. So Marina had quietly retreated to the Library where she hoped she could get some peace and some quiet studying done with half of the school engaged in whatever they were doing at the Dance in the great hall. She had a half read Herbology text book on one side of the table and was currently scanning through the charms stuff they'd been told to read up on. She wasn't sure how she felt about Professor Blade or whatever his name was, but she didn't see why she couldn't get a bit of a head start on the workload. Marina didn’t mind being alone… but a part of her wondered if anyone else had skipped the dance, too.​

 

[Ares Zephyr]

Ares on the other hand, had gone to the dance. He'd walked in to see Juni dancing with Lewis, and while part of him had wanted to make his presence known, he couldn't help but get the feeling that most people in the school didn't want him around. He'd been nothing but delightful to Juni and yet she still seemed unsure of him. And Lewis? He'd sent him a rose, but he'd never really spoken to his roommate properly. He just didn't know what to make of it.

Someone that did seem to want to spend time with him though, was Marina. She'd called him sweet. He didn't want things to start getting all cringey and complicated between them, but he was happy enough to call her a friend, and no friend of his was going to be doing homework on a day like today.

Making his way over to her table, Ares picked up the Charms textbook. "I don't think there's anything in here about how to liven up a party," he said, turning the pages of the book. For all he knew, there could be, since he hadn't actually read it. Honestly Marina should have been glad he was in the library at all. Last time he was in here Freddie had punched him, so he no longer felt safe around these parts of the school.

 

[Marina Vortalis]

Being honest with herself, Marina was surprised to see Ares in the library. Though she had invited him, she had rather thought he would have found someone to go to the dance with, or just simply attended by himself. Those kinds of things had never really been her forte, she wasn't like her siblings, but this was a little different. Valentine's Day specifically was a bit of a weird day, and she didn't know if she really knew how to explain it either. So when she saw him head towards her, she stood up suddenly, almost kicking her thigh on the edge of the table. "Ares!" She quickly looked around before she ducked her head at her sudden outburst. She really hadn't expected to see him. Not at all. "I mean.. there might be one or two books maybe?" she offered, though she really wasn't sure and so she sat back in her seat again because remaining standing seemed silly. "I didn't expect to see you, but I'm happy you came."​

 

[Ares Zephyr]

Ares glanced over the book to look at Marina who'd suggested there might be other books that could help him. She had to know he wasn't being serious? He was glad when she sat down again, although he closed the Charms textbook and dropped it back onto the desk in front of her. "Well.. good," Ares knew coming here would be the right decision. At least someone was pleased to see him. "I'm not staying though, and neither are you," he rested his hands on his hips, hoping the Ravenclaw didn't think he was here to help her out with her homework. "Whatever you're doing, it can wait." Ares wasn't going to take no for an answer. Even if they weren't going to the dance, they didn't need to be cooped up in here with the smelly old books for company.

 

[Marina Vortalis]

"I really don't want to go to the dance, Ares," she said, trying to emphasise that she really didn't want to go to the dance. She wasn't going to be very good company anyway, at least here in the library she could exist without really taking up other people's space. This was a place she was allowed to exist and just be sort of by herself, quiet. She appreciated that her friend had stopped by but she really didn't want him to take her to the dance. She wasn't going to get any enjoyment out of it whatsoever and it just didn't make sense to her to go. She'd ruin his night and inevitably anyone else they came across too. "I didn't have time to to the essay they set for us and if I don't do it soon I won't get it done," she told him, though she wasn't entirely sure how truthful she was being on the matter.​

 

[Ares Zephyr]

"Who said anything about going to the dance?" Ares asked, trying to make it as clear as possible he had no intention of going back. "It's boring, just a bunch of students pretending to tolerate each other so they can have something else going on rather than classes. Which," he moved another book out of her reach, "is also why it's pointless doing homework. There's other stuff to do, so let's goooo," he was starting to whine now, his patience already wearing thin. "We can go outside, play something that doesnt necessarily involve sitting awkwardly on a broomstick. Or go down to the creatures huts and find something cute to stroke," Ares was too young to take Care of Magical Creatures but that didnt mean he wasn't looking forward to it. The first year sighed, "Your essay isnt going anywhere, but I am." He started to back up a few steps, "Your choice Vortalis."

 

[Marina Vortalis]

So they weren't going to the dance? Had he just come from there maybe? She was kind of relieved to hear she didn't appear to be missing out on anything, she had been wondering if there was thinking going on there she might have wanted to join in at, but if no one was having fun then she didn't really see the appeal. His assessment of the dance made her a little sad though, surely someone had gone to the dance because they wanted to be there right? She'd probably never know. She wasn't sure if Ares had any other ideas about what they could or should do, but... maybe he was right and staying in the library was just as dumb as going to the dance? At least if she had Ares around to keep her some company she didn't have to worry about dwelling on her mum. When he started to back up a few steps, she hesitated in indecision before pushing her chair back and away from the table and standing up to follow him again. "Okay, okay, I'll come with you." If he left her here now, she didn't know that he would come back and she didn't have all that many friends to justify telling them no too many times. "But I don't know if going to the creatures hut is a good idea, we should probably only go if one of the professors are there because I think some of the things there are a bit dangerous." Even if she was really curious.​