flower in etheral bloom

[faizashafiqs]

austenprewett‌:

Austen had just about had enough of the questions and the sympathetic glances. Her husband was missing, and all anyone wanted was her to talk about it.

She turned to the person asking the question, and forgot all the prepared, calm answers that had been previously discussed. All that jumped to her tongue was sarcasm.

"Oh, you're sorry!" She drawled. "How awfully generous of you!"

Faiza had overheard the conversation. 

        She hadn’t meant to eavesdrop, but she had. It was difficult not to given that unhappy voices traveled so well. Faiza slipped a piece of hair behind her ear and straightened up. Clearly, the young woman had put up with enough. She peered closer, recognizing the woman from the candy shop. Although she couldn’t remember her name. Faiza bit her lower lip, trying to find the right way to interject. “I don’t know what you’re sullen about.” The woman didn’t look familiar by any of Faiza’s standards, but that meant very little as she sought not to fully integrate into her surroundings. She paused a moment, “Are you all right though? Did they -” Faiza said, looking at the figure that had sheepishly scurried away, “ - insult you somehow?” 

[faizashafiqs]

hanestlythebestlee‌:

Han let out a cheer with the rest of the crowd as the game began. He was up in a box thoughtfully paid for by Henry’d adoptive parents. He still didn’t quite know what the story was there, but Han didn’t want to push too hard over something he didn’t understand.

He was so focused the game, especially Hestia who he had bet on thoroughly before coming, that he wasn’t expected someone to jostle him from behind. It wouldn’t have mattered except he spilled his drink over it. Han turned with a scowl, not knowing if it was someone in the box or on the stairs walking by.

“Do you mind?” he asked. “Some of us are trying to enjoy ourselves.”

Faiza frowned. 

       It was when she noticed the spilled beverage that her features soften. The tone had taken her off guard, and thus she responded defensively.“Sorry about that,” She replied. While Quidditch was not her forte she wanted any and all opportunities to get out of London. Even the change of pace that was France brought her some comfort. She had gotten a box on a whim, mostly because she figured she wouldn’t be as attentive to the game as some other fans. To her, it was an inconsequential game with a large and active fanbase. She could appreciate the commitment with the garb they chose to wear though, and the sense of community it fostered. 

       “Can I offer to buy you another?” She asked, gnawing on her lower lip. Faiza was trying to weigh the options between continuing to annoy the stranger and rectifying the wrong that she had caused. “I would be more than happy to, especially since it’s my fault it spilled in the first place.”

[faizashafiqs]

aliyashafiq‌:

There was nothing about this life she would have chosen.

She wanted to be as far away from England as she could get.  She wanted Jinan to still be alive.  She wanted her parents to retire to a snow-covered waste land where she’d never have to see them again.  She wanted weather that wouldn’t destroy her hair and a living brother who didn’t act like every moment he spent in her presence was a chore.  She hated the formality and the masks and the expectation that she play along with murderers just so she could become one as soon as she figured out the puzzle.

The only thing, the only thing, in this life she held onto – the only things she grasped with all of her strength – was her wife.  But she couldn’t imagine a time or place or universe where she wouldn’t choose Faiza.

She nodded.  Halloween had never been much of a celebration while she grew up.  There was always some sort of party at her father’s offices, but even if they were allowed to attend they were to act more like statues than children.  Jinan had never minded.  He was older.  He was father’s shadow, the good one.  Zahi always had his nose in a book, so she doubted he felt what the missed as well.  But Aliya had, and she was done standing in shadows.  Now that she was old enough to decide she’d have a celebration every reasonable holiday if she could get away with it.  “Yes,” she said thoughtfully.  This country was a mess.  Death and destruction were around every corner.  “A distraction was much deserved for all who attended.”

Her smile brightened at the thought of a Christmas celebration – it was going to be one to remember, that much was for certain.  “I want to invite everyone,” she insisted.  “Not one of those stuffy parties where everyone does the best impression of their great-great-grandmother and raids her closet as well.  No, I want excitement.  Belly dancers and a margarita fountain.  Sushi.  Oh, and paella.  Why should we stick to one culture?  A celebration of everything good in the world.”  Because there wasn’t much left that was worth celebrating.  But she kept that final thought to herself – Faiza managed to stay neutral, as she should.  She didn’t want her wife anywhere near the Dark Lord; if things went south only one of them needed to pay, and these weren’t Faiza’s mistakes.

She tucked her hair behind her ear and shot a soft but genuine smile at Faiza.  She had gotten unbelievably lucky that she had found her.  So few people manage to find true love, but she had and she’d hold onto it with everything she had.  “You picked the dress,” she smiled.  “it all accounts back to your taste.  Take the compliment for yourself, because I wouldn’t look half as nice without the packaging.”

She sighed, deflating a bit when Faiza asked how she was.  Afraid wasn’t the correct word.  Maybe apprehensive was the right choice.  It felt like they were in limbo, just waiting for the bar to drop below what they were able to handle.  Things had been simple so far.  Bad weather and bad attitudes had been the extent of her worry.  “I’m – I’m okay.”  It wasn’t a lie.  She was okay.  She was just worried that it wouldn’t last all that long.  “I promise it’s true.  I’d tell you if I wasn’t.”  But maybe she wouldn’t advertise every stop on the journey.

Faiza watched her wife. 

        There was something that seemed to be lurking that she couldn’t see. She wanted to be apart of the world Aliya kept so hidden from her. Faiza was more than willing to share the burden of finding her brother’s killer. Of becoming one of those followers to that wretched man. She would do all that and more if it meant that there wasn’t this film between them. So thin that most couldn’t see it, but Faiza could feel it. Not all the time, but in select moments like this it felt like Aliya was miles away. Out of reach. Instead of saying any of those things aloud she found herself taking a deep sip of her wine. Drowning herself in the liquid was a way of coping too. It was not so great a difference that it was something to be concerned about, Faiza was just worried. The circle of people she let into her life was fairly small, and Aliya occupied most of it. 

       London had been difficult on them, but not in the ways that she had expected. It was common that they both seemed to be in a war with the weather, but there was a coldness that crept into other places too. She missed their village in Spain where they were surrounded by familiar faces and older woman who would pinch their cheeks and make sure they were eating a home cooked meal every one in awhile. There was a sense of home that radiated through her memories of them there. Although Faiza tried to replicate the feeling here, it didn’t take root as easily. Despite being stuck amongst the smog, the light of her life was always by her side. She could be grateful for that at least. 

       She brushed the thought away and allowed a soft smile to grace her features. Faiza would celebrate any holiday if it brought Aliya joy. “Yes, the holiday party this year will be the biggest we’ve had yet.” She liked the thought of melding the cultures together, or just picking up items on a whim. Faiza looked up, eyes bright. “Can we do a massive white elephant? Have everyone bring a gift and see who gets the best one?” In addition to the variety of food it seemed like a wonderful idea to include some activity. “And we could charm a hill of snow in the backyard so that people would be able to sled.” That was one benefit of the Shafiq estate, how many spaces they had to entertain. It allowed new possibilities to grow. 

        Faiza shook her head. “That’s rubbish.” She said. “You know as well as I do that the dress would suffer immensely without being worn by you.” With her words she stood, walking over to the counter and handing Aliya’s hand in her own. She gave it a light squeeze, taking a seat next to her so that they were closer. “It’s nice of you to try to credit me though.” Faiza said softly, a smiling over at her. It was a wonder to her that she had found such happiness. She figured it was the product of fairytales, something to read but never obtain. “Love you.” She said, primarily because she felt it, and wanted Aliya to always be reminded. 

       She looked ahead, the words were right but the delivery was less than convincing. Faiza sat a little straighter, shifting her body so that she was facing Aliya. “You can tell me what you’re going through.” She implored, just wanting to lighten the burden Aliya seemed to carry. “All of it. Not just the big stuff. I could listen to you talk about mundane tasks or details all day.” Faiza bit her bottom lip, giving Aliya’s hand another squeeze. “I just want you to let me in to it. I know you’re okay, and you’d tell me if something was really wrong, but I want to know before it gets that far. You know?” Faiza’s gaze was downward, as she took a deep breath. 

[upschittcreek]

[faizashafiqs]

zephyrbcll‌:

Leveling a look at her, Zephyr was clearly unimpressed by her take on things. While Zephyr had heard plenty of accents during his time in Ilvermorny and knew there was a difference in accents in the United Kingdom that he couldn’t fully catch onto all the time, it didn’t change the fact that he was proud of his specific accent. He hadn’t left American to get away from home, he was proud of his family and where he came from and somehow losing his accent felt like losing a part of that even if he knew that he was the only one in his new family that had an American accent. While he’d noticed more of a Welsh tilt to Remus’ words when he got drunk and wasn’t entirely sure what Katie’s accent would be besides English, most likely, Zephyr had never wanted to blend in.

“Not exactly. They tried to compliment me,” Zephyr said - or at least, he was fairly sure it was supposed to be a compliment and he simply took it the wrong way. He’d been practicing Welsh for about nine months and while Zephyr knew he still had a long way to go, he thought that he was making some progress. He knew how to say if he liked or didn’t like something, and he’d stopped grinning because he no longer heard ‘cum rag’ when someone said Cymraeg, but he hadn’t expected someone to say he didn’t sound that much like an American. It should have been a good thing and instead he was concerned by it. “My Welsh pronunciation is better than expected. Probably just them being nice. Or an accident.”

“Darling it’s a joke.”

       Faiza did not enjoy the expression that she received from the man. She was from there, that was the entire point. She understood as well as any other American that they were quite fun to make fun of. Granted, Faiza had been in Europe for sometime now, perhaps her own accent had begun to wither. It didn’t really bother her in the same way it perturbed the man. There had been no roots that she had settled down in the States. Instead she had taken everything she cared about and transferred it to her life her. She was able to gain a whole world that truly saw her. “Wherever you’re originally from though, I must say you don’t sound like you came from anywhere near Charleston.” Although her family was originally from India, she had spent most of her formative years there. Surrounded by Southern Drawls and manners that seemed antiquated to her. 

       Her eyebrows were drawn together, tilting her head slightly to the side. “You’re bothered over a compliment?” Faiza asked, more so as a clarifying metric than anything else. It was an odd reaction from Faiza’s perspective, but perhaps this person didn’t share her disconnect. She couldn’t say for certain, but from his words and dagger glare she figured it was a safe bet. “Ah, Welsh does tend to be difficult to pick up. So much so that it’s not a language I have attempted.” She was better with the romance languages than anything else. Particularly Spanish and Italian had come easier than anticipated. Although, she did live in those communities and practice daily. “I don’t think they meant it to be a bad thing. Being good at something else, doesn’t mean you’ve lost what you had originally.”

[faizashafiqs]

aliyashafiq‌:

“You should show me,” she smiled softly.  Her mind told her that she was saying for the eavesdroppers, for the cameras that sat just out of sight.  But her heart told her a different story – her heart hoped Faiza would take her seriously, would say yes.  “Can you imagine?  Macarons in the piazza under the moonlight as a second date?  Don’t think, just say yes.”  Her Italian was better than her Spanish anyway.  It would be so easy just to slip away the next few days… to spend a whirlwind weekend in Italy with this girl she felt sure she was falling for – even if she wasn’t quite ready to admit it out loud.

Oh.  Usually she’d flip her hair from one side to the other and give a flirty laugh.  She would confirm that she did look fantastic and maybe offer a compliment in return – a watered down one, because most people didn’t look as good as she did.  But Faiza looked better.  She found herself blushing and diverting her eyes.  A small smile grew as she examined the delicate napkin that had been folded over her plate.  “You look lovely as well.”

As soon as the breadbasket was on the table Aliya grabbed one.  She methodically tore it into small pieces and put them on the small plate in front of her as she listened to Faiza speak.  Nasty business.  God, did she ever understand that.  But an unexpected flare of protectiveness burned in her chest – she didn’t like that Faiza understood it.  But when she said she loved plants the temporary feeling dissipated and she laughed heartily.  “Oh I can’t escape them, can I?”  She wiped away a few tears and tried to control her short, laughing gasps.  “You sound just like my brother, I’m sorry.  I used to make fun of his plant obsession – it’s dead useful, I just liked to get under his skin.  It’s just funny – I leave home to find myself with a reminder of it.”  It wasn’t a negative reminder though, so much as a flash of hope.  That even if everything changed, the good parts of her childhood could stay with her.

“Oh I um –” she bit on her lip, trying to think of a hobby interesting enough to share with this attractive, worldly woman.  “I like to write.  Not professionally or anything – my family moved around so much growing up.  Nothing felt steady.  I used to write down everything i felt and everything I saw.  It was like an anchor of sorts.  I also quite like traveling, but on my own terms.”

“Yes.”

        Faiza had breathed the answer even before Aliya had offered all of those qualifiers. She grinned, leaning forward. Her eyes grew wide, searching the other’s expression. Could she be this good of an actress? It seemed to come so easily to the other, Faiza hoped that she was matching it at the very least. She slipped a piece of hair behind her ear, batting her eyelashes.“It would be a marvelous second date.” Faiza agreed, excited at the prospect. Again, she knew that she was doing it for show but there was a sliver of hope that began to peak through. There was a glimmer of hope that the woman at least enjoyed her company on a platonic level. If she couldn’t keep Aliya in her life in any other capacity, she would certainly settle for friendship. 

        The blush that rose to Aliya’s cheeks even looked real from where Faiza was sitting. The demure reaction was something that wasn’t played up for the cameras, but looked natural. At the returned compliment, the grin widened, a gentle laugh as she looked down at her hands. It was nervousness that provided the laugh, not because she found it funny. “Thank you.” Faiza said softly, meeting Aliya’s gaze to ensure she found it to be meaningful. “Although I still don’t believe I would hold a candle to you.” It was her simple opinion, and she didn’t emphasize it for anyone else. They were just truthful words that she couldn’t help but let tumble out of her mouth. 

       Once the breadsticks were on the table Faiza watched as Aliya slowly demolished the breadstick. She picked up her glass, taking another sip, the sudden laugh from Aliya taking her off guard. “Escape who?” Faiza asked, trying to figure out what she had said to trigger the response. She watched as Aliya wiped away tears, joining in not because she understood the joke but because her laugh was infectious. “Oh, so I’m like . . . your brother?” Faiza asked, a laugh slipping through the words. It was quite an odd talent to attract people around you who were into plants. In her experience it wasn’t a particularly popular hobby. “I will certainly add to that reminder.” She remarked, a smile on her features. “I think I mostly like to watch things grow. It’s one of the few things my mother and I were able to relate on.”

         The last sentiment had more candor to it than she wanted. Faiza rarely talked about her parents if she could help it, but it slipped out so easily when speaking to Aliya. “So, do you just have one brother? Or are there other Shafiq siblings?” Faiza asked, figuring that to the untrained ear they would sound like typical first date questions. That she was just asking so that the reporters would have something to add to their articles. Faiza had grown up an only child, so she was used to the emptiness of a home, not the way the voices of children could fill it up. 

       “Write,” Faiza repeated, mulling over the idea in her head. Her first instinct was to ask to read something, but it felt too personal. Her fingers drummed lightly on the table, hanging onto every word. “I think that’s a splendid way to ground yourself. Especially since it sounds like your surroundings weren’t so stable.” Faiza took a moment just to look at her, before straightening herself in her chair. There were compliments and questions that flowed through her that she didn’t quite know how to phrase. After a moment she looked up. “I think that’s a fantastic hobby.”

[faizashafiqs]

zephyrbcll‌:

“I can’t believe they said I don’t sound like a proper American. What kind of bullshit is that? Of course I’m American, there’s nothing weird about my accent.” Zephyr continued to protest, absolutely unimpressed by the claim that someone had made hours earlier. While he’d been in the UK for over a year and wasn’t as confused about the cultural differences anymore, he hadn’t considered how that might actually change him.

Really, not sounding like an American while he was attempting Welsh should have been a compliment, but the idea of him losing his accent was unsettling in a way. He was proud of his accent and even if Zephyr had come to terms with the fact he might never move back to America and even told Remus that he was right and Zephyr possibly was starting to count as British, it was just weird to lose part of what made him who he was. “I don’t sound strange, right?”

“You’re right,”

        “You are too liberal with your syllable count to be an American. You must use less of them.” Faiza teased, looking over at the fellow. It was one of the stereotypes she liked to lean into when speaking about American. It seemed like there was a perception of either greatness or idiocy, Faiza was happy to play in both worlds. “If you’re asking honestly I would say that you have just as much of an accent as I do.” Although to be frank she had never much considered her accent. It was never an important part of her character, so to watch the man struggle with it was intriguing at best. 

         Faiza raised an eyebrow, cocking her head to the side in thought. After a moment of pause she looked up at him with a shrug. “Can’t say that it sounds strange.” She leaned forward a bit, considering it. It had been an awful long time since she had heard a proper American accent. Faiza had kept strictly to Europe for the past several years. “Why? Did someone say it sounded odd?” She inquired, detecting nothing particularly different. Even if there was something different it was rude for the person to say so. It’s not that you could really control who you spoke. “I’d simply ignore them.”

[faizashafiqs]

zahishafiq‌:

Zahi looked up as he heard someone on the landing, and he smiled as he spotted Faiza up there. They had some things in common, and Zahi was thankful for it. He had no idea what he would say to her if he couldn’t have the common language of plants to tie them together.

“I appreciate that,” he said. “I’ve been all right.” He still wasn’t quite feeling happy and himself again, the lingering bitterness from Jinan and Azra’s anniversary keeping him up on nights when Rod wasn’t there to take his mind off it. That meant most of them.

“I do have to admit I wasn’t stopping by for Aliya.” He pressed his lips together and shrugged. “I thought I’d take a walk through the gardens while the weather is still nice enough to enjoy it. Would you care to join me?” Zahi had planned on walking alone, but it seemed rude not to invite her, especially when they would both be in their element. “By the way, I hope Bailey isn’t causing too much trouble for you.”

“Splendid to hear.”

        Faiza said, although there seemed to be something that flitted across his expression that make her question that. It was true that her and Zahi shared a similar interest, but that didn’t make him an easier person to read. With Aliya it was like second nature to Faiza, but her brother-in-law? It was still like deciphering clues that she couldn’t quite put together. Faiza tossed a hand through her curls, eyebrows knitting together at that admission. She wondered why he would stop by if not for Aliya. She didn’t question it though, at leat not right away. 

        At the mention of the gardens Faiza nodded. “I would like that very much.” She said, the gardens were perhaps the place where she felt the most right in the world. Once she was walking through it the greenery seemed to wash away the grey tones of London. It was nice to be reminded that there were natural elements aside from the cobblestone and brick she seemed to be surrounded by. Even when she felt absolutely trapped here it seemed to bring her joy. Not that trapped was the right word for anywhere that had Aliya in it. She would do anything for her wife, but the surroundings could be suffocating. 

        She gave a good natured laugh with a look over at Zahi. “She’s an interesting one.” Faiza paused, slipping a curl behind her ear. “I like her. Although I am not sure she quite likes me. Got quite the green thumb on her.” 

[faizashafiqs]

alarickane‌:

“Just for holiday, I think my wife is too attached to leave despite the war,” Alaric said lightly, although he thought Greece sounded like a fantastic idea. He’d like somewhere with beaches, somewhere with warm nights and open skies for stargazing, but that would need to wait until at least Christmas if not the summer thanks to Pandora’s job at Hogwarts. By the time Christmas rolled around, their new home should be done and perhaps they’d want nothing more than to curl up there together with the cat, or maybe Pandora would want to visit her parents for Christmas. It was certainly too early to be making too many plans. “But thank you for the suggestions, it’s been a while since I last left the country. Are you a frequent traveler?”

Perhaps she was new and that was how she’d ended up in the wrong place, although Alaric didn’t wasn’t going to hold getting turned around anyone, especially since this wasn’t where he meant to go and he was familiar with his surroundings. “As for the Magical Menagerie, you need to go back to Diagon Alley proper. I’m afraid you’ve wandered into the Carkitt Market section, but since I’m supposed to be in Diagon Alley, I’d be happy to show you.” Alaric offered, holding his arm out for the woman to take if she so pleased. 

“Even a holiday would be stunning.”

        To feel the warmth of a place instead of the cold smog that London offered. It was something Faiza thought she would never get used to. It did not embrace her like the beaches of Spain had. It was just as unfeeling as the home she grew up in. Just as stringent too. When her mentioned that his wife was too attached to a place Faiza understood. She hadn’t before she had met with Aliya in Spain, but the quaint little town where they had their wedding felt more like home than any other. If it had not been for the dire circumstances of Aliya’s family she thought they might settle down there forever. Faiza considered the word choice before smiling. “A frequent traveler yes. I traveled from America to Europe after school, before meeting my wife. Although it’s a pity, since we moved here we hardly travel at all.”

        He was less judgemental about her lack of direction than she expected. Faiza was grateful for that. There was a crinkle in her brow at the mention of Diagon Alley proper, realizing that she didn’t know the difference. “I would be charmed.” She said, linking her arms in his. Faiza tried to note the direction that they were headed so that she wasn’t in this situation again. “So, are you from here then? You seem to know your way around.”

[commander-candles]

[faizashafiqs]

aliyashafiq‌:

She had been to Italy many times over the years.  A short stay in Rome.  A long summer holiday in a small beach house in Sicily.  She had hated it when she came with her family, but when she was alone Italy had been been life-changing.  “Stunning,” she agreed, her eyes lighting up with excitement.  “I did.”  She leaned forward, setting the menu aside for just a moment.  “I spent a few days there before moving on.  It was incredible.  And the shopping.  The only city I liked better was Florence.  Florence was so incomprehensibly beautiful I don’t know if I could do justice trying to describe it.”

Italy had been the first place she had ever gone where she was truly able to be free.  No one knew who she was.  No one was pinching the skin above her elbow and telling her to behave.  She was free to eat whatever she wanted and see the sights she wanted to see and run topless down the beach without worrying about reputation.

But Spain was something different entirely.  Italy felt exotic.  Spain felt like home in a way she hadn’t previously known how to describe.  She had barely been here for a week, and yet she could already see herself staying, settling down and living out the rest of her days here.  And if she ran into Faiza on most of them she would be far from disappointed.

She put her menu down at the suggestion.  “No, it’s brilliant.  Let’s do exactly that.”  She placed the menu on the edge of the table and leaned forward.  It was partially for the cameras she knew were hidden somewhere nearby because she had owled in the top herself.  But it was also because she found this girl utterly fascinating.  “So tell me more about yourself.  I assume you don’t spend all your days sunning on Spanish beaches, as fantastic a life as that might be.”

Faiza nodded in agreement. 

        “Florence was quite gorgeous.” She admitted, and she leaned in to listen. Faiza wanted to convince herself that she was just playing it up for the camera. That the nervousness she felt would subside. But as she looked over at Aliya she knew deep down that it wasn’t the case. No one had ever set Faiza on edge this much. At least no one that hadn’t mattered to her. “And the shopping there is phenomenal. There’s this cute little shoppe by a macaroon store. If you ever go back, it’s worth a visit.” Not that she’d encourage Aliya to leave so soon, but it was one of her favorite spots. Things she had collected alongs the way. Pieces of Florence, Spain, and others littered her pockets and reminded her that home did have to be the place she’d grown up. It could be elsewhere entirely. 

        Faiza wanted to say so many things but found herself negotiating with herself. She leaned back, glass in hand, taking in the scenery. It was a way to calm herself. Suddenly her heartbeat was in time with the ocean. The gentle crash into the waves into the forgiving sand. Faiza took a sip of the liquid before setting it down. She didn’t want to drink too much of it before the first course. “Speaking of gorgeous things, you look positively radiant. I don’t know what I did to deserve such company.” Faiza said with a glance over to Aliya.  She tossed her curls over to once side, looking down at the menu before closing it. Faiza set it over Aliya’s, a large grin crossing her features. 

       “Excellent! All of them it is.” Faiza motioned the waiter over and told them of their plans. He put a complimentary basket of breadsticks on the table. She thanked him, smoothing out the table cloth out of habit. “To get to your question I would say travel had been my passion for the past few months. Had some nasty business back home that I wanted to escape from.” Faiza paused a moment, unsure whether breaking off a marriage could quite qualify as “nasty” or if it was something more. “I would say that I like plants mostly. My Mother used to keeps lots of flowers around the house, so I developed sort a green thumb. I also have an eye for fashion. So aside from the beaches I would say that those keeps me busy.”

        Faiza leaned forward onto her elbows, slipping a piece of hair behind her ear. “What about you? You must have other hobbies as well. Unless you’ve made a profession of saving women from their own swimwear. Although if you’re around me enough perhaps you could make it a real business.”                   

[faizashafiqs]

✉ aliya

@aliyashafiq

[ unsent ] You’d tell me if something was wrong right? London hasn’t changed us that much has it?

[ unsent ] I don’t think Bailey likes me at all. not that i mind having her in the house, but she might even like me less than Catalonia. which is saying something because she only ever vomits on things on my side of the closet. 

[ unsent ] are you sure I can’t steal you away for a week in November? We could escape to Spain and dance under the sun again? Please say yes, my skin is already losing its summer glow.  Plus, I would die to see you in beachwear again 

[ unsent ] please stop watering the plant in the hallway. i think you might give zahi an aneurysm if you overwater another one

[ unsent ] do you think you can still find them? I want to be supportive of your goals, but I don’t know how to help. 

[ sent: love of my life ]: I found the perfect shade of red lipstick for our Christmas party. I say we decorate soon ! 🌲❤️ ❄️ I was thinking maybe a tree in every room? Might spruce up the place. 

[faizashafiqs]

marcus-bulstrode‌:

Marcus wasn’t one to run into old acquaintances. He could count on his hand how many actually wanted to see him anyway. Maybe even less wanted him alive, however that was neither here nor there. Marcus was a ghost to most of them, a person that disappeared and assumed dead.

He’d left France for that reason, and for the most part he’d been able to escape the past. Still there was always that assurance people could pop up. Han was an example, even if he was a family member.

Marcus Lee had died awhile ago, but Marcus Bulstrode still had to clean up his messes. That’s how he felt after all when suddenly he was being asked a question by a person who he was pretty sure wouldn’t mind stabbing him with a sugar quill if they wouldn’t shatter.

“Chocolate frogs. Although be aware they jump,” Marcus said still calm and collected. Marcus was rarely afraid, but he was wondering when the consequences of his previous actions were going to stop.

“They also come with collector cards.”

Faiza’s gaze flashed over to the person. 

         It was uncommon that Faiza saw someone that she recognized in London. It was away from her family, schooling, and much of her other travels. Yet the stranger elicited a response of familiarity, just not of the positive kind. Her eyes narrowed, lips about to form the words ‘thank you’ before it hit her. “You,” She said, with an accusatory jab of her finger. “You’re the prick who left me high in dry in France!” Faiza had hoped the poor fellow was dead because any altercation with her after that point was bound to be unpleasant. 

         Faiza’s search for sweets was momentarily abandoned as she stepped a bit closer to him. Even the candor of his language was enough to set her on edge. Did he not remember? There was no way such a theft would have escaped his mind. The plant that she had paid him to smuggle was still one missing from her collection. Her eyes were narrowed, certain that she was not mistaken in who she had identified. 

         “You must remember me.” Faiza said. “Because I have not forgotten you.” There was a flurry of questions Faiza would have liked to ask, but she was blinded by the fury that she felt. It also brought a keen awareness of the fact that they were in public, in this dreadful candy story.          

[faizashafiqs]

themalcolmgreengrass‌:

It was only a couple months left until the baby had its due date and he managed to have his staff at the manor prepare for that day. The room in which they designated as the new nursery had been in the process of remodeling and decorations. Diana had been the one to look at color palettes and the array of plants and furniture to be installed. With a day off of work, Malcolm found it suitable to look for something to make her bed rest more enjoyable. He couldn’t imagine suffering from such boredom and knew that he was gone for hours a day to not keep her company as much as he wished to. There were many shops in Diagon Alley that he implemented his search on. Malcolm did not care much about price since he could afford anything under the sun, and he wasn’t looking for anything specific as he browsed the storefront windows. 

Being a man of taste, Malcolm thought he had a good eye for anything that Diana might like but struggled with what that could be. Perhaps he could return home with something for the baby instead. There were shops for children, never having gone in one before and not knowing what he would even get. The reflection of himself in the window stared back at him as he tapped his fingers, mulling over an impromptu gift. This had never been something he struggled over, sending Diana many gifts over the course of the time she ignored him. He had been quite creative then. But now, those ideas were dull in his mind, knowing that anything would be appreciated under her eyes hopefully. Malcolm let out a tense sigh, straightening his shoulders and turning his chin to the person next to him. “Honestly don’t know what to get my wife when she has everything,” Malcolm commented with a half shrug. “I got her diamonds last Saturday and she didn’t say anything. That might have more to do with me than the diamonds…how can someone be upset at diamonds?”

“Diamonds are a girl’s best friend.”

        The shiny rock would have been enough to keep Faiza content for a month or two, just to watch it gleam. But that wasn’t the way that all women worked. Particularly women who were used to this sort of attention. “Perhaps she is not upset by the diamonds, but it’s not what she needs.” Faiza was as much as a gift-giver as the next person, but she also valued open communication. It felt like to her that if someone kept going back to the same sorts of gifts that there might not be the right intention behind the present. Each occasion would warrant something heartfelt and thoughtful. While presents build off of monetary value were nice some of the time, it didn’t compare to the feeling of knowing someone truly thought about what they gave you. At least that’s how she felt about the issue, she figured the stranger might have other ideas. 

         “Was the jewelry specific to her?” Faiza asked, with some interest. It was like a puzzle she was trying to fit back together. Even if it wasn’t necessarily her puzzle to deal with. It did allow her mind to wander away from the sort of helplessness she had been feeling in the alley. For some reason, the directionality with all of the buildings put Faiza ill at ease. She found herself lost when trying to look for things. She tapped a finger onto her chin, looking over toward the stranger. “I could help you try to find something.” Faiza offered. “I must say I am an excellent gift-giver.” 

[spider-woman]

San Junipero (2016) dir. Owen Harris

[faizashafiqs]

aliyashafiq‌:

She preferred a nice white wine – the flavor was better.  But there was something so romantic about a deep red.  She took the glass from Faiza, gently swirling the liquid against the clear glass, watching the ruby red drip delicately down the curved side.  Eventually she brought the glass to her lips, taking in a long drink.

It was nice, the pleasant warmth that radiated out from her stomach, making her feel looser, happier than she tended to let herself be anymore.  This country had her as tightly buttoned up as she had ever been.

It wasn’t that she was closing herself off purposefully, especially not from Faiza.  Her wife was the only person that got every part of her – it was more that she didn’t want to be here.  She didn’t want an eternity in this depressing country, an unsuccessful story of vengeance and getting lost in a war that she didn’t care at all about to be her story.  She wanted more than this – but this was her now, and she wouldn’t leave until she avenged her brother’s death.  She needed to accept that, and the only way she could without it costing far more than she was willing to pay was to construct some walls.

But the wine?  The wine took those walls down, piece by piece, until she felt free to be herself.  It was nice, but it was only nice because she was alone with Faiza and she trusted her with her heart and her mind when they were at their most vulnerable.  No one else got this part of her.

She hoisted herself up on the counter, kicking off her heels and tucking her legs underneath of her.  “I think so.  I just wanted to give people a chance to escape, even if it was just for a little while.”  She looked down into the glass for a moment before smiling up at Faiza.  “I did.  The people here are far more pleasant than the weather.  I think our guests had fun as well.  We’ll have to plan something for the Christmas Holidays.  A dinner party, perhaps.”

She paused, glancing up from the glass to look at her wife.  God damn, she was so lucky.  “You look…” she trailed off, waving her hand as though that said the words she couldn’t get her tongue to form.  Surely it was the wine.  She was usually more eloquent than this.  “very nice.”  Hot.  So fucking hot.  Honestly, it was a beautiful dress – it would look better on their floor though.  

She hadn’t had quite enough wine to forget that she was a lady and they had guests.  But maybe a few more sips and they’d slip her mind.

Faiza took another sip from her glass. 

        It felt like she hadn’t gotten proper alone time with her wife in ages. There was always the separation of formality that seemed to come between them. She understood that with Aliya’s allegiances to the Death Eaters that there was a level of pureblooded lifestyle they were expected to lead, but the entire process fatigued her. Faiza didn’t know how people did all this party planning and fake socializing all the time. Her aloof nature made it difficult for people to break down her walls, although she had never included Aliya in that consideration. She was like a beacon of light that could break through the darkness and illuminate her life. 

        The lack of alone time had meant that they had not been able to speak frankly with one another. As she watched her wife drink the wine she felt an ease about the air. Faiza smiled at Aliya’s first sentiment. “I think an escape is a worthy cause. People could use it from what I have seen.” Halloween, for all of its faults, did allow people to become something else. It wasn’t Faiza’s preferred method of dealing with the general situation, but she couldn’t blame someone who would take advantage of it. “I wouldn’t dream of missing a Chrismas party,” Faiza said with a grin. 

        Christmastime was her favorite time of year. It was when Aliya and Faiza had gotten married. It contained her birthday. Not to mention Faiza loved any and all opportunities to shower her loved ones in gifts. She had a particularly inspired thought for Zahi this year that she couldn’t wait to see turn out. Just the thought of the manor showered with tinsel and spots of red was enough to bring her joy. It would distract from the fact that they were stuck in this smoggy city for another holiday season. Faiza was happy to be anywhere though as long as she had Aliya at her side. 

        “Thank you,” Faiza said, meeting her wife’s gaze at the compliment. Aliya was so stunning. It often took her breath away. “You look beautiful as well darling.” She added, thinking about how the clothing seemed to hug the curve of her body in just the right ways. “There wouldn’t even be a contest as to which one of the party attendants is the fairest of them all because compared to you there would be no competition.” Faiza punctuated the sentence with another swirl of her wine, taking another sip. Finishing off the bottle had been a splendid idea. 

        “How have you been love ?” She asked softly, making sure her voice wouldn’t have been heard from the next room over. “ I mean really been.” Faiza didn’t mean to press the issue, but communication was her primary way of feeling safe. She was worried a bit when they went too long without truly talking. Not because she was worried about Aliya, but she wanted to be able to help if she needed it. 

[conceptualsolitude]

concept: me, years from now, wandering through my huge greenhouse. warm sunlight streams in. birds and butterflies and bees and all my favourite plants keep me company. no one disturbs me.