he couldn’t help the smile that curved onto his lips at her anger. it was still satisfying, her anger, even if it wasn’t him she was directing it at – apparently making her mad was a habit he couldn’t kick. “different people, the same people – it doesn’t make much of a difference now.” alex shrugged, ignoring the soreness in his shoulders. no matter what he did it wasn’t enough for them but he was grateful that he had some ‘freedom’ at least – though it he was most likely being tracked. he glanced over at her as he turned his palm up for her to take. “–so, since you’ve missed me so much and feel bad for me, you’ll pick up my tab right?” alex joked, taking a sip of the drink that’d been placed in front of him as if she’d already agreed. “your parents know that you’re here?”
she huffed a bit, eyes narrowing, “it makes a difference to me.” she may not be any sort of match for the dark lord, but someone else----teaching THEM a lesson might not be impossible. her lips twitched upward into a smile, relishing the familiar feel of his skin against hers as she took his hand; alex was still here and that was what mattered. “have i missed you?” she teased, turning in her seat to face him, “what’s in it for me if i do?” she asked, but motioned to the bartender to put his drinks on her tab all the same. her expression soured at the mention of her parents, and she shook her head, “no, why the fuck would i tell them anything? lloyd would never forgive me if they found out about this place----though maybe finally there’d be a bigger disappointment in the family than me.” she sighed, her tone one of forced nonchalance----bringing up her parents was always a surefire way to make her angry, “anyway, they won’t expect me back til tomorrow, so----i’m all yours tonight, al.”
“if you want me to move, then you’re gonna have to make me.” he replied with zero hesitation, not bothered by her tone. it’d been a while since he’d gotten to see her and on any other night he would have been happy to see her just not –this night. coming straight from a ‘meeting’ with the dark lord’s shit pool of followers over his behavior had went anything but well. it showed on his face and arms – in the way his shoulders slumped when he leaned against the bar top motioning for the bartender. she didn’t need to see him like that but – he couldn’t very well leave now. alex sighed, “or you could move instead?”
valeria’s eyes slid over to him, breath hitching as she took in the bruises and cuts that littered his face and arms. this was her fault. she’d never vocalized it, and wasn’t sure she ever would, but she knew. being with her had led to alex getting caught up with the death eaters, to her parents (and the dark lord) punishing both of them. and in a strangely selfish way, she was happy that the dark lord had taken an interest in him; it kept him a l i v e, where any other person in his position would be dead. but it BURNED her----rage simmering just below the surface, her fist clenched on top of the bar----to see that anyone had hurt him. and normally, nothing would keep her from hurting them just as much (worse, actually), but----she faltered, face turning downward for a moment----you didn’t fight the dark lord and win. no one did. she’d never felt less powerful, and it showed. anger, helplessness, and guilt (more than anything, guilt) churned in her stomach and flashed across her face as she tried to think of something to say; finding conversation with alex had never been hard before this.
“no,” she started, fingers itching to reach out and make contact with him, “stay.” please----the plea was unspoken, but hung in the air between them. she knew it might not be wise, but she couldn’t keep it in any longer, and asked, voice tight with anger, “who was it? who else---”
a brow quirked, but she gave a shake of her head in response. “hmm — NAH, it isn’t.” she settled into her perch anyway. brown hues locked eyes with the bartender. a dare. “do your worst.” she flicked her gaze back to val, a frown tugging at her lips. “this,” sibella gestured, “is tragic as fuck. what’s got you down??”
val rolled her eyes, an unwilling grin flitting across her face as her friend sat down next to her, “you’re lucky you’re too pretty to hit, sib.” she let the silence stretch out for a moment between them; it wasn’t as though she could tell her what was really going on. “just one too many pricks thinking they can chat me up just because they’ve bought me a drink-----worried you were another, but i don’t mind you chatting me up, i guess.”
Dominique jumped a little when the girl next to her spoke. Though it wasn’t unusual for there to be tension between the Order and Death Eaters, this girl’s attitude had come from no where - Dominique had never even seen her before. “Considering this is a public space I think I can sit where I damn well like. Maybe try putting a bag on the seat next time.” The blonde snapped before turning to face the other direction.
“actually, bitch,” val was almost happy the girl had snapped back; it gave her something to take her frustration out on, and she had plenty. leaning forward with a vicious grin, she continued, “considering this is my brother’s bar, i think you can sit where i fucking tell you to----so why don’t you move the fuck along before i do him a favor and raise the standards of this place by kicking your ass to the curb, hm?”
she had finally, finally been able to get away from her parents after dinner; practically fleeing, she’d ended up at one of the bars her brother owned that her parents didn’t know about; one that served anyone, muggles and wizards alike (filthy money was still money, lloyd said). sitting at the bar, she absentmindedly spun the stirrer in her drink, the noise around her drowned out by her own thoughts, though she wasn’t so lost in her own head that she didn’t notice when someone took the seat next to her. “you know, people usually fucking ASK before they force their unwanted company on someone else. seat’s taken.”
wot wot it’s intro time again my pals and so here is some info about valeria carrow aka hot mess express~
valeria carrow was born on april 18th 2003 to parents unknown. YOU SEE, her parents (distant cousins w/ artemis) had been trying for a while to have a child and were finally pregnant, but the child was stillborn. rather than continue trying, though, they took newborn valeria from her parents (and likely killed them as well----but she doesn’t like to think about that)
basically though no one outside of the immediate family knows this? they initially needed an heir of sorts to help continue the family legacy, and while valeria has turned out to be a disappointment to them in a lot of ways, they all still guard this secret and keep it close to their chests simply bc of the trouble they’d be in for passing off a halfblood or muggleborn as their pureblood daughter???
anyway valeria had no idea about any of this until about her 6th year when, after quite a bit of time not living up to what her parents thought she would be she was told----and from time to time when she messes up they still like to rub the fact that she’s not their real daughter in her face like “you were lucky we picked you” etc etc
val tbh doesn’t know how to feel about it? her parents (along w/ the dark lord) are pretty much the only people she’s scared of but she thinks its true she wouldn’t have some of the things she does have ($$$, her life tbh) if it weren’t for them so even though she hates them she’s weirdly grateful and also feels stuck with them anyway.
ANYWAY lmao val’s spent a lot of her life disappointing the carrows; she’s too wild, not disciplined enough, while her tendency towards violence is praised it just isn’t channeled in the right way for them? she was never by any means a muggle sympathizer but she was just apathetic when it came to REAL pureblood ideology and not just the chaos that ensued because of the war?
HOWEVER the biggest and most recent disappointment has been them catching on to her relationship w/ alex ollivander which has been going on secretly for some time----so now val’s being threatened w/ his safety in order to sort of guide her into behaving in a way they deem more appropriate and essentially being much more committed to their cause than she previously was and he is too and she feels pretty terrible all around bc lmao one of ???? the only good things in her life has been fucked w/ by her parents and the dark lord and she hates it but she’s too scared to do anything???
but okay personality wise val is just ???? WILD AF there is no other phrase for it like she’ll stomp someone down if she feels insulted or threatened or anything really. she’s really possessive, gets jealous and can be goaded pretty easily, and while she’s very sharp with her words she isn’t really as clever as she’d like to think (tbh think cersei lannister minus the incest bless) she’s good with a wand in a power sense but really lacks delicacy and finesse in her spellwork (and irl lets be real) BUT if you’re her pal she’s always down to have a good time like going out and just going wild is her idea of an A+ time but if you ARE close to her dont expect her to admit it bc she is terrible at vocalizing feelings in any way pretty much?? she sees that as showing a vulnerability that people can exploit and w/ the way she grew up she’s not wrong lmao BUT SHE ALSO craves people validating her spot int heir life so even tho she hates admitting when she’s fond of someone she always wants them to tell her?
idk she’s a big mess true trash but she’s funny sometimes
anywayyyyyy hmu if u want to plot w/ this and bless you if you read all of this
CHARACTER POSTERS: VALERIA CARROW
↳ played by @winemomwrites
❝ She never forgets a slight, real or imagined. She takes caution for cowardice and dissent for defiance. And she is greedy. Greedy for power, for honour, for love. ❞ ― George R.R. Martin
Girl has a matchstick mouth. / Girl with wounds burning loud & easy through her. / Girl says the ache is gone, then breaks mother’s chinaware. / Girl wanted to see other things fall apart, too.
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