liquor liquor lips

my bright lipstick serves as a warning to other people: danger, i am poisonous.

[valeriacarrow]

amortentia ↣ valeria carrow

the first time valeria carrow smells amortentia is fifth year. she’s been at koldovstoretz nearly a year----long enough to acquaint herself with her parent’s idea of a better environment, and long enough to have, for the most part, moved on from the initial pangs of loneliness she felt at being separated from her sisters. koldovstoretz is cold, and she was determined to hate it on principle, but she’s found ways to pass the time, and people to do it with. however, when the steam spirals upward from the cauldron in front of her, bringing to mind so many of the things she holds dear, it’s enough to make her heart ache, for a moment.

chocolate truffles: rich, decadent, and probably excessive. valeria is spoiled, in her way, she knows; and spoiling others is how she shows the affection she so often fails to put into words. so its no surprise when she picks out the scent of one of her favorite guilty pleasures.

a roaring fire: this one brings back memories of gryffindor common room, loathe as she is to admit it. as much as she may have complained, the common room’s warmth was a stark contrast to her own home----where, from her parents, she could expect cool indifference, at best, and a glacial anger, at worst.

a crisp autumn night: specifically, late night quidditch practices, memories of the wind blowing through her hair and the rush of knowing nothing could touch her so high in the sky. freedom is really what she’s recalling.

fresh linens and aftershave: this one hits her like a ton of bricks. koldovstoretz hasn’t been as unkind to her as she’s dreaded, but there’s one thing----one person----that’s made it bearable, and she recognizes his scent, mixed with the sheets that he keeps fastidiously clean (ones she’s spent too many nights in, as if they were her own)---and her stomach flutters at what that means. 

[valeriacarrow]

@pennypuddifoot

“oh, you know what? i’m fresh out of fucks to give. i have gum, though.”

[valeriacarrow]

fletchedp:

“You’re right. You rejected Hogwarts so much that you lit is on fire. That’s some real class, right there.” He shrugged. He hadn’t meant to offend, but his tone came off as sarcastic. Val Carrow wasn’t someone he particularly cared for, but she also wasn’t someone he cared for pissing off either. “-Indeed. I’ve even heard some third years at U-I-M talking about it. You’ve become an American urban legend. Congrats.”

“New Orleans is one big party. And an exceedingly interesting place. You’ll love it. Have you ever heard of grits? It’s both the most disgusting and best food you’ll ever put in your mouth?”

“you want to lecture me on class? when’s the last time you even washed your hair, fletch? pretty soon a family of rodents are going to lay claim to it and start nesting.” val snarked back, but the amount she’d had to drink kept the real malice at bay. “i know you’re joking, but i really should be. iconic, i should be a cautionary tale told in the pre-teen boys’ dorms----what happens when you don’t respect a woman.” her nose wrinkled, “isn’t new orleans like, half swamp? i will admit i’ve heard their parties are killer, though.”

[valeriacarrow]

zachzabinii:

“A legend, huh?” Zach liked the sound of that, but he liked having Val back with him even more. “Girl, it’s been too crazy long. What kind of injustice is it that you were trapped in an ice tower while I got to party by the gulf every day?” Of course, Zach got the way better end of the stick in that bargain, but it hadn’t quite been the same without his favorite party girl. “But, look, the stars have aligned and Maladh – and all of these nobodies who came along for this ride – will finally get a taste of a Val-Zach mess around.” Letting himself be guided while continuing to roll his shoulders in a celebratory jive. Going behind the bar, he was quick to mix a drink together for them, handing one over to Val. “Two red hot summers with only the best Barbaresco straight from the Zabini vineyard.”

“well i did make a bit of a jailbreak last year----i did an exchange program at castelobruxo, which is most of the reason i’m here now instead of dead due to hypothermia or sheer boredom.” valeria glanced around, wondering where alex had gotten to. she couldn’t wait to introduce them; she’s was sure with their mutual interests----and their affection for her----they’d get along just fine. “a val-zach mess around? classic, we’ve been depriving the world for too long.” taking the glass with a pleased smile, she held it up, “cheers. now, tell me everything----what have you been doing, other than running this school without breaking a sweat, that is?”

[valeriacarrow]

dragcmircv:

“i’ve tried leaving but alas, i’m stuck here with the likes of you.” mirela rolled her eyes.

“uhm,” valeria didn’t try to hide her skepticism, laughing, “obviously you didn’t try very hard; it’s not like people are being kept hostage here. and quite frankly, i know for a fact zach would rather have pissy little buzz-kills like youself as far from his party as he could manage. god, i hope you’re not the  b e s t  your school has to offer. if you can’t even find your way off a yacht with, you know, portkeys being ready and able to be used, that’s kind of a pathetic showing, isn’t it?”

[valeriacarrow]

notttobe:

There was satisfaction to be found in reading and pride to be earned in being a designated Prefect. He didn’t expect Valeria to understand, however, and saw no need to make remarks in turn. He was comfortable with who he was. “I have no vested interest in breaking up parties here. It would be a waste of my time to do so. You have free reign here.” Why would he bother attempting to enforce rules where there was far more Maladh had to offer that captured his attention and was his idea of fun? Let the rest of them engage in their parties and other teenaged, dramatic affairs. So long as he could be kept out of it. An increasingly harder task now that he was arranged. “You heard correctly, but you are also a pureblood and reside in that social circle. Or perhaps it is that age old appeal of wanting something they seemingly cannot have. As I recall it, telling you, for instance, not to do something only tended to encourage you to do just that.”

“my reign at hogwarts wasn’t exactly restricted, nott, despite your efforts.” val gloated; though brent was one of the few prefects who could stop her in her tracks. it’s not like she’d had tried to get herself expelled; she had been younger with a (more) volatile temper----and while the temper was still there she’d like to think she’d learned better ways to deal with it (though if the scorch marks still slightly visible on the headboard of alex’s bed were any indication, she hadn’t). “wow, brent, no need to call me out like that. i was just looking out for you----if the wrong person saw that, they might get the wrong idea---it did look highly improper, after all.” she affected her voice, deepening it in an attempt to sound more like brent.

[valeriacarrow]

dragcmircv:

mirela had completely forgotten about the social implications tournaments were bundled with. she gripped her glass of spiked juice and leaned her back against the wall. “it’s funny how they attempt to seduce us with music and a good time to hide the challenges ahead.” she murmured under the stupor of whiskey. “i think half the room has disregarded this is a competition first and foremost.” 

valeria couldn’t help but overhear the other girl’s griping, and side-eyed her, “you know this party isn’t an official tournament event, right? zach’s throwing it out of the goodness of his heart,” and his love of parties, but who cared? “so honestly, if you’re all you’re going to do is bitch, there’s the door.” or the portkey, rather.

[valeriacarrow]

alexvander:

“not with that.” he said, taking the cup from her hand before replacing it with a water bottle. normally, alexander was the one to cut a party short but being in a new place with new people, he, of course, was worried about her safety. however, he did take her hand as she squeezed in next to him, lacing his fingers with hers, tracing the patterns of nail polish with his thumb. “– let’s not get too out of it on the second night…why don’t we bail?” he asked, leaning in close so that she’d hear him over the music.

“alex,” she whined in protest, leaning into him despite there being plenty of space on the deck; she took a reluctant drink of water before placing the bottle out of sight. “bail on my best friend’s party?” she asked, eyebrow arched, “not just anyone could persuade me to do that, but---well, what did you have in mind?” she asked, a sly smile playing on her lips as her fingers played with his absent-mindedly.

[valeriacarrow]

daniel--molina:

“Well – reach for the moon, but if you miss, you’ll land in the stars anyway.” Danny might have gotten that little saying wrong, but whatever; he got the Koldovstoretz girl to keep talking to him. He laughed a bit at her comment about his lap. “You sat on me first! But fine – have I told you my name yet?” 

He paused, trying to be more subtle, keeping his voice down. “And what’s it gonna take for me to get to know yours?”

“wow----cliche, pushy, and too much cologne. the unholy trinity of boys who can’t take a hint.” val said cuttingly, “no, but i haven’t technically asked, because i don’t really care.” she rolled her eyes, “more than you’re worth, i promise.”

[valeriacarrow]

notttobe:

This tug was stronger than the one of the stranger, the voice all too easy for him to recognize. Even if he was more accustomed to Valeria Carrow aiming one of her sharp-tongued quips at him rather than in his defense. “Hogwarts has certainly lacked the Valeria Carrow flare these past couple of years,” he answered in a way of diverting her rhetorical question, meaning the flare in a rather literal way concerning the reason why she had been expelled. “The only surprising aspect here is that you aren’t already on the yacht. And you may be pleased to know I have no authority here, so it is not as if I have the power to break up the party.” It was a double edged sword, not being a Prefect this year, but at least it afforded him time to pursue other things. Which, yes, did include finding the nearest library like Valeria had suggested. 

“sounds DULL----so right up your alley, right? oooh, i bet since zach and i left you’re just been having the time of your life, hosting impromptu book clubs and boring people to death with your almost award-worthy prefect lectures.” she shrugged, “i can always catch the next, zach won’t blame me for being fashionably late, and who am i to ignore a damsel in distress? see, i’ve evolved, brent nott. and you may not have the power to break up the party, but god knows your disapproving glare would kill the buzz faster than an avada kedavra. anyway----i heard you were betrothed, so  w h y  are desperate social-climbers hanging onto you like a niffler on a galleon?”

[valeriacarrow]

zachzabinii:

The dinner had been great, as nothing at Maladh was sub-par, but this was the real way to kick off the festivities. As the proud host, Zach had been even more enthusiastic in his dancing that night. Moonwalking his way over to Valeria when he spotted her, he flashed her a broad, pleased grin. “What you think, Valeria? Is this not the best? You could never pull this off at Hogwarts, let alone Koldovstoretz without freezing your arse off.”

“ZACH!” whatever rando she’d sat on thoroughly forgotten, valeria handed off her drink to the person next to her and sprang to her feet, practically jumping on the friend she hadn’t seen in far too long. “i missed you-----and your parties. i told stories of your parties, zach, you’re already a legend amongst the frostbitten russians.” definitely an exaggeration, but dramatics had always been a zach/valeria specialty. “i have to say, it’s terribly unfair. you’ve been in paradise, and i was in the ninth circle of hell. but this----” she gestured outward to the sea and the sand, “----is a start as far as making up for it.” she took his hand, twirling herself around and tugging him along, “celebratory drinks, i think; it’s not everyday two of the most fabulous people in the world are reunited!”

[celebritywyr]

[valeriacarrow]

daniel--molina:

“Okay then!” Danny leaned back in his seat, relaxing a bit and watching her, drink in hand. He was sort of curious now to play the international game – now that she seemed to point out that it actually existed. “Give me some pointers. How does a half-wit like me land someone a Koldovstoretz girl like you?”

val pretended to ponder his question, before answering, “really? the only place you’re going to land a girl like me is in your dreams, flounder. but, i suppose there’s someone for everyone, even you. first things first-----a little subtlety goes a long way. trying to get me all snug in your lap before you even introduce yourself? super creepy, very gross.”

[valeriacarrow]

daniel--molina:

“That podunk school is the last school this party is gonna end up at!” Danny was practically shouting; she had already insulted him anyway, and she was another pretty face to get lost in a crowd of twelve schools worth of students. 

He glanced at your cup. “What’s your poison?”

“don’t shout, neanderthal. just because i pointed out your obvious lack of game is no reason to get heated.” she smiled, lifting her still-full drink, “i’m covered.”

[valeriacarrow]

roxannexxolivia:

“And here I’d thought they’d lock you away forever!” The hufflepuff laughed heartily, the trademark Weasley inability to maintain a proper indoor voice combined with Val’s squeals nearly impossible to miss despite the volume of the already roaring party. “At the very least, Dubai should warm that cold, cold heart, love. The party scene is absolutely tragic without you, though you know I do my part to keep things lively.”

“you should know by now, rox, that no prison can hold me.” val joked; her parents had very nearly succeeded in turning her finals years of schooling into the dullest of her life. but they hadn’t, and now she was here, and in a couple more years she’d be  f r e e  of them. “i already have someone to do that, weasley.” she retorted with a smirk, bringing her glass against the other girl’s with a clink. “well, now you have me back, and zach zabini, and i’m sure between twelve schools we can find some people worth partying with.”

[valeriacarrow]

maxxflint:

max raised an eyebrow at her. “shrek’s long-lost grumpy brother?” is that what he looked like to other people? he, himself, agreed with the grumpy part, he knew his attitude was unbearable almost all of the time. but shrek? he was pretty positive that was an ugly ogre from some story he once heard about when he was younger. at the thought, he chuckled. he couldn’t help himself, he’d never been practically called an ogre before. “are you calling me ugly?”

“did i stutter?” she reached out, a serving tray floating by on it’s own accord, and grabbed two shots. “you know, ogres are also supposed to be dumb, clumsy, smelly----but if ugly is the thing that insults you, does that make you a bit shallow?” she pushed the shot towards him, “not that i mind, you do you.” she downed the shot, gesturing for him to do that same. “i’m valeria carrow. and i wasn’t calling you ugly, more like you’ve an ogre-ish..... aura, about you.”

[midsommars-deactivated20201109]

[valeriacarrow]

mikkeljensen:

DJ Cotrona & Eiza González in Miami (November 2015)