The Edges of the Lake (Northside)

Boris's former smirk was enhanced to a smile at the acceptance. "Better?" he inquired after a few moments.

"So... vot else do you do to have fun around here?" he asked, a genuine curiousness crossing his features.

"Yes," she savored the heat that eloped her. "Loads better actually." The robe was rather comfortable. She wondered what if would be like if Hogwarts had one as part of their uniform. "Are you sure you're alright?"



"Well there's Quidditch..." Diana said in answer to his question. "Otherwise, the fun's really all up to you."

Darien watched suspisciously from the bushes. Why?!

((lol let me know when you'd like him to barge in...))

((XD Diana sends her love Darien.))

"Good," Boris nodded, pleased to hear she was more comfortable now. "And I'm fine, not to vorry. It is much colder vhere I come from, so I am a bit used to it." He sincerely tried not to make that statement sound too boastful.

"And do you prefer to play or vatch Qvidditch? Or both?" he asked, genuinely interested in her possible interest in the hobby.


((I believe we're just sort of winging it, so... whenever you'd like to bring him in I guess is fine. Maybe Boris should make a bolder move... what do you think, Lustre? xD))

((Go for it Boris! XD))

"Both," Diana smiled. "I love playing it but I don't mind watching once in awhile. I watched the World Cup and there is just something to say about the atmosphere in a Quidditch game. Especially if your team gets the cup."

Deciding that this conversation was going well, Boris came to the conclusion that it must be all right for him to join her side. Without a word he knelt and then sat at beside her; of course part of his silence was out of respect because she was answering his question. "I enjoy both as vell," he offered, inconspicuously scooting himself closer. He was glad that, despite their earlier clashing on several topics at the Three Broomsticks, they could find a similar fondness for the sport. "Do you have a favorite Qvidditch team?"


"And there is something to say about the atmosphere here, too," Boris remarked with what he clearly determined was his most charming, winning smile. Without much thought to the possible consequences, the young Russian wrapped a decently strong arm about her shoulders, the hand upon the end of said arm gently resting on said shoulder so as not to disturb the crucial boundaries that should not be trespassed upon without consent. "The view of the lake from here, for example: back at Durmstrang ours is not much more than a pond compared to this, and it is alvays frozen over..." While he'd gestured to the lake with his other arm, his words suggested there was something more about the view that got his attention that he hadn't mentioned... "something" that was more like a "someone" that answered to the name Diana Casillas... but it wasn't that obvious, was it?

"Atta boy Boris!" Nicolas muttered under his breathe smiling widely.

---

It wasn't really the movement that drew attention to the fact that Boris was now sitting next to Diana but the fact that it started to get significantly hotter."I like the Holyhead Harpies and of course the National Spanish Team." Diana answered his question though she eyed Boris with suspicion. He's not...coming on to me, is he?

If Boris' comment on the 'atmosphere' didn't validate that fact, the physical contact answered Diana's doubts of what Boris' intentions were. "Er..." She started. She mentally smacked herself, she probably shouldn't have taken the offered coat and just put a heating charm on herself. Diana hesitated, not really wanting to tell him off and put a strain on things. "I think I'm warm enough now, thanks." And scooted slightly over to the side opposite of Boris.

"Very vell," Boris replied somewhat belatedly, after Diana had moved. The maneuver he'd attempted had worked wonders with his ex-girlfriend back home, who dumped him for someone in Darien's former clique. It was also a rather common gesture of kinship amongst his fellow Conquistadors. Add to this the fact that he really liked Diana, and would like to be more than just friends...

"Vould it be too bold of me..." Boris began slightly hesitantly, looking straight into Diana's face so he could gauge her reaction, "... to ask you to go vith me to the Yule Ball?"

((Okay, sending Darien in...this shall probably be awful cos my mind's gone blank as to what he's going to say...))

Darien saw red.
Boris...That lousy little...
"Diana!"
He didn't worry about the fact he was almost running over to the lake, or that he undoubtably looked like an idiot. He was too busy being livid...and scared.
But the second emotion was fuelling the first.

"Er..." Diana's reply died in her mouth. "Darien?!"



____



Nicolas cursed. Damn that stupid Vaight!

'Oh, great: caught by the boyfriend,' Boris mused darkly, but still awaiting an answer. He turned toward the new voice, expression completely blank.

"Boris how-" Darien's eyes narrowed. "Or maybe it's who...Well where is he? Where's your precious 'brother' Nicolas the horse-boy? This is low, even for you two!"
He took a step forwards aggressively...

"Darien don't..." Diana extended her hands. She knew how this must look like. She sitting with Boris here, wearing his coat... wait a minute. "What are you doing here?"

"I was looking for you...So sorry for interrupting your little clothes-swapping session!"
His eyes blazed with anger and his voice dripped with sarcasm.

Diana scoffed. She did not appriecate anger. It made her feel defensive. She crossed her arms. "It was cold!" She snapped back. "And Boris here was kind enough to offer his coat."

"And you didn't wonder why until he asked you to the Ball?" Darien demanded.
"Or were you just going to say yes and not tell me?"

"I wasn't..." Diana started but then it soon turned to anger. "Were you listening to our conversation?!?"

"Can you blame me? You're wearing his coat! How could I not stop and listen?!"

"Vot are you talking about? Can two people not have a private conversation vithout somevone suspecting something?!" Boris half-snarled, half-sighed. "And to answer your qvestion, I've no idea vhere Nicolas is so if you vould kindly put your keen mind onto another event to jump to conclusions over..." This was a definite growl, but to hopefully stay on Diana's good side he took a defensive step back - contrary to his normal actions of taking a step forward to meet the kid almost nose-to-nose.

A raven brow quirked at the sarcasm; he had all he could do to keep from hexing the kid straight to China. However, he couldn't tell who was being addressed. "I think how she decides to keep varm is her own decision, Vaight," he replied dangerously, "So don't even go there."


"And I believe ve each have a right to ask who ve vant to the Ball..." Boris chimed in semi-defensively. "...vithout having to confer vith you first, Vaight."

"And I have a right to know when my girlfriend is planning to lie to me!"

"I wasn't planning to lie to you Darien!" Diana shouted. Then she said in a much lighter volume. "Don't you trust me?"

"I don't trust him." Darien glanced at Boris.

"Then vy do you appear to be blaming her?" Boris retorted. "After all, as you said, you have a right to know ven your girlfriend is being dishonest. I am certainly not your girlfriend-" Boris paused to laugh harshly at the humor, "-so that leaves only vone other option..." The Russian glanced apologetically in Diana's direction.

"So... vy bring her into it if you have a problem vith me?" Boris asked innocently.

"Don't you think, I can think for myself?" Diana felt a wave of anger.