I don't want to be in love

[Violet MacFusty]

Violet had decided that she ought to stock up on sweets and things for the students. Perhaps she could start a reading incentive program, where each book a student checked out from the library or returned, they received a treat or prize for it. Granted, there were a lot of students who would try to find a way around this. They probably wouldn't read the books and might try to return them ten minutes later. It was something she needed to think upon further, but for now, she could at least stock up.



Her father had given her some money for her Christmas present. He couldn't be bothered with actually purchasing a gift for her. He claimed it was because 'he didn't know what she would like' but Violet knew that it was because he simply had forgotten about it. The coins had been pulled out of his pocket when he realized that he'd forgotten to get her something. It wasn't nearly as much as her brother's gifts had been worth. She had said nothing but a polite thank you. She was used to that sort of treatment from him and had not expected anything better.



Inside Honeyduke's, the disappointment about her father's 'gift' was forgotten. There were so many treats and candies that Violet hard a hard time deciding what she would want to buy. The Chocolate Frogs were newer in invention, and she quite liked them. The way they moved as if there were real frogs! With a slender hand, she picked up one of the frogs that were on display. It sat in her hand for a moment and croaked loudly. Suddenly, it tried to leap away from her onto the floor. She quickly caught it in the air and dumped it back in the covered display while her cheeks burned a blotchy red.

  

[Cage Wakefield]

For once, dear Cage had to take care of business. He had his fingers in many of the business pies of Hogsmeade, and as a courtesy to the establishments, and a way to keep himself in good standing with them, he tended to frequent them at least a couple times a month, keeping up with his own appearances. Cage himself had little to do with the rules of society, and he kept to his own code of conduct most of the time. But if you made money from someone, the least you could do was deign to visit them occasionally.

And in all honesty, he enjoyed Honeyduke's most of all the businesses that he tended to invest in. It held a certainly childish appeal to it, one that he had been so robbed of when he was younger. That was the most likely cause for his behavior in his age now in any case. He had never had a proper childhood, and for a few moments in that candy shop, he felt as though he had not been so robbed of it.

Cage had conversed with the store owner for a while, talking of the children from the castle and how they loved the new chocolate frogs, and other trivial things before Cage was satisfied to be on his way. He was tucking his bowler right back onto his head as he walked towards the door when his eyes was caught by a redhead with a delightful blush about the face. And how he did love generous blushes about the face.

Cage turned his path towards her and couldn't help but smirk as he slipped up behind her, amusement in his voice. "Delightful little things aren't they? Though I'm told it is the card, not the frog that is the important part," Cage mentioned in his smooth baritone voice, his hands tucked politely behind his back as he stood near the maiden. She looked familiar, but he couldn't place a name. He felt he'd seen her somewhere, probably in the monotonous ballrooms of Hogsmeade, but that was inconsequential. She was pretty, and he was bored. Reason enough to strike up a conversation, in his mind.

  

[Violet MacFusty]

Violet placed her hands over the container's lid, as if her hands could add an extra barrier. The display had been doing a wonderful job of keeping the frogs inside, however she felt as if they might do something unexpected and suddenly barrage the lid until it opened. An unexpected man's voice from behind caused her to jump and look over her shoulder at him. He seemed familiar, but she could not remember his name for the life of her. The Ollivander woman was not very good with names. Had she seen him from across the room, she might have had time to think of it. Instead, he'd caught her by surprise.



"Oh! Erm," She said, quite flustered, and quickly removed her hands from the lid, "Yes, delightful." Violet wasn't quite so sure how delightful they were. She could only imagine the little things running amok about the castle. The Headmaster would have her job for it, she was certain. He wasn't the type to give his employees a second chance, from what she'd heard.



Violet turned slowly to face him, the hem of her powder blue dress swished along the floor as she did so. She kept half of her horribly freckled face turned in order to keep an eye on them. She'd begun to doubt the security of their container. They were rather wild, she thought as she glanced down at them, but she was certain that the children would probably like them. After all, children liked to make messes. She was certain that the frogs, if let loose, had the capability of wrecking havoc.



Her pale hands fiddled absent-mindedly with the drapery upon the front of her dress. There were three small neatly tied bows upon her breast and cream colored ruffles about her neck and ankles. It wasn't the most comfortable dress in the world, but it looked nice on her. It almost made the numerous freckles upon her face lighten, although it did nothing at all for her lack of curves. Her figure was that of a boy, despite the attempt of her bustle.

  

[Cage Wakefield]

Oh well she was a quiet one indeed. And slightly miserable looking as well. She was pretty enough, especially with that blush gracing her cheeks, if only she'd smile a little more and own the beauty that she had.

Cage was feeling a little generous with his time, the time that he had boundless amounts of now that his business was through, and he decided to perhaps give the girl a boost. Something that she obviously needed.

"Almost as delightful as you look, my lady," Cage drawled out lazily, his dark eyes trained on the lovely girl. Charity. Charity flirting, that's what it was. And far be it from him to deprive her of such a selfless act from him. "You look awfully familiar, you know. Perhaps I've seen you at a ball before? Tell me, what is your name my dear?" And of course his curiosity was honest for all intents and purposes. He did feel like he knew her from some place, but he was unsure as to her name and identity.

It wasn't often that Cage was attracted to the submissive type, though they were easier to keep quiet about when one was doing sinful things with them. He simply happened to be in a delightfully grand mood that morning, more so because his business was finished and his play of the day could start. And if that involved the pleasant looking redhead...well...he would do his civic duty and flirt away.

  

[Violet MacFusty]

Violet was incredibly shy. She had made no friends during her entire seven years of schooling at Hogwarts. Her first three years had been spent hiding behind a book and trying not to run away when she was invited to spend time with her classmates. Her fourth and fifth years were spent with her professor's encouraging her to enjoy herself and make friends, but by then her classmates had given up on her and no longer invited her to do things with them. She was too shy to invite herself and had simply watched them longingly, from behind a book.



It wasn't often that she received compliments. Her freckles were too many and her hair too bright. While she couldn't be certain that he was serious, for he could quite possibly be teasing her, she offered a small smile in spite of herself. It took her a while to warm up to people - men especially. Sebastian Havisham had been the exception. He'd known just what to say and do for her to become comfortable with him almost straight away. It was a rarity that someone like him would come along, however.



Rather unskilled with the art of flirting, she let his compliment slide by with the appreciative smile and instead focused on his question, "Violet Ollivander, sir. I imagine we've seen each other at different social events." They had never been formally introduced, she was almost certain of it. He was incredibly handsome, but the attention that he gave her made her embarrassed. Any attention on her, in fact, made her uncomfortable. She was used to being pushed away in the corner, ignored and forgotten.



She did not want to be rude and forced herself to move her grey-blue gaze up to meet his for a moment to ask, "And yourself?"

  

[Cage Wakefield]

"Miss Violet Ollivander," he spoke, testing her name on his smooth voice. "It is certainly a pleasure." Cage bowed his head slightly and removed his hat politely from his head, his dark hair sticking up every which of way, carelessly and wildly, looking much like he'd just rolled from bed. Though his hair rarely didn't look like that.

Cage noticed her eyes, the most enchanting shade of grey blue he'd ever seen, and he tipped his head down, meeting his eyes with hers. "Cage Wakefield, at your service, madame, he offered, reaching lavishly for her hand and pulling it up to his lips with a slight smirk on his features. He kissed her skin gently and let her hand fall again, his lips pulled up in a characteristically crooked way.

Cage looked unaffected, but interested, as he happened to look almost all of the time, when he wasn't looking bored. Most often, he kept his expression aloof to root around the curiosity of others, and keep his thoughts and feelings to himself. A tactic he'd assumed years ago around his father and brother.

"We must never have been introduced formally, Miss Ollivander, as I would certainly remember such a pretty face," he drawled out again, his eyes trained on hers. "I lament at the thought of missing a dance with you. You look as though you were made for dancing." And touching. And kissing. And--well. She didn't have a particularly curvy figure, but what she had was augmented by the dress that fit nicely on her. Slimly built and with a pretty face, and Cage wasn't picky. Though he felt the need to be more charming than propositioning for once. Oddly enough.

  

[Violet MacFusty]

She responded to his bow with a polite curtsy of her own, her hands gripped the side of her silvery blue skirts and lifted them slightly as she dipped down. It was a surprisingly fluid movement, since Violet considered herself to be rather awkward. "It is," She agreed politely as she rose and released her skirts. Honestly, she wasn't entirely sure what to think of him. He was rather forward, but not overly so.


The last thought was changed when he took up her hand and kissed it. Her brows rose and her mouth fell into an 'o' position for a moment before she tried to cover up her embarrassment with a nervous laugh. She self-consciously clasped her hands together in front of her as she said, "It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Wakefield." Her cheeks burned brightly in a way that she knew was not flattering. When her face reddened, so did her freckles. It didn't even color evenly, for it was often blotchy with some parts of her face being a darker red than others.



"I don't believe we have," She agreed, for she certainly would have remembered this. It wasn't as if he were trying to be discreet about how heavily he was flirting with her. Violet wasn't quite sure what to think of him - she couldn't even decide if she felt positively or negatively toward him. It seemed he was quite interested in conversing with her. "I don't attend balls very often anymore, but if I do I can promise you a dance, sir," She told him shyly. Despite herself, her low self-esteem made her want to spend more time with him, if only because he truly made her feel as if she were a prize worth winning. The uncomfortableness that she felt around him would be worth it, if only for a short time.



As she did not want him to think that she wished to be left alone (granted, a part of her did while another part did not) she managed to ask him whilst her grey-blue gaze focused upon the floor of the shop, "Perhaps you know the Georges? I've attended several of their events over the years."

  

[Cage Wakefield]

The flush to her face was not flattering persay, but charming none the less. The freckles of her face were different and charming, making her look young, but that didn't bother Cage as much as it did other people.

Cage wasn't even sure he really had a type. Woman was his type. If they were mildly pretty and agreeable to converse (and sleep) with, he was satisfied. "It is a shame that you do not frequent them," Cage mused softly to her. "Though I confess I tend to shy from them myself. You however, would surely steal the attention from all of society. A delicate, exotic flower in a room of dull roses." Cage winked at her before looking about the shop, the tedious influx of people swarming the place.

He wondered how the woman had not known him, or heard of him, but he surmised that either she was not of his class, or perhaps was from the school. Though she dressed impeccably, she was obviously not of low class, and really Cage didn't get worked up about classes anyways. People were people. On some days, he was honestly jealous of the lower classes. They're freedom was sometimes astounding, but he did love money too much to become a poor beggar for the sake of kicking society in the arse.

"I am acquainted with the Georges yes," Cage conversationally spoke, "Delightful people." Though they had been a little boring to Cage, but that was beside the point. "Though I'll admit I'm much less interested in the Georges than I am you, Miss Ollivander." And he smiled crookedly at that, his dark eyes limitless and most of all, shielded from showing his true thoughts. One of his greatest tools.

  

[Violet MacFusty]

Violet could not help but feel an amused smile creep about her lips at his next compliment. It convinced her then, that they did not know each other because she was quite the opposite of what he had described. She was one of the most invisible wall flowers at the social events that she had ever known of. Even the other wallflowers got asked to dance once in a while, but Violet seemed as if she weren't even present. Nobody looked at her and nobody spoke to her. It really was not very funny to be treated in such a way, but she was one who found humor in irony. "Hardly," She commented, unable to help herself. Was it not clear to him, just how much of a wallflower she was? The girl was incredibly naive and did not even think that perhaps the man had ulterior motives aside from simply flattering her.



Violet, unlike most women, was not a fan of talking about herself. She knew quite a few who were able to go on for hours about themselves, what they liked and didn't as well as whom. She had been forced to sit through it on more than one occasion, but she found herself to be an exception. The Ollivander woman liked to talk about anything but herself. And yet, it seemed that it was all that he wanted to speak of. She hadn't a clue what he thought was quite so interesting about her. She was odd looking, yes, but interesting? Far from it.



"You flatter me, sir," She replied modestly and her eyes flicked to his handsome face once more before she focused on something else - a child and his younger sister playing tug of war with a strand of candy rope. "I'm really not as interesting as you say," Violet continued, for she did not want him to be disappointed once he found out the truth. It was much too often that someone was disappointed in her. Even if she could prevent it from happening with a stranger, she would. "I am a librarian even, for the school," She added, as if to prove her point.

  

[Cage Wakefield]

So she was an employee of the school. There was something about that, something intriguing about it. A woman who did not seek marriage perhaps? Or perhaps a middle class woman without a dowry? He did not know, but either was it was a shame. To someone out there, she would have made a handsome bride. If she was a little small for childbearing.

"So you are of the bookish sort?" he commented, his tone mildly curious as he looked at her with that crooked, unaffected smile. "It is hardly a thing to shame from, having an independent mind." He had assumed perhaps she just desired not to marry. And what was it to him to condemn her for the exact thing that he despised as well? She was interesting. Far more interesting than she gave herself credit.

"So many women turn into mindless tools of society, Miss Ollivander, after graduation. It is...refreshing to see that had not befallen you." His opinion on the matter was masked, but clear: balls and parties and the flighty women of society were hardly of his taste. They irked him to no end, though the women were not terrible when they did what he charmed them into. Violet was a different sort however.

"Tell me, what is it you like to read most?" Cage questioned, true curiosity in his voice then. He was an avid reader, when he could cause no mischief elsewhere, and he had his favorites in the philosophes of old.

  

[Violet MacFusty]

If there was one thing that Violet liked to talk of more than anything, it was books. It was the only subject where she would forget herself and how shy she was. Her grey-blue eyes brightened considerably and the look upon her face transformed from hesitant to one that was of high interest. She was quite passionate about books - fitting for a librarian - for they had been what she had turned to when she had had no one else.



"Yes," She told him a bit more confidently, when asked if she was bookish. The next bit brought a genuine smile from her lips, "Some might disagree. I've been told independence is not a trait most look for in a wife." It was rather bold, but she supposed he might not think that she spoke of herself and her own short-comings. It was society's view in general, but one that effected her life rather strongly.



Violet completely agreed with him. She'd known several women who had been very intelligent in school - they'd had nearly perfect grades and Violet had even admired them (whilst hiding behind a book, of course). However, once they left school they had completely abandoned everything in order to find a husband. It was something she had not been willing to do. Perhaps that was the reason she had failed. "Thank you, Mr. Wakefield," She replied, thinking that this was the sort of compliment she liked - sincerity was underrated in their society.



It surprised her when he truly seemed interested in the type of books she read. He did not seem the type to read, but who was she to judge? Many people read. "Adventures," She admitted. The stories she read had no educational purposes. It was simply entertaining and transported her to a world that was not her own. "With a hint of romance." He was much more interesting to her now than he had been before. She ventured to ask, "And you, sir? You seem as if you enjoy books as well."

  

[Cage Wakefield]

The way the topic of books lit up her face and made her features animate took Cage by surprise. Where she had been wary and embarrassed she was now animated and excited, a light in her eyes that intrigued Cage even further.

"Well I hardly fall into the category of most men, Miss Ollivander," Cage crooned out, though why he said it didn't register. He wasn't marrying her. He didn't even want to. But he was flirting with her more out of a personal need than a 'civic duty' now, and he could hardly stop himself. Instead of faltering, he merely pressed on unabashedly. "Many men look for submissive wives, my dear, for the fact of wanting property. Very few seek an independent equal." And he would have been one of those, if he wanted marriage at all.

The way she spoke of the books she read reminded Cage of when he used to acquire a new old book to add to his collection. His library was extensive, filled with old treasures and a particularly interesting collection of old children's books. He was a lover of literature, though that was one thing many were not privvy to. It certainly did not tend to the image of the careless businessman he worked to portray.

"Philosophy mostly. Though I have a bit of everything. My library is extensive indeed, as I am a collector of old books. History books intrigue me as well. I have acquired history books many countries. It's interesting to see how the events are...described differently." It was perhaps the most honest comment Cage had made all afternoon, though it was delivered with that crooked smirk. But the honesty of it was unmistakeable. Cage shook off the feeling and raised a brow.

"Romances eh?" Cage spoke with a forward smirk. "Do they allow delicate ladies to read such books? I once thought those to be forbidden." He'd leaned forward to whisper the comment, the amusement all over his face. Now he was simply baiting her, to see how she handled it.

  

[Violet MacFusty]

Violet didn't think she would ever get used to men treating her as if they found her interesting. Perhaps now that she had finally given up the thought of a husband, the men decided to finally give in and give her attention. It was as if they had played a game with her. When she'd searched, they had hidden. When she herself decided to give up, they came out of the woodwork. Albeit, the men she ran into were more forward and younger than those that she had looked to marry. Perhaps it was not the same at all. She was more independent now. Maybe they simply went after women like her, who were alone and did not try as hard as a woman who was on the market.



"That is true enough," She agreed. She had grown used to the fact that men simply viewed her as an asset, rather than a person. Her theory as to why she had not been courted seemed to fall in line with his statement. Perhaps if she had hidden inside herself and appeared to be unintelligent like her peers, she would have been snatched up just like the others.



Incredibly interested, she listened as he told her of his library. She had a library of her own that she had started since she had began school at Hogwarts, but it did not sound nearly as well developed as his own. "I must admit that I am envious of your library, sir - my own is not near as well cultured." She also had a fondness for history. The way that other people lived that was so different from their own.. it intrigued her not to end. The Egyptians were her favorite.



A slight blush crept upon her cheeks as she correct him, "A hint of romance, sir, is quite different than a romance novel. I would never read anything deemed inappropriate for a lady." Her voice remained even and she did not lower her own voice to a whisper. Perhaps she'd looked at one once or twice and read a few pages, but the things that she had read inside had been enough for her to close it with a shameful blush.

  

[Cage Wakefield]

"You must call on me one day soon then, Miss Ollivander. I would be delighted to share my collection with another enthusiast," he spoke honestly. It was rare that anyone had shared an affinity of books to match his. Merry himself had always detested them, as well as his father. Cage had wondered if his mother had been a bookish soul, though it was a trifling thought. His attention was drawn again by the blush rising to her cheeks.

"Ah, my lady. Quite demure of you," Cage spoke in an amused voice. "Personally, It's much more exciting to experience such things than read of them. Perhaps you have not given up on love quite yet?" He was unsure as to what made him say it, and he was now aware of quite how close he'd came to Miss Ollivander. He was posturing towards her, in the corner of the candy shoppe, almost inappropriately. And though he was never one to shy from making the gossips talk, he did not wish to submit such an innocent soul to it.

No, surely she didn't imagine such lustful things as he, though he couldn't help but picture her in very lustful way. That wild, bright hair. Those seeking eyes. The way she lit up when she spoke of books. He wondered if she would light up the same way when she was being taken away by a man and not a book.

"Forgive me for my forwardness," he finally spoke, conjuring a single violet and handing it to her. A charming gesture, and the tone of the lavender violet complemented her greatly. And was delicate and unique, quite like her. If he hadn't have known better, he would have said he was smitten by her. Instead of submitting to the thought however, he offered the flower with a pull of his lips and a quirk of his brow.

  

[Violet MacFusty]

"Perhaps I will," She told him with a smile. If he did not continue to make her uncomfortable, she would definitely consider visiting him. Books were something that she would go to no ends for. Rare books even more so. It might have been an exaggeration to say that she would sell her very soul to receive the most precious book in the world, but it was only slightly exaggerated.



His next comment however, changed her mind about him yet again. Just when she'd thought that he had had some redeemable qualities - for his forwardness made her rather uncomfortable - he had to pull something like that out of him. She was unable to hide the shock from her face, her brows rose and her lips shaped into another 'o'. Her cheeks colored, although not so much from embarrassment than from being offended. Her brows narrowed as she crossed her silver-blue sleeved arms across her chest in order to protect herself from his nearness, "I am not certain what kind of women you are used to conversing with Mr. Wakefield, and it is just as well for it is none of my business, but I can assure you that your forward charms are not appreciated here."



Violet took the flower from him suspiciously and forced out a rather insincere, "Thank you." She could not be bought with gifts. She felt rather insulted by him and was not a fan of his boldness. Certain forwardness could be accepted in slight measures, for Sebastian Havisham had been quite forward, but he had not been insulting like Cage Wakefield. Her arms were still crossed in front of her, the violet pinched between two of her fingers as she gazed steadily at him. Once she was angry or offended, she was no longer a modest and shy thing. She would stand up for herself to strangers at least, for she dealt with it enough at home.

  

[Cage Wakefield]

Oh she was offended, and Cage felt bad for it immediately, honestly he did. He frowned at her terse 'thank you', spotting her crossing her arms over her chest, and he was sincere in his frown.

Cage enjoyed flirting ridiculously, playing the forward man, but never did he seek to offend a lady. And above all, the redhead was certainly a lady it seemed. He bowed his head slightly. "Miss Violet," he spoke in a hushed tone. "I truly apologize for the forward comment. Sometimes my mouth gets away from me." He grinned at that solely because he could not help it.

"You do not know me, and I doubt now more than ever that you shall since I've so offended you, but I suppose you are better off. I'm much like a child you see. Constantly bored and terribly impatient and obstinate to a fault." Basically, he wanted things now. Part of what made him a successful business man, and a fault-filled romancer.

Cage reached tentatively for the violet between her fingers, his brushing hers for a scarce moment before he reached up to tuck the flower into her hair. He half-smiled, looking down at her. "There. A violet, for a sweet violet," he spoke in a softer tone. Just when his advances had turned from mere boredom to sheer curiosity he was not certain. He only hoped vaguely that she would not dismiss him on contact.