No Mud, No Lotus

“Really?” He asked raising an eyebrow, laughing, “What was tossing them at you meant to make you forget the answers or distract you or something? Shouldn’t he know that’s damn near impossible by now?” He scoffed as her stone missed the mark, “Suuure,” he replied sarcastically, kneeling down to take aim. Lorcan flicked his stone, knocking one of the marbles out of the ring. 

“Really really.” She repeated, as if she needed to make it completely clear. “Who knows, honestly, he’s probably annoyed that I went to the party last week without him. You know how he gets when he doesn’t get enough attention. You’re right though, I’d have thought I made it crystal clear that I have laser like focus by now.” Aurelia laughed, knowing full well that it was true. She was annoying -- but truthfully, she’d made determination an art form. “It totally was, just you wait. I’m going to shock you.” Ducking slightly as the ball he knocked out exploded, she soon tucked her hair to the side, lining up another shot. Her shooter teetering the very edge of the circle as another marble rolled out, colliding with his knee. “How’s that doubt coming along?”

   “ so…are you gonna drink with me or…” Marlene propped the bottle of firewhisky in front of the other’s face excitedly. “ or are you going to watch me get really, really drunk? which one is funnier for you obviously.”

“To the genius who took my father’s watch. Ha ha good joke. You’ve had your fun now. So could I please have it back? This isn’t funny anymore.”

Rabastan sat in an empty hallway, head against the wall, smoking a cigarette. He didn’t want to be in his dorm, cooped up, but he didn’t want to be around a large group of people either. So instead, he went to the place he always went to when he needed to think or relax or just be alone, the mostly hidden corridor next to the library. He was perfectly content being alone, until someone walked up to him. “This abandoned corridor is occupied,” he said, taking a drag of his cigarette and flipping the page in his book. 

“Eh, potions is a bore anyways. Why bother?”Elena said with a laugh. “It’s not like  he can’t tell you not to go. You’ll be fine, I’m sure. Just don’t expect any invitations to one of his gatherings anytime soon.”

“I’ve hardly played it before but I still believe I can be better than you,” he replied with his usual, self assured smirk. He was never one to say no to a challenge so he moved the gobstones back in the middle of the circle. He was quite confident he could win, his reflexes and accuracy were sharper due to him being a half vampire. Lorcan grinned, nodding at her, “You go first.” 

“I’m kidding..- I don’t think I’ve played this since my second year, I took them from Macmillan after he tried tossing them at me one by one while I was being interrogated for answers in Defense class.” She caved, still she was ever determined to win after his confident claim to victory over her.. Though she’d much rather have not gone first, she wasn’t backing down. The shooter flicking from her hand, missed it’s mark, obviously, “Well, call it a rough start.”

“oh, uh.. thanks for the heads up.” greta said with a small smile. “i guess i’d rather not have moaning myrtle scream at me this early in the morning, i’m way too tired for that.”

“There are many lovely people around!” Pandora protested. “But I know what you mean. A headache? You poor thing, you should drink the water from the Great Lake, it cures it right away!” Of course she never tried it herself, but according to her research, it should absolutely, most probably, maybe work.

“Yeah -- No, I know there are. But you know, as a rule, lovely people aren’t exactly as outspoken and rude as the others..” Case in point, the slytherin’s mocking younger students as they walked by. “The..--- wait, I am not drinking water from that lake. I’ve done some pretty gross things, but drinking from the black lack just seems.. excessive.. I mean, I can just go to the hospital wing.”

“Maybe I’m just not because I wouldn’t want to beat you at it,” he replied with a small smirk, his eyes narrowing slightly and he raised an eyebrow, playfully tilting his head, “Are you calling me boring?”

“Predictable response, and exactly what one would say if they were trying to make me believe they were actually better at this than me. Put your money where your mouth is, if you can.” She challenged without even a hint of hesitation. “Not directly, but I can, if you need me to.”

“i think i can take myrtle. she’s really not all the bad once you get to know her.” mary gave her shoulders a small shrug as she made herself comfortable in the seat anyway. “we’ve actually had some really good conversations, believe it or not.” 

Pandora glanced to the Slytherin table and shuddered. Although she tried to get along with everybody, Peeves has made her days a hell more than once in the past. “I’m not surprised,” she chuckled lightly, reaching for a small pastry as she spoke. “You know, I’ve always wondered why people have the tendency to call her that, she can be really lovely when you get on her good side.” Of course, one had to suffer through hours and hours of wailing before getting on Myrtle’s good side and not many were up for that task.

It didn’t bother her in the slightest,  though peeves has definitely tried to ruin her days, Aurelia was more often than not a better culprit that he was; by the time the poltergeist found her she’d already succeeded in embarrassing herself one way or another. “They can keep him for a while, I’m not complaining. People around here aren’t exactly the nicest, not everyone at least. I’ve tried, but it wasn’t even worth the headache I suffered. Which sounds horrible, I know but.. -- it was a really bad headache.’

— “ i don’t go out of me way to be cold but it’s not like i’m not used to it, either. used to freeze my arse off tending to the sheep back home. “ a shiver nearly made its way up his spine at the memory alone;  he helped himself to a warm cinnamon roll to fight away the chills. “ don’t know why myrtle insists on anyway. i mean, it’s not like she can actually enjoy any of this food. ”

“Sheep.” She stated, a little curious and maybe even a little shocked, even after all these years the mention of something from the muggle world -- even an animal, well. It brought a smile to her features. “You know, I never really left the city all that often, what does sheep tending even entail?” A small laugh left her lips as she nodded. “Think she just likes company, and there’s always someone here so..-- I honestly hope I never get stuck here as a ghost.. the whole food thing would just be... torture.”

━ james shrugged. “ ━ no worries, darlin’, i’ll deal with her. PROMISE,” he said, chucking at her words. “i wouldn’t be surprised if it’s true. i mean, who doesn’t have a thing for me?” he winked at aurelia before take a sip from his juice.

“-- Good, I swear last time I had to, I was deaf for four hours afterwards. She can really wail.” Though she rolled her eyes, it was in complete amusement and jest, Aurelia having almost predicted the words that came out of James’ mouth. “Of course not, why would you be surprised by that? -- Hey, hi, how ya’ doin’. Aurelia Winters, only girl in Hogwarts who doesn’t have a thing for you.” She teased, her hand raised in a pick me state.