f e m i n i s t

“I do not know what you are talking about. I’ve always had the perfect burnt marshmallow, it’s never cold on the inside. You just haven’t held it in the fire for long enough.”

“The fact that you just used the words perfect and burnt in the same sentence makes absolutely no sense. Nothing is perfect when it’s burnt,” Lottie countered back. “But I suppose I’ve just got to live with the fact that I have a friend with very strange tastes.”

“Consider it cleared. You know I’ll always make time for you,” she said as thought it were as simple as that. Marisol’s loyalty knew no bounds when it was someone she considered as basically family. “Hey! Then they might not even want you being friends with me in the first place if I’m so ‘insane’, huh?” the dark haired girl complained back, not before swatting Lottie on the shoulder lightly. “Good question… that’s something I’ll have to investigate. I’m sure there are some ways. I don’t think it’ll be something as simple as a spell though,” Marisol admitted, noting that down as something she’d delve into later. “I’d be crazy not to be!” she beamed, trying to match Lottie’s excitement despite never having been to the establishment. At her friend’s request she made a zipping motion over her lips, “Consider them sealed– I won’t say a word to him about it. That poor boy has a pizza box for a brain and a pepperoni slice for a heart, he wouldn’t be able to take such news,” she tsked dramatically, obviously just messing around with the last bit.

“They’ve met my ex-boyfriend and he was clearly mentally deranged, so I think you’ll be absolutely fine,” Lottie replied. “Plus there’s no way they’re not going to like you. I don’t like many people but you are one of them, so clearly there’s something special about you,” she grinned. “I know the royals have rings with portals but I don’t know any of them well enough to ask. I could steal one, to be fair,” she shrugged and then burst out into laughter with her comment. “That–...  that is the most amazing way of describing him. Well done,” she chuckled. 

“Yeah, of course I do,” Dakota replied. She gasped when Lottie told her what happened. “Do you want me to kill them for you,” she said, though it was a total joke. “Seriously though, I’m not saying kill them, but we can always prank them or something. I’m always down for a good prank.”

“I hope you don’t actually mean kill him,” Lottie said, raising her eyebrows at the other. “I don’t want to do that because then it’ll mean he knows it’s gotten to me and I don’t want him to think that I’m thinking about him. Because I’m not. I’ve moved on.” And she had, but the painful memories were still there in her mind and would never go away. “I want to do something. I just don’t know what.”

“Who said I was mad? I’m just deeply hurt is all. Two very different things,” Harvey insisted with a huff, clutching at his chest dramatically as though she’d stabbed him through the heart. “Hmm, that was sort of a compliment but still sounded like an insult. Does everything that come out of your mouth sound like that?” he couldn’t help but tease lightly. “What sort of question is that, of course I’d join,” Harvey replied as if it were the easiest decision he’d ever have to make. “And I promise it’s not just because you and my sisters would never speak to me ever again if I refused to.”

Lottie shook her head as he dramatically clutched his chest, “They’re really not that different, Harv.” She grinned, “You’ve known me long enough to know that is exactly how my brain works. If you can’t handle the insults you’re not worthy of my friendship,” she said, folding her arms in front of her chest and quirking a brow. “Oh yeah, I’d never speak to you again. I’d make sure Eliza wouldn’t either. Pretty sure she likes me more than you now.” 

River let out a small laugh at the other. “Yeah, okay,” he said. “Nice try, but that is not the answer. The answer is twenty four. You used the wrong equation.”

“Er, no,” Lottie replied, “You’ve clearly forgotten basic elementary school math because you’ve not followed BODMAS,” she said, pointing out the mistake in his work. “Powers after brackets, Dumbass.”

“Come on, come on, you cannot tell me that burnt marshmallows aren’t the best,” Grant said to the other. “They’re crispy on the outside and gooey on the inside, and they are so quick to make, all you have to do is just stick it in the fire.”

“You’re actually being insane right now,” Lottie huffed. “Burnt sugar is disgusting and such a waste of what otherwise could be a nicely toasted marshmallow. Plus it never ends up gooey on the inside if you just chuck it in. Cold solid mallow in the middle and burnt black shit on the outside.”

Simona admired the other’s ambition, there wasn’t much in Simona’s life that she had the same feelings about. “Have you tried asking the Headmistress to organise something for you to be able to do some of your other university classes here?” Simona suggested, they couldn’t imagine what it would be like to have to pack up your life, put it on pause and move somewhere for an indefinite amount of time. “I think so, are you good with signs?” 

Lottie paused for a second, “No. I haven’t, actually. You think they’d do that for a very boisterous student who has pretty much only complained about this place since the minute she stepped foot through the door?” It wasn’t her fault she disliked the place so much, it wasn’t somewhere she ever envisioned herself. “Am I good with signs? I’ve been to so many rallies I couldn’t even tell you. So yes, I’m great with signs.”

“It’s not very often that you come across people at this time of night, unless they’re sneaking out into the woods for some ‘alone’ time. Though given someone else walks by another ten minutes later, I doubt it’s ‘alone’ time.” Benji told the other, “Also you did scare me and I feel like I’m entitled to know what you’re up to given you made me give out a rather high pitched squeal.” Benji snorted, “If anything me asking where you’re going is a safety thing, then if I hear trouble or screaming, or if there’s a fire, I know you’re still out there. I don’t really want to be a part of a murder inquisition giving I’d have been the last person who saw you alive.”

“And you think I’m sneaking out for some alone time, do you?” Lottie posed, “I can’t tell you how problematic that is. You see a girl walking alone at night and your first thought is that they’re off to a hook up. We’re more than just an object you can molest against a tree,” she fired back. “Despite that wonderful argument, I’m not telling you where I’m going. It’s somewhere that doesn’t concern you in any way shape or form. And I’m not stupid enough to get murdered before you bring up that point again.”

“I should be offended that you felt the need to specify that not only are men stupid, but that I’m stupid… but I guess I was the one to bring it up in the first place. Although a ‘no Harvey, you’re just a little dumb but you’re not stupid’ would’ve been appreciated instead,” he said, feigning hurt for a moment. But after his time and friendship with Harvey, he quickly learned not to take her stabs to heart. Besides, he was no stranger to making jokes at his own expense, they came a little too naturally to him. “Hmm, you clearly know a lot about this. Perhaps you should be the one to start it? I mean I personally couldn’t think of anyone better to lead something like that.”

“You can’t get mad at me for just repeating something you said, Harv,” she huffed. “But fine. You’re just a little dumb. Nowhere near the levels I thought you were when we first met, that’s for sure.” Her then-fragile mind probably wasn’t the best judge of character, to be fair. “I think I might just do that, you know. Become the founder of Alfea University’s very own feminist society. You’d join, right? Or am I going to have to find a new friend?” Lottie teased.

“Thank God, I was really hoping that it was the gossip option. I know I can always come to you for gossip. Now, spill, before I explode in anticipation.”

“I’ve always got the goods, you’re absolutely right,” Lottie said, quirking a brow. “Well, remember all that shit I told you about my ex and my now ex-best friend? They fucking broke up. All that shit I got put through and their relationship didn’t even last. It’s pathetic.”

“They don’t hate me, but I doubt they deem me anywhere near fit to rule our realm,” Fionnuala replied. She shrugged at the blonde’s questions, “If you want to hear about drugs and other crazy stuff, then I can tell you, but usually I scare people away with those stories. Besides, Charlie’s worked so harder, and he’s my brother, I love him, I’ll support him even though it’s kind of the worst.”

“Well maybe not now while you’re at college, but in the future when you’ve had training maybe?” Lottie offered. “Nah, you won’t scare me away with that stuff.” She’d been surrounded by a lot of that at college back on Earth so it was quite normal to her now. “You can love someone and still not support it. It’s the absolute worst, don’t sugarcoat it.”

James raised his eyebrows, and nodded along to her words. “Can’t you start one yourself? Isn’t that how that stuff works?”

“I probably could,” Lottie shrugged. “I don’t think I’d get many people from this place involved because most people have just shunned my ideas from the get go saying it’ll take years. Would you join?”

“What about the Townsends?” Zac suggested. “They’re the royals of Dyamond. I don’t know much about Charlie and Phoebe, but Finn seems like the type to be interested in your feminist quest toward the royal families.”

“My feminist quest?” Lottie repeated, narrowing her eyes at the other. “It shouldn’t be just my feminist quest, it should be the whole fricking Otherworlds.” Lottie huffed, “She said she might help me start something, but I don’t see it going anywhere. Royals like their place too much.”

“How about you organise something with your classmates, then? I’m sure you’re not the only one who gets mad about this.” Emma spoke, while it wasn’t something Emma was wanting to discuss during a scheduled study period within her class she definitely understood and agreed with the other. “You could make posters to inform other students, start meeting and work with others to help achieve that. It’s not something that will happen instantaneously, though.” 

“I think I might just, actually. I know of like five other people who would be interested. I’m sure we’ll get more people involved when we flyer,” Lottie said, though she wasn’t sure she’d actually get more interest. “Are teachers allowed to join societies? If so, would you join? I’d love to have someone a bit higher up trying to help me and you at least seem kind of interested in what I have to say.” Lottie shrugged, “I know it’s not going to happen instantly. But it’s something I am very passionate about and I’m willing to put in the work to see change happening.”

“Oh my god, really? Lottie! That’s pretty fucking awesome,” Marisol replied, finding it easy to share her friend’s excitement. “Would they send you or me? Because technically you could deny everything I’m saying and they’ll just think I’m out of my damn mind,” she pointed out, just in case Mari did slip up and Lottie needed an out. “I wish we could go now too, just because a change of scenery in general would be pretty damn nice,” she admitted with an exaggerated sigh. “Hopefully your class will go by faster than you expect it to,” Marisol added with a light shrug, hoping to comfort her even a little. “Milkshakes? I mean who can say no to that? Do they only sell milkshakes there?”

“I know, right? You are obviously my second in command for the job, so clear your schedule as we’ve got a movement to create,” Lottie said excitedly. “Oh, that’s a good point. Hadn’t thought of that. Maybe I should just introduce you as my insane friend so they won’t take anything you say seriously just in case you slip, you know, to get ahead of this thing,” the blonde joked. “Is there actually a way out of this place? Like obviously I know they have those portals at the end of semester but can we escape at any other time?” “I knew you’d be on board. But no, they have the most amazing sandwiches. My favourite ever item of food comes from that place, but don’t tell Harv that as he thinks veggie deluxe pizzas are my favourite.”

“You don’t give me much of a choice,” he teased lightly, a smile on his lips nonetheless. It hadn’t been too difficult for Harvey to get used to her rants because he had experience with these sorts of topics considering he had four sisters and was the only boy. Often he felt rather good about himself that he could interject with a valid point here and there that Lottie seemed to approve of. “But yeah, it’s very annoying. Hey– I mean the princesses aren’t all bad here, don’t dig on them if you don’t know them, but it’s ridiculous that after all these years people still don’t seem to see women as equal. This may be controversial, but I see you all as superior. Like seriously we men are so fucking dumb most of the time, how you still put up with us is beyond me,” Harv shrugged, chuckling to keep things light. “I know these don’t always work, but have you though about starting a petition or something? Perhaps there’s a way to get the princesses to revolt and make a change.”

“I don’t, you’re right,” Lottie gave a chuckle. She did, obviously. Harvey was free to leave her company whenever he wanted to. But he always stayed, something that hadn’t gone unappreciated to Lottie. As he spoke, Lottie could feel herself smiling wider and becoming more giddy, but she had to push that feeling right down into her gut so it didn’t bubble up. “You are–... so right, Harv,” she replied before breaking out into a laugh. “You really are. I mean, both you specifically and men in general, of course,” she said teasingly. When they first met her opinions of him really weren’t in the highest regard– a boy who smelt of pizza and seemed to be, by her standards, a giant idiot. It didn’t help that she was just coming out a break up, but now that she’d gotten to know him, she knew that wasn’t what he was really like, though he could be a little dumb sometimes. “Petitions don’t really go anywhere. We’d need to take action and go protesting, start trends on social media– anything more proactive than signing your name to a piece of paper that doesn’t go anywhere.”

“Seriously? Ooft. That sounds horrible.” Simona spoke with a shake of their head, agreeing with the other. “I don’t know either, I mean I’m sure they know it won’t be our best work if they keep stacking the assignments on top of each other. Do you think they want us to fail?” They asked, just a tad overdramatically. 

“I actually enjoyed the stuff I was learning there too. I’m only here so I don’t accidentally flood things with my powers. As soon as I’ve got full control I’m going straight back,” Lottie said confidently. She knew what she wanted from life, and this was just a blip in her ten year plan. “I think some of them do, which is fucking ridiculous– why would you become a teacher to just fail students? Do they get off on the power dynamic?” She asked the other, not expecting a response. “I think we should start a campaign, you know. Me, you, anyone else we can find who would be interested in trying to get better rights for us as students when it comes to deadlines.”