Lady, running down to the riptide

“Taking a draught of peace seemed like such a great idea last night. Now? Not so much.”

“Does that actually help? Obviously it does or it wouldn’t be a thing. I just refuse to really take anything that has powdered unicorn horn or anything unicorn. Plus I’m not really one for Potions class so I’d probably mess something up.”

“You’d like to bug me, hm? Any particular reason you’re feeling suicidal today, McKinnon?” Despite her words, the tension had fallen from Gwen’s shoulders. She reached into her jacket pocket and produced her Embassy cigarettes, fingering two from the pack and extending one to the other girl.

Marlene snorted, taking one of the cigarettes from the other. “Thanks, love.” She smiled, lighting it up and taking a drag before sighing. “You’re one of my favorite people to bug whether I’m feeling suicidal or not, Jones. Maybe because you’re not too annoying.”

     ❝Sometimes I think they forget, and other times they just think you won’t notice. That will work for me, is there anywhere in particular you want to meet up for the exchange?❞

“Outside of your last class? I’m not quite interested in going anywhere near your common room, but I’m sure you already know that.” She admitted, starting to draw on her parchment. 

Eyes closed and a cloak of grey surrounding her, Gwen stood with her back pressed against the Hogwarts castle. It had taken her time to find the perfect smoking spot, somewhere she could nurse cigarette after cigarette without being bothered. With another long inhale, she released a breath of smoke and nearly smiled - until she heard a twig snap only feet away. 

Marlene walked over towards Gwen, being as quiet as she possibly could which was a feat in its own for Marlene. But she did feel like she was doing a good job until she stepped on a twig, causing it to snap. Shit, she thought, huffing as Gwenog looked at her. She smiled sheepishly, biting her lip. “I would, but I’d quite like to bug you for a bit. Besides if there’s anyone I’d like to have a smoke with, it may as well be you.”

    ❝I have plenty of quills of my own, so why would I need to keep yours?❞ He couldn’t help himself but try to steal a glance at what she was writing. ❝I don’t exactly have anywhere I’m expected to be apart from classes, so where would be the most convenient?❞

She shrugged. “I’m not really sure why people feel the need to keep anything that’s not theirs, but people do it anyway. After your last class?” She questioned, glancing over at him quickly. “If that makes things easy?”

   “That isn’t necissary, I only need it until I find time to return to my room and get my own. Thank you though. I’ll get it back to you when I can.”

“You’re quite welcome and thank you as well for being willing to return it.” She nodded at him, turning her head a bit to look at her own quill to pay attention to what she was writing. “Do you have a place you want to meet to return it to me at?”

Aly narrowed her eyes into a glare at the other girl before reaching up to tip her glass in Marlene’s direction. “Oops..” she shrugged as the liquid spilled over.

“Fine, Fine. I’ll leave. Especially since I don’t particularly like your crowd.”

“You couldn’t pay me to get on one of those.. but I’d still prefer it to this conversation.”

Marlene took a step back, lifting up one of her arms. “You kind of asked me. You know... in case you forgot already.” 

“I’m sorry, you seem to think I was asking. I wasn’t. Go away.”

“Nah, I quite like this seat. Though I guess it’s in bad taste to keep my head on the table.” 

Don’t ever back me into a corner expecting me to break.

“Of course not. Your presence is unwanted, and the company I plan to keep are not your type of people, so just do everyone a favor and scurry off, yeah?”

“You know, surprisingly that’s not something I am really interested in doing at the present time.” She admitted, laying her head down on the table.