#popiko

The entirety of Mari's reaction to the trial could be summarized as complete silence, one or two eyerolls, and flipping off the headmaster just before the execution. The journalist also walked out in stony-faced pensiveness, showing not a single flicker of emotion to anything that was going on. And she stayed that way as she stalked right across the Great Hall and through a wall. Stunning.

There wasn't a trace of Mari for the next few days, not until the announcement for a Yule Ball came. Considering that such a thing was in the actual books, and that Mari knew of a certain someone who she owed a favor to, this was the perfect opportunity to do something.

So, off she went, out of the wall and into the crowd of people. Eventually, a mane of purple hair came into her field of vision, and the blonde strode right up to the individual it belonged to.

"Popiko."

Her tone of voice wasn't exactly conducive to alerting the background dancer, rather, it was more... matter-of-fact, as if Mari was declaring that yes, indeed her name was Popiko. In any extent, she waited until Popiko had realized that she was there before continuing on.

"Do you want to dance with me? You know, Yule Ball and all that. You must be good at it, considering your talent."

Popiko was normally a very sociable girl. In fact, sometimes you kind of wish she'd just shut the hell up. But after that trial, she honestly couldn't muster up the energy to bound around like a kangaroo on steroids, even though that's what she did, like, 2/47.

Knowing they got it wrong was like a weight on her shoulders, pushing her down and reminding her of the vague, terrifying consequences of what would happen to all of them if whoever killed Akemi got away with it again. And with that draining her energy, Popiko had just gone straight for the Slytherin dorms.

But as she arrived, she couldn't help but notice somebody new- someone who definitely wasn't a Slytherin. Aiko.. Suddenly, she had a light bulb moment. This was how she'd improve her attitude! By talking with the sad girl! How would that help matters any? I don't know, but it's Popiko logic. Not even she knows.

Shuffling over to the girl, Popiko was about to reach out to her before hesitating and retracting her arm, instead choosing to cough to get the other girl's attention.

Popiko is getting bored by all the trial business. She'd say her shoe size, but she's honestly bored enough to fall asleep. Leaning over and resting her head on the podium, using crossed arms as pillows, she's honestly about to do just that- of course, until she hears an upset voice. Hideo's upset voice, to be precise.

Oh hell no. Shooting right up, all signs of her sleepiness gone with the wind, Popiko darts across the room in a burst of speed, slowing down so that she didn't hurt Hideo as she latched onto him, squeezing into the podium so that she was right up against him as she hugged him tightly.

"Hey, hey, it's okay! Don't be upset, please?"

Popiko actually has no idea what made him upset- she was half asleep for that part- but she's immensely distressed at seeing Hideo this way. Holy shit, she does have a soul!

"I don't know what the problem is, but it's gonna be okay! Shh, shh, it's okay! I've got you, it's okay!"

Popiko bounced up and down at her podium, looking gleefully around the room. She waved both arms in the air, trying to direct attention to herself.

"Ahem ahem ahem! Popiko-tan found something reeeeeally important while she was investigating! So listen up! She found..."

Popiko stopped jumping momentarily to look seriously across the podiums, making eye contact with anyone who would look.

"... That big sister Nelly-chan is a big baby!"

Okay, Popiko. But they were announcing items now, weren't they? She may as well say hers.

Their most treasured item, huh? That sounded like quite the doozy to Popiko. Seeing her own item mixed in didn't help any. It wasn't important- more sentimental than anything-, but she'd hate to lose it. And given what she'd learned in the class she took, would it be that mean of her to kill someone over it?

Nah, she was too lazy. Besides, somebody probably needed theirs more than she needed hers- what an oddly tender thought from a girl like her! Still, she'd keep murder in mind, just in case. These kids meant nothing to Popiko, anyways. Her little scrap of paper was more important than any of the people trapped with her.

Her attention span drifted off the motive as she examined her classmates. This would be a good time to try talking to some new people. Glancing over them all, her eyes soon settled on a white-haired boy. Hey, he was the only one older than her, wasn't he? Time for a grown-up conversation! Or, rather, a grown-up and a child in the body of a woman. Skipping up behind him, Popiko poked Eri in the back.