Closed The Prince and the Miller PV Regina Miller

Interacting with @Dealla Prince
Mentioning @Evelynn Decipio (in thought)
Colour code - #831100
Gryffindor uniform, with her family's crest clipped on the lapel of her outer robes.

𝕿here weren't a lot of interesting things that the youngest Miller Heir of four were expecting to stumble upon that day.

For one, she had received quite an astounding grade for her Defence Against The Dark Arts essay in the morning, but it wasn't something new. Regina had always known since before Hogwarts that she had an affinity for the subject and was even considered a prodigy by those who had witnessed her spell casting and knowledge during the lessons. The Miller matriarch was always pleased to receive reports of her grades as she was to follow in her Mother's footsteps into becoming an outstanding Auror. Regina made a mental note to owl her parents later to inform them of her newest achievement.

And then, the rest of the day had moved on almost boringly. Lectures, bothersome classmates, more classes, assignments, more minor disturbances...by the time the afternoon had rolled along, Regina was ready to head to a much more secluded area where she could study in peace and away from other people (she refused to consider the Gryffindor Tower, as her housemates were often much too rowdy in the Common Room for her taste). Yes, the Heiress wasn't quite anticipating anything exciting to happen after such a bland Wednesday.

At least, not until...

"Which one of you thought it was a good idea to just drop your trash on the ground?"

Regina's footsteps came to a halt when the telltale sound of an authoritative voice reached her ears. The words held impending trouble to whoever they were meant for, and it didn't take long for her to deduce that one of the Prefects had spoken, as it didn't sound like it belonged to any of the Professors. She rounded around the corner and came across a brown-haired girl in Ravenclaw robes, standing tall and imperative over a group of apprehensive first-years. An eyebrow quirked curiously as orchid eyes scanned over each of their anxious faces, every one of them looking so guilty and afraid as though they'd just been caught misbehaving. Perhaps, they were, if the fallen paper belonging to an opened Chocolate Frog was any indication. Regina felt her interest peaked slightly when the Ravenclaw Prefect continued on, listing more reasons that seemed almost...exaggerated. She'd certainly heard the brunette's voice down the corridors rather than the first-years' lolly-gagging that the upperclassman was implying.

The raven-haired Gryffindor watched on with concealed astonishment as the Ravenclaw did not assign them detention as she should have, and instead demanded chocolates to allow the group to weasel their away out of it. It was the first time that Regina had witnessed a Prefect use their authority in such a crafty way--she'd expected all of them to possess a strict moral compass and enforce the school's rules without any hidden agenda. Someone more like Decipio, her own House's Prefect. She never suspected one day to be proven wrong, and it was like a switch was flicked in her mind. Regina didn't always respect people who saw the world as black and white and who aligned themselves accordingly, but this girl was different. She'd gotten a glimpse of her true nature beyond what seemed like a well-behaved and friendly appearance, and Regina wanted to know more--as if she was an eager little child who just spotted a new toy.

As the group of first-years scurried away, the Lion stepped closer behind the Eagle without making a single sound, purple eyes staring intently at the back of the dark brown head.

"Using your title not for responsibility, but for personal means. How curious."

WC: 580

The voice from behind came as a surprise, and Dee turned on her heel to face the girl who had spoken. She was shorter than Dee, younger, presumably. Marked as a Gryffindor by the crest on her robes, it was no one Dee had talked to before, or even consciously noticed. Which wasn't a surprise, Dee's attention usually behaved like a bubble. Either you were caught in it, or she wasn't likely to even notice your existence. Someone who wasn't a Ravenclaw, a third year, a duellist, or a part of the Headliner team, and hadn't done anything particularly interesting to make themselves stand out, and Dee was unlikely to even recognise their face. Where Dee was often recognised for the positions she inhabited, this girl was an unknown variable. Yet, she chose to start their acquaintance by making wild, unfounded accusations.

Well. Not unfounded, if she was honest, and not that wild, either. Dee had thought her little bending of rules had gone unnoticed, but obviously, she had been wrong. Not that she cared too much. Being called out on her actions did provide an interesting twist to the situation, though.

The sudden influx of chocolate to her pockets had also lifted her mood considerable, so Dee simply raised her eyebrows at the stranger, gifting her with a bright smile. "I don't know what you're talking about," she claimed blithely, then reached into her bag to retrieve one of the chocolate frogs she had just deposited there. She started unwrapping it nonchalantly, then gave the girl another glance, cocking her head, as if wondering what she was still doing there. "Did you need something?"

A bit of a challenge that was, maybe. A test of sorts, to see what kind of reaction it would provoke. An opportunity to impress, for some. It really depended on how you looked at it. The girl had stepped into Dee's bubble of attention, and perhaps she would provide enough intrigue to stay there, too. It all depended on what she'd do with the attention, now that she had it.

@Regina Miller

Banner by: Liana Kerr

Interacting with @Dealla Prince
Colour code - #831100

𝕴f Regina was just a bit slighted by the Ravenclaw's nonchalant denial, she did not show. She had actually expected it, as most people being caught abusing their authority would react the same. It was a natural defence, believing that the witness did not have evidence to whatever they'd seen. Or perhaps, Regina mused as purple eyes slowly sized up the Prefect, it was a show of arrogance. She watched silently as the girl blatantly reached inside her bag and took out a chocolate frog as though it was a trophy to be displayed.

Definitely arrogance.

Regina was unfazed by the question. She knew it was meant to draw a reaction out of her, and the Heiress held back a sarcastic snort. If this brunette truly thought that Regina could be so easily provoked like the a typical unruly Gryffindor, then she was severely mistaken. She preferred not to be associated as a boisterous hooligan like most of her daft Housemates. She idly adjusted the strap of her bag with a gentle shrug, her gaze shifting to the side as if the Ravenclaw Prefect wasn't all that impressive. Well, she really wasn't, but Regina wasn't going to tell her that.

"Not quite. I do not believe I need anything from you, per se," The raven-haired Lion drawled almost boringly. "I was simply wondering if you were willing to accept a simple...request. A trade for my silence."

Regina's orchid eyes snapped back onto the brunette's face, the corner of her lips curving slightly as she titled her head to the side in a similar blithe fashion as the other girl had.

"I am very certain you would not be pleased if, say, another Prefect or even a Professor knew of what you just did, would you not?" Her tone was neutral, but there was an almost minacious glee filtering through her usually cool facade. "They may not believe me with words, but there are ways to look into a person's memory, yes?"

Despite being in the Lion House, Regina was no stranger to using underhanded ways to get what she wanted out of people. It always depended on who she was using them on, of course, and she couldn't outright threaten an upperclassman as she would with a peer or a first-year. It might not be much as a leverage against the Ravenclaw, but she was sure it would still plant a seed of doubt in the students and staff's minds. A Prefect bending the rules was no laughing matter, after all.

WC: 421

Unaware of how badly she'd been misread, Dee blinked when the girl spoke, then her face twisted into something between amusement and disbelief as the meaning behind the words trickled through. If this Gryffindor was trying to be subtle, she was doing a terrible job of it. Honestly, she could have just straight out said "Hi, I'm trying to blackmail you," and it would have had the same effect. In contrast to her new acquaintance, Dee hadn't been trying to manipulate or impress, not that she realised that this was what the little lioness had assumed. It had been an invitation to play, nothing more.

Unfortunately for the girl (or for Dee, or both), Dealla did not tend to respond to threats, especially not to those laid on so thickly. Call it spite if you will. Did she really think anyone would forcibly try to read someone's mind because of a few chocolate frogs? Frankly, it seemed like she vastly overestimated her own influence - and the importance of the encounter she had just witnessed. When it came down to it, Dee had let a minor rule-break slip in exchange for a few chocolate frogs. She doubted she'd get much of a reprimand even if people believed it.

There had been so much potential in the situation, yet this was what she'd chosen to make of it. Test failed, T for Troll.

"That's cute," Dee replied, reaching for another chocolate frog and handing it to the girl along with a brilliant smile. There was just the faintest trace of condescension in her voice. Nothing as obvious as a verbal head pat, more the vocal equivalent of bending down slightly to be more on eye level. The unusual eye colour caught her attention for a moment, but generally, she was already starting to lose interest. "And here I thought I was bad at being subtle. You'll need a lot more practice if you want to become an evil mastermind." Which, she assumed, was this girl's dream occupation? It seemed the most logical explanation for her behaviour.

After another moment of consideration, Dee shook her head, then turned to leave. If the girl hadn't accepted the chocolate frog at this point, she would return it to her bag. No need to waste good chocolate, after all. "Well then, if there isn't anything you need from me, I have things to do." Articles to write, to be precise. She had to admit though, she was much more likely to be productive than she had been just a few minutes ago, her mood miraculously improved.

@Regina Miller

Banner by: Liana Kerr

Interacting with @Dealla Prince
Colour code - #831100

𝕬ll traces of pretentious glee disappeared immediately from Regina's face when the Ravenclaw girl brushed off her threat as though it was a mere spec of dust on her clothes. Regina sported a blank expression--something that she'd trained herself to display instead of shock whenever she was caught off-guard--as she stared at the chocolate frog offered to her. For those few seconds, the raven-haired Gryffindor was truly at a loss of what to do because she hadn't expected her attempt at blackmail to backfire in such a demeaning way. If one looked closely enough, they would notice how Regina's porcelain cheeks were dusted with a light pink blush of indignation, despite the seemingly obvious indifference mask. Especially when the Eagle brunette spoke down to her in such a patronising way, like she was humouring petulant child that wasn't worth her time.

It reminded her all too keenly of how the older sister she hated often addressed her, and it made Regina's blood boil dangerously.

"Well then, if there isn't anything you need from me, I have things to do."

Apparently, that was the trigger the Heiress needed to snap out of her blank trance, reaching for the chocolate frog and raise her voice almost frantically.

"Wait!"

Regina recoiled instantly, mortified and angry at her own impulsive reaction. Since when had she allowed herself to be so...emotive? What had encouraged her to grab for the treat like an immature child afraid of being robbed of a toy? It was extremely unbecoming of a Pureblood witch of a prestigious Noble House, even if she was only thirteen. The ravenette quickly cleared her throat as a poor attempt of hiding her embarrassment, schooling her expression into something more neutral. She needed to regain control of her emotions. She had a purpose to fulfill with the Ravenclaw Prefect, after all.

"I mean...forgive me for being discourteous. Perhaps I was a tad asinine and hasty," Regina tried her best to remain polite. "My name is Regina Miller. I do, in fact, need you to adhere to a simple request...please."

It took everything in the Gryffindor to not grimace as she pushed out the last word to appeal to the Prefect's sense of superiority. She concluded wisely that she'd have to use a completely different approach, even if it made her want to claw her hairs out like a common plebe internally.

"I am certain that you have a lot of knowledge to bestow a young, curious underclassman like me. Will you be inclined to take me under your wing as my mentor?" She asked, her head slightly tipped down in a show of humility. "I have a feeling I will learn well from someone as cunning and intelligent as you."

It was a complete 180 degrees switch to how Regina usually behaved around people. Then again, never had someone thrown her off so condescendingly before.

WC: 465

Dee had already started moving when the chocolate frog was snatched from her hand, a suddenly urgent exclamation halting her steps. She turned back around, eyes questioning as she watched the girl force an indifferent expression back onto her face. Honestly, she hadn't expected to be stopped. Most people didn't enjoy being humiliated, and either snapped back or kept their distance after an initial bad encounter. This one was apparently different, and Dealla was moderately confused. What exactly was happening now?

Her lips twitched into an amused smile as the girl - Regina - provided a very stilted apology, followed by an introduction. Who talked like that? She sounded like she belonged at least fifty years in the past, some sort of... noble... or aristocrat... or whatever. Dealla didn't think she had ever heard someone use the word 'asinine' in a casual conversation. Was this what Dee would be speaking like if she had been raised by her grandparents? The horror.

Lucky (or was it?) for Regina, flattering Dee's immense ego was exactly the right way to approach her, although she had the fleeting suspicion that this sounded dangerously close to sarcasm. Or was that just how a 19th century aristocrat expressed themselves? What did Dee know? She wasn't an two-hundred year old time traveller.

"Well, Regina... Wait, do you have a nickname? Reggie?" Her eyes narrowed, scrutinising her protégée-to-be, then she lit up and snapped her fingers, pleased. "Ginny! How's that?" A satisfied nod, and she continued, immediately shortening down the new nickname even more. "So, Gin, because I'm feeling magnanimous today, here's your first lesson: Only try to blackmail people when you actually have something to hold over them. This," a negligent gesture at the hallway, meant to indicate the previous scene, "wasn't it. And for the love of Merlin, try to make it less obvious." Not that Dee considered herself a master in the art of blackmailing people to do her bidding, but that had been disgraceful.

"I'm Dee, by the way, but I also respond to Dea, or 'Great Goddess of Wisdom'." The last one was about eighty percent sarcasm. Or... well, at least sixty percent. Maybe she was beginning to enjoy this a little too much. "Your second lesson..." Dee turned on her heel and began marching towards the office once again, leaving Regina to either follow or miss the incredible wisdom the prefect was about to bestow on her. "Never try to blackmail me. It's a bad idea, I promise."

@Regina Miller

Honestly, Dee was more than a little surprised that after all that, Regina was still willing to go along with her antics. Perhaps the girl was just a bit of a pushover, unable or unwilling to stand up for herself, but that wasn't the impression she'd given off in the beginning. No, judging from the way she'd approached, and the assumptions she'd made immediately upon first speaking to Dee, there was something more behind her sudden submissiveness. Not that Dee knew her well enough to hazard a guess. Or cared to, honestly.

Instead, she cheerfully clapped her hands together, gifting Regina with a bright grin. "Awesome. And yeah yeah, you're forgiven." While walking she gave the girl another sideways glance. "So, Regina from Gryffindor, how old are you? And where were you going before you got distracted by my incredibly sparkly personality?"

Once she'd reached the door of the Headliner office, she stopped once again, turning around to face Regina, her face contemplative. Dee quite enjoyed taking other students under her wings sometimes, teaching them silly lessons she made up on the spot.

There had been Hanako and their lessons in Basic Human Decency™, and Samantha, who Dee had talked into committing some minor rulebreaks without the girl being aware of it. Honestly though, it had been for her own good. A little rulebending was good for the soul, to loosen up that stiff and straight spine. Things that were too rigid tended to snap when subjected to pressure. In Dee's opinion, both of them had been better off with her tutelage.

For Regina, she wasn't quite sure where to go with this. She obviously wasn't a rule-following goody two-shoes like Samantha (much as Dee adored her younger friend, there was no denying it), nor was she here under tears pouring her heart out like Hanako had been doing when the two of them had started their arrangement. Of course it had taken some very pointed prodding from Dee to get him that far, but he had been at a breaking point already.

Regina's goal, her motivations? Unclear. Maybe she'd keep Dee on her toes.

At the very least, she was entertaining. "So many stories," Dee agreed, nodding, but didn't elaborate. "And so glad to hear that, people usually tell me I talk too much." Tapping her nose with a finger, she took a moment to think, then decided it was easier to just ask. "So, Ginny, what exactly do you hope to learn from me?"

@Regina Miller