Reggie, Scary? PV Closed

@Falentra Black

Opeila enjoyed some fresh air in the evening, as well as some physical activity. Like almost every day since the year started, she went on a run on the grounds. Wether she did it to get fitter or outrun her problems, she was unsure about. Probably both. She definitely got better in the training with Selim since she had started.

With her black jogging trousers and green sweater, her hair tied together in a messy bun- yes, Opeila had still not quite figured out how to do her hair properly- she made her way down to the lake. It was certainly colder now, if she wasn't warm from running, she would probably wear Flash's coat.

Slowly running out of air, she got slowlier when coming closer to the lake. Panting, she walked over towards her favourite tree... Which was taken by an older student. Opeila had not really expected to meet anyone out here anymore. Dinner was up and as the early curfew times were still applying, she would have thought, that no one wouls be out this time anymore.

Opeila decided to walk over anyway. Couldn't hurt to make a new acquaintance, right? Or at least she hoped that.
It was that time of the year, where it already got darker at 5pm, so Opeila was surprised to find the girl reading.
"How in the world are you able to read that still?", she asked. Opeila tilted her head a little as she looked at the girl's face. "Are you from Slytherin? I feel like I remember you..." To get confirmation, maybe it would be good if she knew who you are. "Oh, rude, I'm Opeila Winters. Do y-" Opeila didn't finish, instead she jumped back, shrieking. Was that... Something was on the girl's knee. A big, eight-legged animal, that Opeila did not want to get any closer to.

PV. @Opeila Winters

The faint pants that slowly grew louder would catch the attention of the Slytherin, though her head remained low, unfazed by the sudden approach. Reggie on the other hand would have slowly began to tap his two front legs repeatedly in some sort of excitement. That or he was trying to get the attention of Fal. Though she did not react to Reggie or the figure that now grew closer, she decided to keep her head lowered. She would have kept it that way too if it wasn't for how the other decided to start the conversation. 'No Hello' or 'Excuse me'. That was... a change. In all honesty the presences of someone she didn't know or recognised automictically annoyed her, but at least this would not be an awkward encounter. Falentra never really knew how to keep a decent conversation going off those 'hellos and how are yous?', something ninety percent of the pupils would say here.

The pages would close together slowly and her head would raise to finally meet up to the others. Her dark hues held a cold stare. She was about to respond but was thrown with another question. It was obvious this girl was a curious one, or excited at that. There would be a slight pause after the last question she had asked, in attempt to let her finish with any other questions she had to ask. If it wasn't for the actions that followed, she would have happily answered.

A few sudden steps or seeming jolts caught Falentra off guard. Was there something behind her? She wasn't going to look but it was one of many questions that flickered through her mind. Her stance was somewhat trembling and in a position of defence and her eyes... ah. Falentra would smile briefly before lowering her gaze down to Reggie. ''Looks like you've got a new meal here, Reggie.'' She joked, of course though it most likely wasn't the best time to say such a thing to someone that didn't understand her sense of humour.
Her eyes quickly made there was back to the fellow students as her hand would lower down to Reggie, allowing him to position himself into the palm of her hand. ''I'm kidding, obviously.'' Her tone was its usually. Monotone and dull. If ones appearance could match such, Falentras defiantly would.

''Don't be afraid. He wont hurt you.'' It was true as well. Reggie was scary looking to most and he always came across grumpy and gave off a sense of discomfort but he was a big softy deep down, just like herself.
After a few moments passed, hoping the other would have gathered some grip of herself, Falentra would stand and place Reggie on her shoulder where he sat proudly, his two front legs still tapping in defence. Arachnophobia was a very common fear amongst witches and wizards so the best thing to do was distract her through talking. It seemed to be something Opeila was quite confident in doing. ''Anyway. To answer your questions from earlier.'' She paused, making sure the fellow Sytherin was still with her. ''Not all of us have poor eyesight. And yes, I'm in Slytherin. I've seen you around too Miss Winters.'' Well, it wasn't the best of responses but it was better that having all the attention on Reggie. As much as he would have loved it, Opeila needed some sort of distraction even if it be a rude one.
Falentra would keep her distance and rest her back against the tree whilst awaiting the others response. ''What are you doin' out 'ere?'' She added last minute, purposely trying to mimic the other.

Opeila had never been a huge fan of spiders, but before Hogwarts, she had never minded them either. They sometimes showed up in corners and if their family owl, Hardin, didn't catch them before Opeila, the young girl would pick them up and put them down outside. That had completely changed last February, when the Slytherin common room had been invaded by spiders in the middle of the night. They had not been the type that looks for a dark corner to build up their web, they bit the students, placed a dark curse inside their veins. Opeila's dark ankles told the tale of that night.

Obviously the spider that sat on that girl was of the more friendly type, it didn't even move so much. And it most certainly wasn't biting the girl. It seemed that the reason for Opeila's reaction was obvious, the girl told her not to be afraid of the spider, who she called 'Reggie'. The second year forced herself to pull herself together. "Yeah, sorry, uh... Bad experience with spiders."
The older girl got off the ground and placed Reggie on her shoulder. She answered Opeila's questions in a way, that, in all honesty, weirded the younger girl out a little. "Well, I wouldn't say this has anything to do with bad eyesight but rather... being affected by the darkness.", she said, shrugging lightly.

Opeila still didn't know her name- all together it seemed that she now knew more about the spider than his owner- but apparently the girl knew her already. Alright, Opeila had made herself quite a reputation in her last year, but it still felt awkward to be told about it his way. "Oh, really?"

She asked Opeila what she was doing outside. "Getting fresh air.", Opeila told her, "Always when I stay inside the castle for a long time, I feel like I start to lose my mind." Well, that phrase could likely compete in awkwardness with the stalky one the other girl had said. "Hogwarts is a crazy place, isn't it?"

PV. @Opeila Winters

Opeila didn't seem to react too much to Falentras choice of words which left her slightly baffled. The girl before her was more petite and had the softest facial features one could show yet not much fear was to come from the younger one. Falentra would listen closely as she remained resting against the tree behind her. A smirk would crawl it’s way to her lips as the girls quick-witted response to her own harsh, or sarcastic words, depending on how you took it, would only heighten the enjoyment she was starting to get here.

Bad experience with spiders? That wasn’t very specific, but surely it couldn’t have been that bad, right? She had to ask, be nosey but without showing...concern? It wasn’t so much that anyway, but she didn’t want the other to think she was coming across that way. “What happened to make you scared of spiders eh? Get a nasty bite or what?” Her smirk had disappeared by this point, but another would have quickly appeared as she scoffed at the thought. Little did she know that under Opeilas clothing would be a nasty reaction.

Both hands pushed against the tree so that her body would jolt forward, making the distance between the pair become slightly uncomfortable. In most situations, it would be Falentra feeling it the most, but today Opeila would fill those shoes. The girl seemed to be trying her hardest to hide her fears, ones which Falentra wanted to see.
Reggie would remain unfazed by the movement or the closeness that had come between him and the fellow Slytherin but his two front legs raised from her shoulders. He often did this to try and show off, to look big and scary. And while it may of fooled some students, Falentra always found it adorable. “Would you like to hold him?” She asked, finally breaking the awkward silence that had taken place. Falentra didn’t have a Terrible Presence but she may as well had. Her stare or overall looks often put others on edge. In most cases the looks were never personal and more of a resting bitch face but she knew the effect it had on others so often used it to her advantage.

She decided to avoid the small talk. Hogwarts is a crazy place and everyone knew that already. There was no need for another input on adding to that. Besides, she was far to invested in the girl now.

The older girl was a curious one it seemed. She asked Opeila what it was that got her scared of spiders, if she got a nasty bite. A sarcastic, joyless chuckle escaped Opeila. "One could say that." She still wore the scars of that night, visible on her bare ankles, though they were likely hard to see in the darkness. "Didn't you hear about the spider attack from last february? It was a kinda big deal.", she asked her. She couldn't remember if she had been around, but then the memory of that night was a complete blur. It was entirely possible that the girl had been there. Opeila didn't know anymore who of them got cursed.

The girl pushed herself away from the tree, reducing the distance between her and Opeila. And the spider, Reggie, as if he wanted to add to Opeila's tension, raised his front legs. The second year stepped back, away from the little- and at the same time way too large- creature. And then the girl asked Opeila if she wanted to hold him. For a moment Opeila just returned her stare. Was this a joke? The girl didn't look like she was joking, but this was just... Slowly Opeila started to feel truly uncomfortable. In a similar way she had felt around the dhampir boy Kaegen. She hadn't been sure if he would hurt her in the next moment the whole time and somehow she felt like the older girl was playing with her right now. "N- No need right now, thanks.", Opeila responded, silently cursing her shaking voice. "I think I missed your name?"

The spider attack? The older Slytherin hadn't heard of such a thing, but then again she often kept her distance from people, which meant no drama. Either way it caused a brow to raise and a nod towards the girl. She wasn't so much interested in the event that had taken place, but more so curious of the aftermath. ''Nah. I ain't 'eard of it. But I'm interested to see what the nasty mark it gave you.'' A pause would follow momentarily while she eyed the girl, trying to make out what she could of the skin that was visible to the eye. ''If you will that is'' She added quickly, making sure not to pressure the other to do so.

Though the subject could be described by that of a serious one, Falentra wouldn't be able to hide away her smile from what followed. The girl would only have stepped away as she made a move forward. A true fear of spiders she did indeed have. Understandably so. ''Fair enough.'' She replied, again not pressuring her into taking Reggie from her. More for the sake of the safety of him, rather than the girl before her.

The girl was giving off the impression that she was quite the weakling. But then again, almost everyone was weak in her eyes. It seemed Opeila wanted to change the subject quite quickly which Falentra didn't have an issue with. Maybe she was to get another reaction out of the girl with her next reply. ''Falentra Black.'' She replied, certain in that the other had heard of her at some point. Whether it be by name, or troublesome events that had taken place. Either way, she spoke with confidence even if her tone and expression was dull looking. ''Say. I recognize you now actually... You part of the Duelling Club?'' She asked, her curiosity starting to peak now that she too began throwing questions of interest back at her. If she was correct, maybe she'd start to shed a small amount of respect towards the other. A small amount, that is.

Apparently the older girl had not been present during the spider attack, lucky her. Opeila was quite sure that some the older students who had been present didn't get spared. Well... Some of the older ones had been the age Opeila was now.
It took the second year a moment to understand what the upperclass girl was asking her and Opeila was not sure what to think about it. She wanted to see the scars? Why? For now, the girl had merely managed to freak her out. This was not normal behavior, right?

"Oh... sure.", she responded anyway, hesitantly, placed her right foot on a stone and pulled up the leg of her trousers. "Most of my body looks like that. It spread.", she explained, looking down on the black skin, the sensitive flesh that hurt terribly if she only absentmindedly scratched herself.

Opeila nodded gratefully when the girl took the spider back, moved it away from her. It wasn't like she didn't believe her- The spider could be the gentlest, nicest creature in the world, it wouldn't change a thing for Opeila. The flashbacks that overcame her whenever she came upon a spider sadly were missing an off-switch.
Then the girl- Falentra- asked her if she was in the duelling club. Surprised, Opeila nodded, only to feel slight embaressment well up inside her. Had her loss been that memorable?

"Yeah, I am. New to it, obviously, but yes. I quite enjoy it." Not a lie at all. Losing hurt, losing in public hurt more, but Opeila had certainly started to love the sport itself soon.
"Do you like duelling? Could you imagine joining the team?" Having a few more older students in the team would certainly not hurt.