A Brilliant Mind and a Hollow Heart Open

The white haired girl raised an eyebrow curiously. Make out, if anyone was going to make out with Aravis it would be her favorite actor, and frankly the girl in front of her wasn't her favorite actor. She cleared her throat with a slight smile. "You're very pretty, but you aren't my type so none of that for me." She stated having no emotion in her voice once again. Aravis tilted her head towards Howie with a slight glimmer in her eye that seemed to scream 'Don't leave me in here with her.' She figured Erin would notice the look in her eye but it didn't matter as long as she wasn't alone. 

Most of the time her eyes seemed to cage a certain anger and deadly poison, but today that look was not found anywhere on the tall second year. She had drained all emotion from her face now to prevent Erin from reading anything that went through her mind. Blanking her thoughts and voices in her head she focused on keeping it that way. Aravis was unsure who Erin was calling hollow, was it Howie or Aravis. She wouldn't be surprised if Erin had called her Hollow, after all she was trying to remain as emotionless as possible. After a few moments of contemplating she realized that Erin had indeed called her hollow. "I'm only hollow when I want to be." She stated with a slight smirk creeping its way onto her face.

She mentally reminded herself not to break, she couldn't risk showing any form of emotion in front of the girl. Having no idea what Erin would get out of it, she didn't want to take any chances. She waited for someone to break the silence, in the process of shattering her facade her self. Aravis wondered how long she could hold herself together, it most likely wouldn't last too long. 

"I am going to make out with her or something,"

A corner of Howie’s mouth raised slightly. She was fishing. He had been right about one thing, Erin fed off the emotions of others. However, he was wrong in thinking she would attack him further by calming his feelings. She threw him away with a shooing motion and turned her sights back towards Aravis.


It was rude, but Howie barely listened as the white haired girl replied. His bright blue eyes were locked on Erin. Allowing his anger to calm gave the boy a moment of clarity. He took this brief time to ponder her. What could have possibly happened to her to make her this way? It was an argument of nature versus nurture really. Was she a natural born monster or had she been shaped by the events of her short life to be this way? There was no point in trying to pry it out of her. Howie doubted she would even be capable of a conversation without giving in to her primal urge to feed. No, he would have to study her closely, like a scientist observing a newly discovered species. She was dangerous and he would find her weakness.

"I'm only hollow when I want to be."

Aravis’ voice drew his attention. Howie looked over to her just in time make brief eye contact. He studied her for just a moment. Her pale skin, blue eyes and light colored hair reminded him of his mother. An idea flashed across his mind. Howie gave a quick wink to Aravis, hoping to reassure her.


Looking back over to Erin, he wondered. She always did her best to get a rise of emotion out of people. To feed off presumably. However, every trick she had was to inspire negativity. Were these the only emotions that could fill her hunger? Howie thought of his mother again. His protector, he loved her deeply and he allowed that feeling to fill him. “Erin...” He called out to her. “What’s wrong with you?” He would ask to draw her attention. 

Erin was everyone's favorite actor... Well, maybe not so much, but everyone could have their failings in taste and Miss Escanora this would simply be a reflection of one of her many shortcomings. It of course mattered little to Erin, rejection came easy to someone that was incapable of feeling dismissed, spurned. She did not desire acceptance, friendship or love because it was utterly abstract. Similarly she did not lament her lack of friends, her lonesome corner at her house table or the fact that she had this compartment (for the most part) all to herself. In fact, it would appear that her terrible and cruel nature was more a benefit than a hindrance, she did not know how to feel lonely.

Still rejection came, but it did not sting. Nothing did. She wished it would. But she could feel her. Aravis that is. Erin could feel the young girl with an intensity, like a moth to a flame. Hiding, suppressing the visual proof did not change the truth. Still, the screams were faint... far from ideal. Concern. Fear. She knew these well, she was something unusual, something broken, something cruel. If she was scared, scared enough that was to be worth this effort it would be worth pursuing. Rather, she would have to remain empty.

The girl would make a comment about being hollow when she wanted to be. "A bad ass..." Erin verbally taunted as she shook her head. "No, you're a muted version of what you can be. Dispassionate, and it seems to be a mark of pride," she observed. Erin should be frustrated, she knew what it meant but rather than feel it she had to consider the fact. A concurrent process she lacked the capacity to consider as the metaphorical gears in her head continued to turn. "Do you honestly think that a stone face betrays the color of your heart, the deeds of your soul or the wants of your mind." It was not a question, a statement rather. "Pupils dilate when you are excited, when there is a need to survive something. When you need to fight. When life, limb or... as my peers seem to fear more, a loss of dignity or status," Erin did not worry about these things because she was not capable. "So neccessary, yet you supress the very thing that makes you human. That keeps you safe. That keeps you alive when you are faced with an obvious threat." Erin was the threat.

Was she digging? No, it was not necessary. She did not need scraps but if she was desperate enough she knew where to look. No, if she wanted a rise from either of them, she would have to do more than imply a threat.

Who was weaker -- the hollow princess or the pretty boy. The boy was unstable, delicious really but this time he had better control. The laibile emotions were a becon for the Slytherin yes, but those emotions also gave him power. Power he chose to forgo. But it was a hidden potential all the same. The girl was weaker, or so Erin assessed. 

"But I think youre pretty, even if it is only skin deep and there's nothing underneath." Erin would take a step forward, reach for the girl. She made no attempt to hide this fact. The point was the response, not the act afterall. At least for her. "One kiss will change your mind."

React stupid girl!

No only means no if youre strong enough to push them away!

"Erin... what is wrong with you?"

Words, really Howard? You have a wand, two perfectly good fists and you decide to do what... ask what is wrong? Thought better of you boy!

Words were not enough to divert her from whatever Aravis was -- a victim, a lampost. Irrelevant was the best word for it. Erin expected resistance but with that there would also be some sort of rise. Fear, anger, anxiety. It did not matter as long as it was real. Something she could take, something that would satisfy this need, to fill this hollow nature.

However, Erin would not get far. Even if the girl backed away, tried to flee because Erin would strike back if struck, grab her arm if she reached for her wand. She wanted the girl to fight, otherwise what was the point in this exercise?

But Erin would not waste her first kiss, not that she was sentimental enough to care about something like that. No, Howard did not disappoint. She felt something even though she could not define what. If she had physically accosted or attempted to restrain the girl in any way, Erin would immediately abandon her attempt. That was the problem with lacking was deeply as Erin did, she lacked natural concern and could only emulate a reasonable facsimile. 

Aravis rested her head in her hand mostly out of sheer boredom. Listening to Erin talk, Aravis smiled slightly. Muted version of what she could be, that wasn't the exact wording Aravis would have expected. "I would say a muted version of what I am. True feelings and emotions can't be hidden they always find a way out." She said quietly. Her voice was like a whisper as she smiled. She didn't want Erin to get anything out of her, no emotions, no feeling, nothing at all. She wouldn't expose herself so easily. 

"There is something underneath. It's bitter and toxic so I prefer to keep it locked up for as long as I can. Nothing you say can unleash that." Aravis lied. There was something that could let everything of her emotions show. Her mother had always been a sensitive topic, especially her death, being compared to her Aunt or brother was another however not as bad. Aravis mentally hoped the girl before her didn't know Aravis was an Escanora, it unlocked secrets of many terrible thoughts and actions.

Aravis's icy eyes locked onto Erin. "I will not fight you. I have no reason to, becoming a better person than I was before prevents that." She spoke trying not to focus on the thoughts of her mother. Erin's actions and words confused Aravis. Some of it caused Aravis to tilt her head. "I'm sorry, you've lost me. What exactly are you talking about?" 'I have not felt this before' is what Erin said which blew Aravis completely off the understanding ledge. 

Been a month + I am guessing that this is done.

I suppose so. What a pity.