Not a Bookworm But Open Locked

Esme would soon enter, maybe a minute or two after Kristin arrived. When she saw her, she had a mix of renewed nervousness but also joy, she wasn't "totally" lame, just a little lame. She had gotten a gift for Kristin, since she was invited to study, she might as well show her appreciation. "Xièxiè lǎotiān(Thank goodness)" She muttered under her breath.

Esme would go straight to wherever Kristin chose to go, though she'd be comfortably across from her. "Ah! I got you something, since I think you like sweet stuff." Esme took out a surprisingly intact blueberry muffin. "I don't know if its sweet enough, but I should always be thoughtful is what my family says." She crossed her legs naturally and played with her fingers before muttering: "My behavior at the table was wrong..I was just being too fast, will you forgive me, give me a second chance maybe?" She wondered if she was doing to much or if she was spot on with the apology, either way the wind blows where it wants.

"So, about the study, what do you wanna try out?" Esme was the type that let you pick unless she was too excited, today she generally wanted to take it easy anyway, if she had to be active for specific things then she would be, but in general she'd be in a rest position until it was time to get up.

Esme had a feeling Kristin may have wanted to say something, maybe that was a big part of this 'meet-up', maybe not, either way Esme was expectantly waiting for her to confront her about the ending of their first interaction. Esme hoped Kristin wouldn't chew her head off, Kristin didn't seem that way but you never really know until they have a reason to snap...but she didn't invite Esme as target practice, so maybe she was safe from a chew out.

Regardless, Esme sat in the room with Kristin, awaiting her words and ideas, so Esme could follow suit, maybe suggest her own, and then they'd know each other a little bit better, face was certainly important right now.

Banner coming later

September meant back to school, back to studying. The study room was not always occupied, and Duvessa guessed that it meant that she could possibly have at least a bit of peace and quiet. She walked up, pushing the door open and looking around. Two girls were there, well, eating. Surely the main purpose of a study room would be... well, studying.

What had happened to students these days, Duvessa recalled someone falling asleep here, and now munching as if this was the Great Hall. She shook her head, deciding to let them know that this was not the great hall, whatever they might be thinking.
"Excuse me, are you aware that this is not the Great Hall?" She asked, masking the fact that she guessed it was obvious to realize that. She looked as though asking the question innocently, and wondering what they were doing there. She hadn't caught the last few words that they said, so she wasn't sure if they were talking about studying.

The Duellist looked at them in a bit of a haughty manner, but privately thought that little newbies at Hogwarts were very small sometimes. They hadn't known where to go for the platform which said on the ticket. Still, Duvessa offered to help them. And it looked as though these needed some too. She waited for them to respond, seeing that both were Hufflepuffs.

Kristin had decided to take a seat near a window. When it was time for her to focus on something, especially things regarding reading or studying something closely, she could get claustrophobic if the space felt too enclosed, and it was easy to get to that point in a big, old castle such as Hogwarts.

Not long after she got into Esme entered, walking in holding something besides her studying material. Kristin offered her a smile as she walked in, staring particularly at the small bundle she had. She didn't often think about if she were ever being greedy because she either got the opportunity to eat more sweets or didn't, and Kristin usually had enough on hand to not be bothered either way.

Esme walked straight over to where she was, almost immediately offering Kristin a precious blueberry muffin. She felt her mouth water instantly; it was her favorite kind! Or actually, it was her fourth favorite kind of muffin, but details didn't particularly matter at the moment, her tastebuds and stomach did. Even though her smiles were usually genuine, the one she gave to Esme at this moment was particularly warm; she really appreciated when anyone was particularly thoughtful towards her, especially when it came to food.

The Hufflepuff proceeded to apologize about their last encounter, expressing how she felt bad about her forwardness. Kristin listened, but, whether because of the new delicious treat she was munching on or how the whole ordeal wasn't as impactful to her as it could've seemed, she was mostly indifferent now. She had invited Esme to study with her after all.

"Well, you were being a little bit weird, but if you can't help it, we can always be weird together." She grinned; it was definitely an invitation to be friends if any.

Esme also asked about what they would be studying this afternoon. She slapped the pile of books she had brought with a laugh. "I got my books for DADA and Charms, and you have your books, so really anything, yeah. Maybe Potions, if you got it. I always like studying anything related to spells, so..."

Another student entered and Kristin didn't pay them much attention at first until she noticed that the girl was looking their way. She looked at her back, noticing the Slytherin insignia. She wasn't one to be biased or stereotypical, or not realizing it when she was, so she didn't think too much of it until the girl called the two out, for eating, of all things.

Kristin mouth twisted into a disgusted frown, a nasty feeling starting to bubble up. She did not like when someone, especially one of these snobby types of girls infesting the school, tried to pick on her, especially
when it came to food. And to say something even about Esme, who wasn't even a bad person as far as Kristin could tell, it just made her feel even more annoyed.

Her eyes narrowed slightly, tell-talling her annoyance , but she had a smile on her face. "Why, of course," she replied, with an even tone. "But perhaps we're not as blind as you seem to be for getting into business that has nothing to do with you." She feigned a sweet look but her eyes had darts. Kristin did not like being messed with, even a tiny bit.

Esme smiled back, glad to please Kristin with her gift, and it almost seemed like Kristin was asking to be friends. Esme seemed giddy now, she did it! She made a friend! But soon that warm feeling of triumph was doused away when the Slytherin decided to comment, she decided Charms and DADA, the turned to the Slytherin. "Could you not be so rude, it's just one snack." She tried to sound bold but she looked at her crossed legs instead, when she did look up, she looked away again. "Maybe we can pretend thi-." then she bit her tongue and began speaking in Mandarin, it was just above speaking volume for her. "L-look, let's just relax, yeah? Please?" She pat Kristin on the back. She didn't want to argue, she could but then she might lose control, and its probably better for Kristin and herself to act more mature. "Would you like to join? Maybe you could teach us." She had a hopeful look but didn't smile, she just awaited a response." Perhaps she was being too nice, she didn't know, but it wouldn't be good to anger an older kid, even if they seemed calm. Esme thought about how this could go wrong and then messed with her hair.

Note: Duvessa has the ability Terrible Presence. This is what it does, as quoted: There is something that is just... not right about you. A chill in the air, a sense felt deep in the bones. The shadows might seem more lively, the night might play more tricks on your opponent's eyes. Yet there is one, undeniable truth -- the source is you.

Also, all things said and thought are only IC.

Hmm, kids could be rude. Duvessa half-glanced at Kristin when she replied that she new where it was.
"Then you're aware that this room is reserved for studying?" She said, responding as sweetly as Kristin did. And she didn't expect the other comment that the girl made. "Me? Blind? Ouch, you lot can't seem to even know some good insults." She shrugged, playing it calm.

The other girl seemed shy though, asking for Duvessa to relax. She nearly laughed.
"I am perfectly relaxed, thank you. May I recommend going to your dorm to chill? I'm just going to study, as you see." She responded lazily, memories of the house argument floating in her head. The girl, whatever she was called, seemed to try to act bold but she looked away when she spoke to her. Perhaps it was the cutting looks Duvessa could give, but the youngsters certainly needed to be taught manners. Well, the first one anyway.

But it was the last phrase that made the duellist stop in her tracks. The girl seemed to want her to... teach her. As in help her. That was.... something no one had ever done to her. Ever. She nodded, quickly regaining her usual confidence and arrogant manner.
"Saw that I've got good grades and want some tips?" She smirked and placed her books on a table near her, "Maybe I can spare some time. What subjects are you interested in?" She asked, wondering what was going to happen.

Kristin gaped at Esme, literally shocked. Why would she invite her to help us, of all things?! It was the last thing she would do. Honestly, if it weren't for Esme she would ignore the witch after saying something just as condescending as the girl's attitude. But Esme was of course the sweeter one out of the two and consequently more empathetic, more understanding. Well, Kristin was understanding, too, but that sure didn't mean that she took nonsense from people like she couldn't give it back.

"Doesn't matter if it's a good insult, as long as it's true," she muttered, sucking her teeth.

And can't she feel how off she is, thought Kristin, eyeing the girl. This was something unsettling about her. She could just be bothered but she realized that not long after the girl entered she'd started to feel uneasy. But since she wasn't sure, and knew that Hogwarts wouldn't let crazy people into the school, she decided to not give it too much thought for now.

"She literally can't be much older than us, she even looks like a first year," snapped Kristin, eyeing her with a scowl. "Look, clearly she saw our books to study with—if you were hangry you could've just said that instead of being annoying, like you very much are."

She pointed at the books. "See the titles? That's what we're reading." Kristin looked Esme with faux pity for the Slytherin girl before them. "Not sure if I want an illiterate as my tutor," she said, then sneered. This girl really irked her nerves, and on top of that she felt unsettled for some unexplained reason, so the combination of both left her feeling very irritated.

"Who are you, anyway? And why would we even know you," she asked, referring to the comment about the girl's grades.

Esme definitely could feel the "off-ness" but she sure wasn't gonna act on it, she closed her eyes and took a few breaths in and out. Then she looked at Kristin. "Yes, she's not too old, but she still might know valuable stuff." She held onto her elbows and sighed.

"Let's not snap, I don't think its a good idea, and besides, this argument is not worth your energy." Esme tried to speak with persuasion, she was hoped she could get Kristin to stop because the argument was beginning to bother her too, it was overwhelming, to feel that weird feeling that something just was wrong, to see Kristin so unhappy, to try and break the argument, it was too much.

"If she has good grades, maybe we should listen, at least once? Judge if she lied?" She whispered to Kristin, trying to get her full attention and be seen. "I know she's odd, but I think she's just trying to seem more mature, if we let ourselves go now, we will only prove that she is more mature." Esme hoped Kristin could see that, she was a smart girl, no doubt, she couldn't just make a mistake like this, right? Surely she would let it go?

Duvessa heard the girl muttering a comment about her, but delicately chose to ignore it. The Slytherin controlled her urges in to try and flipendo the girl. Who knew someone who could talk back in such an unpolite way? Hmm that girl needed a lesson, the Slytherin thought.

When she said she can't be much older, Duvessa smirked.
"Sure, whatever you say. I was being nice to you, offering some help in your studies since you have pretty much just came to Hogwarts a few days ago." She said impatiently, trying to make herself not fly off the handle and land herself into detention. And when the young child continued talking about how she didn't want to have her as a tutor, Duvessa turned to her sharply.
"Do you mind closing your mouth? Thank you." She added for good measure.

The two girls - well one, began whispering, and Duvessa's hearing wasn't too good so she couldn't catch a word. But it was irritating and she waited for a response from either. She could, of course, happily walk away but she had came here to study, and that was what she intended to do.

Her pale fingers ran along the spines of her books and moved them an inch, still standing with her hand on the table and waiting for the two girls to say something instead of whispering behind her back.

Kristin rolled her eyes. She couldn't understand why everyone was so insistent on assuming who everyone else was. She's met fifth years who looked like first years, and first years who looked like sixth years, though mostly because they were part-giant. But maybe both her and Esme appeared like little children, though she'd like to think about of her looks and not her demeanor. Still, she really didn't appreciate how condescending this little girl was. A year difference definitely did not give her the right to treat them both like babies fresh out the womb, when hardly seemed to more than them. Girls like her always try to act better than they are because they're really wimpy, anyway.

"Fine," she whispered to Esme, deciding to change up her act, half out of how exhausting it got to spend reasoning skills on someone like this Slytherin, but also out of sympathy for Esme. She had grown rather fond of her, despite the weirdness of their encounters. Kristin felt like her fellow Hufflepuff reminded her of something within herself that she didn't like to express, something about the vulnerability of being a sweet person.

Kristin fought the urge to make a snide, and tasty nasty, remark at the girl for telling her to shut her mouth. Actually, she had to smirk since obviously she didn't have the best comeback herself to get back at what the Hufflepuff had said. But she just shrugged, looking up at the girl.

"Maybe I'll consider being quiet if you're actually useful." She eyed the studying materials the Slytherin had brought with her. "Let's see your notes. What year are you in anyway, since apparently you're older than us." She folded her arms, popping a caramel in her mouth, smacking her lips in a pointed way. "Which subjects are you even good at?"

"Oh, and I'm Kristin, by the way, so you can address me properly."