Closed Most Viewed PV Dealla Princess

Book in hand, Dee hurried down the hallway. It was meant to be a quick drop-off, she had places to be, people to meet, but when did she not. Professor Fresnel had been kind enough to lend her this book and she was planning to just set it on her desk and leave again, but when she pushed open the door, she instead stopped half a step in. Her eyes narrowed slightly, she snorted. It appeared some things never changed.

"Don't worry, not here to fight over your territory," she replied icily, finally taking that step fully into the room. Over two years, and still, she wasn't surprised to meet him here. The sneer that was missing from Zykeal's face came to hers easily; a lot of time had passed, but while her own conflicts were often fought out immediately and quickly forgotten, Dee excelled at holding grudges on behalf of her friends. Even if said friends were no longer around.

She stepped carefully towards the professor's desk, face turned away, demonstrating indifference, even if it was a lie. "Don't you think we're past nicknames?" she added as she set the book down, then finally turned to face the Gryffindor fully. Her eyes were cool, guarded; she wasn't as open anymore as she'd been when they'd first met. When they'd been... friends, of sorts. Arguably. Before he'd managed to draw the full extent of her ire in a single moment. But their relationship had always been unstable, to say the least.

There was a moment of hesitation, the temptation to say more; although what, she wasn't sure. Insults, those usually came easy. Piercing, sharp words, she could probably provoke a fight if she wanted to. Or perhaps there were questions she wanted to ask, questions she had never asked and that she'd thought didn't matter anymore, explanations never given. Or, worst of all, smalltalk. No, she wouldn't stoop that low.

So instead, she just shook her head, heading for the door. If Zykeal had anything to say to her, she trusted that he would do so. Perhaps he would make the decision of where this encounter was headed for her, or perhaps it would go nowhere at all.

@Zykeal Lane

PV: @Dealla Prince

The hesitation that he felt as the girl decided to enter the classroom was somewhat obvious, although he tried to hide it, he felt like a duel could evolve out of nowhere and their feud would continue as it had for years. There were many thoughts and feelings behind those golden hues that latched onto the girl's own orbs as she walked across the room towards the desk that he wish he could just formulate words to, but, he'd always had an issue dealing with the one in front of him.

Little interaction, if any, had been made between the two in the last two years. Hell, he couldn't even remember the last time he'd actually spoken a word to her. Over the years though he did with a glance here and there through the hall, observation in shared classes, and the occasional side eye during their great hall dinners see how she was developing as a young witch. Honestly, he'd been glad that they'd not developed their friendship or whatever it was further at that time, he wasn't mature enough for it.

Unfortunately, this isn't how he'd like for her to see him, ever, in a moment of weakness and shame. It was a deeply personal level that didn't allow anyone to see himself at a low point and it was all culminating here, in this little classroom, on his birthday that no one even knew about. Then she spoke, he didn't expect it, the cold and silent treatment that her grudge bore seemed to dim a little. That old nickname he'd once used and brought back up had elicited a response, it wasn't a favorable one, but at least she talked to him.

The teen would turn, 15 now, and finally, at the end of the year, he was catching up to the rest of the house. The year-and-a-half-old bearded dragon sat upon the desk that was closest to him just watching the situation unfold. Zykeal would let his dominant hand that held his wand sway from his back and upon the desk that his friend was sitting upon. For once, he'd relinquish his wand and settle it next to the dragon as he'd use the same hand to softly scratch the bottom of the chin of the orange-hued dragon.

It wasn't until he felt a noticeable pause with the girl that he'd shifted his head to look upon her for a moment. She was just standing there, for what felt like minutes, even if it was just a second. An odd look on her face was present, a hint of indecision, and uncertainty. Ages passed in a stare but time was always too quick in reality, she turned to move on and he didn't know what to do, or say, so he just spoke out, "This is Twitchy," he nodded towards the little lizard. Even if she wasn't looking, he was still going to talk, "I got her a while back," he didn't know where this was going, but, he was trying.

"She bites me when I'm being an idiot," he smiled to himself as he turned once more, seeing if she had stopped or not, to which he would continue, "I suppose it would have done me well to have gotten her sooner, ya' know?" he asked, the tail-end of his question hinting towards incidents of the past. The teen would lean back against the row of desks and keep his arm up upon it so he could give little scritches to the dragon's cheek.

Dealla hadn't meant to linger. Encounters with Zyk never went well, at least not for long. She'd tried, more than once. He'd play nice, pretend, and then it would blow up in her face before she even knew what was happening. She didn't trust him.

But he hadn't bothered pretending anymore in years, and she hadn't really expected for him to stop her. So she paused, surprised, when he started talking about... his pet? Sounded like it. There was this little twinkle of curiosity that had her turning, eyebrows raised, head tilted. "She must be biting you a lot," Dee observed lightly, eyes focusing on the reptile. An unusual pet in a castle full of owls and cats. She was a rat owner, herself, but Ninkilim was sleeping up in her dorm, or at least he had been when she'd left him there earlier. Lazy loon. "Poor thing, such a demanding job." But the edge in her voice, if audible, was light, almost teasing. Admittedly, holding a grudge was exhausting, and hers had worn thin over the years. Much as she'd like to pretend otherwise.

Her curiosity drew her closer most of all, eyes still locked on the... what was it? Some sort of lizard? They hadn't covered anything like it in Care of Magical Creatures, and her knowledge of non-magical reptiles was sorely lacking. "Has she had any success conditioning you yet?" she added, voice turning dry. Just because it had worn thin, didn't mean it had completely disappeared, after all. Besides, habits.

She lifted her hand, reaching out, then paused, a questioning glance thrown at her owner. "Can I?" she asked. It seemed appropriate, even if she only meant to run her finger across Twitchy's back.

@Zykeal Lane

PV: @Dealla Prince

There was that little hope that lingered that they could just ease the difference between the two of them, a little smudge of a thought that she might actually take some blame for what unfolded so many years ago when they had fallen away from each other. Maybe, he had done wrong at some point in their tenure as 'things', it was something that he had mulled over occasionally for the last year or two as he glimpsed her in the halls and secretly admonished himself for all that had happened following that fateful ball. As well as that self-doubt though, was the hesitation that he didn't know if what he did was right or wrong, was he in the wrong? The teen truthfully didn't think so, but, to try and mend ties he'd take the blame and carry it.

Zykeal would only carry it for so long though, after his attempt to talk, the one time they were in the same place, she, Dealla, decided it was the appropriate time to take jabs at him for his actions. Zykeal admitted that he was rash in his decision for what had happened in the past, but, he didn't think it wasn't justified in some ways. She did lead him on, left him, and expected him to play dumb about the situation. Deallas' comments towards his pet were teasing at first, but, she kept on him as if he was always the bad guy in the situation, nagging him and teasing him that he needed conditioning.

It was odd to him that she even decided to attempt to approach his companion, he just introduced her, and made a little side comment to break the tension... but, he didn't expect her to just make fun of his past downfalls when she was equally responsible for them. The teen's point of view from the years past was significantly more affected by his development compared to hers, apparently, as he was never really the same after the events that happened then. Those bright golden hues would seem to dampen as she made her remarks and grew close to his friend, Twitchy, and he'd recoil as she'd raise a hand towards her. It was right next to him, his partner in crime, just lying on the table... it's ivory-white just glinting in the side of his darkened gaze.

Everything, everything it took for him not to go for his wand. With his development and resulting action based on their interactions, he was removed from the dueling team immediately for attacking that worthless Gryffindor that he was paired with; he knew he'd probably be no match with her in experience at this point, but, his annoyance at the situation was ever growing. From a golden hue to a dull gaze, those orbs he possessed seemed to brighten to a flame when she reached towards his faithful friend. Dealla was never that, a faithful friend... date... companion.

"Don't... touch her," he said, almost hissing, as the girl reached out. From the ivory-white, he shifted his gaze towards Dealla's storm-brewing eyes of her own and he just glared, like Zeus against Poseidon. The teen wasn't over what happened, as much as he wanted to be, but her trivial annoyances seemed to spark an even bigger annoyance within his own mind and he couldn't help but be triggered at that moment, "you don't get to manipulate me anymore, I'm not some young boy you can call a date and run off with the next boy you fancy," he offered, his glare staring always into her eyes as he meant every word he said. Things were so tense between the two, that she seemed to blame him when he in general blamed her for everything that happened.

Zykeal didn't know why he even said that last bit, it was reactionary, maybe pent-up aggression from times past, but, to him, those times back then had formed who he was now and maybe he wasn't so satisfied with how he was anymore. The typical teenage angst that he'd only make worse by speaking, which he would because he was just 15.

"Innocent princess, ignorant Princess, Annoying PRINCESS..." he almost yelled at her as he she was near him, "I might take the blame for one little incident but don't act like you didn't cause it," he remarked harshly, "I don't need your condescending remarks, you haven't known me for years," he finished.

Dee jerked her hand back as if it had been burned at the sudden, aggressive hiss coming from Twitchy's owner. Surprised more than anything, she took a half step back, defensive against the sudden aggression. A flicker of confusion at the accusations - manipulate him? Running off with whom? All her memories were of him stalking off, without sense or explanation. She might have asked if not for his tone, his tirade. Apparently she hadnt been the only one holding a grudge.

Her eyes narrowed, lips that had been just slightly curving up started turning down. Hadn't she seen it coming - contemplated just a second ago Zykeal's unpredictable mood swings? Yet she'd still taken the tentative offer when it had come. Clearly, a mistake. Condescending remarks? He hadn't seen nothing yet.

"Obviously I don't need to," she replied, a cold edge to her voice that betrayed her anger. "Nothing's changed, has it?" A gesture towards him that lacked just a touch of nonchalance to seem appropriately indifferent. "You're still the same asshole I knew three years ago." Her eyes flickered towards the lizard and back, brows rising. "She's got a lot more work to do."

Another step back, Dee started turning away, if mostly to make a point. Wasnt sure of his reaction, but trusting her duelling honed reflexes if it came to it. He'd never attacked her yet, anyway. "Oh, and honey?" she added over her shoulder, this time adding all the condescension he'd been seeing in her earlier teasing. Never let it be said that Dee didn't deliver what the rabble asked for. "I'm sorry to burst your bubble. We've never been on a date."

@Zykeal Lane

PV: @Dealla Prince

It was beyond him, his actions and outburst towards the girl in front of him, something that hit deep and went to a place that he hadn't needed to go in a long time now. Zykeal had been restrained these last few years but these words she spoke, they hit, they hit deep within him and allowed his golden hues to be half covered as he squinted in hate towards the girl now bellowing at him. 'Nothing has changed?' she said. What the hell did that even mean, she was the one who left him in sight of another. The girl to him was brash and acting out but he couldn't even process what that meant until she said something more.

Was he this, what she now said, as he shifted once again his hand upon the ivory-white wand... an 'asshole', was he? Instant transmission of thoughts raced through his mind of the memories and he distinctly remembered her being the one to leave him, that was the key factor in his mind, after all they had done together that she would just so easily leave him for something more comfortable to her. The teen's actions, while he was a pre-teen, were even now still justified in his mind even though he was kicked off the dueling team. A price was paid, and he'd pay it gladly even now. The girl carried on now though, mentioning his little friend in arms, one who bit him if he was being stupid... she didn't know the severity of her words.

The princess would turn away from him, bold, but, smart. The teen didn't know if she understood his own his own house and gallantry but he figured she'd run her mouth even more, especially when she had her back to him. That was a Ravenclaw indeed, a former prefect, always doing what was to their advantage. Why did she have to say what she did then, hurt him, for what more could he give the girl besides his loyalty. It was his pride, that was what she tried to rip from him now as she spoke those words to him, about her not being his date. The memories swirled, he remembered, a distinct moment, he told her that it was a date. The gull of the girl now to talk down to him in this manner was beyond his reach of reasonable thought.

It flicked out, so quickly, so agile, it was as if it was his partner in life. That wand, the aspen wood ivory-colored needle maneuvered it's way through the air with minimal resistance. It would be a muttered spell, soft, incoherent to one walking away but it wouldn't be aimed towards the girl. The door was his objective, to slam it closed, Zyk would pull it towards him and it'd slam before the other could make her exit. With this action, he'd lower his wand to the center of his being and just watch with his golden eyes towards Dealla, the Princess, the object of his hate at this moment, "It... was... a date," he stammered. Subtly, he was offset by her accusation.

Why would she suggest it wasn't? Was it her pride that couldn't fall in the face of facts that she had blown him off? The princess could have just said a word, something else, but she had to mention times before that tore deep within him and made him go into his solidarity amongst the students he was dreadedly a part of. It didn't make sense to him, as his eyes glared at the back of the girl's head as he slammed the door closed to block them inside, why did she have to hurt him more?

There was a certain quality to a voice uttering an incantation that differentiated it from normal speech. Dee flinched instinctively at the muttered word, body reacting before her mind caught up. It had been too quiet for her to understand, and for a moment, her muscles tensed, ready for whatever was coming. Perhaps she'd misjudged the situation, his reluctance to attack her when her back was turned. Overestimated the influence she had on him. If so, she was about to regret it.

Instead, the door slammed shut in front of her, less than a metre away. She was surprised that she'd even gotten that far before Zykeal had stopped her, one way or the other. Hadn't expected this particular way, and she stared at the closed door for a moment before turning around slowly. Of course, it was only closed, not locked. She could leave still if she wanted to. But clearly, Zykeal didn't want her to leave, and perhaps that was enough of an impulse to stay. Her arms came up, crossed in front of her chest, her expression cool as she stared him down.

Zyk's expression surprised her. He seemed... flustered almost, upset certainly. His words weren't what she would have expected, either; defensive rather than aggressive, uncertain somehow. Her offhand comment had triggered this? She'd been aiming for anger.

A small frown appeared on her face, eyebrows drawing together. She cocked her head just slightly, trying and failing to read the situation. To judge how to respond, except that would have meant having a clue how he'd react to anything she said. She was notoriously bad at that, as history had proven over and over again. In the end, she shrugged, deciding to go with honesty. Who was she trying to fool? There was no reason to pretend anything, and it wasn't like she didn't know which night he was referring to.

"Fine, it was a date," she agreed, shrugging. Her eyes narrowed slightly. "Sort of. I didn't see it like that back then, though. I didn't..." She trailed off, pressing her lips together. There hadn't been any romantic implications in it for her. Hadn't seen him in that light, or anyone, back then. Not him, nor Ruka, as that seemed to be what he was accusing her of. Not that there couldn't have been, at some point, but there hadn't. Not before Jack. The thought sent a sudden stab of pain through her chest, wounds too fresh and too raw to consider at the moment.

She wasn't going to say any that out loud, however. It was none of his business, and she didn't want to give him the wrong impression, whatever that might be. Any impression would be the wrong one. "I warned you that it was likely that I'd leave in between," she added more softly. "I didn't think you'd care."

@Zykeal Lane