Much Ado About Muggles Closed

“Another one of your girlfriends,” Sarah couldn’t hold back the snort, just about managing to cover it with a cough as she gave the boy a sly, sideward smirk. She decided she liked his quick tongue, it was amusing. Of course, she knew it was best to keep that piece of information secret for now, always one to hold her cards close to her chest. Sarah allowed the image of the three of them being in a relationship and the looks they’d get walking into the Great Hall – three girls, a Slytherin, a Gryffindor, and a Hufflepuff. It certainly would be an unexpected sight.

“…this one,” Sarah scoffed, her eyebrows narrowing slightly at Zyk but she bit back the retort which threatened to come out. Zykeal. The name seemed somewhat familiar. Sarah had heard it in passing, she was sure, at least once or twice. She was also sure that it wasn’t for great reasons. Still, it would be exceedingly hypocritical if she was one to judge a person by what others thought. She zoned back into the conversation, glancing over to the girls. There was certainly something about them that gave the ‘first year’ impression. Perhaps it was the wide eyes, certainly for the small Hufflepuff at least.

Sarah glanced at the boy from the corner of her eye, noting his slightly disinterested expression. She went to mention as much, suggest that he needed stay any longer, if only to see the probable affronted face the comment would get from him, when he mentioned muggles. She turned her full attention to him then. She knew his question was aimed at her more than it would be Paisley despite the pair of them being found in the same place and discussing the same topic.

Why what have you heard? Sarah thought defensively, face forming a slight frown as she looked up at Zyk. She’d not even offered her last name yet, and this boy clearly wasn’t intimidated by her appearance.. She tried to reason with her that she was a Slytherin stood in the muggle section of the library, so his conclusion wasn’t exactly too far-fetched. Still, the idea of someone thinking that of her wasn’t one she was particularly fond of. Not fond at all. “No, I’m not one of those muggle haters. I'm a Slytherin, not a bigot,” She said, masking the upset the words caused her with an exasperated sigh as if she’d heard the question a dozen times before – she had. “I was actually doing some research. I was curious and Paisley was helping me,” She admitted, willing away the colour which was rising to her cheeks.

Lace was glad to see the kinder looking girl's hand outstretched to her. She took it and was quickly hoisted to her feet, taking a moment to brush away some of the dust that had found its way on her skirt. Awkwardly she tossed a soft smile in the girls direction, 'At least they didn't laugh, that's something.' She thought to herself. Lace felt very stuck in this triad of kids, but grateful her pile of books now sat upon the table nearby. 'Why had he said her girlfriend? I've never had a girlfriend, or a boyfriend for that matter, what where they talking about?' She thought her face turning a bit sour. Her eyes dance between the three others as she pulls a coiling strand of hair out of her face.

The boy said his name was Zyk, Lace had never heard the name before, but seeing how he acts, she was sure he was well-known among the faculty. "Ya I am new, also my name is Lace (Lacey). They aren't my Girlfriends by the way...I don't know them." She says, seemingly unaware of the sarcasm.

Momentarily Lace noticed that the boy seemed to become uninterested. 'What's this guys deal? Who told him he was hot shit?' A slight smile creeps across her face as the thought crossed her mind. She couldn't help bit feel her body tense when awaiting to hear if the green haired girl was a muggle hater. To her surprise the girl seemed somewhat offended by the question. 'Mama must really have these Slytherin all wrong. So far they have all been very nice.' Lace perked up at the idea of researching muggles. Though she was halfblooded she knew a fair amount about what wizard folk like to call muggles. "I know I am intruding, and I do apologize." She says politely nodding her head. "But- I grew up muggle raised for the most part, maybe I could help?" Lace says her lips curling into what she hoped was a friendly grin.

@Remi Yao @Lace Koin @Sarah Lightwood @Zykeal Lane

Reducio

Honestly Paisley's never acted like this before, I don't know what's gotten into her. (She has a will of her own, I just write it down) I just wanted to remind you I'm not Paisley. She's totally different than me, and I would never say these things about you as an IRL person. You're all amazingly wonderful IRL

Yes...I was helping her... Paisley felt her face choke up in embarrassment, although she didn't know why. It was just helping out a...friend? Were they friends? They had only spoken to each other for a few short moments, but it seemed as if it had been days.

For some odd reason, Paisley felt jealously arise when Lace mentioned helping Sarah learn about muggles. Paisley had been the one to offer help. Not this 'Lace' girl. She held her tongue as she finished speaking, so as not to be rude, but replied curtly, "I'm half-blood too. I was just going to tell Sarah about-" before she could finish, someone did in fact intrude on the conversation. She recognized the boy from her club, FEAFR, but her eyebrows raised as she heard what he had to say.

When Remi had finished speaking, Paisley was beyond angry. She was furious. Muggles were some of the most interesting things she had ever read about, not to mention lived with. Their ways of magic were so simple; all that was required was your mind. The lightbulb, the lighting rod, television, they were all things that were so simple, and yet so helpful.

The young Gryffindor opened her mouth, so as to deliver an angry retort, but no words came out. Her blood was icy cold, and all she could do was look from face to face. There was Remi, betrayer of all things muggle, there was Zyk, the boy who stupidly thought Sarah and Paisley were a couple, there was Lace, the friend-snatching idiot, and there was Sarah...a beacon of light in a sea of unkind people. She looked helplessly around, feeling trapped. Older kids...muggle haters...bullies...meanies...fakes...rude...dumb... words ran through her head as quickly as the conversation had taken a turn. Only seconds after Remi finished speaking, Paisley had come up with the perfect thing to say.

"Muggles are only dumb to you because you're a selfish pure-blooded moron." she said firmly, as if believing every word she said. "Not that all pure-bloods are idiots, but you sure are."

Sarah initial reaction to Lace’s immediate denial at being their girlfriend was offense. She was so quick to deny it, a strict juxtaposition to Paisley’s reaction which had been to play along with the idea. She reasoned with herself that the small Hufflepuff hadn’t meant it personally, that by the look on her face she’d just not quite caught on to Zyk’s teasing. Innocent little Hufflepuff, Sarah’s brain supplied, lips curling with something akin to fondness. It slipped slightly when she saw the girl tense up, almost waiting for her to make a remark about ‘idiotic muggles and filthy mudbloods’. She shouldn’t be surprised though, she knew the stories, she just hated the stereotyping they were often based on. At least she seemed to relax with Sarah’s assurance that she wasn’t some bigot, even offering her help. She offered her an appreciative smile and small nod when she caught Lace’s eyes.

She went to speak when she glanced at Paisley. Sarah could immediately sense her unease, before she’d even opened her mouth to speak. The tension in her jaw clearly showing she was trying to hold back words. It was something which Sarah often found herself doing – or rather attempting to do when she actually managed to hold her tongue. Her eyes flicked between the small group, landing on Paisley with a look she hoped was kind, or reassuring, or something else she wasn’t sure. She hoped Paisley could see what it was though.

There was a definite edge to her words – jealousy perhaps. Sarah couldn’t be certain, but the idea, that Paisley was jealous that their initial conversation had been boycotted, was oddly flattering. She was genuinely curious about Paisley and her story; being raised by a witch and a muggle must have led to some interesting stories which Sarah was more than happy to hear. The way this was going, she doubted she’d get the pleasure of hearing any of them today. Hopefully we’ll get another chance soon, Sarah thought, attention drawn back the second a new voice spoke. His words immediately turned her mood sour. Comments like that were what gave Pure Bloods a bad name.

She barely had time to process the words though, Paisley’s wide eyes catching hers as she looked around the small group helplessly. Sarah had the strange urge to reach out, it was something she’d often seen people do around the school, offering human contact to comfort. She didn’t though, knowing touching someone who was angry probably wasn’t the best idea. She did take a small, almost imperceivable step sideways however, as a silent show of unity. She knew that she should probably say something to diffuse the situation, they were still in a library after all, but Sarah couldn’t help but agree with Paisley’s words. “Muggles have designed huge buildings and architecture, invented electricity, and created some of the most wonderful works of art and literature in the world. And all without magic," Sarah said passionately. "How can people who’ve managed to build all that are boring?” Sarah asked, attempting to be reasonable, but her words held a sharp edge which almost dared the boy to disagree with her. When she had first entered the library that day, she certainly hadn’t expected it to go like this.

If the green-haired girl would have offered her name, maybe, just maybe, the boy wouldn't refer to her in a way that was so rude, but, she didn't offer one to him so he knew no better. For a moment there, he listened to her state her frame of mind and he offered a slight cant to his head as he studied her for a moment. Zykeal had never seen the girl before, nor, knew her name to assume anything about her. This wouldn't have mattered much, he'd never seen the girl and rarely listened to the gossip that filled the common room of his absurd house.

Zykeal offered a shrug to the Slytherin Girl as another boy seemed to walk over towards them, seemingly another first year, by the way his stature was. It was insane to Zyk that he could tell the difference now in how much people had grown through the summer from when he was just a first-year. Those golden eyes appraised the Gryffindor for a moment before the boy started talking, unfortunately, the words coming out of his mouth seemed to fall on deaf ears for him; he was spewing nonsense. There would be nothing said by Zyk, he had nothing to chime in with, he just watched as the younger Gryffindor came to the defense of muggles and had the Slytherin back her up.

Having not expected this many people in the little nook of the library that they were all now stationed in. It was getting crowded. Taping his wand again against the side of his temple, he sighed when there was a lull in the conversation, "I think," he offered up, "that this conversation bores me," he finished. Eyes peered back over towards Sarah and he nodded his head once, "See you around," he said, letting the statement linger for a moment. The others, he wasn't much bothered with, their conversations and lack of tact didn't pique his interest any longer. Not to mention, he really didn't feel like intervening in a fight if one started to take place. Zyk was quick with his wand and didn't want to endure the wrath of the library elves on this day.

A push off the bookshelf he was leaning upon by his shoulder blades and he turned to head down the aisle where he had previously come from, off to explore the books he was searching after and a more inciteful topic that would gather his attention more fluidly.

@Sarah Lightwood @Paisley Brown
Zykeal leaves the Thread