Lost with Purpose PV Ruka

Mari was quite surprised that Ruka expressed an interest in her Bertie Bott's experience. Was she really that boring that the most exciting thing about her was candy? How pathetic. Mari made a mental note to get a hobby - and maybe get a hobby that she was actually good at, unlike her escapade with Dad's trumpet. She had been recruited in a trial for the new Hogwarts newspaper. Maybe that would amount to something good.

She feigned a similar excitement to Ruka's question, although she was really feeling quite down on herself that conversation had turned to something so trivial. "Well, I personally can't eat just one," she blushed. Candy was a personal favorite of hers. "But the most memorable ones to me were when I had a sock flavor and then chocolate fondue. I don't know how that bean magician made it so that 'chocolate fondue' tasted any different from just regular chocolate, but there was for certain a difference."

She wished she had some beans to cope with her nerves. Even if she had gotten a booger-flavored one, that would certainly be better than this conversation.

Thankfully, Ruka moved on to the more meaningful discussion. She looked at him in puzzlement; both of those names seemed unfamiliar. Until...wait. Donnovan. Mari had heard rumors that he was that boy from the abandoned toilets, the one who had been injured outside the toilets, around the same time as herself. She visibly shuddered. Should she pretend that she was unfamiliar? Yet, longing for conversation not to return back to Bertie Bott's flavors, she murmured, "I don't know a Cassiopeia, which I do find strange, but I am...familiar...with Donnovan Perrywinkle. We didn't talk but had a mutual unfortunate interaction."

If Ruka was so friendly with "Donny" (he clearly was, to know him on familial terms), he would gather the context of her words. Mari didn't particularly want to go into details about the events of the bathroom. What had once been her sanctuary was now a place that she actively avoided.

What was supposed to be a fun interaction was one that, in Mari's opinion, was riddled with awkwardness. She was grateful to the drunken knight for lightening the mood, even if his method was to dirty their ears with poor haikus. Nodding eagerly when Ruka asked if he should write down Isa's haiku, she added, "Mum would be so disappointed if I forgot the exact words of his work of art." Mari couldn't stifle her giggle; turning back to the knight, she caught his eye just enough to see a flash of annoyance flash over his otherwise jovial face. Since Ruka denied a haiku of his own, much to Mari's disappointment - it would have been a great bonding experience - it was in her hands to ensure the knight's contentment once more. After all, Isa may want Mari to return in the future to get more unnecessary compliments about her looks.

Eyes wide and bright, Mari inquired herself, "May I have one too, sir?" The knight nodded and took a swig. He closed his eyes in concentration, took another swig, and began: "Little badger girl/ You've found a master craftsman / Congratulations!"

...Are you kidding me?! Mari screamed internally. Aloud, she turned to Ruka: "I'm done with this." She turned on her heels and stomped away from the knight. If Ruka would follow her, she'd exclaim, "All that cordiality and he gives himself a compliment! These portraits are ridiculous!!"

Honestly, the task Isa had bestowed upon her hadn't been that fun. Mari was itching to write the owl of her haiku and, shockingly, go back to her homework. Homework may not be interesting, but at least it was less ridiculous than the portraits of Hogwarts.