Use that Elbow Grease Detention PV Pax Zhang and Haley Rose Closed

@Emma Wynn @Pax Zhang

It was naïve of Haley to think that she would never be caught. Deep down she knew there would come a day, or rather a night, when she wouldn't break a little rule like Curfew unnoticed. But so it was, the initial anger had passed and as soon as Detention was over she would be done with the subject. She was still sitting at the Gryffindor, fortifying herself for whatever was to come. She took a bite of her green apple as Pax took a seat next to her. Chewing, the young Gryffindor grinned at her adventurous friend. Nudging them lightly with her shoulder "And ready for our punishment?" she laughed rolling her eyes and taking another bite.

After the two had finished eating dinner Haley looked at Pax plaintively. "Come on, let's get this over with. And maybe we'll just go on another forbidden adventure tonight?" she joked, standing up with a laugh. The two strolled leisurely through the corridors to the Trophy Room where they had been caught that night and would now serve their detention today. "Well, let's see what's waiting for us." Haley strode through the door and looked out for the girl who turned out to be Emma Wynn.

"There's our night police officer." Haley spoke quietly and nodded in Emma's direction. She listened to her instructions and tried to suppress an eye roll. From the looks of it, the last time this place had been cleaned was a hundred years ago and those hundreds of years of dust now had to be cleared away by two harmless students because all they wanted to do was have a little fun on a sleepless night. But it is what it is and Haley didn't want to cause any more trouble. "Aight." She said dryly and went to the utensils to equip herself and get started. The quicker they started, the quicker they would finish.

As Haley started to clear the first cupboard of trophies and place it so she wouldn't kick it over, she noticed Emma was still there. "Are you going to help us or just stand there and guard us like we're convicts?" she asked with a raised eyebrow before standing on her tiptoes and starting to clear the cupboard of the thick layer of dust.

Pax grumbled as they sat down next to Haley at the Gryffindor table, their school bag being irritatedly slammed beside them.

"This is stupid," they grumbled to nobody in particular, stabbing a potato angrily. "Because of stupid detention, I'm going to be even more behind. Do you know how many bloody essays I have to do tonight? And they're all due in tomorrow, so watch me end up staying up until fricking 1 am to get them done."

Realising Haley had addressed them, they laughed a little, trying to not let the bitterness convey through their voice (it had been a long day). "Oh, I cannot wait," they replied sarcastically, with a smirk back.

They finished up their food quickly, before grabbing their bag to leave.

"Maybe we'll just go on another forbidden adventure tonight?" Haley joked.

In response, Pax grinned with a laugh. "You got it, partner," they said in a very obviously exaggerated American accent. They kinda liked the idea of being an outlaw. It gave them a bit of a thrill.

Trying not to scowl at the prefect who they supposed was only doing their job, Pax and Haley entered the trophy room, where they'd been caught committing their heinous crime.

"Since you enjoyed the trophy room on your midnight stroll, I thought you would like having a chance to study them more. The trophies and shelves are kind of dusty, and could use some cleaning, so I thought you could dust the trophies and wipe down the shelves. For the shelves, please use a damp rag and then run a dry one over the shelves, just to make sure that they’re clean and try before replacing the trophies. I’ll be right there."

Once the prefect had lectured them on the 'correct' way to clean a shelf (seriously, how many other ways were there?), Pax dumped their bag by the cleaning supplies and snatched a cloth from the pile. "You clean one side, I clean the other, and meet in the middle?" They offered to Haley, before beginning.

They decided to start on the other side of the room to Haley, and pulled open a cabinet, coughing at the dust and grimacing. Part of them wanted to take their time to ensure that the prefect needed to stay there for longer, merely out of spite, but they then remembered the pile of essays and thought better of it.

"Are you going to help us or just stand there and guard us like we're convicts?" Haley quipped, and Pax grinned. They liked this feisty side of the second-year.

"Yeah, get stuck in, baby badger," they added, tossing a cloth over to them. Whether she caught it however was another matter. "Quit standing there like you've just been petrified, and lend a hand. What harm does it cause?"

Reducio

Word Count: 470

Interacting: @Haley Rose, @Emma Wynn

Date: March 29th 2022: 6pm

╔═══━━━──────────────────────── • ────────────────────────━━━═══╗
Emma awkwardly stood, not sure what to do with her arms or really how one was supposed to stand when giving tasks related to detention. Was there a way? Grabbing the opposite elbow with her left hand, she waited to see the reactions to their given detention. Would they just go along with it or push or would it turn out to be a complete disaster? Emma had no clue what was to come and that did not make her happy. She liked to have some kind of idea of what was going to happen but with people that was almost impossible. They did unexpected things and one could never predict their behavior. It was with relief that Emma realized at least that the first troublemaker, Haley, Emma had learned was her name agree to the task. Sighing quietly, Emma let her left arm fall, making sure it didn’t hit anything on the way down.

A small smile grew on her face as she thought that really this wouldn’t be too bad. Honestly, she could do this. Emma was even more thrilled when Haley started doing the task set before her without complaint. Especially when the second curfew breaker began to clean as well.
Although she spoke too soon. Emma looked at her slightly confused, “Ummm….but I’m not in trouble? I thought I would do some schoolwork…?” Emma pointed at the bag she had placed in the corner, wondering if that was something other prefects did. Maybe that was a normal thing that she hadn’t understood? Or maybe she should help out just to be kind?

Fumbling the cloth that was thrown in her direction, Emma watched as it fluttered to the ground. Blushing a bit, embarrassed she hadn’t been able to get a good grasp on something as simple as a cloth, she bent down and grabbed it from the floor, beginning to twist in between her hands. “I’m not sure I’m supposed to? Do other prefects do that sort of thing?” Emma looked confused at the pair, wondering not only if she should help but also if she was foolish to even ask if other prefects did that sort of thing. After all, it’s not like they would necessarily tell the truth, and she didn’t know enough about either to be able to tell if they would lie or not.
╚═══━━━──────────────────────── • ────────────────────────━━━═══╝

Pax laughed, roughly grabbing the trophies and pushing them aside.

"Poor baby badger, so naive," they smiled to themselves. "How long have you been a prefect again? A couple of weeks minimum, I'd guess."

A plan began to tick in Pax's head, and they shared a sly, subtle glance with Haley, hoping that she also understood the plan. It would take the both of them to pull this off, and the chance that it could go wrong was quite high, but if it worked then it would be amazing.

A lot of it depended on the Hufflepuff girl herself. Pax snuck a glance from the side, trying to get a read on the girl. Though, from her record of past (and current) interactions with her, she seemed like the gullible type. That was good. Pax turned back to the cabinet, shutting it with some force and moving to the next one, a small grin on their face. They'd have grinned further, but the art of deception required keeping calm.

“I’m not sure I’m supposed to? Do other prefects do that sort of thing?”

"Only the really good prefects do it. You know, the ones that everybody likes, and typically get chosen to be Head Girl in the future..."

They stopped to move a large collection of awards before continuing.

"Of course, that might not matter to you. I'm sure you'd love to be known as the stuck-up prefect that everybody dislikes because they never lend a hand. But, and this is completely hypothetical...if I were in your shoes...well...I'd hate to be."

With a final raised eyebrow and a face of feigned concern, they turned back to the displays and continued to clean, waiting with a slight smile. Hopefully, the plan worked. Or else the prolonged hours would be hell.

Reducio

Word Count: 295

Interacting: @Haley Rose, @Emma Wynn

Date: March 29th 2022: 6pm

@Emma Wynn @Pax Zhang

Emma's reaction was surprising but only to Haley's benefit and she had nothing good in mind. A small devilish smile formed on her lips. As she continued to deal with the dust, she looked at Pax with just that smirk and as expected, they probably had exactly the same thought as she did. It only served them both right that baby badger was naive and inexperienced. They would just have to be clever and then the whole thing here would be over sooner than either of them could hope for.

Haley tried to stifle any laughter or grunts as Pax began the unspoken plan. "Yeah, Pax is right! I remember a Prefect from Gryffindor, he'd always helped and it only benefited him later as he was all the more popular." Haley made something up and pretended they were stories everyone knew.

"But Pax is right. Not everyone is like that and where would we get if there were only perfect Prefects?" Haley shrugged and decided to go one better. "There are just some who like to give others detention and torture them and then there are the others who do it because they have to but don't really want to. They know that it's not so bad to break a little rule and that's why they help with the detention. These are the future Head Girls or Boys."

Haley looked at Pax and winked at them, the two of them were a good team and now they would just have to wait for the result and the reactions of baby prefect. In the meantime she had dusted off the first cupboard and now she began to clean the trophies, carefully placing one by one back on the shelf. Beautifully accurate and neatly placed next to each other, shinier than they had been for the last 100 years.

Word Count: 390 + 315

╔═══━━━──────────────────────── • ────────────────────────━━━═══╗
Emma was not pleased when Pax called her a baby badger, or naïve. The baby badger would have been fine but when combined with the naïve, it just seemed so….well insulting. Especially when Pax mentioned her lack of experience. Crossing her arms and frowning at them, Emma defensively said “I’ve been prefect long enough. That’s got nothing to do with anything.” Emma caught the glance shared between the two but had no clue what that meant or what they were trying to communicate. But whatever happened they would be cleaning the trophy room. She was determined that she wouldn’t be overruled. Although she did think that maybe she could be a little kind and take a few shelves. Especially if it was something that other prefects had done as well. That way they still learned their lessons but they also wouldn’t be here as long and maybe Emma could also be the nice but stern prefect. Emma smiled softly as she thought of how everyone would like her even if she gave them detentions.

Emma didn’t really care about but being a good prefect mattered very much, that and being liked which it also seemed like helping would well, help with. Emma watched carefully as they moved a large collection of awards, trying to determine if they were telling the truth or if they were merely trying to get her to help them. Emma half heard Haley’s words adding to Pax’s, and she frowned. “I’m sure it did, but I don’t know. It seems a bit odd, helping with detention. I don’t think that ever occurred at my old school.” But Emma hesitated as she had heard rumor of one teacher whom had helped students and carefully taught lessons about how to behave at the same time. She hadn’t had an experience like that simply because she avoided detention like the plague, only having had one.

Moving to the side to try to get a better glimpse of their face, Emma listened carefully to their tone and words though it felt like the words were like bullets. She did not want to be known as stuck-up or be disliked. In fact that would be horrible, she wanted everyone to like her, and if that wasn’t possible, then at least not hate her. She disliked the feeling of knowing she was not liked, never mind actively disliked. She could see the concern on their face, and felt like Pax was telling the truth. Shifting her weight anxiously from foot to foot, Emma nibbled on her lip nervously. “I don’t know about Head Girl, but maybe it wouldn’t so bad to help.” Looking around, she hesitated before adding “It would take a while to do if only the two of you were doing it. There are an awful lot of shelves.”

Emma missed the wink that passed between the two s she debated whether helping them would be that terrible or make her an awful prefect. It was a close debate and one that took many minutes, as she really didn’t know what to do. But in the end, her need to be liked won out. Slowly she moved towards the rags, grabbing one, and moving to the middle of the room. Equally as slowly, she said “This time I’ll help, but only because it is quite a bit to do. But really you shouldn’t count on help every time. Especially if you do something more serious than breaking curfew. Rules are meant to be followed for your own protection.” Emma felt better after her mini lecture. She moved several trophies, making sure to carefully swipe the shelf. “So why were you out so late anyway? It doesn’t seem like there’s much to do that late at night?”
╚═══━━━──────────────────────── • ────────────────────────━━━═══╝

Once you make your next posts, you have met the requirements of detention, and are free to join new threads or post new threads. We can also continue with this thread if you’d like.

"Yeah, Pax is right! I remember a Prefect from Gryffindor, he'd always helped and it only benefited him later as he was all the more popular."

Pax nodded in agreement, trying for an agreeing smile. "I'm usually right, see?"

They smirked ever so slightly at Haley, subtly winking as they turned a little away from Emma to try and hide any suspicion. Yes, their words were harsh, but at this point they didn't really care. It would show the badger who she was messing with.

Maintaining a look of polite concern mixed with a slight air of sympathy seemed to help the cause as the Hufflepuff prefect slowly took hold of a rag and moved to the middle of the room. Containing the excitement and triumph that they felt, they grinned, patting the girl on the shoulder. "You made the right choice," they reassured with a (fake) comforting smile.

“This time I’ll help, but only because it is quite a bit to do. But really you shouldn’t count on help every time. Especially if you do something more serious than breaking curfew. Rules are meant to be followed for your own protection.”

Pax held their tongue, wanting to protest and point out all the flaws in the prefect's statements, but also understanding that they shouldn't push their limit. They had been lucky (or maybe skilful) enough to convince her, so pissing off the prefect more was likely not the wisest.

"And, that my friend, is where you are wrong again," Pax replied, cleaning one of the cabinet windows. "There is so much to do at night! Firstly, you can do whatever you'd normally do in the day, but at night it gives you a whole new perspective on the world. Maybe one day we'll take you out there, show you the world under the moonlight. You know, when you're ready to live a little and actually enjoy life."

They finished up the cabinet and moved onto the next, starting to build a rhythm for the repetitive task: polish, place, close, repeat.

Reducio

OOC, detention is finished, but I am willing to continue with the thread.

Reducio

Word Count: 337

Interacting: @Haley Rose, @Emma Wynn

Date: March 29th 2022: 6pm

@Emma Wynn @Pax Zhang

Haley had to grin but she could understand it, she in Emma's place would probably have been just as defensive. She probably would have felt just as attacked in her position, but somehow her reaction was also sweet and Haley turned around again so that her reaction could not be seen. She let out a grunt that she quickly covered up with a cough as baby badger proudly said she had been a Prefect long enough. Emma was still in her first year, she couldn't have been a Prefect that long, but Haley swallowed her comments, it would only spoil the plan.

For the plan seemed to be working, it was a great success for the Gryffindor team and Haley grinned broadly when Emma said she could help. She smiled proudly at Pax again, quietly and secretly. In the meantime she had finished with the first shelf and looked around the room, many more lay ahead of them and it would only be good for everyone if Emma lent a hand. Haley walked past Emma to the next cupboard and when she had said to helping them both Haley stopped and grinned broadly at her. She patted her shoulders proudly, "This is just the way to be a beloved prefect and someday Head of Girl." Haley assured her and got back to work.

For a brief moment, a little spark arose inside her that made her wonder if she shouldn't feel bad. That they had set Emma up like this and now she was working out the punishment with them. Haley couldn't help but think of herself when she was in her first year and at that moment she saw a commonality between herself and baby badger. It seemed like they both had pure hearts, nonetheless she didn't feel bad. Haley probably would have helped too and it wasn't really malicious what Pax and her had done, so she shook the thoughts off again and was grateful for the supportive hands.

"You should listen to Pax. The night is so beautiful and it is really evil to ban that beauty by means of curfew. Haven't you ever looked out of the window at night, seen the beautiful landscape lit up in the moonlight and wished you were out there at that very moment? To explore the castle in a completely different light, without any annoyingly crowded corridors?" Haley couldn't imagine that she had never thought about it or asked for it. She knew so many students whose first rule-breaking was to sneak up to Astronomy Tower at night and most of them got caught doing it too.

Word Count: 390 + 315 + 450

╔═══━━━──────────────────────── • ────────────────────────━━━═══╗
Emma wasn’t convinced that Pax was right all the time that was just impossible. She could agree that in this situation they were likely right, but that was it. Scrunching her nose, she sneezed slightly as some dust was dancing in the air from the swipe she made across a short, stubby trophy now that the shelf had been wiped down. Emma was pleased when Pax patted them on the shoulder, glad that someone else was recognizing her decision, and validating that they approved. Emma knew it wasn’t that great to live for approval, but she wasn’t sure how to break out of the habit and what even she could do to improve. Well that wasn’t entirely true. She knew trying to say no in situations she would normally say yes, but that usually seemed too out of there for her to do.

She figured that her little speech about rules would hopefully combat the fact that she was helping with their detention. Haley’s comment about head girl was not all that Emma wished for. She still wasn’t sure about the role, or if she would even feel comfortable with a more managerial role. She didn’t like conflict and it seemed like that position would require a lot of conflict and conflict resolution skills. She wasn’t sure if she could develop them enough to be helpful but it was something to be thought of.

She groaned mentally as she realized that that meant that she would have to do homework afterward. Looking longingly at her bag, she moved quickly to swipe the dust from the trophies from her first shelf, placing them back as she finished. Moving to the next shelf down, she scrunched her nose, not really impressed with either description. She’d much rather be snug in her bed, sleeping. “I’m a prefect, remember?” Emma reminded them, then added “And I’d also rather be sleeping. I can’t even stay up later than 1 at the latest, and I need a nap the next day if I do.” She blushed, looking down and then saying quickly “Sorry, that sounded kind of rude. I didn’t mean it that way at all. Just an observation. And just that it might be beautiful but I’ve had no interest in being up that late.”

Moving onto the next cabinet, she paused for a moment, looking around at the room. “How are there this many trophies? Do they just somehow expand the room when they win one more than the shelves they have already in it. “ Emma wondered, curious about if trophies were moved or thrown out or magic was involved in making sure that everything fit in the room that needed to.
╚═══━━━──────────────────────── • ────────────────────────━━━═══╝