Poisonous PV Closed

His curly brown locks of hair found themselves covering the young teen's face, messy hair getting in the way of vision and shielding his blue eyes. The fourth year would shake his head in hopes if displacing his already displaced hair. Able to have at least some of his vision cleared he focused his eyes down onto the potions textbook in front of him. His eyes skimming through the page and the paragraphs of texts, absentmindedly finding himself fiddling with his quill as he read. They had quite a fair bit of time before class started, Alec had wanted to make sure to arrive early as to get ahead in reading for the class while he had the time. Thus he found himself absorbed in the words, nose practically shoved to his book, reading like oh so 'scholarly academic' he was when the other students begun to arrive.

Alec would scarcely be paying attention to the other students, his peers, as they entered in the classroom, far too immersed in her reading to look up and care. The professor would be starting class soon. A coy smile would find a way onto his lips as he quickly went through ingredients, skimming the list, eyeing the potions techniques and tips given out in the book. By this time, Alec was finally settling in his potions classes, and he was excited for what the school year would bring, what would come for them to learn. He'd always taken a liking to potions and any of the classes that had more hands-on activities to take part in.

Invested in his book, it was such a shame the young teen wouldn't realize what he was being signed up for as he watched a girl out of the corner of his eyes walk over. She seemed rather enthusiastic about the arrangement, having caught a glimpse of her grin in between skimming his book. His careless and unobservant nature in this scenario kept him from recognizing her, at first. The girl would greet him with a wave and hello, calling out to him by name. In reaction, Alec rose an eyebrow. She had more to say and Alec let her continue on as he multi-tasked listening and reading. The girl asked to sit and the situation was finally grabbing enough of his attention to make him want to put his book down. “Sit by me if you want,” Alec said, speaking up almost immediately. The devious nature of the look of his face shown something more than his word ever could.

“Though, you'll have to keep up,” he added with a hum looking up from his book, he would downcast an unimpressed glance the other's way, his eyes seemed to light up recognition at the sight of her at once he knew who she was and a competitive smirk began to etch onto his face. Alec closed his book, and stood up to better reach at the table in order to move the items and supplies he had strewn about, making more space for her and her things at the table.

Lindsey Springhall, he remembered her fairly well. Her face struck a chord in his mind and the memory was easy to pull up in seconds flat. It was his hope she wasn't as sensitive as the state he caught her in once. Who didn't like a little competition? Lindsey was an admittedly skilled student, a worthy opponent, Alec had been looking for a few to make potions class interesting, it seems he'd found it. He had to cross his fingers she wouldn't take a few one-off comments to heart. All in good fun right? Alec was feeding the fire, stroking the flame. “Let's hope your potion-making skills are better than Hufflepuff's scores last duelling season.” Whatever fire he had fed would undoubtedly become a dangerous one at his comments, at the very least simmering. “Considering the losing streak, I wouldn't be surprised if it bled into academics.”

@Lindsey Springhall

interacting with @Alec Mason

When her new deskmate suggested her keep up during the class, Lindsey grinned. Huh, it’s always fun to have a academic person around you during class, and she never minded a little benign competitive interaction in class. From her limited knowledge Alec Mason was academically gifted, someone who was undoubtedly bookish, having been skimming books ever since she stepped in. “Oh yeah, for sure.” She answered rather carelessly, quill tapping the letters on her textbook casually. “Hopefully I won’t let you down.” A teasing smirk appeared on her cheeks, chocolate brown eyes gazing towards the front of the classroom.

There was still a few minutes before the official start of the class, though Lindsey wasn’t planning to say more. Preview was done yesterday evening, and she just did another scan when conversing with Alec, yet she was way less talkative than before. After all, there didn’t seem much to say, at least for now. Laying down her quill and thoughtfully flipping pages over, Lindsey threw herself into reading of the last few chapters. Alec was doing his own stuff as well, which was good -

Huh.

Raising her eyes from the textbook, Lindsey felt her cheeks went burning in less than a second. So he was calling her - and her team’s - and Hufflepuff’s - abilities into question just now? Granted, Hufflepuff was indeed coming last in duelling last term, but that wasn’t thing. Her team was just out of luck last term, having younger, less experienced members and all that. The Blazing Badgers were all skilled duellists, the best ones in the house and pride of all. For herself she had always been a straight O student, striving perfection in everything. Losing two duels in a row just couldn’t prove that she was incapable - the first time Lucia and she had to face a scary fifth year with a dazzling spell splitting ability, and the second time - well, it seemed that fortune wasn’t favouring them at all. How dare he speak of them - and her - like that, unaware of their efforts behind??

Loser. She never liked that word.

And so she suddenly realised why he would “advise” her to keep up. Hufflepuffs were…incapable people. But, the truth was, they weren’t! Chocolate brown eyes turned icy cold, when she snapped her book closed. “I did not know that you hold that trite prejudice.” She frowned, half-turning to face him and look at him straight into the eyes disapprovingly. “I mean, it’s such a cliché, and…” She glanced at him, critically. “Number one, our members are relatively younger. You don’t suppose those fifth years were just standing there and patiently waiting for elimination, do you? And number two, duelling has nothing to do with potions. I can’t blast my opponents with my perfect potion spray, at least I don’t see the relevance. Finally, number three, I strive hard in my academics and my report card can prove it all.” She was talking fast, a habit when she was heated with passion. “And if you still have anything to say, then have luck to answer it - Tyche wasn’t favouring us badgers last term, that’s all.”

Lindsey felt much better after retorting him, and turned round to examine her textbook again. Yet in seconds she regretted - this was Alec. Some friendly passerby with curly brown hair that would comfort her kindly when seeing her down, some complete stranger that would talk and share his own experiences and hobbies to cheer her up. Uncertainty converged in the deep chocolate colour. What if…?

“You didn’t have to do it, really.” She whispered to him. “You were just…joking, weren’t you?”

Did Alec know there was lines he was crossing with his comments? Yes, It was the point. Did he care? Not in the slightest. Shifted in his suit he could only roll his eyes at her and turn his attention back towards his book, opening it once more, and shifting his gaze to skim the lines of pages as she rambled. Alec had expected a reaction, perhaps less of a sit down argument to put it. Unsurprisingly, and really he should have expected it, she took a little nod to the duelling season so personally. Somebody was sensitive about the subject and clearly it wasn't him. He saw the way her cheeks reddened the way she seemed to work herself up over it all. Alec found himself amused at being called prejudice and would watch out of the corner of his eyes as he continued speaking(his head was tilted towards the book, he's trying to make it look as if he's not looking at her,) he had to hold himself together as she spoke of how this was not related to potions and she wasn't using a potion spray or something in duels. Lindsey would mention her own academics, then talk about Tyche wasn't favoring them.

Turning his head towards her Alec scoffed, eyebrows raised, “I think it was a little more than Tyche not favoring you,” he would shake his head and let out a breath of air as he turned back to his book. “Duelling is strategy based.” He would finally speak and argue, though it was unfair, they had some chance didn't they? If you play your cards right you can work with anything. Though maybe Alec wasn't one to talk he had been giving pairings matching or near matching his own skill set.

He pretended to busy himself with reading in the silence, he wasn't keeping any conversation going, however Lindsey seemed stuck on the interaction. Lindsey would eventually speak up to whisper to him that he didn't have to do it. He would glance curiously her way. Why did it- She knew that he knew he didn't have to, this was so- Oh- she seemed... upset? Why... Alec didn't- His eyebrows furrowed as she asked if he was joking and he blinked away the surprise. Lindsey was grabbing at straws now, trying to claim he had just been joking, even if it had been a joke... He wanted to look at her incredulously. “I- Do you want me to lie to you?” Then he felt it, wow he had a conscience after all, regret and feeling bad because she seemed so upset over it. Why did he have to care so much?! He didn't even know her, not really- “I'm sorry.” He would blurt out, words that felt sudden, coming out of nowhere. He hadn't even expected them.

“I'll move tables,” he said, already beginning to gather his things as he spoke up, this had gotten messy quickly It was better he sat someone else, if not for her than his sanity only, or even pride at this point.

@Lindsey Springhall

interacting with @Alec Mason

And Alec scoffed. And then he argued. And then he said he was sorry.

It struck her, when he asked if she’d wish him to speak the truth or not. Almost immediately Lindsey comprehended - or at least she thought so, from all his words prior and such - that he was being truthful with his speech. Hufflepuff was at the bottom of the leaderboard, now and always. “You…” She gasped, an immense sadness coming from nowhere overwhelmed. Why must she care for all this? Why? Because of her protectiveness of her house and her team and her own self? Of course, but still, she could have just stood up and left the mess as soon as retorting the boy. Yet she stayed. And offered him a chance to get his words back. She wasn’t believing this - no, she did not want to believe. Although she realised that he was, indeed, prejudicing.

And yet he seemed so genuine when apologising.

This had turned into a most intriguing thing now, Alec jumping to and fro between the role of a devil whom she just couldn’t stand and an angel (let’s just say it that way). She offered him a last chance. He accepted, but not exactly, first pushing her down the valley and then looking down and putting everything possible into use to rescue her. Lindsey tried to just stand up from the hard cold ground and ascend the stairs again and never look back, but somehow she couldn’t move. She was stuck. Hoping that he could smile and say that everything was just because of a little misunderstanding caused by someone else, and that he was thankful that she had survived.

Lindsey blinked, eyelashes fluttering with uncertainty and a soft sadness. She was no heart reader, and could not guess out what Alec was thinking. “I didn’t know…” She murmured. Didn’t know what? Didn’t know you were like this? Didn’t know that Hufflepuff was at the bottom? Didn’t know that we weren’t maintaining a good relationship after all? She did not continue. Maybe even Lindsey herself knew nothing about what she was going to say next, due to many reasons - and still, of which she wasn’t able to explain.

Lindsey raised an eyebrow and her eyes dimmed a second when Alec said he’d move, for some reason she herself wasn’t sure. She only knew that he couldn’t just leave like that - they’ve got to talk, they still had a long way to go before reaching a consensus, which in her subconsciousness she knew she’d want.

“Pardon, but I think the professor’s already talking.” She tilted her head and frowned, when she soon switched into a harmless smile (lovely creature in effect *hopefully* hehe). “And I would love to discuss a little bit on the subject we’ve just been communicating. You know, avoiding and fleeing aren’t the most honourable things in the world.”

Leaving, or fleeing in this case was the best possible option. Lindsey wouldn't have to deal with mean-spirited and rather off-handed comments that came out of nowhere, or at least of no origin he would be willing to admit. Memories flickered past in his mind and he reflected on how much of a horror he had been to be around last year. Alec had thought he had pulled himself together since, but such came the moments like these to prove him wrong. He knew the origin. He knew why he'd done it. Alas he found himself unable to pick or at least switch sides. He could never stay on one, he always had to come close to crossing a line but could never quite do it. He didn't want to say because he was too nice, or too good to cross it- he just- he- Alec breathed in as he focused on gathering his books and supplies to move to another table. Before he could finish, Lindsey spoke, with words that caused him to pause. She mentioned the professor seemed to already be talking and Alec's eyes quickly darted away, checking her words for himself, followed by his eyes darting back towards her, he watched as her mock frown slowly morphed into a smile.

Lindsey spoke saying she would prefer Alec stayed so they could continue discussing the subject at hand. She mentioned how fleeing wouldn't be the most honerable thing to do, and Alec held back the instinct to scoff, instead Alec frowned in turn. His eyes quickly darting back and forth between the professor and Lindsey as Alec weighed his options. Eventually Alec released a sigh as he relented, putting his supplies back in their proper pace as he suddenly decided he would have to stay and be unable to move a switch tables. “It's nothing personal. I didn't even mean it.” Alec muttered, refusing to make eye contact with Lindsey. He would not be particularly thrilled to be continuing to further the conversation. Alec didn't have to reply to her, he could ignore her, why was there any point to making an effort?

He knew why. Alec wanted to deny he did. “Look, I only said it because I feel like being an arse today, okay?” He didn't have to go this far, even if he knew why he should. Out here giving reasons. He preferred her to think he was like this on the regular then give an explanation like the one he had spoken. It was too late now. It's not as if feeling like wanting to be an arse today excused him from anything...

@Lindsey Springhall

interacting with @Alec Mason

Lowering her eyes to her opened textbook but never taken a word into her heart, Lindsey took her quill and scribbled unrecognisable letters on a random parchment. She didn’t know if Alec would stay, really, she wasn’t good at presuming others’ thoughts anymore these days. That Gryffindor’s pride might keep him, or if he was determined and self-centred enough he would just stand up and leave. She had to admit she let out a relieved breath when Alec had his things back to the place where they were minutes ago - it wasn’t all scattered. There was still room for redemption.

Was she delighted for his stay? Somehow.

“Hope so.” She murmured, her former smile still on her lips, before she came to a realisation that this seemed like an ingratiation. If the smile was an additional threat above the flee or stay option, then now it was like bare flattery. Yeah…was she really fawning on Alec? Trying to preserve a perfect reputation? She could have just sneered at him and retorted back, then acted as a haughty badger full of confidence in her house and herself, like what she used to do when she was younger. But she didn’t. Instead, she attempted to detain him. To try to have more time to explain.

What a joke.

Without noticing Lindsey’s smile faded and all of a sudden she went back to her normal calm self, concealing her emotions under her porcelain skin. She tried to focus on the professor’s words, and while she finally managed to do so, Alec’s words brought her back. “…oh.” Lindsey winced a little hearing the word Alec used to describe himself. She wasn’t really a fan of cursing, surviving through all these years as a good kid. Meanwhile people usually didn’t use that word to describe themselves, right? So…why did he do this? Now Alec was like an enigma to her, unable to find the right solution. Indeed, she was rather disgusted by his comments on her house when they first seated together, but she didn’t mean to have him disparage his very own self to show his genuineness. That sounded…perhaps, even more awful to her.

“You don’t…” She pushed the syllables out, but just these. You don’t have to do this to yourself either. She was about to say, but still she didn’t manage it. All of a sudden she was tired of everything, this warfare between them. What did it matter if a random Gryffindor boy looked down on the duelling scores of the Hufflepuffs? She could just continue to walk her way, or throw him on her list quietly. Or even duel him, but never keeping the hope of mending their relationship afterwards.

When Lindsey Springhall grew bored of a thing, then it was sure boring.

And she felt it. The change. Alec was no longer the silver lining that would save her amidst the storm. The tie between them had been broken the second she took her place beside him and he started his tease - maybe he wasn’t feeling evil, Lindsey now thought - and it was naive of her not to step forward from where she was standing with the shadow of the second-year Alec. Grown up? Perhaps. And all of them were moving forward.

Moving…forward.

Then suddenly the grief overwhelmed her, reminding her of the days when she returned without telling any person about it. She wasn’t brave enough to mend those relationships - after such a long disappearance - and they remained there, scattered. Lindsey’s eyelids went half closed. She wasn’t really paying attention to the professor, though her ears caught the words “Fatiguing Potion”. No, she didn’t need a Fatiguing Potion. She was already fatigued enough. “Don’t…” She muttered, fingers tapping the book page unintentionally. It seemed that she wished to say something, something to the notable people in her life in order to keep the friendships from leaving her behind.

But ultimately, she said nothing.

Reducio

I’m super sorry for how long this took real life has been quite busy these days!