Closed Sweet Like Sugar Venom

[Celia Vuong]

The Student Lounge had always been one of Celia's favorite spots in the castle. As the center of student life, it was the place to both see and be seen. After the events of the last semester, Celia had taken to avoiding the lounge, but right now, she wanted to be seen again. Or, rather, she needed to be seen again. She needed everyone to know that she was unbothered by the reputational hit she'd taken. She might have been kicked down the social pyramid, but she was still here and she wasn't going anywhere.

At least she still had her intimidation factor. Celia shooed away a couple second years before claiming one of the better sofas for herself and pulling out a muggle celebrity gossip magazine. In the past, she wouldn't have been caught dead with one, but it didn't matter now — which was good. Celia was tired of going home and discovering she'd missed what felt like a century's worth of pop culture. Plus, the fashion in magical magazines was so boring, and the celebrities in the magical world lacked the star power of muggle ones.

 

[Crystal Holmgaard]

Crystal was often to be found in the student lounge. It was an place she thought was good to be. Since a lot of people were often there, and people who mattered it seemed. And Crystal had observed people and tried to do herself as well and her being cool act was so far so good. But there were always people who she believed could see right through her.

The blonde arrived and walked in to see where she could sit. And found an spot next to a familliar girl. When she noticed who she sat next, she actually wanted to leave. But it would be even weirder than. So Crystal sat and noticed the magazine Celia read. And put an fashion magazine and opened it. Noticing her cousin and sister directly. Every one she opened she usually saw them. Crystal was jealous of how they looked, she would never look that way. She hadn't ever kissed a boy or anything like that. And this was her last year. She had to kiss someone this year at least.

 

[Celia Vuong]

Celia was still used to people avoiding her, so she was surprised when someone sat next to her. She glanced up, expecting a clueless first year, but it was Crystal. The Ravenclaw had pulled out her own magazine, and Celia almost wondered if it was a response to her own. What was even stranger was that Crystal didn't give any indication that she'd noticed her. Was this some sort of weird attempt to assert power over her? Did Crystal think she was so far beneath her that she wasn't worth acknowledging? Normally, it would be laughable idea. Crystal, after all, was one of the least consequential people Celia had ever met. However, the events of the past semester had set Celia on edge. She didn't doubt that there were people who now thought they were better than her, simply because they didn't have a muggle parent or an incarcerated father. Celia closed her magazine and set it down before clearing her throat. "You know, normally, it's considered polite to greet someone you know when you see them," she said coolly. She paused before asking in a pointed tone, "Did you need something?" She didn't say it outright, but the message was clear in her eyes: What are you doing here?

 

[Crystal Holmgaard]

Crystal was almost afraid to move but hide her face in a magazine. Her sister was looking very pretty and Crystal felt jealous of the confidence her sister had. She would never be like that, how hard she tried to fake it. But when an voice beside her suddenly spoke. Crystal knew she made the worst decision of saying nothing and sitting here. She lowered the magazine and the only thing she could do was pretend to not see her. A rollercoaster went inside her mind, afraid of what Celia would say or feel about her now. She was almost done with school, and people trying to bully her. But she was not there yet, still everything could happen. So Crystal just smiled to Celia. '' Oh hi Celia.'' She said friendly. The blonde than smiled. '' I must have been lost in thoughts. I didn't saw you.. sorry.'' Crystal than explained, trying hard to not make it seem like she was not comfertable at all. Already regretting apologizing, because that was weak. '' How are you doing?'' Crystal than figured asking, try to change the topic quickly. ​

 

[Celia Vuong]

Celia had a hard time believing that Crystal hadn't seen her until now, and she gave the Ravenclaw a look that said as much. There was something so... insincere about the girl, but Celia couldn't quite pinpoint what it was. She knew she would look psychotic if she tried to call out this perceived slight, though, and while Celia really didn't have anything to lose in terms of her reputation, she didn't want to go there. Yet. "I'm fine," she said flatly. "How are you? What's got you in such deep thought?" she asked a bit sarcastically.