All Fun and No Work {open

[evanrosier]

what i've kept with me,
and what i've thrown away.

[/font]

Evan was beginning to become more and more frustrated with the books that continuously zoomed over his head, and for whatever reason it was, collided with the bookshelf in front of him. Or, more like, he was frustrated with whichever numpty came up with the idea of enchanting books to crash against a bookshelf. He'd already been forced out of the Slytherin Common Room thanks to some party a third year was throwing. Evan had half a mind to go back in there and curse the brat into next week, but he didn't want to cause a scene tonight. He had exams to study for.

Thud. Another book collided rather harshly with the bookcase in front of him. Evan shuddered and tried not to notice it, instead flipping the page over in his old musty book. He had an Arithmancy exam tomorrow and if Evan wasn't going to find any peace tonight in the Library, he was sure to fail.

Thud. Evan snapped his book shut in frustration. He couldn't work like this. "If you want to live past tonight," he said rather loudly through gritted teeth to whoever was behind him, "I suggest you stop making these books hit the bookshelf." He had no idea who was behind all this, but he intended to put a stop to it - and fast.

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[claire]

i won't soothe your pain ,

[/size][/color]
I WON'T EASE YOUR STRAIN. YOU'LL BE WAITING IN VAIN.[/size]


[/center]

She'd been watching Evan for a considerable length of time now, gauging how long it might be before his generally calm and unbothered demeanor cracked and crumbled away. The end result was satisfactory, as she'd never actually heard him raise his voice before now. That and the pained expression that flashed momentarily across his fine features provided her the closure she'd been seeking. So, filled with a sense of accomplishment, Vienne straightened her posture, tucked her wand carefully within the velvety folds of her robes and pushed away from the shelf she'd been so comfortably propped against.

Her stride was long, practiced and purposeful as she approached her aggravated housemate. Judging by her relaxed stance, it would have been evident to anyone that she felt no sense of remorse in regards to her behaviour, and wasn't the least bit apprehensive about the conversation that was soon to be had. After all, Vienne was already quite aware that he'd suspect her as being the culprit, though whether he'd voice this suspicion aloud or keep it to himself was debatable. She was intrigued as to the manner in which he'd approach the situation, and how quickly he was able to recollect his composure.

Oh, but she could be a terrible nuisance when the mood struck her.

"Rosier, I don't believe I've ever seen you look so very distressed. Nervous about the upcoming exams, perhaps? She paused, examining her nails absently before adding, "You shouldn't work yourself up. After all, if you haven't managed to absorb anything up until this point, cramming will prove quite meaningless." A knowing smile tugged at the corners of her lush mouth then, and she tilted her head to one side, feigning an innocent, almost apologetic expression.

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[evanrosier]

what i've kept with me,
and what i've thrown away.

[/font]

Evan rolled his eyes as Vienne Zabini approached. Of all the annoying people to turn up in the library tonight, it had to be her. Not only that, but she was the one who was flicking books against the bookshelf. Evan would have rather seen one of the Gryffindor pests; at least he would have been able to hex them properly. But, no. There was something different about Vienne and the dynamic the two of them shared. Evan would sooner eat his wand than hex her; it was all an attempt to seem like the bigger, better person.

He stared up at her as she spoke, his eyes looking tired and worn-out. There was hardly anything to say in return - it was all he expected from her. Another meaningless wit at his attempt to study before an exam. She'd already tried it once before on the night before his fifth year Charms exam; now, the insult just seemed to wash over him. "How very sweet of you, Vienne." Evan said, the corners of his lips turning upwards into a devious smile. "I would have thought that you'd have been out with another one of your romances; but I'm very flattered that you chose to spend the evening here, annoying me."

He picked up his book and placed it carefully into his leather satchel. He definitely was not going to get anything done tonight with her around. "Oh dear," he started, looking up at her expression. "Couldn't find a date tonight?" he pouted his lips in a sarcastic way.

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[claire]

i won't soothe your pain ,

[/size][/color]
I WON'T EASE YOUR STRAIN. YOU'LL BE WAITING IN VAIN.[/size]


[/center]

She lifted an eyebrow at his attempt at retaliation, surprised that he'd mentioned dating at all. It was one of the most common forms of insult to fling at a young woman. She knew damn well what he was implying by bringing it up, too, and would not tolerate it. Still, she managed to maintain a sweet, unwavering smile, watching as he tucked his books away into his bag. No, she wasn't about to let him off the hook that easily. Especially not now that he'd made such a halfhearted effort. "Come now, we both know you can do better than that," she purred, sliding into the seat across from him. "Where has your sense of humor gone?"

She watched from the corner of her eye as a pair of Gryffindors walked by, glancing in Vienne's direction and then murmuring under their breath. Ugh. They accused everyone else of being pretentious and yet their own attitudes were completely sickening. Still, she was having too much fun tormenting Evan to go pursue two petty little girls. If she was going to exert such energy, it would at least be on someone she knew would offer some sort of challenge. Rosier had always proven capable, that much she'd attest to. He rose to the occasion with fervor and valued his pride. In some ways she respected him for that, despite the fact that it was also the reason she antagonized him so often. He just made it all too easy.

Twisting a satin lock of hair between her forefinger and thumb, Vienne finally made to address his comments more directly. "I had no idea you had taken such a keen interest in my personal life, Evan. And you should know by now that causing you any level of irritation provides me with great amusement. I do have to switch my routine up every now and again, after all. Dating is a novelty that wears off after awhile." She paused again, grinning devilishly at him from across the table. "Then again, I suppose you wouldn't know that, considering you've taken to hiding in the library and the common room during your spare time. Why is that? Experienced more rejection than your delicate self can handle? Don't give up, I'm sure any Hufflepuff girl would jump at the chance to snog you in a dark corridor. Just learn to lower your standards a bit. It happens to some people."

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[evanrosier]

what i've kept with me,
and what i've thrown away.

[/font]

Damn, she was good. Even with Evan's insult about her dating life, the sweet, unapologetic smile lingered upon her face. Her retaliation made Evan's neck twitch and his lips purse together, but he said nothing. It was not worthy of a reply, and it seemed like Vienne's interests tonight centred around annoying Evan. No, he would not give in, no matter what.

His focus turned to two Gryffindors who had chosen an unfortunate moment to walk by and whisper about the two of them. He glared at the blonde one who turned away immediately. Half of him wanted to sneer at the two of them, but with Vienne around, it didn't really seem like an appropriate moment. He had to keep his focus on her; if he let his guard down, for even one second, who knew what kinds of torment would be unleashed upon him.

Evan yawned, covering his mouth with his hand. "Oh, I wouldn't call it an interest." He stared down at her as moved a little closer, a dangerous smile playing against his lips. "It's hard not to hear about it; what, with so many people gossiping about it."

He laughed as Vienne made a snap about his dating life. Well, even if she was annoying, sometimes she was just good for a laugh. "Oh Vienne, don't tire yourself out." He grinned, showing his shark-like smile off. "Standards are a good thing; so is self-respect. Have you heard of it? Perhaps you should try it out sometime." he raised his eyebrows at her, smirking in the trademark Rosier style. No, if she wanted to try and get to him, she would have to try a little harder.

Evan was made of strong stuff. He didn't take offence from anyone - including fellow Slytherins. Deep down, he did somewhat enjoy bantering with Vienne, even if it seemed like her sole purpose in life was to annoy and undermine. It gave Evan a chance to flex out his retaliation skills; and honestly, who could have been a better partner than the Queen of Antagonisation.

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[claire]

i won't soothe your pain ,

[/size][/color]
I WON'T EASE YOUR STRAIN. YOU'LL BE WAITING IN VAIN.[/size]


[/center]

She was hardly impressed. As nonchalant as she seemed on the surface however, Vienne's temper had begun to flare. Did he just have the gall to accuse her of maintaining low standards? It was almost laughable really. To think that a Zabini would settle for less. That had never been their style, and everyone who mattered knew that. It was obvious he was clutching at straws now, especially after his remark about the gossip that circulated around the castle regarding her 'love life'. At this point, she simply leaned back in her chair and crossed one long, shapely leg over the other with the remnants of her bemused smile lingering at the corners of her mouth.

"You'll proceed to speak to me about investing in a bit of self-respect when you, Evan, allowed yourself to be ushered out of the common room by a third year of all things. I mean honestly, you can't tell me you did it to be generous. We both know that's something that is not in your nature." Oh yes, she'd known all about that. One of the other Slytherin girls had been searching for Evan earlier, and let slip that she'd lost sight of him after he'd retreated from the dungeons; skulking away from the party in a miserable disposition. It was valuable information that would ultimately give her the upper-hand in this particular discussion.

"As for the petty, uninteresting bits of gossip you've heard floating around about my various dating prospects ... you should know that I would never seriously consider sleeping with someone who is unable to keep pace with me. I don't tolerate those who are weak-willed, and I certainly wouldn't settle for anything short of perfection. You know that, though you wouldn't readily admit it. This is why you also know that no one at this school has ever earned the privilege of being romantically linked with me. I value my reputation more than that." This was all true. He wouldn't be able to deny that, as she'd never actually given him reason to believe otherwise. Arguing about it would be a lost cause.

"You really need to brush up on your debating skills."

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[evanrosier]

what i've kept with me,
and what i've thrown away.

[/font]

The right side corner of Evan's mouth began to twitch. Yes, he had decided to leave the Common Room due to excessive noise levels; but how the hell had she heard about it? Evan decided it best to leave the subject alone - it would definitely give her the upperhand in this situation, which was something Evan did not want in the slightest.

He couldn't help but laugh. Wasn't it her, only two minutes ago, accusing Evan of having such high standards regarding a dating life? And here she was, sitting across from him with one leg crossed over the other, telling him about how she simply could not tolerate seeing anyone short of perfection. "Vienne," Evan said, leaning forward over the table with his eyebrows arched. "It seems like you are the one here with high standards and no date." He pursed his lips and sat back in his chair, folding his hands behind his head in a relaxed manner.

It was true; she never really had given him a reason to believe that she had been flitting around. Well, in public anyway. Oh of course, there were rumours, but Evan knew better than to circulate some himself. However, it was nice to know that Vienne could uphold her status when she was confronted with those rumours straight up. It would serve her well in the long run.

Evan chortled as Vienne tried to assult his debating skills. "We're debating, are we?" He looked over at her with an amused smile upon his face. "I just thought you were being annoying." It certainly wouldn't be the first time.

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[claire]

i won't soothe your pain ,

[/size][/color]
I WON'T EASE YOUR STRAIN. YOU'LL BE WAITING IN VAIN.[/size]


[/center]

She noted his lack of response to the matter of the Common Room with a wry smile, deciding not to press him about it. Instead, she proceeded to address the accusations and arguments he went on to make in an attempt to steer the conversation in another direction. "Yes, I do pride myself on maintaining high standards, especially when it concerns my private life. Obviously I'm not going to settle for less Evan. That shouldn't surprise you. No, I was simply advising that it might be something for you to consider, since you - like myself - are having a difficult time with your dating prospects. Unlike you however, I make it difficult by choice. You're just dealing with a bit of bad luck .. and that's what differentiates our situations."

She leveled her gaze with his, attention completely focused on the boy that sat across from her. It was amusing to watch him make such a valiant effort to shake her off and fail so miserably. She had far more resolve than he assumed.

"Well, I always seem to ruffle a few of your feathers when I try and argue with you. So debating .. annoying, I consider them about the same thing between us. You just get your back up over the smallest things, darling. It's quite entertaining. And you're so easy to read."

Absently she watched as groups of students began filing out of the library, most of them heading back to their dormitories after a few hours of research. How late was it exactly? Her fun couldn't have been coming to an end already. She'd just been getting started! Refocusing her attention on Evan, she managed a nonchalant shrug and clasped both hands together, laying them demurely in her lap. "So, does this mean you're going to hide out in the library all night? I have a feeling that party isn't set to finish for some time."

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[evanrosier]

what i've kept with me,
and what i've thrown away.

[/font]

Evan smirked and looked away, poising a crooked finger against his lips. If he wasn't confused already, he sure was now. Was there a particular reason that she found such interest in him, and pursued the 'debate' about his standards and dating life? Barely listening to her, he raised his eyebrows and took in a deep breath. There wasn't much he could say back on the subject; he knew that she was wrong about him, but convincing her otherwise was starting to seem pointless. His eyes flicked over to Vienne and he stared at her intently. "And you know me so well, of course." he pointed out. How was she to know that he wasn't making it difficult by choice?

Granted, with the life that he had, there was barely any room for dating. His allegiance was pledged to the Dark Lord, and outside school hours, he barely had any time to pursue anyone of the female persuasion. It was nothing to feel bitter about; he didn't particularly mind the absence of a female figure in his life, but for Vienne to stroll in her and claim that she knew so much about how his dating life was failing was infuriating.

The mood had suddenly lightened a little, as Vienne's focus changed to the small groups of students that were beginning to make their way out of the library. "Well," he started, answering her question. "That depends." It depended on where Vienne was going to be - and how far Evan could possibly distance himself from the annoying woman. He frowned at the idea of going back to the Slytherin Common Room with such a loud crowd of people there to welcome him, but if it meant that he could lose Vienne in the crowd, then that would be good enough for him.

"Yes," he said a moment later, sitting up straighter in his chair. "I am going back to the Common Room. I suppose you're going to walk with me." Evan picked up his school satchel and slung it over his shoulder as he stood up. Without another word, he turned on his heel and made his way out of the library, barely waiting for Vienne to catch up.

[/justify]

[claire]

i won't soothe your pain ,

[/size][/color]
I WON'T EASE YOUR STRAIN. YOU'LL BE WAITING IN VAIN.[/size]


[/center]

She watched carefully as his expression shifted and immediately came to recognize the internal struggle he'd been contending with. In the end, he seemed content to dismiss their topic of conversation entirely and kept any further comments to himself. Was it possible that he'd finally acknowledged there was nothing left to say on the matter, and so ensured his pride remained intact by remaining quiet? It was admirable actually, for him to admit defeat so graciously. It's why Vienne didn't pester him any further about the issue, and instead allowed a peaceful stretch of silence to settle between them. "And you know me so well." The comment was unexpected, and she glanced sharply up at him from beneath long lashes. It was true, she was being hypocritical in making these assumptions about his love life and probably wouldn't have taken it lightly had anyone else retaliated with similar remarks. She'd never tolerated people who presumed to tell her who she was or why she acted the way she did, and yet there they sat, committing the very same offence towards each other. What was worse, they were housemates.

Then again, she'd never claimed to be a team player ... had she?

Vienne didn't move, even as Evan rose from his chair and slung his bag over his shoulder. Instead she studied his retreating form with mild interest and debated whether it would be wise for her to follow. She certainly hadn't done anything to alleviate his bad mood. On the contrary, she'd done everything to worsen it. Was she that interested in provoking the man's wrath should she continue to prod at him? Mm, yes. He'd been a satisfying source of entertainment after all and she had no where else to go except the Common Room. So, with a wicked little grin, the brunette lifted herself in one languid sweep from her chair and started after him at a brisk, practiced pace. Upon reaching his side, she swept her hair over one shoulder and cast him an indignant look.

"Well, since you've made such a cordial invitation ... " she trailed off then, chuckling a bit before adding, "Shall we hold hands, Evan darling?"

Honestly. She wouldn't be surprised if he decided to hex her right there and then.

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[evanrosier]

what i've kept with me,
and what i've thrown away.

[/font]

It was later than Evan had expected. The torches were dimly lit as he walked through the cold, stone corridor and in the distance, he thought he heard a familiar, faint shuffle of the Caretaker, Argus Filch. Were they out past curfew? Evan had no means of telling the time; but, he was assured that this next ten minutes would feel like eternity.

Vienne had caught up with Evan and from the looks of things, she intended to walk alongside Evan to the Slytherin Common Room. Luckily for Evan, her sarcastic snark had not wavered since their last conversation.

"Shall we hold hands, Evan darling?"

Evan glared down at her, using his height to his advantage. "Watch it, Zabini." his voice was low and cut through the stagnant air like a hot knife through butter. He quickened his pace, hoping to leave the girl struggling to keep up. Evan's chest started to heave from the deep breaths he was having to take in order to keep his temper. What was she playing at, anyway?

Finally, after a long time spent deep in thought, Evan reached the doorway to the Slytherin Common Room. He spoke the password, and without looking behind him to see if Vienne was coming, he stepped through into the common room and the wall closed behind him. The sound was almost deafening; whichever third year decided to host this party was going to be jinxed - and most likely by Evan, too.

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