(no subject)

[casperkim]

Who: Katya & Casper
When: September 13th, after the Ebonhide camp cleanup
Where: Ebonhide Camp
What: After the Azurcrests finish cleaning up the Ebonhide camp, Katya and Casper talk and make plans to be terrible Prefects practice DADA and dueling together.
Warnings: A surprising amount of swearing.


Casper hadn't stayed to watch the Azurcrest kids clean up the camp for long. While he was glad to see the feathers being picked up and hauled away, he wasn't actually spiteful enough to take any pleasure in watching his classmates toil and he'd had other things to do. He'd gone for a run, showered upon returning, and then spent the rest of the evening in his cabin reading through the first few chapters of Periapts and Talismans: A Guide as part of Ms. Lilywhite's latest assignment. It had been dry reading, though, and eventually he'd emerged to stretch and breath and wake himself up again.

He saw the members of the other house leaving when he did, finally done with the tedious task, and then he saw Katya. Apparently, not leaving. He tossed the girl a faint, slightly crooked smile. "So, after all that, was is worth it?" There was no condescension in the young man's tone, no attempt to scold the pretty Blue Jay, just a wry sort of amusement and a hint of genuine curiosity.

Okay sure she didn't want to come right out and say she had a hand in this, Katya was supposed to keep her 'Crests in hand and not let too much get out of control. She couldn't tell people she had done it even if she had clearly been a part of the prank. Katya did her best cleaning it up though, it seemed fair and with blue feathers stuck to hair she felt it might be time to give up. Whatever little bits were left the Ebonhides were just going to have to deal. She did not like cleaning. Other people cleaned, the spoiled princess Ivanova did not clean, except today. At least it hadn't been painful just annoying.

Shoving the last little bit into a bag, Katya shook out her hair trying in vain to get the last feather out but she gave up. Casper's voice drew her attention away from her hair, which in itself was a miracle as she typically spent far too much time worrying about it. "For the record and the fact that I am somehow a Prefect, I had no hand in this. At all. None." But she smirked a bit, she had never been a good liar. "You enjoy the show? Didn't see you sitting around eating snacks with the rest of your house."

Casper, both an inexplicable Prefect himself and a decent identifier of blatant lies, snorted softly and shrugged his thin shoulders. Now that it was cleaned up, he didn't particularly care who had been involved anyway. "What's to enjoy? Besides, I've got shit to do," he pointed out mildly, then leaned in to pluck a blue plastic feather out of the girl's hair. He spun it idly between his fingers, then added, "Those readings for Lilywhite are no joke, by the way. If you haven't started them by now, you might be fucked."

"I'm already fucked." It wasn't that she was a bad student just sometimes she got really busy doing other things like trying to grab things off of top shelves or having a dance party in the dorm room or honestly just smoking and eating a lot of snacks. Anything but studying and yet somehow she still passed classes and got stuff done. Damn near miracle at times. Katya laughed, it's just what she did, laugh off anything serious. Seemed like the best way to handle life these days.

"I'm not too sure how I'm going to get through it all, signing up for classes seems way easier than actually going and studying. So yeah, fucked. Haven't even started. Super fucked."

That laughter, bright but shallow, prompted one of Casper's thin eyebrows to quirk upward. "You're taking it well," he answered dryly, still twirling the lone feather between his fingertips. Katya had been in his Defense Against the Dark Arts class for the last two years, though, and he knew better than to believe she wouldn't find a way to get through the material. The subject mattered to her, like it mattered to him, and that was all that it came down to. "Well. The whole first chapter was about how amulets and talismans that promise passive protection are, almost exclusively, a scam. No shit, right? The rest are about using them to amplify protective spells; Protego, Salvio hexia, that sort of thing." He paused to drop the unnaturally vibrant feather into Katya's bag. "If it helps."

"Always helps to have an ability to take everything lightly. I've never been known to take things too serious." She plucked another pesky blue feather off of her arm and held it up. "Blue jay after all. Had to put me in the right house." It might have had a little bit of deliberation between the houses but in the end her inability to rationally think about serious things overruled everything else. "Plus, you know me by now, I say I'm fucked but in the end I pull magic out of my head and, bam, it works! Most of the time at least."

Katya finally tossed, hopefully, the last feather to the ground and stomped on it with her boot. No protective shit didn't matter at all, nothing could protect anyone but themselves, the world was shit and because of that she couldn't ever go home. Yeah protective spells her ass. "Anyone can get through protection if they try enough. Can't keep everyone away forever nor can you protect everyone. Shit little amulets don't do much." Even if she wore one, a small vial around her neck with nothing more than a few splinters sitting inside. Her fathers wand fragments, seemed to be close enough to one. "I mean, not that I have a ton of experience with them. I'm small and fierce no one wants to tangle with the Russian." Again, that smile she threw on when she tried to weasel out of things. Default status when anything about her past before moving to the US.

It was always a strange sensation to see Katya's sharper edge reveal itself, like catching glimpses of jagged rocks on the coast that only became visible when the tide was out, but this no longer surprised Casper. Besides, she was right. Protection spells had their strategic uses, but ultimately, a fight usually came down to who could hit with the most strength and speed and precision. In his limited experience, anyway. Still. He respected Ms. Lilywhite enough to assume this wasn't just an exercise in futility or a section of the curriculum meant to fill up extra hours. "Could give you a slight advantage, though," he said reflectively, "Maybe just enough of one to turn things in your favor. Then you can take your shot." He reached out, jabbing two fingers lightly into her shoulder to indicate the impact of some unnamed spell, then drew back his hand and splayed his fingers in a 'what can you do?' gesture. "I don't think we can afford to throw any advantage away. Do you?"

He glanced down at the feather she'd dropped and crushed into the mud, then gave her a faint scowl because that one could've gone in the bag too. Easily. But he decided to let it go. "You know. In case anyone decides to tangle with the Russian."

"Slight." Katya had to concede that point at least, no advantage would have been useful that night, no one could do anything and even if there had been a spell or a charm or any of the other shit laying around, it wouldn't have stopped shit. But, nevermind that, she couldn't change the past now. She moved on, she moved here and even if she loved America, apple pies and horses, she was still Russian just a very estranged one.

"I know I'm not that scary but you should see me without my make up, I am literally a terrifying monster." Katya held her hands up curling in her fingers slightly to make them into some semblance of claws. "Scary monster. Grr." Again she was trying to make light of the conversation, it was aggravating to most people but it was the best she could do. "But for all the shit we learn here it isn't exactly going to stop a bullet, is it?" Nothing had protected her father from one to the head. "Just nasty hexes which hopefully won't be thrown around me any time soon." Hopefully was a good word to use there. "Not like you're going to give me away, are you?" Another laugh and smile, Katya was charming. In her own mind.

This pantomime failed to distract Casper from the grim nature of Katya's words and he looked at her levelly, tucking this new piece of knowledge about her away for later consideration. Stop a bullet, huh? People their age didn't talk about things like that unless there was a point of reference -- an experience -- that made it relevant to them. There was a story there and, for a moment, the young man's lips tightened with an unconscious frown.

Instead of questioning this, though, he rolled his eyes. "Anyone that assumes you're not formidable because of a small stature or a pretty face is an idiot. You don't need to be a monster. But your supposed secret is safe with me."

"Don't you roll your eyes at me, I'm super scary. Ask around. Secret Agent Ivanova spying on the American kids." She was fully aware of the rumors about her and though she didn't quite understand it, she fully accepted the idea.

"You've seen me fight. Pretty decent. I still think I'm far better with books than a wand though so it's not going to be much use to throw them at someone." Katya thought for a moment weighing her options. "I could always bash someone with my telescope. Might work as well. I mean I'm not the worst but pretty sure I'm not the best."

"I don't put stock in rumors," Casper retorted somewhat coldly. This would have been his personal philosophy even if he'd never been caught in the midst of rumor mill himself, but after being labeled a Dark wizard during his freshman year -- a Dark fucking wizard of all the fucking things -- he was especially vehement about it. He folded his arms and looked at Katya, giving a small nod of acknowledgment. He had seen her utilize the combative magic that came with Defense Against the Dark Arts and she was right; there was room for improvement. Still, she had skill and talent and he thought she'd still be better off with a wand than a telescope. "Or you could practice," he suggested wryly, then paused for a moment before adding, "I've never understood why you aren't in Dueling. Seems like a good way to hone the skills you seem to want."

She had heard the rumors about Casper and moved on from them, after all there wasn't a reason to believe most of them. It wasn't like he seemed too evil at least from her point of view but she was generally uncaring about the rumors floating around the school. "Some rumors are more fun than others." She wouldn't have minded being called a dark wizard, Katya would have welcomed it simply to make her seem a little more fearsome. Would have totally helped with her Prefecting.

"I Should but I'm pretty fucking packed schedule wise already. If I do too much more I might literally lose what brain I have." She motioned to her ear wiggling her fingers. "It'll drip out a little at a time." The idea of practice did sound good, that wasn't a structured activity and could be moved around if she had too much on her plate. "I was in it for a little just because Riley had joined but once she was kicked out I dropped it as well." Katya looked Casper over as if she was appraising him. "Is that an offer for practice? Willing to let me fling things at you? Or just a subtle way of saying 'Katya, you kind of suck at this'?"

Casper responded with a slightly disgusted snort, but said nothing else on the subject of rumors. He didn't have any interest in arguing with her about whether or not rumors could be fun (they couldn't) and whether or not the people that took part in spreading them were shitheads (they were). Instead, he considered her question. He already spent time outside of the club dueling with Sy, who had also been kicked out, but the idea of practicing with Katya too wasn't an entirely unappealing one. And more experience could only help both of them. "It wasn't either," he answered honestly, "Just an observation. But I wouldn't mind practicing with you."

Katya smiled lightly, good at least he wasn't positive that she was going to fail miserably when it came to wand work, she had been trying and luckily had gotten far better over the last few years. There was no reason to give up free help when it came to it though, she could use it. "I figure we might as well work together, you know? I never know when I might need to actually use them outside of school. It isn't too dangerous out there but that could all change over night, couldn't it?" It really could, after all it was exactly what seemed to happen. At least to her. "Plus we seem to be taking a lot of the same classes. Okay, pretty much all the same classes. I could help you with something, if you needed it. Just skip rounds and try to attack each other, better than trying to get people to go back to their cabins when it's far too beautiful outside to be stuck inside." Katya was one of the worst, always trying to sneak outside and haul her telescope with her, it was more of a comfort thing than a whole rebellion thing.

Despite himself, Casper actually smiled back. There was nothing sharp about it either, just a small but genuine smile that softened the often harsh contours of his face. "You don't need to sell me on it," he pointed out, finally unfolding his arms, "I already agreed to practice with you, didn't I?" At the mention of their Prefect obligations, however, his expression evened and his eyebrows rose. While he'd never taken breaking curfew as a particularly serious offense and sometimes even put on his headphones while he made the nightly rounds, he hadn't expected that particular suggestion from Katya. She was, after all, one Honeychurch's little birdies. But it would certainly be a better use of their time. "Sure. I think we could do that."

A smile was nice, it looked like maybe she was making a bit of progress in getting him to soften up. Katya was nothing but a ray of sunshine or at least she tried to be around everyone and getting people to smile just made her happy. So what if it was a little lame but after her whole hell of a past so far, she just wanted to make other people happy. It looked good anyway. "Oh good, I just tend to wander around when I go out on them anyway, I mean I wondered at first why they picked me but I guess I look like the calm and normal one in my cabin. I mean, it isn't like any of us are very good at listening to the rules." Katya wasn't even sure how they were going to end up in the positives in points by the end of the year, she was resorting to giving a few points just for nice hair. It was going to be difficult. "Plus we can look after each other in case some scary ghost killer or something jumps out."

"That makes two of us," Casper mused, giving his head a small shake and reflexively brushing back his dark hair before it could fall into his eyes, "I sometimes suspect they pick names out of a hat when it comes to Prefects. Except maybe for Magdalen and Cecil." Those two were almost disgustingly perfect for their roles. Nice enough, but so saccharine that just talking to either of them seemed likely to give him cavities. At mention of the 'ghost killer', his gaze flicked thoughtlessly toward the lake that was obscured by distance and an entire forest. Then he exhaled a huff of breath. More stories. "There's nothing out there. Apart from Goosey, anyway. I think we'll have to test ourselves."

"They're good people, they picked well this year. I have no idea who is going to end up Head next year, maybe someone will transfer in and be really good at this sort of thing." Katya had every hope that it wasn't going to be her. There had to be other prefects that were a better choice and even thinking about it made her feel total dread. "I don't think I'm sweet and nice enough to be picked. Are we going for looks? I might pull ahead for that one."

Nothing out there. Yes, there was. Lots of terrible horrible things. Her voice got a bit harsher, the happy bit sort of drained away for a moment when she replied. "There is plenty waiting to destroy your life out there." But Katya forced a smile back onto her face, school was safe as far as she knew. Nothing seemed to dangerous around here. "But the school is safe so yeah, we might have to pretend."

There is plenty waiting to destroy your life out there. This, finally, was too much for even Casper to absorb nonchalantly and tuck away for later. He blinked, dark eyes startled momentarily wide by the certainty and sharpness in Katya's voice. He stiffened and shoved his hands into his pockets and remained silent even as the girl put her smile back into place like a mask. Finally, he said, "You've seen some shit. Katya. Haven't you?" He wasn't going to ask what that was, but just getting confirmation seemed suddenly important to him.

"There's a reason I live in small town Alaska and it wasn't because I chose to. Or even my mother chose to." No, her father had placed them there in case of emergency. A single moment in time threw her entire life off balance and she felt like she was still spinning. "Only moved here about five years ago. Damn good thing I knew a bit of English." Katya was not fluent yet but she struggled though it and was doing far better than she had her first year here, thankfully. "Might be the only one here that can see Thestrals. Kind of pretty." She wasn't going to provide details, she assumed Casper could figure out the bits on his own. Her hands occupied by spinning a ring around her finger she took a moment. "World can be shit at times."

Casper was silent for several long moments. The significance of what she'd said wasn't lost on him; that someone had died and that she had seen it and that she'd only come here to escape...something. The young man's lips thinned, twitched into a frown, and then evened again. He nodded, both in acknowledgment and agreement, then muttered, "Yeah. Most of the time." In his pockets, his hands balled up into tight fists. Looking away from her again, his dark eyes took in the trail leading away from the Ebonhide camp and he asked abruptly, "...you want to practice now? Or are they expecting you back?"

There was really nothing to say back to her with that information now stuck in his head, Katya was sure of it. There was no telling what he would throw together and it really didn't matter anyway. The truth was worse than little rumors people could come up with, hell she didn't care. Issak took care of them now and if it meant that they were safe for now it was better than nothing. Eventually Katya figured something would happen, it would all come crashing down. Right now, she looked around quickly, her hair floating into her face before letting that same stupid smile come flashing back onto her face. "I don't think I'm expected back. I don't have much to do tonight, pretty much free as a bird. So we can. If you want." Something to distract her felt like the best idea.

"Wouldn't have asked if I didn't want to," Casper pointed out levelly, then he nodded in the direction of the path. He could use a distraction too. "Come on. I think I know a place."