power struggle

@"Poptart"

Valentine was the first person out the door of whatever generic class she'd dragged herself out of bed for that day, with the help of some skillfully placed shoulder jabs and a facial expression that spoke of murder. She was… irritated. Partially just in the usual, expected sense, unhappy that this was the current excuse to go out and dress up. And that even this made her collection of illnesses kick up a fuss and scream at her (but really, a lack of pain was more surprising than the constant complaining existence of it).

She wondered when she'd just give up on it. Was she even getting much out of college? What was in the school that she couldn't access in her own private library, that she couldn't buy if it wasn't already there? What teachers did she, a prodigy in her brand of magic, need? It was all just a display, a…

Oh, yes. People. That was what came out of it. It was easy to find vulnerable people here, and not attract to much attention with it if you shared classes with them, and wanted to be friends, or to have a study group, or some other nonsense. How very cute, the idea of it is! And completely fictional, as well. That was what made it all so novel. Playing pretend.

That wasn't even what had truly ruffled Val, just the usual inner monologuing. No, what was actually bothersome, more individual, was something very specific.

When Val had revisited whatever this class was, which she was pretty sure she'd been missing for a month at the least, there'd been another presence all of the sudden. Something that had been resonating with her somehow. It was weird, and completely foreign, and Val despised not knowing things. Especially something so personal. She hadn't tried to pinpoint where it was coming from, too uncomfortable to risk drawing attention in class like that, but she'd felt eyes on her for quite a while. So even if she wasn't aware of, whatever, or whoever was doing this- well, the board wasn't even.

So now, Val was leaning on opposite wall to the classroom door, watching it and picking through everyone who walked out. Waiting, theorizing, eyes cold and bright.

As an afterthought. She adjusted her dress, and lightly twirled some of her hair around her fingers. Yes. Now she was prepared for anything.

Val was still surprised, but now it was starting to feel pleasant, and she was really liking tall and dangerous with a side of dark, eye drawing lipstick. She tugged lightly at her hair once, looking the other over appreciatively, and then let a smile bloom on her face. Familiar, tugging energy that was new and bad aside, this wasn't such a negative situation.

At first glance, going over what was being offered with this person, and what Val could assume… strong willed seemed like it would be an understatement. Exactly the type of individual she avoided when picking out people to hurt, but always had a sort of forbidden appeal. And it wasn't like she hadn't affected those of more intense nature before, oh no, and it at times made things more satisfying.

Flirting, and somehow figuring out what was going on, was much more at the front of Val's mind right now.

"Why do you assume boyfriend?" Val replied simply, tilting her face up to meet the other's eyes. What was that weight? That wasn't normal. Val didn't want her head to start buzzing, it was a good health day. Still, she kept her cool, and her smile. "Actually, I was waiting for you. I hope I've made for good eye candy, and I apologize that I couldn't return the favor until now."

They were catching on more, weren't they? About time, Valentine was all too agitated, and didn't care to be the only one in the loop. In any other situation, she would've considered it an advantage, but not now, not with this. A part of her was now enjoying the pull, when it came from someone who fit their tastes, but they were dangerous and so was the current unexamined situation. Val wasn't going to let this person out of her sight until she knew what the fuck was going on. And maybe slept with them. In whichever order. Whatever.

"Anyone with good taste should be, I might go so far to say," Valentine purred. Her lips then parted in a delicate, caught off guard but delighted expression, hands coming up to lace together. "That offer sounds lovely. Truly, it'd make my day." She flushed slightly under the way she was being looked over, outwardly softened and inwardly preening.

"Are you new? I haven't seen you before, and I've lived here all my life," Val asked, mildly, now interested in a genuine fashion rather than only due to her ulterior motives- which, to be fair, she always had anyway. "I can give good directions for the city if needed, but if you want to lead the way, that's fine for the time being as well." I'll allow it was left unsaid.

She wondered if any of the usual rumors had been heard. Even when one was new, it never took long. She introduced herself anyway. "I'm Valentine, Valentine Crowther. But please, do go ahead and call me Val."

"Ah, as I thought. I'm sure you're catching on quickly, but if you have any questions about anything at all, I'm sure I can answer some of them," Valentine said, continuing with her chipper leaning front. "And the pleasure is mine, Gen."

She noted to herself with a mental cringe that she'd never, never ever, use Rattlesnake. God, just. Why. Please no, spare her from this second hand embarrassment.

She'd go back to focusing on other things, instead, as she followed along with Gen's footsteps, the heaviness and electricity continuing to press against her. Things like both the deep discomfort and swooning over all that. Her cheeks flushed.

Then everything really was far more private, and the purposeful ignorance was left behind. Val's smile fell in exchange for a slightly unpleasant twist of her lips, as well as a distracted, agitated tap of her fingers at her sides.

…She was only more and more attracted to this.

Val studied Gen. What are you, why are you, she wanted to ask, to claw at. Val never felt connected to anyone or anything without fucking forcing it first, so what was this? It freaked her out, she hated it- it was interesting and powerful. She wanted to scream about all this to this person, but she had to keep dignity somewhere with how much she'd been throwing out lately. Ugh. Annoying.

So Val just laughed. "Hm. Yes, that's right, I'm wondering about that too. Funny auras, funnier coincidences, what a small world for us to…"

She trailed off. Stopped laughing.

"Actually. I don't think any of this is funny."

This was all getting obnoxious. Valentine was embarrassed with herself, how infatuated she was with this, very unpredicted emotions swimming in her head while her voice of reason continued to cut in so harshly. Just a goddamn mess. Val only liked messes when she was on top of them and the cause of it all. This, none of this was on purpose.

When Gen tried to pull away, so did she. It didn't work. If anything, it made it fucking worse, sinking in like a disease and getting into every opening, the deepest corners of her being.

Val breathed in the violence, the power. Death flowed off of her in waves, mingling with the other aura, easily harmonizing together. Their magic wanted this. She felt lightheaded and meaningful. Her eyes fluttered shut. Oh. She really could just, kiss Gen right now, kiss them a lot.

She forced cold into her veins and opened her eyes again.

"Aren't you cute with all that brute force. It's only self-sabotage, and I'm not as delicate as I look." She sighed. "I'm perfectly willing to answer questions, if you'll do the same, and perhaps be more… civilized. Unless that's too much to ask, in which case, my sincerest apologies."

She paused, very tellingly.

"I don't know what I am."

Another huff, and her tone grew more analytical. "That is… I'm supposedly human at my base, a witch with a great deal of natural talent in necromancy. But that's not enough. Being uncomfortably inseparable from death, cursed- that much has always been public knowledge, a spectacle. I truly don't know more. My own words are just as much gossip and rumors as everything else is."