Outfit

Kitty tottered up the steps from the Slytherin common room, teetering delicately on less-than-practical heels that were far too inappropriate for uniform. With a face made-up, her youthful face was given five years by thick eyeshadow and blood red lips - it was sacrilege for Kitty to leave even her bedroom without the usual slap on. Handbag balanced in the crook of her arm, she'd been running late and as such, had instructed Strellie and the girls to leave without her. No point holding the rest of them up when she was having a nightmare with the enchanted hair rollers she'd purchased over the weekend. After giving them three or four goes, they were shoddy (from a backstreet beauty parlour in Diagon Alley, hardly a quality locale) and instead, her dark brown locks lightly bounced off her shoulders relatively ungroomed and natural.

Heading into the Great Hall for breakfast, Kitty frowned at a gaggle of first year boys that blocked her entrance. Swapping Chocolate Frog cards or something equally as juvenile, she pushed one in the shoulder.

"Move."

The boyish smiles soon evaporated at Hogwart's resident devil-in-couture, and they parted to let her trot through. Strellie and the others were at their usual spot, and Kitty marched towards them, eyes flicking over the usual suspects seated at the Slytherin table. Her gaze sauntered over each one, like a general analysing his troops during a routine check-up. Some noticed her stare, others were clever enough to mind their own business, continuing their mediocre conversations about everything and nothing that teenagers did so well. It was all rather uninteresting watching such miscreants finish the breakfast that Kitty had yet to start, but something did cause a raise of an eyebrow.

That something being Gracie Slant.

She was seated a metre or so from the usual aristocracy spot, but strangely enough, little miss Gracie was alone. No Liviana Weidman (thank Merlin) and none of her usual strapping young escorts simpering around. Kitty exchanged a glance with her friends as she approached, winking at them before taking a seat opposite Slant. The Korean pixie immediately started to pour herself a cup of tea, as if the two sitting together at breakfast was a regular event.

"Good morning," Kitty greeted with a smile that was almost bittersweet. "Didn't think you were one to sit by yourself, Slant, why so lonesome?" She raised an eyebrow, taking a sip of her reassuringly warm drink. "It's a shame you don't sit with us more often, I presume Liviana doesn't want such company in a morning, right?" She tried to stifle a laugh, awaiting Slytherin's resident namedropper appearing any minute with a frown to rival Professor Storm. It was common knowledge that, although in the same circles, Kitty and Liviana were not on good terms; allies became collateral damage, and Kitty was keen to try and instigate some dialogue with Gracie.

Looking up from her copy of 1001 Deadly Devices, Gracie flashed a cool grin at the Devil herself.

“Mornin’ to you too, Li,” she replied dryly, giving the petite girl a slight nod of acknowledgment. Slowly, almost like an afterthought, the book was closed shut… although in this case the action had been anything but. In an instance like this—in any instance where Kitty Li decided to grace you with her presence—it always paid to keep an eye on her. “I thought I smelled smoke an’ brimstone coming this way.”

As the other Slytherin made herself comfortable, Gracie merely raised a brow at the stings about her best friend and took a sip of her own drink. Had she been a Gryffindor (which no doubt would’ve made herself and Liv an even more unlikely pair), she would have returned the favor. As it was, she wasn’t, and so didn’t.

Besides, she rather liked Strellie. And Kitty won whenever you lost your temper, anyway.

“It is rather hard to deal with some things at an ungodly hour, isn’t it?” she agreed easily, setting her cappuccino back on its saucer with a soft clink. “But if you’d like her company now…”

Both elbows on the table and her fingers laced together, Gracie only smirked. “I’m sure I can find her for you, if you wish.”

Her smirk, however, was amused. She wasn’t dumb; even things under rocks knew Kitty and Liv didn’t get on at all, and she was the latter’s best friend. When the former was going out of her way to approach her, then there was a reason. It was just a matter of what, exactly, and Gracie could hazard a guess.

   

"Don't you mean fire and brimstone, Slant?" she said with a smirk, both delicate hands clasping the floral cup of tea. "I don't simply blow smoke, I create it. Surely you should know that by now, dear." Her words were eloquent, and charming in the fact that Kitty knew and accepted herself. There was no need for pretenses, not with Slant. She could see right through her fellow Slytherin, and Kitty understood why - most students had heard the rumours or had fallen victim to them. Gracie, as part of the inner circle, had never suffered such retribution and Kitty had always held the girl in high regard. Anybody that forged their school career in bitchery and popularity was to be commended.

At the mention of inviting Liviana along to their little impromptu breakfast date, Kitty smirked, shaking her dark brown locks slightly. "Oh please Slant, I'm content with your company and your company alone. We wouldn't want to sour the mood now, would we?" Kitty had to admit, having a one-to-one with Gracie Slant was something that had never happened in her career at Hogwarts, and it was rather pleasant indeed.

Taking a croissant, she took a sheepish nibble. It was ordinary for the Slytherin to take her time eating even the smallest thing - lest looking like a troll with a hamburger. "I rarely catch you without Wiedman, I guess that's why we rarely chat..." Kitty sighed, as if a little disappointed by her own statement, peeling apart her pastry with nimble, scarlet nails. "We're not too dissimilar, me and you. Shame really."

Kitty's eyes flicked toward her usual spot on the table, noticing Strellie and the other girls eating their breakfast with little suspicion. "You should hang with us more, I think it'd be fun."

Outfit

Demitria yawned slightly, her long fingers drifting upward to delicately cover her lips. Eventually, she had made her way back to the Slytherin dormitories the night before. She didn't think she had woken anyone up, as she was a Slytherin, but one could never be too sure. Never mind. If the girls hadn't said anything yet to the proper authorities, then they wouldn't. All of them were probably aware that the Russian spent many nights out of the warmth of her bed.

She was impeccably dressed as always, as Kitty had tutted over her and Strellie had smiled in comraderie. It was all a show. Well rehearsed and flawlessly performed, the two had made their way to breakfast. Surprisingly, even though Kitty had been busy spreading blood and carnage in her path, her close friend was a rock. Kitty would never change. She would be the crazy, vicious, and constant factor in Strellie's life. Kitty was Kitty and that would not suddenly fall out from under her feet.

She pushed a strawberry around her plate when she caught Kitty's eye. Her friend was currently sitting with Gracie. Now that was a sight. A rare natural smile slipped onto her lips. When the cat's away, the mice play, she supposed. Taking the unspoken hint, she flipped her legs over the edge of the bench in a graceful movement. Her heels weren't sky-high like Kitty, so when her feet landed on the ground, they made a respectable click without breaking her ankles.

"Good morning, dears." She said, her deep red lips looking vaguely amused. She sat side-saddle on the bench and picked up a raspberry from a bowl. "Playing nice?" She winked.

She honestly, just wanted to sleep.

Fire and brimstone. Her fellow Slytherin would know. “Consider myself warned, then,” Gracie drawled, unable to help but grin. She hid it behind another sip of coffee; that kind of compliment was dangerous. Hanging out with Kitty Li & Company? Even more so, just as much as it would, no doubt, prove to be interesting. “I’ll have to check my schedule,” she said breezily. “Liv generally has me booked…”

Or, had. Lately it seemed like the two of them just couldn’t find any time to hang out together properly, as they’d had before. The easygoing brunette had put it down to NEWT preparations and family matters; Liv was the busier one between them. But sometimes…

Well, she wouldn’t dwell on it now, duh. Half the time she suspected that the girl sitting across from her possessed a knack for ‘picking up on things’ that bordered on Legilimency.

Her words trailed off as Demitria approached. And then there were three, Gracie thought with some irony. Had there been a memo sent out that she didn’t know about? “Strellie,” she greeted cheerfully, grinning as the new face took a seat. “Li was just inviting over to the dark side…”

That grin turning wicked, she looked back at Kitty. “I dunno, Li, I’d have to think about it. Are the seats any cushier at your end of the table?”

"Well, of course she has you booked," Kitty muttered, rolling her eyes with a grin. "Can't say your timetable with her has been that busy as of late, you two are normally attached at the hip." The resident ogre of Slytherin had indeed recognised that Gracie and Liviana weren't constantly in each other's company - hence the reason Kitty moved in. Of course, she cared very little for the female population of Hogwarts, but a rare few held a spot in the girl's stony heart. Gracie may be allied with the wrong monarch, but she was one of the more tolerable ones: and for that, she was prepared to make a little extra effort.

A rather lovely interruption presented itself, however. "Good morning dears" came a very familiar (and very welcomed) voice that made Kitty instantly turn her head. She immediately beamed. Strellie. Strelnikov, her social rock and paragon of friendly perfection - there was no better sight in a morning. Or ever, for that matter. "Oh, you darling, do take a seat," Kitty gushed, planting an audible kiss on each of her best friend's cheeks. Taking a raspberry from the same bowl, she ate it slowly, eyes squinting and lips smiling at Demitria. "Honestly, Strellie, when am I ever anything but nice? You paint such an unflattering portrait of me at times." A coy grin on Kitty's face thoroughly placed her statement in the realm of jest - Demitria knew exactly what Li was like, and she was everything but nice.

"The dark side, the better side," she conceded, giving Gracie a wink. "Don't you think Strellie, she should play with us girls more, there wouldn't be any objection. How about a big night in our dorm, we could sort out a little contraband red wine, face masks, record player. Divine!" She theatrically widened her eyes, placing both hands face down on the table: Kitty wasn't going to give up without a feet.

When asked about the seats, the Slytherin merely tittered, brushing her hair down slowly and ensuring every strand was exactly in place. "I can't say they are," Kitty mused, leaning back. "But the heels are much higher and the gossip is to die for."

The Russian gave Kitty a large smile as the other girl kissed her cheeks. Their relationship had been a little chilly over the summer since she had been spending the majority of her time with common rabble. Kitty was so affectionate towards lower classes. Nevertheless, the hesitation had disappeared when she had come back to Hogwarts and into Kitty's court without hesitation. The summer had forged a bitterness in her that made her relationship with the other girl grow stronger.

Demitria smirked across the table at Gracie while she answered Kitty. "Unflattering? Darling, I am the one that sings your praises. It's all in the interpretation." She winked at Gracie. She didn't know exactly what Li wanted with the other Slytherin. Her friendship with Livi was much stronger than any allegiance she might form with the Korean witch, thus negating the power of it. Oh well, when Kitty wanted something she would do everything in her power to make it happen.

She chuckled brightly at Gracie's description of Kitty's Monarchy. "The Dark side? I was not aware I had joined. Guilty by association, most likely. Although a night for all of us girls sounds marvelous. We haven't had one since, well, our contraband summer."

Which Strellie would rather not repeat exactly. She had been on the losing end of things that night and of those that hadn't seen her in little clothing before (which was pretty much limited to Erin and Deus) had seen her lovely purple undergarments. But this time, it would be about 6,000x more elegant.

"You should consider it, konfetka." Her ghost eyes shone at the other Slytherin.

 

As Gracie surveyed the pair of them—green eyes sliding from a similar green to slanting dark brown—lips lifted into a wry smile. If that hadn’t been an invitation, she didn’t know what was.

Despite the surprising amount of influence she had over many of her housemates (as well as those who weren’t), it had been blood, personality, and a distinct lack of interest that had kept the girl out of House politics. After her pureblood father had left them to their own devices, Gracie’s mother had left her to her father shortly after, an intimidating, taciturn man who was still a Muggle after all was said and done… and one who had personally dealt with—and worked for—political vipers, at that. And in his granddaughter he had instilled a wary respect for predators, the kind that would help her keep those who played power games at arm’s length.

Because of her own personal feelings about the Monarchy in general, Liv had been safe, in that respect. For all their friendliness, Demitria and Kitty… were not.

Not to mention she liked having her own influence independent of another group. It was much like having all of the power and none of the strings.

Still, that didn’t mean she didn’t find them interesting. And now that Maeve was gone, and it was still only the first term, things were still settling down. People were still feeling out where they stood, trying to gain—or reclaim—the standings they wanted or once held. It was all very boring, from Gracie’s perspective, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t see the perks in being their friends. Better friends.

And sometimes she did like playing with knives.

She gave them both a considering look.

“Can’t say high heels appeal to me that much,” she said, finally, the dry tone of her voice deceptively casual. Fingertips drummed a thoughtful rhythm against the surface of her book. “More of a flats kind of girl, than anything else…” And preferred good, vintage scotch ‘n firewhiskey over wine.

But…

The face masks sounded fun. While she wasn’t much of a girly girl herself, either, she wasn’t adverse to little self-pampering. And Liv had been absent, lately.

“Name the time and date,” she said, letting a lazy slip of a grin peek through. “I’ll see if I can make it.”