Ever since she got back from Romania Sybil felt the urge to leave again. Unexpectedly and unplanned, something typical for her. It was one thing to stay in the same place your whole life, but once you see new places there's no way of holding someone like her back. But those dreams of hers weren't possible right now, the red haired snake had to come back to the cold and gloomy place she called home only to find out that things had went exactly as she wanted, but that oddly brought no pleasure to her. She wasn't as pissy as she'd been a few months ago, she was even close to how Sybil Marlow usually was before the hectic events turned around her life. Now to get things back to normal, or at least try to the last thing she needed was to have her pet by her side again. She'd be lying if she said that she trusted Lezekiel completely with taking care of Rascal, but she had no other choice. Now impatiently tapping her foot while sitting in one of the Rosebury cafe's she awaited her housemate to pick up her cat after a long summer without seeing him. The only thing on her mind currently being if the Lestrange managed to fuck up somehow, that way she'd have an excuse to be angry at him which would probably happen either way without the two trying to provoke each other.
~
Zeke's summer holidy had been everything he hoped it would be. Between spending most of it with Zahrah, Azarias, and his sisters even joining near the end of the trip, his spirits were what they used to be prior to the stress of his sixth year. He'd returned from Monte Carlo sometime in the middle of August, luxuriating in the walls of the manor, knowing he'd miss them once the school year had begun-- he'd left Zahrah in the hands of his sisters, whom returned to France, the irony that she'd actually wound up spending time in the country not lost on either of them. Speaking of tying up lose his ends-- he came to a stop in front of the cafe Sybil had written him to meet her at. The only thing left to do before the school year was return Rascal to the redhead. Lezekiel had only ever been to Rosebury once or twice; it was the kind of place that the Lestranges would dub 'cute' or 'quaint' in the nastiest condescending tone they could muster. However, he'd discovered in his short visits they had gourmet titled worthy coffee. He scratched the dopey cat on the head, before opening the door. He'd miss him a lot, but he knew he'd wind up seeing the feline around Hogwarts, as you did most cats. Rascal was healthy and happy-- that much was obvious from a quick glance. He'd also quite possibly been spoiled beyond repair-- but Zeke wouldn't accept blame for treating Rascal like a king. All in all, taking care of the cat had led him to want to adopt again, something he was considering now that he would be gone. "Here he is." He said, extending the cat towards the redhead as soon she was close enough.
~
Sometime in between tapping her foot and wanting to grumble how much she hated that she had one more year at Hogwarts before being entirely free Sybil managed to catch a glimpse of Zeke, her green hues immediately searching for Rascal who was indeed safe. "What did you feed him this whole time?" She questioned furrowing her brows once he got closer and took the cat in her arms. "He usually isn't one for physical activity, but with this weight on I think he'd be even more discouraged.." Trailed off the Slytherin unsure whether she wanted to make a big deal out of it like she usually would or just keep her mouth shut for once. She may have been in a not so good mood, but it wasn't cause of Lezekiel for once so she didn't let him suffer from it this time. Sybil sighed, wanting to roll her eyes just thinking about what she was about to say to him. She still wasn't used to them being in something like a middle ground sometimes. "He's okay though, so I guess I should thank you for taking care of him in the first place. He didn't cause any problems right?" Scratching Rascal's head first, the snake looked up to her housemate.
~
Zeke raised an eyebrow, wondering if it was a rhetorical question. "You're welcome then." He said, running a hand through his hair. "He was extraordinarily well behaved, I can assure you." As he stared back at her, he found himself curious with how the rest of her summer had gone. How had her travels been? Had anything interesting happened since the last time he'd seen her? However, he found himself not willing to dispel the necessary energy it would take to ask. Stifling a genuine yawn, he moved to sit down on the couch behind them. "This feels like a good time for a tea-break. You interested in sharing a pot?" Zeke wasn't sure what she had planned for the rest of the day, but being a fan of unique surroundings, he found himself enjoying the atmosphere the cafe Sybil had chosen. Chances were he'd end up staying for a cup of coffee, whether or not the redhead did.
~
Not used to thanking people even in such a weird way, Sybil had no desire to continue the topic and just nodded. These types of conversations were uncomfortable for her every time they happened, because she rarely trusted someone with something that's her responsibility. Instead taking the suggestion of some tea with open arms. "Yeah why not? You choose the tea though, I'm good with anything." The Slytherin wasn't the biggest tea fan despite living in a country where most people drank it like water. She preferred coffee or even actual water. Her favorite elderflower wine not being quite an appropriate option at the time. Making sure that Rascal wouldn't decide to jump out of her arms and venture around Sybil carefully sat down next to Zeke on the couch with the feline being placed on her lap. While petting him she turned to Lezekiel once again, eyeing the male carefully. After what happened between them she no longer knew what to expect from him and even unpredictable Sybil Marlow couldn't help, but question what that was it all about. "So how did your summer go?" She asked just so she wouldn't stay silent all the time, which was something unlike the redhead.
~
Zeke used his wand to beckon a small menu from across the room-- looking through it, he officially decided he wanted coffee-- the tea selection was subpar in comparison to their menu of coffee drinks. On top of that, if the yawn didn't give it away, he was tired-- sated, but tired. "Alright, well I'm getting coffee." He said, snapping to get a server's attention; of course, he was forgiven as soon as he smiled at her. "Two of the Vienna's please, with the leaf design. Also, two scones, the ones I saw..." As soon as he finished ordering, he reclined in the seat. Round hazel eyes focused in on the redhead. "Well," Zeke let out a breath, as if he was pondering what to say. "I don't have any complaints, really. All in all, it consisted of what a summer holiday ought to. I enjoyed it." This was weird. It wasn't even like he was going out of his way to be cordial, like he had in the past. This was all natural-- he couldn't help but wonder if Sybil felt off about it too. Had they really traipsed into genuine realm of acquaintances, or was this temporary? "And yours?"
~
"Coffee sounds perfect." Despite not showing it so much Sybil was pleased with his choice, it was almost as if he'd gotten into her head. For someone who she barely knew anything about it was fascinating how easy it was for her to agree with him on small things like this. Maybe it was cause of their house or was it just the fact that they'd been around each other for so long, she couldn't tell. And the longer she let the thought linger her mind the more she found herself staring at him wondering if he could answer her question, which she doubted he could do. "Not that bad, half of it I ignored my parents and just wandered around and for Romania.. it was great." As she reached the end of her sentence Sybil had to stop herself from smiling. The place had left her breathless really, it was just like what she imagined it to be from the stories she heard while she worked in her father's wand shop. Though, the redhead wasn't the type of person to express how she felt about something and preferred not to get in detail. She had the feeling that it weakened her and she didn't like that.
~
Zeke watched Sybil carefully. He wouldn't say it aloud, but he was glad she'd had a nice summer. After everything that had happened to her, there wouldn't have been any fairness in the world if hers had been awful. If anything, he could respect when someone recovered from tragic events with a sense of style. "You deserved to have some fun." He stated matter of factly. "The Romanians...they're into their dragons, aren't there?" He asked curiously. "Did you go to any reserves?" A second later, the server from before appeared with their coffee. He took it from the lady's hands, nodding when she said she would be back with their scones. He handed Sybil one of the cups, taking a small sip from his own.
~
Sybil was unaware of how long she'd been looking at him and the more she listened to him speak the more perplexed she got. And it was evident that she was shocked when he said that she deserved to have some fun, even if it was for a second. "Even if I'm a complete bitch most of the time?" Asked the redhead, letting out a chuckle, but she was far from joking actually. She'd questioned multiple times how some people dealt with her despite her destructive temperament and not only took her shit, but stayed as well. That wasn't going to last long by the looks of it, she thought, but the fact that it still was a thing amused her as well. "The Romanians love their dragons, it's all they talk about and all of their merch is somehow related to them, but the landscape itself is stunning as well." She had to stop talking to take the cup, carefully enough so the coffee wouldn't spill on Rascal who happened to be asleep at the moment. After taking a sip, she turned to Zeke again. "Yeah, I know a person at the dragon sanctuary and I went there a few times. They have one of the best Hungarian Horntails out there as well as even an Antipodean opaleye."
~
"You're not a bitch for speaking your mind." Zeke said honestly. "...However, the rest of the time..." He tilted his free hand from side to side, a hint of an amused smile on his face. "...is just a little murky." The wizard place his coffee down on the coffee table in front of the couch. It was true-- he wouldn't call Sybil a bitch for the instances where she was just speaking her truth. With that said, there were plenty of times other than that where she was the living example of the word. "But after everything that's happened, you definitely deserved a break from everything. I bet it was-- beautiful there, that is. I wouldn't mind seeing it one day, and I'm not really the sort to purposely seek out nature." Both of his eyebrows raised, indicating he was impressed. "Did you get to see it's eyes?" He asked, wondering what the no pupil eyed creature would look like from a small distance.
~
"Smooth move Lestrange." Sybil chuckled lifting the cup to take a sip. "You just saved yourself, kind of.." trailing off since she was not sure whether he meant what he said the redhead considered asking, but eventually gave up on the idea. What was the point of getting his opinion on her anyway, it's not like she cared about it that much. Halfway throughout listening to him speak again though, the Slytherin noticed what she'd been doing. The meeting was set up only for her to get back Rascal, which she did, but there they were now sitting and drinking coffee whilst talking about how their summer break was without bashing each other like they usually would. It took her some time to realize she'd zoned out, she realized it once about a minute had passed since he stopped talking. "Not quite the break I would've wished for, but it was nice. Now we've got to wait and see what bullshit the next school year has for us." Somehow Sybil had the ability to add a tragic twist to everything including herself. "I don't care if I go to the city or the mountains any place that's new would do the trick for me. And as for the dragon, at first it doesn't look real at all. I could've sworn it was a statue with thousands of gems that were used to make it's scales, but when you get closer and it moves.. you can't even compare magic to that creature."
~
Zeke almost said something that Sybil was more used to hearing from him;something hinting at just how smooth he could be. Almost. In the end, he couldn't find the energy to actually dispel his usual crassness. Instead, he merely continued to relax, enjoying his surroundings. It'd been halfway through the minute when he noticed she'd zoned out. Some of his usual mischievousness and amusement returned to his hazel eyes as he waited for her to realize he was waiting for her to say something. "I know. However, until I'm given reason to believe otherwise, I'm going to believe that the most I have to worry about this school year, are the exams lining the end of it." His incisors dug into his bottom lip as he listened to her describe the creature, his round eyes accentuated with a sense of wonder. "That sounds wonderful." He said genuinely. "Perhaps I'll travel there someday...or somewhere similar, anyway." Zeke surmised outloud, taking another sip of his coffee.
~
Usually it was more than difficult for Sybil to keep her mouth shut when it came to talking. If she was with someone else she probably would've already explain how she spent her summer break twice with an extremely detailed description. But Lezekiel seemed to be a special case and there was something about him that made her cautious when he was around, yet she still continued with her heedless behavior and probably even crossed the line the last time she saw him. Not only was she unpredictable to others, but to herself as well and she despised that. "Oh, please the exams are the last thing I have to worry about." Puffed the redhead, just the thought that she had to go back to Hogwarts made her want to cringe. Not that she hated the place, it wasn't so bad and it brought some entertainment in her life occasionally. At this point she really didn't know what she was still doing here, talking to him as if they were friends. They weren't friends, there was no doubt about that, so why was she still in his presence willingly she couldn't tell. "You should, it's a great experience. Anyway, I think I might have to go soon."
~
Zeke raised his eyebrows, waiting to see if Sybil would elaborate. When she didn't, he merely shrugged. "Alright. I'm probably going to stick around for a bit-- maybe have another cuppa." It wasn't like he was in any particular rush. "I'll see you around the common." He reached forward, scratching Rascal on the head. "And I'll miss our talks." Zeke smiled slightly as he leaned back-- he knew Sybil would probably have no idea what he meant, and it was most likely better that way.
~
When he turned to Rascal Sybil could no longer hide how unsettling everything about this encounter was to her. She'd refrained herself from saying anything else to him that actually mattered to her, like the fact that she'd gotten to be this year's head girl. Something most would assume she accepted cause of her craving for power, but it was far from that even though she made it seem like it wasn't. Actually sharing ruined her reputation of being heartless and having a devil may care attitude. "Do what you want to do, it's not like I care." Now that sounded more like Sybil Marlow. Her not caring was what made her look tough, though now as she glanced at Zeke, she wasn't that sure if she actually believed that she didn't care. As soon as she finished her coffee and payed for it the Slytherin wasted no time to get ready to make her exist. "Yeah, it's not like we have a choice on that. So see you there if I'm even around that is." She had to deal with her parents and her absence during the break, weirdly she preferred to bicker with her housemate rather than speak with her father, but this odd atmosphere had nothing to do with it.
~
Now that was what Zeke was more used to. Still, no amount of snark, small or big, resonated within him at her tone. With the Slytherin, that could mean a number of things. It could indicate he cared enough not to tear said person down, or he cared so little that he didn't see it as being worth his time to retaliate. At the moment, he quite literally didn't care enough to expel the energy of pondering which one it was. But then, a weird sensation washed over him. A familiar one he was used to, no less. The seer smirked softly as he examined his empty coffee cup. "You will be." He said in a tone that indicated he knew it for a fact-- the one that meant he'd seen something. "Congrats, by the way. I'm sure Hogwarts will be a lot more interesting with you as Head Girl. Well,until then, Sybil Marlow." Zeke placed his cup down, already beckoning the server again, his actions showing that he considered their tête-à-tête to be over.
