A New Friend (Lyra)

[Ethan Drake]

Ethan returned, standing in front of her with two mugs of cocoa. "All right, I don't know if you're the marshmellow kind of girl, so you choose." He lowered the mugs so that she could see them. "Marshmellows or no marshmellows?"

As he waited for her to decide, he moved the free chair with his foot and sat down in front of her.

[Lyra Newbury]

"Marshmallows," she with a smile and took the mug from him. Lyra sipped the cocoa slowly. It was hot, but she really just wanted some time with Ethan that didn't involve her being moodier than all get out, or apologizing for her crazy behavior. She really had thought she was doing better. And when she ignored everyone else in the room she felt like she was doing better. Lucky for her, Ethan was not dumb nor mean and had got her out of that common room just in time. But still she felt off. Normally she would flirt without giving a second thought. She would be sitting on his lap by now and tracing little patterns on his chest and arm. But she couldn't do that now and it was nice to have the cocoa to drink while she tried to figure out what next to do.

[Ethan Drake]

Ethan smiled, watching her for a moment before he took a sip of his own. He blew on it before taking another sip.

"So you like marshmellows in your cocoa. Interesting." He leveled her with a playful but charming smile. "There's a soft side to you, afterall." Then he held up his hands, as if surreandering. "Don't worry, I'm not going to tell anyone."

[Lyra Newbury]

She didn't see what was interesting about marshmallows until he pointed it out, and then she just had to laugh. "Yes, because if that got out, then my reputation would really be ruined," she giggled. She wondered what he would have said if she had taken the mug without marshmallows. "Which would you prefer?"

[Ethan Drake]

Ethan laughed as well. "Well, we have to make sure they think something about you is still as offputting as ever, right? Next thing they know, you'll be reading poetry and hugging teddy bears." He stopped and looked at her, his smile fading. "I bet you have a teddy bear, don't you?"

He only shook his head at her question about the cocoa. "It's all the same to me, darlin'."

[Lyra Newbury]

Off-putting? Was that how he saw her? She frowned slightly but continued to play along just the same. "No, I do not have a teddy bear. I have a stuffed Grindylow," she said teasingly. She didn't have any stuffed toys at Hogwarts. Though she was sure her mum had saved some from home which were probably sitting in a closet somewhere.

[Ethan Drake]

"I don't believe you," Ethan said, narrowing his eyes and leaning forward. "You're either lying about the teddy bear or the stuffed grindylow. Please tell me you're lying about the bear... that one would be much more fun."

He brought his mug to his lips again and sighed a little. "How's your cocoa?" He asked. It was either the cocoa or his company keeping her here. Whichever it was, he was glad of it.

[Lyra Newbury]

"Then you would get a kick out of the fact that I have a whole collection of teddy bears hidden under my bed. It's a shame you won't be able to get to them with the chastity charms on the dorms." She sighed theatrically. "Oh well.."

"It's good," she answered. "Marshmallows make it taste better."

[Ethan Drake]

Ethan was glad that she seemed to be less tense now. It was probably just the pressure of the common room. Slytherins as a whole were not an understanding lot. She was joking around with him now, and he silently thanked Ryan for leaving him alone.

"I'm sure we can figure some way around those charms," he said, taking a sip of his own cocoa. "Do they make it taste better, really? he asked. "I'eve never noticed a difference, to be honest."

[Lyra Newbury]

A cute boy talking of disarming the chastity charms...Lyra had to bit her lip to keep from doing anything. Even though he only wanted at her imaginary toy collection, she could easily imagine that he wanted at something more. And the last time she had curbed those cravings was with Rabastan, much too long ago. Christ, she was only human.

She barely heard what he said about the marshmallows, but it clicked together soon enough and she laughed off her carnal desires quickly. "Here, try it and see. And do try to pay a little closer attention, its a subtle difference but its worth it." She offered him her cup with a smile, her cheeks a little flushed.

[Ethan Drake]

Ethan grinned, his own thoughts hidden from her, and thank Merlin. Why did she have a fiance, again?

He looked at her cup, laughing as she told him to pay attention. "I'll try and notice it," he replied, taking her cup and wondering what she would do when he let his hand brush hers, and then took a small sip of her hot chocolate.

He paused, pretending to really consider it like a wine connesiuer would. "Yes... I think I see your point," he said at length, handing the cup back to her.

[Lyra Newbury]

She took the cup back from him with a smirk. "Are you making fun, Drake? You know that isn't wise." She smiled at him, raising a single eyebrow as she took another sip. It was better with marshmallows. She looked in at her cup, which was now half empty. She should drink it slower, as to have more reason to stay longer. How long would Ethan stay?

[Ethan Drake]

Ethan put a hand over his heart and gave her that well practised look of mock hurt. "Haven't I already told you tonight that I would never make fun of you? One of these days, you will believe me. I know it's not wise." He let the look go and smiled then. He enjoyed her company, at least this facet of it. She could be an entirely different person in a different situation.

"Can I get you anything else?" he asked, feeling like he needed to play the good host.

[Lyra Newbury]

"One of these days," she agreed with a grin.

"No, I'm fine for right now. Are you wanting to go back?" She hoped he wasn't tired of her yet, but as he had asked her to the ball she was fairly certain that wouldn't be the case. She still wasn't clear on the why of it but in the kitchens, alone with him, she didn't mind much. And her mind didn't race to conspiracy theories.

[Ethan Drake]

"Hopefully sooner than later. Not everyone is out to hurt you, Lyra." He had said this sincerely and very seriously, and he had a feeling it might have gone too far. He didn't want to make her feel uncomfortable or go back to thinking of Rystain, who was an idiot. Lani was a great girl... Rystain just should have made a decision, one way or the other, much sooner.

Ethan gave her a wide, relaxed, and charming smile. "Lyra, right now, I want to do whatever you want. I'm easy to please."

[Lyra Newbury]

She didn't know if she should be offended by his comment or not. And since she didn't know, she wrestled with it silently in her head instead of being vocal about it. But his charming smile made it easier to wipe the half insulted, half confused look off her face. And his statement was rather inviting. She was still thinking about the chastity charms. Setting her mug on the floor, she leaned closer to him. "Easy to please? Damn. I was looking forward to a challenge."

[Ethan Drake]

There was a glint in Ethan's eye as she leaned forward, and he rested his elbows on his knees to match her forward motion.

"That's a shame... I'm definitely not your guy if it's a challenge you're after. But if you're tired of working for it... I'm here." She was warmer and a lot more open to him than he ever anticipated, and he was glad of it. She needed a friend, and that's honestly what he was trying to do. He wouldn't deny that he was flirting with her, but getting in her pants wasn't his number 1 priority.

[Lyra Newbury]

Lyra ran her tongue across her lips to moisten them and then pulled her bottom lip through her teeth. She wouldn't have called it "working for it" as she enjoyed every minute of the game. But she enjoyed Ethan too and he wasn't turning her away. He was being honest with her and while she thought he was interested, he didn't seem to be as forward as she was used to. That threw her a little. "I don't work for it Ethan. And I'm guessing you won't work for it either. So how about we just go back to the dungeon and shag?" Anyone who knew Lyra knew she wasn't afraid to be forward when it benefited her. Julian was helping her appear as though she was over Rystain. Actually getting over him would require getting under someone else. Lucky for Ethan, he was cute and he was here.

[Ethan Drake]

"Because that's what got you into this mess, isn't it?" Ethan asked, and though the question was a bit harsh, his tone was gentle. He would have loved to shag her senseless, really, and some part of him wondered why he pretty much just told her no. But he didn't want her to feel used, as she inevitably would. He also wanted her to know that someone had other intentions where she was involved.

She needed a friend, and he wanted to be that for her. If they ended up shagging, he didn't want her to regret it. Sometimes, he hated that having a sister made him so damned noble.

[Lyra Newbury]

She wasn't expecting that. It took her by surprise. No one had ever rejected sex from her so she didn't know how to proceed from here. She wasn't about to beg for it. Lyra sat back in her seat and looked at him quizzically for a moment. "Shagging hasn't gotten me into any mess, Drake. I made a stupid mistake with Rystain, one which has nothing to do with sex on my end. If he wants to choose to f*ck that little tart, let him. But don't judge me for wanting to have some fun. That's really not fair."

She might be in need of a friend, but in her current state having someone say something that hurtful to her was not helping. And to Lyra, that was hurtful. She had never thought of herself as a slut, she felt she was equal to any bloke who liked to shag. But Ethan's comment, though said with a caring tone, seemed to imply something she didn't like.