The Problem With Friends (Victoria)

Of all the crazy, insane things Janique had ever done, attending an inter-school ball had to be near the top of her list. The main reason was because she didn't have a game going, and honestly saw no point in going alone, but there were other, less significant ones as well. In the end, she decided that it would be the best opportunity to pick up potential targets, and slipped on the first dress she found in her wardrobe. Her hair she left alone, not really bothering to do anything more than brush it.

Beneath her dress, which was thankfully long enough to drag on the floor, she wore sandals. Heels were only for show, when and if she wore a short dress in an attempt to please a game. Opening the doors to the main ballroom, she raised an eyebrow at the over decoration. Merlin, some people really had nothing better to do, she thought, resisting the urge to roll her eyes. Maybe it was a mistake to come, after all.

Ignoring everyone else, she made her way down the stairs, sighing softly to herself. Making her way through the crowd, she shot looks of disgust towards any and all couples that she passed. Romance just simply did not exist to her, and people were only fooling themselves when they claimed to 'be in love'. It would always end in heartbreak, anyway, so why bother trying? Sure, maybe a few happy years of marriage, but she knew that those never lasted.

The only thing that was remotely appealing about this whole ordeal was the buffet table, and Jani moved straight to the second ballroom, not pausing or stopping to greet anyone. Gathering up a plate of food for herself, she found an empty table in the corner of the room and began to eat, slowly and neatly, making sure not to drop anything on her dress.

As she ate, she glanced around the hall, watching groups of friends laughing and chatting over the food. Although she had always been a loner, never trusting anyone enough to call them a 'friend', she couldn't help but feel just a tad bit, well, lonely! It was a weird feeling to her, and she immediately pushed it aside. Loneliness was not something she would ever allow herself to feel, because it was a weakness. Needing or relying on friends was a weakness to Janique, and she would never allow herself to be weak. Bad things happened to those who were, that much she understood.

Janique's Dress:

A few minutes had passed, and Janique was slowly making her way through the mountain of food she had taken. Movement from the entrance caught her eye, and she turned her head to glance at the person who had just entered. Immediately she caught sight of a purple dress, and it took her a few moments to place the Wormwood that had just walked in. Subtly taking her in, Jani raised an eyebrow as the tiara upon Victoria's head made itself known. While the dress wasn't too bad - Janique would have thought the girl would have chosen something pink and glittery - the diamond flowers around her head almost made Jani laugh.

Surprise momentarily took hold of the Nightshade's features when she saw Victoria heading towards her, but she caught it before too long had passed, changing it back to neutral.

"Do you mind if I join you?"

Janique was almost instantly put on guard. What other reason would someone have to join her than if they wanted something? Still, she decided, it would be interesting to see what kind of request Vic would have, and how she would make it known. Having made up her mind, she shook her head, waiting as the girl sat before she continued eating.

"You look beautiful, by the way."

A smile appeared, and she left it alone, knowing that Vic would interpret it in a different manner than the actual reason it was there. Buttering up was one of the most common and easiest game tactics, but there was always the risk that the person recognized the tactic, as Janique believed she did. Playing along, she pretended to accept the compliment. "Thank you!" she said, pausing for a moment. "You look amazing, too. Your tiara is so nice! Where did you get it?"

"My feet are really hurting after so much dancing! Have you danced with anyone yet?"

Of course they do, Jani thought to herself. That's why when you don't run multiple games of the same kind in a row. Shaking her head, however, she gave a small smile to the girl and said, "No, dancing is not something I enjoy." That was true, although she didn't say that she had purposely gone for lessons to impress Callum and never had the chance to, which was something she was quite upset over. If she had managed to find a way to have done that, she knew the break up would have had even worse effect. Still, no point berating herself; it had been a good game nevertheless.

Pretending to listen, she made the appropriate noises as Victoria gave a no doubt long answer to the simple question. The only thing that made her actually respond was the Wormwood's last sentence. There was just something in the girl' stone of voice that suggested she wasn't joking around, and that came as a surprise to Jani. "I'm sure it wasn't or he wouldn't have bought it." She started, unsure of where the words had come from. She was not one for saying things like that. Merlin, it seemed as though she were losing her mind.

"Are you not enjoying the ball? Is that why you're sat here?"

Here we go, she thought, preparing herself for whatever Victoria would say next. It was a simple way of doing things, really. A commonly used tactic, one she didn't really like, for it was too easily spotted. Ask someone an 'innocent' question such as the one above, and once they reply, continue with your request as though an after thought, something along the lines of, 'That's a shame - and oh, by the way, could you do me a favour since you're already here?'.

"I see no point in attending balls alone," she replied, purposely leaving the door wide open. If Victoria had any intention of doing what Jani was sure the prefect wanted to, this would be the perfect opportunity. "I came because I thought it might be an interesting night, but I'm finding I might leave early. There's nothing much to do without a date, anyway."