Ilvermorny

"Ugggghhh..." Fitz let's out an exasperated groan to no one in particular. "Is this the "dating" I heard so much about? Because, looking at it now, it kinda blows"

He knew he wasn't the only one to have struck out.

Xanthe was there in the common room... albeit in a dark and quiet corner where she was sulking over the same thing Fitz was. She stayed quiet when he asked his question, several years worth of experience having told her that this was one of those 'rhetorical' questions that didn't need to be answered. Nonetheless, she did look up; and as she did Fitz might notice that unnatural gleam from her eyes as they lit up in the darkness.

A familiar glimmer alerts Fitz to company. "Oh hey Xan. I guess this thing is easier with you, huh? How did John ask? Maybe I can use the tips."

If there is any surprise or unease about the eyes that seem borderline iridescent, Fitz hides it well.

What? Why would he think it was any easier for her? In fact, she was pretty sure it had to be harder. The assumption made her feel uncomfortable; because it meant that now she had to dispel it. Unless she wanted to just lie about it of course, but that seemed a bit petty.

"I... uh... he turned me down."

"What what?" Fitz deadpans, looking over his Housemate. "I had heard that you two were a thing. And wait-turned you down? As in, you asked him out, and he said no?"

Fitz pauses, collecting himself as he realized something. "Merlin's Pants, I just stepped in it this time. I just...assumed."

Fitz shakes his head. "His loss. Didn't know how lucky he was..." Fitz moves into assorted grumbling.

"What? Who said we were a thing?" She blinked; nobody ever shared gossip with her. Especially when it as about herself, of course. She failed to listen to the rest of what he was saying to her, except; wait, what was that about lucky? Huh?

"Uh, yeah. I guess? This stuff is hard."

"I dunno, the general "they" of the gossip market. Something about you and he going out since you kicked his ass in the duel, and then you want along with him and were gone for a while...I'm going to go shut up now. But yeah, hard. Super hard. And ah crow, I'm at it again."

Fitz looks away for a moment, a pit forming in his stomach. "Sorry, I'm babbling. And I'm sorry, I shouldn't be listening to rumors it'sjusthatitmeantIcouldn'taskyou." Fitz fumbles, the last few words bleeding together into a barely(?) coherent garble.

This was stupid. Nobody liked her; this year was turning out to be exactly the same as all the others. And... and then Fitz asked her out. Or... tried to? She wasn't sure what was going on, and her brain seemed to shortcircuit for a moment. Wait, *did* he just imply he wanted to ask her out? It *seemed* that way. But that was... that was... Oh.

"Uh..."

She looked away, not really sure where her eyes should be right now.

"..well...that's not what it means...I think?"

Wait, what if he misinterpreted that?

"I mean, I don't have a date."

"Oh. Well. It serves me right for assuming." Fitz feels the beginning of a blush creep across his face.

"Well, if you don't have a date. And I don't have a date. I mean..."

Fitz pauses, "Will you go the dance with me Xanthe? I mean, not because we both got rejected, but because you're really cute and I'm kinda stumbling into this and ok I'll shut up now."

"Uh, you think I'm cute?"

She could *not* believe she had just said that. She couldn't believe *he* had said that.

"Um...yes. Duh." Ftiz seems puzzled by the confusion.

"Hair as black as a raven's feather, features that could be carved from ivory..." There is a pause, as if words seem to be recalled. ""She walks in beauty live the night of starless skies and cloudless climes, and all that's best in dark and bright are met in her aspect and her eyes" From that No-Maj poet." Fitz can feel his face becoming increasingly crimson.

"And your eyes..." At this a genuine smile. "Effulgent, like a magnesium flare reflected in a dark lake. Whispering of depths to the delved, universes explored."

"So yeah...pretty."

She looked in his direction for a moment, then away again when he started reciting poetry.

"S-shut up! You don't have to say all that... stuff. Just to make fun of me..."

"I mean I'll go... I mean, if this isn't just a prank."

Fitz snorts and gets up, ruffling Xanthe's hair as he goes past. "Who's making stuff up? I'll meet you outside the hall."

"W-what?"

Was ruffling people's hair after an exchange like that... normal? She'd never seen *that* particular behavior in any wizard romcoms. Maybe it was new? Maybe... maybe it was... maybe she didn't have time to think about it as he seemed to leave and blurt something out again.

"O-oh okay?"