JUNE SELWYN
*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧
Date: January 4, 2026 | @Véronique DesFontaines | Dialogue: X
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Winter break had ended far too quickly. June had spent the past two weeks doing very little of consequence and had somehow remained entirely exhausted throughout. Still, she did feel a bit more rested as she boarded the Aderyn to return to Penwick.
In all honesty, it had been nice.
The ship itself was filled with an entirely different atmosphere than it had been in September. Students no longer huddled together nervously, clutching trunks and asking each other what house they hoped to be sorted into. The space was much emptier, and talk drifted through the saloon about gifts received over the holidays and essays left unfinished until the night before departure.
June had settled herself at the circular concessions bar, waiting for the automaton behind it to prepare her drink. The machine fascinated her. It was all polished brass and exposed gears beneath a glass dome, measuring ingredients with mechanical precision, working in complete silence save for the occasional soft click from somewhere within its chest.
Someone across had ordered a warm butterbeer, which seemed an appropriate drink for the early January morning.
"I'll have butterbeer too, please." She slipped a few coins into a coin slot on the table to pay, and the automaton inclined its head in response as a series of gears turned.
A few moments later, a mug slid neatly across the counter. June reached for it, but then another mug slid across beside it.
June paused, looking down at the two identical drinks, then at the automaton.
The automaton stared straight ahead.
"Sorry, I only meant to order one." The automoton didn't respond; instead circling to the other side of the counter to take another student's order.
June frowned, no wonder she hadn't been given change for her order. Her eyes drifted toward the girl seated beside her. June recognized her vaguely. Véronique DesFontaines, a Dranaga in her year.
They had never really spoken before, aside from class chatter, though June knew of her. It was difficult not to. Véronique carried herself with a sort of effortless poise and looked perfectly at ease sitting at the bar.
June slid the extra mug toward her in offering. "Véronique, right? Apparently I ordered an extra; it's yours if you'd like it." She smiled at the Dranaga girl, hoping she wouldn't think this was a prank of some sort.
In all honesty, it had been nice.
The ship itself was filled with an entirely different atmosphere than it had been in September. Students no longer huddled together nervously, clutching trunks and asking each other what house they hoped to be sorted into. The space was much emptier, and talk drifted through the saloon about gifts received over the holidays and essays left unfinished until the night before departure.
June had settled herself at the circular concessions bar, waiting for the automaton behind it to prepare her drink. The machine fascinated her. It was all polished brass and exposed gears beneath a glass dome, measuring ingredients with mechanical precision, working in complete silence save for the occasional soft click from somewhere within its chest.
Someone across had ordered a warm butterbeer, which seemed an appropriate drink for the early January morning.
"I'll have butterbeer too, please." She slipped a few coins into a coin slot on the table to pay, and the automaton inclined its head in response as a series of gears turned.
A few moments later, a mug slid neatly across the counter. June reached for it, but then another mug slid across beside it.
June paused, looking down at the two identical drinks, then at the automaton.
The automaton stared straight ahead.
"Sorry, I only meant to order one." The automoton didn't respond; instead circling to the other side of the counter to take another student's order.
June frowned, no wonder she hadn't been given change for her order. Her eyes drifted toward the girl seated beside her. June recognized her vaguely. Véronique DesFontaines, a Dranaga in her year.
They had never really spoken before, aside from class chatter, though June knew of her. It was difficult not to. Véronique carried herself with a sort of effortless poise and looked perfectly at ease sitting at the bar.
June slid the extra mug toward her in offering. "Véronique, right? Apparently I ordered an extra; it's yours if you'd like it." She smiled at the Dranaga girl, hoping she wouldn't think this was a prank of some sort.
