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“So hot vampire boys.”
Junko sits on the ground next to Celestia – who is, admittedly, not sitting on the ground, but on a pillow she’s set atop the concrete edge of one of Hope’s Peak’s many flower gardens in an attempt to get out of doing anything during their obligatory phys. ed. classes. again – and stretches her long legs out in front of her, sets her hands on her lower back and leans back until she glances up at a cloud-covered sky. It’s not quite grey enough to be stormy yet, which is the only reason Celestia’s made an appearance in the first place. Coach Nidai puts up with the pillow, but he won’t put up with the parasol. He can allow for temporary pillow breaks; he can’t allow for running track with an umbrella.
Celestia lifts a cup of tea and hums lightly. “What about them?”
“You want them to be your servants.” Junko interlaces her fingers and stretches her arms in front of her until both her elbows pop. “What, you gonna pay them with the blood of your enemies?”
“Vampires appreciate the finer things in life,” Celestia murmurs. “Blood is just an inconvenience.” Her lips curve with delight. “Besides, my so-called enemies do not have the quality of blood that the most sophisticated vampires prefer.”
“Mmhm.” Junko runs her the nail of her forefinger along the inseam of her thumb. “And the most sophisticated ones – those are your servants?” She glances back up at Celestia and raises an eyebrow. “I thought, you know, you’d want those to, like. You know. Date.” Her gaze flicks away. “When you’re finished with the asshole prick, of course.”
“Byakuya is not—”
Celestia’s eyes flash with her truer self, and internally, Junko grins. It’s always fun to get a rise out of her, particularly where Byakuya is concerned. Of course, she has to play dumb about it. So she blinks twice and gives Celestia a blank expression and pretends that she didn’t just catch that slip of Taeko through Celestia’s immaculately crafted façade. “He’s not what? A vampire?” She focuses on Byakuya where he’s stretching, watched closely by their long-tongued classmate. Then she sighs. “He wouldn’t even be a cute vampire. They look better when they’re all black and white and red, right? And he’s so….” Her lips purse to the side. “Blonde.”
“You do not know your literature. The great vampire Lestat—”
“—is a pompous prick. But flamboyant as all get out.” Junko waves a hand dismissively. Then she glances back up at Celestia. “Are you planning on being a vamp, too?”
Celestia sighs, her knuckles white as she holds her teacup a little too tightly. “If you wish to have a conversation, Junko dear, it might be best if you learn not to interrupt.”
“Oh. Sorry.”
(She isn’t.)
Celestia takes her cup of tea, considers it, and then hands it to Junko. “I believe you need this more than I do. It’ll settle your nerves.” Then she pushes herself from her ornamented pillow with a sigh. “You are quite correct. Byakuya does not have the best aesthetic for a vampire. But you know nothing about him if you don’t realize he already is one.” She leans forward, dusts her bare knees – Coach Nidai also does not put up with Celestia’s preferred costuming, since it would get in the way of any attempt at physical exertion (which is the entire point, although Celestia never says that outright) – and then briefly meets Junko’s eyes. “And you know nothing about me if you thought I wouldn’t notice the same of you.”
Junko feigns surprise, then winks. Celestia just rolls her eyes, straightens, and walks over to Byakuya, perhaps to rescue him from his unwanted attention. It’s enough. Junko lifts Celestia’s cup to her lips, takes a sip, and hums.
It’s good tea. Perhaps not as scalding hot as she prefers, but good tea nevertheless.