[OPEN MINGLE] Or perhaps in Slytherin

[fulllifeconsequences]

Who: Slytherin House! (And friends and visitors, of course!)
Where: Slytherin Common Room, Quidditch Pitch, various places around Hogwarts
When: Duration of the event
Rating: G (will edit as necessary)
Summary: Slytherin open log!
The Story:



The Slytherin common room was a long, low underground room with rough stone walls and ceiling, from which round, greenish lamps were hanging on chains. A fire was crackling under an elaborately carved mantelpiece ahead of them, and several Slytherins were silhouetted around it in carved chairs.

The common room has changed, somewhat, from its historical description, thanks to the decorative powers of one Mettaton. Though it still extends beneath the lake and thus retains a greenish, aquatic cast, it's much more brightly lit, its cold, damp atmosphere replaced with dazzling MTT-brand warmth. Even the giant squid, occasionally peering in as it does its rounds of the lake, seems just a shade more glamorous inside such a charming space.

Students - and a ghost or two - can be found nestled within its confines, plotting mischief around the fire, studiously doing their homework (as good students do), or perhaps trading Chocolate Frog trading cards. Though Slytherin is not especially well-known for its wide-open, trusting nature, Slytherins are known for not snitching on each other; if a guest or two were to creep in for a while, then odds are, nobody saw anything.

Comments

[mettatonvevo]

[His words take on a sing-song quality as he puts a hand on the glass, imitating the squid, who is now attempting to show off by pressing its suckers onto it.]

You heard me. Have you told her about your feelings? It would make things easier on both of you if you cleared the air like that.

[krmvgivv]

Does everyone in this house know?

[Why? How? He's been so subtle!]

What if she laughs?

[mettatonvevo]

Not everyone but enough that we've all come to expect your visits.

[Dipper is about as subtle as an 18-wheeler crashing through a library.]

You'll survive, I guarantee it. I've been laughed at plenty when confessing my feelings to someone.

[krmvgivv]

That's... not really as comforting as you think it is. [Mettaton is cool and everyone likes him. Dipper's a major nerd. If Mettaton's been laughed at, what chance does Dipper have?]

[mettatonvevo]

[He shakes his head, turning and giving his full attention to Dipper.]

Dipper, part of life is going for something and sometimes striking out. Even if she laughs, Wendy is a nice and reasonable girl. If you told her and she didn't like you back, she'd let you down gently. And more than likely will still be your friend afterwards.

[Which honestly is a rare quality with people. He's 99% sure that she doesn't like him, but for Dipper's sake, he's not gonna push that fact.]

[krmvgivv]

[....but then he has to give up all hope that she might ever like him back. Dipper isn't dumb. There's only so far he can delude himself. Wendy's older than him and cooler than him, and she does seem to genuinely enjoy hanging out with him but he knows exactly how far out of his league she is. Actually asking her out would only confirm his suspicions, while not asking her out means he can still hold onto hope that he could be wrong.]

I know. I'm just... waiting for the right time.

[Like never. Never seems like a good time.]

[mettatonvevo]

[He feels a rush of empathy for the younger boy; telling someone you like them when you Know they don't like you back is always an awful situation.]

The right time, hm? The right time as in "the perfect romantic moment" or "whenever my courage doesn't fail me"?

[There is no teasing or mocking in his voice. It's a genuine question.]

[krmvgivv]

[It might be a genuine question, but Dipper doesn't have a good answer for it. He just shrugs. It's mostly the second, but if he doesn't admit it, he can pretend it's the first.]

[mettatonvevo]

[Mettaton continues to feel more and more pity for Dipper. This truly is a sad situation to be stuck in. But it's one he'll have to handle on his own, so he decides to throw him a bone and attempt to change the subject.]

So, did anyone ever tell you that not only do we have the squid pass by, but also mermaids? They like to check in on us from time to time.

[krmvgivv]

Yeah? [Dipper glances over at the window with renewed interest.] They ever try to communicate?

[mettatonvevo]

They do, sometimes.

[He peers out into the murky gloom, remembering.]

Some of us have attempted to learn Mermish to see if we could understand them better, but unfortunately Mermish only works underwater so we mostly sound ridiculous, yelling at the glass. I think they know this and laugh.

[krmvgivv]

[It works pretty well for distracting him. Dipper smiles a little.]

Has anyone tried talking to them underwater?

[mettatonvevo]

[Mettaton chuckles.]

That would involve one of us being brave enough or stupid enough to stick our heads into the lake water. Or swim deep enough to get in contact with the mermaids. I'm pretty sure the teachers or Asgore would stop us in a heartbeat if we tried that.

[krmvgivv]

Oh, would they? [There's an element of forced casualty there that's not entirely convincing. It's possible other Slytherins have already helped him make plans to explore the lake.]

[mettatonvevo]

[Mettaton shoots Dipper a Look. It is the kind of Look that communicates a certain level of bullshit detection that is probably familiar to the Ravenclaw.]

I hope you are at least considering gillyweed in your plans, rather than any complicated transfiguration spells.