Mean Girls (Eleanor)

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Callisto needed some new robes. Not necessarily because she wore robes at work other than healers uniform, but she hadn't bought something nice for herself in a long time. Especially robe related. She wore robes to work often when she worked that the Ministry, but since she quit she hadn't much reason to wear them at all. She was between pajamas and work clothes but... she decided her closet needed an upgrade.

She was trying on a dark green pair, something that brought out her eyes when she heard the bell ring and looked to see who it was. And when she saw that face, she gave an impressive eye roll. Eleanor. Eleanor was smart, pretty, and way too much like Callisto that they had a hard time getting along in school but... were sort of friends at the same time. Frenemies, that was a good way to describe it. "El," she greeted with a nod, looking back at herself in the mirror.

@eleanor

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Eleanor was elated, practically floating on air. Not only was her personal life going so well, with Cyrus back in the picture and as loving as ever, but the Triwizard Tournament was finally at a close! The months of long, grueling hard work, sleepless nights, and bouts of hysterics were over, and Ella could go back to having a normal schedule and life again. Her Parisian dream vacation felt just like that, a dream. It had been months since she’d had more than a weekend off, and she was still fretting over tiny details of the Tasks when she wasn’t at work. The Third Task though had ended yesterday and Ella wasn’t the only one in their task force wanting to celebrate. Bottles of wine had appeared out of nowhere, and Eleanor had gotten home quite a bit later than usual; she was fortunate when her boss said they’d been granted a half day the next day, and could come in late.

They were invited to the closing ceremonies and the bon voyage of the international students the following week, and Eleanor wasn’t sure which of her robes to wear. Naturally, instead of perusing her wardrobe, she decided to head down to Madame Malkins for some much needed retail therapy. She deserved it! As she walked in, there was another witch around her age trying on robes. She heard a nickname of hers seldom used and straightened automatically, turning to see if it was who she assumed. “Cal,” she greeted in return. She turned her attention to a set of bright yellow robes, then sighed. “No, too bright,” she mused to herself, then glanced back at Callisto. “Good color on you,” she commented casually, now moving onto a set of sapphire blue robes.

@callisto

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Eleanor greeted her with a shortened version of her own name. That was just how they had always done this. Somehow making a nickname seem like an insult. Callisto tried not to roll her eyes as Eleanor spoke allowed about the yellow robes she was holding up. They really were quite bright. She complimented the color of Callistos robes and Callisto nodded, "obviously," she said firmly. "That," she said, noticing the sapphire robes through the mirror that El was looking at, "would be a great color on you. Care to step up? I don't mind," she said, feigning politeness, as she often did with this woman.

She moved as if to step down, but she would see what El's next move was first. A part of her was jealous of the girl for still working at the ministry... but Callisto knew that healing was a worthwhile path, as well. Still, El could look professional and cute every day whereas Callisto... usually was covered in some sort of blood or something.

@eleanor

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Eleanor stifled an exasperated sigh as Callisto took the compliment and tossed it carelessly aside. It was typical Callisto, to assume that everyone knew how great she perceived herself to be. She craned her neck around with her eyebrows raised as her school rival commented how the sapphire robes would be a great color on her. “I know,” she replied sweetly, matching the tone of Callisto’s earlier comment. She looked at the pedestal Callisto was on, then after a moment she stepped up onto the one next to her. She was shorter than her fellow Ravenclaw alumni; she was shorter than most people if she was honest. But as a seamstress came over and slipped the robes over her head, Ella forgot about her lack of height. “Wow,” she breathed, turning this way and that to take herself in at all angles. Callisto had been right, the sapphire was stunning on her. “It seems you were correct,” she begrudgingly told the woman, placing her hands on her hips.

The seamstress began to pin the robes so they could be fitted to her shape. “Oh! Did I mention I met your sister? Mina, the younger one. She was at a bar I sometimes frequent. Nice girl,” Eleanor told Callisto casually, holding still so she didn’t get pricked by any pin.

@callisto

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El said she knew the robes would be a great color on her. Of course she did. They were so much alike that it was near impossible for them to have a civil conversation. They were good at faking civil, but that was about it. Callisto didn't step down, however, as El took the pedestal beside hers. Cal held her feet firm and began looking at herself in the mirror once again. El acted surprised as she looked at herself, saying that Callisto was correct. Cal shrugged, "that's a common occurrence, as I'm sure you remember," Cal said flatly.

Another seamstress was at Cal's side, helping her pin the dress to be fitted as well when El started talking about Mina. Mina and a bar. That meant she could have seen Mina in who knows what kind of state. Callisto bristled at the thought, keeping her eyes on her own reflection. "Oh? You spoke with her?"

@eleanor

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Eleanor refrained from rolling her eyes, but just barely. Callisto had a flat, dry tone to her voice as she always did, but it annoyed her far less now than it had during their school years. Perhaps she was doing what people called ‘growing up’. She was after all managing a full time Ministry job, had just gotten a rave review from her supervisor for her work on the Tournament, and if things went well she and Cyrus would be taking the next step in their relationship in the not too distant future. She was too mature for the competitive games she and Cal used to play when they were in class together. Well, almost. “I figure you don’t hear that all too much at your Healer job; aren’t they all about constructive criticism?” she retorted. Cal had onced worked at the Ministry with her, but she had moved over to Saint Mungo's some time ago; Ella couldn’t keep the timeline straight with her crazy long work hours this past year.

Eleanor nodded casually as she saw just the teensiest reaction come from Callistos’ bored expression. “Oh yes, it was at this lovely little bar down the street actually,” she said, turning around to see how the robes looked from the back. “Yes I’ll take these I think,” she declared, stretching her arms out to the side so the seamstress could notate where the robes needed to be taken in. “We had a few drinks together, then I left because Cy and I were going to Paris the next morning. She stayed though, not sure how long after,” she added airily.

@callisto

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El said that Cal probably didn't hear that she was right often, due to constructive criticism and it took all of Callistos energy not to shoot her a nasty glare. No, this was a war of words, as it always was. Nothing had changed. "As a matter of fact, they are, they let me guide the younger healers often," she explained. "I'm criticized constructively too, of course, but it's more for formalities sake in most cases," she added. She couldn't claim that she was never learning new things.

El spoke more of Mina, saying that she saw her at the bar down the street and talking about how they had drinks and Paris and all sorts of nonsense... of course, saying how Mina had stayed at the bar alone afterward. Callisto felt a tug in her stomach. Was El playing at her sisters drinking problem? Really? "How was Paris?" she asked, her throat slightly tight, not even paying attention to the robes really.

@eleanor

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Eleanor raised an eyebrow in surprise. “Really? I wouldn’t necessarily peg you as the mentoring type, but I have never seen you in action as a Healer, so I suppose it could happen,” she mused, fluffing her hair in the mirror as the seamstress worked on the hemline of her new robes. She knew she was being a little...mean, but she and Callisto had always been like this to each other. Since first year they had been competitors, viewing each other as rivals in almost everything, except for Cyrus. Ella was an adult now though; she remembered the reason why she was purchasing these robes. The Arrows were holding a charity auction, and of course Eleanor needed to be there on her boyfriends arm, looking her absolute best. “Sorry Cal, old habits die hard don’t they?” she offered as a half-apology.

Eleanor looked curiously over at Callisto when she changed the subject quite abruptly. She realized that...no, Cal wasn’t that dim was she? “You know your sister and I just had a few drinks right? She’s a laugh to talk to, I had a lot of fun with her actually,” she stated warily. She knew Mina could hold her liquor, but she didn’t really know for sure how Callisto felt about it. Suddenly feeling a bit shy, Ella turned back towards the mirror. “It was Paris, how do you think it was?” she retorted, then sighed a little. “It was...perfect,” she stated simply.

@callisto

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El said that she wouldn’t peg her as a mentoring type and Callisto tried hard not to grimace at that. She still was looking at herself in the mirror, and Callisto tried to focus on her own reflection, too, which was difficult. Cal didn’t give a response, and then suddenly El was giving some kind of apology. As if Callisto would buy that. Still, she sighed a little and shook her head. ”Yeah, I guess they do,” she replied, but she didn’t apologize too.

Then, they were looking at each other and El was talking about Mina again, saying they had just a few drinks and that she was fun. ”I’m sure it was nice,” she said, trying to sound genuine. It really could have been nice for Mina to have a friend there. Callisto often considered going with her to be just that but… she was sure she’d suck all the fun out of it for Mina. El turned back toward her mirror and Callisto did the same. Cal shook her head again, her brow furrowing. The emerald robes were nice, but she’d lost interest in them. ”I’m glad,” was all she said in response to Paris being perfect.

@eleanor
(*not sure these girls can actually take much more hahah)

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Eleanor spun around as the seamstress stated she was finished with her fitting. “Excellent, I look amazing,” she declared, tossing her hair behind her and smiling at her reflection. Cyrus’ jaw was going to drop to the floor when she showed up wearing these to the charity auction! She glanced over at Callisto and noticed her brow was furrowed. Perhaps Eleanor was being a bit harsh on the girl; after all she was madly in love with her childhood sweetheart, had just been commended on a job well done with the Tournament, and was in line for a nice little promotion at the end of this Quidditch season. She could really afford to be nice. “I’ll take these, and I’ll pay for hers as well,” she told the seamstress, nodding over at Callisto. She changed out of the robes and paid for both sets at the register. She returned over to Callisto, bag in hand.

“I’m sure I’ll be seeing you at the big charity auction in memory of the Durmstrang Champion who passed during the attacks. Elias Greyback. They’ll be auctioning off my Cyrus for a date, not that anyone aside from me would dare bid higher than me to get him. I expect to see you there in those robes of yours,” Eleanor said airily. She blew a kiss towards her frenemy and flounced out the door, feeling pretty good about herself.

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