Dresden Academy

Who: Bernadine Ford, Adelaide Legaux
When: The night before the first day of classes
Where: "Abernathy's" dorm room
What: Bernadine tweaks out about her decision to come to Dresden.
Rating: SFWish


Bernadine tried on her new school uniform, bouncing around her dorm room. She'd been anxious since putting Abernathy's borrowed trunk at the foot of her bed. She waited until Monday to move in, much to the dismay of her father. Her closet was already put away.

Tomorrow she'd be Abernathy, at least as much as she could be. She'd studied her sister all summer long and had most of her quirky behaviors down pat. In public she could pull off the ruse. When she was behind closed doors with Mother Criss and Adelaide she could take it off and be herself again.

This was going to be the challenge of her life..

The other girls in their suite were out for the moment. Adelaide was pretty sure she heard them talking about trying to find a way to break into the boys’ suites without getting caught. She poked her head into Bernadine’s room, peering around the door. It was the same layout as her own room, but the windows and doors were reversed. It was also a whole lot neater. She wrinkled her nose. “I always thought Abernathy would be a messy person,” she commented, though she couldn’t really back up that belief with any reasoning.

Then, she saw what Bernadine was wearing, and her eyebrows shot up. “A skirt? Bernadiiiiiiiine, no one’s going to believe thaaaaat. You might as well start going around and making friends with everyone!”

"She's not." Their room at home was always tidy. "She seems messy, I guess. Don't know if I can conjure up the contradictory image."

Bernadine slumped a bit. She'd been excited about the skirt, hoping she could start injecting them into Abernathy's wardrobe. She'd have to wait a bit longer and went into the closet to pull out a pair of Abernathy's trousers. "These will do, I suppose."

She set them on the back of her desk chair and plunked down on the bed. "This is madness," she said quietly, letting out a little bit of her anxiety. It seemed like a good idea right up until she arrived on campus.

“No. This is SPARTA!” Addy ran over to the edge of Bernadine’s bed and squished her hard, getting in a great big hug before their suitemates came back. “It’s gonna be awesome fun, man. And think of all the crap that crazy old bat is gonna teach you!” She bounced onto the mattress beside her friend. “What’s the worst that could happen?”

She was a little too excited about school being back after the events of the summer to properly process and understand Bernadine’s hesitation. She wanted this to be the best year ever more than she wanted to think about what could go wrong.

"I have about one thousand ideas on what could happen." Bernadine hadn't seen anything horribly bad yet. A few moments down the line where it became dicey; these were only possibilities since not all she saw always came to pass. It didn't help to ease her worries knowing that it would be okay for a time. "I'm just over-thinking it," she said quietly. “You're right. It'll be fine."

She'd studied maps and brochures of the school for hours just to make sure she'd seem like an old hand at it. Abernathy had been there for years; Bernadine should know her way around and all the rules Abby skirted precariously. "I think it's just that we never tried anything like this before."

“Really?” Addy turned on her side. “I thought that was some universal twin law; that you had to pretend to be one another for some reason or another. Even if just to fuck around with people.” She frowned. She was pretty sure she’d do that if she had a twin. Or at least use her as an alibi-- but then, that was a point of behavior that she and Bernadine tended to differ on. B would never need an alibi for anything.

Well, except maybe if this went balls up. She shrugged. “People here don’t pay much attention; they probably won’t even notice if you do things weird. Well, weird for her. If you... dress up in a chicken suit and take Mulholland Hall hostage, they’ll notice that.”

Bernadine shrugged. "Abby was almost always in some kind of trouble. I wouldn't have wanted to switch places with her. Don't think she could pull off being me for more than a few minutes. She's not mild tempered enough." Or even tempered if Bernadine was being honest.

"I didn't really have a hostage stand off in a chicken suit planned," Bernadine admitted with a little smile. She leaned back on her elbows and rolled her shoulders. "How'd the rest of your summer go?" she asked, thinking to change the subject from herself. "I thought we'd see more of you." She poked gently at Adelaide's side, the slightest admonishment she could muster.

She squirmed at the poke, slightly ticklish where Bernadine’s finger landed. “Oh... stuff happened.” She responded vaguely, suddenly shy. “I mean... well, I hung out with Tim a few times without you guys,” she admitted. “We’re about halfway through season two of True Blood. It’s so much worse than I remember. I’m kind of afraid we’ll get to season three and it’ll be so bad I’ll feel ashamed of myself for ever watching it!”

"Was that the show you were calling vampire porn?" Bernadine laughed lightly. "I thought that sort of thing was supposed to be bad." It wasn't anything she'd ever watch.

Addy blushed. “It is so bad. But I thought it was less bad when I first saw it! It’s... shameful. I am ashamed.” She covered her face and started laughing. Of all the stupid shows she could have chosen, vampire porn it was. “I am a terrible person.”

"Liking vampire porn doesn't make you a bad person." Bernadine sat up straighter and shrugged. "There are plenty of things that make people bad. I'm not convinced porn is one of them. And that hardly even counts."

“It’s not real porn! Oh my god!” Now she wasn’t laughing as much as incredibly embarrassed. “I’m not some crazy porn-watching pervert, I swear! B, you know that! Aagh!” Then she started giggling again. “Oh man. We’re going to have fun this year, aren’t we?”

She let Addy's porn watching habits (or lack thereof) go. "Well, yeah, when we're not fake killing each other." She wasn't sure how well she could pull that off either. Abby got along with Adelaide begrudgingly now and that was certainly an improvement. But Adelaide was probably the closest friend Bernadine had. Having to distance herself a bit just to keep the ruse going wasn't something she was looking forward to.

“We haven’t fought fought in a while... Though, I guess living so close together... yeah, if it was the real Abby, we’d probably get that way. Badly.” She wondered what their suitemates made of the situation. They’d probably avoid the both of them just so as not to be witness to a massacre.

Addy wasn’t looking forward to it either. She wasn’t at all sure she could even pretend to throw a punch in Bernadine’s direction. “It’s mostly just really pointed ignoring. And insults.” She pursed her lips thoughtfully. “‘Slutzilla’ has been her favorite recently.” Which was just patently unfair, but that wasn’t really the point.

"I'm just wondering how many fake detentions I should actually serve. I can't possibly go an entire semester without getting into some kind of trouble, right? That's so entirely Abernathy." Bernadine sighed. There were some parts of this idea that she didn't like at all.

“If you didn’t get into some major trouble at least once, your cover would be blown.” Addy agreed, nodding sympathetically. “You’re probably going to have to punch an unsuspecting freshman in the face at some point. Maybe curse out a group of cheerleaders. Well, not Cinna’s group. Then you’d have to deal with her, and that would be worse than getting into actual trouble, I think. I think she’s practically your wife now.” It suddenly dawned on her that Bernadine would have to play best friends with Cinna as if she were Abernathy and had known her the entire time. There was no letting her in on the ruse, Cinna couldn’t keep a secret to save her life. “Shit... That’s going to be hard.”

"Maybe I'll punch a whole bunch of freshman all at once. I'm just grateful Abby's more into bare knuckles and fisticuffs than actual magic." Bernadine couldn't quite hold back the groan that escaped her at the mention of Cinnamynn. She'd met Cinna a handful of times at various functions where 'bring a friend' translated to Abby as 'drag your sister.' The girl was a handful, at least that's how Bernadine described her to Bill Ford.

She was perfectly nice and perfectly obnoxious all wrapped up into one neat little package. Of course Abernathy adored her, how could she not? But Cinna was a little too loud, a little too cheerful, a little too much of everything for Bernadine to tolerate for long stretches. Being her best friend was going to take a lot of patience.

"I'm glad Abernathy didn't get the chance to propose before we made the switch. She mentioned blowing Cinna off, or getting her mad at me so she'll give me some space. I don't know if that'll work, but I'll save it for a last resort if she really gets overwhelming." Bernadine frowned. She hated to think that sort of thing about anyone. She really hated having to deceive Abby's best friend (almost as much as Abby herself hated it).

Adelaide had no idea what to suggest. Her best friends were... well, Bernadine and Luka, and she wouldn’t really know what to do to make either of them back off. Bernadine wouldn’t ever get so in her face as to need to be pushed away, and if she even tried with Luka he wouldn’t take no for an answer.

“Maybe you should get her a boyfriend. Don’t girls always start spending less time with their friends when they’ve got a new obsession?” She’d been accused of that in junior year when she first started seeing Andre, and... well, Bernadine had inadvertently pointed out the same about having seen her over summer break.

“Or you could get-- oh, no. Ew. They’d think you were Abernathy, that’s just creepy.” How on earth could Bernadine manage Cinna? “Maybe you could spend so much time with her she gets sick of you and demands a divorce?”

Bernadine laughed at both suggestions. "I wouldn't even know where to begin with that." Though she'd had a measure of success in her matchmaking in the past. "I'll keep an eye out for someone for her." She was only a little disappointed that Addy shot down the idea of getting someone to date for herself. She hadn't really considered the consequences of making friends here, especially considering that no one could know who she really was. "That's probably for the best then. Wouldn't want to date someone as Abernathy and then have them find out I'm not her."

Then Bernadine got a decent idea. "Who does Abby hang out with that Cinna doesn't like? I could just hang out with them all the time when she gets to be a little too... too much Cinna. You think?"

“That could work!” Except... Cinna didn’t really not like anyone. “Cinna’s weird though... she doesn’t really have enemies, like normal people. Uhm...” She leaned back on the bed and thought for a minute. “Maybe Riley? AB gets along with him sometimes, I think. He’s kind of an ass most of the time, and I know he gets on Cinna’s nerves. Ryder pissed her off at prom-- oh! She got massively bent out of shape at November for stealing her prom date! If they fight over him and you take No’s side, she’ll blank you forever!”

Bernadine nodded. "I'll think it over," she said. She didn't need to make any decisions right away. The situation could definitely be dealt with as it evolved. She laid back on the bed and looked up at the ceiling. Thoughts drifted through, a little less frantic now that she was feeling more comfortable being here. "So tell me, is the food any good?"

Addy laughed. Now that was something actually important. “The kitchen has it’s moments. It’s not like they serve crap or anything, but it’s definitely a whole lot less fancy than it’s ever been.” She grinned over. “You’ll get all your nutrients and shit. And we got our own fridge and stuff out there,” she nodded towards the kitchenette, “so you can snack all you like.”

Speaking of snacks... “Oooh! When the others clear off again, we should walk out to the Way! Stock up at Apple’s Sweets!”

Bernadine loved wizarding sweets, always stealing them from Abernathy's stock whenever she came home for a break. "Yes, please." She could actually pick out the ones she liked for herself and buy as much as she wanted. "Abernathy started locking her candy away," she admitted with a wicked little smile. "I definitely need to stock up."

“Thief,” she teased. “Am I going to have to invest in a fingernipping box to hide my stuff in? That could be a good way to start battles. ‘Stop eating my candy!’ Fistfight ahoy. What’s your favorite? I’m partial to Fizzing Whizbees. Chocoballs are good, but I start feeling sick real soon if I eat more than one. They’re way too heavy.”

"Bertie Botts," she said excitedly. "It's one of those silly things, but I can't tell which ones I'm eating before I eat them." It brought some of the mystery and surprise back. "Those and anything chocolate." Her stomach was growling just thinking about it, so loud she was sure that Addy could hear it. "I was too nervous to eat earlier."

She shuddered. “I’m too afraid of getting a vomit flavored one. There’s no safe color! What’s the worst one you ever got?” Then Bernadine’s stomach was rumbling loudly, and she giggled because it was probably not a good time to talk about disgusting things. “I think I have some Chocolate Frogs in my desk,” she offered in a tempting tone, getting up to go to her room and motioning Bernadine along with her. It was the cleanest it would be all semester if only because she hadn’t had the chance to mess it up yet, so if she was going to invite her in now was opportune.

Bernadine had to think. Vomit flavored beans were probably the worst, but she'd once had a garbage one that she immediately spit back out. "Garbage flavored," she said. "Though I've only had one." It didn't stop her stomach from rumbling and she followed Adelaide across the suit to Addy's room. "Nice and tidy," she commented appraisingly.

“For now,” Addy responded with an amused tick of her eyebrow. “It’s early days still.” She moved immediately to her study desk and pulled the drawers open until she found the five-sided packages she’d left behind in case of ‘study emergencies’. She tossed one to Bernadine and started opening another for herself. “David Bowie again,” she said, flipping over the collector card. She didn’t keep track of them, but knew she’d picked him up about five times.

"David Bowie's a wizard?" Bernadine opened her frog and munched on the chocolate without looking at the card. There were some things about the wizarding world that still managed to take her by surprise. Some things were so silly and Abernathy just glossed over them.

“You sound surprised.” Of all the famous wizards that straddled the divide between the wizarding and muggle worlds, he was probably the most obvious about it. “Who’d you get?”

"Joshua Lincoln." She'd seen that card before. He was a muggle-born wizard from the distinguished line of President Abraham Lincoln. She passed the card over to Adelaide with a gentle flick. "I probably shouldn't have been surprised about Bowie. Labyrinth must have been a coming out party for him."

Addy looked over the back of the card with mild interest, before tossing it on the pile with the David Bowie card and the discarded packaging. “I love that film. I asked the goblin king to take away my little brother, but nothing happened. Oh well, probably for the best. Not sure I could handle getting mind-fucked by a guy in spandex pants.”

Bernadine couldn't say how she'd feel about getting mind-fucked one way or another. "I wouldn't mind wandering around in a Labyrinth, chasing after David Bowie. I'd give up almost anything to just hang out with him for an afternoon."

“He seems like he’d be pretty cool. I don’t know who I’d like to hang out with for a while. Famous people, I mean. I’m pretty solid on who I want to hang out with in real life. You’re on the VIP list, B,” she teased lightly.

"Enjoy it while you can," Bernadine pointed out soberly. They couldn't be seen having too much fun together in public. It would create too much suspicion if the mortal enemies were suddenly chummy. That was troublesome, considering that she'd be all alone in the ruse without Adelaide. They'd find a way to pull it off, but the costs were slowly mounting all the time. "We're going to have to go home at least a few weekends just so I can be me officially."

Addy shrugged. “Sounds good. You should come home my end sometime. I bet Si would like to meet you. Or terrify you... yeah, let’s not go to my place.” Having her weird brother frighten off one of her best and only friends was not a good idea. “In the meantime... illicit meetings. We’re like a nonsexual Romeo and Juliet!” She cracked up laughing. “Oh my god. I’m nuts. Maybe I shouldn’t have been allowed back to school.”

"I'd love to meet your brother some time." Bernadine wondered if he was as eccentric and fabulous as Abernathy claimed (even though she'd never met him herself). "No, you're fine. I'm glad you came back. I'd be completely lost without you."

She laughed. “Tell him you like to dress up and he will-- no lie-- trade me in then and there. You’ll be his new favorite person and he’ll love you for all eternity. He’s always wanted a girl sister.” She grinned widely when Bernadine told her she would be lost without her. She had no doubt that B would function just fine on her own with her abilities, but it was nice to think that she might be needed or wanted around.

“This year is going to be different--” understatement of the century-- “but it’s going to be great as well.” She nodded forcefully. Bernadine would get to experience wizarding school and everything that magic could do for her, and Adelaide would get to experience having a real friend, someone who actually cared about her. They both needed this. “We’ll pull this off.”

Bernadine certainly hoped so. She was already feeling a lot more optimistic about her chances of pulling this off. She wasn't sure she could properly communicate how grateful she was for that; it was entirely thanks to Adelaide. And maybe had a little to do with the chocolate. "Yeah we will," she echoed.

“It’ll be--” She turned her head as she heard a sound out in the main part of the suite; the front door opening. “BITCH, GET OUT OF MY ROOM!” She jumped up and started shoving Bernadine towards the door, though a lot more gently than she would have had it actually been Abernathy back when they still fought all the time.

Bernadine's eyes flew open in shock and then she remembered where they were and what they were trying to accomplish. "Oh fuck off slutzilla. As if I'd even bother trying to steal your chocolate." She backed out into the hallway and flipped Adelaide off rather grandly.

Addy squeaked in surprise at hearing Bernadine call her ‘slutzilla’, and had to fight down the laughter that was threatening to well up. “I hope a fuckin’... lethifold eats you in your sleep! If you don’t try and have sex with it first!” She glared at their new suitemates, who were staring at the both of them in awkward embarrassment. “What are you fucking staring at?” She snapped as soberly as she could on her way to slamming her door shut, thankfully holding the smirk off until then.

Bernadine turned to the new suitemates and offered a gruff shrug. "Fucking psycho," she said as nonchalantly as she could manage before ducking into her own room to giggle hysterically. So far this was turning out to be more fun than she expected.

omfg Adelaide texted Bernadine as soon as she was safely out of sight of the other girls. im so sorry :(

Bernadine was giggling so much she almost didn't find the phone (which was also Abernathy's and permanently on loan for this experiment). It's ok, she texted back. Kind of funny.

Addy could just barely hear the giggling on the other side of the wall. that was hard to do with a strait face was her response, and she hoped it wouldn’t be an ongoing problem. Bernadine needed her to be at her bitchy best to keep the ruse going.

I believe in you Typing which sent Bernadine into another fit of giggles. At least they were getting in some experience now when they could crack up behind closed doors. Totally weird saying things abby would say.

She was kind of glad Bernadine found these things weird to say, because she found them weird to hear. Well, weird coming from Bernadine. She might be a little offended if it was easy for her friend to say things like that to her. i wonder if we freaked them out enough to leave us alone forever??

Maybe for a few days. That would be enough time to adjust and get into the groove of things. And they'll never bug you for chocolate.

That made Addy laugh out loud. Very loud. unxpected bonus! im gonna see if luka and arnade moved in yet. see u after dinner?

Sounds giood, Bernadine texted back and set the phone down. She was certain at any moment that Cinna would come bursting through the door and dragging her off to be social and find an actual meal. At the very least she was feeling good about being here; she was going to try and enjoy it while she could.