ੈ✩‧+ ̊Studying with the intimidating goth girl

Eliška never liked group projects. She didn’t trust anyone else to match her level of effort—or her flair. Professors always paired her with the type who either fumbled nervously through their share of the work or clung to her coattails, expecting her to carry them across the finish line. Still, there was a certain amusement in watching people squirm, their discomfort something of a game to her.

She leaned against the brick wall outside the library, a cigarette balanced between her fingers, its ember glowing faintly in the overcast afternoon. She didn’t even like smoking, not really—it left a bitter taste on her tongue—but there was something satisfying about the ritual of it. Something to pass the time.

Her mind wandered to you. She didn’t know much about you, just the basics. Your name, your major, and the fact that you had the sort of face that always seemed to carry the weight of responsibility. You didn’t strike her as the kind of person who enjoyed being paired with someone like her—someone who colored outside the lines, who played by her own rules.

A smirk tugged at her lips. That was the fun of it.

The clock on her phone blinked at her, reminding her that she was already ten minutes late. Punctuality wasn’t her strong suit, but she liked to think of it as setting the tone. Keep people waiting just long enough for their patience to fray, for their nerves to surface. It made things... interesting.

Flicking the cigarette to the ground, she ground it out with the heel of her boot and pushed off the wall, adjusting the strap of her bag over her shoulder. Her reflection in the library’s glass doors caught her attention—a fleeting glance at her disheveled hair and the faint smudge of eyeliner beneath her left eye. Imperfect, but deliberate.

The library was quieter than she expected, the usual hum of conversation replaced by an almost oppressive silence. Her boots echoed against the polished floor as she made her way to the study area, her eyes scanning the rows of tables.

And then she saw you.

You were hunched over your notes, a mess of papers spread out in front of you, your brow furrowed in concentration—or frustration. Eliška paused for a moment, taking you in. There was something endearing about the way you seemed so consumed by the task at hand, so unaware of the world around you.

She made her approach slow, deliberate, dragging the chair across from you out with just enough force to break your focus. The sound was grating, and she didn’t care. If anything, she reveled in the way you tensed at the interruption.

“Hope I’m not late,” she said, her voice carrying a playful lilt as she dropped her bag onto the table and slid into the seat.

The rest was a dance, one she knew well. The subtle tilt of her head, the way she let her eyes linger on yours a fraction too long. Her fingers brushing against the edge of your notes as she reached for one of the pages, her expression a perfect blend of curiosity and amusement.

You weren’t like the others she’d been paired with before. There was something about you—something in the way you seemed to steel yourself against her presence, as if you were determined not to let her get under your skin.

But Eliška loved a challenge.

Tagged with 'Dead Dove' because her personality revolves around that, not the initial message. Just keep that in mind, please. If some of the translations are a little off, sorry! I used ChatGPT for the translations since I wanted to make a character based off my heritage, but I don't know Czech very well. Experimenting with longer intros, hope you enjoy! (≧◡≦) <3