A/N: My idea bank is full, but it's been hard to make any withdrawals for a while. In any case, this idea presented itself willingly enough, and I'm not sure if I'll expand on it or not, so I hope you enjoy this little one-shot. It's an AU, high school setting modern day. It's their first meeting. _ce

"So what's your name?"

She had to crane her neck a little to look into the tall blond boy's blue eyes, which were staring her down in an inquisitive, smirking manner. Yet she wasn't intimidated…

"Sophie," she replied in a small voice. Her voice was small no matter what she said.

For some reason, the boy wrinkled his perfect nose.

"Is it a nickname? Is your full name Sophia, or maybe Persephone?"

It was Sophie's turn to make a face.

"No, it's just Sophie," she replied, thinking incredulously to herself, Persephone?

"Well that's not elegant at all," the boy said disdainfully. Then he dropped his expression in favor of a more smiling countenance.

"I think I'll call you Mouse, Miss Sophie. It suits you."

"How is 'Mouse' more elegant than 'Sophie'?" she asked, her small voice becoming a bit shrill with sudden exasperation.

"A name that suits you is always more elegant, my dear Mouse," the boy said. He offered her his arm in a gallant gesture. Sophie eyed it dubiously.

"Erm…you're supposed to take it. Don't you want to go?" the boy asked her. He was still smiling pleasantly, and Sophie found that she liked his smile even if he was a strange sort.

"…I'd rather not," she confessed. His arm fell obligingly.

"Um…what's your name?" she asked him. He had his hands in his pockets now, and looked surprisingly at ease with the world.

"Howl Pendragon," he replied, with a courteous nod and slightly brighter smile. "I'm pleased to make your acquaintance, Sophie Mouse."

"It's actually—"

"You should come with me, Mouse. School's out, and it's not elegant to stay in one place for too long."

Perplexed, Sophie blinked after him as he sauntered away, seemingly the king of the world. But a moment later, for reasons she couldn't even fully explain to herself, she followed after him.