He shrugged. Of course it was all in his head, nearly everything was in his head. Nearly everything was or could be in anbody's head. He just got really nervous. And homesick. But he'd done a pretty good job about not thinking about that so far and he wasn't going to start now. He turned his attention back to the girl.

"Second," Tristan replied plainly. He'd actually just turned twelve a few weeks ago. The thought made the boy stand up a tad bit straighter. He supposed the polite thing to do would be to ask her what year she was in. At least, that's what his mother would tell him. "What year are you?"

Second year? Gosh, he was so tiny..and that thought made her feel old When he asked when year she was in, Evelyn said, "Sixth." Eeek. She was going to turn seventeen in four months and she wasn't excited about it at all. In fact, it made her cringe inwardly. Yeah..strange, wasn't it? Seventeen..gosh.

Yes, this further confirmed his hypothesis that she was indeed much older than him. But now that their years had been exchanged, this left him with the issue of the awkward silence that usually came about. There was nothing to say. That is, unless he created something to say, which was certainly do-able. There were plenty of things to say, he just didn't want to say them.

Tristan decided upon the easiest. "I'm Tristan," he introduced. His father would tell him to put out his hand like a gentleman, but proper or not it wasn't going to happen. The boy was completely content with keeping his hands stuffed in his pockets.

Quote:

Originally Posted by emmafan123

It was dinner time, and though he knew what time dinner generally was served, Cornelius had been lost out in the grounds for the past couple of hours. Well, not lost literally. Okay, part of the time the lost was literal. But for the most part, he was just wandering the grounds, as he had been doing a lot lately. So he was a bit late for dinner that evening, coming in a good fifteen or so minutes past when most students had taken their seats. It had just started getting dark and the winter air was really starting to get to the young man who, though dressed in his warmest uniform attire, wasn't quite prepared for the snow that had just started falling. It was definitely winter.

Cornelius had just made it into the castle as the snow really began to fall, literally sliding in (rather ungracefully at that) because of the ice that had gathered over the past week just outside the Entrance Hall's large doors. So, more accurately, Cornelius Rune stumbled awkwardly into the castle, just barely catching his balance before he actually fell to the floor. "Whew," he let out in a brief breath, closing the doors behind him and shaking off the snowflakes that had found their way onto his robes.

He had just started towards the Great Hall, the smell of food practically calling to him, when he saw Aspen sitting on the steps. His face immediately fell into a small smile, watching her stare off into space for a moment. He'd actually sort of been looking for her the past couple of days. Once again, their schedules proved to be completely opposite, ruining most of any chance to run into one another by chance.

"Hi," he greeted from across the Entrance Hall, stopping dead in his tracks to turn and look at her with a warm smile. Cornelius felt rather stupid for choosing that as his opening line, but it was all he could think to say.

People were coming and going, passing Aspen by and not once shaking her from her thoughts. But when the great wooden doors opened to let cold, blustery air and the object of her thoughts in - her attention was grabbed.

"Hi." It seemed an apt greeting to her and she didn't think anything badly about his. She took in his appearance, his red nose and snow covered robes. He'd been out there a while if looks were any indication.

"I was waiting for you." Did he know? Could he tell? She'd sat right in this spot with her only intention being to run into him. But... now that she'd found him, she didn't exactly have smiles for him. Her usual worry painted her features. "You look cold."

Cornelius grinned as he heard Aspen's first sentence; that she was waiting for him. "You were?" he asked, slight flattery on his expression as he turned towards her and began to cross the Entrance Hall to meet her. She was waiting for him? He couldn't deny that this information made him the happiest he'd been all week. It had been a bit rough ever since the end of their Hogsmeade study date engagement. The work was building up and he hadn't seen Aspen once. Well, until now. And she was waiting for him on the first step of the staircase on the way to the Great Hall? That was a nice surprise.

"I am cold," he nodded with a soft chuckle as she observed that he looked cold, taking off his gloves as he stood before her. But it was then that he took notice of the worry on her features and he brought up a hand to gently tilt her chin up to look at him. "Aspen," Cornelius complained playfully with a soft smile, obviously not approving of her current expression. "Is something wrong?" he released his gentle lift of her chin and instead took a seat at her side, now inadvertantly allowing her the chance to see just how cold he was.

As he sat down, it was easier to see the remaining snow flakes in his short hair, his light brown eyes focusing on the girl at his side. He allowed his gaze to scan her features, trying to detect what exactly was behind her current worry.

Quote:

Originally Posted by emmafan123

Cornelius grinned as he heard Aspen's first sentence; that she was waiting for him. "You were?" he asked, slight flattery on his expression as he turned towards her and began to cross the Entrance Hall to meet her. She was waiting for him? He couldn't deny that this information made him the happiest he'd been all week. It had been a bit rough ever since the end of their Hogsmeade study date engagement. The work was building up and he hadn't seen Aspen once. Well, until now. And she was waiting for him on the first step of the staircase on the way to the Great Hall? That was a nice surprise.

"I am cold," he nodded with a soft chuckle as she observed that he looked cold, taking off his gloves as he stood before her. But it was then that he took notice of the worry on her features and he brought up a hand to gently tilt her chin up to look at him. "Aspen," Cornelius complained playfully with a soft smile, obviously not approving of her current expression. "Is something wrong?" he released his gentle lift of her chin and instead took a seat at her side, now inadvertantly allowing her the chance to see just how cold he was.

As he sat down, it was easier to see the remaining snow flakes in his short hair, his light brown eyes focusing on the girl at his side. He allowed his gaze to scan her features, trying to detect what exactly was behind her current worry.

"Not wrong...," Aspen began slowly, lowering her chin to compensate for his new place at her side. She scanned him entirely again with her wondering eyes. "Just not quite right. You're freezing," she reiterated. "How long were you out there? Do the end of your toes feel tingly? If they do, we have to go see the nurse."

He was the source of her worry. He was wet and cold and could get sick and possibly lose a toe or finger!

She reached over and put both of her warm hands over each of his pink ears. You know.. to warm them.

Cornelius's eyebrows rose as he realized that he himself was the source of her worry, listening as she asked about his state of freezing-ness. "I was just out for a couple hours, I didn't think it'd get that cold," he shrugged, a small smile growing on his expression at her concern. "My toes are oka--" He stopped speaking when he suddenly found Aspen's hands on his cold ears. He took a moment, his light brown eyes finding her own green ones, before he began to let out a string of soft chuckles.

"Aspen!" he grinned, taking one of her hands into his own, moving it from his ear to rest in both of his own hands. But it was true that her warm hands were helping him to de-frost, so to speak, and his light brown eyes sort of sparkled at her concern. "I'm already starting to feel better, but thank you," Cornelius confided, his hands turning her warmer hand over absentmindedly. Her other hand still remained on his ear, undoubtedly warming him up a bit as he turned towards her a bit more on the step. "Is my current body temperature your only concern?" he asked playfully.

Quote:

Originally Posted by emmafan123

Cornelius's eyebrows rose as he realized that he himself was the source of her worry, listening as she asked about his state of freezing-ness. "I was just out for a couple hours, I didn't think it'd get that cold," he shrugged, a small smile growing on his expression at her concern. "My toes are oka--" He stopped speaking when he suddenly found Aspen's hands on his cold ears. He took a moment, his light brown eyes finding her own green ones, before he began to let out a string of soft chuckles.

"Aspen!" he grinned, taking one of her hands into his own, moving it from his ear to rest in both of his own hands. But it was true that her warm hands were helping him to de-frost, so to speak, and his light brown eyes sort of sparkled at her concern. "I'm already starting to feel better, but thank you," Cornelius confided, his hands turning her warmer hand over absentmindedly. Her other hand still remained on his ear, undoubtedly warming him up a bit as he turned towards her a bit more on the step. "Is my current body temperature your only concern?" he asked playfully.

Aspen wasn't exactly convinced about the well-being of his toes, but she didn't force him out of his shoes to check (even if the thought DID cross her mind). She might have if she'd not been ever so slightly distracted by the progress of her hand - from his ear, back to it's place in Cornelius's hands. She latched on tight to his hand.

"... At the moment? Yes. Yes that is my only concern. Just before now I was concerned about you not passing through her, despite this being the likely route to the Great Hall for you. But now, yes, my concern is your toes. And ears." Aspen reached up to sweep the melting snowflakes out of his hair. "And the tip of your nose."

To be fair, those were the first to get frostbitten.

Aspen WAS smiling now though. Worry or not, Cornelius brought his infectious smiles and Aspen was seriously infected by him.

Cornelius couldn't help but grin as he saw Aspen's smile appear, listening as she explained that her only concern was, indeed, his cold temperature. But previously, it had been his route to the Great Hall coinciding with the Entrance Hall. "So many concerns," he replied playfully, evaluating her expression as she began to sweep the snowflakes out of his hair. "You should try not being concerned for a change," he teased softly, obviously just joking with her.

"Was there any particular reason you decided to wait for me on the stairs?" Cornelius questioned softly, vague amusement on his expression as he leaned back onto the staircase, using his elbow to prop himself up. But he still kept one of his hands wrapped around her own, examining her features as she picked the snowflakes from his hair.

Quote:

Originally Posted by emmafan123

Cornelius couldn't help but grin as he saw Aspen's smile appear, listening as she explained that her only concern was, indeed, his cold temperature. But previously, it had been his route to the Great Hall coinciding with the Entrance Hall. "So many concerns," he replied playfully, evaluating her expression as she began to sweep the snowflakes out of his hair. "You should try not being concerned for a change," he teased softly, obviously just joking with her.

"Was there any particular reason you decided to wait for me on the stairs?" Cornelius questioned softly, vague amusement on his expression as he leaned back onto the staircase, using his elbow to prop himself up. But he still kept one of his hands wrapped around her own, examining her features as she picked the snowflakes from his hair.

Aspen DID have a lot of concerns. She was sure she'd told him she was a worrier. And her worrying was only supposed to stop for ACEs, and she hadn't been having an ACE, so worry was okay and fair game.

"I do try... on our Experiences and Engagements." ...."And now. I'm trying right now." As she picked snowflakes out of his hair and considered ways to make the tip of his nose warmer.

She nodded to his question. "Yes." Matter of fact. "There were several, actually. One, I... well I haven't seen you around much, and two, I certainly wouldn't have you thinking I was avoiding you. And three... ," Aspen bit her lip, but her GRIN was growing. Did he KNOW what three was?

She was pretty sure he DID know what three was.

Cornelius couldn't help but grin as Aspen explained that she was trying right now to not be so concerned, as she always did on their experiences and engagements. He was rather happy to hear that his presence in her life resulted in a less-worried Aspen, having gathered long ago that she worried quite a bit. But he didn't think about this too much, as in the moment she was confirming that she did have a reason for waiting up for him; several.

His eyebrows rose at this, but remained quiet as he listened to her reasonings. She hadn't see him much, that was very true, and that she didn't want him thinking she was avoiding him. Well, he actually hadn't thought that this time around. He knew that it was just their opposing schedules that led to lack of seeing one another, but it was still nice to hear. And the third was...

Well, Cornelius didn't get to hear the third because Aspen trailed off, looking at him as though sure that he knew what she was going to say. "And three..." he repeated, though his tone was more questioning, eyebrows raising as he flashed her a playful smile. He couldn't say that he knew exactly what three was, but he wondered vaguely if it had to do with last weekend's trip to Hogsmeade. Things had...changed back there. Not drastically or anything, but there was a new word out in the open between the pair; like.

And since they hadn't really seen much of one another since, they hadn't talked about it much.

Quote:

Originally Posted by emmafan123

Cornelius couldn't help but grin as Aspen explained that she was trying right now to not be so concerned, as she always did on their experiences and engagements. He was rather happy to hear that his presence in her life resulted in a less-worried Aspen, having gathered long ago that she worried quite a bit. But he didn't think about this too much, as in the moment she was confirming that she did have a reason for waiting up for him; several.

His eyebrows rose at this, but remained quiet as he listened to her reasonings. She hadn't see him much, that was very true, and that she didn't want him thinking she was avoiding him. Well, he actually hadn't thought that this time around. He knew that it was just their opposing schedules that led to lack of seeing one another, but it was still nice to hear. And the third was...

Well, Cornelius didn't get to hear the third because Aspen trailed off, looking at him as though sure that he knew what she was going to say. "And three..." he repeated, though his tone was more questioning, eyebrows raising as he flashed her a playful smile. He couldn't say that he knew exactly what three was, but he wondered vaguely if it had to do with last weekend's trip to Hogsmeade. Things had...changed back there. Not drastically or anything, but there was a new word out in the open between the pair; like.

And since they hadn't really seen much of one another since, they hadn't talked about it much.

"And three....," Aspen pulled her hand back from his hair and clasped it on top of his, making his hand the meat in an Aspen hand sandwich, "... I missed you."

Really, she had. It was really that simple. It was so basic and true, it didn't occur to Aspen to be embarrassed by it. She'd MISSED him. She'd missed him and thought about him constantly and was forever LOOKING for him. Staying put in one central place and waiting for him to cross her path had made perfect sense and was now paying off.

"There's a fourth reason, too," she added, complete with a SLY grin.

Nodding her head to the words the boy was saying untill well she was a bit unlucky and nearly slipped onto the ground. Luckily her good balance helped her from slipping.

"Ok, well were I'm from, Sweden its very cold in Kiruna at the temprature of -19 degrees at this time. And you know what people LIVE there" Its crazy!

Cornelius hadn't expected the words Aspen told him. In fact, he didn't really know what he had expected. He just knew he didn't expect her to tell him that she'd missed him. And she said it so simply, like that was the most logical thing in the world; to have missed him. It wasn't necessarily a foreign concept to the boy, the phrase had been applied to his life, often with relatives and even once or twice with an old girlfriend, maybe. But he knew that no one had said it with the same weight that Aspen did, said it in the way she did, the way she said things. Like she was telling him something that she didn't just go and tell anyone; like he was the only one being awarded with this information. And she missed him.

Needless to say, a smile grew immediately on Cornelius's expression, watching her with the warmest gaze. And in that moment, he also realized that she had put a word to the feeling he'd been having all week. Again, it wasn't a foreign word to him, but he hadn't ever assigned the phrase to his seemingly constant search for Aspen whenever he entered a class or walked into the Common Room. A glance over his shoulder just to make sure she wasn't reading in the back of the room, or something of the sort, had become second nature to him. Even a trip down to the dungeons, just to make sure she wasn't down there once more. And he hadn't intentionally not assigned the word to the situation, he just hadn't found it yet. But as Aspen said it, she made it sound so simple, and it instantly sounded right; they'd missed one another.

"I missed you too," Cornelius admitted with a warm smile, spotting that strand of her brown hair falling into her expression. In the next moment, he brought up his hand to place the strand behind her ear gently, happy with the chance to see her full expression again.

But it was then that she mentioned a fourth reason, and his eyebrows rose playfully once more. Aspen was having quite the time keeping him in the dark. "And what would that fourth reason be, Aspen Odessa?" Cornelius inquired, tilting his head to the side just slightly.

Evelyn just stood against the wall, trying to think of something to say...but she just couldn't come up with anything interesting and even if she did, he wouldn't respond because of..his issues. Sigh. Honestly, she didn't know what to say to a twelve year old kid. Oh, jeez. That was sad. Maybe she should just leave...

And..the kid introduced himself. Evelyn smiled and replied, "Nice to meet you, Tristan. I'm Evelyn Wellington."

"Nice to meet you too," Tristan replied. Though was it really? He couldn't quite tell. He supposed it ought to be. After all, he was actually talking to someone other than his parents or professors without getting sick. This had to set some kind of record somewhere.

Indeed, just the thought proved to make him clam up. Of course. Not that he had anything else to say anyways. On the whole, he seemed ready to return to his journey to the astronomy tower unless Evelyn had something to say. Evelyn. He was actually using her name now, wasn't he? Did that mean he'd made a friend? Hmm.

Quote:

Originally Posted by emmafan123

Cornelius hadn't expected the words Aspen told him. In fact, he didn't really know what he had expected. He just knew he didn't expect her to tell him that she'd missed him. And she said it so simply, like that was the most logical thing in the world; to have missed him. It wasn't necessarily a foreign concept to the boy, the phrase had been applied to his life, often with relatives and even once or twice with an old girlfriend, maybe. But he knew that no one had said it with the same weight that Aspen did, said it in the way she did, the way she said things. Like she was telling him something that she didn't just go and tell anyone; like he was the only one being awarded with this information. And she missed him.

Needless to say, a smile grew immediately on Cornelius's expression, watching her with the warmest gaze. And in that moment, he also realized that she had put a word to the feeling he'd been having all week. Again, it wasn't a foreign word to him, but he hadn't ever assigned the phrase to his seemingly constant search for Aspen whenever he entered a class or walked into the Common Room. A glance over his shoulder just to make sure she wasn't reading in the back of the room, or something of the sort, had become second nature to him. Even a trip down to the dungeons, just to make sure she wasn't down there once more. And he hadn't intentionally not assigned the word to the situation, he just hadn't found it yet. But as Aspen said it, she made it sound so simple, and it instantly sounded right; they'd missed one another.

"I missed you too," Cornelius admitted with a warm smile, spotting that strand of her brown hair falling into her expression. In the next moment, he brought up his hand to place the strand behind her ear gently, happy with the chance to see her full expression again.

But it was then that she mentioned a fourth reason, and his eyebrows rose playfully once more. Aspen was having quite the time keeping him in the dark. "And what would that fourth reason be, Aspen Odessa?" Cornelius inquired, tilting his head to the side just slightly.

See? He HAD known the third thing. He had missed her, too. She wasn't gloating or expecting to be missed, it was just... just how Cornelius seemed to always be with Aspen, with her even in her strangest places. If he wasn't always on her page, he WAS at least always in the same book - in the same book and searching for the page she was on. Aspen nudged in closer to him to where her knees were bumping his leg.

"And the fourth thing is... I got you a present."

It wasn't much, admittedly, but Aspen was QUITE proud of it. It was for Christmas, of course. "Do you want it now? Or shall I have it bat it to you?" she asked, seriously. She knew not everyone liked to open presents in front of others and wouldn't make him feel pressured either way.

A present? Aspen had gotten him a present? Cornelius's face lit up with amusement, surprise, and instant curiosity. A Christmas gift! He wondered vaguely if she had gone out of her way to get him something, or if she had just seen something and wanted to give it to him. Either way, he hadn't expected it at all, and he sat up a bit straighter with an amused smile. "No, no, I'll open it right now," he immediately said with a shake of his head, flashing her a warm smile, obviously rather amused with her potential bat delivery system.

"But I didn't know we were getting gifts, Aspen, I haven't even gotten the chance to get you anything," he complained softly, his brows furrowing just a bit as he realized he had nothing to give her in return.

Quote:

Originally Posted by emmafan123

A present? Aspen had gotten him a present? Cornelius's face lit up with amusement, surprise, and instant curiosity. A Christmas gift! He wondered vaguely if she had gone out of her way to get him something, or if she had just seen something and wanted to give it to him. Either way, he hadn't expected it at all, and he sat up a bit straighter with an amused smile. "No, no, I'll open it right now," he immediately said with a shake of his head, flashing her a warm smile, obviously rather amused with her potential bat delivery system.

"But I didn't know we were getting gifts, Aspen, I haven't even gotten the chance to get you anything," he complained softly, his brows furrowing just a bit as he realized he had nothing to give her in return.

His excitement, like his smiles, were infectious. Aspen paused to marvel at him, his smiling and how sometimes the shade of his eyes seemed to match the exact shine of his hair. She probably studied him longer than was appropriate or "normal" but she DID eventually snap out of it.

She rummaged in her bag and pulled a small box, one that easily could have been concealed in her palm. The wrapping paper was blue with a bit of silver ribbon to make it pretty. The outside didn't really matter though, it was the contents of the box that was important.

"You don't have to get me anything," she replied sincerely as she put the box on his knee. She left it there for him to retrieve, all grinny and still excited. Aspen honestly wouldn't be bothered if he didn't get her a gift ever. She just wasn't the type. Aspen LIKED presents, and she had been known to actually ask her father for things from time to time, but she never expected them.

Cornelius watched as she grew more excited, placing a small box on his knee as she assured him that he didn't need to get her anything. He narrowed his eyes playfully at this, but was quickly distracted by the actual present she seemed to be so excited about. In fact, she was grinning. She was grinning and excited about this present she had gotten him, and her light eyes seemed extraordinarily happy.

Before he could stop himself he brought up a hand to hold her jaw very gently, leaning forward and placing a warm kiss to her cheekbone. He wasn't sure why, in that moment, he had decided to kiss her cheek, but there was just something about her honest happiness that in turn made him even happier. He dropped his hand from her jaw as he returned his attention to the gift, flashing her an amused smile, wondering how she would take that last little gesture.

But he didn't think on it too long, as in the next moment he was unwrapping the present and dropping the gift into his open palm. And it was...a snail..thing? His eyebrows rose as he examined it, his light brown eyes flashing from the gift, to Aspen, and back as he let out a weak chuckle. "You got me a snail," he noted with a warm smile, seeming confused but somehow amused.

Of course Aspen got him a snail.

Quote:

Originally Posted by emmafan123

Cornelius watched as she grew more excited, placing a small box on his knee as she assured him that he didn't need to get her anything. He narrowed his eyes playfully at this, but was quickly distracted by the actual present she seemed to be so excited about. In fact, she was grinning. She was grinning and excited about this present she had gotten him, and her light eyes seemed extraordinarily happy.

Before he could stop himself he brought up a hand to hold her jaw very gently, leaning forward and placing a warm kiss to her cheekbone. He wasn't sure why, in that moment, he had decided to kiss her cheek, but there was just something about her honest happiness that in turn made him even happier. He dropped his hand from her jaw as he returned his attention to the gift, flashing her an amused smile, wondering how she would take that last little gesture.

But he didn't think on it too long, as in the next moment he was unwrapping the present and dropping the gift into his open palm. And it was...a snail..thing? His eyebrows rose as he examined it, his light brown eyes flashing from the gift, to Aspen, and back as he let out a weak chuckle. "You got me a snail," he noted with a warm smile, seeming confused but somehow amused.

Of course Aspen got him a snail.

Ohh...

Oh he...

Aspen's cheek had been KISSED! By Cornelius! It had! She entirely ENTIRELY entirely had not been expecting it. Besides, he was doing it... backwards? Kissing her before the gift? Was it because he knew her present would weird him out and he needed to show his appreciate BEFORE he opened it?

Or something else?

...did it matter? It was way too much to consider at once and she was just going to enjoy the explosion of butterflies in her tummy and worry about Cornelius's motives (or lack thereof) later. Aspen clutched her hands together in her lap and grinned and ...even giggled a little.

"It's a snail," she reaffirmed. "A spell-checker snail." See? It's head bobbled up and down or side to side. "You put it on your parchment as you write... and it'll ... he will tell you if you're using the correct spelling. In theory. I did the charms myself on it, so it might not work exactly."

Did she need to point out that she'd drawn a white spiral on it's side? Just so that he was a unique snail. He was Cornelius's spell checker snail and only his! There was also a string so he could wear it, but she definitely wasn't going to force that on him.

.... she unconsciously reached up to run her fingertips across where Cornelius had kissed her. That spot on her cheek was SURELY aflame!

To Cornelius, it kind of just looked like a little wooden snail. But even if it was just that, he couldn't deny that he immediately liked it. How could he not? Aspen had gotten it for him.

"A spell-checker snail?" he repeated vaguely as she began to speak, holding it up before him before returning his gaze to the girl as she fully explained that the snail would tell the user if he was using the correct spelling. Cornelius's eyes widened at this new information. A spell-checker snail! He looked at the gift with a whole new appreciation, examining it as though it would suddenly levitate with this new definition.

"I love it!" the boy beamed, immediately throwing it around his neck so the turtle was proudly displayed over his chest, seeming a bit out of place atop his robes but that wasn't shown at all on Cornelius's grinning face. He admired it for a moment, turning it about so the snail was facing her, before looking at Aspen himself. He watched her for a moment, quietly observing as she brought up a hand to touch her cheek, still smiling. This, in turn, got a smile to grow once more on his own face, and he took her free hand into his own once more.

"Thank you for my spell-checker snail," Cornelius said softly, his light brown eyes locked onto her own gaze. "...Pegasus." He grinned teasingly at her.

Quote:

Originally Posted by emmafan123

To Cornelius, it kind of just looked like a little wooden snail. But even if it was just that, he couldn't deny that he immediately liked it. How could he not? Aspen had gotten it for him.

"A spell-checker snail?" he repeated vaguely as she began to speak, holding it up before him before returning his gaze to the girl as she fully explained that the snail would tell the user if he was using the correct spelling. Cornelius's eyes widened at this new information. A spell-checker snail! He looked at the gift with a whole new appreciation, examining it as though it would suddenly levitate with this new definition.

"I love it!" the boy beamed, immediately throwing it around his neck so the turtle was proudly displayed over his chest, seeming a bit out of place atop his robes but that wasn't shown at all on Cornelius's grinning face. He admired it for a moment, turning it about so the snail was facing her, before looking at Aspen himself. He watched her for a moment, quietly observing as she brought up a hand to touch her cheek, still smiling. This, in turn, got a smile to grow once more on his own face, and he took her free hand into his own once more.

"Thank you for my spell-checker snail," Cornelius said softly, his light brown eyes locked onto her own gaze. "...Pegasus." He grinned teasingly at her.

Aspen ducked her head, honestly not sure how to react to his LIKING...nay loving the spell checking snail. She hadn't exactly expected him to HATE it, but ... well, she just didn't know how to react. Clearly she'd been proud of her gift and had hoped he would "get it" but now that he was actually embracing it, wearing it even! she was SO relieved and happy and it was all so simultaneous and confusing. Though those feelings MIGHT have been residual from his cheek kissing...

"You're welcome," Aspen lifted her eyes just enough to be able to meet his eyes through her once-again fallen strand of hair, "....Centaur." Aspen laced her fingers through his and gave his hand an extra little squeeze. She KNEW he'd grow concerned by reactions, the not-looking, the quiet, but she wanted him to know and for HIM to not worry - Aspen Odessa was entirely, completely, absolutely fine. In fact, had she ever been BETTER?

She couldn't help but notice though, that spell-checker snail was BOBBING his head already. What spell was he checking, Aspen wondered? Whatever it was, it was apparently right. Her head discretely began to nod up and down in time with the snails. Nod nod nod right right right.

Cornelius could kind of tell that his happy reaction to Aspen's gift in turn made Aspen rather happy. But he wasn't faking his joy or anything, he really did like the spell-checking snail. Partly because it would be useful to him with homework, but even more so because it was a very Aspen gift. He wasn't sure why he thought that, but he could just tell; he'd never received a spell-checking snail from a girl before. And it was clear that she had been anxious to give the present to him, which made him all the more happy to throw it around his neck.

As she started nodding her head, he glanced down at the snail around his neck only to find that Aspen was matching its current movement. He couldn't imagine what it could've been checking at that moment, but he was more distracted by Aspen. He let out a soft chuckle at her mimicking, his light brown eyes glancing over her expression curiously, before glancing down at their intwined fingers. They spent a few moments in comfortable silence, Cornelius considering something silently as Aspen nodded with the snail and the majority of other students ate in the Great Hall.

"When are you gonna let me take you on a real date, Aspen?" Cornelius suddenly asked softly, breaking the silence with the slightest playfulness in his expression. But there was a small amount of honest curiosity behind his gaze. They'd been on a study date engagement, which turned out to be more like a few hours wandering around Hogsmeade aimlessly, holding hands and eating sugar quills and talking about whatever came to mind.

Quote:

Originally Posted by emmafan123

Cornelius could kind of tell that his happy reaction to Aspen's gift in turn made Aspen rather happy. But he wasn't faking his joy or anything, he really did like the spell-checking snail. Partly because it would be useful to him with homework, but even more so because it was a very Aspen gift. He wasn't sure why he thought that, but he could just tell; he'd never received a spell-checking snail from a girl before. And it was clear that she had been anxious to give the present to him, which made him all the more happy to throw it around his neck.

As she started nodding her head, he glanced down at the snail around his neck only to find that Aspen was matching its current movement. He couldn't imagine what it could've been checking at that moment, but he was more distracted by Aspen. He let out a soft chuckle at her mimicking, his light brown eyes glancing over her expression curiously, before glancing down at their intwined fingers. They spent a few moments in comfortable silence, Cornelius considering something silently as Aspen nodded with the snail and the majority of other students ate in the Great Hall.

"When are you gonna let me take you on a real date, Aspen?" Cornelius suddenly asked softly, breaking the silence with the slightest playfulness in his expression. But there was a small amount of honest curiosity behind his gaze. They'd been on a study date engagement, which turned out to be more like a few hours wandering around Hogsmeade aimlessly, holding hands and eating sugar quills and talking about whatever came to mind.

Aspen's nodding slowed... slowed.... until it stopped. She met his eyes again after his question and searched his face for ... for what? Answers? Which was strange since it had been HIM asking HER a question.

Spell Checker Snail was still nodding. Maybe he was faulty?


"I... I don't know," she answered honestly. Or didn't answer, as it was. "I think... I've been putting it off, but I think I have to write home to my dad about you. I just wasn't sure what exactly to tell him so I ..." Aspen bit her lip and thought very, very, very seriously about what Cornelius was asking.

"I feel like I should ask permission before I can say yes or when to your question. But...," and this was the really difficult part, "... but... if I don't ask, then he can't say no and then I won't have to say no to you. I can just say now."

Moral conundrum and conscience meet.... rationalizing and logical Ravenclawisms. Tricky. Very tricky.