"You may call me Erik," the blond returned quietly. So some people here did have first names. Good to know.

As the feast got underway and Erik touched none of the food, his eyes couldn't help trailing down the table to where Ivy was sitting. He was curious to see if she would be eating any of this mess. Tonight's meal was, by his judgment, just a fraction better than her cooking, but he still wouldn't be having any.

And it looked like she was doing the same. Good, he thought with a bit of relief.

Erik wasn't at all bothered by the Healer's questions. He supposed he should be used to them by now, since he was both a foreigner to this country in general and to this school in particular. It was just like being at another debate, to him.

"The Headmistress deciding to hire me is vhat makes me qualified, I suppose," he answered her with a light shrug. "I also haff a university education and exceptional scores in my subject, Ms. Tillstorm. History does not change vhat much. Anyvone vith a grain of common sense and a decent academic background could teach the subject." Just look at his predecessor, a man whose lessons had focused on comic books.

He turned his head to give the blonde woman one of his piercing blue stares. "Even you could teach it, I suppose." But she didn't seem like one to volunteer her time for anything. Not without a price.

Erik picked up his transfigured water goblet and had a sip. His gaze turned toward something more pleasant than the sour apple beside him.

"Yes, vank you," Erik replied just as genuinely. "I went to Spain. It vas quite relaxing." And even now, he was more tan than he had been at the beginning of summer.

Bubbly bubbly Gemma was chattering away toward him now, so Erik put down his goblet and did his bet to pay attention to her. His suit...heh...he glanced down at his own appearance with a half-smile. Yes, imagine that, he had dressed up to drink water and transfigure picnic dishes. A day in the life of a Hogwartian.

He hadn't remembered that she had also taught his subject until she reminded him...so Erik nodded simply to Gemma's offer of personal tutoring. Good Odin, these women...there was definitely a secret meaning behind her offer there. He could tell, from her tone. He was just going to do his best to avoid thinking about it. Or taking her up on it.

"Vank you for the offer," he said eventually. "I vink I vill be alright though. History is not too complicated a subject." It vas mostly just lectures and books, right? Erik liked books. He settled back into his seat and thought about giving the bread a poke, but then caught a glimpse of Gemma tearing into some ice cream.

....O-din. This was going to be an interesting term. "Excuse me," Erik decided to go ahead and dismiss himself from this pathetic excuse for a dinner now, before he was forced into more stilted conversations and interrogations from other staffers. He pushed in his chair and then picked up his empty, transfigured plate, real silver silverware, and cup, and left the staff dais for the evening.

Well, this was a first. Cece unlike SOME people *coughANNIEcough* did not seem to care one bit about his cattle and Annie's office. What a relief! Perhaps he hadn't been giving her enough credit after all.

...then again, maybe he'd been giving her too MUCH credit. "Well I'm sorry if I offended yeh. Bu' given that Annie has already told off Sophia fer sittin' in the wrong seat, I think I'll stay righ' here fer tonight." His Gryffindor chivalry would not allow him to voice his inner annoyance. Why does she feel the need to get angry at me when half the staff is doing the same thing? She's not saying anything to THEM about it, no! Not treating any of THEM like a child.

After this, he lapsed into a stoic silence. Several minutes later, however, he noticed that the Vinteren man had excused himself for the night. If he can go, so can I. Giving the excuse that he needed to go check on Bonny, he stood up and descended from the platform.

And shortly after Fina had taken her seat, the Redhead stood up and began her speech. She glanced around - particular at the Hufflepuff table - as the headmistress spoke and frowned at a few things Annie mentioned. Assigned plasticware?! That was just . . . unusual. And even with two staff members serving pro bono, the school was still lacking sufficient funding? What in Merlin's Beard HAPPENED?

And what did that even mean that most of the elves resigned for the term? Elves didn't even take a salary! Were they on strike because of the lack of proper eating utensils? Sigh. Evidently, Hogwarts was not going to be the same.

Perhaps she ought to teach cleaning regimens to help some of the students out; she could certainly handle some cleaning spells, but some of the students . . .

Oh well. Feast time, right? And even with only one elf ... it was sure to be ...

.... insufficient?

It was an attempt at feast, but with only one elf, it was understandable why the food didn't look its usual class of extraordinary. Taking a chicken leg and some broccoli onto her plate, she took a bite of the chicken. "Mm..." she said chewing thoughtfully. "Mmhm..." Swallow. "I've tasted worse." Fina noted on a positive tone.

And was that more of that ice cream?! She remembered it fondly from last term in the kitchens. Taking a large scoop (or two or three) onto her plate, she carefully dug in and tasted it. IT WAS THE ICE CREAM FROM THE FANCY MACHINE!! That had to be the best thing on the table. Not that the chicken was terrible, but just ... yea...


.... did pro bono mean you couldn't consume the food either? You weren't getting paid in money, so surely the school could at least give you free food? She tilted her head curiously down the table at the new History Professor. Maybe he just wasn't hungry, which she found slightly odd, but meh? To each their own?

To each their own was certainly the case, as she eyed her neighbor jabbing at the ice cream with his broken utensil. He was certainly an odd one. Probably came with the territory. Pleasant, but odd.

She overheard the groundskeeper suggestion though; "Yes, brilliant idea. Why don't you try the summoning charm?" He was still a wizard, was he not?

"Thank you, thank you," she beamed at the groundskeeper. "You as well."

Hadley frowned when Seren placed a hand on her belly. Wait ............ HOLD THE SEVEN!?!? Seren was PREGNANT?!

She'd been referring to the Deputy position, which she'd heard about just prior to the feast.... but well, now that Seren mentioned it... (except she totally didn't) well that was just .... her plastic spoon fell from her hand onto the table as she blinked at Seren.

"So when you due?"