No she wasn't looking for her kneazle. Pffft, it's not like she lost him earlier after deciding to take a walk on the grounds when he saw some birds. What gave anyone that accurate idea. Silly people. She didn't lose Felix. This walk that led her to the treehouse was merely her...um...boredom, yeah we'll go with that. Only irresponsible owners lost their animals. Everyone knew this.

Something caught her attention as she approached it. Something unfortunately not looking very kneazle like.

Oh? Wasn't that Cassia? She was almost sure. What kind of best friend would she be if she couldn't tell it was her friend even without seeing her face? Exactly, so that was Cassia and she was climbing up after her. Lex got to the swinging drop door before she could close it and flopped in in time to see her setting stuff out and...colouring maybe? She couldn't tell from where she was so she crawled over.

"HAI!" She chirped, settling in next to her. "Watch'ya doin'?" And should she have asked about Felix? Maybe later?

She sat cross-legged, with a crayon in hand and her tongue stuck out in concentration. She was debating whether to add a purple line or a pink one. And if either which level of the color? Hmm..hmmm...Her hand hovered above the crayons which were next to her. Cassia's options were down to two but still not sure which one of the two? Maybe both? Before her hand touched them as she decided on using both the snake JUMPED!

LEX! It took her a split second until she found her voice. Wow, was she really that concentrated that she didn't hear Lex climb up behind her. Impressive spying skills Lex. And how careless of the snake. Fortunately it was her bestie and no one else. Not that she was doing anything forbidden or top secret. But the fourth-year still preferred to not show anyone just yet. Except for Blue of course. Because he co-worker needed to approve of the poster. And Lex was trusted so no problem. "Hey!" She finally responded. "Umm..." Cassia said glancing at the cardboard and all the equipment she had laid out.

Hold on? Did Lex know about CLUE? The matchmaking service? Cassia wasn't sure if she had mentioned it in Lex's presence. Mind you last year such topic would cause Lex to puke. Not that the lioness has grown to LOVE it now but at least she'd stomach it? Hopefully, because Cassia had no paper bags with her.

"I'm making an advertisement poster." She answered with a grin. "For my business and Blue's?" Maybe Lex heard about it from someone? But then Lex would have come and asked Cassia about it or at least mentioned it. "The matchmaking one," She muttered turning her head to the crayons and pretending to rearrange them. She also said while clearing her throat.

"So, what brought you up here?" She asked still rummaging through all the items. Let's not make that subject the main one, okay?

Forrest hadn't really noticed the snow until now, in this late-February weekend. He had always shied away from it as if it would burn his skin, but watching those students having a snowball fight and building a snowman and all... he wanted to do that. It never snowed in Saudi Arabia in the two years he spent there, and before that he just didn't have an open area in London to play. Of course, he couldn't make many friends here as expected, but maybe... He made his way to the Tree House determinedly and looked around with hands on his hips. He was still to intimidated by people to ask anyone to join him, but maybe if he started on his own, someone would pity him to help. He knelt down and started stuffing as much snow as he could in front of him, peeking around occasionally to check whether someone approached him.

As far as Tobias was concerned, this cold weather was a GOOD thing. They got snow to play with, and snow was fun and best of all it was completely FREE. They couldn't put turnstiles on snow!

The first year puffer boy was exploring the grounds. He'd never been to this treehouse before, but he'd seen it from afar. Tobias was waiting for it to be less treacherous outside before he explored it, but the weather was staying like this, so he figured why wait?

The closer he got, however, the more intimidating the treehouse looked. Maybe this was one thing that he should leave alone for now. Climbing in this weather with his attention span was sure to end badly. But that didn't mean he couldn't have fun while he was already outside, right?

Not even a few seconds after he started looking around, Tobias' gaze fell upon a familiar person. It was Forrest, fellow first year Hufflepuff. There was really no missing him; Tobias didn't know many other students, but he could point out all of his fellow first year Hufflepuffs easy. Making his way over to the other boy, Tobias called out a greeting when he was still a few feet away. "Forrest!" he smiled, waving a glove-clad hand. "Hey! You building a snowman?" It seemed like a logical explanation to the snow gathering but Tobias could be wrong.

Laura looked at Kace and smiled. "That is awesome." Laura seriously thought that it was. "I would love to go exploring with you." Laura smiled. "Now what are we going to go and explore first in this tree house." Laura really hadn't spend much time in this part of the school before.

Kace thought of ideas. "Hmmm well we can go to the third level and see the scenery and view of this tree house. Does that sound like a plan?" he asked with a grin and his hand held out. "I will help you if you are scared of heights." he offered to her.

Laura looked at Kace and blushed. "How did you know?" Laura hadn't even told anyone except Ella she was scared of heights and somehow Kace had guested. "You a mind reader or something?" Laura would love to have a mind reader as a friend. "Okay I'll give it a try." Laura then looked at Kace. "You won't tell anyone will you?"

Forrest lifted his head in search of the boy that'd called out for him, and he grinned back, even though his scarf hid half of his face. He stopped gathering snow for a moment to wave back at him. Great! Now he had a friend to PLAY with!

"Yes," he answered back. Should he tell it was the FIRST time he ever played in the snow? Would Tobias laugh at him? He got on his feet and shook them. He hadn't noticed them getting numb due to kneeling.

"Wanna join?" Please?

Kace shurgged and grinned. "Well i had a hunch. It is a very common fear to be afraid of heights. My cousin is afraid of heights so i know the look when i see it." When Laura asked if he was a mind reader, Kace chuckled and smiled. "Ah no...i am not a mind reader. If i was, i would be passing my lessons with flying colors right now."

When she asked if he wouldn't tell anyone, Kace nodded and promised her. "Of course i won't tell anyone. It is your little secret that is safe with me." But usually someone could figure it out from the fear look on her face but he wouldn't tell her that.

"Now come with me and we will explore the top of the tree house." he said taking her hand and leading her to the top of the house.

Laura smiled at Kace. "I get you now?" Laura didn't really because she didn't normally give off the sign because no one else knew she was scared of heights except the one person she told.

"Well I suppose that would be true, unless you don't want people to know your a mind reader so your pretending to be rubbish at lessons." Laura giggled then gave him a quick hug. "Thanks for saying that."

"Okay then I'm ready." Laura stood up and waited for Kace to get up. "Okay this is Hyde1 to Houston, do I have permission to launch?" Laura giggled this was going to be fun.

Cassia was being a little cage-y, she'd noticed. Like, the way she was being all reluctant with her greeting. She would have offered to leave but 'cept she'd just gotten here and really, Cassia wasn't asking her to leave. She was just being super weird while she stayed. Something Lex would have easily have looked pass were it not for the answer she received.

"Announcement posters? What for?" But then her question was being answered. "Wait. Match-making????" Eyes for you Ms. Somerlad. "Why in merlin's beard would you be making posters for something like that?" Could she even wrinkle her nose? She probably could but she wouldn't. Nah.

Wrinkling noses at this kind of thing was so...Second Year. Make no mistake, she didn't condone this now but she wasn't gonna be immature about it either--not unless it got gross.

"What possessed you to get into such a business? Don't tell me you're turning into one of them." Not immature at all; just really curious.

Oh and that question. "I saw you and decided I should! But you know...while I'm up here...have you seen Felix--not that I've lost him. Pfft. No." Maybe.

Kace shrugged, "Well maybe you could fool others but you can't fool me." he gave her a little wink. Kace chuckled when she said he didn't want people to know he was a mind reader.

*Sighs*

"Alright we will keep it our little secret don't tell anyone i am a mind reader. I mean i am a first year, i gotta keep my reputation innocent and clean." he winked at her to let her know he was joking. Kace hugged her back quickly and said "No problem, anytime. I mean tell it how it is. Just remember that."

Kace chuckled when Laura began to talk like she was an Spaceship or an Airplane. "So i guess i am Houston huh?" Kace asked to clarify.

Wait, what was she?? Kaiden's eyes went wide when Mika started pulling back. What was wrong with her? One minute, she was holding firmly on to his arm, and the next she was curling up in a ball and being all scared. "M-miks?" he mumbled under his breath, and wrapped his arms around the small girl.

And then she was yelling at her knees. About Moses, and about him. He stiffened. "You what?" he asked quietly, almost in her ear.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yourenodaisy

Wait, what was she?? Kaiden's eyes went wide when Mika started pulling back. What was wrong with her? One minute, she was holding firmly on to his arm, and the next she was curling up in a ball and being all scared. "M-miks?" he mumbled under his breath, and wrapped his arms around the small girl.

And then she was yelling at her knees. About Moses, and about him. He stiffened. "You what?" he asked quietly, almost in her ear.

Pressure was the first thing she felt, her chest heaving as she remembered things from the past. Images flashed behind her eyes, and then, a voice, a soft voice. Not the voice from her memory, but the voice of Kaiden, her best friend was playing at her ear.

Suddenly, she snapped too, mostly. Still holding her knees she turned her head to him and sighed. "I" she blinked and turned to look at him. "don't like him, I tried to tell you that back in January before we left for school...but I failed" she admitted sheepishly and bit her lip.

She wasn't sure if he had heard her almost whispered truth and just was asking about the other thing. "Or - ugh, are you asking about that other..th-thing the f-feelings thing" she asked rather awkwardly as she turned and rested her head on his shoulder.

Kaiden was just incredibly confused. If she didn't like him now, then why had she said that? "But I thought..." he frowned and trailed off, not sure of what he thought anymore. What he felt. He just knew the prettiest girl ever was sitting here with him, and she was his favorite, and she was confusing.

"That other thing, what was it?" And had she said something about being mad at him? "I... Don't understand." he said, relaxing just a bit as she did.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yourenodaisy

Kaiden was just incredibly confused. If she didn't like him now, then why had she said that? "But I thought..." he frowned and trailed off, not sure of what he thought anymore. What he felt. He just knew the prettiest girl ever was sitting here with him, and she was his favorite, and she was confusing.

"That other thing, what was it?" And had she said something about being mad at him? "I... Don't understand." he said, relaxing just a bit as she did.

Mika, tipped her head up a bit and chuckled. Sometimes Kaiden was just not there – maybe it was all because of her? Maybe being around her drained all sense of sanity from his brain and he would forget things or not listen because she was there giving him big puppy dog eyes.

It wasn’t her fault that she was born with super expressive eyes – well, not it was. She got all soft eyed when sitting there with him most of the time, and she often covered it nicely with a cheeky comment. When he relaxed a bit she nuzzled closer to him tipped her head up and glancing around the tree house to see if anyone was there (they there alone) she quickly kissed his cheek.

Nerves and everything.

”Ugh…well, the first thing was that last term I was a little mad that you didn’t write and tell me you were coming back – I was walking to my table and saw you and nearly fell over from shock.” she admitted sheepishly, ”not only because you – well, you had grown up from this little guy that was my best friend to this…other version of you” she pointed.

”I just…I was confused because I remembered you as the young guy – not as this, and I didn’t like the feeling of thinking anyone was attractive let alone my best mate” she admitted sheepishly and turned her head away leaning her chin on her knees.

First she was laughing, and then...

O________________O

He blinked, and was too startled to say anything or interrupt her. But then, what she was saying, startled him even more. When he found finally found his voice, he began mumbling. "I, uh, I'm sorry. I er, didn't think to write. But I'm still me, you know."

A young guy? Not this? "You think that..." he trailed off,cleared his throat and moved his hand the to girl's hair.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yourenodaisy

First she was laughing, and then...

O________________O

He blinked, and was too startled to say anything or interrupt her. But then, what she was saying, startled him even more. When he found finally found his voice, he began mumbling. "I, uh, I'm sorry. I er, didn't think to write. But I'm still me, you know."

A young guy? Not this? "You think that..." he trailed off,cleared his throat and moved his hand the to girl's hair.

As she wasn’t exactly sitting in the best way to see his face, with her head resting against her knee’s she couldn’t tell if he was happy, angry, sad, mad, or anything about his emotions. She just heard the mumbling voice and leaned in so she could hear him better. ”Well, you should of, but thank you for telling me you were leaving for second year – I just wasn’t prepared for everything.” she flushed and felt herself lean into his hand that was now in her hair.

Hair petting, she rather liked hair petting.

”hmmm?” she questioned in only noise. Think what? She forgot what she had said – oh, had she said too much and admitted more than she had meant to? She wondered as she chewed on the bottom of her lip momentarily. ”well…yes,” she admitted finally and after a stretch of awkward silence she turned to look towards him.

"Should have told you last term I think though would have saved a bit of a hassle?" she chuckled, "and an awkward conversation..." she bit her lip and sighed. She still had to talk to Mo - so, another awkward conversation...but maybe things would be sorted out by then?

Medea hadn't bothered to turn back to her not even an eighth finished painting, opting to cross her arms and stare at Airey instead. Mmhmmm, no surprises this time if he decided to throw more paint at her wall. She'd be...ready... Mother of all Sunrises...

She got paint on his pants.

Compleeeeete accident of course. Completely. That was there was a beam on her face and her shoulders shaking from laughter. OH! Oh, NOT LAUGHING NOW! EEEEEEK! "NOoooOOoo!" Fiddlestiiiicks, her booooots! Forget every other piece of clothing, he was going to get paint on her boots! Hopping around, she ended up standing behind a chair. Standing. Not hiding. A little bit more colorful now.

WELL! He...just... He was just going to receive more paint launched in his direction! Not eeeeven aiming to miss.

Ookay. So obviously Lex had no idea about the business. Good to know that their advertising last year wasn't that good. Well, that's what the new posters were for anyway. Cassia waited for the lioness to gag? Wrinkle her nose? Forehead? Something? Nothing. Suspicious. Did their conversations about those stuff actually paid off? Wow. The slytherin had no idea she'd have the skill to convince others. Though it did take a year. And it probably wasn't just Cassia's influence, but she can always pretend it was. Though the important thing is that Lex seems to tolerate this topic and stomach it. Cheers!

"What possessed me is the need of cash," She said turning to Lex and rubbing her thumb and forefinger together. "Also, Blue and I came to think we have a gift and must share it with others," She added. And please ignore the fact that they got no customers. Thank you! "Look at it from a positive angle," Whatever that was the snake said turning to her crayons to choose another one while thinking about the positive angle which Lex was ,with no doubt, going to ask about.

"Glad you did." Cassia said with grin as she drew some lines, "You know I don't like being alone," She added. Felix. The fourth-year paused and considered the question. "Umm.....I'm not quite sure," She said hesitantly. "I might have spotted a kneazle on my way her but it could be anyone's. If it was even a kneazle. When did you last see him?" Hard to tell as half Hogwarts population had kneazles.


While unfortunate people like herself were stuck with owl.

So with all nose wrinkling and stuff pushed aside she listened to everything Cassia had to say. It was important to listen because like with all other things and areas that she and Cassia had discussed, she had questions, LOTS of them. They could wait, until the girl got everything out there.

"Uh-huh...a need for cash...? You mean people would actually have to pay for these...er...'services'? Why?" That was the first question. The simplest. "I can't see why anyone would wanna pay just so you can set them up with someone else." Don't wrinkle your nose Lex, be strong. "Seems like a waste, why not buy candy instead of getting caught up in all that?"

And of course she had other questions too. "What gift? Is getting people into potential drama some kind of art now? How long have you been taking the lessons? You know, we talked about this, you said it wouldn't happen to you." Lottie said the same thing too but now certain people were all over certain other people. Merlin. She drew the line at Cassia snogging. "How many customers do you even have?" Really she just wanted to know how many people they were ripping off.

Hahahaha, she was telling her to look at it from a positive angle. HAHAHAHA! "I think I'me having a hard time doing that. You mind helping me out?" Positive. No.

"And I know, plus I'm good company to have so, I thought I'd grace you with my presence." She stuck her tongue at her. It was just her being silly and copying her conceited friend.

"I saw him this morning...well actually half an hour ago...he doesn't look like the other kneazles. His fur is distinct." But she didn't expect Cassia to be watching her kneazle so close so describing wouldn't have helped much. "It's fine, he'll find me when he's ready, for now, I'll keep you and your business company." GRIN.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roselyn

Medea hadn't bothered to turn back to her not even an eighth finished painting, opting to cross her arms and stare at Airey instead. Mmhmmm, no surprises this time if he decided to throw more paint at her wall. She'd be...ready... Mother of all Sunrises...

She got paint on his pants.

Compleeeeete accident of course. Completely. That was there was a beam on her face and her shoulders shaking from laughter. OH! Oh, NOT LAUGHING NOW! EEEEEEK! "NOoooOOoo!" Fiddlestiiiicks, her booooots! Forget every other piece of clothing, he was going to get paint on her boots! Hopping around, she ended up standing behind a chair. Standing. Not hiding. A little bit more colorful now.

WELL! He...just... He was just going to receive more paint launched in his direction! Not eeeeven aiming to miss.

Oh. Oops? He hadn't known that Medea was also so attached and protective of her clothing. Or, well, not all her clothing it seemed. Just her boots. Airey was rather sensitive to the plight of those who had an unhealthy obsession with inanimate things. He had Pebbles and his suits. He now knew that Medea had her mechanical creatures and her boots.

He managed to jump to the side to avoid her next paint attack - BUT HIS POOR SUNSET! He hadn't even had time to sing his lively rendition of Sunrise, Sunset!!

As he jumped, he failed to see the pool of green paint at his feet - cause by Medea and her spellcasting no doubt - and slipped on it.

CRASH! SLAM! BANG! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAH!

Airey fell to his back and, thanks to the slipperiness of the paint, went sliding across the floor a bit in Medea's and the chair's general direction. His attention wasn't entirely on the direction he was heading, however. It was on the fact that he most likely now had a green stripe down the back of his suit like some mutant skunk.

SHOOOOOOOOM.

That didn't surprise Penelope at all, but in a good way. She thought it was actually really cool that there were some people like Anya who enjoyed the Muggle world enough to be a part of it, even though they knew the magical side of things. Especially when magic was often thought to be "easier." That, of course, was debatable. But also beside the point right now.

"That's cool," she said with a smile. "Are you still planning to go to Africa some time later on too?" She did remember that for awhile Anya had been really determined to go there at some point. As for herself...she shrugged. "Not sure yet. I haven't really looked in to a lot of stuff yet, so I dunno what I'd like..." Maybe she should start that soon...or put it off til next year.

Now, that was impressive. The fact that Lex had listened without any eyerolls or mocking comments is just advanced. Though, the snake predicted the questions when they came.Or it sounded more like interrogation. Anyway, Cassia was going to answer to those questions willingly and coolly. She liked talking and especially while she worked.

"Uh-huh.." the blond nodded. "People do pay for those services because in their opinion it's worth it," Candy, seriously. "Lex, I like candy too and you know it but...." She said turning her gaze from her poster to the lioness and holding up her finger, " Some people would favor a good match over a bag of candy," She said this slowly and calmly because it actually might be shocking news to Lex. So she turned her attention to her poster and fell silence giving it time to sink.

Drama. Seriously, Lex had to stop altering Cassia's wording to all this. "Not drama," She corrected drawing random shapes with a purple crayon, " We don't create drama, we bring people together," Or they will when people actually start and COME OVER! "If any drama occurs it's because people cause it, we don't interfere after we do our job," Or they won't when job actually happens! Sighing, the fourth-year shook her head, "Don't worry Lex, I am not infected. And won't be. Making it to fourteen safely proved I'm immune," She ended the sentence with a grin.

Eeeek. Did she just ask about customers. "Ummm...Lex you're my bestie and all but I really can't tell you, it's top secret," And awfully EMBARRASSING! Maybe if they had lots of customers, Cassia would have probably showed off. Heh, oh well.

How to let her see the positive side of it? Hmm..Probably going to be hard. " Making money and gaining experience that'd be helpful when we get older and need to survive this life alone!" She said with a wink. "Dealing with clients is a very hard think I tell you," She reckons it'd be.

"I know your kneazle very well, Lex" Cassia said raising an eyebrow. If you didn't know your bestie's kneazle's appearance very well then what are you? "But I wasn't that focused to remember if it was him or not," She added. "Oh that's good. Maybe he just needed to wander around or something. Or met a cute other kneazle and spending tiiiiiiime with heeeeeeeer," She said in a singsong voice. It's fun to tease Lex. Very fun.

Giggling at the lioness she said, "Why, thank you! I'm so blessed with such grace." She says bringing her hands to her heart.

Cassia did a wonderful job answering her questions but now she found that she had more questions. Best to let her get it all out again before she started asking. She found her opening and got right to it. "PEOPLE THINK IT'S BETTER THAN CANDY???" Merlin's Beard!!! What was wrong with them??? "How is that even possible?? It's not true. You have to tell them it's not before they make a huge mistake." She was giving her some serious dramatic eyes.

Maybe she was overreacting but could you blame her with all this blasphemy Cassia was spouting???

And it seemed the girl was failing to see the big picture. "There wouldn't be drama if they weren't together. It's hard to start an argument with one's self you know.." She should think about that. People were relatively happy until they got together. Suuuuuure some stayed happy, whatever, they weren't the one's she was referencing anyway.

"Oh? So top secret that I can't hear. Quite frankly I think I'm offended." Not really but if it got the girl to talk then she could pretend.

Er...clients and business..."You could learn all that without matchmaking. You could learn that by selling almost anything." She said with a grin. It was quite ridiculous but in a funny way--funny feeling gone. Yup. "Felix had better things to do I'm sure. Maybe's he off eating someone's pygmy puff." That was fine so long as it wasn't Mags.