Try not to think about her felines? Despite him knowing that that was not meant to be a joke, he couldn't help but laugh. Internally. He had just enough people skills to know that laughing would not be appropriate at this time. Instead he gave a small nod - just to confirm that he was listening. "I suppose...you are keeping yourself busy then? Too busy to...you know...hang o---think about them."

Hands were going into his suit pockets now. And there was some definite rocking back and forth on his heels as well.

He was also back to shaking his head. "I'm perfectly fine," he said, flashing two thumbs up. "I'm not bleeding and it isn't broken." She was right, though. She did tend to whack him quite a bit slash they both got into awkward situations with each other. All the time. "I guess it is just that we can't keep out hands off each other."

........................

Astronomer say what?

"I mean. Um. You know. Um..........."
........................

Hands right back in his pockets now. Planking was seeming like more and more the THING he should be doing at this moment.

"I just mean that, you know. We enjoy each other's company and...................stuff."

Probably not the best lead in to asking her to help him find a pet, right?

"D-Don't faint," he said, slight panic creeping through his limbs. "I need your help with something and if you faint, well, you wouldn't be able to help." Logic. He had it.

"Oh, you caught me." Raising her hands in front of her, Medea chuckled softly before laying down the butterfly piece gently upon the table top, giving a glance to Chu Chu as she did so. No stealing it, hmmkay? Even though...Airey was so soooo...right. Well THANK you Mister Flamsteed. She was thinking about her cats now.

He just continued being right though. He wasn't bleeding, and her thoughts were confirmed. His nose wasn't broken-

Astronomy Professor said what?

"Oh." she nodded after he corrected himself, letting go of that breath she'd held for no reason at all it seemed. No need to start thinking about anything like those pokes or hugs or... "Oh, right. Riiight, that is.............true." Wasn't it? Maybe? She enjoyed his company at least. He probably didn't think much of hers anymore, after constantly hurting him somehow.

But, more of that thinking later. Biting the side of her lip, her hands slipped into her jeans back pockets, eyebrows raising somewhat. "Help vith something?" Heeer? She hadn't been feeling very helpful lately. Merlin, she had a basic theoretical class for goodness sakes. Kids could've just read their books to know that information.

Could he just like, you know, have one of those muggle remote controls for the television but instead of for the appliance it was for life? Because he would so push rewind and not say the things he just said. Or at least not said it the way that it had been said because, well, it was true. To an extent.

Could he also have the power off button for his brain? All these thoughts were confusing him.

"It...............is?" he asked, half bewildered by her response. Maybe this WAS the right time to discuss....stuff. Awkward stuff. Stuff that had him all sorts of unsure about how to interact with people.

Or not. Not was fine too. Especially since he really did need some help. "Help. Yes. I need that," he said while still stumbling over his words and physically stumbling over his own feet as he took a step towards her. "I..um...I still haven't found Pebbles, but I've been thinking that it might be time for....a new pet. Not a rock one. A........" He paused for a moment because he hated using the word real because, as he had explained to Miss Wisteria, Pebbles had been a real pet. "A living and breathing pet."

It was. Is. Right?

Though staring at the man without words coming to mind, made it impossible to do anything but nod somewhat. If that could've even been called a nod. Some form of a nonverbal agreement before their topic had moved on. Thankfully.

Oh, poor Pebbles. No, wait. OH. MERLIN'S. UNICORN. SOCKS. Medea's eyes didn't grow wide because he couldn't find his rock pet. Nor did a smile so large appear on her face where she had to cover her mouth with both hands to keep in the squeal of delight happen because his unfortunate loss. He'd said the shocking words. THE. WORDS! SPEAKINGWASALMOSTIMPOSSIBLE! Eeeeeep!

"Are you serious?"

Airey was back to fidgeting like a school boy before the Yule Ball - not that he had ever really stopped doing so really. This was a big step for him you know. Admitting that he a) wanted a living pet because he tended to kill things on accident and b) that he was also subconsciously admitting that he was lonely. Not to mention also coming to terms with the fact that Pebbles was probably gone forever. Or maybe no probably. She WAS gone.

"Erm...yes, yes I am," he said while rubbing the back of his neck. "I feel the most comfortable coming to you about it. What I should get and...stuff." He was probably swaying a little bit now but the man was far too nervous to notice. "You are really good with creatures and ... " Long pause. "You...you understand me."

Just don't suggest a feline because he might cry. Manly-like, of course.

"That's vonderful, Airey!" Slowly shaking her head from side to side, after a moment's pause once when all had gone quiet, Medea moved to hug the man. Goodness. This. Was. A. Big. Step! Airey Flamsteed! Wanting a pet. A living...hopefully breathing, otherwise what a horrid shop...pet! "Ve von't stop looking for Pebbles though of course."

She had, perhaps, kept an eye out for her. Sometimes.

Yet there was a good question in this delicate situation. "Oh, but there are so many choices." Leaning back a bit, the defense professor stared at whatever sculpture was nearest...before turning her gaze to Airey. "Are you positive you vont one?"

He had been expecting her to be excited about this revelation. The hug, well, that he had not been expecting so his body froze up for a few moments before his arms moved on their own accord and rested timidly on her shoulders. "I am not sure that wonderful is the word I would use...but sure."

Her shoulders got a soft squeeze when she mentioned Pebbles. He really appreciated the gestured and still hoped that he would find his pet rock, but it was not looking good.

He took a deep breath, still not entirely believing he was really saying all this, and looked Medea straight in the eye as he spoke. "Affirmative."

Oh? Despite being 'affirmative', as he so said, it certainly brought up little alarms. A whirlwind of thoughts were finally falling into place. Why indeed was Airey Flamsteed, detest-er of fur, wanting something that could potentially cause misery? Unless he wanted some kind of hairless animal, such as a fish or lizard, but...she just couldn't picture that. Nor was thinking of him with a furry creature any easier.

Blinking and breaking the eye contact momentarily, she smiled a bit yet a concerning frown started to slowly overtake it. "Do you mind if I ask...vhy...you vont a...vell, a real pet?"

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roselyn

Oh? Despite being 'affirmative', as he so said, it certainly brought up little alarms. A whirlwind of thoughts were finally falling into place. Why indeed was Airey Flamsteed, detest-er of fur, wanting something that could potentially cause misery? Unless he wanted some kind of hairless animal, such as a fish or lizard, but...she just couldn't picture that. Nor was thinking of him with a furry creature any easier.

Blinking and breaking the eye contact momentarily, she smiled a bit yet a concerning frown started to slowly overtake it. "Do you mind if I ask...vhy...you vont a...vell, a real pet?"

He almost felt as if a weight had been lifted from his chest. While he had already shared such thoughts with Miss Wisteria and Calista prior to this conversation, it felt heavier telling Medea. Probably because of her and her bloody felines.

Her question caught him a bit off guard and his hands slid off her shoulders and to her arms as he cocked his head to the side in thought. That WAS a rather, er, weighted question and the answer was certainly going to make him feel about as uncool as Pluto being kicked out of the planet club.

"Well," he began as his blue eyes looked down at his feet. "I guess, erm, I guess you could say that since Pebbles went missing I've been, well..." He paused and looked up now to meet Medea's gaze. "...I've felt a little lonely."

UG. There. He had said it. And he felt like a right pansy for it.

Aw, so the truth was out. Her frown had no chance of staying, disappearing within the second Airey finished the final word. Chuckling softly, she patted his arms as her focus landed on the creases in his jacket, trying but failing to keep the amusement she found from his confession a secret. Instead, her hands found his and she gave them a gentle reassuring squeeze.

"You shouldn't feel lonely, Airey." she murmured, meeting his gaze once again, her smile almost reaching her eyes. "Not ven you haff m...so many people here..." Having had a quick change of words halfway through speaking, she trailed off, fighting the fact that her cheeks may have gone a little rosy red. Oh dear. "But, erm, you know, if...if you're absolutely positive..."

Airey, still feeling like a boy who had been caught with his hand in a cookie jar, was trying not to make eye contact. A task that was only made easier when she took his hands. She. Took. His. Hands. WHAT?! He instinctively gave them a squeeze back. Why? He did not know, but there he was doing it.

And then he was choking on air and wishing she had finished her thought. Part of him that is. The part that was currently choking was glad she hadn't because he wasn't sure how he would have reacted to it. Although there was a rather vivid reaction in his mind and it caused him to lean forward just a little subconsciously. "I'm glad I do," he said, a boyish smile pulling on his features.

Your blushing wasn't helping things, by the way Medea.

"Absolutely," he nodded once more. "So...um...this means you'll help me, right?"

Was it just the lighting playing tricks or was Airey closer now? Not by much, but it was enough. Enough to suddenly make her hyper aware of plenty of things, including the fact that the holding of hands was occurring in...the present...moment. Continuing to possible future moments. A friendly gesture of course. Reassurance. That's what friends did. Colleagues. Hand holding. Yup. And if glancing to the southern region of his face had happened, then it was a complete accident.

Total accident. Total...ly. Fraction of a second.

Yet she took a deep breath as her small stretch of a smile grew into a lighthearted grin after he spoke. Reasons to be tense didn't make it far in her mind. They were squished down like a shoe on an ant! "Of course." she nodded, eyes narrowing with a slight mischievous twinkle. "I'm assuming nothing in the feline category, right?"

Minerva walked into the Sculpture room. She had never been there before. It seemed very interesting. She walked around looking, it had seemed she beat Claudette to the room. Walking around while she waited. Min moved towards a bird sculpture and looked at it as she was examining it, the thing chirped. She jumped back with a tiny yelp. Yes it just scared her, but she shouldn't have been so surprised, nothing surprised her anymore.

Moving away from the chirping sculpture. Minerva pulled out one of her books. It was one of her heaviest books. She set it down. They could use it for one of the things they would try to pull. Now she probably needed to practice while she waited. Doing the whipping movement with her hand, Min practiced the words. "Carpe Retractum... Carpe Retractum... Carpe Retractum" Alright she felt she knew the words pretty well. She did win the cake war with Alec even if she stopped the spell to do it. *giggles*

Claudette walked the first floor corridor, practicing the whipping wand motion of the spell she was going to practice with Minerva. She had heard of the spell before class but never had much cause to use it so hadn't really practiced much before that lesson. So why not practice a little, right? Besides, it was the homework.

Carpe Retractum... Carpe Retractum... she said in her head a few times as she headed into the sculpture exhibit room. The blonde couldn't help but to giggle to herself thinking about the last time she was in this room, scaring the bejeezus out of Eliza. She spotted Min with her back to her and thought about how easily she could sneak up on her and scare her in this spooky atmosphere as well.. but she had learned her lesson the last time and quickly decided against it.

"Hi, Min," she greeted cheerfully as she stepped inside, her green eyes falling on the book. "Is that what you want to practice with?"

Minerva was just about to try the book for a possible test try when she heard her name and turned, "Hey Claudette, you found the room alright? I have never been in here." Figured it was something different at least. Glancing back at the book she shrugged, "I figured something easy for the first try. We have to use three things. I'm just trying to figure out what for the two." Maybe something in this room could work, than there was the extra credit she eyed up Claudette.

Well that could be asked later.

She turned towards the book and did her whipping motion with her wand hand. Feeling comfortable enough and concentrating she did the whip motion again, "Carpe Retractum" Watching as the familiar rope came from her wand and went around the book.

Keeping the concentration she began pulling it towards her. "Well that wasn't to bad. The books a bit heavier than I thought, but it worked at least." Picking up the book she carried it back to it's spot she had drug it from. "Want to try now?"

Claudette gave Minerva a little smile as she turned around, then nodded. "Yes.. I've been finding my way around better." She could hardly believe she had been at this school for almost six months now, but she really felt like she knew the castle. Even if she was sure there were lots of secret passages and stuff that would probably be left undiscovered by her. "I've actually been to this room before," she added, her eyes snapping to several of the metal figures. It was still spooky in here and she left her previous thoughts unsaid.

Three things? That sounded familiar, though admittedly she hadn't paid that close attention to the notice board.. she trusted Min on it though. She took a glance around the room. Romanos probably wouldn't be thrilled to have them practice on her sculptures, though most of them probably weren't large enough anyway. She watched the Hufflepuff perform the spell with no problem and was fairly confident that she could do the same.

"Sure," she agreed as Minerva dropped the book back to its original place. Claudette pointed her wand at it, eyeing it for a moment, then whipped her arm towards the book as she commanded, "Carpe Retractum!" The rope shot out and wrapped around the book and it was pulled towards her. "You're right.. it is kind of heavy," she agreed as she caught the book with her other hand. "Um.." She took a quick look around. "What do you want to try it on now?" Maybe she should take a look in her tote bag, but Claudette was sure she didn't have anything heavy in there other than a book herself.

Minerva looked at her and beamed "Oh you have? I hadn't been in here before. That bird scared me a bit when it chirped." She pointed to the bird sculpture. She then watched as Claudette did the spell and she clapped a bit. "That was great. Is Charms one of your strong classes?" She thought she knew, but maybe she had forgotten it had been a long term already with all the studying, easy to forget things.


Looking around Minerva wasn't sure what to try next. Maybe she should have thought of this better. She looked around the room and gave a small smile, "What about that bird over there. These sculptures have to be heavy enough. We won't hurt them if we move them a little bit and we can put them right back." Shouldn't be to hard at least.

She did the whip motion again. This was going to be harder and she knew it. It had to be heavy it was metal. Doing the whip motion, "Carpe Retractum" watching the ropes come out again and go around the bird she pulled with some strength to get it to move, but gentle enough not to break the sculpture. It moved just a bit. "It moved.. did you see it.. it moved." Even if it was just a little.

Claudette glanced over at the bird as Minerva pointed it out and she couldn't help but to chuckle. "Yeah.. it is really creepy down here.." She couldn't quite put her finger on it.. the dim lighting, the quality of the almost animated objects, or just the atmosphere.. but it was downright spooky. She gave an involuntary shudder, then added, "Last time I was down here, the girl I was with got so spooked that she sent defensive spells ricocheting off the wall." It was kind of funny thinking about it.

"Yeah," she nodded as she looked around. "Charms and Potions are my top classes.." Then her eyes snapped to Minerva. She wanted to try one of the sculptures? Yes, she supposed there were some in here that were big enough to qualify as heavy for this assignment, but she wondered what Romanos would think of them practicing on her figures. She looked at the bird, but before she could voice her thoughts, the other girl was already trying the spell.

She watched as Min did the spell and nodded with a smile. "Yes.. I do think it moved a little." Wow.. must have been heavier than she thought. And the girl had been right.. it just moved a little and didn't hurt it.. maybe she could give it a try. Claudette looked around the room for something suitable then jumped back a little as her eyes fell on a clabbert hanging from a beam in the ceiling. "Where did that.. ?" She stared at the mechanical creature for a moment.. had it been there before? Shrugging it off, she pointed her wand, then whipped it towards the sculpture. "Carpe Retractum!" The rope shot out and wrapped around the sculpture, pulling it towards her a bit as it stayed hanging from the ceiling. "It worked!"

Minerva looked at Claudette and couldn't help but laugh, "She sent spells, what did she think the sculptures were going to harm her?" That was the most odd thing, but the more Min thought about it, it was Hogwarts. She jumped a little and stared toward the sculptures. Maybe they could finish up and get out of there. "It shows, you are really.. what the.." Min jumped with Claudette's focus, "I know that wasn't there before. This room freaks me out."

She watched as her friend braved it out and took hold of the metal creature. Watching her pull it, Min smiled, "You are so good at this." She looked around the room. "So you enjoying school or ready to go back to Beauxbaton? Oh do you know the students that are here for the competition?" Min knew they talked a bit about that during the first round, but maybe Claudette knew more about them now.

Spotting a bench in the corner she figured it looked like it was one of those older heavier ones. She did the whip motion, "Carpe Retractum" The ropes came out and went around the bench. She pulled, but just as she went to pull again something flapped a metal wing or leg or something and Min yelped and jumped losing focus. "Well that stinks, guess I need to try this one again." She took a breath and looked around at these creepy things again.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skeletenlyn

Was it just the lighting playing tricks or was Airey closer now? Not by much, but it was enough. Enough to suddenly make her hyper aware of plenty of things, including the fact that the holding of hands was occurring in...the present...moment. Continuing to possible future moments. A friendly gesture of course. Reassurance. That's what friends did. Colleagues. Hand holding. Yup. And if glancing to the southern region of his face had happened, then it was a complete accident.

Total accident. Total...ly. Fraction of a second.

Yet she took a deep breath as her small stretch of a smile grew into a lighthearted grin after he spoke. Reasons to be tense didn't make it far in her mind. They were squished down like a shoe on an ant! "Of course." she nodded, eyes narrowing with a slight mischievous twinkle. "I'm assuming nothing in the feline category, right?"

That. Airey caught that. Definitely caught where she had just glanced and he didn't need a book to tell him what that meant. At least the pit in his stomach was telling him that he didn't need to and he was being sent all sorts of signals and jolts in his head and limbs telling him he just needed to do it. And not with the excuse of it being an 'experiment' or because of some ice cream. But because he wanted to.

Only his brain was still too much in control of the situation to let instinct take over. So there was no leaning further in, but there was some more rubbing of her arms instead. Sort of awkwardly too. Erm.

"Right you are," he chuckled. "I'm a little lonely...but not THAT lonely." Maybe he could work towards a feline? Ha. Nope. The mere thought of owning one of those made his skin crawl and want to go hide in a Vanishing Cabinet. "So, when you look at me, what animal do you see?" he asked as he leaned just his head back a little while grinning from ear to ear.

Right right. Having caught herself almost glancing to the arm rubbing thing he was doing to her, she smiled and nodded a few times more, gaze forced up. She was all too conscious of it. Why he was doing that, she didn't know, but, you know...

Question. Question was good. "Oh! Umm..." That was, a good question. A rather difficult one actually. The first picture that came to mind had morphed into that of a pet rock. And continued doing so until her thoughts went blank in just seconds timing. Oh dear. There were indeed, many choices to choose from. Too many in fact, now that she had to think about it, and being able to just stare at Airey's face with that smile of his without consequence wasn't the greeaatest of help either.

Goodness to Merlin.....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roselyn

Right right. Having caught herself almost glancing to the arm rubbing thing he was doing to her, she smiled and nodded a few times more, gaze forced up. She was all too conscious of it. Why he was doing that, she didn't know, but, you know...

Question. Question was good. "Oh! Umm..." That was, a good question. A rather difficult one actually. The first picture that came to mind had morphed into that of a pet rock. And continued doing so until her thoughts went blank in just seconds timing. Oh dear. There were indeed, many choices to choose from. Too many in fact, now that she had to think about it, and being able to just stare at Airey's face with that smile of his without consequence wasn't the greeaatest of help either.

Goodness to Merlin.....

He was still staring. Sort of. His eyes were definitely drifting down and then back up to meet her gaze for sure. Not obvious at all. Nope. But something about what was on his mind just didn't seem right. Maybe he DID need the push of ice cream to get the job done? Or maybe it was just the setting. It was rather unprofessional and all...

Ahem. What? Yes. He had asked her something. Pets. Right. They were talking about pets.

Only she wasn't giving him an answer. "Am I...hopeless?" he asked as his grin faded just a tad. Destined to be petless?

Slowly shaking her head before she even comprehended what he asked, Medea finally blinked and smiled as she quickly glanced elsewhere, the rosy red on her cheeks not at all held back. "No.... No, of course not." Erm? Don't mind heeeer. She was just standing there staring like a dolt. But after a cautious look back towards him, her gaze was unable to move elsewhere. With no words. Again.

But finger fiddling and hummingbird heartbeats could happen. Her feet worked too. One of them even took a small step forward. How 'bout that? And her toes...they were numb from sudden butterfly nerves but were certainly functional as she stood on the tippy tops of them. Her brain, was far too frozen to work properly however. Not when in the half seconds it took to process what she began to think of what to do, and what actually happened...

Medea leaned up and placed a hesitant kiss just on the corner of the astronomer professor's mouth.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roselyn

Slowly shaking her head before she even comprehended what he asked, Medea finally blinked and smiled as she quickly glanced elsewhere, the rosy red on her cheeks not at all held back. "No.... No, of course not." Erm? Don't mind heeeer. She was just standing there staring like a dolt. But after a cautious look back towards him, her gaze was unable to move elsewhere. With no words. Again.

But finger fiddling and hummingbird heartbeats could happen. Her feet worked too. One of them even took a small step forward. How 'bout that? And her toes...they were numb from sudden butterfly nerves but were certainly functional as she stood on the tippy tops of them. Her brain, was far too frozen to work properly however. Not when in the half seconds it took to process what she began to think of what to do, and what actually happened...

Medea leaned up and placed a hesitant kiss just on the corner of the astronomer professor's mouth.

THAT got Airey grinning again. He wasn't hopeless. He COULD do this and come out with a pet of his own. Maybe this would be their summer adventure - looking for a pet. He hadn't been in a proper pet shop since, well, his first year when his parents had insisted he at least get an owl since "real wizards have animal familiars' or some rubbish like that.

He was in the middle of wondering where the best pet shop was - muggle one, of course - and contemplating what suit to wear when they went to it when IT happened.

IT.

He sort of just froze, still grinning, and stared at Medea for a moment. Okay. THAT meant...what exactly? A few vivid memories came back to him, a conversation that the two of them had yet to have, and a whooooooooooole lot of anxiety. He felt his fingers twitched, or at least imagined that they did, and he was almost sure that his mouth could move to speak. But none of that ended up happening because he just sort of stared back at her like a teenager trying to ask his crush to dance at the Yule Ball.

"......uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuh..........."

No. Words. Not noises. Words. People skills, Airey Flamsteed.

"...you..." He pointed at Medea. "...me..." He pointed at himself. "....two times...."

o.o

Fingers froze in a clasp of nerves while her heels found their way back on the ground, dark eyes staring straight at his tie in disbelief. Oh dear. Her brain was surely functioning again, going into overdrive on sooooo many reasons that wasn't a good idea.

Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuh was right...

Planking had been momentarily expected to happen, but thank Merlin single words were spoken. Medea finally filled her lungs with much needed air, even if it were short. Him. Her. Twice. Twice? Good Merlin, twice. Twice was a lot. "I-I..." Was. Stuttering. Ahem.

She managed a twitch of an anxious smile and a slight shake of her head to kill a few seconds for proper thinking and composing herself. Apologizing was at the top of her mind. She...didn't ask permission after all. That was wrong. Though, she didn't want to apologize. Not...when...she wanted to do it. But, it wasn't up to her now.

"....Is that.......bad?"