Marigold had to giggle a little at the girl's statement, her sassiness disappearing in a second. She nodded and winked at her owl. 'Sokay, H. She loved her anyway.

"Yep." Hufflepuff for the win, yo.

Kace chuckled. He was liking Sophie more and more. She was funny like he was. He smirked and was nodding in agreement. "I agree, I see a lot of girls drooling over the charms professor. I mean i guess he has got good looks to be charming."

Oh! Sophie had other plans, well he did just put it out there but he accepted it. "Ah okay yeah sure another time is perfect. Yeah i am sure Toby would love some competition.." he said looking at the window. She was on Quidditch, he couldn't help ask, "What position did you play on the quidditch team?" he asked curiously.

"Charm isn't all about good looks, though," Sophie noted informatively. "It's also about being good-humored and funny and sweet and polite and maybe a little cheeky sometimes." Kind of like Mo. Mo was a good example of a charming guy.

Though Sophie thought Toby probably enjoyed having fun and being active more than competition itself, she wasn't going to tell Kace that. She was trying her best not to get snippy with the kid. But, of course, he was almost sort of asking for it, pressing on the subject of Quidditch. Surely he was an innocent, though, and didn't know better. Didn't know that it was a serious matter and an open wound. "I did play Chaser. Me and Captain Mo. Sort of a dynamic duo." A duo... they would never get to re-live. As Mo was graduating and they weren't allowed to fly for fun, those days were over.

No more Chaser buddies with Mo.

The polite thing might have been to ask Kace what position he had once played, but her mood was spoiled. So no, she was just going to leave it at that.

Kace chuckled and now knew why Emmy fell for him. "Well now i know why my girlfriend Emmy fell for me.." he smirked and got up from his desk and continued to walk around. He liked to joke a lot he realized. As he asked the Quidditch question, he noticed Sophie's mood changed. He could see it in her facial expression. He knew he brought up a touchy subject. "Well i played Chaser for a bit in my first year but then my mom made me take a break to focus on my studies.." he shrugged. But it was interesting to know they both played the same position but on different teams of course.

He felt the rumble of his stomach and put his hand to it. "Are you hungry?" he asked. He didn't wanna sound rude but..."I mean i didn't eat lunch yet and you can join me." he offered.

Who was this Emmy girl and did she know she had a pompous boyfriend? "Uh huh. I guess we do." Her tone sounded sarcastic and teasing and was thus accompanied by a smile, but Sophie wasn't really sure how she felt about Kace. He was... an interesting character, to say the least, but she could see why he and Toby didn't really talk all that much. Very different personalities.

"Mmhmm, Chaser's a cool position. Lotta action. We get to have all the fun." Or maybe the Beaters did, if you were into the sort of thing of beating people up. Also, she wasn't going to say anything about the fact that she kept up her studies just fine and she (usually) made time for both Quidditch AND Gobstones. Kace's mother was totally babying him. It was beyond possible to get good marks and be involved in things around the school at the same time.

Then Sophie heard the rumble of his stomach and gave him an amused grin. "No thanks. I already ate, and normally I still probably wouldn't mind accompanying you, but I should probably be heading back to the common room and see what the team's doing for our bonding time today so they don't leave without me. Thanks for the offer, though. S'been nice talking to you." She did mean that.

He agreed with Sophie, "Chasers do get a lot of action that is for sure. I mean i was only speedy because i was just a little firstie at the time. Not much weight compared to now." he joked just a little bit. Oh? She already ate, he understood that. "Ah alright, it was nice talking to you too! Don't be a stranger now. I hope to see you around Hogwarts.." He hoped he would. She was an interesting person to talk to. A little bit of sarcasm but she was sure of herself. He like seeing that in people. He got off of his seat and started walking down the Owlery ready to eat his lunch.

This was the first time that Jasmine had ventured up to the owlery and it might be the last. It was just a tad nasty and Jasmine stepped very carefully because there was no telling what she might step on. She was on a mission, though so she would get the job done no matter what.

Taking the letter out of her pocket, Jasmine looked at it one more time. It had been rather difficult to write because she didn't want to make a bad impression. Reading the letter to herself, she hoped that it was okay.



Satisfied that the letter was the best that she could come up with, Jasmine looked around for an owl to make her delivery. She called out to a nearby owl. When he came close, she attached the letter to his leg and sent him on his way. Watching as the bird flew off, Jasmine hoped that she hadn't made a big mistake. She turned and tiptoed her way out of the owlery.

Heading up to the owlerly with several sealed envelopes clutched his hands while his free hand ran its fingers through his blonde hair. He was making progress with one stage of his research and now he just needed the approval of the council to move forward with stage 2. There were other concerns on the astronomer's mind, however, a few really. Concerns that science and logic were not giving him clear answers to and it was driving him mad.

Avoiding all of the pellets and animal remains on the ground as best he could, not to mention looking up to make sure none of the owls flying in and out decided to use him for target practice, he stood off to the side and recounted the letters in his hand.

With both letters in hand, along with her wand, a self inking quill, and a rather worrisome expression, she entered the owlery, gaze cast downwards at the writings. Little animal remains cracked under her boots, but, didn't matter! Muttering under her breath in her native tongue as she walked right passed the astronomy professor towards the back wall, she unconsciously cleared a small area on the window sill of all the messiness and used it as a makeshift table for the letters.

What a day this was turning out to be.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roselyn

With both letters in hand, along with her wand, a self inking quill, and a rather worrisome expression, she entered the owlery, gaze cast downwards at the writings. Little animal remains cracked under her boots, but, didn't matter! Muttering under her breath in her native tongue as she walked right passed the astronomy professor towards the back wall, she unconsciously cleared a small area on the window sill of all the messiness and used it as a makeshift table for the letters.

What a day this was turning out to be.

Five...six...seven...yep. They were all here and correctly addressed and with the correct amount of postage as well. He hoped his colleagues at the British Astronomical Association appreciated his use of vintage Star Trek stamps. He was cracking out the special goods just for them. Hadn't brought himself to lick the backs, however. Had used a damp sponge to assist him with that.

Searching for the usual owl, his blue eyes instead fell on an uncharacteristically flustered looking Medea. Had one of her mechanical creatures gone missing? No, there was something about her appearance and demeanor that indicated something more serious. Owl pun to defuse the tension?

"Whoooo whooooo," he hooted, just barely flapping his arms as if they were wings.

Well played, Flamsteed. Just act like an owl to defuse the tension instead. Smooth as crunchy peanut butter, he was.

Scribbling hastily on the one semi-finished letter, she was half aware of owl noise but, well...it was an owlery. There were many owls and many noises and she was in deep concentration! Buuut, she did notice something moving out of the corner of her eye. Far too featherless to be an owl...

"GOSPODI!" With a little jump, her hand flew to her chest. Mother of Pearl, did her heart just stop? "Airey, goodness, don't sneak up on me like that."

Goooooooodness! "Vot are you doing here?" In........an owlery....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roselyn

Scribbling hastily on the one semi-finished letter, she was half aware of owl noise but, well...it was an owlery. There were many owls and many noises and she was in deep concentration! Buuut, she did notice something moving out of the corner of her eye. Far too featherless to be an owl...

"GOSPODI!" With a little jump, her hand flew to her chest. Mother of Pearl, did her heart just stop? "Airey, goodness, don't sneak up on me like that."

Goooooooodness! "Vot are you doing here?" In........an owlery....

Oooooookay. He wasn't sure he knew what that meant. Or if he was supposed to know what that meant. He hadn't been studying his Bulgarian very much recently due to other things taking precedent. Work before pleasure when it came to such things, unfortunately.

"I....er....didn't?" he questioned. "I was already in here when you walked in." Perfectly visible. Not hiding under an invisibility cloak or anything. Just standing right here. She hadn't seen him? He would feel hurt if it hadn't been for the fact that he could tell something was off with Medea today. It was unnerving to see her so unaware of her surroundings.

"Sending off some of my research for approval to various members of the British Astronomical Association," he replied, giving Medea a few curious looks. "What about you? You seem....on edge."

Cris entered the the Owlery muttering to himself. Why do it? Why cause chaos at home especially when you're not there to explain? Yes maybe it's better that you're not at home. Mother will be able to calm father down. No...that's a cowardly thing to do. Yes, it is but it'll still be better if mother dealt with father. No it isn't. Father will only just get more and more angry, while waiting for you to come home.

Yes...those were the thoughts racing through Cris' mind. He was having a total debate fest going on inside his brain...and neither argument was winning. Cris ignored whoever was currently in the Owlery and headed straight for Shadow, his Tawny Owl. He stroking her feathers and fed her some food pellets. She had a long journey ahead and she needed to be taken care of first. Then he tied the letter to her foot.

"Bring this to father," Cris whispered to Shadow as he carried her over to the window and launched her up into the sky. However, as Shadow did her customary circle once over the tower, Cris began to have second thoughts.

What was he doing?? He wasn't a coward, neither was he a fool. To send the letter now would only cause insurmountable problems for him when he returned home at the end of the term. And then it dawned on him. If his father knew that he preferred to stay at Hogwarts, he would probably prevent him from returning here. And that was the last thing, he wanted to happen.

Besides he had nothing to be guilty about. No, nothing. Yes he felt bad about the family business thingy, but that didn't mean he had to feel guilty about it. He had more or less told his father to consider Anneliese for the position, since she was graduating this term and seemed to be interested in acquiring a degree in Business Management.

So there was already a clear indication that he was going to pursue something else after he graduated. His father would have to be pretty dumb not to realize that and Cris knew his father was far from that. So no, there was nothing to be guilty about.

Shadow!! The Letter!!. Cris rushed over to the window, stuck his head out and looked for Shadow. She had just completed her circle and was about to head north, when Cris called out as loudly as he could, trying to get Shadow's attention.

"SHADOW!! COME BACK!!" he yelled following that with a shrill whistle, a call Shadow was very familiar with, which meant Come To Me. Initially, Cris thought he was too late, as he watched Shadow fly further away. But then, she changed course at the last minute, turned around and headed back to the castle.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Cris waited for Shadow to return to the Owlery, landing on the arm he held out. As he stroked her feathers, thanking her for returning, he reached up and removed the letter, crushing it before stuffing it into his jacket pocket.

There would be no letter going out to his father today....or any other day. No, he his mind had been made up. He concluded that whatever guilt feelings he had about the matter would be ignored. Once he made that decision, Cris felt like a heavy weight had been lifted off his shoulders. Yes, the guilt feelings were still there but they seemed to feel less heavy on his mind, and a whole lot more quiet...and that's how he wanted it to be.

Stroking Shadow's feathers one last time, Cris whispered goodnight before turning around and making his way back down to his common room.

Was he really? Taking a deep breath, she muttered a soft 'oh' while composing herself. Certainly was embarrasing then. Picking up the dropped quill, careful not to touch some of the ick on the ground, her mind was unfortunately half wandering as he spoke but she did pick up the idea. Research and letters. In the owlery. Made sense.

"That's nice." Ew. There was STUFF on this quill. Wait what? What about her? "........do I?"

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roselyn

Was he really? Taking a deep breath, she muttered a soft 'oh' while composing herself. Certainly was embarrasing then. Picking up the dropped quill, careful not to touch some of the ick on the ground, her mind was unfortunately half wandering as he spoke but she did pick up the idea. Research and letters. In the owlery. Made sense.

"That's nice." Ew. There was STUFF on this quill. Wait what? What about her? "........do I?"

Really, Medea? Really?

The man may not have a degree in Behavioral Sciences, but he could tell when the woman he was romantically involved with was not acting herself. Brushing off her response to his reasons for being there, he pocketed his letters and walked over to where she was standing.

"Yes. Very much so," he asserted, waving his wand over her quill to cast Scourgify on it. Incredibly unsanitary in here you know. "Your yoga activity has increased by no less than 45% the past few days and just last night, when we were having our evening tea, you missed the cups entirely while pouring." Someone who was always so poised and moved with such precision...well...it was unusual. His blue eyes fell on the letters she held once more. "Something to do with El Dorado?"

Was that it? Had some sort of repercussions from their presence there surfaced?

Was he in trouble for bringing back a rock from there? Or the zombie arm? Or both?

Slightly baffled that he calculated her increase of yoga activity, she was even more so at how high the number was. Was it really 45% more?...How'd he get that number anyhow? She did very much remember that tea incident however. Embarrassing. Like right now. Shrinking into the walls was sounding better and better. Airey had noticed.

Fiddling with the now clean quill, her gaze flickered towards the letters. "No." she sighed, taking care to see that they were alone in the owlery. "But...something...I don't know. I could be just imagining things. I don't know." With a shake of her head, she ran a hand through her hair, shoulders slumping a bit.

Stress. Too much effort.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roselyn

Slightly baffled that he calculated her increase of yoga activity, she was even more so at how high the number was. Was it really 45% more?...How'd he get that number anyhow? She did very much remember that tea incident however. Embarrassing. Like right now. Shrinking into the walls was sounding better and better. Airey had noticed.

Fiddling with the now clean quill, her gaze flickered towards the letters. "No." she sighed, taking care to see that they were alone in the owlery. "But...something...I don't know. I could be just imagining things. I don't know." With a shake of her head, she ran a hand through her hair, shoulders slumping a bit.

Stress. Too much effort.

Oh. Well then. Stellar. He wasn't in trouble with the foreign authorities for bringing back souvenirs from the little adventure. But that only put his mind to temporary rest. It didn't solve the bigger and more daunting puzzle of what was bothering her.

Now would be the moment to utilize some of that comforting physical contact, yes? Like...a few good pats on the shoulder?

Instead, the astronomer didn't move just yet and elected to just stand where he was and pulled on his coat some to try and keep more body warmth in. "Your instincts are almost always correct, you know," he encouraged. Besides, he was the one with the hyper active imagination.

And for the record, he really did not want to play 20 Questions with her and wished she would just out with it.

"Is it aboooooooooout...." What was something completely random he could ask to perhaps get her to smile? "...how to top this year's Christmas gift exchange?"

Leaning against the window sill, she gazed up at him from beneath her lashes. That was a bit comforting to hear, though did she really want her instincts to be right? At least, right now? It took her a moment, but she inevitably could no longer hold back the smile that threatened to show from his question.

"If only." she spoke softly, chuckles fading into silence as she reached over and retrieved the letter she'd received a couple weeks prior. "From Olek. Last month."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roselyn

Leaning against the window sill, she gazed up at him from beneath her lashes. That was a bit comforting to hear, though did she really want her instincts to be right? At least, right now? It took her a moment, but she inevitably could no longer hold back the smile that threatened to show from his question.

"If only." she spoke softly, chuckles fading into silence as she reached over and retrieved the letter she'd received a couple weeks prior. "From Olek. Last month."

AHA! There was that smile. Small one, but he would take it.

Furrowing his brow, the astronomer took the letter and ventured one last glance towards Medea. "This is your friend up North, right?" he asked as his blue eyes fell on the parchment and read things over. "You are still worried about this? He says here that everything is fine." He offered her back the letter and looked to the letters that she was writing. He understood her concern, of course, and with the weather only getting progressively more severe he was growing more and more anxious himself. Hence the desire to take up weather experimentation and studies on the grounds and in the Tower Patch. "Don't you think that if something had gone wrong he would have written you about it?"

Nodding, she crossed her arms in a comforting pose in front of her, twirling the quill with nerves while watching Airey read the letter. She was in the fit of nerves alone for now it seemed. "Yea, but..." Taking the letter back, her mouth slowly shut. He...had a point. Surely she'd have received a much more alarming letter than this if something were the matter. "...yes. Of course."

Taking a calming breathe, she smiled somewhat, folding up both letters. "You're right. I'm just...being silly."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roselyn

Nodding, she crossed her arms in a comforting pose in front of her, twirling the quill with nerves while watching Airey read the letter. She was in the fit of nerves alone for now it seemed. "Yea, but..." Taking the letter back, her mouth slowly shut. He...had a point. Surely she'd have received a much more alarming letter than this if something were the matter. "...yes. Of course."

Taking a calming breathe, she smiled somewhat, folding up both letters. "You're right. I'm just...being silly."

Deciding to take a small step towards her, Airey placed a hand on her shouder and gave it a comforting squeeze. "If it will give you some piece of mind to write him again then you should," he nodded. He wasn't going back on his opinion that he thought she was stressing just a tad too much about this, but he also knew that Medea had incredible instincts. Instincts that were usually right. So she should act on them to some degree. "Getting confirmation that it's not them can't hurt, yeah?"

Because he knew that if she didn't ask again she was going to fidget and stress even more. It was like his father had told him as a boy, 100% of the shots you do not take will not go in.

Pulling his own letter out from his pocket, he found his usual owl and attached it to its leg before sending it on its way.

"But, you know, with this cold...makes me think we should go somewhere tropical for the next field trip." Because talking about the future was a good distraction.

Again, he had a point. It would give her great relief of mind to have confirmation on the matter. "I suppose." she murmured, fiddling with the parchments and quill, debating the matter. Although, knowing she couldn't very well stand another day without something drastic happening due to mind wandering and anxiety over the matter, she unfolded the half written letter and began finishing it.

"Tropical?" With an added loop on the final word, she folded up the letter, looking around for an unused and somewhat happy looking owl. "As in the laid back vonders of Havaii or the magnificent rainforests of Asia?" Or an inbetween? Though, they could cross rainforests off their list.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roselyn

Again, he had a point. It would give her great relief of mind to have confirmation on the matter. "I suppose." she murmured, fiddling with the parchments and quill, debating the matter. Although, knowing she couldn't very well stand another day without something drastic happening due to mind wandering and anxiety over the matter, she unfolded the half written letter and began finishing it.

"Tropical?" With an added loop on the final word, she folded up the letter, looking around for an unused and somewhat happy looking owl. "As in the laid back vonders of Havaii or the magnificent rainforests of Asia?" Or an inbetween? Though, they could cross rainforests off their list.

So...what had he accomplished exactly? Essentially he had talked themselves around in a circle. First telling her that she was being a bit over the top in writing her friend again, but then telling her she should do it if it would give her some piece of mind. People did strange and highly illogical things when they were in love - as he had come to learn. But it did put a smile on his face that perhaps Medea would calm down once she heard back.

Rainforests? Hadn't they had enough of those after this past trip? "Perhaps tropical wasn't the right term," he chuckled, placing both hands on her shoulders briefly before leaning against the wall of the owlery. A clean wall. "But I...er...I hear the Greek islands are nice in July..." he continued, his lips curling into a boyish pout as his two index fingers poked at one another.

He wished owls ate sweets. He'd been given so many over the holidays, that he was unsure of what to do with them. He supposed it was to be expected, however. It was practically common knowledge that he sold the things so naturally, people would expect that he'd like them. In truth, he found the smell nauseating although he did partake every now and then.

It just wasn't normal.

Cutty wasn't normal.


But he was learning (and quickly) how to make it look as though he were.




He unrolled the parchment on which he'd written his mother an owl to have one last look at it.

He re-curled the thing and attached it to an owl before sending it on it's way.

Cris entered the Owlery, and was dismayed to discover that the cold had made its way up here to the Owlery too. Walking over to his Tawny Owl, Shadow, he smiled at his feathery friend.

"How are you doing up here, Shadow? It hasn't been too cold, has it?," Cris whispered to it as he stroked Shadow's feathers while feeding her some Owl pellets.

"I know its freezing cold out there and I wouldn't send you out there if it was really important. I need you to give this letter to mother. But don't return until the weather is warmer. I'm sure mother will find a way of getting those things I need to me another way," Cris told Shadow what he was requesting from her.

Then he reached into his pocket for the parchment that included the list of ingredients that Professor Culloden had given him to brew the Curative potion and note he had written to his mother. Cris rolled up the parchment before fitting it into a small case which he tied to Shadow's foot.

Then he gave Shadow some water and a couple more pellets to feed on. Then, he raised his arm and allowed Shadow to hop on before walking over to the small opening in the Owlery. "Be careful out there, Shadow," Cris whispered before he released Shadow.

He watched as Shadow did her customary flyover the school before heading East for home. Cris watched her fly away until he could no longer see her before turning around and leaving the Owlery.