Phoenix knew he was going to have to let go a couple of his extracurriculars now that he worked his electives into his schedule, but dueling club was not one that he was willing to let go. It was fun and useful. He was practicing and learning a lot of great spells, plus he really liked the game and strategy aspect of dueling.

But he knew he could be better at dueling as he was just a third year, so he wasted no time in heading to the dueling arena, wand in hand at the beginning of the term. He was glad to see it wasn't currently in use, though he knew it was an off day for the club today anyway, and headed towards the practice dummy with his wand in hand.

DADA was the one of two classes that brought Vera actual joy. The creatures in CoMC were just too cute and fascinating to NOT love it, but DADA was a whole lot of activity and running around and just action. She knew a lot of people would say duelling was strategy, but for her personally she took it as instinct. Did that mean she was probably never going to be a top of the top performers? Yes, probably. But she had fun with it and at 13, that was all she was looking for.

Which was why when she found she was bored, she skipped her way towards the duelling arena with nothing but her wand and holster so she could do some practicing on a dummy. With not using strategy, it was more practice with her spellwork than anything BUT she would still say that could be useful. Plus, she wanted to impress Professor Khanna now that they had a new DADA teacher and maybe being quick with her spells would help with that.

Pushing open the door into arena, she blinked when another figure caught her eye - before her face split into a grin. "Phoenix!" She hurried over towards him and would have hugged him (she was one of those people) except common sense made a rare appearance and said she proooobably shouldn't invade someone's space when they were mid practice. "Are you getting in some extra practice time before our next club meeting?" Did he ALSO want to impress Professor Khanna?

It was probably a good thing that Phoenix wasn't the easily startled type or the type of person who would whirl around mid-spell, possibly sending a curse towards and unintended target in the process. In fact, he was a very focused kid and very deliberate in his movements, and actually hadn't started casting yet anyway when he heard his name exclaimed from behind him. He had still been considering what spell he wanted to practice and lowered his wand before he turned to cast a glance at the person addressing him.

"Oh hey, Vera," he greeted his yearmate with a friendly smile. "Yes...but I actually just got here, so I haven't gotten any practice in just yet. I take it you're here for the same reason?" It seemed likely enough since she was here and posed the same question to him. Why else would someone be in the dueling arena? "Want to practice with me?" Might be fun to get some one on one practice in, rather than just casting on the dummies.

Had she any sense, Vera would have been VERY thankful for the fact Phoenix was such a careful person. Though... she hadn't had a chance to greet the new Healer yet, so perhaps it was actually a missed opportunity. No matter, there would be other potential disasters further down the line. With her, that was a certainty.

She returned her smile, pulling her wand from it's holster as she nodded the affirmative to his question. "Yep! It seemed like a good time to get some practice in before additional meetings, what with the new Professor and all." At his question, her eyes lite up and she bounced on her heels, her head nodding. "That would be a lot of fun! It's so much more helpful with another person than just the practice dummies." Though... a thought occurred to her, and she nearly opened her mouth to ask if they were able to practice unaccompanied before she remembered who she was - and that even if there WAS a rule against it... she was not particularly bothered to follow it. They'd be SUPER careful anyways. "I could use some practice on my defensive spells. You want to try some offense first and we can see how my Protego holds up?"

Phoenix gave Vera a smile along with a chuckle, pleased that she wanted to practice with him but also amused at how excited she seemed to be at the prospect. Of course, he wouldn't have minded too much if she would have just preferred to watch him practice, but he agreed that it was much more fun and helpful to have another person to practice with.

It did not even occur to him that they would have to ask permission or would not be allowed unaccompanied - and maybe he should have thought of that - but he practiced against the dummies at least occasionally, so figured this wasn't all that difference in terms of using the space without supervision. "Yeah, that works," he answered her suggestion of defensive versus offensive spells. "I actually need more practice with my offensive spells. At least against another person," he admitted. He had gotten pretty good with a shield spell in duels and there was only so much good in practicing offensive spells on a dummy. They didn't really cast back.

He took a moment to decide what spell he would use first and what a potential strategy might be, then, with his wand in hand, he walked several paces away from Vera before turning and facing her. "Ready when you are," he said, before bowing in proper dueling etiquette. He wasn't about to just start casting without making sure she was ready for it.

Ve beamed back at him, the slight bounce still in her steps as she turned to walk a good distance away now that practicing together was determined. She was someone who was easily excitable, and also really social. So getting to practice with someone else was probably the best thing to happen to her that day. Plus, she liked Phoenix's company based on the previous times they'd been around each other.

"It sounds like we a match made in practice duel heaven!" She giggled, as he explained he was looking for more time spent in the position opposite herself. She was in here so often with the dummies for her offensive magic, but she hadn't considered the fact that it was REALLY different with another person and not a motionless target. Especially considering she did not generally take the time to ask for permission to use the more advanced, which meant she just.. didn't really use them. This would be a good learning experience for the pair of them, and maybe watching Phe she could even pick up some strategy cues instead of blindless casting.

Or maybe not.

Ah right, etiquette. She nearly forgot about that as well, but as Phoenix did it she hastily returned the motion before eagerly nodding her head, as one foot slid back slightly for a more balanced stance. Her wand held firmly in her hand, she went ahead and cast her first shield so he could cast without worry. "Protego!"

Phoenix would agree that they were a pretty good match or at least they were good partners for dueling practice today. But Phoenix's logic and practicality matched with Vera's bubbliness and spontaneity reminded him a little of a yin yang and he wondered if that would translate into a balanced dueling team. Only one way to find out.

He waited for her to bow, but then was slightly surprised to see that she cast first. Normally he'd expect the defensive spell - her shield spell - to come after one sent an offensive spell and it threw him off, just a bit. Was she being impulsive or was this part of her strategy? He was tempted to wait until right when her shield started to dissipate before casting as part of his own strategy.

He paused a long moment, whether it was to partially wait out her charm or because he was still considering his own spell to use, he did not say, but he eventually sent a tickling charm at her. "Rictusempra!"

Had she heard his thought the idea of their personality creating any type of balance, she probably would have remarked that in her experience she did not seem to balance logic and practicallity very well - ask her twin if one wanted evidence. But then again, she and Vasco had never tried duelling together so.... maybe.

Impulsive. The answer was always impulsive when it came to Vera, but she would have been tickled had she known that he actually considered it a strategy. Could she throw people off so much mid duels by just doing exactly what they wouldn't expect (because it was dumb) that she could then go undeafeted? The most likely answer was no - but it seemed worth a try.

Though that also immediately backfired, considering her spell did in fact dissipate just as the his came towards her. She raised her wand to cast again, and yet was nowhere near fast enough - instead getting hit by his rictusempra and dissolving into a fit of giggles. Raising her own wand, she pointed it back towards him. "Ex-exp - expelliarmus!" The giggles left her spell incredibly weak though.