|
Post by Keladry Lindenshield on Jan 11, 2008 23:52:47 GMT -5
Kel tromped down the hall, her cheeks glowing red with exertion. She had just come in from a romp in the snow with Tiria, and was slightly wet with snow, but very happy. She was beaming with happiness in life, her bomber hat tipped rakishly to the side, tendrils of damp, tangled hair framing her sparkling eyes. On an impulse, she knocked on Sir Nick's wooden door, smiling impishly for no good reason.
|
|
|
Post by Nicholas Gawain Lannsman on Jan 11, 2008 23:58:59 GMT -5
"One second, please!" came the professor's voice from inside his office. Several moments later, the door opened. Nicholas stood in the doorway still wearing a thick, dark green military cut winter coat. The coat was unbuttoned, a brown scarf was unwrapped around his neck, and in one hand he held his gloves. His boots seemed to be wet, as though he'd arrived in his office but only a few minutes earlier. A fire was roaring in the fireplace, and the smell of hot chocolate was in the air.
"Oh, why hello there, Lady Lindenshield." he began, his warm smile lighting up his friendly features. "To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit? Come in, come in. You look chilled. Would you like some hot chocolate?"
|
|
|
Post by Keladry Lindenshield on Jan 12, 2008 0:02:45 GMT -5
Kel's beam only grew larger and beamier. "Why thank you!" she exclaimed happily. "Actually, you don't owe anything except the spirit of randomness to this visit. I was passing by after a romp in the snow and though I'd pop in to say 'hi'." Kel was undefeatably happy, and the smell of hot chocolate was like fuel on the fire.
|
|
|
Post by Nicholas Gawain Lannsman on Jan 12, 2008 0:08:57 GMT -5
His smile grew all the wider at he response. He motioned to one of the cozy armchairs by the fire.
"Then by all means, sit, relax and warm yourself by the fire. I'll have the hot chocolate ready on the double." he said as he moved off to the side, taking off his coat and scarf. Stuffing the gloves into the coat's arm, he moved towards where the hot chocolate was readying itself. Oddly enough, he was wearing black today; only black. A solitary candle was lit by the window sill.
As Nicholas was filling the mugs, he turned for a second to look to Kel. "So, Lady Lindenshield, I trust things are going well since your return to school. Lovely weather we're having isn't it? I couldn't help but go out myself."
|
|
|
Post by Keladry Lindenshield on Jan 12, 2008 15:36:22 GMT -5
"Yeah, school's been great, same with the weather. I had a great snowball fight the other day. . ." Kel grinned at the recollection of the awesome snowball fight she had had with Fay, Arcturus and Stevie.
"It really is irresistible, all that lovely snow. I almost wish there was more wintertime. . . almost. I love summer more." Kel sighed at the thought of rolling green hills, high grass, picnics, races, swimming, flying and reading under shady trees.
|
|
|
Post by Nicholas Gawain Lannsman on Jan 13, 2008 0:11:12 GMT -5
"Well, they both have their advantages I presume. Although, this winter is proving to be fun thus far. The snow is a perfect consistency for me to have my project begun. I'm almost done too. Just one more day, and it will be an amazing DADA class, I guarantee it." he said as he settled into a chair, nursing the mug of hot cocoa.
"I'm happy to hear that things are alright though." he says, sounding somewhat distractedly, if not somberly. The black clothing seemed to add to his not so cheery disposition.
|
|
|
Post by Keladry Lindenshield on Jan 13, 2008 14:25:01 GMT -5
Kel nodded somberly, trying to keep her spirit down. Obviously, Nick was unhappy about something, but Kel had no idea what.
Intrigued by his hinting, she leaned forward in his seat. She didn't press, it though, as he seemed to be more than slightly preoccupied. He had said that he was happy that everything was alright, but he said it absently, and he was wearing all black.
'Maybe he's mourning. . . he's wearing all black, after all. . . but who could he be mourning?' Kel pondered this, sipping her hot chocolate. She was starting to regret her surprise visit. Maybe this wasn't exactly the best time to drop in on Nick.
'But then again, he does need cheering up.' she decided. Her face broke into a radiant smile and she bounced up. "You know what?" without waiting for an answer, she continued. "We need to so something interesting!" Kel, conveniently forgetting she had just come inside from doing 'something interesting', laid out her plan.
"We need a school-wide event. Outside, of course. Like a snowball fight, or a skate party, or everyone under fifteen against everyone over fifteen in a fort-building contest - no wands allowed - or something like that!" Kel beamed at him.
|
|
|
Post by Nicholas Gawain Lannsman on Jan 13, 2008 14:52:32 GMT -5
Nicholas smiled at her enthusiasm. It did seem to cheer him up somewhat.
"You know, I agree wholeheartedly. If the class I've got planned goes well, maybe I can just modify it a bit for a lot more people. As it stands, it's more of a small scale battle." he said, wincing when he realized he said to much.
"Oopsie daisy." he muttered, blushing a bit, sipping his hot cocoa in an attempt to hide his face.
|
|
|
Post by Keladry Lindenshield on Jan 13, 2008 16:01:09 GMT -5
Kel's eyes popped wide open. "A battle?" she breathed. You could have knocked her over with a feather. Literally.
"That is so cool!" amazingly, she managed to keep her voice down, but was still exuberant. "I dunno if it'd work with a lot of people, though. . ." Kel was right back to planning. "But I'm sure everyone would love it. . . maybe we could compromise somewhat. . . we could have skating guerrilla troopers, and some more people skirmishing in your battle. . . simulation or whatever," Kel's loss for a good word barely slowed her down. "And then there would be commanders in the fort, with outposts around the castle. And students' Familiars could carry messages - if they want to, and with permission of the owners, of course - this could be so great!" by this time, Kel's eyes were sparkling.
I mean, even if this never happened, it was nice to think about.
|
|
|
Post by Nicholas Gawain Lannsman on Jan 13, 2008 16:14:20 GMT -5
He smiled guiltily.
"Well, you see, I have been building fortifications and walls and such in an area on the western side of the castle. What I was going to do was have the third and fourth years test it out. Break them up into teams, tell them what spells they can use, and use the terrain and work as a team in a capture the flag type of scenario." he explained. "I'm hoping to give them a lesson on how to use your terrain to your advantage and working as a team."
|
|
|
Post by Keladry Lindenshield on Jan 13, 2008 16:33:32 GMT -5
Kel's mind was going 'SCREAAAAAAMMMM!!!!!!', but her mouth was saying "Cool. Hey, that reminds me! We could still do the terrain thing! I mean, with the ice, that's definitely a different terrain, and then there's a perfect hill over by the lake, too, and there's rocks all over the place, so it could be a great learning experience, as well as being totally awesome!" She was on a roll again.
|
|
|
Post by Nicholas Gawain Lannsman on Jan 13, 2008 16:42:00 GMT -5
"I just need to work out the finer details and maybe plot out a few things on the maps I was making, just to be sure. It should be an interesting learning experience, that's certain." he said. Still, he seemed unusually quiet.
He finally looked over to Kel and sighed. "I'm sorry if I'm not as talkative. It's just been a...trying day, to say the least. And no, you're not bothering me. I'm enjoying the company."
|
|
|
Post by Keladry Lindenshield on Jan 13, 2008 17:00:46 GMT -5
Kel nodded at Nick's comment that he still had work to do, but hoping that maybe her idea could be carried out.
She was surprised that he seemed to know exactly what she was thinking, but glad of it. She had been worrying if she was just bothering him, and was happy that she wasn't, plus slightly smug that her guess that he needed to be cheered up was right.
"I had been wondering," she admitted, smiling lopsidedly. "But I'm glad I'm not. I am determined to cheer you up, though." she told him, grinning outright.
|
|
|
Post by Nicholas Gawain Lannsman on Jan 13, 2008 17:09:23 GMT -5
He chuckled a bit and offered a weak smile, sinking into his chair a bit. "I appreciate it, Lady Lindenshield." he said.
He deposited his mug and took one scarred hand to rub his face, as though trying to pull the weariness out of his eyes. "It's just that...someone I know recently lost a parent. It just kind of brought back some unpleasant memories."
He looked to Kel's mug, and leaned forward a bit, moving for the pot of hot chocolate. "Would you like some more?"
|
|
|
Post by Keladry Lindenshield on Jan 14, 2008 17:39:25 GMT -5
Kel nodded, giving him her mug to refill as she digested this information. It certainly explained why he seemed so sober, and also why he was wearing black, and perhaps the tiredness, though that could also be because of the battle construction.
"Well, we - that is to say, I - miss you. The old you, the happy one." Kel told him honestly, not really used to saying such sort of things to grown-ups, but knowing somewhere deep down that Nick needed to hear it. "It's not fun when you're unhappy."
|
|