Callista was surprised but didn't show it. "Well, you know you're welcome to come to the house on Christmas or Boxing Day, though I might have to leave on Boxing Day. But after the New Year's sales are over, I'll be back until the end of the next term." She turned to Zoe. "No, our families are definitely not hanging out together. Blade's parents barely even know my mum. But Blade is friends with my brother and sisters as well as me, and came for a visit this weekend. So if he's not going to come by on Boxing Day, he knows where his present is so he can take it with him!"

She tried to say this as cheerfully as possible, but she was wearing a mood scarf, and she knew it, which...didn't help. She pulled the collar of her coat up, pretending she was cold.

"I know," Blade replied. Yet, he honestly didn't know if he would. "Yeah I met her siblings and they are very nice."

"Ooh well I think that's nice too," Zoe said cheerfully.

Blade took Callie's arm. "Gonna steal her a moment." With that he pulled her away from the crowd. Then he waved his wand and muffled them so no one could evesdrop. "I... I don't know if I can do Christmas with everyone Cal. i just don't know. It's painful watching everyone happy and then glancing at me to see if I am. I don't want to pull everyone down. I was thinking of just slipping off on Christmas Eve and coming back on Boxing day." He gave a little shrug. "I haven't really decided."

Callista nodded. "I understand," she said, "but nobody expects you to be happy all the time. Especially not the people who already know what your situation actually is. You know...it's okay to spend time in your room if you want to be alone. Usually at my house, people spend more time by themselves working on things than they have been lately. The twins aren't used to me being gone when I'm not at school, and Fiammetta was in America for most of the last year, so everyone's down in the parlour because they've missed me, and missed her, and they want to get to know you. But you aren't required to be sociable all the time."

She took a deep breath. "Honestly? Mamma would lose her mind if you just went away and didn't say where you were going on Christmas Eve, because she knows that you're upset and have a lot to be upset about, and she'd be afraid that you might do something really stupid. But she would totally understand if you just said you wanted to be by yourself for a while because the holiday cheer was getting to you, especially when I come back and when Zainab and Camilla come in. We're not idiots. We know it must be hard for you to have lost your entire family."

"I-I..." Blade started but really didn't know where he was going with the sentence. "I do have away time... though I guess I could have more... I-I just don't know how to balance this... it's new to me."

His face fell and he sighed. He'd never thought of telling anyone where he was going. "I suppose I can say." More people? He'd forgotten that they'd be there too. No matter his choice it would be hard. "Well I noticed you don't look happy so..." He shrugged. "Well, I'll think about it."

"Yea, it was pretty intense for a while there." Aria smiled and moved on for more chocolates. "You know, Zoe, I think Dax would love a cat treat." Aria giggled and hoped Dax would be nice and accept the offering. "Sometimes he is picky, but I think he'd appreciate it because I refuse to give him this yummy chocolate. Thanks!" Aria leaned against the back of the bench and enjoyed the chatter of everyone around her.

Aria smiled as she watched Dax devour the treat that Zoe had offered him. "Well, I guess he decided that it was good - it must be a yummy flavor!"

After a quick glance down at her watch, Aria realized that it was getting pretty late. "I should really get going," she excused herself and gathered her things. "I have a lot to do before I'm ready for the things I have to get done before term starts up again." Aria stood up and waved at everyone as she walked away back towards the school. "Come along Dax!" She called out after him, though it was unnecessary, he was already flying upwards ahead of her.

Sitting happily next to Toru, Gresham continued to quietly smoke his cigarette, taking care to always blow his smoke away from the little group. He watched the griffon inhale the treat with a smile on his face, enjoying how small and cute the little creature was.

When Aria started to walk away, Gresh waved to her. "I'll see you in the tower," he called to the fellow Gryffindor. He figured he wouldn't see her in class; he knew almost every Gryffindor in the sixth-year class. But he was always up for new friends, and hoped to see her again.

((What year is everyone? It doesn't say on the character bio sheets. ))

"Please do," said Callista. "And if you do have to go, let her know. The holidays are a difficult time for many people. Believe me, we know that."

She smiled gently. "I'll be okay," she said. "If you need some time now, it's fine. I'm going back tomorrow."

She returned to the others.

"Okay everyone, it's been great to see you, but I've got to go back to Japan by tomorrow, so I need to spend some time with my family tonight. If I don't see you before then, I'll see you all at school!"

((Callista is in 6th year and 16 but might turn 17 soon... I haven't decided on her birthday yet which is why I never did the birthday divination last term, LOL))

((and all) ((Zoe is in 7th year, Magnus and Blade are both 4th year, though Blade is relatively new seeing as he came from homeschool and has only had one term.))

"I'm glad he liked it. Oh it was duck flavour, I think," Zoe said. She waved to Aria. "Have a lovely holiday."

"See you in a bit," Magnus said. He was fine with lingering on.

Blade nodded to Callista. "Alright. Will do. Er... I might wander for a little longer but I'll come back to your place soon. I know you are leaving soon."

Blade walked back to the group and gave a nod to them all. "What is that?" Blade asked Gresh. "It looks like rolled up parchment paper." He'd never seen a cigarette before.

"It's a muggle invention," Zoe said. "It's like a paper pipe. Oh Callie, I hope ye have a lovely time for the rest of yer job. I'd love to see Japan one day." She hugged her friend. "Happy holidays." She also was content to linger.

"Ave fun in Japan Callie," Magnus said. True, he didn't know her well but MAgnus was a social butterfly and happy to talk to everyone.

"Thanks all!" Callista hugged Zoe and Toru and waved to the rest. "It was good to see you all, and to meet you, Gresham and Aria!"

and @ All

((Aria is an adopted sister to Magnus ('s character). They are both the same year in school - 4th year - though I think that they should be going up a year this coming term? I'm not sure. Aria has a couple advanced skills due to her life on the street but everything else is pretty standard for someone her age. ))

The glowing coal of his cig burned down to the filter just as Blade asked what it was. Gresham put out the old one with his toe and pulled out his pack to show his new friend a fresh one. "They're called cigarettes. Dried tobacco leaves rolled up in a piece of paper with a filter at one end. You can try a puff if you want." Gresh offered one to Blade, holding up his lighter. The redhead was liberal with his cigarettes, willing to share with anybody who might want one. Not that many people did; there weren't very many kids at Hogwarts who smoked.

(( Thanks guys! Greshie's sixteen. :) ))

and all (Magnus just became a 4th year. He was 13 until June, just turned 14. Blade just started 4th year as well since he turned 14 in March. So he'd be 15 for a span this year before going on to 5th year at the start of the Fall term. ((Albeit he's advanced in some areas because of home schooling.)) I go by school years, so once summer term is over, whatever term is next is the start of the "new" year. But not everyone does it that way. It's a little bit confusing for people.)

Blade watch Callista leave for a moment but his attention was drawn away as the older boy spoke. Blade could pass for a sixteen year old, he was well-built and carried himself well. Yet, his lack of social skills made for some interesting moments. He'd gotten a bit better but sometimes he was just almost abrasive. The teen gave the cigarette a look and turned it in all directions with curiosity. 'A filter?' he wondered. 'Filter what?' Still he shook his head and handed cigarette back to Gresh. "Er... that's okay. You carry on with it. Just never seen the like. What's the other thing? The rectangle with a wheel on it?"

Gresh shrugged at his fellow redhead, sticking the cigarette in his mouth instead. Normally he wouldn't smoke two in a row, but now that he has it out the figured he might as well smoke it. An occasional heavier dose of nicotine wasn't a bad thing, anyway. At least not to the rebellious teenager.

At Blade's curiosity, he held up his lighter. "It makes fire," he explained. "You spin the wheely bit to spark it. Watch." Gresham lit up his lighter and moved the tip of the cigarette into the flame, inhaling deeply. Once the end was glowing of its own accord, he handed the lighter over to Blade.

"Here," he drawled in his native Irish, "You push down on the wheel to make it spin, that's what makes the fire, then hold down that red bit to keep the gas flowing so it'll keep burning."

(Toru is a 2nd year 12-year-old in Hufflepuff. They are a sweet bean and gets along with most everyone.)

Since everyone was starting to disperse, they stood and dusted the snow off the back of their coat. They watched Blade look at the muggle bits of items that Gresh was showing him. They were honestly surprised he didn't know what cigarettes and a lighter were. Most pure-blood wizards had started adapting to muggle technology, but lighters had been around a long time. Toru's family had used them for a few generations. Their dad even dabbled in rolling cigarettes for a while.

(lol I have to tell you, my dyslexia really keeps wanting to read applesaucejunkie o.0))

Blade watched as Gresh made fire with his lighter and was amazed. He thought it was pretty clever and very useful thing to have. He gave the wheel a turn and was pleased it worked for him. "Neat," he said. He played with it a few more spins before he returned the item to the Irish teen. His parents were not only against muggles, but they were against all muggle technology as well. The only thing that didn't seem to apply was musical instruments. Of course, that probably had something to do with his grandfather being a muggle--not that anyone admitted it. No, every was quite inclined to say his grandfather, Klaus, was in fact a squib, which was far less shaming. But since Klaus was a musician anything that made music and didn't have to use electricity seemed to be deemed acceptable.

Gresh watched Blade with vague amusement; seeing his fascination with something as simple as a lighter gave him great pleasure. When his new friend handed the lighter back, he took it with a grin and pocketed it. Then he drew another long breath of his cigarette and blew the smoke away from the group. He didn't want his new friends to think him rude because he smoked in their presence. He just needed the nicotine. After a while Gresham stood up and tousled Toru's hair. "I better get going," he said. "It was great meeting you all!" he called to everybody as he walked away, headed toward the Leaky Cauldron and the Muggle world.

((and all))

Blade nodded to the teen. "Later," he said. He looked around and decided it was time for him to head off as well. "See you all." He waved and walked off.