like riding a bicycle (brandon)

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Callisto had showed up at Hogwarts again, the second week of January. Preparation for the second taks were underway, and she agreed to oversee a few things at the school... she was done by afternoon, though, and classes were just getting out when she arrived in the Courtyard. She tried to tell herself that she wasn't here on purpose. That she was not here to see that boy... but why else would she need to be in the Courtyard?

The classes started filing out and students burst into the rare sunny afternoon, enjoying the site of the snow melting and the blue sky. Callisto stood by a tree, surveying the crowd at first. After a moment, she scoffed shaking her head at herself. "Callisto. You're being ridiculous. Go home," she told herself, then she turned on her heel to leave. That's when she saw him. She caught her breath and turned the other way. The only clear way to go was the direction he was.

She took a deep breath and turned back toward him, starting to walk past him as if she hadn't seen him.

@brandon

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January seemed to drag on forever. Brandon didn't know why it seemed so different to him, but it did. He was bored most of the time with his classes, finishing his studies early in the morning so he could go into the castle and practice with his music. He spent a lot of time with his music lately. It didn't hurt that he had a muse now, one that was writing him and seemed interested. Callisto. Supposedly she would be coming to the castle sometime soon, but how was he supposed to know when that was going to happen? And how would he know that she would actually talk to him.

It was getting later in the afternoon and Brandon was finally pulled from his music when he heard the grand exodus. Apparently everyone else was done with their lessons and making their way outside. He might as well join them. He did, surprised when quite a few people went outside. Well, the common choices seemed to be outside or to the library. He'd go outside. 

He was walking when something caught his eye. Brandon glanced over and then looked back, grinning when he recognized her. Callisto was here. He turned slightly, to make sure that they'd end up next to one another as she passed him. "Fancy seeing you here," he said with a smile in his voice as he tried to get her attention.

@callisto

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He turned toward her and spoke and she turned, feigning surprise. "Dancing boy. I did tell you I had business around here, didn't I?" she said, her voice flat. She kept her arms close to her sides and nodded at him, her eyes fixating on that smile. "Hi," she said softly, her eyes lifting to catch his again. She couldn't help her own lip twitching upward just slightly, but she didn't full out smile.

"I was thinking of meeting up with that Daniel kid," she started, "since I know his name and all," yes, she was teasing him, even if the tone was still rather flat. She hoped he would figure it out, though. He had been deciphering her letters for almost three weeks now. He had to be able to tell what she was doing just by the words and not necessarily her delivery, right?

@brandon

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Brandon was pretty sure that she was trying to look surprised, but maybe he was just imagining it. Either way, he was delighted she was here. He shrugged at her question, "You did, but you never told me you'd be here now," his tone wasn't exactly accusatory, but it was somewhere close to it. Then she almost smiled and his widened. She was here.

Then she mentioned Daniel and Brandon rolled his eyes, "I already told you, he's a Quidditch player. Not your type," Ha! Like he knew anything about her type. "Besides, he just got out of a relationship. He's probably not ready to talk to a beautiful woman such as yourself." He winked before adding, "It's probably just better if you meet up with me. After all, I did give you a big New Year's kiss. Don't you think you owe me?" Brandon tried to make his expression more serious for the last few sentences, but he failed miserably. There was definitely a teasing smile on his face.

@callisto

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He seemed a bit... Irritated that she hadn't told him she was coming today. "Oh, should I be reporting directly to you now General dancing boy," she teased, her eyebrow raising just a little in a challenge. She thought about telling him but... Also wanted to surprise him. And wanted to hvoid him. Overall, she had reasons for not telling him she wad coming. He seemed aware that she was close to smiling, because his eyes widened and his smile somehow got brighter. Somehow.

He rolled his eyes as she started to joke about Daniel. Mentioning that he wasn't her type, and that he had just gotten out of a relationship. He said Daniel wasn't up to talking to beautiful women, like herself. He accompanied it with one of his signature winks. Something she had come to expect. Almost. She rolled her eyes too, and shook her head. Then he mentioned that it was probably best that she just met up with him, since he gave her that New Year's kiss and all. At his suggestion that she owed him, her eyebrow raised incredibly high. He was teasing... But trying to play it off straight. Playing it off straight faced was her specialty.

She turned her body toward him and took a small step forward, "and what do I owe you, Mr. Boy?"

@brandon

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She was teasing him. At that realization, most of Brandon's annoyance dissipated almost immediately and he started to smile at her. "Of course you should report to me! Things like this are important," he teased right back. Since she was here, he was going to take advantage of this chance to see her. "What big ministry concerns bring you here today?"

Callisto wasn't answering him, but Brandon wasn't surprised. She probably wasn't used to his teasing. Maybe that's why she was just standing there, rolling her eyes and shaking her head at him. That was ok. He'd get her to talk with him. He shrugged, "I don't know. What do you think you could do to repay me? I mean, that was a pretty big thing ..." It was a gift. He really didn't expect her to make it up to him, but her was curious about what she'd say. Brandon liked messing with her.

@callisto