I come bearing gifts...or gift, anyway. [Tag: Kathleen] on Elective Hall

Aaron McKindy

August 26, 2007 3:41 PM

I come bearing gifts...or gift, anyway. [Tag: Kathleen] by Aaron McKindy

So an unexpected development had occurred once again. In the past few months, Aaron had been moonlighting as a developmental charms consultant for a children's toy company in Japan. What he had expected from this arrangement was a bit of extra money; what he hadn't expected from this arrangement was the offer of a job with an exponentially higher salary than what he was currently getting at Sonora. Because, to be brutally honest, teachers didn't get paid all that much. Not even teachers insane enough to live on a hidden campus full of magically inclined children. Obviously the people who worked out the budget needed to get their priorities straight.

But long story short, that was no longer Aaron's problem. It was the day before Sonora's year would end and the children would return to their homes. Typically of him, though, he had been keeping the news under wraps. He did want to leave--and he didn't. There were a lot of opportunities in the field he was going into, and he was certainly interested in the work, but he would miss Sonora. Although he wouldn't miss all of his colleagues, there were a few that he would miss. And he just sincerely hoped that Hikaru Kusaragi would manage to keep out of his replacement's hair. Aaron was fairly certain that the boy had managed to get himself more under control than he had been at the beginning of the year, but he couldn't help but worry.

It was for an un-looked-forward-to goodbye that he was approaching the Astronomy classroom right now. Redwood wand in a pocket of his bottle green robes and a box in one hand, he stood in front of the mostly shut door. He knocked twice with his free hand, then pushed the door open a bit more. "Kathleen?" he called. "It's Aaron. Do you have a minute?"

The room was beautifully decorated, as ever. It was a complex net of charms work that Aaron envied, despite that his robes showed off a similar skill with a wand; subtle silver designs had been embedded in the hem and sleeves. His black hair, cut at midterm, had grown back to approximately the original length. Not hearing a response, he opened the door all the way and walked into the classroom, planning to leave the box (of iguana cookies with a tendency to wink) on Kathleen's desk. He placed them on the desk, turned around, and was suddenly face-to-face with the Astronomy professor.

"Er, hello," he said, surprised. "I was just, uhm," he gestured to the box of cookies. "Er, right. Sorry. I didn't realise you were here.

0 Aaron McKindy I come bearing gifts...or gift, anyway. [Tag: Kathleen] 21 Aaron McKindy 1 5

Kathleen

August 26, 2007 6:04 PM

Must We Feel The Same About Irish/Itallians as We Do Greeks? by Kathleen

Kathleen tried to meditate. Classes were done, grades were in, her bags were packed and she would soon be off to her mini-farm for a much needed break. The first year hadn’t gone so bad. She’d made so friends and fell in love with the students.

So why was it that every time she tried to quiet her mind and calm her spirit, she felt as though she was leaving something undone? Frustrated, she sighed and took another cleansing breath. Centering herself, self focused on the lavender candle on the altar in front of her. The color of tranquility. Her eyes watched the tiny flame dance on its wick. The hypnotic effect began to take over and she was able to close her eyes once more and enter a deeper level of relaxation.

Then she heard someone in in the classroom. Unconsciously, her fists clenched. Just when she was able to relax, some kid decided to play under the stars. Great. She’d left the crystal “on” earlier when she was looking for inspiration for her new fifth years class for next fall. The fact that she was totally uninspired had driven her to her alter to seek guidance. Hearing the familiar voice call her name she sighed with relief. At least it wasn’t a child she’d have to scold, but it was a “big kid”.

Rising smoothly to her bare feet, she peeked out of her office door. Thinking for a moment she should throw a robe on her tee and Capri’s and immediately dismissed the thought. Aaron and she had shared too many cups of tea to worry about how she looked. Peeking form her office door, she saw him setting a box on her desk. The look on his face told her everything she needed to know. He’d accepted the offer. Oh, this was not going to be easy.

A part of her told her to remain quiet and just let him leave without a sentimental goodbye, but Kathleen just couldn’t let him leave like that. She stepped out into the classroom, the door closing with a soft click behind her and approached him. When he turned around, she couldn’t help but smile. One would think a heritage like his would give him a bit more bravado.

“Good day to you, Aaron,” she began steeling herself to give him a merry farewell. “What brings you all the way up to my tower?”
\n

0 Kathleen Must We Feel The Same About Irish/Itallians as We Do Greeks? 0 Kathleen 0 5

Aaron

August 29, 2007 7:33 PM

Well, you're Irish too; you ought to know by Aaron

Taking in her t-shirt and capris with moderate amusement, Aaron realised that he must have interrupted something. Knowing what he did about Kathleen, he figured it had to be meditation. He didn't quite understand what it was with Astronomy teachers and meditation. To be quite honest, he didn't quite understand meditation in general. The concept just completely passed over the top of his head. It didn't even rustle his black hair as it passed, as would have been appropriate and considerate. No, it just went right over his head, leaving a completely empty spot where his understanding of the topic and therefore his understanding of Kathleen (and Declan) (and, perhaps, Astronomy in general) should have been. But it didn't seem to impact their friendship all that much. Or at all, really.

One thing that Aaron had not fully expected to do at Sonora was become friends with his colleagues. At first because he was not exactly a social animal, then later because was acutely aware of his inexperience. Of course, as the year progressed, he had gradually become closer to Sadi. And then Kathleen had appeared. Their joint lesson had been rather fun, he thought. The students seemed to appreciate it at least. And the Colour-Changing Charm was a useful thing to know. At the very least, it could save you a few Galleons on paint.

"Just delivering some cookies," Aaron answered, skittering out of an explanation for the time being. "I was in my office," He was usually in his office, quarters, or classroom. "and since I'm packed nd my paperwork is done I figured I could make cookies."

Yeah, Aaron's mind actually did work like that. Nothing to do, and he made an oddly shaped batch of cookies. But that hadn't been it in this situation, of course. He had done things like worry about who he was going to have to tell and when, etc, etc. The food connection was never a bad thing, though, so he made cookies as a goodbye gift. Everybody loved cookies, particularly those shaped like iguanas with the tendency to wink cheekily at whomever happened to pick them up. A close second favourite of his was the dancing candycanes, although he hadn't managed to get those quite right yet. The idea was rather clever he thought, though.

"Ready for summer?" he asked absently, looking about the room.

0 Aaron Well, you're Irish too; you ought to know 0 Aaron 0 5

Kathleen

August 30, 2007 10:29 PM

Aye, and That's What Worries Me by Kathleen

Kathleen looked down at the winking cookies and smiled ruefully. Not fair, McKindy, not fair to just jump and run like you’re going to the corner apothecary instead of half way around the world She wasn’t sure how old he is but the past few months, Kathleen had come to look on him as a younger bother, a possible “partner in crime”. Was that how her own kin felt when she’d left? Probably more so. She had to get back to them for a visit as soon as she could.

“Oh yes,” Kathleen answered. “A quick trip to visit my folks and then spend the rest of the summer decompressing at my farm.” She glared at him with mock consternation. She couldn’t resist a bit of guilt tripping, after all her mother had it down to a fine art and everybody said she was her mother’s daughter. “I had hoped to entertain a friend, or two while I was there. But that doesn‘t seem to be in the cards this year.”

Her eyes smarted. Running a hand though her hair and taking a deep breath, she snatched up the box of cookies and turned away. She refused to get sappy about this, sentimental maybe, but not sappy.

“Come into my office,” She said over her shoulder as she led the way. “I’ve something for you too.”

She set the cookies on her desk on top of some lesson plans for the new year and walked over to the set of shelves that held her teas and herbs. Reaching as high as she could, she grabbed a small earthen jug. Setting it on the desk, she conjured two tin cups.

“It’s my Da’s own brew.” She explained, her bright smile back in place. “He made me swear not to crack the seal without a friend to share it. I think now is the proper time.”

\n

0 Kathleen Aye, and That's What Worries Me 0 Kathleen 0 5

Aaron

August 31, 2007 8:47 PM

Well, you're worrying me, so I suppose that's fair by Aaron

Making people feel entirely guilty was Kathleen's forte, apparently. Aaron's gray-green eyes shot back to the woman as she responded to his perfectly innocent and sociable question. And her response was somewhat pointed. All right, somewhat might have been a bit of an understatement. It was very pointed, an acompanied by something of a glare. Then she turned away and abruptly headed towards her office. He almost thought the Astronomy professor was going to ask him to leave, until she ordered him to enter her office. Pausing a moment to shoot a half-longing glance at the door that headed out into the hallway--then reminding himself that he got himself into this mess--he did as she...suggested.

However, Aaron did not actually enter her office. He stayed awkwardly at the door, half in and half out. Or, more appropriately, leaned against the frame of the door, tilting his head so that it was also resting against the frame. Kathleen bustled around her office, retrieving some sort of jug, conjuring cups, et cetera. The charms professor watched her, but made no move to actually enter the office. And then she turned back to him with something of a creepy smile on her face. Although he assured himself that it was not meant to be creepy, Aaron was still inclined to use that adjective because it seemed so out of place with the rest of what she had been doing and so forth.

He was not, by far, the most adept person at divining human emotions. In fact, it was a pretty fair estimation to say that if it had been a subject he were to be tested on, he would have ranked, at most, a D. Probably a P. Not so bad as a T, though. And it was his projected-P-grade skills that enabled him to divine that Kathleen was not a very happy person at the moment. Thankfully, his logical connections synapses were working perfectly well at the moment, and he was perfectly capable of figuring out that, from her pointed comments and quasi-moodswings, that she probably already knew that he had accepted the job offer.

However, in a very Aaron-esque style, he decided to restate the obvious anyway. Shutting his eyes, he spoke. "I've decided to accept the job offer," open eyes, continue speaking. "It's not that bad so far as distance goes," yes it was. "and I'll owl. Or, not owl. There's this thing, a sort of Apparating charm, Declan calls it Banish-Send post." The tips of his ears turned slightly pink at that, but he went on. "Anyway, it's better than long distance owling. I mean, I'll keep in touch...."

Or he would try. Aaron was absolutely horrid at keeping up with owlpost.

0 Aaron Well, you're worrying me, so I suppose that's fair 0 Aaron 0 5

Kathleen McFarlan

September 02, 2007 10:44 PM

Don't worry...Be Happy by Kathleen McFarlan

“I would appreciate that. It would be good to know how you’re doing.” Kathleen nodded concentrating on pouring the clear potin into the mugs. The way Aaron spoke, he was leaving very soon, perhaps that day. She couldn’t bring herself to ask. She’d grown rather fond of the awkward professor in the self designed robes and pink bubble hat.

She also wasn’t going to say she would expect him to hate his new job. He needed to be in a learning atmosphere with students and the chaos and rewards and headaches and all. A factory, even in a high position would never suit him. She hoped she’d judged Aaron McKindy wrong and he'd love it. Kathleen truly wished him well. It was his path and she’d no right to judge his decisions.

Before she handed him a mug, she opened a small chest that sat on her desk. It contained a variety of unpolished, crystals. She chose a light green one and put it at the end of the desk. She used the crystals in her spiritual rituals quite often and each one had magical properties and powers.

“Take this with you and keep it in a pocket or on a chain.” Kathleen said softly. “It is peridot. It brings good luck, protection from evil, and attracts success. And don’t you smirk at me ye bloody agnostic! This magic is just as ancient, just as powerful as natural magic even if it works more subtly. Just don’t wear it next to your sternum, its electromagnetic field can mess with your heart’s rhythm. That’s science, not superstition. At least keep to remember those who’ll be thinking of you.”

Kathleen then offered a cup to Aaron. “I should warn you, it drinks cool and clean but it has a bit of a kick to it.” She would see him off good and proper. No tears, no recriminations or she’d be hanged. Holding her cup up she saluted her friend.

“A toast to your future… May the saddest day of your future be no worse than the happiest day of your past. May you have warm words on a cold evening, a full moon on a dark night, and the road downhill all the way to your door. May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light, may good luck pursue you each morning and night and until we meet again, may God hold you in the hollow of His hand but not too tightly.” Kathleen took a large swallow of the potin to seal the blessing. A bit overdone, but blessings and curses were the heart and soul of her family’s culture. She'd be remiss in her duty to her heritage if she didn't follow tradition at a time such as this.

\n

0 Kathleen McFarlan Don't worry...Be Happy 1467 Kathleen McFarlan 0 5