Kiva Kijewski
December 02, 2007 12:07 PM
Seeking a certain Groundskeeper by Kiva Kijewski
Kiva had been in touch with the retreat owners and everything was working itself out nicely for the trip in April. Schools around the country go to the retreat and often times, during the summers parents will send their children there as well. Spending time there was a way to give kids responsibility while having fun. It was one of the main reason the retreat was so popular and another reason why Kiva had chosen for the trip. It also didn't hurt the fact that she was good friends with the owner. Now that most of the work on setting up the trip has been completed, all Kiva needed to do was ask a couple of Professors for help. She already had them in mind, it was just convincing them to come that was the real issue.Her first choice was Simon. He had a good reputation with the students, he was good with animals, and Kiva trusted him. Her second choice was Amy. Amy was tough, she would keep the students in line, and Kiva knew in a difficult situation, Amy would keep a clear head. Her last choice was Thadeous Flatt. The new Professor. Kiva didn't know much about him and that was the main reason she was asking him to come. Having him there would give everyone a chance to get to know him. These were her choices and she only hoped that each one of them agreed. Her main concern was Amy as she wasn't necessarily the most social of people, but Kiva believed she could convince her... somehow.
Walking through the Labyrinth, Kiva tried to discern where exactly Simon might be, but there was no way for her to figure it out. She could have just sent him an owl asking to help her or even asking to meet her, but Kiva felt that he might be more inclined to accept her if they were face to face and Kiva made the effort. She only wished he was easier to find. She could have waited a bit longer to ask any of them since the trip wasn't until April and they were only in January, but Kiva wanted to get it all done and out of the way so that she didn't have to keep thinking about it. She wanted it to be a fun trip without any snags. So, the sooner everything fell into place, the better.
Finally deciding that just walking wasn't going to help find Simon sooner, Kiva opted for additional help, her voice. "Simon, are you out here?" Kiva called out into the silence of the day. "It's Kiva, I have something to discuss with you."
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Kiva Kijewski
Seeking a certain Groundskeeper
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Kiva Kijewski
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5
Paul Simon Tellerman
December 03, 2007 11:09 AM
Would that be this groundskeeper? by Paul Simon Tellerman
The clean-up from the Christmas Feast was done and everything still shone from the work done over midterm (it was fortunate Saul had decided to go home with his friend Echo instead of relying on Simon for transportation or company because Simon hadn't been that busy since the weather charms went wonky). Still, despite the great shape everything was in, there was still routine maintenance and path clearing to do.Simon bustled about, wand in hand, conducting the movements of his Second Order of Janitors (the First Order was out in another part of the Labyrinth, and the Third Order was inside keeping things clean in there) as if they were an unruly and self-abusive orchestra, when he heard his name. Letting the elves continue on without him, Simon tucked his wand over his ear and maneuvered between the hedges to get to where he'd heard the voice.
He spotted Kiva after only a brief search. Busy as he'd been over midterm, he had no real idea of whether she'd even been around or not so he smiled warmly at her (given it was still January and he'd already been outside for several hours, it was the warmest thing about him). "Hey, Kiva. Happy belated Holidays." Realizing he didn't have any sort of present for her on him, he pick off a twig of hedge, patted both his pockets for his wand, found it over his ear, and transfigured it into festive sprig of holly for her. Offering the gift, he asked, "How was your break?"
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Paul Simon Tellerman
Would that be this groundskeeper?
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Paul Simon Tellerman
0
5
Kiva
December 03, 2007 7:23 PM
The very one. by Kiva
It seemed using her voice had done the trick because no sooner had she called out to him did he appear in front of her with his usual charming smile. Her nose already numb from the cold, Kiva gave him a return smile, "Happy Belated Holidays to you as well." Kiva greeted, forcing her teeth to stay quiet as they threatened to chatter from the cold.She watched him curiously as he picked up a twig and then grab for his wand. Kiva just assumed he was doing something for his job and only realized that he wasn't when he handed her a thing of Holly. Laughing slightly in both amusement and embarrassment, Kiva took the Holly from him. "Thank you. It's quite lovely." Kiva, not knowing what else to do with the Holly, placed it in her hair so that it stuck out between her curls.
"My break was busy." Kiva admitted, though far better than her break had been the year previous. "Though I'm sure not as busy as yours with the feast having been outside." Kiva glanced around again. The Prairie elves certainly knew how to keep things looking orderly after much chaos. She shivered involuntarily. "I should have worn my heavier coat. Wishful thinking, I guess. I don't know how you can stand being out here for so long." Kiva commented, giving Simon a look.
She mentally shook herself to prepare her for this conversation. Simon was supposed to be the easy one out of the three, but already she was having second thoughts. Perhaps he was far too busy to be able to do it? "I actually have to ask a favor of you, if that's alright?"
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Kiva
The very one.
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Kiva
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Simon
December 05, 2007 4:55 PM
Then you seem to be in the right place by Simon
Simon smiled and rubbed his gloved hands together in a futile attempt to keep them warm as Kiva put the bit of holly into her hair. She looked really good like that. He nodded in approval, then nodded again with a heavy sigh and an exaggerated look of exhaustion when she ventured to guess that his holiday had been busy. "You have no idea," he agreed, but he was still grinning, so she would be able to tell that it hadn't been too bad.As she commented on her too light coat and commiserated on Simon's own less than Eskimo-like coverings, Simon shrugged, and pronounced the secret of his success, "It's all in the warming charms. I try to keep the inside lining of my coat as warm as Southern California." Of course, it was harder to regulate the extremities like hands, toes, and face, but he was in no real danger of freezing to death or even frostbite.
After another moment or two, she got to the business of what had probably brought her out into the cold today. "I actually have to ask a favor of you, if that's alright?"
Simon nodded, welcoming the chance to look at something other than paths, hedges, and snow. "Sure. Shoot. Ask away." He pulled his wand and renewed his warming charms and, while he was at it, bestowed one on Kiva because she was looking decidedly chilly.
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Simon
Then you seem to be in the right place
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Simon
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Kiva
December 06, 2007 6:48 PM
Lucky me then, *winks* by Kiva
Despite the fact that Kiva considered Simon a good friend, she still felt slightly awkward standing in his presence. Like she was a teenager again talking to the school Quidditch Captain. Mr. Popularity to her Ms. Loner. It was ridiculous of her to feel that way now that she was well into her adult her and had plenty of conversations with him in the past, but still... every so often the feeling would creep back up when around him.Kiva laughed and snapped her fingers (or tried too through her gloves), "I knew I was forgetting something." She said through her soft laugh about the charms. That was true enough. Kiva was so preoccupied with what she was going to say to each of them that she had forgotten the simple things like a heavier coat, a hat, and warming charms. It was a good thing she was getting all of this out of the way now before classes started again or else Kiva would have been completely frazzled.
"Right, okay." Kiva started when Simon gave her the okay. She had to think about the best way to start that, while she did, Simon was kind enough to send a warming charm her way. She smiled appreciatively to him. He really was quite the gentlemen. "Thank you. Er... I don't know if you've heard or not, but I'm taking my 5th and 6th years to a retreat at a ranch in April." Kiva paused for a moment before quickly plowing on.
"I was hoping that, if you had the time, that you'd be willing to come on the retreat with me-er-us. You wouldn't have to do anything aside from keep an eye out unless you wanted to. And if you don't want to, that's okay too." Kiva rambled for a moment before abruptly stopping and clamping her mouth closed. She felt quite warm and new it wasn't all from the heating charms. Thankfully, she was sure that the cold already had her face looking pink.
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Kiva
Lucky me then, *winks*
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Kiva
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Simon
December 07, 2007 4:20 PM
We both are. by Simon
He'd heard about the retreat. Not a lot about it, but that it was happening. He nodded acknowledgment that he wasn't completely out of the loop and she continued on to ask if he'd chaperon. "Absolutely," he agreed easily. "The elves can handle themselves for a few days, and I'd love the change of scenery."He grinned and bumped a gloved hand against the hedge they were standing beside. "I can only look at hedges for so long before going batty. Let me know which days and I'll make sure I don't have any gigs or shows scheduled for then. Is it over a weekend?"
The Las Vegas show was on Thursdays, but his musical gigs were usually arranged for Fridays or Saturdays. As he was mostly tagging along with the family shows now that they were on tour, though, he could get out of a weekend's worth without too much difficulty, especially this far in advance. The California Pierces weren't exactly lacking for acts.
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Simon
We both are.
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Simon
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Kiva
December 09, 2007 7:16 PM
Such the Charmer. by Kiva
Kiva visibly relaxed with Simon agreed to go on the retreat. She wasn't sure why she had been so anxious about asking him. Though, it worried her slightly for the fact that asking Simon had made her so tense what that would mean for her when she went off to ask Amy and Flatt. For now, she'd bask in the fact that Simon had agreed to come along."Excellent. I knew I could count on you, Simon." Kiva grinned. In her relief and excitment, Kiva hugged him before hastily retreating. "We'll leave early on a Friday and be back late that Sunday. I still have to work out some of the details, but that's definitely the plan for when we leave and come back." Kiva explained to him almost happily. "When I get more information on the days, I'll let you know right away."
A thought occurred to Kiva as she remembered a previous conversation she had had with Simon where she had been asking for his help. "Just so you know, I'll be asking Amy to come on the retreat with us. That won't be a problem, right? I know you had some sort of run-in with her before."
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Kiva
Such the Charmer.
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Kiva
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Simon
December 19, 2007 10:52 AM
Should I get out my snake basket? by Simon
For a moment, Simon couldn't figure out why asking Amy along on the trip would be a problem. Then he remembered that the last time he'd talked to Kiva as more than a hi-how-are-you, he'd been expecting imminent death after he'd teased the Quidditch coach about Wolfe. "Oh, yeah, no problem. She hasn't come after me so far. I figure I'm safe so long as I don't mention the W word in her hearing."Depending on how any conversation with her went, there was a good possibility he wouldn't be able to resist bringing up Wolfe, but at that point he would only have himself to blame. Anyways, he was taller than Amy was; he ought to be able to outrun her even if there were anti-apparition wards.
"So, it's just you, me, Amy, and a horde of young teenagers. Amy's probably a good one to have around. How many kids are there going to be?"
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Simon
Should I get out my snake basket?
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Simon
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Kiva
December 20, 2007 6:23 PM
Yes, please do. by Kiva
The W word? Kiva looked somewhat bewildered by the reference before figuring out that he meant the Medic. Simon hadn't really made sense to her that afternoon back when she was asking for help with the nifflers. Though, her mind had been slightly preoccupied at the time, so Simon may have made perfect sense, but Kiva's brain hadn't been making the connection."Okay, good." Kiva said, relieved that it wouldn't turn out to be a problem. At least, not at this stage of the planning. She wasn't exactly sure just how well the two of them would play together stuck in a cabin together and having to look out for the students. Perhaps the fact that Kiva and (hopefully) Flatt would be there might keep the two from arguing. Or Simon from mis-behaving.
"Well, you, me, and hopefully Amy and Thaddeous, the new History of Magic Professor." Kiva explained. "There will be roughly twenty students altogether. Which is the main reason why I'm requesting Flatt to come along too, to help keep the boys in control. The students don't always seem to like to listen to me, so I figured, the more Staff, the better."
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Kiva
Yes, please do.
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Kiva
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