Gale had wondered if he was ever going to get anything right in life. He spent his days as empty as his nights, and hardly went home on the weekends. His new home seemed as empty and barren as a gloomy meadow when there wasn't sunlight to warm it. He hated the way that his heart shifted and changed with every new bit of emotion that came to rise like the tide. He wished that he could find peace long enough to just let love in, but no matter what happened or what sort of partner he found there always seemed to be something that went wrong. He had purchased that big farmhouse so that he could have somewhere to belong, but like the restless wind he felt his spirit everywhere. Having grown up in a family of travelers there wasn't much that ever kept him in one place for long, and like his namesake he counted down the hours until he could sing freely through the night. However, now tucked in between the stacks of books he lost himself in a distant fantasy of dragons and knights, lords and ladies, until he became blind to his surroundings.

The library was a host of activity, but the one eyed Charms Professor couldn't have noticed a fire directly in front of him, even if it burned him. Dressed without his robes today, Gale looked as though he belonged more in the dorms than he did on a professional level. The Romany born wild child, preferred natural fabrics of muggle attire, and seemed to be lost in his frumpy old man sweater. He kept his hair back in his comb, but it looked as though at any moment it would fall free, threatening to spill over his shoulders as though it were made of spider's webs. Perched on the edge of his nose the glasses he used for reading were pushed back more than once, but once he got into the book there wasn't much that could break his thoughts.

Gale tucked away in one of the long aisles, hoping that he could get his reading finished in silence, but a strange sound broke his thoughts as he swore to have heard the flapping of wings. With the last few sentences of the text still puzzling over his mind, Gale looked up to watch as the shadow of a small bird chased over head and he closed the book slowly as if still trying to process that something other than an owl was flying about inside the library. Perhaps it was one of the students familiars, and somehow had gotten out. He did look frazzled as he flitted from one shelf to the other, but just as Gale was starting to stand he heard a loud,


Thunk!

The bird had struck the window, or perhaps one of the shelves. Either way it sounded painful and he sat the book down to quickly go and scoop up the little guy.

"Hey there," He started in a quiet and calm voice as he tried to sooth the little bird, "Let's slow down a little hmm?" He looked at the little thing now in the palms of his hands and brushed his thumb over the feathers of it's breast, "Are you hurt?"

Today was an off day if ever there was one. He started out by accidentally breaking one of his teapots, and then he was out of tea! So he had to drink coffee to start his day. Now, Adelebert Hughes is rather sensitive to caffeine, and coffee has a much higher concentration of it than the average black tea.  He was jittery all morning. He spent every second he could flitting around in his chickadee form. It was a good workout, flying about as fast as he could. It helped him with all the excess energy.

He decided to fly around the library and see which nooks and crannies he could fit in—but one of the students’ cat started chasing him, and in his panic he flew into the window and fell onto the still.

Only to be picked up by the Charms professor?

He and Gale had never really spoken, other than the basic introductions. He seemed like a nice enough man. Bertie ruffled his feathers and let out a small chirping noise. He hopped out of Gale’s hand and transformed, wincing as he felt his body shift into place.

“I’m alright, not hurt at all.” He turned and gave the orange tabby a fierce look. “Just got a bit spooked is all. Everything’s lovely now. Just lovely.” Bertie held out his hand in an offer to shake it, “Nightingale Kesali, if I remember correctly?” He withdrew his hand, only to go digging in his pocket, “Charms professor. I made you something—“ He pulled a woodsy green wand cozy with a crescent moon bauble hanging off it.   He had made wand cozies for the entire staff. Gale was no exception.

If his heart was racing enough as it was from the little bird, and as it ruffled in his hands he smiled a little. Yet, when the bird changed into a man Gale jumped a little, and just looked frigid and cold. He wasn't the most liked Professor here, but damn it he wasn't trying. So when it came to new people he did his best to just keep his mouth shut and let them form their opinion so that he could take the force of the blows later. However, just as the bird had, this man was just as jittery and excited as if he still had wings, and Gale wanted to touch his shoulder just to make sure his feet were truly on the ground.

'I made you something--'

Gale raised his brows in a bit of his shock, though the rest of him remained as quiet as before. He made him something? Almost afraid of what was to be pulled out of this…crazy person's pocket Gale looked down to see the cozy sitting there and blinked a few times.

"Oh…" Say thank you Gale, take it and tell him thanks, "Thank you." The hand shake had almost knocked his too big glasses from his nose and he pushed them back. "It's very nice," That's it…keep talking, don't be awkward-sauce now.

"Hughes right? Transfiguration Professor." He gave the cozy a good look now, really liking the little moon charm and how soft the yarn was. He would use this, for sure. "I trust that you are settling in well?" Polite conversation was easier when he was distracted, but Gale hadn't had the chance to really look at the other man yet. Handsome thing that he was, Gale realized he totally had a type.