Cillian watched the others talk from a fair distance. He was nervous and wasn't quite sure what to do with himself, unfortunately that meant that he was drinking his beer a littler faster than he normally did. He glanced around at some of the waiters and bartenders that were working the party. He knew all of them even if they weren't his friends. Two of the girls that he had seen in waitress uniforms were his former students from the workshops he used to do at The Inner Eye before finally taking the job at Hogwarts and one of them he had even slept with. He gave her a bashful smile which she returned with a wink causing Cillian to blush harder.

Having the staff party in his town was making him rather uncomfortable. He was having a hard enough time figuring out whether he should be making friends amoungst his fellow teachers, he didn't think it would be any easier if they found out what he was like before coming back to Hogwarts. Not that he had been a horrible person or anything, most of the locals actually liked him but over the part eight years he had gained a reputation for being odd, eccentric and a complete lush.

Noticing that his enhanced nervousness over seeing one of his 'past flames' had caused him to finish his beer he approached the bar right as Myrni made her offer for drinks. Cillian gave her a shy but gentle smile, "No need Ms Levartian. I'll get that for you." Cillian took her empty glass and placed it on the bar ordering himself another beer and a spiced mead for the lady. He kept an ear open for anymore drink orders while he was there. He might as well at least try to be social with the other teachers if only to keep them from talking to the Signature Staff.

Outfit

Morrigan was running a few minutes behind, which irritated her more then she had cared to admit.  However, after trying to wrangle two overgrown dogs to a kennel so she wouldn’t have to worry about them destroying her chambers she had been forced to change thanks to one very large paw print in the middle of her first dress.  She knew she needed to speak with Kendal about his dog.  They were both simply too big to be constantly trying to play in her chambers.

Setting aside a warm wrap as she entered she surveyed those who had gathered already as she made her way straight to the bar.  She still wasn’t exactly speaking with Isaac after their argument a few weeks back and it seemed with the addition of one blonde counselor to the staff he hardly needed to seek out Morrigan for advice.  There was a definite divide among the staff.  Even when clumped together in one area it seemed there were two very distinct conversations going on and she had yet to decide where she fell among them all.

Approaching the bar she said to the bar tender, “I’ll take a spiced mead as well, please.”  She would need more then that to get through the evening.  The holidays were simply not her favorite time of year.  It meant the obligatory trip home to the States to sit through another dinner in Maryland with her parents and her sister’s picture perfect little family.  She loved her niece and nephew, but it was glaring reminder of the unspoken question in her mother’s mind as to when she planned to give up teaching and start a family.  The closer they got to the end of the year and the end of midterms the closer she was to having to sit through that particularly uncomfortable meal.

Anna’s eyebrows shot up a bit at the response from Bombay, not that she found herself entirely surprised by the tone based on Isaac’s stories of their past encounters.  How the man had managed to be on staff at a school was beyond her, but she quickly let it go.  If he wanted to get someone’s goat tonight he had simply picked the wrong person.  No garden gnome was going to bring the down the first truly good mood she had managed to find in weeks.

No, Graham Bombay was simply a cranky little man and she wasn’t about to allow him to irritate her as much as she wanted to rush to defend a friend.  “Of course there will be musical entertainment later,” she said, turning her best grin towards him.  “Once we’ve all had a chance to talk like adults of course…I’d hate to have to begin the evening by screaming to be heard.  It sort of puts a bit of a damper on the spirit of a holiday party, don’t you think?  However, it is also wise to try to cater to all tastes at these events…you know try to make everyone feel welcome and included.”

Was the grin a little forced as she spoke?  Perhaps.  Would anyone really be able to tell the difference?  Probably not.  She had gotten very good over the last few weeks of plastering a fake smile on her face.  This one was perhaps the closest thing to an actual, real grin that she had managed since she had packed the few things she absolutely needed and left the home she had purchased with her husband to move into her uncle’s home just outside of London.

Turning back towards those around her she decided a change of topic was in order and said, “I’m sure you will all be as glad for the vacation as the students.  Does anyone have anything interesting planned for the break?”

"I...uh....sure," Myrni said to the eager Cillian who had already taken her glass and went to the bar for the drinks. It was on her tongue to tell him that she had an ulterior motive for asking others for a drink--so she could escape the awkwardness that came with small talk. She had been dreading that sort of thing all evening. Surely someone was going  to ask her about where Nathaniel was that evening and why she was attending solo. And some might come to the conclusion that their relationship was on the rocks or that there was something wrong with them as a couple.

Sure enough, there came a question about what everyone was going to be doing over the break and the Arithmancy professor considered the options ahead. More than likely, she and her fiancee would be spending some time in Wales with his family at one of the numerous holiday gatherings they had. Those gatherings almost always entailed some family member shooting her a scathing look that all but told her they didn't approve of her joining the Whitman clan.

Myrni much rather liked the thought of heading over to the states to spend time with her own family on her material branch of the tree. Sadly, because of work, Nathaniel might not come for more than just dinner.

With a sigh, Myrni clasped her hands together and made her way to the bar anyway to retrieve the drink that Cuthbert was getting her. To that point, she was walking quite well in those blasted heels of hers. But as she approached Bombay, she tottered unexpectedly and to prevent herself from toppling over, she instinctively reached out and grasped onto his arm to help provide her a steady support

Once she regained her balance, her apologetic eyes flew to Bombay's face and she retracted her hand from his arm as if he were on fire. Mortified, her fair cheeks now flushed, she barely managed to breath, "I'm so sorry about that, Graham."

"And another, Cuthbert," Graham called out.  He had originally planned to start with a stronger beverage, but he wasn't sure even that would guarantee a fun evening.  Besides, he hated walking to the bar.  Especially the paying part.  That was one of the best perks of the evening. Although why Wickwood would imagine anyone wanting to talk with each other was quite laughable.  "And you've certainly accomplished that," Graham replied, deflecting the hidden barb with his own sarcasm.  If he had his way, there would be a lot more attractive people, stronger spirits and a certain lack of other professors. And perhaps more foliage.

As to the change of subject, Graham couldn't say he had any plans other than, "Not being here."  Of course, not being at the castle meant he was home with his mother and whatever abominable plans she had for creating a false-pretense of a major religious holiday.  He would more than likely be hiding out all vacation, but as long as he could still hide, Graham would be fine.  And he could tend to his gardens without interruption or threat of arson.  It was ridiculous how great a relief it was to be free from the latter. 

Of course, a polite well-mannered person would inquire as to Wickwood's plans but Graham found himself not caring in the slightest.  Someone else would ask, and he'd be forced to hear it anyway, probably in greater detail than she might have said if he asked.  Then he'd only hear it twice and at greater length.  He turned away, determined to find a less annoying interaction.  And it found him.

A sudden hand on his arm awoke Graham from his pre-Christmas, forced socialization apathy.  A lady's hand.  On his arm.  Graham was suddenly also aware of how long it had been since he had touched or been touched by another human being.  It was odd.  He looked up at her, quite bewildered, only to realize that she was not just unusually in attractive clothing, but fairly attractive herself.  In fact, he had thought so at first sight but the lengths of time away from other faculty members had deadened the memory.  Now it was suddenly alive.  Quite suddenly.

She blushed and apologized, and Graham realized once more it had been a long time, quite a long time since he had made a woman blush that was not a sign of anger.  He took the opportunity to look her over and let the slightest, the very slightest, of smiles appear.  Anything larger would alert Reid to immediately spoil his moment of not being bored.  "Not at all.  Tricky things, shoes. I hate them, personally," He replied, not sure how to navigate the situation. 

"It caters to my tastes and strengths, and leaves me plenty of time to attend to my House. I can't think of a worthier pursuit than that." Landis replied assured of his words. "Don't worry," he added with a smile, "I get out."

With teeth like that, Ignan wondered for a moment, he wondered if was only at night... Catching sight of two of his colleagues at the bar with red faces, as one tripped on their over indulgent pair of footwear, Ignan turned back.
"Perhaps it will not take so many drinks to enter into caroling and other seasonable cheer - particularly for some." He tilted his head towards Bombay and Levartian.

"Another?" He offered, and then noted Landis wasn't even clasping a drink in the first place.

Since spiced mead seemed to be the drink of the night, Aileen fetched a glass for herself and returned to the group in time to hear Bombay wonder where the music was. She exchanged a sympathetic glance with Arianna, but the woman responded smoothly and then asked if they had anything interesting planned for winter break.

Now Aileen knew very well how annoyed Bombay got whenever she brought up Egypt, but that was a bonus, in her eyes. If others found it boring too, well, they were more than welcome to chime in about their plans.

"I'll be returning to Cairo in a few weeks to tie up a few loose ends there," she replied, then hesitated. Myrni and a few others knew that her little sister was staying with her. Aileen had been making an effort lately to mention Abby more often, though she still got an uneasy feeling in her gut whenever she needed to explain that her sister was a squib.

"My younger sister is coming with me. She's most excited about the shopping, it seems," Aileen smiled wryly, arching an eyebrow when Myrni stumbled by the bar. Oh for Merlin's sake, she thought, she hadn't even had much to drink yet. For the sake of her friend, Aileen resisted snickering when Bombay stared at Myrni's hand on his arm as if it were the holy grail.

"Anyone else have plans?" she offered politely, turning her attention back to the group.

Completely unaware of Myrni's true reason for grabbing the drinks Cillian went on his merry way grabbing the ales for himself and the Arithmancy Professor as well as one more for Bombay after the slightly taller Herbology Professor requested one. Equally unaware of the situation that Myrni and Graham were currently in Cillian came by their sides and offered their drinks with a smile. He wasn't socially awkward or inept by any means he was just really unobservant when it came to other people.

With the extra ales taken off his hands Cillian lifted his own glance with a quiet cheers and turned to Aileen figuring he might as well add to the conversation. He had already chosen to throw himself to the wolves by getting them drinks, there was no sense in running away now. However the subject of doing something special for the holidays was somewhat foreign to him. During his youth he spent time with family during the holidays but once he started to attend Hogwarts he had stayed at the Castle during the winter and Easter breaks, his parents feeling it was best thing for him, to be around his own people. Then after the second wizard war and subsequently coming out of his coma his family was no where to be found and suspected to be victims of the Death Eaters. Cillian had been spending the holidays by himself for over ten years now.

"I'll be spending the Holidays here in town," by here of course he meant Hogsmeade, "I actually live here." He added a little uncertainly afterwards wondering if he was just being redundant instead of informative.

Nearly crashing into him had been embarrassing enough, and calling him Graham seemed awkward on top of that, but in this setting it was undoubtibly the logical thing to do for the arithmancy professor. Afterall, they were in an informal setting, right? But she was unprepared for her fellow professor to turn around and be uncharacteristically...charming. Was this the same Herbology professor who was always so moody with her whenever they interacted? Granted, it had always been about something regarding their respective houses, and lately, it seemed to center on a few of the students in her house running off on the rebel rousers bandwagon. So pleasant interactions they had rarely been.

Which was why she nearly did a double take when she detected a hint of a smile. Did Graham even know how to smile? Or maybe it was one of his potions that he was drinking to help him in that regard? Even if it was an enhanced smile, something told Myrni that she had better not look a gift horse in the mouth.

She took a deep breath--one filled with some relief--and ventured a tentative smile back at him. "Thank you for...allowing me to use you to keep from falling," she said as a means of lightheartedly joking. She hardly wanted to spoil his good mood while it lasted.

At his comment about the shoes, she looked down at the blasted things and wryly agreed, "Yes, they are indeed tricky." She lowered her voice and tilted her head a little closer to tell him, "Don't tell Aileen this because I'm afraid it will hurt her feelings, but I hate them as well." She paused, wondering if Graham might use that bit of information against her somehow. But giving him the benefit of the doubt, she opted to continue not being guarded with him. "But I do agree that they go better with a dress like this than some of my flats. So I suppose that's the trade off. Beauty for comfort."

When Cillian returned bearing drinks, Myrni quietly thanked him and quickly sipped from the glass, suddenly feeling as though her lips were unbearably dry despite knowing that she had hardly talked that much yet at all.

As the rest of the professors proceeded to speak about what they would be doing over break, Myrni felt the sudden urge to retreat into obscurity. She really had no desire to talk about her plans for the break as they full of everything and then nothing at all. And surely the everything would be cause for endless gossiping.

Forgetting any concept of taking lady-like sips from her drink, Myrni practically downed the entire glass in one gulp. She swallowed hard before her eyes nervously darted to Bombay's face. "Um...so where is home for the Bombays?"

Thankfully the subject quickly moved away from singing.  There were times that Isaac really wasn’t sure having an old school friend on the staff was a good thing especially after being volunteered by one Arianna Wickwood.  He was certain his cheeks had turned a little pink as he looked over at her trying to find a way out of this whole situation.
 
The topic of winter break was one of those that had him a bit torn as to just how much he was looking forward to the time off.  Being at Hogwarts allowed him a certain amount of distraction from his own family drama and during the holidays he knew he was going to be thrown right back into the middle of it with only so much hope for a few minutes of escape.  With a little luck it would be relatively peaceful and he could get some work done on his book.

“I’ll most likely be going between my parents’ home in Portree for this family gathering and my house,” he said, with a slight shrug.  “It’s a chance to hopefully get some non-class related work done.”

She was kind of...cute, Graham was surprised to find.  The idea of sharing a secret was sweet, and Graham was particularly pleased to find it was against Aileen.  "Never be afraid to hurt Aileen's feelings.  It's good for her, every once in a while," he replied teasingly.  Except it was true.  The woman had far too high an opinion of herself.  Graham took his drink from Cuthbert, nodding his thanks as Leviartian went on about shoes and dresses or something.  He had learned to tune out woman-talk long ago.

"Horsham," he replied, glad the subject was off of shoes.  He took another drink from his glass, and noticed with a cringe that Aileen was talking about Egypt this and Egypt that.  "Want to get some air? It's a bit stuffy, here." Of course most of the stuffiness was from the combination of Aileen's ego and Isaac's chivalry. 

Myrni would always be afraid of hurting Aileen's feelings, or anyone's really, because that was just the type of person that she was. She barely had a malicious bone in her body, even towards those who might show her unkindness. So joking or not, Graham's suggestion that she should purposely maim the Runes professor's ego was something Myrni would never seriously entertain.

It wasn't long before Myrni realized she had been talking too much for her own good, or for the good of her current companion. She could tell that Graham wasn't interested in fashion or anything of that sort and so it seemed pointless to continue with that topic. Which was why she had haphazardly tossed out the question about where his family was from. Family was always a pleasant topic, right?

When he told her where his family was from, Myrni's brow furrowed as she tried to remember where exactly that was. When she had lived in England growing up, she was more familiar with its geography than she was now. After years of living stateside, she had had a whole new continent with which to familiarize herself.

Graham's next question startled her out of her thoughts. Maybe it was that surprise or her genuine lack of awareness of pureblood propriety and how such a suggestion might be construed, but she barely hesitated when accepting. "Sure. That sounds like a lovely idea, Graham."

She set down her empty glass and after a quick glance around at the other professors who seemed engrossed in chatting, she quietly followed Graham out of the party to partake in some fresh air.

---

Note: Graham and Myrni's little adventure will be continued in another thread (link incoming).

A lovely idea? The rare statement stuck in Graham's mind as he walked with Myrni towards the exit.  It had been a long time since anyone referred to an idea of Graham's as lovely, if ever.  It was on equal footing with his surprise that Professor Levartian--Myrni, had agreed.  Suddenly conscious of how he held his arms, Graham fought desperately not to think about it.  Just walk.  One foot, in front of the other, arms, slightly swinging.  Not too much, not too little, don't look like a robot...

He failed to recognize the two patrons leaving the club with the bouncers' assistance.  Instead, he was more worried about what he and Myrni might do once they had finished this arduous task of leaving Signature.  Merlin, he hoped Aileen wasn't watching.  Or maybe she should.  That's right, other people--women, especially, were fully capable of enjoying his company.  Fact.

Fighting the urge to peek back at his nemesis, Graham instead opened the door for the female professor, chilled slightly by the breeze that greeted them.  He took the long Ravenclaw scarf out of his coat pocket and wound it about his neck.  "I hear there's a path around here, if you'd like to walk."  Suggesting anything further seemed out of the question as Graham was still treading the fine line between too little and too much. 

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Exit Thread, Entry into Your Mission...