He knitted his brows, clearly thinking hard. After a moment, a bell seemed to ring. "Ah, yeah, the shop that Three Owl Standard's associated with, right?" He flushed slightly, a bit embarrassed. He wasn't exactly in on the 'music scene' of either world. Most of the music he got exposed to or sought out these days was Muggle, anyway - you couldn't exactly Youtube 3OS. But shop's name did ring a bell. He'd probably walked past it a few months ago when they'd gone to get Cyhirae her supplies. That or Sonya's gossip mags had mentioned it.

Tapendra sighed at the mention of the recession. "I lucked out there - had a steady job before that hit. It's good she found work - is she doing well in Diagon Alley?"

As Sasha grew quiet and looked down, he realized the mistake of mentioning family. He sat up, pushing Kepler into his lap. "I'm sorry, Schlagenweit," he said. "It's a hard time for you. Don't worry about answering if it makes you uncomfortable."

As he spoke, he stood up, brushing his jeans off and looking the boy up and down. When the boy lied he managed to contain his sigh - but he couldn't stop the heartfelt thought of poor bastard.

"A disappointment? How?" Slipped out before he could stop it, and he echoed Sasha's downward look. "Sorry."

"My sister's boss is having a baby with the lead singer."  It was Sasha's six degrees of separation to someone famous.  "I haven't actually met any of them."  The band's music wasn't really his type but his sister seemed to enjoy it.  He, himself, hadn't given the band much thought before his sister started at Reducto.  "I don't really listen to them." 

Sasha wasn't sure if the difference was purely luck though that probably was a big influence.  Professor Tapendra was a professor and had a university education.  Though the economy was such that everyone was feeling it, from PhDs like Tapendra to university dropouts like his sister.  Except, oddly, top executives in the banking industry. "She's doing alright.  I mean, there has been some trouble - someone threw a brick through the window before the holidays.  But, she's tried to keep to her own.  She's got thick skin."  She always had. 

"I didn't break enough rules.  I didn't take risks and come clean to my parents.  I played it safe."  It seemed like someone's bitter joke.  He'd tried to play it safe and look where it got him.  "I wasn't who he wanted me to be.  Maybe he's proud, now."  He shrugged, again, and looked down to the book in his lap.  "I don't know - I thought I knew him better than I did."

It was probably a good thing that Sasha was looking down; the expression on Tapendra's face at his words was one that shifted from surprise to a kind of   distant horror. He fell silent, walking to the edge of the alcove and abruptly sitting on the stairs, looking at the enchanted windows.

He'd heard those words before - from his own mouth, about a man who he could only pray he'd never see or hear from again. Huh - now that he worked here is was more likely, admittedly. But so long as Vedir didn't seek him out, Tappy was definetly not going to look for him. He'd never forget the man's eyes - they'd been so kind until then. Until...he visiably shuddered. No - he wasn't going to go back there, even in his thoughts.

Kepler's paw landed on his thigh, and Tapendra jolted, realising where he was, and what he silence might be interperated as. He looked down at the Keazle in surprise, visually composed himself, and glanced over his shoulder at Sasha. "I'm sorry, Schlagenweit," he said as a reflex. What the heck could he say? To be honest, he wasn't sure - he sighed and decided honesty was the best tactic, for now.

"I had a...somewhat similar experience," he said slowly, hoping that Sasha's wasn't that similar. "So I know how that can..feel, in a way. I..." he thought for a moment, and looked at Sasha sadly. "I'm sorry you went through that. I wouldn't wish it on anyone."

The man across from him made a sudden move and Sasha quickly looked up from the book.  But, nothing seemed out of place.  The cat had settled itself in the Professor's lap - nothing else seemed to have changed.  The professor's eyes seemed distant, though - disconnected.  Sasha watched him cautiously but after only a moment, the man seemed to gather himself again and turned back to Sasha. 

The Ravenclaw blushed, unable to ignore the strange, inexplicable awkwardness of the moment but unsure how to go about rectifying it. 

He shrugged, dismissively, at the man's apology and took a deep breath.  "It's not that big of a deal, really."  Compared to everything else, perhaps it really wasn't.  He'd just felt betrayed and confused.  And, now, Sasha was just trying to find something to blame for everything that seemed to be going wrong.  "I don't really like to complain.  I just ... I'm sorry." 

"That had just been a bad weekend, really," he admitted, not entirely sure why he was continuing to explain.  But, Professor Trishna was listening and it did feel good to talk.  "He was recovering from the whole ... you know ... the-"  he grimaced, nodding his head pointedly, hoping the Professor would fill in the blank.  He didn't want to have to say werewolf bite out loud.  "I'd been there, you know?  When it happened.  I wasn't supposed to - some classmates had dragged me out.  He was walking us back when it attacked."  He'd been trying to apologize - had been trying to offer some repentance for his misstep but Greyfriar wouldn't have it.  "It doesn't matter, does it?" 

Compared to everything that had happened to Schlagenweit lately, it made logical sense that it wasn't that big of a deal, it really did. But Tapendra had a hard time accepting that, in his head. His own life's version of the events had been...well, a big deal, for lack of a better term. But then he doubted Greyfriar had hit Sasha with a Cruciatus Curse to show he was serious. Tapendra shuddered, minutely, and forced his mind back to the present - and to Sasha's issues.

He looked up from stroking Kepler's head as Sasha continued. "I'd say it does matter," he said, thoughtfully. "Being at the scene of an attack - werewolf or otherwise - always leaves an impression, Schlagenweit. Especially if the victims are our loved ones." Not that the boy needed to be told that. He probably know that better than Tapendra, honestly.

"It matters, Schlagenweit," he repeated, looking back down at Kepler. "Everything matters, just in differing amounts - as much as we shape ourselves we're shaped by the desires and actions of others. Dissapointing someone we respect, making them proud, having them turn on us - it all matters, in the end." He smiled vaguely. "Hah, sorry. I'm not really old enough to even begin to try the 'words of wisdom' stuff, am I?"

"Yeah, well, he wasn't one, was he," Sasha snapped, reflexively.  The victims in that incident hadn't been loved ones, had they?  Respected authority figure and a ... whatever Fauna was ... but not a loved one.  Those were different - if Sasha was going to complain about the effects of the attack on loved ones, it wasn't going to be there.  But, almost immediately, he flushed and looked out the window, ashamed of his own outburst.  He ran his fingers through his hair before looking back towards Professor Trishna.  "I'm sorry.  That was out of line.  I just ... I was responsible and I'd been trying to explain but he wouldn't hear any of it.  He tried to make it into this non-issue.  If he doesn't care, why should I?" 

Were they even just talking about Greyfriar anymore?  Everything had been so confusing and jumbled lately, it was hard to keep all the thoughts separated.  He did not care what Greyfriar thought anymore - at least, with time, he'd convince himself thoroughly of that. 

He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, shakily.  The man's apology fell, largely, on deaf ears - Sasha hadn't thought it was necessary and didn't think age had anything to do with it.  Advice, words of wisdom - at this point, he felt like he could use whatever he could get.  No matter the source.  "I don't know.  I'm just really trying to get things back together.  Get some sense of control, again.  I'm sorry - you probably don't really ... this has nothing to do with classwork."  The man probably wasn't all that interested with the ups and downs (mostly downs, recently) of Sasha's personal life.

He flinched, minutely, as the boy snapped. Sensitive subject, of course. He let the boy collect himself, watching him draw breath and calm himself, before he spoke.

"I don't mind talking about it, Schlagenweit," he said calmly. "If you need to get things off your chest, talking it out often helps." He flashed the boy a quick smile. "If you don't want to, don't feel pressured - and don't worry it has nothing to do with classwork." He picked up Kepler again, looking down at the cat. "If that was all I talked to students about it'd get lonely fast," he said with a chuckle. "There's only so much socializing you can get from talking about stars." His smile faltered. "And the faculty aren't much either, to be honest - I'm not really...." He sighed. "I'm not much of a social butterfly, anyway," he said, mostly to himself. Then he shrugged and looked back to Sasha.

"If you'd like to keep talking about this, Schlagenweit, we can," he said. "I don't want you to be too uncomfortable."

Sasha turned and looked at the fire, watching the flames flicker in the hearth.  He hadn't meant to snap.  He was usually much better at maintaining some sense of emotional control.  And, if he hadn't been lying - if he really, truly, didn't care what Greyfriar thought, it shouldn't effect him emotionally. 

"I don't need to get anything off my chest.  I'm fine," he said, flatly, familiar and stubborn walls quickly rebuilding themselves.  All this emotion and all this regret was all part of his self-inflicted retribution.  He'd brought this upon himself; nothing in life was accidentally or coincidental.  He'd made a mistake in sneaking out of the castle and the guilt he felt for the attack were the consequences.  He shouldn't have lied to his parents; perhaps there was some truth in the things they'd said and this - all of this - was his repentance.  He had no right and was in no position to complain.  He had to be fine; comparatively, he certainly was in no position to complain. 

"There's nothing to talk about.  It's in the past.  I've just got to get caught up on everything.  I'm sorry, sir."

He nodded, curtly, taking the hint. Standing, he absently brushed his pants off to avoid meeting Sasha's gaze.

"I'll let you get back to it, then," he said cheerfully, his smile belaying his unease. "Let me know if you need help with math or something - it'll be more interesting than..." he waved his hand vaguely at the mess the classroom was," Organizing this."

With that, he stepped out of the alcove and went back to putting things away. This he was happy to use magic for - with waves of his wand books started to fly into the shelves around his desk and papers swirled around the globe, putting themselves in order and filling the room with a loud rustling sound as they did. He winced at the noise and used a second spell to quiet it, glancing at Sasha apologetically.