Sasha could feel his grin start to falter but forced it back into place.  In many ways, and indeed in most ways, living in the Eleor-Katz household was infinitely easier and more comfortable than living in his own home.  His stepfather had had very high expectations and a very narrow view point of what was acceptable.  Getting caught deviating outside those parameters meant facing harsh consequences.  Both Akiva and Dreogan hardly raised their voices.  Neither had been pleased when Sasha had sneaked out on New Year's eve but their reactions had been nothing like what he would have expected at home. 

But, still, the loss of freedom had not been an easy transition.  His mother couldn't have cared less what he did or didn't do - just so long as it hadn't interfered with her busy social schedule.  His stepfather pretty much left him to rise and fall by their own successes or mistakes. 

Sasha understood they believed these restrictions were for his benefit and safety but ... he just wasn't sure.  Sasha had a suspicion that Kronos was more aware of what was going on than he let on.  Despite Dreogan and Akiva's reservations about the man, that knowledge gave Sasha an even heightened sense of safety and security.  He believed, he was safer out and about now than he'd ever been before.  Unfortunately, though, he couldn't explain that to either of his hosts.  And he liked living with Akiva and Dreogan.  He enjoyed being around them.  But, outside of the house, life was so very restrictive.  He couldn't sit at home all day and getting escorted everywhere felt so suffocating.  He'd already been shut off from his life at school and most of what remained of his life back here in London was in the muggle world and, therefore, beyond reach.  Unless he had an escort.  Which would be too difficult to explain to his teammates without breaking secrecy laws.  He appreciated everything Dreogan and Akiva did for him but it also felt very alienating and lonely. 

Classes, at least, offered an outlet and Sasha was enjoying them immensely - much of that seamless transition he owed to Professor Katz. 

"At least, for now, that'd work," Sasha agreed with a nod.  He couldn't hep but think that regularly changing the seasons on the walls would grow wearisome.  But, then, he was sure with a little research he and Akiva could figure out how to put on that finishing touch.  It was a shame one couldn't google spells.  At least, as far as he knew.  Maybe, one day.  "We could continue to work on it, too.  Like a work in progress.  Until we can put that last touch on it.  Or, you get tired of it and redecorate." 

The colors on the screen stopped dancing and Sasha quickly shut it down and disconnected the power - just to be safe.  Akiva gave it another try and, again, hiccuped.  It hadn't hindered the magic much, though.  It looked right, other than being a few months behind.  Other than a few very cold looking green trees.  "There's bound to be a metaphor in there somewhere.  You could rent the room to poets whenever they figure out where I'm going." 

"Are you, you know, alright?  Did you eat something strange?"  Sasha, of course, knew the answer to that.  They'd eaten the same thing.  Minus the sausage.  "Did you eat too quickly?"

“I feel like I need some more practice,” Akiva laughed awkwardly, rubbing the back of her neck.  She did not know what was going on.  She knew that she could do it before, and it just seemed like it didn’t want to work now.  Did it have something to do with her new wand?  She hadn’t had problems with it before, but she supposed a different kind of magic – maybe she just hadn’t done something like this since she got the new one….

Wrinkling her nose, she tapped her wand against her hand, wondering what was wrong with it – her cheeks turning a bright pink.  “I’ll see what I can find in the library,” she added, “or I’ll stop at Flourish & Blott’s after work one day.  We will get this right.” 

It was a matter of pride at this point, she had talked it up and now she had shivering trees that were bright green – it was bizarre.  Rubbing the area of her stomach where her diaphragm was located, she wondered what on Earth was going on. 

Laughing softly at Sasha’s optimism about the whole thing, Akiva shook her head.  “Your room will stay empty when you’re not here,” Akiva assured him, “Except, you know, when I’m trying to fix this,” she motioned to the walls, still frowning just a little, her hand rubbing her stomach in the meantime. 

He was also very observant about the hiccups and Akiva pursed her lips.  “I… don’t think so, I mean, we ate the same thing…. And took the same amount of time to do it.”  She had been feeling a bit nauseous lately, but it wasn’t for very long, just spurts of it – and never had she had the hiccups like this.  She didn’t think anything was really wrong.  She just never had this happen! 

She wrapped her fingers around the wand again and tapped the tip to her temple, pursing her lips.  “I just think something is go-“ she should have known better, as soon as she started to hiccup she could feel her head warming up.  Nervous for a moment, the feeling immediately passed, and Akiva dropped her wand. 

“Sasha,” she paused, not really wanting to check to see what happened to her hair, “Sasha… what did I do?”

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OOC: Mai, feel free to be zany! I’m up for whatever.