arts magical

[occluminous]

Bella has been living in the dorms for two days when the term properly starts. The buses begin arriving and discharging the students who didn't need to arrive early just in time for them to join the early attendees for lunch. Bella is sitting at a half-full table, reading her Charms textbook and prodding at one of her notebooks with the hazel wand. The vine one is still in her hair; she uses it for most things (to the extent that there is a 'most things', but she's getting a jump on her assignments) but she's giving the hazel a try for this particular charm. It's supposed to make the notebook refuse to open for anyone but her. Poke. Poke. "Claudo!"

Her notebook snaps itself shut abruptly. She opens the cover, closes it, passes it to the girl on her right and gets her to try, observes that it does not open. She puts the hazel wand back in her sleeve.

Comments

[sparksflying]

"Yeah," says Tony. "Nike's kind of in and out - she sleeps on her perch maybe two nights in three. But she always finds me when she wants to."

[occluminous]

"When did you get her?"

[sparksflying]

"Two weeks ago?" she hazards. "Ish?"

[occluminous]

"Say, if you live in New York, how come you're going to school here? I got the idea it was geographical. My letters said because of dual residence I could pick between here and Texarcana. I picked here because I didn't have much to go on but it sounded more my speed."

[sparksflying]

"Yeah, that's a... yeah," says Tony. "It's complicated. But the short answer is my mom's rich and she wants us to go here so we do."

[occluminous]

"How come she wanted you to go here?"

[sparksflying]

"Because... of things," Tony says vaguely. "Look, sorry, it's just that it's not entirely my story."

[occluminous]

"Oh. Okay." Bella shuffles the orientation papers that are stuck into her notebook till she finds her schedule. "Do you happen to know what Brooms is, is there going to be some kinda chore rotation?"

[sparksflying]

"Brooms," Tony says cheerfully, "are for flying."

[occluminous]

Bella blinks. "Flying? Really, I get to learn to fly?"

[sparksflying]

"Really really!"

[occluminous]

"Wow. If I knew 'athletics' might mean 'flying' I would've more strongly considered Texarcana," marvels Bella. "Of course with my luck I'm probably just as clumsy in the air as I am on the ground, but maybe not!"

[sparksflying]

"Only one way to find out," Tony says cheerfully. "Mom won't let me get a broom until I learn how to fly one in school, because she says I'm going to crash for sure and the school's got faster access to healers."

[occluminous]

"So they're generally dangerous, or she just knows you and flying?" Bella asks.

[sparksflying]

"Um... yes," says Tony. "I think 'yes' is the answer to that question."

[occluminous]

"Heh. Still. Flying. That's gonna be awesome. ...Are brooms really expensive? Do you think we'll be allowed to use school ones outside classes?"

[sparksflying]

"Brooms are kinda like... bicycles," says Tony. "Good ones are expensive, crappy ones not so much."

[occluminous]

"And crappy ones have one speed and look dorky but they still work?"

[sparksflying]

"Yep!"

[occluminous]

"Awesome. I know what I want for Christmas. Probably not enough notice for it to be a birthday present, since that's in less than two weeks."

[sparksflying]

"Aww, your birthday's in two weeks?" says Tony. "I should get you a present. I'll get you a broom!"

[occluminous]

Bella blinks. "Uh, really?"

[sparksflying]

"...Sure, why not?"

[occluminous]

"A, um, bicycle-sized present is kind of big, isn't it?"

[sparksflying]

"Oh, they're not as big as bikes," Tony assures her brightly. "Well, some of 'em are a little longer, but they're not as tall, they're pretty much one-dimensional. Mom's eagle owl could carry one no problem."