[Courtyard] The Windswept Look

[Ricky Daine]

These past few weeks had not gone well in his eyes. Classes had picked up again and the Professors were piling on the homework, much to Ricky's distate. There was only so much one Slytherin could take before he completly cracked up and bananas. On top of that, Morgana had taken to swanning of with Jayden recently. If he didnt know any better he would say the two were more than good friends that was for sure, more importantly how had that happened? Jay never bothered with anyone, not even people like Ricky or Erys. Jay kept himself to himself and scowled at the gaggle of girls who gave him big googly eyes and tries to trap him under mistletoe at Christmas. Okay so Ricky had found that amusing but who wouldnt?

So, Morgana had distanced, He had been homeworking more than he was used to and his wrist was beginning to click due to all the writing. Erys had been busy with one thing or another, in all honesty it looked to him as though their trio was slowly coming apart, yet quicker than he thought it would. They hadnt even lasted three months. How disturbing for him, for them. What of their reputation? They would have to be careful before someone else took over.

No.
He would chew off his arm before that happened!

His potions lesson had ended as he sat with his head in his hands, someone from Slytherin gave him a nudge and asked him if he wanted to stay and do more work with Vance or something? In all honesty Ricky thought he would prefer to do that then to face another afternoon of homework or boredom, at least he would have the company of one who frowned upon muggle borns. Though Ricky felt sorry for Vance, he had to put up with them, even if he didnt want to. Gathering his things, Vance called him back, "Sir?" He asked, who simply tapped the parchment on his desk. "Homework" he thought to himself. He had completly forgotten all about it. "I havnt completed it yet." Though before Vance could explode, Ricky left, narrowly escaping the psycho's wrath.

Walking up the corridor, he passed a few Slytherins, Including Jay who Ricky gave a small nod too, though didnt regard his presence any more than that before walking out of the doors into the main courtyard. Finding it pretty much deserted and as he walked he soon realised why. He was nearly blown away himself by the effects of the wind, instinctivly clutching his hair, he pushed through it, though soon deciding having his hands on his hair was doing nothing, he shook his head and let them fall, his hair blowing infront of him. "Well I guess I'm going for the windswept look today." He said to himself as he plonked himself down by an oak tree.

Yet just another eventless day.
Did he seriously just wake up in the mornings for classes?

(Blegh)

[Erys Grace]

The faulty glue of the trio hadn't been noticed by just Ricky; Erys, too, was beginning to notice Morgana's tickled pink attitude with Jay, though she had buried it quite deep, the clever girl. Not to mention how they were slowly difting apart.. It chilled her with its familiarity: the same thing had happened with Veata and Joshua last year. She was determined not to let the similar situation arise again, she didn't need the pain of it all.

Thus with this on her mind, the Slytherin took to the outdoors, having previously slipped into her cat form if not only to get there faster. She needed an escape, a familiar face.. That might be found outside. Unfortunately for her, she hadn't noticed the extreme winds being flung around the courtyard. It had been calm when she was out there, the breezes had slowed down, if only to pick up just as strong a while later. Not yet noticing Ricky by yonder oak tree, Erys felt an unbelievably strong gust knock her off her paws and toss her across the yard, as she - yowling loudly as she went - smacked shoulder-first into one of the stone pillars. Issuing a catlike grunt, the animagus braced herself against the stone, shoulder pulsing with occasional twinges of pain. Fur fluffed up, the bengal cat stared around wildly, looking for somewhere better to shield herself from the wind.. Before catching sight of him. Hurriedly darting over to where he was, she didn't change back yet, only sat there with her claws dug deep into the dirt and her eyes opened as wide as they would go. Fur, of course, in all directions, fluffed up and spikey as if she were afraid when really she had just experianced something quite sudden.

She was a hilarious sight to behold.

Waiting for the laughter to begin, Erys changed back, brushing dirt and dust from her arms as she narrowed her eyes and glanced away, "Shut up." But there was a grin on her face as she laughed andwinced, nursing her injured shoulder. Drawing closer, she tucked herself in comfortably beside him, sighing softly, "Long time no see."[/color]

[Ricky Daine]

He had had his eyes closed, the wind ruffling his hair up and making it knot which he knew would be more than a pain to brush out later. Though he let the wind mess his hair up, besides who would see it? He was out here alone anyway, or so he thought.

Ricky had not seen the Bengal Cat enter the courtyard, not that he could really see anything anyway, even if the Slytherin did have his eyes open. Though he didnt so his chances of seeing anything anyway were zero. He let out a long breath, the day had been trying for him anyway, he had to sit through potions with Morgana and Jay who were discussing goodness knows what, arranged marriages by the sounds of it. Psk, how dull. Morgana had chosen to sit on the opposite side of the room with the bright eyed bleach blonde Jayden Wyatt. If she didnt want to make her intentions to him known, she, to him, was doing a bad job of hiding it.

A sharp howl came from the courtyard, Ricky sat bolt upright. He knew that howl! Moving his hair from his eyes just intime to see the Bengal Cat form of Erys get thrown across the courtyard and smacked into a stone pillar, Ricky let out a small laugh, he couldnt help it, he laughed at peoples misfortunes. Even if it was Erys being the one who was misfortuned. He watched as the cat gained its feet and took a look around. Its eyes locking on Ricky. He raised his left eyebrow and tilted his head, watching as it came running over to him at startling speed even for a cat. He blinked twice as he looked at the sight infront of him.

In Rickys opinion, it was more like she had been eletricuted. Biting down on his bottom lip, trying to suppress the laughter that was rising in his throat, but he couldnt. After a few moments of looking at the cat who looked shellshocked, eyes wide and paws dug into the ground, fur fluffed up and tail in the air, he let out a long laugh. Something he had needed for a while. He could always count on Erys that was certain!

He watched as she reverted back and dusted herself down before taking a spot beside him. "What?" Ricky asked innocently, "I didnt say anything." He felt her nudge in closer to him under the oak tree trying to get herself comfortable. It had been a long time. A little too long, their trio down to two. Though as long as Morgana was happy and Jay wasnt some deadbeat he didnt mind too much. "I was beginning to think you were avoiding me." Ricky laughed, playfully sticking out his tongue at her. Call it his mind, but he actually had thought that for a while. "Where on earth have you been hiding?"

[Erys Grace]

Squeezing her eyes shut as a stray gust of wind whipped dark brown hair into her eyes, she brushed the loose strands back behind her head, leaning as to press them firmly to the bark so they wouldn't keep up the flailing. Truth be told, she was a little surprised at his assumption he had going for a while: he thought she was avoiding him? Laughing a little, she glanced up at him, now-gold eyes humorous, "Loving the self confidence, Ricky." A little more serious afterwards, she added, "I didn't think you were avoiding me.. I figured you had more important things to do, like schoolwork or something. I'm already graduated, I don't need to work as hard. You do." And he did, if he wanted to make it into seventh year then pass it. It wasn't a good excuse, sure, but it was all she had. Nestling closer, she rested her head against his shoulder, sighing softly. This was nice, just relaxing together away from the rest of the world.. One that was inhabited with blood-traitors and filth. Here it was just the two of them.

"Where on earth have you been hiding?"

Laughing a little at this, the Slytherin stretched, settling back into her original position, "Hey, you haven't been Mr. Available much either." Available meaning his time being available, if that made sense. Looking up into his eyes, she whispered, "Really though.. Right now I can't seem to remember." Where she had been all this time. Reaching up to draw his face towards hers, to him it might seem she were about to kiss him.. When instead her lips hovered just against his, touching yet not touching, close but so far away..[/color]

[Ricky Daine]

Well it had just seemed to Ricky that after she had jumped out of the parcel and into his arms, not to mention the whole spectacle of kissing him, he hadnt seen her and thought that it was just a in holday thing and now it was back in the school year it was over, and to prove that fact she had been avoiding him.

That was how he came upto the conclusion and in all honesty, he had accepted it. He had figured that Erys had not wanted anything to do with him after that. Ricky knew she guarded her heart well after Joshua and Veata left, everyone knew of their closeness and how it had pulled the Slytherin Beauty down for quite a while so he didnt blame her in all honesty. "Well im a lad of confidence, Erys" He laughed back, his mind had been overcrowded lately with work and whatnot, so the most simplest conclusion to come to was that she was avoiding him, it didnt give him any reason to think on it. Save the headache for another time. "Yeah cheers for that reminder," He smirked, knowing she was off easy now as she didnt really have to work, whereas Mr Daine had three essays to be handed in for next week. Remind him why he thought public schooling was a good idea? It was relaxing, despite the wind, that Ricky could get away from the blood traitors and mudbloods, even if it was only for a few hours, and though he would never say it, he couldnt have asked for better company.

Just as he put his arm around Erys' shoulders, she moved again, causing his arm to fall from her rather lazily. He gave a shrug as she said he hadnt been available either. Not the best start to a potentially new relationship eh? Ricky looked down at her, their eyes meeting and she spoke softly, even over the howl of the wind he could hear her words. Though as her lips hovered on his, Ricky stayed there for a moment, his mouth stretching into a smile, soon his hand crept upto her neck as he pulled her closer to him, kissing her properly. That would teach her to just sit there and expect him to do nothing. Pulling back after a moment, Ricky laughed and said, "Gotcha."

[Erys Grace]

"Gotcha."

Arching an eyebrow at him, her expression broke into an incredulous scowl, "Excuse me? You stop when I tell you to stop." This forced an unavoidable laughter to slip through her mouth, as Erys pressed her lips to his once more, snaking her arms up to latch then around his neck and draw him closer. Really, she hadn't the foggiest idea how she put up with this nonsense attitude of his.. She'd have to find a way to punish him later if he kept it up. All in jest, of course, though it would be mightily entertaining to watch him freak out after he found a kelpie under his bedsheets.

The wicked gleam in her eyes could make a grown man cry as she wound her fingers into his hair, roughly pulling him closer, if that were even possible with their already-tight proximity. As her claws scored his shoulders, Erys kept going, unaware that she might have been causing him pain. Hell, she hadn't even known her claws were out. Without realising it she had looped a leg over to straddle his hips, as a slow purr tore through her body. It was only then that she felt what might've been a wince, she wasn't sure - but she stopped, slowly leaning her face away and looking down at her hands, the fingernails tipped with red. What came to mind at that moment was something around the lines of "Oh shi*." But Erys only laughed at first, staring a little bewildered into his eyes before looking over his shoulder at the prominent claw marks. "My bad." Was he sure he wanted to be with someone like her? She'd tear him up and spit him out afterwards.[/color]

[Ricky Daine]

He laughed slightly when he heard Erys' next comment, the fact that for so long he knew her to scowl at couples who sat in corners or under shaded trees cuddling and smooching was enough to make the blonde lad laugh a little, though thinking on it, he was sure he used to scowl at them with her, but now it was them two who were doing the kissing and cuddling, it didnt seem to matter. "Yes maam," Ricky had chance to say before Erys' lips were pressed against his once more. Her arm ran its way up his back and around his neck, whereas Ricky's own arms went around her waist and with one tug, he pulled her onto his knee.

If Erys put a kelpie underneath his bedsheets, Ricky would find something equally as good to freak Erys out with. Ricky and Erys' attitude were pretty similiar, so that was probably what made them get on so well. Even if Ricky did annoy Erys sometimes. The blonde felt something scrape into his shoulder, as he let out a gasp of pain. He didnt stop, but he could feel the blood trickling slowly down his shoulder. As more of the blood trickled, and she slowly moved, he felt the stab of pain coming from his shoulders and let out a wince, followed by a short gasp again. The two seemed to untangle themselves from each other as Erys looked down at the claw marks upon his shoulder which had now turned half of his white shirt into red.

"S'alright." Ricky smiled, "Just leaving your mark right?"

Bad joke. Though he knew what he was getting himself into when he decided a while back he liked her. He knew she had claws and more importantly, sharp teeth, but that was all part of what made Erys who she was. He couldnt say something like "I like this part of you so I dont want that part" could he? She was an Animagi, and Ricky had accepted that and though he hadnt thought it at the time. He would have to get used to the claw marks which would undoubtably reign over his body soon enough.

[Erys Grace]

Wiping his blood on her fingers against her jeans, Erys rolled her eyes with a short laugh, "I think I've already made my mark, don't you?" It wasn't as if anyone dared try and take him from her, she'd flay them. The thought usually made her laugh, but now she was a little concerned about him. "I'll hurt you." She mumbled, narrowing her eyes and looking away. Perhaps he was better off without her after all? Torn between trying to make him feel better - meaning kissing him again - and forcing herself to stay away, the Slytherin looked back at him, hesitation in her eyes. "I.." She murmured, unsure of what to say, dumbfounded as the sudden wave of uncertainty washed over her. This never happened to her, never. She always knew what she wanted, but this was the first time she worried over what would be better for him over her own concerns.

Biting her lip and tightening her hands into fists, determined not to hurt him again, Erys threw her arms around him again. This time digging her claws into her own palms before pressing her lips to his. "Oh, what the hell." She shrugged it off, not caring anymore. If he was indifferent to her claws then he must be worth keeping around, even if she accidentally hurt him in the process. Ah, well, we all had our flaws, eh? Indeed.

Lightning rocked the sky, as a bitter rain fell, soon it was bound to shower. And hard. "We should go inside." She murmured, resting her head against his chest and sighing softly. "Cats don't like getting wet."[/color]