From: thatmachineboy	Date: April 7th, 2011 11:52 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Casey hadn't found anything in any of the books he gathered from the library the previous week. What few spells he could use to help with his mechanical owl project didn't work exactly as he needed them to. He was almost resigned to the fact he would just have to modify something or come up with his own spell.

So his next attempt at finding something was checking out the bookstore that had opened on campus. He had yet to go there and figured it was worth a shot. Of course, it took him nearly an hour to separate himself from the computer to head there.

His mind was elsewhere as he traveled across campus, and it remained there as he approached the store. He paid only enough attention to where he was going to ensure that he did not run into anything or anyone. Casey pulled open the door and stepped inside, his eyes going to find some sort of sign that would direct to him to the section he was looking for.

He took a few idle steps and when he looked back down, he found that he had managed to move himself right into the pathway of a Shaw. For a moment there was a look of panic in his eyes as he hurriedly looked away, preparing to duck into the nearest aisle of books.

	From: mightbeclever	Date: April 8th, 2011 12:25 am (UTC)		(Link)

Leon stopped short of running into Casey, though he stared at the boy for a moment. What the hell was with that reaction? Granted, he got a lot of varied ones, but panic was rare...well, at least it had been lately.

Of course he'd been leaving the kiddies alone lately. Who knew, maybe it had something to do with it.

"...Got a problem?" He asked, adjusting his bag as he lifted his chin up a little. Leon shifted his weight, letting one hip cock out just a bit. "Last I knew, wasn't anything to panic about. Don't know, though, might be wrong."

Scrubbing his hair with a hand, he waited patiently for Casey's answer.

	From: thatmachineboy	Date: April 8th, 2011 12:39 am (UTC)		(Link)

Crap. Casey had been hoping that the Shaw in front of him was Gael, though he made it quite apparent that he wasn't. Casey was standing in front of the evil twin.

But, he did feel lucky so far in the fact that Leon did not automatically recognize him as the trouble from Charlie's party. Casey still hadn't managed to completely fill in the blank spots of that evening.

Grow a backbone, kid. Casey told himself as he looked back at Leon. "No. No problem," he answered as as much of a normal tone as he could manage. "Just wasn't paying attention and didn't realize you were there."

	From: mightbeclever	Date: April 8th, 2011 05:30 pm (UTC)		(Link)

"Maybe that is because you weren't looking. Not an expert on the matter, but generally I think it is assumed one should watch were he is walking." He shrugged it off though, not caring to dwell on it long.

"What are you so intent on anyway....?" Huh, what was the kid's name again? Vaguely he felt like he should have remembered something more about him, but it wasn't coming to him. Heh, whatever.

He started to push pass, when he paused. "Did...I insult you recently?"

	From: thatmachineboy	Date: April 9th, 2011 06:41 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Casey didn't wince at the accusation that he wasn't looking. He knew it was coming because, really, he hadn't been. If he had, he would have known sooner to duck out of Leon's way and this whole little chat would have been avoided.

"Intent on? Looking for something that will help with a side project," he answered and raised his eyes again to the markers of the sections. Where he needed to go was behind Leon.

He almost thought he may have been off the hook as he stepped to the side to allow the older student to pass, when Leon stopped. Casey blinked. Not recently, no," he answered, taking another step toward his destination, which was another step away from Leon.

	From: mightbeclever	Date: April 9th, 2011 10:20 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Right, a side project. Now that was just curious, though he really couldn't place the kid. Maybe he'd smoked too much weed, or it was the drinking; either way, his memory wasn't what it used to be. Not nearly as sharp.

"What sort of side project?" He asked, watching the boy carefully as he moved.

Of course the last bit was much more interesting than the projects of a sophomore. What what had he done? Surely things like this would have a lasting affect on his memory. Well, they should have, anyway. It didn't seem to be the case at the moment, however. "What, um, what exactly did I do?"

	From: thatmachineboy	Date: April 9th, 2011 11:03 pm (UTC)		(Link)

The questions almost confused him. The first because Casey hardly would believe that he would be at all interested in the affairs of anyone else. The second because he had still expected Leon to remember their first encounter.

"I'm mixing magic with a mechanical owl. For long distance messages that some owls might have trouble with." There was no point in offering up specifics. Although he was a geek, one shouldn't need to prove it on a constant basis.

"And to be rather honest I don't exactly remember what you did," Casey was partially telling the truth. He had come away from Charlie's party with a healthy fear of the senior, and it wasn't until Rowan showed him pictures that he had an idea as to why. He still couldn't remember specifics. In truth, even if he did remember, he wouldn't have cared to remind Leon about it. "You can blame alcohol for that."

	From: mightbeclever	Date: April 10th, 2011 01:18 am (UTC)		(Link)

Huh. So the kid didn't remember, and neither did he. So, curiously, he had to wonder who did. Though he supposed he could start with narrowing down the when. Usually if he scared people bad enough to panic he remembered when he did it. Usually.

"That...could be useful." He shrugged though. "Doubt you'd find muchin a book though. Charming muggle things isn't exactly everyday wizarding practice."

He followed Casey though, turning about to lean against the bookshelves. "So you don't remember, and you were drunk. Mm." No way it could be mistaken identity. As much as he'd like Gael to be more disagreeable at times, his twin was only surly when it came to him. "Where were we when this...incident happened?"

	From: thatmachineboy	Date: April 10th, 2011 01:38 am (UTC)		(Link)

Casey shrugged, turning back towards the lines of the shelves. He raised a finger, though, glancing back at Leon. "No, but it is useful. I'm not charming the bird to fly or anything; that will be taken care of with simple rechargeable batteries. But I need a good charm that will lighten the body of the bird. All the ones I have tried so far keep wearing off."

He took a step into the appropriate aisle, skimming the books with his eyes. "At a party. Beginning of this school year." He answered before he really thought about it, figuring Leon would hear it if he bothered to follow. Casey had work to do.

	From: mightbeclever	Date: April 10th, 2011 03:04 am (UTC)		(Link)

"...Uh huh." Leon turned about, moving down the aisle, running his finger over the spine of a several books before he paused to pull one out. Tossing it toward Casey, he glanced over a few more titles. "That one might help. If you want a charm to last. Fact is they ware down eventually." Being a bookworm with a knack for charms did pay off for something.

And then it all came back to him, and he paused. Pursing his lips, Leon turned to look at Casey. "Charlie's...You're the one that was kissing Addy." Huh. Maybe he should let the kid have a second shot at it. "Do you like her? Don't worry, it is okay if you do. She's hot, and a firecracker."

	From: thatmachineboy	Date: April 10th, 2011 03:22 am (UTC)		(Link)

It was a lucky thing that Casey happened to glance at Leon when a book was tossed at him. Naturally, he fumbled the catch but at least he didn't drop it.

Until Leon asked if he liked Addy. The book fell from his hand in the shock of the question and he swiftly bent to pick it up as he attempted to formulate some sort of coherent answer.

"I... uh... Well, uh, yea. I mean you're right and she is and-" Casey shook his head and hoped to God his face wasn't as red as he thought it was now. "I have the distinct feeling the only reason there was any sort of kissing at that party was because she may have been trying to make you jealous," and considering what Rowan's pictures showed, it had worked. At least that's what his theory was. "I hardly think it matters whether I like her or not. And isn't she your girlfriend?"

	From: mightbeclever	Date: April 10th, 2011 03:38 am (UTC)		(Link)

Leon shrugged, adjusting the sunglasses a little before looking at Casey and snorting. "This is high school. People get around."

He moved to the bookshelves behind Casey, looking the titles over some more as he spoke. "Blah, blah. So I got jealous, but then I got over that. I didn't even do more than tell you to get lost." Pausing at that, he looked back at Casey. "You're pretty ballsy when drunk, you know."

Picking out another book, he started to thumb through the pages absently. "And if you like her, why do you let her date someone like me? Or do you have to be drunk to make your moves?"

	From: thatmachineboy	Date: April 10th, 2011 04:08 am (UTC)		(Link)

He looked at the cover of the book Leon handed him, once he turned it over and around like it was supposed to be read. With a shrug to himself, he flipped it open to see if there was anything worth trying in it.

Casey almost added in the fact Leon also had him by the neck of his shirt and looked like he was going to hit him, but didn't bother. Only smirked a bit to himself with the amusement of being called ballsy.

He paused his skimming, though, and stared ahead at the bookcase. Casey didn't like the fact that it did seem that he needed to be drunk to make a move. The truth of it? It didn't seem like a great idea to put himself out there only to be laughed at. Girls like Addy didn't go for guys like him. Period.

"It wasn't as if I had the chance to move before she ran off to you. And if she has been with you this long that usually means she's happy, and if you care about someone, their happiness comes first." He paused, letting a thought slip out although it was meant to be mental, "Although it's difficult tell with Addy considering she usually seems to be in a rather sour mood."

	From: mightbeclever	Date: April 10th, 2011 06:59 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Leon sighed, long and vexed before he turned to looked back at Casey. Moving he wrapped an arm about the boy, and gave him a side long look.

"You have no idea," he commented, referring to Adelaide, but making no effort to be more clear. "Look, if you want to nail a girl, you can't been in a bookstore."

Which was not entirely true, but the boy didn't need to know that. Not when Leon's 'yell and run' plan seemed more like an excellent back up if he could just arrange Casey just right. "Take Adelaide for example. She likes a man who is smart, but also one that can give as well as receive. You understand what I mean?"

	From: thatmachineboy	Date: April 10th, 2011 08:09 pm (UTC)		(Link)

There was a series of blinks as Leon put his arm around Casey's shoulders, and he looked away from the book in front of him to look over at the senior. This was just weird.

He wanted to comment that there was nothing wrong with going to bookstores, but he promptly shut his mouth as Leon continued. There was a bit of a shrug in answer. "Uh, yea. I think so." Which was pushing it. Casey had to admit to himself that he knew very little when it came to dating girls.

Very, very little.

	From: mightbeclever	Date: April 10th, 2011 09:27 pm (UTC)		(Link)

He pulled the book out of Casey's hand, dropping it on the case again before turning the boy about and directing him out of the store. "Good, good. So, here is the thing...I need your help. But in order to be helpful..."

He paused as they got to the door, looking at Casey with all the seriousness he could muster before pushing the door open with his foot. "Well, lets just say I need to help you improve upon yourself before anything else. So the deal is, I help you and then you help me. By the end of this whole thing- we'll both have something we want."

"...Got it?"

	From: thatmachineboy	Date: April 10th, 2011 09:59 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Casey didn't bother to fight it when Leon put the put back and began to guide him towards the door. He was still horribly confused about how this whole run-in had gone.

He had the feeling there was something in particular Leon was trying to accomplish, something underhanded if he was at all correct about him. But Casey could think on that later. It wouldn't be the first time he didn't think of the consequences before agreeing to something.

"Yea. I got it." Besides, he was far too curious as to what this deal would turn out to be. Improve upon himself? Help Leon? Casey looked from the open door to Leon with unmistakable curiosity. "And how exactly do you plan on helping me to... improve myself?"

	From: mightbeclever	Date: April 10th, 2011 10:47 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Ah, Casey was a bright boy. That was good, Leon thought. It meant that Casey would catch on pretty well with the lessons. Or at the very least, Leon could hope he would.

Guiding he boy outside, he kept them walking as he spoke. "What I mean, Casey. It is Casey right?" He asked, but didn't bother to wait for an answer. "What I mean is that in order for you to get any girl you want- I am going to teach you how to speak with them. You want to learn how to do that, right? Even without the alcohol."

	From: thatmachineboy	Date: April 10th, 2011 11:09 pm (UTC)		(Link)

He opened his mouth to notify Leon that his name was, in fact, Casey when he just continued anyway. But he let it go. It wasn't like Leon had it wrong.

Casey opened his mouth to say that he didn't need to learn how to talk to girls, but he would flat out be lying. So he just let out a little sigh instead. "Yea. Being able to do that without the help of alcohol would be nice." Damn Leon for being right.

	From: mightbeclever	Date: April 10th, 2011 11:35 pm (UTC)		(Link)

"Yeah, yeah. Moving on. The trick, Casey, is to not being the absolute geek that you are. Not with first impressions, at least. Girls like assholes, no rhyme or reason to it. Just a simple fact."

He stopped them in front of a group of girls that were chatting together over what looked like lattes. Holding up a finger, he indicated for Casey to watch.

"Bonjour Mesdames, voulez-vous me sucer la bite?" He asked, smiling sweetly at them all as he made himself at home at their table. At first the group seemed surprised by his intrusion, but despite that a few were blushing already.

	From: thatmachineboy	Date: April 11th, 2011 12:11 am (UTC)		(Link)

Girls like assholes. Somehow Casey had a problem truly believing that, but he kept his mouth shut for the moment. He could argue that point later.

Casey's shoulders relaxed when Leon moved away, and he kept his place with his arms crossed in front of him. He watched as he was told to, less because he was told and more because he wanted to see the outcome.

He frowned when he heard Leon spout off French. That just wasn't plain fair. It didn't matter if he was an asshole, if he said everything in French it just made everything sound all... fancy and... stuff. Still, he watched Leon talk and invite himself, and watched the reactions of the girls around him.

	From: mightbeclever	Date: April 11th, 2011 11:50 pm (UTC)		(Link)

"This is my friend Casey, He's hanging about looking for my hand me downs, and I was wondering if you girls would like to him out some." Leon said with a bit of a jerkish grin at Casey.

The girls looked about at each other, before one scooted about to make some room at the table for Casey. Leon nodded at the now open seat, snickering.

"You'll have to excuse him, he's too shy to really say anything."

	From: thatmachineboy	Date: April 13th, 2011 01:46 am (UTC)		(Link)

Casey couldn't help but to shoot Leon a quick glare at the first thing he decided to say in English. Still, he moved over to the recently vacated seat with a hint of thought in his expression. Really, he was just trying to come up with something decently witty.

"And you'll have to excuse my friend Leon, in turn," Casey replied, giving the girls a smile before he turned that smile on the older student. "He's a bit too pretentious to not say anything."

	From: mightbeclever	Date: April 13th, 2011 11:12 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Leon waved off the glare as if it were nothing, and even snorted at the comment that followed. Oh look at him, already trying so hard to play the hero card, which was mildly more successful than the 'jerk' card.

"Pretentious? My, isn't that a big word for you." He smirked though, turning to the girl next to him as she rolled her eyes at him. Clearly she wasn't as impressed with him as some were. "But all that aside, this guy here is trying to figure out how to enchant an owl. Not a real one mind you, a fake one. He wants it to fly for really long distances." He paused, nodding to them as he spoke. "Quite the over achiever this one, I have to say."

	From: thatmachineboy	Date: April 14th, 2011 10:53 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Casey was hardly surprised that Leon decided to come back with another snide remark. That was his calling card after all. Still, Casey was determined not to let it show that it bothered him. He doubted that this was little more than an exercise just to embarrass him in front of the first group of girls Leon could find.

He shrugged a bit in response and simply moved on. "Mechanical one," he corrected, though his eyes glanced down at the table before glancing at each of the others. "It prevents any tiring of an actual owl over greater distances, yes," Casey turned his eyes back to Leon, "Call it over achieving if you like."

	From: mightbeclever	Date: April 15th, 2011 10:59 pm (UTC)		(Link)

He wasn't out to really embarrass Casey, but the boy could stand to find his pine in Leon opinion Fucked up as it might be. He rolled his eyes a little, scrubbing a hand through his hair as he looked at the boy, "mechanical owl is still a fake one, mate."

"I think it sounds pretty cool, Casey." One of the girls said, smiling at Casey. "How are you going to do it?"

"He's going to charm it, didn't we cover that?"