Theo (theo_teaches) wrote in carpediem_rp, @ 2016-01-20 17:34:00 |
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Entry tags: | character: bailey emerson, character: theo emerson, thread: complete |
Who: Theo and Bailey
When: Sunday afternoon, 17 January
Where: Theo’s suite
What: Cousin Time
Rating/Warnings: Discussion of Theo's sex life is possible
Status: Closed/Complete
Bailey had grown up with Theo as he exciting older cousin. When she was younger, he was always away at school when she was little, and when she started school, he was always off in some foreign land. She was used to seeing him in small visits, usually at the holidays, as a result. It was her habit then to spend what time she could with him when he was close. She'd get over that soon enough she knew now that he was actually living and teaching at Hogwarts, but it hadn't gotten there quite yet. Right now she was enjoying stretching out on his sofa.
Theo was grading. Supposedly. To be fair he was looking at the work, but only when Bailey was looking. When she wasn't looking? He was quietly tossing bits of the candy he'd purchased out with Snow at the younger girl. He had relatively good aim and so it wasn't like he was hitting her anywhere dangerous. It was just livening up the moment, really. Or something like that.
Her cousin was five, Bailey determined as yet another piece of candy hit her. She picked up the most recent piece and popped it into her mouth, turning the page of the book she was reading - supposedly to give him a chance to grade, although she doubted he was doing much of that. "Laertes would probably be better at grading those than you are."
Theo stuck out his tongue at Bailey, shaking his head. “It's not fair to make him do all the boring work. He's got some research he's looking into, plus a few scrolls I thought he'd enjoy.” A slight smile curved his lips as he thought about the pretty blonde boy- he was distracting, utterly.
"It's what the previous teacher had him doing, mostly," Bailey pointed out, in case Theo didn't know. She noted the quality of the smile as he talked about the former Slytherin. That was different. "He's kinda a paper-pusher sort," she observed, watching Theo's response to the comment. "Not so much with the actual anything."
“He's very intelligent. He knows what most of the scrolls I've brought home are, and he is working on some translations of them.” Feeling he had to defend the younger man. He was not just a paper pusher. “He's got a lot of skill in research and all, he's much better at staying focused than I ever have been.”
Bailey was amused at the defense of the former student. "A goldfish is better at staying focused than you are, Theo," Bailey pointed out, amused. "Are the scrolls you brought home curses?" If so that would explain why Laertes knew what they were.
“Not all of them. And I'll have you know I can stay focused for a full minute or more now.” Theo quirked a smile at his cousin and picked up a bit of candy, popping it into his mouth. “So, how are you doing being back? Things okay?”
"Only because some of the places you were in, if you couldn't stay still that long, you'd have been blown up," Bailey teased back. It was admittedly incredibly dangerous work he had done, but they were playing, or trying to. "What do you mean? I'm fine. Nothing exciting in my life. Classes and all pretty much dominant life."
“Probably true…” A small frown before he shook it off, looking back at her curiously. “I have to be the obnoxious older brother type and make sure there's no boys or girls pulling at your heartstrings. If there are, I know a tomb that I can show them…” A smirk and he popped another bit of candy in his mouth.
"Ahh but I'm smart enough not to go putting someone else at risk for wanting to kiss me." She pointed out. After all, she'd managed to get out of the family home to do some gambling. Admittedly, it was far easier to do with her divorced parents… and from her Mother's house, because her Father tended to make sure to spend quality time with her when she was able to visit him.
Theo grinned. “Obviously. You're an Emerson. We’re all brilliant.” It was true. Family traits included intelligence and a drive toward one thing- for him it had been language, for her math in many forms. They were both dedicated to what they studied and enjoyed. “Seriously though. You're cool with me being here, right? I don't want to mess up your comfort zone or anything.”
"I get a chance to see you actually settle in a place for a whole six months. Have you ever done that before?" Bailey asked. Then sat up reaching for another piece of candy that had been thrown at her earlier and eating it. "Seriously, it's nice to have you around… Different. I mean I might get sick of you… And I hope you won't tell Daddy if you find out something."
“Here.” And prior to that, at home when he was required to stay there. He didn't settle in places well. He liked being able to wander. It was nice, though having a home for now was nice too. “I won't tell. What sort of thing would I find out? Have you been locking people in the dungeons or something?”
"No, locks and such is your thing." Bailey pointed out, hopefully distracting him from his question. "Although I suppose you can't practice that as much teaching Ancient Runes. There's no class for locks and ancient curses."
“There should be.” A smirk at that thought. He could probably do something with that as a project if nothing else. It would be entertaining to see what the students could come up with if he put some of the older curses and let them try and solve counters based on the runes.
Goldfish. Bailey was amused at how easy the redirection was, and continued down the line. "So how are you settling in? You've gotten through a whole week of classes now."
Theo didn't take much to redirect- while he was incredibly clever, he was also an incredibly huge failure at attention. “I think I'm doing well. Doesn't hurt that Snow’s here too. It's almost like being back at school, except less listening to droning professors.”
"No, you're the droning professor now," Bailey teased. She smiled though at the mention of his friend. "It's good that she's here… but she's never been able to keep you focused any more than anyone else."
“I can focus.” Theo muttered, shaking his head. He could sometimes, when the topic was interesting and he was intrigued. “And I don't drone. I'm incredibly thrilling in the classroom.” He laughed and shook his head at her. “I'm a good teacher.”
"With a whole week's experience," Bailey teased. Not that she really doubted he would be an interesting and effective teacher. She'd always hung on his every story over the holidays. Ancient Runes was a little different than tales of adventure as a cursebreaker, but it was still Theo.
Theo grinned sheepishly and shrugged. “I'm interesting at least?” Which was better than the Runes teacher he'd had. It was good Theo had a love of the material or he would not have continued with the course given the dry delivery.
"I suppose so." She teased. "So is Snow teaching here at the same time a coincidence, or a chance to spend more time with her?"
“A chance to make her stay put for more than a week?” Because the woman had been bouncing from place to place since she had left her husband and he really thought it might be good for her to have some time where she wasn't fearful every moment that she'd run into him.
"And conveniently the same place that you are committed to being at for the next six months." Bailey queried.
“Have to look out for her. You know how it is.” Theo shrugged faintly and picked up his quill, marking some notes on the parchment on top of the pile. It was easy to do this when he focused. He just hated having to focus.
"No… I don't have any old Hogwarts friends I'm now living with again."
“It's not like that. She's married.” Theo looked at Bailey with a hint of confusion. Had his cousin gotten the wrong idea? He hoped not.
"And not with him," Bailey pointed out. People got divorced… and started new relationships. Her parents certainly had, even if none of her mom's boyfriends ever stayed more than a few months or so.
Theo waved dismissively. “Not my type either way.” He liked his partners as different as possible from him. Outgoing and athletic weren't what he looked for in a partner. He liked people who he could look after, delicate and pale. It had been hard to find in Egypt but since he came home? Well, there was Laertes.
"Brilliant and talented? I thought that was the epitome of your type." Intriguing, Bailey thought. Snow definitely wasn't getting the same sort of look that his TA did despite their history.
“She's my best friend. That'd be weird.” Theo shrugged and marked a few more notes on the essay he was grading. Maybe he should leave this to Lae. It'd be a reason to go see the young man again.
"Jackson is dating his best friend. Gabe sleeps with all of his friends…" It wasn't a reason, based on examples that Bailey knew.
Theo laughed. “I don't sleep with friends.” It was true. He had a different sort of relationship with Snow than with anyone else. It was almost like they were family. Siblings or something- he was close to her much like he was with Bailey, in the opposite direction in age.
Bailey smiled. "So are you going to take advantage of your relative stability for a relationship then?" If not Snow… well there were other options. "Student-Teacher is practically a trope here although no one is supposed to know it happens at all."
Theo made a face. “Student? No.” Because that was inappropriate and a bit disgusting to him honestly. He didn't think that he could imagine being with even one of the oldest students. His TA, yes. Student? Not at all.
"Healer then might be a good choice for you." Bailey continued to tease. She'd work her way around to other people if necessary. She wanted to see what her cousin might offer.
A faintly quirked brow as he looked at Bailey. “Is this something my mom put you up to? Fix up my son and I’ll give you a car, or something?” It was curious behavior really and he was not certain as yet if he liked it. “If someone catches my interest, I am pretty capable of getting them myself, I think.”
"I'm not saying she didn't, I'm not saying she did," Bailey laughed. "Maybe I'm just curious. I do have that trait well represented… No one can doubt your ability to flirt the pants of just about everyone."
Theo blinked at Bailey, shaking his head. “No allowing my mom to make you try that. I'm still older than you.” Which meant he had more embarrassing stories than she ever would, and no qualms about pulling them out if he had to.
"Even if she did, I wouldn't, not seriously. But you know I have to report back. We both know Daddy wants you to report back to him on me," Bailey pointed out. It was the way of their family as much as anything.
“I know it.” Theo nodded. He had gotten two owls checking in on his cousin through him- he was doing his best to keep an eye and make sure she was doing well. With the way everything was now, it was better to stay close.
It was easier to 'report' on trivial things like flirtations than anything else. "Want me to run the report by you before I send i t to your Mom?" Bailey wasn't serious, not really, but it seemed to fit.
“Sure.” Theo shrugged. It didn't matter that much honestly. It was what it was, either way. They could toss their reports by the other to make life easier. He didn't care too much about any of the home issues unless it was something that would cause worry. He hated worrying his parents.
"Or else I can make stuff up. Theo's having a torrid affair with his TA," Bailey teased. So long as Theo didn't learn too much about her gambling, then there wasn't really any risk of what he would report to her father.
“Absolutely. That's a thing that happens.” Theo tried to play it off but he could feel a bit of heat in his cheeks at the thought. He had enjoyed time with Laertes in that regard, but he was trying to not give off the impression that there was anything there.
Bailey noted the color. "Not my taste at all. Too pureblood supremacist Slytherin." Not that Laertes went around starting fights about it, but it was still a thing. "Be careful with that?"
Theo stuck out his tongue at his cousin and shrugged. “It's not something I expect to last. He's the heir to that family, and I doubt he's into long term with guys.” A shrug. “It's fun for now but he’ll move on and I'll eventually go back to Egypt or something.
That might be so, but Bailey also had never heard about Laertes with anyone other than his sister. It seemed significant to her that he'd gotten involved at all. She shrugged also. "Yea, he's gotta produce heirs himself… but I've never heard of him with anyone else, ever."
“I'm sure it's nothing.” Because if he convinced himself of that it wouldn't be a big deal later. He could just pretend it was nothing and that would be all. There wasn't anything big happening at the moment. It was just some fun.
Bailey wasn't convinced by Theo's comment. "Just be careful?" It wasn't normal from what she knew of Laertes… and she didn't want Theo to get hurt getting caught up into… whatever it was Laertes was doing.