Welcome to Wolfshaw Academy!

[Mr Ira Beaumont]

Ira sighed, shutting L'histoire des loups-garous en France 1645-1797 with a snap and putting it down on his desk. He'd been attempting to prepare a new series of classes for the fifth years, but his mind was wandering and he felt...restless. Ironic, since he'd spent most of his life on the move, that he'd be unable to relax in the comfort of his own space now.

Face it, he thought to himself, you're thinking about that staff party again; that's why you can't focus. It had been announced about a week earlier that Star Streeton would be hosting a party for the staff of Wolfshaw, as a way for the teachers to relax and have fun in a non-academic setting.

Ira wanted to go. He really did. He had his nice robes laid out on his bed and everything. It was just...just...well, he was a vampire. Really. That explained everything: xenophobia, introverted tendencies, fear of large groups of people, a tendency to like to keep to himself...

But he should go. He wanted to go. So why wasn't he going? Why wasn't he getting up, right now, marching over to the bed, putting on those dress robes, taking his wand and walking out of the castle down to Merianga? Ira put his head in his hands and resisted the urge to break out another Blood-Flavoured lolly. He'd had seven already.

[Ms Siobhan Byrne]

Her husband was so going to get it when she got back home, Siobhan mused as she walked through the dark corridors of the dungeons. He'd gotten all sulky when she had told him expressly and very firmly that he was not in any way invited to the staff party, and she had to leave now if she wanted to invite the new staff member and make it there on time. He'd immediately become suspicious upon discovery that the person she'd intended to invite was of the male variety. Rolling her eyes, she'd dismissed his fears as she got changed and informed him that it was a vampire that she was inviting, and last she checked she preferred men that were of the living. He'd gotten childish and overreacted. If the man was a vampire, then surely he'd had decades in which to perfect his seducting techniques of innocent women! Siobhan merely patted Hank's cheek, told him that the vampire had had centuries, not decades, and walked out the door.

Completely unaware that Hank had put the trio of fairies that called the house into the hood of her robe in vengeance. Petty, jealous little bastard.

So now she had Flora and Fauna perched on either shoulder, and Merryweather fluttering between the two. They were all in a fairly good mood it seemed, what with getting out of the house, but it meant that they were chatting to each other incessantly... with her head in between. It was giving her a bit of a headache, and when she shushed them they just talked louder, braiding her hair idly. Darn fairies.

Finally she stopped in front of the History of Magic teacher's door, and lifted her hand to knock. She hesitated briefly, and decided that the fairies' merry chiming would probably be a hindrance. Discretely she reached for her wand and cast a silent spell at them; immediately there was silence around her, though the fairies didn't seem to notice, the high pitch of their voices heard only to themselves. She sighed in relief, put her wand back, and knocked on the door.

[Mr Ira Beaumont]

Ira was startled out of his increasingly circuitous thought train by a knock on the door of his office. He jerked his head up out of his hands in surprise, and would have sent his book flying if not for his fast reflexes; snatching it out of the air, he put the text back very carefully in its place.

"Come in," he called, smoothing his hair and the front of his robes nervously, before sitting back in his seat and waiting for his guest. Strange, students were usually in their common rooms by now...

[Ms Siobhan Byrne]

Upon hearing an affirmative response, Siobhan opened the door and stepped in, leaving it slightly ajar. Leaning against the doorframe, arms akimbo and crossing one leg over the other, she got comfortable, not sure just how long this would take.

"Evening, Ira," she said, hoping the fairies weren't too distracting. She looked him over, noting the fact that he looked a little nervous, and was dressed for a night in. "You're not ready to go? I can be your escort, if you're shy," she grinned, bowing deeply before settling back against the wall.

[Mr Ira Beaumont]

A woman stepped through the door, whom Ira recognized from staff meetings as the Care of Magical Creatures teacher. Shelly...no, it was Irish; Siobhan Byrne. She seemed to be populated by fairies. Ira wondered if she knew.

"Ah, oh, evening, Ms Byrne," Ira said, a little flustered by her forward manner and her bow. He wasn't sure if she was poking fun at him or not. "I, yes, the staff party. You see, I mean to go, but I had thought that...well, I wasn't sure if everyone wanted, er..." His brain scrambled to hold together what was left of his dignity, but Siobhan's smirk was causing him some alarm. "I've decided not to go tonight," he concluded weakly, "too much work."

He could swear those fairies were laughing at him.

[Ms Siobhan Byrne]

He was shy! Aww, cute. Siobhan grinned. After her discussion with Hank she suddenly felt the urge to flirt outrageously for the sheer fun of it, the way she hadn't since her marriage. Of course, she wasn't much of a flirt, and Ira looked like he might bust a blood vessel if she were to push him too much... if vampires could, that is.

...Ah, so that was it. He seemed to have that whole 'immortal brooding and angst' thing down that came with being a vampire; or at least, in her experience. It was like all the Romanian vampires were trying to live up to their cliches by being either horribly angsty or overly seductive. Maybe she could count her blessings that he was doing the former rather than the latter; she'd flirt, sure, but she was married, after all.

"Work?" she said skeptically, looking at his remarkably empty desk area. "If the Heads of House and former vice principal see fit to take some time off, there's no good reason why you shouldn't." She gentled her tone a little. "We'd be happy to have you. And the sun's down."

[Mr Ira Beaumont]

Ira would have blushed if he could when Siobhan called him on his work excuse. Really, why was even excusing himself? He wanted to go, didn't he? There really wasn't much to be apprehensive about...he'd met everyone before, hadn't he? With this in mind, he offered Siobhan a sheepish smile.

"I...suppose. Forgive me, but I'm not used to socialization with large groups of people, and to be honest, the thought is rather terrifying. But...yes, yes I shall go," he said, almost as if he was trying to convince himself of it. "Just...please excuse me while I go change,"

He bowed hesitantly, then strode off through the door which connected to his bedroom. Closing it, Ira hastily donned his dress robes, straightening them and wishing he had a reflection. He grabbed his wand, thrust it through the belt at his waist, and re-emerged.

"Let us go, Ms Byrne, before I lose my nerve once again."

[Ms Siobhan Byrne]

Siobhan grinned as Ira seemed to give himself a small, convincing pep-talking... only without so much pep. As he left to change she snatched Merryweather from the air, who had decided that she wanted to perch on Siobhan's head. The little fairy scowled at her and chimed in indignation, but thanks to the spell - which the creatures had yet to discover, it seemed - Siobhan's ears were blessedly free from hearing whatever insults the little thing was throwing at her. She cupped her hands and Merryweather promptly sat herself down and sulked, wings fluttering in agitation.

She looked up as Ira came back out, and nodded. "Shall we, then? I just need to stop over at my house and leave these three there." She straightened up and followed him out the door, being sure to close it behind her.

[Mr Ira Beaumont]

Ira followed Siobhan out the door, hoping he wasn't making a mistake.


((OOC: sorry for short post. Is late, am tired, will make up for it in the party thread ))