[TTD]for the traditional tree[Nikola]

He felt his wool socks start to soak up the water in his boots. It was either somehow the slush water that manage to steep through the stitching or some snow got into the top of his boot. Either way the waterproofing spell had worn off of them.  Well, he figured maybe Nikola was right, it might be well past time he got new boots. Still he was not about to tell his apprentice she was right about the that. She was already commentating on how he dressed. He guessed that was what he gets for taking a fashion designer under his wing (swing of his sword).

Still he told himself he did not have much further to go as the small German cottage came into view. It was glowing warmly in the fading light of the twilight. It was then he realized how cold he was and was thankful she reminded him to get on his gloves before he left.  He had gone pretty far up the mountain to find the perfectly full cone shaped evergreen that would fill her two-story living room space perfectly. With a simple spell he had cut the tree, but the tricky part was floating the tree back down the mountain. Still, this Swordsman always prided himself on finishing what he started.

He floated it over her short back yard fence before letting himself into the small wooden gate.  Then he wand open the right living room doors, figuring she would want the tree nearer to the fireplace. Luckily he did not have to shrink it and re-enlarge it, for the tree nearly did not fit through the door.

Once he and the tree were finally inside, he was surprised to find the room cleared out. It had been completely full of all her runway designs when he left. Now it was like it wasn’t ever there. The Large purple couches and armchairs were placed back into the centers of the room, with an unusual empty space between the two large windows, opposite from the entry door. It was the perfect space for the tree, so it would be the first thing you see when you enter the house.

Of course, the witch had already decided were the tree should go. She does design everything. He thought before he concentrated on placement of the tree. Summoning a bucket of water and placing the tree within. He just needed to rotate it once around before he was satisfied that its best side was in fact facing forward and then headed to Nikola's living room hearth as he talked of his gloves and his outer coat.

He just finished taking off his boots and was about to wand off his socks when his little busy Perovskia walked into the room. “How do you like it?” He said nodding to the to her Christmas tree now displaying itself proudly in against the far wall, only a few feet shy of the two-story ceiling. He wand off his last sock off and draped it on the top of each boots near the roaring fire before he walked over to her barefoot. “I had to climb pretty far up that ‘hill’ you have in the backyard to find it. What you think? Will it do?”

@Nikola Meer

The past two days had been wonderful. The two friends had gone for a long walk through the woods; and the fresh air had done her a world of good. And Ludolf naturally had loved playing in the snow. Not to mention the cold had given her some time to clear her head from all the work she’d been drowning in as of late. She’d still found time to work on her pieces for the collection, and had finished them up before supper, where she and Artur had decided that Nikola needed a tree, though begrudgingly. She was leaving for her grandparents the following evening, and he was heading out for his own family tomorrow morning. Not to mention she didn’t have anything to decorate it with. She’d awkwardly tried to find a way out of it, but Artur was insistent. So eventually, Nikola had acquiesced, before stating that he would have to go find her one, while she packed all her designs away for the festival. Still though, there was the matter of what to put on the tree. If they had more than just the evening, perhaps she could have made something in her workshop, but she wasn’t spending the entire evening hand making christmas ornaments for a tree that no one would use, or open presents under… she still thought it was foolish, but at least she was warming to the idea. With the seven trunks carefully packed away and ready for her elves to take to the festival center, she stood in her studio and sighed, looking around with a pensive expression.

And then she smiled. A year or two back, the two had talked about christmas traditions around Europe, and Nikola distinctly remembered him talking about some silly children’s “christmas spider” sort of thing. With a grin on her face, Nikola found some white paper with a slight sheen to it, making it look almost silvery, and grabbed two pairs of paper scissors (since her fabric scissors would never be used on paper), hearing the door  open and Artur struggling with something. She dared not peek out just yet, sighing softly. Just how big of a tree had he gotten?

Only once the sounds died  down in the other room did she emerge, having changed into something more comfortable, yet still barefoot. She was wearing something more akin to what she’d have worn in school, a loose flowing bright green jewel toned top with purple and silver embroidery around the collar, cuffs, and hem along with black leggings that only came down just past her knees. “You know if I hadn’t been regaled with tales of your exploits, I’d say you were compensating for something with the size of that tree...” she murmured, before setting the paper and scissors down on the coffee table.

She knew he had to be curious what they were for, but she was perfectly content to let him stew a bit. After all, this entire awkwardness that was a christmas tree was his idea in the first place. Though not long. Once she was done looking the tree over, she smiled, and nodded back to the supplies she’d brought out of her studio. “So… remember years ago, when we were talking about silly traditions and you told me about the paper snowflakes and the christmas spider? I happen to have no decorations for a tree here. So we’re going to make some.” grinning, Nikola called for Ona as she dragged a decorative pillow from the couch for her to sit on, cross legged, before the elf appeared. “Bring us Coffee… and some of the Pilffernuse.” the two seemed like a good idea, and Nikola trusted her elf to know that she wanted liquor in her drink. Of course the creature would probably bring the whole bottle, in case artur wanted any of the cream liquor in his as well…

“So. you insist on a tree. I insist on decorations.”

His laugher roared in the living room. It was a dichotomy for her to be looking so similar to her school days and yet have her tease him about something of such an adult subject. He had shared tails of his exploits with witches at first with her, as ways to bring up subjects and examples of what not to do. Worrying that she could run into wizards as bad or worst than him. The result was that it had made an open line of communication and sometimes bringing to light confessions of subjects between them that never could be discussed in polite wizards society. Of which he did not mind for he knew if anything would happen, she would feel comfortable enough to come to him. Still, Artur was quite secure in his manhood as she said and he sat down on the couch proudly. He watched his little Perovskia take her time examining the tree, which in Artur's opinion was standing quite gloriously in nearly the full height of the living room. He believed it was the perfect size and was sure she would say so.

Looking at the coffee table before him, he notice the stack of paper and two pairs of scissors she just brought in. He shifted the paper seeing if there was anything printed on them, but found nothing. He had a feeling she was aware of his curiosity but was purposely took enjoyment of delaying her explanation. It was a game she had been getting in the habit of playing with him. So far it amused him to play along.

It was only when he feign disinterest by leaning back in to her purple couch and propping up his slowly warming foot on his knee, that she finally explained the craft supplies. "Oh, you remembered that?" The mid-thirties aged wizard said a bit surprised. He could barely remember ever mentioning it, and felt like it was ages ago when they had that conversation. He was starting to believe that as you get older, you tend to remember less details or find less information worth remembering. "Oh, no we don't have to. I mean, we could but that was  what we did when I was a kid, before we were allowed to use magic at home. It is kind of a past time reserved for couples... you know ones with children and families." 

Then she insisted that he help her decorate it. Yet be was not going to awkwardly cut out snowflakes and her spiders webs with her like two children or worst  a young couple practicing for an expected family . So, he pushed himself off the couch and got up onto his bare feet. "Well, you could make snowflakes and spiders if you want. I am going to see about making my decorations out of the real thing." He got out his wand and stepped up to the tree, then glanced between the branches while aiming his wand. Just as it looked like he was about to fire a spell of at something.  He stopped and turned to her, while saying teasingly, "Oh, Nikola you are not afraid of spiders are you?"     
     
With out waiting for a reply he cast an enlargement charm before a multiplying then with another spell. The branch was now swarming with legs of the enlahed best that were a hand wide. He then closed his eyes a for a second and opened them while saying "imperio." The small waft of smoke ingolfed the spiders and they scattered out to the edges of the tree. Each found their own grow of branches to start forming  a web on. Soon the effect would be the here would be covered in snow.

He casted a ward around the tree to prevent them from excaping. Once his imperius has the look for some where else to make a web. He stood back with his hands on his hips. Admiring it. "See done!"

The german witch hadn’t been quite expecting that reaction, pressing her lips together in a mild bit of embarassment when he mentioned it was an activity for couples and young families. She so rarely got to see Artur as anything other them completely comfortable in his surroundings that she almost pushed the issue. But that wouldn’t have been fair. Still, was the idea of the two of them together that repulsive to him? Not that Nikola was interested, but she considered herself to be quite the desirable woman. Still, she supposed it was much the same as with family perhaps. Either that or he still saw her as a child. Not that he’d ever known her as one… she’d turned eighteen a day into the first term he’d been teaching. A full year into adulthood by wizard standards.

“The real thing?” she raised an eyebrow at that, still on her knees in front of the coffee table, though leaning on it. As he circled the tree, she watched him, her eyes looking over her mentor with amusement. He always got this look on his face when he was thinking, or focused, one that made him look almost like he was wondering where to hide a body. It didn’t surprise her that he frightened younger children, or that first years whispered that bad children were buried below the school. Of course none of this was true, Artur would never hurt a child. In fact she didn’t think that, despite his demeanor at times, that he had that level of malice in him.

”Imperio”

On the other hand, maybe he did. Nikola straightened up at the spell, surprised. There had to be other ways to do what he had just done… not that Nikola could think of any of the top of her head. “You know dark magic is supposed to be my thing...” she murmured. But of course her ‘dark magic’ usually involved blood and sigils, not an unforgivable. Still, she didn’t seem too phased by it, but contentedly sat back and let him do his thing, watching as the spiders began to spin webs on branches, intricate snowflake shapes hanging from between the fronds. “Just make sure you get them all outside when you’re done. I’m not afraid of spiders, but I don't want them in my house. And those ones are nearly big enough that if they ganged up, they could eat Ludolf.” she teased.

The Ukrainian wizard caught the witches reaction in the corner of his eye. A devilishly amused smile came to his lips. The Professor liked that he could still occasionally surprise his old student. It made it feel like they were back in the classroom and he was demonstrating a new tricky move. Still, how to use Imperio on a lesser non magical animal might not be the best lesson. Yet, the witch wasn’t one of his underage students, not any more. Artur expected that she would know that the Wizarding world of magic was not fully divided into Light-dark, right and wrong, good versus evil categories. There were countless shades of gray, countless justifications for even the lightest of wizards to use the darkest of spells. It was how you use it and to what means that made the deed dark or not.

After her comment he turned to her with his eyebrow raised, his devilish smile faded a bit. He was aware of her use of the darkly defined sigils and he had noticed when she had alluded that she was studying blood magic. “I don't think anything you are doing would cast more than the palest of shadows. Het.” The instructor dismissed the notion in his native Russian, before he looked back at the tree and continue to watch the weaving spiders. He scratched the a corner of his missing mustache with his thumb out of habit while he thought. He did not mind her researching and keeping tabs on what others defined as dark magic. When you understand it, it allows you to recognize the magic and more likely to defend against it. The mentor did not want her thinking that she was a dark wizard just because it interested her, and because of that definition align herself with the wrong sort of wizards. Unfortunately this lecture was best not done on their last night together. Besides, it had been a long few days and he wanted to relax tonight not argue morals. So he said, “It is what you do with the spell that should dictate if it is ‘dark’ or not.” with a dismissive wave.

"Get the spiders all out side?" The wizard repeated with a teasing tone. He was dubious when she said she wasn't afraid. He was going to tease her about it until she mentioned that they might gang up on the dog. With the mention of the pup name Ludolf woke up cocked his head towards his  mistress. He apparently had been tired from the excitement of the living room cleaning and wanted to reclaimed his purple and gold embroidered bed with a nap. Spotting the tree the magical dog got up and went to inspect it, not yet noticing the spiders.

"The whole point of using spiders us that they act as live tree orderments and wards usually keep them on the tree.  But…" Just as Artur was about to cave in, Ludolf spotted a large spider on a lower branch and started barking. "For the sake of Ludolf, I'll get rid of them. Now we will have to go with your paper cut outs for the finishing touches after all." The man said giving her a look that halfway alluded to the fact it might have been her plan all along and he was letting her get away with it.

Seeing that the spiders where about done anyways the wizard cast a series of spells. The spells succeeded in gathering them, reducing their numbers and shrink the original spider to more of less its original size. The curp stopped it barking no longer perceiving a threat. Artur cast the simple wingardium leviosa on the arachnid and floated it out the closest door. He was still barefoot yet it only took a second to deposit the his little webb producer into a bush. He knew he could prop his feet up near the fire while he cut and colored silly spiders with his little Perovskia.

"The spider is removed." The wizard quietly announced as he shut and locked the door. He turned back to Nikola expecting her to he holding out a pair of scissors for him excited  that she roped him into her original juvenal plan.

A smile crossed her face as Artur imagined that she was incapable of actually using magic for Darker purposes. Surely he knew the Meer family reputation… although no one could prove it. And she knew that the Nitkin family and the Meers had dealings in the past… but of course with her living apart from the main family in Rostock, and considering her lifestyle, he probably assumed she was distant from the Family’s business as well. And yet her weapons were not just for show. And her actions at times far less benign then he might suppose. His Perovskia was no innocent flower. But she had no intention of breaking that Illusion. So she simply smiled as he continued to speak on the matter. Certainly, she agreed with him wholeheartedly. And it was because of that, she knew exactly where she stood. After all, she was in no illusions that the various things she’d smuggled both into and out of Germany mixed in with her fabric and other materials had been used for darker purposes.

Thankfully, Ludolf woke up and distracted them from that line of conversation. She really didn’t have a problem with spiders; she just didn’t want them in her house while she was away for five or six days. It was more her elves that she was worried about. The poor creatures would be horrified by a tree covered in spiders left there until after the new year. She was glad that he agreed, and grinned when he mentioned her paper. “Excellent. I knew you’d see things my way.” she couldn’t help but play along with the look he gave her.

The elf showed up as he busied himself with the spiders, leaving out the coffee and cookies she’d asked for, and Nikola yawned silently, stretching her arms out in front of her, resting against the seat of the couch that was behind her. She hadn’t expected getting to spend a few days with Artur to be so relaxing. After all, she’d had the festival to finish preparing for, plus packing for her trip to her grandparents, and then Italy. But it had been nice, just enjoying eachother’s company. It was a shame it had to end so soon.

She never made it back up from where she’d rested the back of her head on the couch, slumping over a little, one arm on it with her head nestled comfortably into the crook of her elbow, eyes shutting, only for a moment, she’d thought to herself, but nothing else coherent came to mind, her coffee and cookies untouched. She didn’t even stir when Ludolf padded over to her, nosing her cheek before wandering back to his dog bed. And she was out cold by the time Artur returned to the room, her breathing light and even, lips slightly parted in a faint hint of a smile.

[Nikola out]

She must be too tired to give me a hard time Artur thought when he did not find her holding out the scissors to him. Maybe she was thinking… as he came around the couch and saw that her head was propped on her hand looking down into her lap.  Oh no. The last time he saw her curled up in a ball she was emotionally troubled by the task of finding out her paternal heritage. He wondered if she was troubled by something again. Maybe all of this holiday decorating triggered something involving her past. Possibly something about her mother….

“Nikola?” The worrying man softly spoke as he kneeled down near her. Finally noticing her eyes closed and her face dry, he breathed out a sigh of relief. She was asleep. It made sense. She had been up a number of nights working on her shows before he arrived and then she had to play host to him for the last few days. Cleaning the living room was likely the last of her energy. He looked down at the coffee untouched.

“Nikola?” he said as he touched her shoulder, yet she did not stir, He realized then if he woke her, she would likely down some coffee and insist on cutting out paper snowflakes. She did not need to be so tired and handling a pair of scissors. She was like a child still sometimes.

He slid the coffee table a bit out of his way and squatted down to get a good purchase of her long thin body. It was better this way. The Ukrainian wizard-gentleman told himself. She really did need sleep and he could always send some cut out spiders my owl if he didn't get around to it before he had to leave for his family's house. He lifted her up and let her head lull against his chest. She was slightly heavier than she looked but it was not more then what one would expect with the training they have been doing. Still he tried to not think about how oddly natural  it was to carry her.

 He made his way up the stairs slowly, quite surprised she remained asleep. Really I should have not insisted on getting the tree. I should have had noticed she was tired. Instead I could have just excused myself and went to bed early. She might have retired herself sooner. The gentleman was criticizing himself as he walked up the last few steps. Her door was just ahead on the left of the landing.

With The small pop her elf, Ona appeared in front of the double door with worried eyes, possibly even distraught. Artur realized what it was looking like… a wizard carrying a witch up to her bedroom chamber. “Ona, we can’t have her sleep on the floor down there. Could we? She would have a kink in her neck and wake up cold and sore. I am just dropping her off in her bed. You can see to it that I leave immediately and I'll Leave it to you that she is all tucked in.”

The elf immediately stopped ringing her hands and bobbed her head with a proval. Really elves were so simple minded beasts. He made a mental note to talk with them about security measures when Nikola was asleep. As long as they don't pull them on him, he will be fine. The Elf opened the door for him and Artur entered what looked to be a sitting room. Confused for a second, until he turned and saw the actual bedroom in the dim light beyond. The elf snapped her fingers and the lamps were lit, while Artur halted and blinked with disbelief. He thought for a second he had the wrong room. Maybe this was Nokola’s Drumgrange friend’s guest bedroom? The rest of the house had a sophistication of a witch that loved luscious purple, white and gold, yet this room looked like the witche's teenage daughter’s room.   

Yet Ona was already turning down the bed. Released from his shock, the burdened wizard stepped to the side that would most easily aline Nikola's head to rest on one of her soft pillows. The humming elf quickly covered her up and then shooed the wizard out of the room. Keeping the lights lit long enough for him to reach the sitting area. Ona shut the door and did not let the professor to have much more than a glimpse at his student. who looked like a child in that bed.

He was thinking of asking something.. But couldn't form a question in his head of just what to ask…Has she always...? Was her room like that at the Meer’s house? No, it was just too strange.  Dismissing his thoughts, For the Elf would feel uncomfortable about sharing intimate details about her mistress and Artur rashilized that he never bothered to decorate his room at the school too. So it likely looked like an unused dorm room. The wizard desidedtoexcisehimself and gave a last minuite commanded, "Night Ona. Oh, would you see that Ludolf doesn't get into the cookies and coffee downstairs? “

The elf who just shut Nikola’s chamber door, eyes got wide and disappeared immediately. Artur walked back to his blue room, while he decided that there was an oddness to the childlike qualities the witch occasionally exhibited with him. Yet he was too tired to put the pieces together, at least tonight.

[OUT}