Ah yes, the infamous sir. Jericho could only presume that such formalities were something expected here at Hogwarts - not that he had ever used them to his own professors while a student - and therefore would not discourage student usage. Rather, Jericho smiled at the strapping young man and admired the intense glow about him as he greeted. “Salutations and good day to you as well,” he said with a small bow of the head while his palms continued their slow rotation against one another

So that was one for defense. How quaint.

Oh. How unfortunate. This young woman had a dark grainy texture that fluctuated between a cold slate gray and dark maroon…and her question added to the heaviness . Both brows arched at her question, wondering for a brief moment if she thought he was meaning to trick herself and her peers. A tad disappointing as this little exercise truly was not of that nature. “As your instructor,” he spoke airily and with a smile to his lips. “I am asking each of you to look inwards and make a choice based on a feeling. I straddle the line because this exercise is not meant for me nor would I wish for my choice to sway.” Though, to be fair, anyone who kept up with professional duelling was familiar with his dueling technique and which side he would stand on. “There is no intent of trickery nor unfairness here.”

To her compliment, Jericho merely smiled and brought his arms to rest by either of his sides. A stance that helped show off the tattoo sleeves on both his arms, though one side was full of color and the other only in black inks. “So, if you please, stand on a side of the red line.”

Hmmm. So much graininess. Entirely too much for one so young.

“Hello, thank you for being here,” he greeted the young man who, for as far as Jericho knew, had had this particular kit all their life. He happened to enjoy a good thrift store visit! The glimmer of hesitation was noted, but soon enough faded vibrant vermillion footprints were left in the wake of this young man, and Jericho nodded his head approvingly at the decisiveness of his movements.

A brightness followed this young one as she found her spot on the mat. “Hello and welcome,” he greeted with his usual serene joviality. It was perhaps not the aesthetic she was going for, but her color combinations and general vibrancy made him think of fresh watermelon in summer.

Speaking of vibrance, this young woman brought a certain radiance with her as well. Though not summer pinks and greens as her friend. It was more a peachy orange with little flecks of a wild indigo. It was almost shocking that hers was the first greeting that brought attention to his hair, something he was often complimented upon. He did go to great lengths maintaining it, though mostly he had been blessed with good genes for strong roots and natural luster. “Hello there,” he greeted with a chuckle and accompanying shake of the head. “They are not mine to give, so I regrettably must decline and encourage you to seek another means of procuring them.” He could, perhaps, offer her a reference later if she so desired. He had been in contact with a UK based interior designer, who had her own ties to Hogwarts, for them.

There was a bit of overlap, was there not? Jericho was familiar to some martial arts practices, though he would hardly consider himself much of a practitioner and more of a passerby. Unless one were speaking to T'ai chi ch'üan, of which he was more of a permanent resident. With or without her black belt, Jericho was awe-inspired by the pride with which she walked and the hue she radiated because of it.

“Nice?” he could not help but ask with an amused chuckle. It was quite the curious greeting, was it not? “Hello, thank you for being with us today.” His palms sufficiently warmed by this point, Jericho ceased the circular movements and began holding his left wrist with his right and while circling his left wrist to loosen it up a bit.

In fact …

“If you all will please begin a series of wrist loosening exercises while we wait,” he said, now addressing the gathered group while taking a quick glance at the clock. “Begin with rotating your wrist up, down, and from side to side…four times on each side. Next, spread your fingers far apart, relax them, then stretch again. Also four times on each side. Finally, if you will, stretch your thumb by pulling it back gently, holding it, and then releasing it. Again, four times on each hand.”

Four. Solid, stable, dependable, and confident.

If the sir had not been jarring enough, the professor certainly was enough to send a certain kind of icey drip up and down his spine. “Please, credit where credit is due,” he laughed while raising both hands up, palms towards the student, in a humbling stance. “If you prefer to use my last name, please attach Mr. to it rather than professor.” He hardly had the credentials to warrant such a title. “Or you may simply call me Jericho.” Something he would inform all the students once things officially kicked off.

And it was at that moment he found himself wondering who among them he may see as YATI in the coming years. He had been blessed with the opportunity to train a few over the years, his latest pupil now rising to Auror status and Jericho beyond proud of her progress. Judging from the graininess around many, this particular young woman included, he felt it more likely that he could potentially see them in the same capacity that he met with James. Life coaching was another passion of his, after all.

And the socks were perfectly fine.

“Thank you for coming,” he added with an especially warm smile in her direction as she made her own choice.

There was a very real possibility that the boy may get warm, but one could not always predict the circumstances of a duel. Jericho had hoped, however, that the instruction to wear athletic and comfortable clothing had been enough of an allusion to actual dueling. He was certain this young man, a whimsical periwinkle and canary yellow softness to him among the graininess, would do just fine regardless.

“Hello, thank you for being with us,” he greeted despite the boy’s silent approach. He was a bit surprised by the choice given his own first impression of the porcelain skinned boy, but that just went to show you what happened when you judged the barn by its door.

Finishing up his wrist rotations and on to his thumb, stretching instructions still applicable to all and especially those who had arrived after his initial instruction, the energy of this young spirit was contagious and the sentiment showed very much in the toothy smile that spread across his face. It may be cliche to say, but he would be quite the hypocrite were he not to voice a compliment when he felt it on the rise. “Hello and welcome. Your aura is absolutely radiant in its enthusiasm this day,” he smiled. He was quite keen to see just how that manifested in today’s activities and growth.

Growth and individual reflection was, after all, the focus of today.

Quite the contrast to the last student, the air around this particular youth seemed cold and gray…in desperate need for the influence of magenta. If Jericho were to move closer, perhaps halfway down the mats, he may be able to read more into things…but from his place at the front, the duellist instead could only infer indecision and reluctance. Something that his peers had already exhibited in their own ways with each of their arrivals and something that dampened his heart a bit. An empathetic sadness, mind you, and not disappointment. This generation of young witches and wizards had lived through and seen the horrors of war. Whether at Hogwarts or otherwise, it changed an individual no matter the age.

Or, perhaps, the boy was simply allergic to the material of the mats and did not wish to form a rash. It was impossible to infer too much

“If you would rather observe from off the mats today, that is perfectly acceptable,” he called out. Though his voice had raised, it still had a dreamy quality to it and softness.

…or perhaps he was simply waiting for his friend to arrive. While this was an individual exercise, there were no instructions that prohibited anyone from seeking the counsel of others when selecting a side, he supposed.

“There is no wrong answer,” he assured the duo. “However, more is lost to indecision than incorrectness as indecision in a merciless thief.” A bit heavier than he had intended to go so early into the seminar, but it was a part of the point to be had in this little harmless exercise. In a duel, after all, one did not have the luxury of simply not acting. Not unless certain defeat was the choice.

Chuckling, Jericho could not help but wonder if this boy too was of the same mind of the brunette earlier. Of course there was truth and a certain validity in both being important, that was not up for debate today. Not exactly. This was about something deeper and more personal.

“As I was just telling those two,” he spoke, calm and with a twinkle in his eye while gesturing to the young pair of boys. “Indecision is the only wrong answer here. Please pick a side. I stand the way I am in hopes of not swaying your instinct to either side.”
He knew not of this Prince Adam but would certainly not turn down the opportunity to be educated a bit later. Time permitting, of course. He did have the afternoon free and was hoping to take a bit of a nostalgic stroll through the castle and grounds. Perhaps dip into the greenhouses and offer his own assistance there as he had alluded to in a personal letter.

“Hello, a pleasure to see you here today,” he greeted in return as the girl made her choice and he checked the clock once more.

…and just as he did, one more girl came scampering through and with a bold wave oozing out from her. Less grainy than the majority of her peers, which was a curious oddity but not an unpleasant one. “Hello there,” he smiled in return and with an added little wink. “You’re just in time.”