Latest Site Notices

Felixir · #1 (**permalink**) 07-07-2021, 11:15 PM

As promised, Kamran had arranged Cambridge's detention for a Saturday - at a generous 9am - once he was sure those arms of hers had both completely healed. Especially important if he did decide to get the lesson out of the way afterwards as well. He'd see how things went, and hope for the best. And also hope that Cambridge didn't turn up with two broken legs this time.

Kamran stood waiting in the Training Area by a long rack of brooms, two of them standing by ready to be flown, arms folded over his chest as he stared up at the sky, considering conditions. Although it was Saturday, and day when the Training Area was a little more busy, he'd been considerate enough to reserve it for however long this detention took, although it was unlikely anyone would think it all that considerate, even Cambridge. At least not right away.

DaniDiNardo · 07-09-2021, 05:43 PM

It went without saying that she didn't want to be here, yeah?

9 A.M.

Saturday.

Right after breakfast when she should've been off dancing or with her friends or, y'know, watching paint dry. Anything would've been better than showing up to a detention with No-Heart-Kazmi, the unfeeling, uncaring flying professor who did not care about anything but forcing children into the sky.

Emmerson trudged her way over to the training area, her most sullen expression firmly in place. The look grew all the worse when she got closer and saw all the brooms there waiting. If he thought she was going to waste her weekend polishing brooms like Peralta had her cleaning the hospital wing, he had another think coming. She didn't know how many times she had to say she wasn't a house elf, but she was NOT.

"Professor." She grumbled, coming to a stop before him. Note the way she expertly did not look back at those cursed brooms. They had nothing to do with her.

Felixir · 07-10-2021, 12:19 AM

For his part, No-Heart-Kazmi would have been relatively pleased to know that Cambridge did not want to be here, and that the time and date played a big part in that. That was sort of the whole point. Maybe it might make her think again next time she tried to deceive him.

That was a very big maybe, but he wasn't giving up on the idea.

Speaking of forcing children into the sky, it was - perhaps - worse than she'd suspected. "Good morning, Miss Cambridge," Kamran greeted the Gryffindor. Enough pleasantries, they were getting right to it. He picked up both brooms, and handed one to the girl. "Hop on the broom and get into the air. You'll start by helping me check on the maintenance needs around the Training Area."

Maybe. Maybe that was the plan. It certainly did need doing, but Kamran just wanted to check something else first.

DaniDiNardo · 07-10-2021, 12:26 AM

...

....

"No thanks." Green eyes remained locked on the man's face, her expression remaining somewhat neutral despite the small panic rising behind her eyes. Being in a class with others, it was easier getting out of activities that required being in the air. Alone? No one to make distractions with? This was a whole other thing and Emmerson was not prepared.

So maybe she was a house elf after all.

Maybe she wanted to polish the brooms and pluck at the bristles to make sure everything was alright. House elves made cookies, it wasn't such a bad gig. Emm paused, surveying the area around them. "Where's the broom polish? I'll get them shining in no time. It'll be good muscle training for my arms, I think. I'll alternate to keep the exercise even."

Her hands having been out of commission, they could actually use the training.

"Do you have those little tweezer scissors things? The bristles don't all look that good either." Not waiting for him to repeat his earlier instructions, the Gryffindor moved over to the brooms and plopped down, ready to get to work. Busy bee, this one. Real hard worker.

Felixir · 07-10-2021, 01:51 AM

As expected.

"Miss Cambridge, if you think this is optional, you clearly misunderstand the concept of detention." Which was an achievement, given how often it seemed she'd found herself serving them. Kamran's voice was firm, but not angry; though he didn't doubt that Cambridge could find a way to grate on his last nerve, she wasn't even close just yet. "Stand up, and do as you've been instructed."

He still held the broom out towards her, looking expectant, in a way that brooked no argument. Kamran expected an argument all the same, however, and before it could come, he added, "Unless you have a good reason why you can't fly, in which case, now is the time to tell me." The honest reason. Hopefully she'd learned how he responded to lies; by now, Kamran was almost one hundred percent sure of the real reason.

Thing was, he thought it extremely unlikely she'd just come out and say it, or she'd have done so by now. Evidently, breaking both arms was preferable to admitting it. That was a big barrier to get through. Potentially.

DaniDiNardo · 07-10-2021, 02:08 AM

A reason?

Nope.

None.

Nothing she could think of.

Emmerson remained seated on the ground for a silent moment, worrying away at her lower lip while she took in the broom the man held in his hand. Suddenly, Professor Kazmi seemed very far away and a canyon had been erected between them. The grass clung to her legs, refusing to let her up and her own legs had turned to lead at the thought of getting up to collect that broom.

She couldn't.

She also couldn't tell him why. Her pride would not let her, not with a matter such as this one. Not for something as nonsensical. He'd laugh--he'd laugh himself to the ground and begin rolling. He'd summon her classmates and have them laughing at her, too. The whole school would know. Logic told her to fess up, save herself actually getting on the broom, but...that Gryffindor pride would not be cowed down. It told her she feared nothing, told her bold lies she was inclined to believe for the sake of her own image.

At last, Emmerson rose to her feet. With counted steps, she moved toward the professor and took the broom. Her hands shaking violently? Pay no attention there, it was just....excitement.

The wobbly way she mounted her broom? Nothing to see here. The way she flipped on the broom landing on her back with her arms and legs still clinging to the floating broom? Just...warming up.

Was she flying yet?

Felixir · 07-10-2021, 03:05 AM

Kamran honestly couldn't decide what to feel here. Approval and maybe even admiration of Cambridge's persistence, her determination to actually get on a broom and fly... or despair at the fact that it was actually because she was so determined to not communicate, maybe even so arrested by her own pride. The girl had no confidence on a broom, was clearly terrified (and, no, it certainly wasn't excitement, her answers in his lessons told him that much), and lacked ability as well. A trifecta of problems.

What was it with some people - some teenagers - who would do anything in their power if it meant not communicating effectively, not divulging a problem that might easily be addressed.

Actually, you know what, this was definitely despair. Lowkey, but... despair.

"Alright, I've seen enough," Kamran said, but any edge to his voice was utterly absent. He wouldn't have her flying, as he'd claimed, but the Gryffindor needn't be a human sloth - sort of - any longer than necessary. "On your feet, Miss Cambridge. Let's discuss this."

DaniDiNardo · 07-10-2021, 03:23 AM

Despite her back being flush against the ground--despite the fact she could FEEL the blades of grass where fabric gave way to uncovered skin, Emmerson still had to peep an eye open to ensure she was on the ground before letting go of the broom.

O N LY after reaffirming that she would not be falling from any height whatsoever did Emmerson Cambridge pull herself from the broom. Blood rushing to her face from the absolute embarrassment of the last two minutes, Emm kept her eyes trained on her shoes while she dusted herself off. There was nothing left but damage control. She needed redemption for the humiliating way in which she'd conducted herself.

"You should probably get that broom checked." She said, brushing loose strands of grass from her arms, nonchalant as you like. "It's not working right. It won't even fly. You saw it spin me around like that. Definitely not the kind of broom you want in your lessons."

Because obviously on a better broom, none of that would've happened. She'd have been zipping through the sky like it was nobody's business. He'd be so impressed by her flying skills, he'd end the detention immediately.

Faulty dummies, faulty brooms....

Starting to see a pattern here.

Felixir · 07-10-2021, 03:31 PM

Uh huh. "I probably should," Kamran replied, in a tone that suggested he clearly would not, at least not for the reasons his little detentionee was stating. Humouring her, but only slightly. Wouldn't do to outright encourage the fabrications Cambridge often came up with, especially in a detention that was in large part given for lying.

She wasn't even very good at it. As a professor, Kamran should and would try to curb any and all deceptions, but there was something that rankled him just that slightest bit more when a student really was hopeless at trying to pull the wool over his eyes. The beauty of it was that, if they managed it, he'd never find out, and wouldn't have to grudgingly pull them up on it. If he found out about it, the student had automatically failed in the attempt, and so deserved the consequences even more so.

But back to business.

"Miss Cambridge, why did you try so hard to get out of my lesson?" Much as Kamran wanted to just point out his observations, it was a tricky one to approach. The fact it was Cambridge overcomplicated the issue several times over, but Kamran also did not want to be skirting around the issue for much longer. "The truth now." He was prepared to repeat his initial instructions at the first hint of a lie, with a less faulty broom this time, but they'd soon find out if that was necessary.

DaniDiNardo · 07-15-2021, 01:42 PM

The truth? Never heard of it.

"I just don't like flying, Sir." A more acceptable response. Lots of people just didn't like things all the time. It was normal and far less humiliating. "And I don't think I should have to show up to a class I don't like if I don't plan to have a future in it anyway. When I get older, I'll learn how to apparate and will never look at another broom again. The way I see it, there's no reason to waste both our time with me showing up."

Her generosity knew no bounds. She was just being responsible and valuing his time, hoping for nothing but him valuing hers in return.

"There's so many kids in the class, I don't see why it matters if one doesn't show up--one who'll never fly when she's older and would rather be anywhere else."

That was honest, just like he asked. She didn't wanna be in a class with that death trap learning how to almost off herself by diving for the ground then not pulling up right, or maneuvering in such a way that she almost zips into someone else and panics herself right off her broom mid-flight to meet the ground with a SMOOSH!

No thanks, hard pass, she was not interested.

Felixir · 07-15-2021, 03:33 PM

That Cambridge didn't like flying, this much was clear. Kamran still didn't believe it was the truth, however, not the entire truth. She didn't 'just' not like flying, she had wild notions of brooms with murderous intent and inevitably fatal meetings with the ground. Gryffindor dramatics aside, Cambridge was clearly afraid. Of flying itself, of height, of brooms, he was not willing to say for certain just yet.

But Kamran humoured her for now. "I understand what you're saying." It wouldn't be the first time he'd heard the 'I'm never going to use it in real life' spiel, and not just about his own subject. "But flying isn't just a leisure activity. It's a very useful skill to know, even if you never intend to do it in future. There are plenty of circumstances in which knowing even just the basics would be invaluable. Maybe it's not nearly as vital a skillset, but just like someone might not like Charms, or Defence Against the Dark Arts, say, it's still important to learn some of it." Meaning, not liking a subject was simply not a good enough reason to not go to a class without officially dropping it.

He considered her a moment. "What is it that you don't like about flying? What makes it bad enough that you would rather break your arms than get on a broom?" Nobody could say he wasn't making the effort to get her to tell him in her own words. "Because that's a very drastic measure. Most people would just put up with the lessons." Kamran tried to not make the implication too obvious.

DaniDiNardo · 07-15-2021, 05:11 PM

"When you say it like that, Professor, you make me sound like some rash and impulsive Gryffindor." She pointed out. Further. "I didn't break my arms, the dummies did while I was trying to gain a proper education. That's hardly my fault." 'Cause, see? She'd caught that. Admitting it meant admitting to doing that earlier stuff on purpose.

Smart.

"It doesn't matter anyway. You're gonna say I have to fly no matter what reason I give you, so why can't you accept the answer I did give you, let me polish two brooms, cut the grass, I dunno, whatever flying detentions look like, then leave?" She didn't think she was asking for much here. What happened to the days when detention was about being put to work or made to suffer then leaving without having learned anything?

"I can clean your office instead, if you prefer."

But could they get this over with? The longer they spent here working out feelings, the longer she had to put off dance practice. It was becoming a real problem.

Felixir · 07-15-2021, 07:40 PM

"It does sound a little like that, doesn't it?" Naturally he would never say such a thing outright. Kamran even made the effort to avoid implying it. It was one of those stereotypes that, while it was often true, caused problems in offending the students, or simply led them to believe they had permission to live up to it. He wasn't about to give anyone the go-ahead to be rash and impulsive.

It also wasn't lost on him that Cambridge took a comment that might have suggested fear, and spun it to make reference to her Gryffindor sorting. The faintest smile tugged at his mouth for just a millisecond. Not that there was much reason to keep smiling even if it hadn't faded on its own.

Kamran was unmoved. "You're aware, I take it, that you have now all but admitted that the answer you gave me was not an honest one, just as you all but admitted you did try to get out of my lesson." Not as clearly as he'd have liked, but as close as she was likely to get without more pushing. That lie was not such a bad one, as it was a potentially sensitive topic, but being so bold about it wouldn't do in this particular detention. Speaking of which, time to get on with that. "You have two options. If you properly own up to the stunt with the dummies to skip my lesson, and any lies you've told me since, you may stay firmly on the ground and complete another task that needs doing. You'll be in no further trouble. I won't even insist you tell me why you don't like flying. If you really do insist it's all true, then there's no reason we shouldn't continue with the original plan." He handed the second broom out to Cambridge for her to take, and picked up the first for himself. "Either way, you'll be here just as long."

Up to her. He was prepared for either course of action, though he had no reason to believe she'd be any less stubborn than she had been so far. A little responsibility for her own actions, that was all he was looking for right now, but he knew it was a little thin on the ground.

Latest Site Notices

Latest Harry Potter News

Latest FanFics

Latest Forum Posts

Latest Games

Hogwarts RPG

Wizarding World RPG

Members