(Untitled)

[alotofgood]

James is cheerfully sitting at a table with a tall glass of Coca Cola (and ice), and what looks to be an actual school textbook in front of him.

(Guide to Advanced Transfiguration, if we want to be specific

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[lilium_evansiae]

One might assume that James is here to do homework, yes.

But not if that one is his girlfriend.

(She's allowed to say 'girlfriend,' right?)

"Tell me again how you're top of that class," she says, dropping into the chair next to his.

[alotofgood]

(She is absolutely allowed to say 'girlfriend'.)

James grins in her direction, leaning over to kiss his girlfriend.

(With a thrill of excitement that isn't likely to fade yet.

Or ever.)

"Honestly, I do study," he argues, eying his textbook and its ring of condensation. "Even if it might not look like it now.

"All right, Lily?"

[lilium_evansiae]

"You must," she says. "Can't coast on your looks and your charm with McGonagall, can you?"

Lily eyes the textbook and its ring of condensation, too.

A second later, James' book is the proud owner of its own Impervious charm.

[alotofgood]

"No, I suppose not. Unfortunately, she developed a sort of immunity to such things. And Sirius and I have been trying for years," he says good-naturedly, watching Lily work her magic.

Literally.

"Thanks, Lily." He picks his book up, as though to inspect it. "Good as new."

[claudiometer]

Claudia, ever a nosy bugger, has a look at the spine of the book. "Advanced transfiguration, huh?"

[alotofgood]

"That's right," says James with a smile. "You know anything about it?"

[claudiometer]

"Nope. Well, unless you count turning one kind of techy thing into another, but I doubt that's what they mean."
She's still damn proud of the hologram projector, though.

[alotofgood]

James shakes his head.

"Unfortunately not," he says. "This one's more about turning objects into other objects. With magic. Not so much with 'techy'."

Or tech.

Or whatever the word is.

"All right? Claudia, isn't it?"

[amazonofthe21st]

He is not the only person lounging around in bars, shirking responsibility and drinking soft drinks!

...granted, Rachel does not have any particular responsibility to shirk at the moment, but she's certainly not accomplishing much sitting on the couch like that. Other than, perhaps, the accomplishment of reading a book.

With a hawk on her shoulder.

Who she seems to be occasionally asking, "Done?" before turning the page.

Normal day in Milliways.

[whoiwasmeant2be]

Before every page turn the hawk bobs his head ever so slightly. It's oddly calm for a bird of prey in such a crowded environment.

And, oddly, it seems to be scanning its eyes across the pages of the book.

Normal day in Milliways. An oddly public one for Rachel and Tobias.

[alotofgood]

A moment later, James will spin around in his seat - partly out of boredom, partly because he's looking for familiar faces.

"Oy!" he calls, noting one on the couch. "Rachel!"

Well, Rachel and hawk.

That's certainly an interesting choice of companion.

[amazonofthe21st]

Hey, it's not that uncommon! They've done this all of... well, twice.

All right, maybe Rachel's smile is a little sheepish as she waves. "Hey, James."

Milliways, being an arguably safe, probably Yeerk-free environment, does not require them to hide what they are, who they are, and how that relates to each other.

But the newness of it still calls for some sheepishness, now and again.

[real_or_notreal]

Bar Shirking Time is in effect all over the place, it seems.

"I hear congratulations are in order."

[alotofgood]

"- are they?"

Well, James isn't about to turn down any sort of congratulatory remark.

"Thanks, mate."

He grins.

"... what for?"

[real_or_notreal]

Unless they aren't.

Faintly dissembling, but without a falter. "A date with Lily?"

Just because Lily looked happy -- it doesn't automatically mean, he should be so aware of that equality -- "Unless it...didn't go so well on your side?"

[alotofgood]

"Oh."

James laughs, shaking his head.

"No, no. Blimey, it did. It was brilliant.

"I suppose I just didn't know you knew. Lily told you, then?"