a seed-eating songbird that typically has a stout bill and colorful plumage... [Open!]

[isee_snorkacks]

You might be wondering why there is a rather large flock of finches occupying the open air of the Obs Deck. The obvious answer is that someone left the window open. The unobvious answer is the seemingly innocuous teenager lying on one side of the room, a spellbook she had just run across in her locker open on the floor beside her

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[bonnypiperlad]

There's been a song in Jamie's head for a few days now, and he's decided that it's high time he tries to get it out of there. Practice chanter in hand, he enters the Obs Deck. He's figuring he'll find a quiet corner, settle in on one of the squishier meatcouches and try and see if he can't work out the tune. That particular plan lasts about 3.5 seconds, however, as he realizes the room is rather more occupied than normal.

He stops just past the entrance, staring at the rather colorful mass of birds that fill the air. For all that he's gotten used to the idea that strange things can happen, especially on Stacy, the fact that there's a roomful of finches has thrown him for a momentary loop. That is, until one of the more annoyed birds decides to fling itself at his face.

With a yelp, Jamie dives to the side to get out of its way. There's a momentary flash of red plaid that might be visible as he takes cover behind the nearest meatcouch.

[isee_snorkacks]

The bird explodes in a puff of feathers as it hits the wall instead of its target, and Luna sits up, more concerned with the yelping, plaid-wearing person than the demise of one of her creations. Following a wave of her wand, half of the flock of crazed, flapping finches lands on various levels of furniture, screeching and shouting as finches are wont to do. The other half wheels around, refusing to obey her request that they calm down, instead choosing to throw themselves at each other. The air is filled quite quickly with falling feathers.

"I'm sorry -- they're a bit aggravated, some of them. They were the first few batches," she says, swaying to her feet, robes swirling around her. "Did he hit you? I know a few healing spells. I haven't used them before, but I'm sure I could get the hang of them quickly." Her tone is bright as she peers over the back of the sofa, blonde hair hanging down long enough to almost brush the top of his head.

[bonnypiperlad]

Jamie looks up a bit warily, as he's half expecting another avian missile to be heading his way. He's rather relieved to see that it's a person - that is, until she offers to try out untested healing spells. There's a rather quick scramble to get to his feet, then.

"No, no, I'm fine," he says hurriedly. "Just a wee bit startled."

And a bit confused as to what exactly is going on. Batches of birds? That doesn't make sense. "What did ye mean by batches?"

[isee_snorkacks]

She stares at him for a moment, an odd, rather dotty expression on her face until she lowers herself into the seat, chin tilted up to allow her a view of the feathery charms.

"I couldn't possibly make them all at once, could I? It's rather like making pasties -- make too many at a time, and the whole lot is just that bit worse." Her metaphor may or may not make sense, but she's quite convinced that it's highly appropriate.

[f_u_im_a_human]

"Birds?" says the red-headed woman passing through the room, head snapping upward to watch them. Finches, actually. How'd they get here?

She's kind of an interesting looking person, carrying some kind of deeply weatherstained leather pack across her back with a large, somewhat menacing spear hanging from it. She herself doesn't seem threatening at all, though.

"Who let these in?"

Hisk is still getting used to the idea of space being, you know, a big empty vacuum.

[isee_snorkacks]

Luna turns her head to watch the red-haired woman, wand dangling from one hand.

"Nobody let them in, really," she says from her place on the floor, hair pooling beneath her head, robes splayed around her.

A few birds pelt themselves at the wall behind her, exploding in puffs of colorful feathers and a few sparks. Luna doesn't comment.

[f_u_im_a_human]

"Then how'd they get 'ere?" Hisk peers at the birds, and jumps a little as several seem to dash themselves against the wall. They leave no bodies, though.

"These 'witched?"

[isee_snorkacks]

"They're a charm. I've only just got the hold of it." She flicks her wand at the air just above her, murmuring "Avis!". A new batch of birds erupts from the wandtip, flapping and screeching their way towards the ceiling. Fortunately, these aren't kamikazes like a great many of their brethren.

"I'm quite fond of birds, you know, and there aren't nearly enough on board..."

[nothawkingbird]

"There's birds in the Obs Deck. Did I miss a comm or something?"

Kate eyed the songbirds curiously. They did sound pretty, and she couldn't help giving an answering whistle to a pair of finches fluttering past.

"Whoa hey, anyway to calm them down?"

[isee_snorkacks]

The blonde produces a few more birds with a joyful flick of her wand and a proclamation of Avis!, head tilting against the floor as the charm birds join their brethren.

"Not really." It's really not clear which question she's answering, but she's answering one of them, which is something, right?

[nothawkingbird]

Kate immediately zeroed in on that.

"Oh of course when it's magic birds, that makes all the difference." She rolled her eyes a little at it.

[isee_snorkacks]

Luna sits up, staring intently, head tilted.

"It rather does, doesn't it? They're not quite the same when they're charms." Her voice is floating somewhere up there with the finches, dreamy as it is, eyes lifting to follow one kamikaze's path as it divebombs a sofa.

[isee_snorkacks]

Luna turns her head to eye the woman, watching the hex work its magic, following the bird's path as it flaps back into the mob.

"They're quite magical, actually," she says in reply, folding her hands on her stomach. "As are you, I'm assuming."

[isee_snorkacks]

Luna smiles a vague smile, sitting up and fixing her gaze rather unnervingly on the woman.

"They're mine, yes. I only just figured out the spell for it. What kind of magic do you use?" An odd question, maybe, but one must take into mind that Luna is an odd girl.

[kaya_waterwave]

Katara WAS wondering why there were birds flying on the obs deck, it being an rather uncommon thing, but that questioning was answered the moment she saw the blond girl with the wand. She might not get to see her as often as she liked, but every time she did was pretty memorable.

"Heya Luna!" She said, giving her friend a hug. "How have you been??

[isee_snorkacks]

Luna's eyes light up, a smile tugging at her lips.

"I've been alright, I suppose," she says, moving the spellbook to make room for Katara to sit. "I've been working on some spells, which is quite nice, though I do quite miss my father's magazine." Her eyes wander, watching a particularly discontent bird explode in a puff of feathers against the floor a few feet away from them.

"I don't see you as much as I'd like to," she added, tilting her head to peer at the brunette. "It's been a while, again, hasn't it?"

[kaya_waterwave]

"I missed you!" Katara said, giving her a hug. "Wow, is that where you learn how to do magic? I recently have a boy that's...uh, staying with me, and he's a wizard himself! He'd definitely like to meet you I'll bet!"

Never mind that he was sleeping in the same bed as her. That would be too complicated to explain anyway, and would probably sound bad. "Those birds are very beautiful! How did you do it?"

"I agree," Katara said, smiling. "It has been awhile, and I missed you! How have you been? Tell me whatever you can!"

[isee_snorkacks]

Pulling back from the hug, Luna folds her legs under her with a shake of her head.

"No, there are wizarding schools. I go to one of them- well, went to one of them, until I came here." She isn't particularly focused on that bit of the conversation, though, eyes intent on the second half of Katara's statement.

"What's his name? I don't suppose he's one of m-" She had been about to say "one of my boys", but realized that would be absurd. After all, you can't own a person.

She pauses, eyes fixed on Katara's for a moment, hope making her heart fly. Instead of answering her question, she smiles and lifts her wand, murmuring "Avis!" and watching the finches flutter out of thin air to land on and around Katara.