Welcome to Gaia! ::

"There's nothing wrong with accepting gifts," Regret stated. "Your friends buy you small gifts because they wanted to, not that they were obliged to. There's a big difference." By the sound of it, Amata was more loved and cherished by her friends and family. The joy of having people so close to them...

On second thought, the forest may not be as pretty as he made it sound like. The forest was a mix of coniferous and deciduous trees, so it wouldn't have a complete warm color palette. Besides, walking below it, they couldn't see the light be reflected on the leaves. Had he confused a muggle forest to the Forbidden Forest? It was quite likely.

"Perhaps I could be assistance?" he offered.

---------◖Can you feel the Magic◗
--------◢Can you hear the Love◣
-----◆Can you be the one for me?◆
══════════════════════════════╝

Amata waved her hand a little at Regret's comment on her friends and family's buying her gifts. She knew, of course, that they'd done it because they wanted to buy her things. There was nothing wrong with that. But, she'd realized she had a bit of a problem when, a year ago, a friend had traveled for the holiday season and hadn't returned with a gift. She'd been hurt by it, and convinced herself that they must have been angry with her, otherwise they'd have gotten something for her. After talking to them, of course, she realized how ridiculous that was. She'd realized that she had a rather bad problem when it came to such things. It was one thing to cherish a gift, or to enjoy them so much that people bought them; it was quite another to become upset when someone didn't do so. But, she didn't really care to get into that. So, she just nodded a little, taking another drink. "It's not so much that I don't want them to buy me things. I've just... gotten a little too used to it, and it's caused a few problems. So I'm trying to break the habit... or, whatever it is. I don't suppose it's much of a habit, since I don't do anything."

She shook her head at his offer. "No, it's quite alright, I'll manage. Even if you did help me, I doubt I'd follow the plan we wrote out. I get side tracked too easily. But, I am very grateful for the offer. If I find myself in a pinch, I'll be sure to ask." She needed to make a memo to herself of that; otherwise, she might forget to ask. And she had no doubt that, while she didn't need the assistance now, she would likely need it later. She offered him a warm smile, her eyes sparkling.

═════════════════════════════════

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Gino had, quietly, arrived to the Great Hall just prior to the arrival of the students to sit quietly at the Staff Table in a corner. He was caught up reading into a recent study of a Brazilian Capoeira style of dueling that had recently surfaced in some dueling circles, both wand and wandless dueling styles. Apparently the originator was a Brazilian half-blood who had combined his father's teaching in martial arts into his magical dueling Truly, only half-bloods as a whole seem to be doing anything new with magic these days. If only there could be a balance between the old ways that Purebloods seem desperate to preserve, and the innovation of fresh and newer minds.

As the sorting began, Gino politely closed his book as he observed a variety of students get sorted into their schools. This would invariably shape their personalities in fundamental and surprising ways. He always thought that sorting based on personality was odd, and that it invariably affected the personalities of the students. Of course, it was also an amusing mental exercise to guess how a student would change depending on their House. Especially once he got to know them better.

Of course, some ways into the Sorting, he gave a tired sigh before muttering (just loud enough for a few nearby teachers to overhear), "I don't even know why I come to these Sortings, it's not like they're going to be in any of my classes until at least third year."

Now actually turning towards his fellow teachers, "Notice any interesting students in this year's crop? I've noticed one or two with strong magical signatures, but perhaps it is merely a sign of my slight boredom with the sorting process. We after all, silent observers... leaving everything to the Hat."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Gino stared it what seemed to be complete boredom, but he was surprised at the boggart's appearance. It wasn't habitual behavior to be sure, but otherwise not too interesting. He turned to the other professors and made sure to vocalize just loud enough for some students to overhear.

"Should we allow the healer to deal with it? Or shall we make a show of it? I for one would love to demonstrate why we are the professors and let's be honest it would be amusing for the students. Unless we fear to reveal what we fear most?"

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------