Yeah, it's okay to stare.

Jamie couldn't help it. She snorted with laughter. 

She couldn't read him at the moment and only realized after her unladylike outburst that he may not be kidding. Jamie pulled back slightly so she could meet his eyes in order to better assess his words. But she couldn't help but enjoy the face that their faces remained incredibly close together. Her eyebrows crinkled in confused enjoyment, Jamie asked, "Wait, are you serious?" The idea was surprisingly unoffensive to her.. Even fun. So she cheekily grinned at him, suddenly even more excited for their upcoming afternoon together. 

Jamie knew she was acting strangely. Her normal behavior could be described as cynical, brooding, and verging on paranoia. But something about Milo's air had brought out an alive side to her that she hadn't seen in years. Laughing felt absolutely amazing and her whole body felt like it was glowing with joy. She could feel her cheeks flushed from both her companions flattery and her laughter. "I would, but my ass is so fabulous I wouldn't want to make you feel bad or anything." She leaned back suddenly, like that decided the matter but Jamie secretly was hoping that Milo would be unabashed and insist. 

Jamie couldn't stop grinning, even in her attempts to look smug. She knew she must look ridiculous with this cheesy grin plastered across her face but she couldn't help it. Her body had been craving to feel happy for so long that it was hard for her to come down from the high of meeting someone somewhat intelligent right away. And he was intelligent. Even though Milo was joking, Jamie could see intent in the way he spoke and moved. Not so much to take advantage of her but simply aware of everything that was going on. This was clearly a practiced art of his but Jamie couldn't bring herself to care one bit.

((Oh yessss. I'm the same way. That movie is 90% why Keira is her PB. It's one of my all time favorites.))

She asked if he was serious, and he grinned toothily, his shining eyes and amused smile refusing to tell the truth. In all honesty, Milo thought that to tattoo any part of his body was a cardinal sin against nature- beauty such as his simply could not be marred. Besides, he already had one tattoo he did not want. There was no way to remove the Dark Mark on his arm, though over the years it had become less of a tattoo and had become a scar. The flaw was already irritating to him.

Her continued comment finally urged him to come clean. "No. From what I know of my ass, and what I can guess of yours, it would be a terrible disservice to ourselves and each other to mar such beautiful canvasses with any sort of lasting graphic." He smirked.

Still... He wanted to do something with this woman. He smiled as a thought entered his mind and he leaned forward. "Tell me... Have you ever been on a boat?"

A boat? The idea momentarily baffled Jamie. For a second she forgot she was a witch and found herself wondering why anyone would actually go out on a boat in this chilly autumn air. Then the brunette (who was momentarily feeling very blonde indeed) realized this problem could be solved in two ways 1) instantly apperate to somewhere more tropical or 2) just put on a coat. Needless to say, Jamie was far from expiranced when it came to driving, understanding, or frankly caring about on water activities. She had not had the time to pursue expensive hobbies for years now and the thrill of driving fast in fancy things had been forgotten. 

"No, not for a long time. Why?"

She leaned slightly back to balance out his shirt forward, not in repulsion but rather to monitor her own impulses. Milo's delicious smell was messing with her brain. Jamie wondered what this man was thinking. Was he merely being polite? Playing along because he didn't want to reject her clear intreats in him? It seemed so strange that they were already making plans for a day together since they had just met. But no, scratch that. It didn't feel weird at all. That was the truly weird thing about it. Jamie felt that she could trust this stranger and that unsettled her slightly. But the stubburn part of her brain chimed in that if she didn't spend time with him then he would always be a stranger. 

The caffeine had really started to work it's way into Jamies system and she was starting to feel excited about her day. The last wisps of tiredness were quickly flying away and she felt truly awake for the first time all week. She was ready to tackle anything.. Even boating if she was offered it. 

Milo grinned at her response and as she played with his shirt. Ah, how he had already wanted and longed to include this strange, new woman in a part of his life that he had enjoyed on his own. He could sense the potential in her, he could practically taste the fun. But his seafaring abilities were sort of a special aspect of Milo's strange, twisted life, and they could not be exploited on a woman who wanted to remain a booty call. He would not assume her intention, but he could not assume she wished to be a regular visitor of his either.

So he tilted his head and said, "Well, I may or may not have access to a bona fide pirate ship." So it was a small cargo ship, it looked like a pirate ship if you put a pirate flag on it. "And if you can prove yourself to be a proper sailor, you can become my first mate." He grinned wider, excited by the idea of proposing a challenge. So excited he was that he had not even thought up the particulars when he said, "You have to pass three pirate tests, and I'll take you on the boat ride of a lifetime during the next weekend you have free."

Jamie raised her eyebrows but couldn't help but grin. Pirate tasks? He was absolutely mad. Jamie remembered when she was seven and she had been absolutely obsessed with pirates. At first her parents had thought it was cute and she had been permitted to wear an eye patch around the house for a whole week. Eventually it had been squashed out of her but that hadn't stopped national Talk like a Pirate Day to become a yearly celebration for the girl. Despite childhood fantasy's she had never actually had a true boating expirance. The prospect of one made her both nervous and excited. Much like she would have been in her childhood.

"Sounds mysterious." she giggled, immediately ashamed of the girly noise coming from her throat. She hadn't giggled since.. Probably seventh year. An old habit that she had been happy to leave in the past. Silencing herself she asked, "So what's the first task?"

Jamie looked pleased with the prospect of being able to prove herself to be worthy enough for his expedition. He could think of three things that ran through all sailor's veins- alcohol, swear words, and the incredible need to satisfy the urge to brawl. Perhaps he could turn the last task into something a little more... well, sexy. Something less like getting in a bar fight, and more like wrestling her.

He smiled. "The first is a timeless classic. You must be able to drink like a pirate. When's the next night you have where you have no classes the following morning? I'm sure we can find a suitable bar to test your abilities in."

Ah, drinking. Something that Jamie was definitely good at. Alcohol had not become a close friend to her until about a year ago. It was around the time that her roommates had bailed on her, leaving Jamie with no time, no money, and no babysitters. The stress had finally broken her down enough that a couple drinks were helpful to relax her a little. But drinking was fun. In the clubs of London people saw her as much more beautiful than they did in the daylight at work. Jamie had found a way to forget the world and all of her problems. 

"Wednesday I think." Jamie offered, trying to remember to schedule. That was a couple days away.. She wasn't pleased about having to wait to see Milo again but at least she didn't sound too desperate. Because she wasn't. There were plenty of guys in the world and Milo wasn't any different. Right? But the way that her cheeks hurt from smiling made her doubt herself. He felt special, and that was the most dangerous thing of all.

Wednesday. Milo had Charms class the next morning, but there was no reason Jamie needed to know that. He was much too impatient to spend some more time with this attractive professor to suggest they wait for an alignment in their schedules. Besides, Milo wasn't exactly a perfect professor anyway. He would probably have more Order in his classroom if he had a hangover and was trying to keep the children quiet so as to not disturb his head.

"Wednesday," he repeated, a sincere smile spreading across his face, alighting his eyes with a sparkle. "The other challenges will be announced after you complete your first one. You'd better study up, miss, you'll be with a professional." Milo grinned widely and the first bell for class rang. He was pretty sure he had a class, but he could show up late. She probably wanted to get to her own class on time, but Milo would wait for that insistence, too selfish and too interested in her to voluntarily leave. He grinned and said, "I'll meet you at the Hogwarts gate at, say, nine p.m.?"

The bell rang and Jamie groaned inwardly. She had class and with her already awful teaching skills her job really couldn't afford tardiness. So reluctantly Jamie stood, leaving her cooling mug of tea behind on the table. "I've got to go." she told him regretfully. "Kids and stuff. But I'll see you on Wednesday." She gave him a little smile before grabbing her bookbag of notes and heading for the door. Looking down she realized she was still in her pajamas and groaned again.. this time audibly. But nevermind, the kiddies would just have to live with her comfy slippers until lunch when she could get away to her room. Put a robe on and they would barely be able to tell. As she walked across the staff room she tousled her hair and wiped the last bits of sleep from her eyes in an attempt to look the tiniest bit put together for her upcoming lesson. 

When Jamie reached the door she turned back to look at her Wednesday night drinking partner and called back to him cheerfully "Bye, Professor!" Milo had already proved himself fun and Jamie found herself happier than she had been in a very long time even after only a few minutes of conversation. Imagining a whole night together made her nearly giddy with joy. This unfamiliar feeling was pleasantly unsettling and for the briefest moment she felt guilty for being so happy when she had sent her daughter off to live with a near stranger. Elijah Krum was the only one she trusted with Prim.. Even moreso than herself. He would take care of her brilliantly but Jamie knew she shouldn't be this pleased about the freedom of being childless, even for a moment. Thoughts of her daughter mixed with thoughts of the man she had just met as she hurried off to class.