Mycroft Holmes was a man of his word, he was also a man that never backed down from a challenge. And Teagan Finn was most definitely a challenge he wanted to win over. She was beautiful, but more than that she had set up a standard in perception of him that he was wiling to go along with. He wasn't a man that was intrigued often, usually out of duty he would settle for a date or two, to keep the hope going of his parents for a future of him continuing on the Holmes name. But he, hadn't felt a primal and mental attraction to a woman for a long time.

By no means was he planning to woo her, or any plans of commitment, but if he had time to entertain a woman as classy as Miss Finn, well who was he to pass it up. So as soon as the weekend came along and the Avalon festivities began, he had sent her an owl. It was simple enough, conveying his message of interest with little hint of desperation.


It was short simple, and enough for him to know she would attend. The weather had been kind, not entirely too cold, yet had snowed leaving a nice blanket of winter wonderland. Smiling slightly to himself he slipped his gloved hands into his warm Belstaff and waited patiently for her to arrive.

Eyes wandering here and there around the shops, Teagan was thrilled to see that the years had not changed everything around Avalon. She'd only been to the village a handfull of times since taking the position at the academy. And not one had been for something so interesting as a date.

The small note, unfolded and folded again more times than she would admit, was held securely in an inside pocket of her coat. Thinking again on the words within, a small smile played at her mouth. Teagan found his apparent attempt at aloofness rather...cute. So, he'd caught on to her rather obvious suggestion. At least he was 'willing', to accept the challenge. It was more than she could say for other men. Well, that wasn't quite true. Most of the men she knew well were more than eager for a challenge. It was what came after the initial fun that seemed to drive them from her in haste.

Still, she would not let herself get too far ahead of the now. Today was about getting out of the castle. Good food, excitement, and maybe just a bit of the best kind of fun.

The ice-rink was easy to find, as large as it was. There weren't too many people on the ice just yet, since it was rather early in the day. By evening, the whole place would be bustling with families and couples. It wasn't that she would dislike the noise and the crowd, but...the time just as the pair of them would be nice.

Looking around, she was taken aback by the beauty of the carnival. There were lights strung around the rink, that could be seen even in daylight. With a warm, royal blue sweater, a loose black skirt and thick tights to match, her feet were clad in ankle boots designed for the snow. While the day was rather chilly, she found that she didn't mind so much.

Now, if only she could fine the man she was here to meet. It took a bit, but she caught sight of a drastic figure, making quite an image against the backdrop of such gayity. She'd thought him to leave such an impression before, but now? Well, she couldn't say she disapproved.

Taking everything in, Mycroft couldn't help but smile, if just a bit. Christmas wasn't always his favorite holiday, it seemed a bit forced to shove a holiday down their throats. But it was nice, he supposed, brought back some nostalgia to him. He remembered when he had gone to the carnival with his mates and his girlfriend at the time. It had been fun, as far as he could remember about it, but overall it brought on stress to try and have a good time.

This time around, he was older, wiser and didn't have to force anything. Teagan had to come; it was obvious from her previous interest in him that she would. It was a weird sense of pride knowing that he still was found attractive in some way to people that he himself found as well. And she was an enigma, that's what kept him thinking about her.

But as the crowd parted, it was when he knew that he'd been right. She looked absolutely lovely, and she was wearing his favorite color, that popped out her features all the more. Smirking he lifted his brow and signaled her to come over. This was definitely going to be different than before.

A slow smile spread across Teagan's face when Mycroft motioned her over. Walking towards him, around the rink, she was stopped short by a peal of laughter and a flurry of motion. A pair of young kids, no more than four or five, were running about in the snow. The girl was chasing the boy, and they started running circles around Teagan, not caring at all who she was. She was startled at first, but soon, watching the pair of them, she couldn't help but laugh. It wasn't more than a minute before a concerned woman came over, apologizing profusely.

"No, it's quite alright," Teagan assured her. While she had no experience with children, not with her line of work, she found them rather funny little people.

Finally reaching Mycroft, she felt a bit awkward, all of a sudden. Their last two meetings had been by chance; the ball, and then the grounds. In the spur of the moment, Teagan could think on her feet. Be all witty and charming. It was what she was used to: chance encounters and one night stands. But this....well, it was formal. And formal was...different.

"Hey," she greeted. Noticing he hadn't brought skates with him, she figured they'd be renting some from the stand. She hadn't been skating in ages, but it was something you really didn't forget. "Ice-rink, then? Are you planning on showing off for me, or looking for a chance to hold my hand?"

Merlin, what are you doing?! she chastized herself. That wasn't cool. It was stupid, and girly, and she hated it the instant the words left her mouth. Bitting at her bottom lip, she hoped he'd forget she said that and say something normal.

What could have been seen as the most graceful walk towards him ever seemed to be interrupted as a pair of children interrupted her. They were tiny children, right out of the toddler age, and if he had liked children before, he would have found them adorable. But at twenty-five he didn't and couldn't put them in the cards. They tended to take too much devotion that he didn't know he was capable of having to anyone, let alone children. Still, Teagan seemed to look like a natural, as she smiled at the children with the fondness that many women shared.

As she finally arrived, he smiled slightly taking her in in all her glory. For one thing, if her beauty was what first attracted him to her, the way she smelled was quickly categorized in his mind. She smelled of books, the ones long forgotten by many. History, a purpose attached to them. Nothing floral to tickle the senses like the younger girls, but rather something earthy, real..tangible. And he would be lying if he didn't admit he didn't find it intriguing

When her lips parted, he had to admit that they were all words he wasn't expecting to come out of her mouth.

"Ice-rink, then? Are you planning on showing off for me, or looking for a chance to hold my hand?"

Chuckling softly, he slid his hand smoothly towards hers and grasped it lightly, letting her get out of his grip if she ever decided to and brought it to his lips and kissed it lightly.

"I doubt I need to ask for chances on the ice rink, when I can do it here" he said purposely lowering his tone of voice. "But if you must know...I'm good at showing off in everything I do"

He lifted his brow, a small smirk appearing on his face before he lowered her hand and looked towards the ice rink, pretending to not notice what he was up to.

"Do you care to ice skate?"