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last online Apr 29, 2024 5:57:04 GMT -7
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Aug 4, 2014 15:02:37 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2014 15:02:37 GMT -7
Alice smiled to herself and she slowly and gently moved her feet around in the warm water, picturing Carcer having to walk all the way back to the school himself because of Apollo's leaving him. Alice stopped smiling, however, at the mention of her father. She nodded slowly, picturing her father's bat looking for the half-giant. I never thought Professor Longbottom could be scary, but the look on his face when I walked up…well, I don’t think I want to make him that mad again.” She grimaced at this information. "Hm... I know that look," she nodded again. Alice and her father didn't fight often, or hardly at all, but that wasn't to say she had never seen him mad or that he had never been disappointed in her before. She was only human, and he was her father. So it was only natural that Alice knew just the look that Carcer was referring to.
Alice was leaning back, her weight on her arms, as she watched the water in front of her. It was calming to be here. She was quickly realizing why Carcer came here on his own. “Hey look, a Blast-Ended Skrewt,” Carcer had said and Alice turned to look at him, pointing up to a cloud. Alice looked up at the sky a moment, not seeing it at first. She glanced back down at Carcer, and then a moment later she had decided to also lean back on the rocks next to him. She looked up to the sky once more, scanning the clouds. After a few short minutes of silence and Alice searching, she spotted what she believed to be the same clouds. Two ends curled up over the rest of the cloud, much like the shell of the skrewt which normally had giant scorpion stingers that curled over their backs. "A-ha!" She, too, then pointed up, indicating she had seen it, finally. Alice had never seen one in real life, but she had read about them obviously. Growing up, Alice had spent most of her days reading and rereading Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and knew enough about the creatures that both came together to make the skrewt. While she knew they were dangerous creatures, something in Alice had always wanted to see one up close and personal. She figured it was near impossible though, for as far as Alice knew they were probably extinct.
When Carcer asked Alice for a favor, she looked at him with an eyebrow raised in curiosity. For a moment, she felt nervous for what he was going to ask. So she watched him, mentally standing on pins and needles. "...would you mind taking Quinn off my hands?" Alice's eyes immediately widened at this, but in excitement more than anything. All Alice's life she had wanted a Pygmy Puff and suddenly she was going to quite possibly have two? This year was already turning around. Alice sat up excitedly at the thought. "I'd love to!" She said with the most emotion and excitement she could muster. The thought thrilled Alice, for she had really taken a liking to her own puff, Fizzio, and the thought of having a friend for him made her heart soar. "Th-thank you," she stuttered out.
@carcerronaldhagrid
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last online Apr 29, 2024 5:57:04 GMT -7
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Aug 4, 2014 21:53:38 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2014 21:53:38 GMT -7
Nothing was said for a few minutes, as Alice lay back next to him. It didn't bother him much though, so he let the soft sounds of flowing water permeate the air. But a moment later, Alice pointed and comfirmed that she'd found the cloud herself. Carcer smiled. Apparently she did know about the Skrewts. Honestly, it shouldn't be that surprising. They were in the books, he supposed, and the idea of Alice reading books about animals cover to cover made perfect sense. So it was cool that she knew what he was talking about. Now he kind of wished his dad still had one or two around. Carcer himself didn't much care for them, but the girl beside him had that kind of...mania in her eyes when she looked at animals, the same as his dad. It was pretty cool actually. A few students had inquired about his horses before, but they'd been too timid to approach them. Not only was Alice unafraid of them, she'd hung around them enough to make them fairly comfortable with her presence. That took more effort than most people really understood. He wondered if Alice even know how unique she was around animals. Probably not—people like her didn't put much stock into natural gifts. He doubted she gave it much though beyond simply loving animals, which he supposed was part of the gift as well. Regardless, as much as he messed with animals, as much as he learned from Mom and Dad, Carcer couldn't match Alice in the subject.
But that was okay. Jealousy was a waste of emotion, in Carcer's opinion. One should never wish for gifts they did not possess. All one could do is struggle and hone what they did have as far as they could, always reaching for another one percent. Instead, he just laughed when Alice stammered out thanks for his offering her the Pygmy Puff in his possession. “There's nobody in the school who would take better care of her than you. I think she deserves that much after her first oaf of an owner.” He shrugged, grinning. It didn't bother him to admit when he was beaten, and in this particular case, nothing was making up for the simple size difference between a thirteen-foot teenager and a two-inch fuzzball. He'd just have to stick with the horses. Speaking of, he saw them whip by overhead, flying around each other and nipping playfully as they danced in midair together. “Looks like it's ballet time.” The Abraxans were almost catlike in their playing, batting at each other with their wings, nipping, tumbling over one another in midair, bumping heads together. To Carcer's eyes, it really did resemble something of a dance, though with no rhyme or reason, because they had no music and this didn't bother them in the slightest.
He should have realized that they'd take the time to play if he tethered them. It had been awhile since they'd done it, after all. But he hadn't. So he was glad that Alice had chosen to take a break at the spring after all. Now she was getting to see this, and Carcer just knew she was enjoying it even more than he was. So he just watched quietly, somehow knowing without looking over what his fellow Hufflepuff's expression was. This was...surprisingly comfortable. Most people didn't stick around him much when nobody was talking, either through nerves or simply having no desire to sit around doing and saying nothing. And he rarely went looking for company himself, though Carcer did enjoy being around other people. Yet here he was, having fun with a fellow loner, no less, and not having to force conversation to do it!
It was new for Carcer.
He liked it.
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last online Apr 29, 2024 5:57:04 GMT -7
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Aug 5, 2014 22:03:14 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2014 22:03:14 GMT -7
Alice had never been flashy about her knowledge on animals unless she was one on one with a professor or someone that was honestly asking questions about an animal that Alice knew a lot about. She never felt a need to go out of her way to prove she knew more than anyone, and when it came to Carcer, Alice felt she had no right. Her father had mentioned before about the old Hogwarts Groundskeeper, and she happened to know that he loved animals, too. And he was Carcer's dad. In Alice's opinion, she felt Carcer was an equal when it came to animals. Someone she felt she could really connect with because of this similar interest.
Carcer's statement was like a huge compliment for Alice. Not many people complimented on her love and care for animals and the fact that he did made Alice happy. So someone did notice. Alice let out a chuckle at Carcer's calling himself an oaf. It was quite funny to see Carcer pick out his puff. It was a sight to see someone his size with such a small creature, but Alice didn't doubt that he was capable of taking care of it. He, too, seemed compassionate to all creatures. But if Carcer felt more comfortable giving the puff to someone more apt to not accidentally crush it, Alice was more than happy to oblige.
“Looks like it's ballet time.” Alice looked up when Carcer said this, to find Diana and Apollo flying around above them. Her mouth fell slightly agape in amazement as she watched the two winged horses. He was right, it really did look as if the two were practicing some flying horse version of the ballet. They looked happy, too, Alice realized. And that alone was enough for the Hufflepuff to find this moment, watching the Abraxans, to be beautiful.
Alice continued to observe the creatures, admiring how they flew around in the sky, playing with one another in a ballet fashion. For such large creatures, they were majestic and beautiful and Alice found it hard to look away. Though she and Carcer sat silently, watching Diana and Apollo, it didn't feel awkward or forced. The silence felt oddly comforting, like they both realized that the other just preferred silence to watch these beautiful creatures. But finally, Alice broke the silence. "They're so beautiful," she said, not taking her eyes off of them. "You're really lucky to have them," she finished, finally looking back at Carcer.
@carcerronaldhagrid
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last online Apr 29, 2024 5:57:04 GMT -7
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Aug 6, 2014 13:10:48 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2014 13:10:48 GMT -7
Getting both Abraxans out to where they could play like this was difficult under normal circumstances, which made the sight of them playing in the skies a rare one, even for their owner. It was quite a stroke of luck that Carcer and Alice had both chosen to visit them at the same time today. He wondered if he could persuade the blonde to help fly them again. Actually, no, Carcer doubted that would be a problem at all. She would probably jump at the chance to fly the horses around again. Honestly, he thought she might even manage to get on Apollo’s good side, given enough time. And Apollo didn’t even have a good side. Maybe he’d develop it with more playtime. Though he wondered if the stallion would let Alice ride him. She could probably do it with a proper bit and bridle, but Apollo was proud by nature, and generally only let Carcer ride him because Carcer was big and strong enough to lead him on foot. He’d learned never to underestimate Alice’s tenacity with animals though. Four years together in Care of Magical Creatures had let him see enough feats not to doubt her.
Finally, Alice spoke up. “They're so beautiful. You're really lucky to have them.” He nodded, smiling up at the pair. “No arguments here. My parents have been breeding them as long as I can remember. They sell for…so much money. Always loved helping with the foals. One day, I asked my mom if maybe I could have one of the runts that didn’t sell as well. She laughed me off. ‘Ave you seen ‘our parents, boy? Une runt will not be enuff for ‘ou in a few years. And she gave these two to me. Apollo was a year old at the time, Diana was two. Pure black Abraxans like that aren’t easy to come by, even for breeders. Together, they’re worth entire Gringotts vaults. Not that I’d part with them for money.” The horses were Carcer’s favorite animals in the world, and he knew he’d be a wreck when they finally died. But with the lifespan of Abraxans and good care, that was a long time away. So with any luck, he’d have his babies for decades yet, to fly and romp and make his life better.
He eyed Alice. There wasn’t really any envy in her voice, but he thought he had heard a sense of…longing? Like she didn’t resent him for having the horses but wished she had some too. He smiled. “You’re welcome to go see them whenever you like, you know. I don’t mind. And…” Carcer paused, not sure how to say this. He’d been about to say they should do this again sometime, but that made it sound like a date. And he wanted to make sure Alice didn’t take it that way. Not that Carcer wasn’t interested in dating people, but he didn’t want her to suddenly be uncomfortable. And he wasn’t really asking her out on a date, so there was that. “…well, this doesn’t have to be a one-time thing, you know. I’d love a riding partner, they don’t get to play like this nearly enough. So…you know, if you want…we can plan riding times together so nobody gets left out…”
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last online Apr 29, 2024 5:57:04 GMT -7
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Aug 6, 2014 18:53:32 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2014 18:53:32 GMT -7
Alice looked back up at Apollo and Diana, watching them as Carcer spoke. It was breathtaking to see such majestic creatures fly around like that. Alice was truly awestruck. But Carcer caught her attention when he said they were worth entire Gringotts vaults. She raised an eyebrow, worried suddenly about what some people would do to get their hands on one just for the money. Alice had to admit she was fairly relieved when Carcer said he wouldn't sell them for money. Though she also wasn't surprised, know how much he cared for animals as well. It was more of just a relief to know that there were good people who loved animals like she did.
Alice returned her gaze to the Abraxans, watching them with a smile. She found herself longing to be on Diana's back when she flew in such a manner. It looked exhilerating, to be flying like a ballerina. So…you know, if you want…we can plan riding times together so nobody gets left out…” Carcer caught Alice's attention once again, and she looked back at him suddenly. Her eyes were wide with a grateful excitement. "Really?" She asked, her voice sounding particularly thrilled and glad he had offered. "I'd love that, I really would," she nodded at him, vigorously. Nothing sounded more exciting than to be able to come out here once a week with Carcer, riding Diana and Apollo.
And, she had to admit... hanging out with Carcer wasn't that bad. Having someone that was on the same wavelength as she was, personality and hobbies alike, was nice.
@carcerronaldhagrid
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last online Apr 29, 2024 5:57:04 GMT -7
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Aug 7, 2014 12:34:30 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Aug 7, 2014 12:34:30 GMT -7
It was hard to deny the grace of the creatures, but there was also the power to consider as well. The wings of Abraxans were capable of killing humans with a few wingbeats. It took a lot of physical strength in the wings to allow such heavy animals to perform tricks and fly patterns through the air like they did. That was one reason Carcer never let anyone try to fly Apollo. His pride and aggression led to him occasionally wanting a piece of someone, and he could easily kill a student caught off guard. Carcer was made of sterner stuff, though, and if Apollo pushed him too hard, he was capable of physically putting the horse on the ground and holding him there. Diana was much less interested in fighting though, and had never to his knowledge hurt anyone, though she never seemed to have a problem putting her little brother in his place if he annoyed her too much. But that was the way of animals—males wanted to fight more than females when children weren’t involved, and males were very reluctant to harm a female of their own species. It was just instinct. So Carcer always found himself admiring the pure physical power the horses seemed to effortlessly put out when they moved through the air without rider to restrain them. Graceful strength—it was something he wished he had sometimes. The world felt too delicate to him, so many things were too soft. Not that soft was necessarily a bad thing, but Carcer always had to restrain himself. It would be nice to just have the kind of grace to use his strength and just naturally know how much to tone down to avoid doing any harm. But there were no point to dwelling on what he didn’t and couldn’t have…so he just wouldn’t. “Really? I'd love that, I really would.” He smiled at his fellow Hufflepuff. Here was something he did have—the ability to put a smile on someone’s face, to make someone happy. And that was magic in itself, a magic he was glad to be able to perform. So he nodded. “I was hoping you’d say that.”Not a bad day at all. OoC: We can end here or you can have the horses land and continue the flight if you want, I'm good either way
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ADMIN DEE
SITE FOUNDER 5TH YEAR
1,615 posts
played by Dee
You're a kind person aren't you? Well, no, not especially.
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last online Jun 21, 2021 17:36:58 GMT -7
ADMINISTRATOR
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Sept 19, 2014 14:40:37 GMT -7
Post by ADMIN DEE on Sept 19, 2014 14:40:37 GMT -7
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