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last online Apr 26, 2024 0:19:02 GMT -7
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Aug 12, 2016 20:26:42 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2016 20:26:42 GMT -7
To say Nero was irritable would be like saying the ocean was wet - technically true, but a massive understatement. He had had an absolutely abysmal few days.
He could pinpoint when it started too - with that wolf-whistle. He still hadn't figured out who had done it, so he hadn't been able to jinx them, and that was disappointing. And Decima had punched him and left him standing outside the courtyard with his head in absolute disarray, and that continued to suck because he still hadn't figured out what any of it meant. And then he’d gotten twisted around on the staircases and been 10 minutes late to Arithmancy. And then Brutus had hacked up a pellet into his porridge this morning, and Nero had refused to give him a treat. Brutus had pecked his hand at the affront.
To make matters worse, he’d crunched his way through the Peppermint Toads that were supposed to last him until the next Hogsmeade trip. He needed to make an owl order for more, and Brutus was in the rafters glaring at him.
“Get down here you bloody bird,” he said sharply, pointing at his arm. “Come on, you’ve got work to do.”
Brutus fluffed his feathers and hooted back at him.
@daniel
ooc: i hope that's fine!
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last online Apr 26, 2024 0:19:02 GMT -7
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Aug 17, 2016 12:16:42 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Aug 17, 2016 12:16:42 GMT -7
If Dan had known today would be 'everyone in a bad mood day' then he wouldn't have left the ship. But, alas, here he was on his way to the owlery and all the emotions he was picking up were negative and annoying. By the time he finally made it up there he was already seething with the feelings of others, grumbling under his breath that he should never have come inside.
All he wanted was to send one lousy owl to Ced, was that so much to ask? But noooo, everyone had to just blast him with their ornery drama and he was now wrapped up in it like a mummy. He marched into the Owlery, hoping to borrow one of the school birds, when a wall of irritation his him. Someone in here was having a real bad day.
Dan spun to find the culprit and found a guy glaring up at a bird, "what's the matter with you, then?" he said, as if this guy knew what he'd just walked through.
@nero (I hope this is good hehe)
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last online Apr 26, 2024 0:19:02 GMT -7
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Aug 17, 2016 21:04:56 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Aug 17, 2016 21:04:56 GMT -7
Nero turned slowly to face the guy who'd just entered and snapped at him. Durmstrang robes, and not a face he recognized. Great, so not only did his owl hate him, but now he had a witness to the fact that his owl hated him. And he couldn't just hex them and be done it, because he was a guest and they were supposed to be making them feel welcome.
His voice was downright pleasant compared to how he felt, but he was sure he still sounded surly when he said, “Brutus is refusing to come and take my owl order.” Oh Merlin, that made it sound like Brutus was poorly trained. And that wasn't it at all - usually he was great. He sighed and added, “Normally he loves the errands.”
And now he could add embarrassed himself in front of one of the foreign students to his list of reasons this week really sucked.
@daniel
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last online Apr 26, 2024 0:19:02 GMT -7
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Aug 21, 2016 12:27:41 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Aug 21, 2016 12:27:41 GMT -7
Dan listened as the guy tried to explain, impressed with the pleasant nature of his voice compared to how the guy was feeling. Still, the voice did have a bit of that surliness intertwined. Dan raised and eyebrow and nodded, looking up at the owl. "Oi!" he greeted, reaching into his pocket to pull out an owl treat. Dan usually got along great with animals, because he couldn't feel their emotions so he was a lot calmer around them. He took a deep breath, trying to ignore the embarrassed waves coming from the guy beside him, "why don't you come on down, then? I promise it'll be a good time. You'll get to fly about and whatnot."
He turned back to the guy, "maybe he's just grumpy. That seems to be the theme today," he added a little coolly.
@nero
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last online Apr 26, 2024 0:19:02 GMT -7
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Aug 21, 2016 20:33:04 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Aug 21, 2016 20:33:04 GMT -7
Nero watched as the guy from Durmstrang successfully persuaded Brutus to come to his hand and take the owl treat, only for the owl to fly back up into the rafters a moment later. Brutus hooted down at the two of them and tucked his head under his wing.
Nero pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed again. “Yeah, he’s definitely grumpy. Because I didn’t sufficiently appreciate the pellet he hacked up into my breakfast this morning.”
He shrugged by way of apology - if this guy was as prickly as he seemed, then there wasn’t any point in trying too hard. But it was no reason to be rude - yet. If nothing else, Brutus had gone to see him. “Guilty as charged. But it's been one hell of a week. I’m Nero, by the way.”
@daniel
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last online Apr 26, 2024 0:19:02 GMT -7
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Aug 23, 2016 11:31:20 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Aug 23, 2016 11:31:20 GMT -7
Dan was surprised when the owl came down and grinned for a moment, happy that the beautiful owl was willing to let him help out. Sadly, the owl left a moment later, treat in tow, and Dan frowned again. He was a sneaky little guy, wasn't he!?
Dans brow was furrowed as the guy agreed that the owl was definitely grumpy. Then the guy took the blame for also being grump, and introduced himself. The guys emotions weren't as bad now, at least, so Dan gave him a nod, trying for a bit less coldness in his tone this time. "Daniel. I'm visiting from Durmstrang," he said by way of greeting, "seems everyone's had a hard week. Have the professors been particularly rough?" he asked, his brow furrowing again. Seventh year was hard, even from a distance in Dan's case.
@nero
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last online Apr 26, 2024 0:19:02 GMT -7
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Aug 23, 2016 17:58:34 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Aug 23, 2016 17:58:34 GMT -7
Was everyone in a bad mood? Nero hadn't noticed. “Well, I don't know about everyone else, but I didn't think so. Sure, lots of homework, but nothing unusual.” It certainly wasn't his problem. He shrugged. “It's Hogwarts. There's always drama and stress and hormones.”
But while he no longer wanted to wring poor Brutus's neck, Daniel from Durmstrang was still frowning. It was as much a recognition of that as curiosity when Nero asked, “So what's your deal?”
@daniel
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last online Apr 26, 2024 0:19:02 GMT -7
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Aug 25, 2016 10:06:00 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2016 10:06:00 GMT -7
Dan shrugged, "I just noticed that people around here are tense. Maybe it's because of the tournament? Anxious to get chosen and whatnot?" he chuckled at Neros next comment about hormones and whatnot, "oh, Durmstrang is the same. Guess it's just our age group," he shrugged. Then the guy asked 'what his deal' question, and Dan's brow furrowed.
He looked back up at the Owl, "I am too intuitive sometimes. Plus, when I'm in a bad mood it's easier to see that others are too," he crossed his arms, "guess the bird can tell too."
@nero
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last online Apr 26, 2024 0:19:02 GMT -7
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Aug 25, 2016 17:24:30 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2016 17:24:30 GMT -7
“Well, the Tournament probably isn't helping, but yeah, going to have to go with teenagers as the real cause.”
“Huh. I'm usually pretty good at reading people, but when I’m in a bad mood I miss more.” He shook his head and chuckled. “Because you're right, my owl is very prudently avoiding me because I was about ready to wring his neck.” He looked back up to the rafters where Brutus watched and called, “Hey silly owl. Come on down. It’s safe now.”
@daniel
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last online Apr 26, 2024 0:19:02 GMT -7
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Aug 27, 2016 6:11:28 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Aug 27, 2016 6:11:28 GMT -7
Dan nodded. Of course the tournament had everyone on edge. "Not too mention having extra people around. That probably stirs up a lot," he had gotten a lot of jealousy out of people, for sure, as well as awe, admiration and pure judging. It was overwhelming being in the Great Hall during meals, especially, but he didn't say that. He was already dangerously close to giving himself away.
He nodded as Nero said he was also good at reading people. He chuckled too when Nero spoke of the owl. "Yeah," he watched the owl as Nero told him it was all right to come down, "I feel like animals are a lot more in touch with emotions than we are. It can be nice, but it can also get frustrating," he chuckled, looking back at Nero, "but overall they're following their instincts, right?"
@nero
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last online Apr 26, 2024 0:19:02 GMT -7
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Aug 29, 2016 18:24:01 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Aug 29, 2016 18:24:01 GMT -7
He nodded when Daniel said that . “Yeah, it’s never a dull moment. Lots of gawking first years and angsty seventh years. Could do without it.” He chuckled lightly. “No offense.”
Nero looked back up and held his arm out. “Coming?” he asked, and Brutus took off, swooping low over Daniel's head and landing on neatly on Nero's sleeve. “Twerp,” Nero informed Brutus affectionately and ruffled his feathers before he reached into his pocket for his order.
He kept talking while he was working. “I’ve never been too much of an animal person, really. Cats scratch, dogs chew, owls…” He sighed. “I mostly just let Brutus do what he likes when he’s not delivering mail, and we get on well, but pellets in my breakfast. Not a fan.”
@daniel
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last online Apr 26, 2024 0:19:02 GMT -7
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Sept 8, 2016 7:09:55 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Sept 8, 2016 7:09:55 GMT -7
Dan laughed, "no offense taken! It's a bit much for me as well. But I couldn't turn down coming, you know," actually, he didn't know if this guy knew. "Did you enter the tournament?" the guy looked old enough, but Dan didn't want to assume either way.
Then the owl swooped back down and Dan gave it a nod as it landed on Nero's arm, ruffled his feathers, and reached for the letter.
Dan chuckled at the bird as Nero spoke. "Awe, yes, that wouldn't be very nice," he scrunched his nose in disgust for a moment, "but at least you're on good terms most of the time, eh?"
@nero
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last online Apr 26, 2024 0:19:02 GMT -7
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Sept 9, 2016 13:16:34 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Sept 9, 2016 13:16:34 GMT -7
Daniel asked him if he had entered in the Triwizard Tournament, and he had to shake his head. “I’m a sixth year, so I can't, unfortunately.” He wished he could, because it sounded like… not to trivialize the danger, but it sounded like fun. And the chance for family, school and personal pride would be impossible to pass up. Not to mention the prize money. “Not a chance I’d miss it otherwise.”
“It would probably have been hilarious if it wasn't my breakfast,” Nero admitted, chuckling as Daniel scrunched his nose in disgust. “But yeah, he’s a good owl, really. Aren’t you?” he asked Brutus, who hooted as if in the affirmative and held out his leg for Nero’s message, which he began to tie as neatly as he could manage one-handed.
@daniel
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last online Apr 26, 2024 0:19:02 GMT -7
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Sept 12, 2016 6:01:41 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2016 6:01:41 GMT -7
"Ah," Dan nodded, "sorry you missed it. That's the sad part about it only happening every once in a while," he was lucky that it was falling on his year, even if he wasn't that ecstatic about competing. He'd enter, obviously, but he wasn't too attached to it all.
Dan nodded and smiled, "yeah, it's hard to enjoy the humor when the most important meal of the day is ruined." He looked away for a moment as Nero spoke to the owl and glanced at the other birds. He'd have to write a letter soon, use this system. "So, are some of the Owls here just school owls for people who don't have one? We have that back at Durmstrang," he questioned.
@nero
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last online Apr 26, 2024 0:19:02 GMT -7
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Sept 14, 2016 10:31:23 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Sept 14, 2016 10:31:23 GMT -7
“Yeah, there are school owls. Brutus gets jealous if I use them though, just a sec.” Nero finished tying the order to Brutus's outstretched leg. “This is for Honeyduke’s,” he informed his owl, and held his arm back out. The owl hooted softly and took off, circling around the two boys before flying out the window.
He shook his arm out. “Right. The school owls tend to roost together over there.” He pointed at a corner of the owlery currently home to a couple of barn owls and screech owls with red ribbons on their ankles. “They can be kept pretty busy though, and Brutus liked you, so if you don’t see any school owls around and he’s here, you can use him.”
@daniel
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