Pampering Pristine Pets Errand Closed

@Lizzie Verdine

"Yours, too." She noted quickly before scampering off.

"It- it was no prob-lem." It hadn't been after all. Finding treats as a way to learn about pets and participate in the errand seemed rather simple to her. Plus, if anything, it was interesting to see the fluffball get really excited by the idea of a treat. It seemed almost laughable to the girl that a purple puff would have any hunting skills whatsoever.

"A-alright. Th-thank you, too." The stammer certainly didn't seem to have gotten better, glancing down to quickly hide the small grimace that appeared on her face. The young girl still wasn't used to this nervousness she felt around people now, clinging onto the hope that it would just disappear at some point. It didn't seem all that likely now.

"Yeah... you, too." Her gaze would lift up, a flash of realization as she saw the extended hand. Lea would quickly take it and shake before allowing her hand to drop back down to her side. She would wait there a few moments as Lizzie left, tapping her foot a bit as she glanced around the room. Well, the hufflepuff had already learned about both animals she was curious about- perhaps it was time to make her exit as well. There would be another pause as the first year finalized her decision, before weaving through the people and pets to exit the classroom.

Lea exits the thread.

She shuffled behind the boy, buzzing, and quietly chattering, as she did so. Normally his quiet pleasantries, would have hushed her by now- but this time, that was not the case. "As am I-" She was dreading every second of being here. And well, At least one of them seemed to be truly glad she decided to join the activity. So she wasn't completely wasting her time. The boy would offer the table he stood by; to the metamorph and her cat. Xailah was hesitant to set Schrödinger down. She made the motion to set him on the table- the fleshy bottoms of his paws gently caressed the surface of the table- but then she snatched him right back up. For a second, a fleeting aura of hope washed over the cat- finally, freedom, freedom from the squeezing arms of his mistress. He thought he would get away. He was wrong, for he quickly found himself back in her arms- and not on the table. Was this how it was going to end? Smushed by the arms of his beloved owner? Because- because she was afraid? An hour ago he was a pet- a companion, but now, now he had been reduced to a living stress-ball. "Waooooow" He mewled into her shoulder, as he mashed his face into the fabric of her robes. The only thing he could do now, was accept his fate.

An expression splintered across Xailahs face- like something between pain and pseudo happiness. It was a smile. Sort of. It met all the qualifications for it to be a smile- or was it more of a toothy wince? Her brows shot up, the tails sloped downwards in a worried manner. They only sloped further, once the girl heard that their mutual snake had not yet arrived. "Oh." Ruby wasn't here yet? Was she busy? What if something happened- did the puffs get her? Nonsense. It was ridiculous to think, and worry in such a manner- but she couldn't help it. Like most of the females she was friends with (which weren't many) Xailah thought of Ruby as a younger sister. Xailah was scared. So unusual spouts of worry were a given. She worried on a daily basis that wasn't unusual. It was just that, her thoughts normally weren't so obscene sounding. Who was this friend Pericles kept speaking of? Why were they so important? Were they helping with the errand? Why- In her strange, and mild panic, she would look up just in time to see one Pygmy Puff owner take their leave. It was a relief to see them go- and even more of a relief to see who would take their place. Pericles would point them out.

Ah. Ruby. A rather loud sigh, escaped the metamorph. Her nostrils flared. When was the last time she had breathed? She didn't know. Couldn't recall... She was looking a bit blue- literally. She was probably fine. Ruby would slither over to the lion, and bird. "Ah, yes. We did. I was beginning to worry that you wouldn't ssshow." Xailah looked to Ruby, with that stupid expression still plastered to her face. Oh- and what was this? Ruby brought a friend? The look would soften slightly, at the sight of the feline that Ruby had brought with her. Ruby would then express her approval of the errand, and Xailah would hesitantly nod in agreement. That was until Pericles asked if everything was fine- to Xailah? To Ruby? Either way, it had the metamorph violently shaking- then nodding her head. "No- Yes. Yes. Why wouldn't everything be alright?" Her rosy lips quivered. "Why? Do you think I'm acting odd- because, because I'm not; if that is what you think." Xailah peered up- only to make the mistake of glancing at the lone Pygmy Puff in the room. She shuddered, and quickly diverted her gaze to the floor. She couldn't look at it. Nor could she look at them- Pericles- Ruby. Because her eyes- her eyes spoke for her. She couldn't lie because of them- not to her friends at least. She could say one thing, but her big, golden hues, were almost always contradicting her verbal responses.

She desperately sought out something to distract herself. The cat- Ruby stooped to pet her little Mau. Xailah took that as a chance to inquire about the little beast. Cats were great distractions. "Ah- who- who might this be?" She had occasionally seen the feline tagging behind Ruby, in the halls. She had never really taken the chance to ask about the cat, though. What was with prefects and their cats by the way- was it just a matter of coincidences? It was most likely that. Cats were a popular pet, and rightfully so. They were dignified beings, and had every right to be adored by the masses. "Mmm- does he get along with others?" The Gryffindor inquired, her head dipped downward towards her own cat- who was at this point, staring pleadingly at Pericles, through the parts in his mistresses mane. Help me. Xailah looked to the Ravenclaw. "You know- you know, its a great ssshame you don't have one. We could have playdates if you did." She said in a matter-of-factly way. She tried to find some way to jab the boy, but for once, she would find herself without something snarky to say.

@Xailah Alptraum / @Ruby Cazares

The metamorph was an expressive creature. Pericles enjoyed this trait- he never minded a stoic, but much preferred engagement with colorful characters like Xailah. On any other day, he would have found her small sounds and subtle mannerisms charming, but today they only solidified the sense that something was wrong. This was all the more apparent when the witch acted as if the table may burn Schrödinger, snatching him away from its surface at the last moment. Pericles could but watch and frown while she constricted the poor cat. Xailah's mouth was doing something strange... grimacing?... as her skin turned a most ghastly shade of blue. The inquiry on her wellness was brushed away like a fleck of croissant found on one's lapel after breakfast. "Why? Do you think I'm acting odd- because, because I'm not; if that is what you think." The boy blinked cattishly, then smiled. "I do." Those two matter-of-fact words were laced with suspicion. To her fortune however, Ruby arrived just in time to disrupt his observations.

"Ruby! Hello!" Pericles pivoted his stance, leaning a hip against the desk repurposed for grooming, standing diagonal to Xailah so that Ruby could fill the gap across from them. Thumbs hooked in his pockets, he smiled softly and said with humble nonchalance, "Thank you for saying so. I really am glad you could come." The look in his eye bespoke only earnesty. While tranquil as ever, Pericles was not oblivious to Xailah's present skittishness just as he had not overlooked Ruby's recently haunted aura. He had witnessed an unprecedented ferocity from her on a certain prefect patrol, and again at the SWAG game. Her bursts of sadism would not go ignored. But here, now, was not the right time to talk of such things. All Peri could do just then was express how earnestly he wanted to have her around, that he and Xailah welcomed Ruby readily.

"Ah- who- who might this be?" "Why, that's Apollo!" The young wizard crouched, sitting on his heels and resting forearms on his knees. A coaxing hand extended to the feline, hoping a vaguely familiar face might set him at ease, and an ear scratching would be in order if he could convince Apollo to come close. When he stood again, his arms opened towards Schrödinger, wordlessly inviting Xailah to hand him over before he was reduced to paste. Up bounced both brows when she suggested he ought to have a cat of his own. A spark flickered in his eye. This was the moment he had been building towards, and with an elegant (theatrical) extension of one arm, Pericles pointed towards a desk some ways away. "But I do. That's who I meant for you to meet!" The target of that thin finger was a seal-point Siamese, presently at the disposal of witches she had been relinquished to for grooming. As if sensing her master's attention from afar, she turned her head to regard them with intelligent ice-blue eyes. "I acquired her over the summer, and thought to owl you both about her, but I wanted you to meet her for yourself. Her name is Athena."

Interacting mainly with @Caelan Stewart, briefly interacting with @Carolyn Hunt

Robert's heart lifted when Nick offered him the pink fluff ball named Chance. The first-year carefully accepted the pet, holding him in a similar manner of how one might hold a delicate glass vase that had been in the family for generations. This was Robert's first experience ever holding, or really even touching, another animal. It surprised him how easy it was to feel the pygmy puff's heartbeat thrumming, its body expanding and compressing with every breath, reminding the boy that, at the moment, he was in charge of another living being's life.

He was suddenly overly aware that even the smallest mistake he made, the slightest fidget of his fingers, could snuff out the delicate creature he held in his hands. He was reminded of how clumsy he was, how he'd tripped and fallen three times just this morning from the time he got out of bed to the time he left the dorm. What would happen if something like that happened now, when the worst that could happen wasn't just a couple bruises, but the loss of a life? Overwhelmed, he quickly found a nearby seat and sat down, ever aware of the animal he held in his hands.

To make matters worse, Chance started wriggling around, making Robert even more scared that he would accidentally drop the pygmy puff. Frantically looking to Nick for guidance, Robert suddenly realized that he had been so worried about messing up that he had indeed forgotten the reason he as holding the pet in the first place, to pamper it. The young boy cautiously started stroking the animal in his arms, slowly gaining confidence as he continued to not maim the pet. Finally getting the attention he wanted, Chance started to settle down again, hopefully enjoying the stroking. Continuing to pet the pygmy puff, Robert looked up, seeing that Carolyn was leaving the group. Putting as much warmth into his voice as possible, the boy called after her. "Bye, Carolyn!" With a small smile he also added, "And thanks." Hopefully she would know he was thanking her for stopping him from leaving.

Much more calm now than he had been before, he looked at Nick for guidance on what to do next. "So, do we need to clean Chance or something? I think I remember you clipping his nails before, is there any other caretaking to do?" Robert still wasn't sure he was thrilled about the idea of spending his time cleaning another animal, but he realized now how how much joy a pet could bring someone, and it was only fair to give back to them every once and a while.

Interacting with: @Robert Toukmond & @Carolyn Hunt (briefly)

Chance calmed down once the transfer was complete, burrowing himself into Robert's arms, ready to get scratches. The nervous Robert had forgotten what the point of the transfer was for a moment and just nervously stood there. Chance started to get tired of no affection and the inability to move, so he tried to escape. "Ye have to pet him ye know Robert?" Nick said jokingly, though he knew he could have some nervousness towards animals.

Just as Robert had come to and started petting Chance again, Carolyn started to leave the group. The event was starting to wind down, and she probably had other stuff to do, so Nick completely understood. "Ye definitely, ye were great fun to hang out with and I'm sure Chance would be happy to see ye again!" Nick said happily as he waved her goodbye. It was a genuine goodbye, he hoped they would see each other again. Chance didn't really notice her leave, too busy chirping at Robert's scratches.

Robert then turned back to Nick asking about Chance. "Well this lil' guy shouldn' git wet, he's basically all fur." Nick said, sticking his hand through Chance's fur to show how deep it went, "But a lil' brushing couldn' do any harm, sae 'll grab some brushes if ye wanna help me groom him. If ye have tae go, I totally git it though." He quickly went over the basket of brushes and grabbed two. He came back to Robert and Chance and extended the brush towards him.