17 Jan 2022, 15:26
Lessons in TLC
Finding @Clair Fernandez in the Library
Wednesday, January 19, 2022.
Simon was rather distraught. To be quiet honest, he had been this way since he found out about Alexa Mackenzie's death. She was so young to be taken, so kind. What on Earth was the purpose? He could only hope that perhaps in the afterlife she and her father and her mother had somehow sorted out all their worldly issues and somehow were one happy and cohesive unit again.
Did he just WANT this rat to be Rascal and it really wasn't? Part of him wondered that. Sometimes when you lose someone, you want something to hold onto. Anything to hold onto. But no. This rat liked to bap its nose against things like Rascal. It had the same sort of squeak as Rascal. It had the same white mark on the inside of its back leg. It's the one Alexa showed him once and she said that she could always tell it was her Rascal because of it. How it made it's way from surviving a car crash in Iverness, Scotland and to the grounds of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry - Simon would never know. But it WAS Rascal.
It took him a good hour or more to get that into his head, and then he realized that the rat was going to need care - and lots of it. He would have been on his own in the wilderness for some time. Cold. Hungry. Scared. Alone.
Simon wanted to do his best to help him - but Simon knew hardly anything about animals. He would have to find someone who did and one person came quickly to mind. He had spent a couple days at her family farm over the past Winter Break and she also had her rat Clover and would know how to take care of a rodent.
He would try and send her a message from one of the other Ravenclaw girls at the West Tower where their Common Room was IF she wasn't at the Library on the Ground Floor. This was an urgent matter, and Simon could not only get to the Library faster but also knew that they Ravenclaw could often be there.
He came inside, not really sure if pets were supposed to be in there but was pretty sure that he had seen students with them before. He had Rascal all wrapped up anyway, having removed his hooded sweatshirt and converted it into a makeshift sort of blanket for him. He saw her at one of the tables, her head in a book, and figured she probably wouldn't mind his interrupting. "Clair! PST, Clair!" he said quickly and - well - not so quietly. "I need your help. What are some of the basic things needed to take care of a rat?"
Usually Simon was a very easy going person and even that sort of question might have been said playfully. This time though, there was an urgency in his voice. It wavered up and down a bit and he was also nervous. This little guy was depending on him.
Last edited by Simon Kincaid on 29 Jan 2022, 13:41, edited 1 time in total.
Be kind to one another. (*iNPC is Miles Thatcher)
17 Jan 2022, 16:01
Lessons in TLC
Clair had her head in a book, reading like always, was she ever not in a book? Sure, when she was doing others things such as playing with Comet, or in class, or hanging out with friends.
This book was a really good one, about.... Dhampirs. After learning that her friend was a dhampir, well she ha jumped into reading any book she could about them.
Comet was flopped on her lap, covered in a blanket, no one would be able to see the small rabbit.
Clair jumped when she heard 'Clair psst clair!' She looked around ready to smack who ever dared talk to her while reading, she looked around and seen Simon Kincaid, her face went from annoyed to happy, having not seen him in a few days, which was painful.
She put her fingers to her mouth "don't wake the baby!" She pointed to the sleeping lump of Comet, "miss Fat belly is sleeping her beauty rest!"
She grinned,
"help? You need my help? OH please do sit!" She loved that Simon had come to her, yet his voice was wavering, it was not his normal calm smooth way he normally spoke,
"for a rat?? Why? Umm, did you get a rat?" She eyes him with a look at was half happy half sad, her poor Clover had run away, living in the barn with the wild rats.
"well, let me think, what do you have first of all, you can have Clover's things. I don't need them anymore." It was a offer that Clair was glad to give, the cage and other things were know unused, Comet had her own stuff, she did not need Clover's things.
"Anyway, you'll need a water bottle or dish, a food dish, bedding, a cage, blankets, toys.... You might wanna write it down." Simon bad asked for help, and he now he was gonna get burried in help!
(wc 320)
@Simon Kincaid
WHAT IF I FALL? OH, MY DARLING
WHAT IF YOU FLY?
WHAT IF YOU FLY?
17 Jan 2022, 16:14
Lessons in TLC
[Ready to learn from @Clair Fernandez
"What do they eat? I'm not sure he's had a good meal in weeks," he said honestly as he set his sweatshirt down on the table. It was in the workspace he was near and didn't spill over toward her book. He knew not to mess with a Ravenclaw and her book. Simon did take a moment to glance at what she was reading and smiled a little. He had read that one - it was a good one. Simon wasn't quite sure if it was a good thing or a bad thing that his friend was reading up on dhampirs. She would know a lot about his kind, but she also would know of things like the unsettling aura and fangs that were coming at any point in time from now until into next year. Still, that was a different matter for a different day.
"You're going to think I'm crazy, and it's been like ten days or more since the accident..." he paused. Ten days or so wasn't enough time to get over a dear friend and Simon took a moment to gather up himself so he could continue, "...but I'm pretty certain this is Rascal, Alexa Mackenzie's rat. He's got the same mannerisms, the same squeak, the same little white mark by his leg," he began to unwrap the sweatshirt to reveal the gray rat inside. It blinked a few times as it tried to gather it's surroundings but it was pretty apparent that this little guy was tired and weak.
"The newspaper article said that the passenger side window was down, but that both Alexa and her father were gone on impact with the frozen lake. I bet when it hit into the bridge, she got Rascal out of there. She saved him, I bet. She was selfless like that." Another pause. His eyes were to the rat who was trying to cuddle back up into the warmth of his sweatshirt.
Simon leaned down and pulled a notebook and self inking quill from his bag and began to write down some of the things that Clair said. The movement disturbed Comet and she perked her head up a moment to sniff and Simon gently tapped her nose with his quill, just in an affectionate sort of way - not a teasing one.
"Okay, got all that stuff down. What do they eat? Do they like light or dark spaces? Will Rascal want alone time or companionship most of the time? I think Alexa brought him everywhere. I was also thinking of seeing if maybe someone could find something of Alexa's in the girls dormitory, something like one of her uniform sweaters or something that maybe would have her scent?" Maybe that was a dog thing and not a rat thing.
Be kind to one another. (*iNPC is Miles Thatcher)
17 Jan 2022, 19:04
Lessons in TLC
[quote="Clair Fernandez" post_id=332343 time=1642435288 user_id=32796]
She smiled, "they eat rat pellets, veggies, no potatoes! Feed them twice daily, clean out their water at the same time." She paused to let Simon write it down
"you think that he is her rat? Was she not miles away from here? That seems unlikely, but possible at the same time, he went to the place he liked best." She patted his head Want Clover's outfits for your little king?"
To be honest she could not see Rascal, if this was even him, dressing up, but maybe Simon would enjoy them.
"it's pretty sad about her death, I mean i never met her, but everyone seems to be upset about it, and i can understand why, if i lost anymore people in my life, i think i would die myself, losing father was too hard." She smiled "Now back to this little guy! Yes, he will need a friend, even if it is only a stuffy. Rats like dark or semi-shaded places, which is great for you and your" she pointed at the book "ways"
She thought for a moment, "I took Clover with me everywhere, but I'm not sure what Alexa did with Rascal, i would say just try too... See what he wants."
She patted Comet's head, "Anything else?"
@Simon Kincaid
(wc 220)
She smiled, "they eat rat pellets, veggies, no potatoes! Feed them twice daily, clean out their water at the same time." She paused to let Simon write it down
"you think that he is her rat? Was she not miles away from here? That seems unlikely, but possible at the same time, he went to the place he liked best." She patted his head Want Clover's outfits for your little king?"
To be honest she could not see Rascal, if this was even him, dressing up, but maybe Simon would enjoy them.
"it's pretty sad about her death, I mean i never met her, but everyone seems to be upset about it, and i can understand why, if i lost anymore people in my life, i think i would die myself, losing father was too hard." She smiled "Now back to this little guy! Yes, he will need a friend, even if it is only a stuffy. Rats like dark or semi-shaded places, which is great for you and your" she pointed at the book "ways"
She thought for a moment, "I took Clover with me everywhere, but I'm not sure what Alexa did with Rascal, i would say just try too... See what he wants."
She patted Comet's head, "Anything else?"
@Simon Kincaid
(wc 220)
WHAT IF I FALL? OH, MY DARLING
WHAT IF YOU FLY?
WHAT IF YOU FLY?
22 Jan 2022, 13:47
Lessons in TLC
Having doubts with @Clair Fernandez
"I don't think so," he said as he looked over at the rat who now was wanting to close it's eyes. The little guy did have a long journey and now that he wasn't out roaming the Scottish Highlands where he could fall pray to the Scottish Wildcat, an eagle, a marten, or any other creature that would eat a a rat; he could finally feel a little bit of peace after so long without it.
"I think right now it's just getting his weight and strength back up and trying to make sure he feels safe." Simon watched as the little guy burrowed into his hooded sweatshirt that he was wrapped up in a little more, getting comfortable. Already that was more comfort than he had in a long while and Simon was glad to see he was getting some rest.
"Crazy though, you know? I'm not even that big of an animal person but I'm not going to not take him in. He needs me." And maybe in some ways, Simon needed him too.
"Do you think I'm taking on too much?" Simon looked to Clair, wanting her honest opinion. Was he even someone who COULD help this little guy? He wanted to. He certainly wanted to try. Still, Clair knew all of his downfalls - especially when it came to animals.
Be kind to one another. (*iNPC is Miles Thatcher)
22 Jan 2022, 16:33
Lessons in TLC
Clair smiled, "Of course he is, if it is him, then he had to have walked a long way, and who knows how many Owls, Hawks and other things attempted at eating him, and if Alexa did throw him out the window, he is lucky to be alive, the fall, it could have broken him into pieces, the shock could have given him a heart attack, he is still not out of the woods if it is even him" she said with a honest look of pity, this boy he had lost so much, losing Rascal would be even harder if the rat did die, but she also believed with all her heart that Simon would keep Rascal alive, no matter what.
"and I think you need him just as much" she whimpered softly, almost sadly.
"You've both lost someone who means a ton to you, take it slow recover together."
She looked down at Comet, as Simon spoke, "I don't, I think that you can take him on, love him, i think you can turn all your grief for her into Love for him, but the question is do YOU think you can do it?" She looked up again, making eye contact and smiling a little, "And if you can't I'm always here willing to help."
She paused "Do you really know me so well to know that I was right here?" She grinned.
WHAT IF I FALL? OH, MY DARLING
WHAT IF YOU FLY?
WHAT IF YOU FLY?
29 Jan 2022, 13:41
Lessons in TLC
"I mean, if the Ravenclaws aren't here than they're in the Study Rooms but...I try to avoid the Study Rooms." He got yelled at towards the beginning of his First Year by some said eagles and had decided it was probably best to avoid it. All he had been doing was minding his own business, lost in his STUDYING in the STUDY Room, and began to hum a little and tap his quill the way he so often did when his mind wandered. A good tune and softly. It was enough for the congregation of eagles to get on him and attack. Four eagles on one badger. It was vicious.
"That, and you're Clair." She was always naturally curious about something and he could relate to that aspect of life - especially when it came to the wizarding world. He had a whole notebook dedicated just on things he wanted to research later on, but that notebook would wait for now as Rascal here would take top priority for awhile.
"Thanks, Clair, for everything." She had advice, knowledge, kind words, support, pep talks, things from her former pet, and continued guidance. That was a LOT for someone like him who had no experience with animals whatsoever. He wanted the best for Rascal and while he wasn't sure that he was the best for him, he knew he'd do his absolute best and that was saying something. She was probably right...he needed Rascal too.
"I'm going to take him back to my dorm so he can rest. He seems really tired," which concerned him a little but rest would help! It always did. "I'll leave you and your badger to research."
Clair's new pet, Comet, was a black and white rabbit and with similar color markings to a badger, his house mascot, he decided he'd call it that. Sure it had long rabbit ears, but sometimes one had to ignore some facts.
He made sure that Rascal was well within his left hand and then leaned in, wrapping his other arm around Clair as she sat in the chair. It might have been only a one handed hug, but he wrapped her up as much as he could in a warm embrace and gave her a squeeze. "I love that you're always here for me," he said truly and then stood up. "And the other way 'round." He said it, but he felt she probably knew it. He'd do anything for her. "I'm going to let this little guy rest for a bit. See you soon."
"That, and you're Clair." She was always naturally curious about something and he could relate to that aspect of life - especially when it came to the wizarding world. He had a whole notebook dedicated just on things he wanted to research later on, but that notebook would wait for now as Rascal here would take top priority for awhile.
"Thanks, Clair, for everything." She had advice, knowledge, kind words, support, pep talks, things from her former pet, and continued guidance. That was a LOT for someone like him who had no experience with animals whatsoever. He wanted the best for Rascal and while he wasn't sure that he was the best for him, he knew he'd do his absolute best and that was saying something. She was probably right...he needed Rascal too.
"I'm going to take him back to my dorm so he can rest. He seems really tired," which concerned him a little but rest would help! It always did. "I'll leave you and your badger to research."
Clair's new pet, Comet, was a black and white rabbit and with similar color markings to a badger, his house mascot, he decided he'd call it that. Sure it had long rabbit ears, but sometimes one had to ignore some facts.
He made sure that Rascal was well within his left hand and then leaned in, wrapping his other arm around Clair as she sat in the chair. It might have been only a one handed hug, but he wrapped her up as much as he could in a warm embrace and gave her a squeeze. "I love that you're always here for me," he said truly and then stood up. "And the other way 'round." He said it, but he felt she probably knew it. He'd do anything for her. "I'm going to let this little guy rest for a bit. See you soon."
Simon Kincaid has left the thread
Be kind to one another. (*iNPC is Miles Thatcher)