28 Jan 2024, 18:41
The Howler
Clark took a seat at the Hufflepuff table, though not happy. He was a bit grouchy due to the feeling of being compressed and buried under what he felt was his head and sand, like an ostrich. He made a deal with his brother, Simon, to not pull a prank on anyone. Such a buzzkill. But Clark was offered 3 galleons in exchange for doing so.
He saw his brother on the far end of the Hufflepuff table talking to people and it only provoked him into shooting a sharp glare at the cruel being. He continued to stare and shove food into his mouth angrily. Once he finished eating, he slammed his head onto the table and felt a bit guilty, but it was like he didn't know why he was feeling guilty. Repentance usually wasn't the best thing that he could or would do.
A flapping sound was heard and in came an owl with a red envelope in its mouth. Once Clark had obtained the red envelope, he scoffed. When in the hell was he in serious trouble? Especially not with his dad in employ--- oh shit. His father no longer works at Hogwarts. His eyes went wide and he saw his two brothers approach him, curious as to what Clark had got. The howler opened up and screamed loudly, in his father's voice. It was yelling at CLARK? His father can yell?
Well, it was nice to know the man wasn't missing a backbone for once. His father was fussing at him over his behavior? He wanted to yell back so badly and say 'SHUT UP! YOU'RE NOT THE BOSS OF ME! YOU'RE NOT EVEN MY REAL FATHER!' But he couldn't say that. Especially since he wasn't even directly interacting with the man.
Then his tone switched? He was telling his OLDER adopted brothers to care for him? This man was seriously wrong on so many levels. He felt tears bubbling up in his eyes as he took a short glance back at his brothers. They were laughing and high fiving each other.
And then his father dared to bring in his grades. He couldn't help that he wasn't one to study. He got distracted easily, felt a strong pull to making life hell for others but in return what his father did was not cool. When he returns home, Clark will perform the silent treatment and ignore the man, act like Octavius didn't exist. Yes, that should be a great plan to making life hell for him, it'll make him sorry for doing this!
The howler ended and his brothers put their hands on his shoulder, calling attention to him. This made Clark really embarrassed and caused him to break down into tears like he would his victims. Fun, karma was a jerk sometimes.
@Dennis Tumberton
| You've gotta break some eggs to make an omlette, something something. |
30 Jan 2024, 08:19
The Howler
Dennis was hungry. It seemed like he was busier now than ever but not because of any sports or studying. Suddenly everyone had a plan, a scheme, a prank, or a strategy, that just had to require his participation. He was the friendly sort and his parents had absolutely told him in no uncertain terms that he would have adventure or else. They weren’t strict parents so he never took them at his word but he did his best to get in to all sorts of trouble while staying out of it, if that made any sense at all - meaning he had a way of causing trouble without getting caught.
Dennis made his way to the Great Hall in time for the owls to arrive. They were crossing this way and that way overhead as he took a seat with some friends at the Hufflepuff table. He wasn’t planning to stay there long, just maybe grab some appetizers and head over to his own table. However, today was a peculiar day. It wasn’t odd to hear a howler or two echoing around the room at this time of day, but Dennis had had the great privilege never to be sitting too close to one…until now.
“CLARK WILLIAM BAIRD!” It started and Dennis swore it was going to make his ears bleed. Could they not have opened the letter somewhere else - never mind it was Dennis who was sitting in the wrong spot. Ever the eavesdropper, this time he had no problem picking up the contents of the conversation. So this Clark Baird - Dennis turned so that the boy was in his peripheral - was in trouble. It seemed a few others joined him whether to consul him or mock him, he wasn’t immediately sure.
The letter continued, “BREAK ONE MORE THING AND IF I HEAR ABOUT IT, YOU WILL BE GROUNDED FOR ALL OF ETERNITY!” Yikes, what was this Clark fellow? A butterfingers? What was so valuable that his parents felt they should send a Howler? Dennis clearly didn’t have parents who would do such a thing. The boy started picturing his parents as giant trolls - that’s the only kind of creature who would do such a thing in his mind.
“Baird…” Dennis whispered absentmindedly to himself as the Howler raged on. Like Octavius Baird, the former Astronomy professor? Now that he thought of it, the voice did sound like his, though he never knew the teacher to scream like this so it was hard to be sure.
The ginger looked over as the Howler took on a sweeter tone. So those two must be his brothers or some other relative. But, the tone shift was jarring, he wasn’t the only one who started to stare at the complete 180. Normally, Dennis did his best to be as interested in his food as possible whenever there was a howler to try and mitigate the other student’s embarrassment but this one was really bipolar. But with the softer tone, Dennis knew now that it was indeed Octavius Baird. What had gotten into the man? Granted Dennis didn’t know him personally or really at all beyond the lectures he gave.
As if it didn’t just switch personality, Octavius once again started screaming about the poor child’s grades. E or lower? The guy wanted this Clark to only get Os? Dennis thought that was by far the craziest thing ever. He heard of Ravenclaw parents being particularly hard but this Clark was in Hufflepuff. He just couldn’t see a Hufflepuff getting straight Os.
He was fully engaged in this one sided conversation now. He forgot totally about leaving and going to the Ravenclaw table. He was unabashedly wide eyed and his jaw was hanging loose as if it had no hinges, a mixture of terror and mortification on his face as the young boy sobbed while the Howler ended its roar.
His brothers seemed entirely unsympathetic to his plight and even seemed to be congratulating themselves though it seemed they got some bad news about…no inheritance and their parent dying? What was this family? Goblins?
Dennis waited until the family cleared out and then he went over to the poor boy. He walked around the table and then rested a warm friendly hand on his shoulder. “Your old man sure gave you an ear full,” Dennis said softly, his voice sympathetic. At this point, there was no one else who was daring to sit beside him so Dennis sat down.
“I could have sworn for a minute that sounded like Professor Baird. Now I know what he would sound like if he accidentally ate a dung bomb…” Dennis made a pretend explosion with his hands and made explosion noises with his mouth to try to at least bring the Hufflepuff a smile if possible. “I bet his breath stinks too…”
@Clark Baird
Dennis made his way to the Great Hall in time for the owls to arrive. They were crossing this way and that way overhead as he took a seat with some friends at the Hufflepuff table. He wasn’t planning to stay there long, just maybe grab some appetizers and head over to his own table. However, today was a peculiar day. It wasn’t odd to hear a howler or two echoing around the room at this time of day, but Dennis had had the great privilege never to be sitting too close to one…until now.
“CLARK WILLIAM BAIRD!” It started and Dennis swore it was going to make his ears bleed. Could they not have opened the letter somewhere else - never mind it was Dennis who was sitting in the wrong spot. Ever the eavesdropper, this time he had no problem picking up the contents of the conversation. So this Clark Baird - Dennis turned so that the boy was in his peripheral - was in trouble. It seemed a few others joined him whether to consul him or mock him, he wasn’t immediately sure.
The letter continued, “BREAK ONE MORE THING AND IF I HEAR ABOUT IT, YOU WILL BE GROUNDED FOR ALL OF ETERNITY!” Yikes, what was this Clark fellow? A butterfingers? What was so valuable that his parents felt they should send a Howler? Dennis clearly didn’t have parents who would do such a thing. The boy started picturing his parents as giant trolls - that’s the only kind of creature who would do such a thing in his mind.
“Baird…” Dennis whispered absentmindedly to himself as the Howler raged on. Like Octavius Baird, the former Astronomy professor? Now that he thought of it, the voice did sound like his, though he never knew the teacher to scream like this so it was hard to be sure.
The ginger looked over as the Howler took on a sweeter tone. So those two must be his brothers or some other relative. But, the tone shift was jarring, he wasn’t the only one who started to stare at the complete 180. Normally, Dennis did his best to be as interested in his food as possible whenever there was a howler to try and mitigate the other student’s embarrassment but this one was really bipolar. But with the softer tone, Dennis knew now that it was indeed Octavius Baird. What had gotten into the man? Granted Dennis didn’t know him personally or really at all beyond the lectures he gave.
As if it didn’t just switch personality, Octavius once again started screaming about the poor child’s grades. E or lower? The guy wanted this Clark to only get Os? Dennis thought that was by far the craziest thing ever. He heard of Ravenclaw parents being particularly hard but this Clark was in Hufflepuff. He just couldn’t see a Hufflepuff getting straight Os.
He was fully engaged in this one sided conversation now. He forgot totally about leaving and going to the Ravenclaw table. He was unabashedly wide eyed and his jaw was hanging loose as if it had no hinges, a mixture of terror and mortification on his face as the young boy sobbed while the Howler ended its roar.
His brothers seemed entirely unsympathetic to his plight and even seemed to be congratulating themselves though it seemed they got some bad news about…no inheritance and their parent dying? What was this family? Goblins?
Dennis waited until the family cleared out and then he went over to the poor boy. He walked around the table and then rested a warm friendly hand on his shoulder. “Your old man sure gave you an ear full,” Dennis said softly, his voice sympathetic. At this point, there was no one else who was daring to sit beside him so Dennis sat down.
“I could have sworn for a minute that sounded like Professor Baird. Now I know what he would sound like if he accidentally ate a dung bomb…” Dennis made a pretend explosion with his hands and made explosion noises with his mouth to try to at least bring the Hufflepuff a smile if possible. “I bet his breath stinks too…”
@Clark Baird
Adult: Makaio Kāne | iNPC: Maria Leung de Almeida
3 Feb 2024, 22:17
The Howler
Yes, a shame it was for him to be seen as the absolute devil in his father's eyes, to be called out by his brothers, to be stuck with the prejudice basically sucked. It meant that he was seen as inferior, and he knew that his family were not the only ones that thought that, but he thought they actually thought he mattered.
Despite how his family might truly feel, it didn't help that he was starting to break down into crocodile tears. He heard the voice behind him, a hand on his shoulder. "Well he has a good reason for doing that. I can't help that I am the way I am. I can't help that I break things or find joy in it. But the moment that I try being what everyone wants me to be is the moment I regret doing so, because like I am right now, I'm showing signs of weakness and its not something a goblin like me needs."
He rubbed his eyes and wiped off the tear, snorting back his snot that dripped, especially on the hand that was placed on his shoulder. That small joke that the kid made caused him to laugh softly, snot dripping back out of his nose again, but the tears were gone, at least for now.
"Why don't we send dad something with a dungbomb it- maybe say its a hot chocolate bomb?" He said, his voice calm but partially halted as he began to get comfortable despite feeling humiliated.
Despite how his family might truly feel, it didn't help that he was starting to break down into crocodile tears. He heard the voice behind him, a hand on his shoulder. "Well he has a good reason for doing that. I can't help that I am the way I am. I can't help that I break things or find joy in it. But the moment that I try being what everyone wants me to be is the moment I regret doing so, because like I am right now, I'm showing signs of weakness and its not something a goblin like me needs."
He rubbed his eyes and wiped off the tear, snorting back his snot that dripped, especially on the hand that was placed on his shoulder. That small joke that the kid made caused him to laugh softly, snot dripping back out of his nose again, but the tears were gone, at least for now.
"Why don't we send dad something with a dungbomb it- maybe say its a hot chocolate bomb?" He said, his voice calm but partially halted as he began to get comfortable despite feeling humiliated.
| You've gotta break some eggs to make an omlette, something something. |
4 Feb 2024, 03:50
The Howler
Dennis, ever the older brother kind, listened to the boy named Clark weave his story of woe with interested nods. So they were goblins, that made so much more sense now. Growing up half in the wizarding world he understood the prejudices associated but he lived his life in the muggle world where he was taught to respect others by their personhood and not by what they looked like. Or…in this instance, how much snot spewed out onto your hand. Again, his big brother instincts were kicking in. If his little brother was being bullied and ended up just snotting all over him, he’d take it and try to help.
He removed his hand as he listened to the goblin kid and politely wiped the snot off his hand with a cloth napkin. He was sure the house elves wouldn’t mind goblin snot, right? He didn’t take offense to any of it though. One person’s snot is another person’s memory that they won’t forget. He was glad, however, that the waterworks stopped for a moment.
Dennis laughed at the hot chocolate bomb joke. He was glad to see that even though the snot kept coming, he was feeling better. “I don’t think we could get away with disguising a dung as hot chocolate. But…I do know Incendio. We could burn down the astronomy tower,” Dennis thought better of giving a goblin such an idea and quickly added with a chuckle, “But your old man isn’t the professor anymore so I’m sure the new guy wouldn’t appreciate putting out a fire on his first day.”
He wanted to circle back around however, to the matter at hand so he hoped that was enough to not have to follow through on his arson joke. “Some things deserve breaking,” Dennis finally said after pouring hot chocolate. All this talk of chocolate made him thirsty. “I’m Dennis by the way. Dennis Tumberton. I got by the Howler that your name is Clark. It’s nice to meet someone who also likes to break things!” He said raising his glass of hot chocolate and this drinking from the glass.
@Clark Baird
He removed his hand as he listened to the goblin kid and politely wiped the snot off his hand with a cloth napkin. He was sure the house elves wouldn’t mind goblin snot, right? He didn’t take offense to any of it though. One person’s snot is another person’s memory that they won’t forget. He was glad, however, that the waterworks stopped for a moment.
Dennis laughed at the hot chocolate bomb joke. He was glad to see that even though the snot kept coming, he was feeling better. “I don’t think we could get away with disguising a dung as hot chocolate. But…I do know Incendio. We could burn down the astronomy tower,” Dennis thought better of giving a goblin such an idea and quickly added with a chuckle, “But your old man isn’t the professor anymore so I’m sure the new guy wouldn’t appreciate putting out a fire on his first day.”
He wanted to circle back around however, to the matter at hand so he hoped that was enough to not have to follow through on his arson joke. “Some things deserve breaking,” Dennis finally said after pouring hot chocolate. All this talk of chocolate made him thirsty. “I’m Dennis by the way. Dennis Tumberton. I got by the Howler that your name is Clark. It’s nice to meet someone who also likes to break things!” He said raising his glass of hot chocolate and this drinking from the glass.
@Clark Baird
Adult: Makaio Kāne | iNPC: Maria Leung de Almeida
19 Feb 2024, 01:17
The Howler
His voice was toning down, his expression still ugly but was calming as an attempt to rid of the sorrow and hideous appearance to him as he was having right now. He looked back at the human boy and sniffled, trying to suck the snot back up his nose. "Oh," He started but didn't finish, getting sidetracked with a comment that Dennis had made. "Well... my father no longer is employed as the astronomy tower... but I do want to destroy any memory of him. I don't care if I get expelled at this point."
Clark was a bit bitter, a bit sad to say it. "Well, let me say this.." He said, standing up from the table. He looked at the size difference between him and Dennis and mumbled before continuing. "if.. and I do mean if.. we were to do something as heinous as that, are you up for the risk of expulsion? or perhaps since its probably going to be your first offense.. since I've never seen you there... in detention?" He asked.
"Well, breaking things is fun." The goblin extended his right hand, covered with snot. "And you'd be right. I am Clark, its nice to meet you Dennis."
Clark was a bit bitter, a bit sad to say it. "Well, let me say this.." He said, standing up from the table. He looked at the size difference between him and Dennis and mumbled before continuing. "if.. and I do mean if.. we were to do something as heinous as that, are you up for the risk of expulsion? or perhaps since its probably going to be your first offense.. since I've never seen you there... in detention?" He asked.
"Well, breaking things is fun." The goblin extended his right hand, covered with snot. "And you'd be right. I am Clark, its nice to meet you Dennis."
| You've gotta break some eggs to make an omlette, something something. |
19 Feb 2024, 02:23
The Howler
It was clear to the 11 year old Ravenclaw that Clark had a horrible relationship with his dad. And if he was willing to send a Howler like that to his own son, probably a well deserved hatred. Dennis couldn’t fathom, even upon expulsion, that his father would ever send him something like that. All the more to pity his new acquaintance. He simply nodded in solidarity when Clark mentioned about wanting to erase every memory of his father. It made the little boy’s heart break that someone could say that out loud and mean it but not all fathers were good fathers, this much was evident to him already.
Clark then stood up and still looking determined gave Dennis a lecture about expulsion or being prepared for detention. This little goblin had guts. One moment he was humiliated and crying and now he was ready to get thrown out of school entirely. If he let this go on any longer, there would definitely be hell to pay. Dennis stood up with Clark, after taking a moment. He needed to turn their attention to something else more productive. How to use that energy in a way that wouldn’t get his new friend kicked out.
His thoughts were interrupted as Clark extended a snot filled hand. Without missing a beat, and with gusto, Dennis took it confidently. His gut sank a bit at the squishy and sticky feeling but it had already been covered in the boy’s snot once, a second time wouldn’t hurt at all. Dennis grinned, “The pleasure is all mine!” Finally, the thought came to mind. He knew just the place to go with Clark to get his mind off his father. “If you don’t have anything planned, why don’t we take a walk on the grounds? Some fresh air will help clear our minds and perhaps we might find some mischief that won’t land us in detention!”
@Clark Baird
Clark then stood up and still looking determined gave Dennis a lecture about expulsion or being prepared for detention. This little goblin had guts. One moment he was humiliated and crying and now he was ready to get thrown out of school entirely. If he let this go on any longer, there would definitely be hell to pay. Dennis stood up with Clark, after taking a moment. He needed to turn their attention to something else more productive. How to use that energy in a way that wouldn’t get his new friend kicked out.
His thoughts were interrupted as Clark extended a snot filled hand. Without missing a beat, and with gusto, Dennis took it confidently. His gut sank a bit at the squishy and sticky feeling but it had already been covered in the boy’s snot once, a second time wouldn’t hurt at all. Dennis grinned, “The pleasure is all mine!” Finally, the thought came to mind. He knew just the place to go with Clark to get his mind off his father. “If you don’t have anything planned, why don’t we take a walk on the grounds? Some fresh air will help clear our minds and perhaps we might find some mischief that won’t land us in detention!”
@Clark Baird
Adult: Makaio Kāne | iNPC: Maria Leung de Almeida