A Cool Lazy Day PV Santario Martin Finished

@Santario Martin

Quinn looked down at his hands and then to his sketchbook he started to flip through it until he was near the beginning. The page he would land on was violently scribbled, scratched, and messily colored in with graphite smearing the whole page. At the center was a messy but relatively clear section of white space where a very roughly sketched and poorly drawn boy. With what appeared to be curly hair was curled up and hunched over into a small ball. Every now and then there would be eyes of varying sizes looking at the boy in the picture who was clearly alone. Quinn gently rubbed the picture, his smile growing somber and sad as his eyes grew a bit distant as if remembering something forgotten.

He let out a noticeable and hefty sigh, “Suppose ah can’t back out of this now right?” He let out a soft bitter chuckle. “Well what’s done is done. Ye deserve to know the whole truth if ye’re to understand why I am the way I am. Ye might want to get comfy though this will take a long while.” He continued to gingerly rub the picture before closing his eyes, taking a deep breath as if to steal himself and then turned his full attention to Santario. “Well please get comfy and not to be weird but if ye want to sit in me lap if that’s what makes ye comfy feel free I trust ya and don’t mind.” He coughed a bit collecting his thoughts. “So as ah said allow me to start from the very beginning and ah appreciate ye keeping this between us. This isn’t exactly something I enjoy broadcasting.” Mentally he was smacking himself for continuing to stall like this.

“R-Right right apologies. So as you know I’m a Half-Giant not Part-Giant. This is because my father is a giant and me sweet mother a human. What ye don’t know is that the man who raised me and who I consider me real father is not my biological father. That’s because...” He sighed rubbing the paper again a little anxiously. “...because me mum was married to me da, when she conceived me. Ah think ye know what ah’m getting at San...ah’m a bastard born outside marriage. Ah don’t know the full reasons behind why she did it, but as ye can imagine when ah was born the signs were there. Nearly killed my mother in the process according to me dear ole da.” He nearly spat out bitterly frowning as he let out another heavy sigh. “S-Sorry ah shouldn’t be this upset at him, ah know he never meant to...well ye will hear soon enough.”

“So as ye can imagine ah had a very difficult childhood. Ah was stronger, bigger, taller, more troublesome even as a child. Ah don’t really know when exactly but fairly early on ah knew ah was different. The other kids thought ah was cool but the parents...” He scoffed, “...the parents thought me disgusting and weird. They didn’t want their children associating with some gingered freak. Anyway as any child would ah had my fair share of tantrums the first time it happened ah’d put a hole in the wall of me room, the next time ah broke me father’s arm on accident.” Rubbing the back of his neck he pursed his lips pausing for a long moment to let the current information sink in.

“Ah think ah had just turned four when that happened. Didn’t know me own strength smacked me dad as hard as ah could sent him into the stairs where he broke his arm. After that ah think me mother became scared of me, my father definitely didn’t like me after that. Maybe it gave him an excuse to start disliking me or channeling his hatred through me. The hatred he couldn’t aim at me mother for being so thoroughly betrayed and heartbroken. That’s one thing I will give my da he loves too much.” Quinn shook his large head his curly thick hair bobbing and swinging with the motions.

“Whatever it was, things started to get lonely for me. Kids stopped playing with me because of their parents, and kids started to bully me. It was in that same year ah nearly died because ah was knocked overboard during a terrible storm. Hence me fear of water. Thanks to that lovely little incident ah met Brannigan the only reason ah turned out as well as ah did. Not like me father cared that feckin much at that point. Sure he tried but ah could tell he didn’t truly love me, how could he?” Quinn was obviously getting a little worked up, and it was clear that despite how well things had been going for Quinn now. There were still many issues, especially with his father that he needed to resolve.

“All of this is important Santario because as curious as ah’ve always been ah looked for ways to cope. If me mum or da wouldn’t help me then ah would make me friends, an so I did. I created Harlin and Aeron my imaginary best friends. Aeron was the mother I wish I had and Harlin was the best friend I knew I would never get. Oh the trouble ah got into with those two.” Quinn chuckled, beginning to smile. “Ah started to ignore what others thought of me and the looks of fear or disgust ah would get. They couldn’t hurt me not as long as ah had Harlin and Aeron. So I began to spend a lot of time by myself or visiting Brannigan when ah could. If I wasn’t doing those things ah was reading, exploring, or investigating things like why is the sun so bright? What are those weird things on the end of shoelaces? Who’s my real dad? Why do people not like me? Did I do something wrong? Can ye imagine what that does to a child when not even yer own parents will look ye right in the eyes when ye act out or simply want their approval?”

Quinn asked Santario before suddenly continuing, “So ah continued to self isolate spending time with me grandparents from time to time, or running away to Brannigans. Course things weren’t always great ah think when ah was about 8 or so, maybe younger the other kids started to interact with me. Ah thought it was funny first when they would make fun of me, or have me break things for them. People wanted to interact with me they wanted to listen to the things ah liked. Don’t get me wrong it felt great to be honest. Even invited me to places...but ye know why right? Ah was a circus act for them. Over enthusiastic, too naive, and too innocent. Maybe that’s why ah always kept getting hurt and laughing it off.”

Quinn pursed his lips continuing to flip through the pages slowly trying not to show how shaky his hands were. “Ah think ah always knew they were using me but ah was so desperate to be wanted that even through away my imaginary friends until ah needed them again. Because unlike everyone else they were always there and after the incident at the donut shop and a kid ending up in the hospital ah stopped interacting with everyone. I started staying out a lot more to the point I practically lived on the streets. It was clear, or at least I thought it was, that me family didn’t care what happened to me. Afterall who wants a bastard troublemaker of a son? I just let Harlin talk me into more dangerous and ‘fun’ things resulting in a lot of trouble.” He continued to smile thinking fondly on the situation weirdly enough.

“Oh right!” He started to blush softly, his frown suddenly disappearing. “Let me know if ye need things filled in ah’m skipping some things ah think. A-And uh let me just clarify that ah don’t really dislike my father as much anymore. He’s definitely improved so has me mom they’re really concerned now. Even scolded me for being so dumb about this before hugging me and uh crying...” He laughed uncomfortably, “It felt...really nice to feel their hugs again...” He started to tear up a bit wiping them away. “Anyway let me continue this story. So where was I? Right when things went from weird to dangerous. Ye see ah had begun to spend so much time with my imaginary friends that ah never noticed the changes. Like sometimes ah would talk to them in a sneaky like manner when around my parents and me parents would look disturbed whenever ah did. Was really strange. This only got worse after me baby sisters were born. Though they were different unlike me parents and everyone else, with exception to Brannigan. They loved me unconditionally and never viewed me anymore then their weird, giant, big brother. Those annoying little twerps were what really helped me through that time. They made the bullying and loneliness bearable ya know?” The way he talked about his sisters was so warm and genuine. Extremely indicative of Quinn’s usual loving and gentle self.

“I think it was maybe 2 years before I entered Hogwarts where there was a certain incident. I don’t remember anything that happened that day. Much of it is still a blank for me. But what I know for a fact is that I nearly killed 3 of my childhood bullies because I will never forget their bodies...” His entire body shook noticeably almost intensely. “I don’t know what lead up to it I get images from time to time. Yelling, hitting, laughing...that feckin laughter.” He growled out clenching his fists. “It was after this incident that me parents truly stepped in they wanted to know what was going on with me. It took some months but eventually they took me in for a psychiatric evaluation and that’s where I found out what my condition was. Dissociative Identity Disorder they call it. To put it simply there are multiple people in my head...uh personalities. Each one has a mind of its own like its own person. I’m what ye call the host personality, the main one the real me if we’re getting technical. I have two other personalities Harlin whom you’ve met and Aeron who is my protector. You’ve never met her and honestly ah hope ye never do. Anyway after it was discovered and verified that this is what I had that’s when my parents told me about those times I would talk to my ‘imaginary friends’ which explains their disturbed looks. Course I never actually listened to my psychiatrist at the time neither did me parents which was fine by me. I started to heavily dive into reading and learning what I could about magic. Being Half-Giant meant that when it came to learning magic I would be slower then most though that’s never stopped me haha.”

“The bullying continued as well but people knew not to push me too far or else. At least most did. Until the year I entered Hogwarts everything was going fairly smoothly. But that year Brannigan died and that really messed me up. Didn’t interact with too many at that time. Joined the paper, and became prefect. This was before people could tell I was Half-Giant. It was also during this year that me and my dad’s relationship was the most strained. We fought all the time and I became increasingly harder to control, said some things I really shouldn’t have. Worst yet was that the fighting between us got so bad that ah injured me mum. What a feckin terrible son right?” Again Quinn was being hard on himself.

“Anyway I made some good friends here that helped ground me a little. Going into the Christmas break of second year is when everything went to hell and when we met shortly after I believe. That time is truly fuzzy. Ya see during all that time Harlin had been putting me down, making me doubt myself, pissing me off, and manipulating me. He would sometimes break out making people think quite ill of me. This is what led to the fatal incident with Donnigan. What I’m about to tell ye I’ve told only a few so please Santario don’t utter this to a soul.” He pleaded with her sincerely, lowering his voice.

“Donnigan was my chief bully and never knew when to shut it or stop prodding even when others told him. That cold, snowy day he really got under my skin and I was already having a bad mental day. So one thing led to another and I ended up plunging into the nearby freezing river. I was drowning again and Donnigan ran off in fear leaving me for dead. I blacked out seconds after that but all I felt was indescribable rage. The type of rage ye can’t put into words. When I came to, I was soaked and my hands were bloodied as I...did ye know they didn’t know if he’d ever be the same? It’s his head I...gods i’m not even sad or sorry how fucked is that?” He laughed bitterly, “Anyway after that the police got involved and so did the ministry. My family has a lot of connections so luckily no charges were filed and we paid for Donnigan’s medical bills but I was admitted into a psychiatric ward for 6 months. The headmaster knew of course but that’s why no one saw me and why I left being a prefect the first time. The things I experienced there...” He gripped his hands so tight his knuckles turned white and his face was a mixture of rage and fear. “...I don’t wanna talk about that place. I will never go back to that god forsaken place and I pray ye never have to visit one. When I returned mostly at the end of my second year I was lost. Didn’t really know who I was and uh that weird medicine they gave me in there really messed with me so I stopped taking it. Cut my hair, and well ye kinda know how third year went. Got attacked plenty at events, joined quidditch to try and channel some of my anger. But things were cracking. I was prefect again and on the quidditch team as its co-captain at the time. But as you know certain people were starting to view me as a monster and no matter what I did it seemed like I would just get hurt or attacked for no reason. Harlin broke out more often and even took control some days, causing a bit of trouble. I remember some of those. But everything came to a true head not at balls, or secret events like when I inadvertently caused your broken bone and stayed with you all night to make sure you were safe. It was when I was hospitalized after the championship in the summer. You know I was hospitalized everyone does, but what ye don’t know is what I did.” His back suddenly straightened and his face grew hard.

“Most of the team saw what I did, I suffered a bad concussion on top of Harlin taking over and belittingly me that day. I wasn’t in my right head space I didn’t mean to.” The whole time he flipped through the sketchbook showing various sketches until he stopped on the darkest sketch yet. It looked like a demonic version of Quinn breaking his chains surrounded by the words monster. “Yefim that bastard started calling me a monster accusing me of things, and then attacked me. Harlin provoked me too much and I reacted in a moment of blind rage. I-I...slowly broke his leg. Like a twig. And the worst part is...for the briefest of moments I enjoyed it Sanrio...I enjoyed the feckin sick act. I think seeing that is what led to Willow leaving the team. I certainly scared everyone. Hell if it wasn’t for Mr. Dupont it could have been much worse. Long-story short no charges were filed as it was clear I was not in the right head space and was provoked when it was clear I was in mental distress however unlike last time. This needed to be dealt with in the proper way which I thought meant I was going to the ward again. I had to be sedated because of my freak-out. My parents visited and the look of pure heartbreak and concern nearly destroyed me so I caved...worked things out with Mr. Dupont and now once a week I meet with him for my therapy sessions and to receive my weekly prescriptions. Something made specifically for my body. It’s helped a lot things with my dad are a lot better, seeing him cry like a baby was kind of nice.” He added absently sighing heavily suddenly feeling so exhausted as he closed the book.

“So yeah that’s me story Sanrio I’ve got other people living in my head. Harlin for whatever reason has started to get more tolerable even helpful at times I don’t know what prompted this change but ye know what it’s so nice from the last two years. Course I still get viewed as a freak but ah now have people like ye who love me for me.”

Santario looked at the little boy in Quinn’s picture with a neutral expression. Usually, when looking at someone’s art, she would smile and talk about all of the good things about it, but this was an entirely different situation. This drawing she assumed was a much younger Quinn, a Quinn that felt sad and alone like he had no one else in the world to help him. She had been there before she knew what that abyss felt like, and she clawed herself out with the help of an improbable person.

Santario shook her head softly. “Can’t let this one go, Pumpkin. Truth be told, if you really wanted to not tell me, I’d drop it… For now, but I would revisit it at a later date. Best to rip the band-aid off.” Quinn went on to ask her to get comfortable so she would politely take a seat next to him, leaving enough room between them that would be socially acceptable. He had a girlfriend, after all, and sitting in his lap would be highly inappropriate. She may never have had a boyfriend, nor did she completely understand the concept, but she did know that what was hers was hers, and if she caught someone who had pledged themselves to be hers for that time with someone else in their lap, she would feel awfully murderous. Best not to tempt the dhampir’s rage.

“You know I won’t say anything to anyone else. You have my word.” And Santario’s word meant everything to her; she would not back out of it without an excellent reason, which usually was a result of a slight against her. Not something that she thought Quinn would be capable of doing to her. So she would silently listen for now. Nodding where appropriate or verbalizing an Mhm. When he asked her if she knew what it was like to not have your parents look at you or how it felt to just want their approval, she looked away and started blinking rapidly. Blinking back the tears that wanted to fall because she didn’t know what that felt like, and she certainly couldn’t honestly know what that felt like, but she could try to imagine. The small amount of pain that she could imagine drove a spike through her heart. After all, under the cold and neutral exterior, Santario really did have a heart, and it did on the occasion ache for others in pain.

When he started to shake and speak about his bullies, she would gingerly reach out and set her hand on his arm. It was her silent way of letting him know that she was supporting him and that it was okay to keep going. Her gentle touch on his arm would not falter even with his growls. “You’re not a terrible son. You never did it on purpose, nor would you have. And again, you have my word.” She would reaffirm him after he pleaded with her about Donnigan. Again she would fall silent and listen to him.

As he finished his story, she took a deep breath. “In your defense, the idiot called you terrible things. I would have taken pleasure in hurting him as well. Don’t be too hard on yourself about that one. Let’s also be fair. Erin is a goddamn crackpot who doesn’t know her ass from her elbow when it comes to sanity. I know she gets under your skin, and it’s hard not to let her, but the girl needs professional help. I think I remember Harlin from the lake when we officially met. I remember how not okay you seemed to get as we got closer to the lake, and I lead you away, and it seemed to help. So I made you walk near the treeline to ground you to the earth instead of the water. I’ve read many books, my own way to escape my problems; I think Harlin understands that the better you are, the more he? Can stay. If they help you, they help themselves. I don’t know a whole ton… or really anything about DID, but I assume there are ways to remove them? Survival instinct would be to behave because what is good for you is also good for them. Maybe Harlin needed to grow and mature like you did to understand that properly?” She shrugged a little and removed her hand from his arm as he seemed calmer now.

“You’ve got people on your side, so as long as you remember that, I think you can survive just fine in our world. Anyone else who doesn’t see your value is stupid and not to be bothered with. Definitions belong to the definers, not the defined.”

@Santario Martin

“Ye know I sometimes wonder if I'm so quick to trust because of me need for validation. As private as ah try to be when ah meet someone who genuinely wants to be me friend it's like all me barriers suddenly come down and ah can tell essentially a complete stranger who showed me an ounce of kindness all that I am. All me weakeness, all me fears, all me greatest failures. It's pathetic but...having ye here to listen has honestly been a help. Ye don't need to sugar coat it. I've been attacked on every level even me spirit. I've had to grow up quick to be the brother me baby sister's needed me to be. Life has been shite to me and yet as much as I want to lash out...ah just...ah don't want to prove them right dammit!” Quinn continued on and kept speaking, visibly shaking on the verge of tears.

"If I let me self go down that route...t-then I would just be who they say I am. A big, stupid monster...but i'm not..." He closed his eyes letting out a weary sigh before looking to San with a saddened smile. [color=#30000]"A-Anyway that's me story, I'm sorry if any of that made ye uncomfortable. Guess I just needed to get that off me chest to someone I felt could really handle it."[/color] A quiet clap came in his mind, which he reluctantly allowed as a voice came to the forefront.[/color]

'Oh my dear Queenie. My sweet, sweet Queenie...' The voice sounded uncharacteristically somber and reflective. It deeply unsettled Quinn who managed to keep up their current look. '...what a fucking joke who does she think she is. I may need your body but your mind. Heh I could suppress that so easily if I wanted to. I don't because it pleases me. I don't because no one gets to tell me what I can and can't do. Your very existence infuriates me. You have all this power and you refuse to use it. You could beat your detractor's into silence or use your menacing presence to fear them into submission. Hell I'll even go one step further and flat out say it. You are intelligent Queenie. So use that intelligence for something and stop being everyone's door mat!!' The voice growled out in seeming anger and frustration.


If Quinn didn't know any better he would say that Harlin was in fact trying to help him which brought a genuine and wide smile to his face as he laughed.


'...A-Are you laughing at me! Queenie are you laughing at me!? H-How dare you laugh at me! What you think what I said was funny was that it!?'

"Heh...well yes it is Harlin because ye're proving our point." The boy laughed harder no doubt garnering a few strange looks from any passerby's as his body shook with a childish intensity. "...I just can't believe ye're crushing on Santario." The boy playfully, and purposely let slip from his lips.

'ASBHYUOYIEWSGFMKL'!?!!?? The near inhuman sounds that permeated Quinn's mind were enough to trigger a migraine and yet...holy sweet gods was it worth every second of pain.

Quinn's laughter continued as the sounds and voice soon faded into the background of his mind. "Well ah think it's safe to say ah consider ye a true friend Santario...ah don't think alot of me feelings will ever fade. But knowing ah have people like ye in me life to lean on truly helps. The same can be of Nico." An even wider smile came across his face, causing his facial features to significantly soften. A split second later he glanced to Santario and quickly dropped it as a bright blush came upon his cheeks. It seems he didn't mean to show off that particular expression.

"A-A-Anyway h-how about ye. I know ah asked earlier but is there anything ye like to get off ye chest. O-Or maybe ye could tell me more about the things ye're interested in learning. I remember ye seem to really enjoy herbalism and potion work. That's cool, me grandmother is a pretty well known herbalist and botanist herself."

Santario shook her head a little. “No, that’s not pathetic. It’s not pathetic to want to be liked or loved; it’s human nature, really.” She wasn’t going to just sit there and let him call himself pathetic for wanting something most people wanted. Even Santario wanted it. She just hid it most of the time. Sure she had a few friends, few being the keyword, and realistically she understood most people would not want her friendship if they found out where her loyalties had laid, and perhaps that is why they weren’t.

“You’re right. You are not a monster, and don’t you forget that. And you didn’t make me uncomfortable.” Truth be told, not a whole lot made her uncomfortable anymore besides perhaps kept secrets. Again she would notice Quinn going within himself having a conversation she wasn’t a part of, and of course, she would patiently wait even as Quinn laughed to himself.

An eyebrow arched up high when he mentioned a crush on her own person by someone in his head. “Well, someday Harlin can save me a future dance.” Santario jokingly teased, not really understanding what that entirely meant. She did not really understand that if that were to happen, that would mean Quinn would be giving up his body, and Nico would doubtfully be okay with that scenario in the least. Even without her ultimately realizing those things, that was precisely why it had just been a joke.

Santario returned his smile even if his face had dropped with enough time for him not to see it. He then asked her about other things that she might want to talk about, and she sighed deeply. “Seems like I’m dropping friends like flies lately, to be honest. I do not know if you heard about what happened to most of the Slytherins during the summer. But a good deal of us was tricked into a place where we could not use our magic, and we were conned into fighting against each other with our fists… So barbaric. I refused to fight, but…” She hesitated and bit her lip looking down at her shoes, letting her hair fall around her face creating a barrier between them.

“We were in teams against other teams, and someone who was a very close friend of mine beat me into unconsciousness. Do not get me wrong, I know exactly why it happened; it was not his fault he could not control himself, but I tried to reach out to him at the beginning of the year. I think he is avoiding me. So while it is really neither of our faults, I still feel like I lost one of my closest friends.” She was talking about Erik Tharaldson, who had been replaced by Thomas LeStrange in the best friend category. “Regardless of what happened, I didn’t want to lose him as a friend, and I just don’t understand, and it hurts so much… It makes me not want friends anymore in a way, you know?” Tears stung her eyes, and her chest ached as she finished explaining. She was tired of letting people get so close to her and then losing them. What was wrong with her?

@Santario Martin

Quinn wasn't sure if it was proper or the correct choice. That never stopped him though, however he had been learning to both observe and appropriately act on what he observed. Not just one or the other anymore. In this instant he needed to do both, so he did what he thought would be appropriate. He looked to his friend, paying attention and giving her his full undivided attention, putting on his best smile. When she started to cry it softened into one of understanding as he nodded.

With a slow deliberate motion, Quinn brought a massive hand over his friend's hand. Gentle as he could. The Half-Giant lad patted his friends head, in a manner he felt was comforting before placing it back on her shoulder with another gentle squeeze. To indicate that he was there, “Believe me when I say I understand well what you're going through. It's hard...it hurts...it's right shite. But, you're one of the strongest people I know. So chin up San. You still got this freak for a friend.” He chuckled clearly bothered by the stress of his friend as he removed his hand, but also trying to clearly cheer her up. "I mean if someone like me can still be graced with reliable friends like you. Then I know sure as sure that you'll always have friends in your corner. Now for this friend that's avoiding you? I'd say give em some more space and then push comes to the shove, ambush them grab them by the collar and talk it out." He grinned.

"Plus. San, you literally broke a bone for me and I spent an entire night in the hospital wing with ya. I ain't going anywhere and there's nothing you could do or say to me that hasn't already been done." He chuckled there was joy in his voice but also a hint of hurt. The words themselves carrying so much in pain in them. More pain than any 14 year old had any right experiencing. Taking in a breath he kept up his smile and even let out another hardy but forced laugh as he clenched his notebook and looked ahead. "Y-You'll be fine San. No m-m-matter what happens I'll always have your back. Through thick and thin. You've got my word on that."

Quinn’s giant hand patted her head before squeezing her shoulder gently. A small cut-off giggle escaping her lips when he reminded her that she still had him as a friend, even if he did it with dark humor. Her hands moved up to her face covering it for a moment before wiping the tears that beaded up in her eyes while she listened to him speak. Quinn was right, which did not really surprise her; he was wicked intelligent, something he did not get enough credit for. “Thank you, Quinn, and thank you for that night. I’m not sure I ever really thanked you for that.” She might have, but she could not remember. It had been over a year ago, and not too long after that, she had a falling out with someone. It seemed to be a pattern of getting so close to people and then losing them for one reason or another.

Santario allowed herself a deep breath before looking up at him, managing a slight smile. “I feel like we are fifty years old helping each other through a midlife crisis, not twelve and fourteen. What a world we live in, huh?” She probably would not follow the advice to corner the boy. If he did not want to see her, she wouldn’t push it. She had made an effort already, and she had tried. Because of that, she would allow him to slip away and make it a reason to build up another brick wall to protect herself. “You know in the thick of it, I’ll have your back.” Unless it opposed someone else she cared about as well. Then she would have to figure out who was genuinely worth backing. “You know, someday, Quinn Healy, when we are older, and out of here, I hope to see you at my dinner table with all of these terrible times being distant memories. I expect you to fill my halls with your hearty laughter. Someday when we and ours are all truly happy.” It was a flight of fantasy that she didn’t ever expect to happen, but a girl could dream.

@Santario Martin

It was only for the briefest of moments but there was a fierce scowl on his face. The type of scowl one might see when there is something they abhorrently hate right in front of them. That or when a particularly touchy and very sensitive topic is suddenly brought up. Being so close and perhaps just one's imagination but was that a growl?

Then as quickly as it happened, he sucked in a sharp breath forcing a smile. His knuckled turned white from how tight he was clenching them. Then just as he noticed Santario's slight smile he seemed to relax more. Smirking at the mention of how they would hopefully be when they were older. "San ah'll bring the whole damned hall down with me laughter and jokes. Who knows maybe ye'll have some boyo in ye life then. Ye know the type that'll treat a lass like you right and proper. And if they don't well..." A cheeky wide tooth grin crossed his face. It was a bit unnerving because of his facial proportions and sharp features but genuine. "...hopefully the wall they go through is soft." He chuckled loudly, and closed the book finally stretching.

"Anyway I should go back to my patrols besides. The prying eyes are starting to get a little much. Would hate for rumors to start. I do not want an angry Nico on me arse. I swear its like her and me mother were cut from the same cloth. Except I actually like Nico..." It appeared like he said something under his breath after seemingly finished with his little speech. It didn't look like he noticed.

"Anyways..." Getting up carefully once again standing at his impressive height he looked around casually, scratching his beard. He then looked to Santario, a smaller more natural smile coming back. "Thanks for hearing out this mess of lad. Ah'll be seeing ya around. Might even catch miss co-captain at one of our quidditch games sometimes?" He chuckled and then gestured towards the inside of the castle waiting for her. "If ye're gonna go in I'm heading the same way...can walk with ya a bit. Bout time to feed Irene anyway." If she responded with yes or a nod and followed he'd walk with her inside. If she shook her head or had somewhere else to be he'd wave goodbye and still head inside.

Quinn leaves the Courtyard.

Santario laughed joyfully as Quinn exclaimed that he would bring the hall down with his laughter, but when he brought up the next bit about having someone in her life, a slight flush tinged her cheeks. She was not sure if she ever really thought of people like that; at least, San did not believe she did? She was not convinced. There were people aesthetically pleasing to the eye, like portraits or sculptures. Quinn and Alan were two of them, but Quinn was just a friend, and Alan was like an older brother. Come to think of it, she was not sure why people did get as close as they did like Nico and Quinn…

She did not have time to linger on whether she had ever thought of someone like that before another fit of giggles overcame her while she pictured Quinn shoving someone into a wall that seemed like it was made more of a sponge than wall material. “Nico and I are dormmates, and I think she knows I would never do anything like that.” Santario hoped she knew that anyway. Trying to move in on Nico’s happiness is not something that Santario ever dreamed of doing, and there was no point in it. “Yeah, I can walk with you for a bit. We’re headed in mostly the same direction for a little while. Yes, you should start seeing me at quidditch games again, and you should check out duelling.” It Would be nice to have someone cheer for her besides Alan, who was one of the moderators, so he had to be there anyway.

“Can’t let your little lady go hungry, and I should check on Kahlan as well.” She hopped off the edge of the fountain and hurried alongside him into the castle, making sure she walked as speedily as was comfortable to try and not slow him down too much.

Santario leaves the thread.