Interacting with Mom and Shopkeeper

Banner by the lovely Ernest Baird

Roleplaying as Nathaniel Archer Costello Stamina 7 Strength 1 Evasion 6 Wisdom 10 Arcane Power 5 Accuracy 6

★ ★ ★

Nathaniel Costello wiped the sweat off his brow as he and his mother finally sought the confines of the nearest store away from the crowd after a long day of shopping. Surprisingly, he had found out in the short time he had lived in England, the weather tended to skew cold and dreary. The relatively low temperature outside, however, was nothing compared to the press of bodies during what he assumed was the peak shopping season of soon-to-be wizarding students.

The boy took a much-needed lick from the ice cream cone in his hand, steadying a few small bags containing his new textbooks as he reflected on how everything in Diagon Alley was magical.

As it should be, he surmised.

Wonders beyond his wildest dreams of different shapes, sizes, and—sometimes, perpetually shifting—colors were showcased in extravagant displays behind glass kept clean by what looked to Nate as invisible hands, which is the only way he could explain the floating spray bottle and squeegee he had seen too many of outside.

Anything and everything seemed to have a mind of their own. Everywhere he looked, something fascinated him. He was very much like his father in that regard—the man who was currently somewhere outside probably engaged in an enthusiastic rapport with a shopkeeper about the practical applications of broom physics in spacefaring.

His mother, on the other hand, was unperturbed as they moved deeper into what seemed to be a magical pet shop, as unfazed as she had been the entire day. It spoke of her magical upbringing, a fact about his mother he had only come to know in the past few months or so after discovering his innate magical ability.

"Every Hogwarts student needs an animal companion, and this, honey, is the Magical Menagerie." She'd say as she swept an arm toward the vast array of creatures, both familiar and alien to him. The sights and sounds hit Nate full-force as they passed the front portion of the shop.

Birds, amphibians, reptiles, and even beings whose taxa he couldn't even begin to identify were called energetically from their enclosures.

"Ah! Good day, madam. Sir. Here for your new Hogwarts friend, I presume?" The shopkeeper called from where they were crouched, hand-feeding what seemed to be balls of… fur? In response to this, his mother nudged Nathaniel on the shoulder, taking the bags from his hand and gesturing towards the animals in a nonverbal encouragement to go for it.

Excited, Nate all but ran towards every enclosure he could find near him.

Owls, rats, toads—snakes! His oohs and aahs echoed throughout the store, the creatures squeaking, cawing, or croaking in response. Completing a circuit around the menagerie, the boy's mind was filled with endless possibilities.

Possibilities that, if he was being honest, overwhelmed him a little bit.

His little animal friend could very well be with him for the seven years he was going to be attending Hogwarts, sharing his highs and lows. Though young—at eleven years old, to be exact—the boy already vaguely knew his decision today carried more weight than it first seemed. Biting his nails in trepidation, the boy looked helplessly towards where his mother stood with a small smile on her face.

The seemingly unceasing calls of the animals of the menagerie reverberated in his tween mind, and prompted him to blurt out sheepishly, "Are there any pets more um… quieter?

His mother and the shopkeeper shared a laugh at that, making him chuckle shyly in response, his ears heating up. The shopkeeper held up the ball of fur, "Pygmy puffs are relatively quiet barring the occasional squeaks, but I know just the friend for you, young man." With a wink, the man disappeared into a side room—one Nate hadn't noticed earlier—and he quickly followed.

What was in it elicited a small gasp from the young boy. Spanning across three out of the four walls were glass aquariums housing a variety of golden fishes. The early afternoon light—cold and dreary it may have been—came through the window from one end of the room and reflected off of the scales of the aquatic animals flitting through crystal clear waters, making them glow like multitudes of morning stars.

Each golden fish sported full, fanning tails that trailed behind them through the water, some of them plain gold, and some, like the one that got Nathaniel's attention, had black spots dotted all over them. Mouth open, the boy pointed out an interesting fact to his mother, who entered the room after him. "Mom, look! Doesn't it look like that one has constellations on its tail?"

In reality, it probably looked just like any other fish with tail spots, but for young, bright-eyed, unendingly curious, imaginative Nathaniel, there was no mistaking the stars that dotted the lace-thin tail.

Stars that looked like…

"Pisces." His mother nodded sagely, echoing the one her son aimed her way.

In a resolute voice, Nathaniel told the shopkeeper, "I want that one, please. Thank you."

At that, the shopkeeper clapped his hands once (after spending a couple of moments squinting at the fish's dotted tail, looking for what the mother-and-son duo was talking about—in vain), declaring, "A Golden Veiltail. An excellent choice. Does a name come to mind?"

"Pisce. I'll name them Pisce."

The boy and his fish had an entire vibrant future ahead of them, starry eyes and golden-spotted tail lighting the way forward.

They just didn't know it yet.

Words: 924

What animal do you wish to purchase? Golden Veiltail
What do you want to name it? Pisce (pronounced "fish" but with a "p")
Is this a boy or a girl? Boy
What is your pet's date of birth? February 21st, 2024

Pet Granted

Look after Pisce well.