SSRP: Meetings Between Huts

[hpluvr037]

Alistaire knew the new Care of Magical Creatures professor was moving in today. He had to admit he was curious. Honestly, he'd never really interacted with the previous holder of the job, though they lived near each other. But this time, now that he had a year under his kilt and could offer some assistance, he was going to make the first move. If you want to gain a friend, you have to be a friend, right?

The Groundskeeper made his way across the lawns, stooping to pick a few stray weeds as he strolled. Nearing his colleague's hut, he heard noises. "Ah, the unmistakable sounds o' moving in," he said with a partial sigh. Had it really already been a year since he had done so himself?

A long length of brown hair met his view when he first spotted her. The Scot cleared his throat so he wouldn't startle her. "Hullo there! Nice ter finally meet yeh!" he said jovially. Hand stuck out, he introduced himself. "The name's Alistaire Firth, or jus' Ali if yeh'd like, but not Al."

[Anna Banana]

Text Cut: hpluvr037

Quote:

Originally Posted by hpluvr037

Alistaire knew the new Care of Magical Creatures professor was moving in today. He had to admit he was curious. Honestly, he'd never really interacted with the previous holder of the job, though they lived near each other. But this time, now that he had a year under his kilt and could offer some assistance, he was going to make the first move. If you want to gain a friend, you have to be a friend, right?

The Groundskeeper made his way across the lawns, stooping to pick a few stray weeds as he strolled. Nearing his colleague's hut, he heard noises. "Ah, the unmistakable sounds o' moving in," he said with a partial sigh. Had it really already been a year since he had done so himself?

A long length of brown hair met his view when he first spotted her. The Scot cleared his throat so he wouldn't startle her. "Hullo there! Nice ter finally meet yeh!" he said jovially. Hand stuck out, he introduced himself. "The name's Alistaire Firth, or jus' Ali if yeh'd like, but not Al."

Peyton Barlow drew in a deep sigh then released it slowly, causing her bangs to ruffle slightly. She swept a lock of hair out of her face then aimed her wand at the next big box. She'd been at this for hours and was just now approaching the point of being halfway through. Even with magic, moving in was taking forever.

...but she'd wanted this, and she wasn't regretting a single second of it.

She guided the box inside the open door of the hut then swirled around to retrieve the next one. WHOA. Hello, hot guy at six o'clock. She blinked, and may have been wide-eyed for a single second, before clearing her throat and offering her best smile. "Err.., oh, right. Not Al. Ali, it is," she said, and extended her hand, as well. She surely wasn't going to call him Mr. Firth. She only slightly wondered who this man was before extending her own hand, as well. "I'm Peyton Barlow, Care of Magical Creatures professor." She finished the shake then, with a slight wondering look, added, "I'm sorry, are you...part of the staff here, too?"

He wasn't just some random wanderer who'd wound up on the grounds, was he?

[hpluvr037]

Text Cut: Anna Banana

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anna Banana

Peyton Barlow drew in a deep sigh then released it slowly, causing her bangs to ruffle slightly. She swept a lock of hair out of her face then aimed her wand at the next big box. She'd been at this for hours and was just now approaching the point of being halfway through. Even with magic, moving in was taking forever.

...but she'd wanted this, and she wasn't regretting a single second of it.

She guided the box inside the open door of the hut then swirled around to retrieve the next one. WHOA. Hello, hot guy at six o'clock. She blinked, and may have been wide-eyed for a single second, before clearing her throat and offering her best smile. "Err.., oh, right. Not Al. Ali, it is," she said, and extended her hand, as well. She surely wasn't going to call him Mr. Firth. She only slightly wondered who this man was before extending her own hand, as well. "I'm Peyton Barlow, Care of Magical Creatures professor." She finished the shake then, with a slight wondering look, added, "I'm sorry, are you...part of the staff here, too?"

He wasn't just some random wanderer who'd wound up on the grounds, was he?

He smiled, pleased that she seemed to have caught on quickly. He really didn't like being called Al. REALLY. He let go of her hand and stuck his hands in his pocket casually. "Peyton." He mulled for a moment. "Good solid English name, tha' is."

His hand smacked his forehead. "Oh I'm so sorry. Yes, I'm th' Groundskeeper here." He pointed back over his shoulder. "M' hut's over there a ways, along with Broc an' Bonny." He paused. "Oh, sorry, I keep forgettin' yeh don' know. Broc an' Bonny are my pets. They're highland cattle."

"So yeh need anything for yer move?" he asked politely. He could always make a run into Hogsmeade for her if need be.

[Anna Banana]

Peyton was still trying to recover from the sudden presence of a very hot, mysterious man, when he started talking again--her name, specifically. "Well, I am from Hampshire," she pointed out, "but I live in Scotland now." ...and after she'd said that, she remembered that she still really didn't know who this man was. Who had she just revealed her personal information to anyway?

Then he smacked himself on the forehead, leaving her only further confused. Who was this mysterious man?

"The Groundskeeper," she said with a smile. So he would be around more often. Oh, and he lived here on the grounds, too! "I guess we're neighbors then." She turned and gave a quick glance around the part of the ground she could see. "Looks good," she complimented. She turned in the direction of his hut--and pets, and nodded. "I see. I used to work with my cattle myself--mooncalves." Not quite highland cattle, but it was something they somewhat had in common.

"I don't think I need anything, but if you want to stick around, I could use the company," she said, and on that note, she used her wand to lift yet another box.

[hpluvr037]

Text Cut: Peyton

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anna Banana

Peyton was still trying to recover from the sudden presence of a very hot, mysterious man, when he started talking again--her name, specifically. "Well, I am from Hampshire," she pointed out, "but I live in Scotland now." ...and after she'd said that, she remembered that she still really didn't know who this man was. Who had she just revealed her personal information to anyway?

Then he smacked himself on the forehead, leaving her only further confused. Who was this mysterious man?

"The Groundskeeper," she said with a smile. So he would be around more often. Oh, and he lived here on the grounds, too! "I guess we're neighbors then." She turned and gave a quick glance around the part of the ground she could see. "Looks good," she complimented. She turned in the direction of his hut--and pets, and nodded. "I see. I used to work with my cattle myself--mooncalves." Not quite highland cattle, but it was something they somewhat had in common.

"I don't think I need anything, but if you want to stick around, I could use the company," she said, and on that note, she used her wand to lift yet another box.

"Hampshire, eh? Beau'iful part o' the country down there, especially by th' Channel," he said, nodding sagely. But all further thoughts of southern England were driven from his mind at the mention of Scotland. "I'm Scottish, yeh know!" he said with a bit more enthusiasm than was strictly necessary for a grown man. "I hail from the Highlands, currently up by Inverness. When I'm no' a' Hogwarts, tha' is, o' course." His brogue became thicker and thicker the more he thought about the country. "I could go on fer hours abou' Scotland, bu' yeh obviously have be'er things ter be gettin' on with." He gestured towards all her belongings with a knowing wink.

"At yer service," he said with a bow. "Alistaire Fergus Douglas Firth, Keeper of Keys an' Grounds at Hogwarts. But yes, most people just refer to me as The Groundskeeper." Clearly the better option, as the title he'd just given was far too long--and too formal--for his taste. "Indeed we are," he said in her comment about being neighbors. He was glad she had put that together so fast. Newlin never seemed to have caught on. "Mooncalves, eh? I've never really understood the creatures much, hones'ly." But she sounded like an expert, which gave him an idea.

His thoughts very much with his female pet, he decided it couldn't hurt to at least ask. "Say, one o' my cattle--Bonny--is actually getting abou' ready ter give birth. Yeh wouldn' have any interest in helpin' out with the delivery, would yeh?" He had no idea if she was into that type of thing. "An' if not, yeh're always welcome ter visit afterwards." There, she had an out in case she was one of those 'I hate blood' types of women.

So she didn't need help, but he was just as good at providing company as the next guy. Or so he hoped, at least. "Can I a' least bring yeh some o' my world famous iced tea?" he asked, gazing up at the hot summer sun. "Alrigh' i's not world famous, but I do make all my own mixtures an' I must say I had a good do on this batch."

[Anna Banana]

Text Cut: hpluvr037

Quote:

Originally Posted by hpluvr037

"Hampshire, eh? Beau'iful part o' the country down there, especially by th' Channel," he said, nodding sagely. But all further thoughts of southern England were driven from his mind at the mention of Scotland. "I'm Scottish, yeh know!" he said with a bit more enthusiasm than was strictly necessary for a grown man. "I hail from the Highlands, currently up by Inverness. When I'm no' a' Hogwarts, tha' is, o' course." His brogue became thicker and thicker the more he thought about the country. "I could go on fer hours abou' Scotland, bu' yeh obviously have be'er things ter be gettin' on with." He gestured towards all her belongings with a knowing wink.

"At yer service," he said with a bow. "Alistaire Fergus Douglas Firth, Keeper of Keys an' Grounds at Hogwarts. But yes, most people just refer to me as The Groundskeeper." Clearly the better option, as the title he'd just given was far too long--and too formal--for his taste. "Indeed we are," he said in her comment about being neighbors. He was glad she had put that together so fast. Newlin never seemed to have caught on. "Mooncalves, eh? I've never really understood the creatures much, hones'ly." But she sounded like an expert, which gave him an idea.

His thoughts very much with his female pet, he decided it couldn't hurt to at least ask. "Say, one o' my cattle--Bonny--is actually getting abou' ready ter give birth. Yeh wouldn' have any interest in helpin' out with the delivery, would yeh?" He had no idea if she was into that type of thing. "An' if not, yeh're always welcome ter visit afterwards." There, she had an out in case she was one of those 'I hate blood' types of women.

So she didn't need help, but he was just as good at providing company as the next guy. Or so he hoped, at least. "Can I a' least bring yeh some o' my world famous iced tea?" he asked, gazing up at the hot summer sun. "Alrigh' i's not world famous, but I do make all my own mixtures an' I must say I had a good do on this batch."

"Oh, so you're familiar with Hampshire?" Peyton said, brightening considerably. He was so excited about his native Scotland, but Peyton had to add in just one more detail. "Well, I lived in Nottinghamshire before I moved to Scotland. That's where I worked, at a mooncalf and unicorn reserve and harvesting center." She wondered how he'd take the harvesting part, but she could easily explain. Peyton didn't harm any animals or plants when she harvested, especially at the Center she'd worked at. After all, there wasn't much danger in gathering dung and magically removing the hair from a unicorn's mane.

She guided a box just inside an open doorway then turned to give her attention to the next box. "No, no," she said, "you can tell me all about Scotland, if you'd like. I'm new to the area, so it might do me some good. Of course I live in a village--Hogsmeade." He'd know all about Hogsmeade. She raised her eyebrows at the sound of his name--his very long name. "That's a lot of names," she said with a grin. "Good thing I've decided to stick with Ali."

Then he started talking creatures, which got even more of her attention, and she guided the box she was moving into the doorway then stowed away her wand. "Oh, Ali, I'd love to help with the delivery," she said. She shrugged a little then added, "I did that sort of thing all the time at the Center." She looked in the direction of the cattle but didn't really see anything from her current angle. "Iced tea? Yeah, that sounds great," she said.

[hpluvr037]

Text Cut: Peyton

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anna Banana

"Oh, so you're familiar with Hampshire?" Peyton said, brightening considerably. He was so excited about his native Scotland, but Peyton had to add in just one more detail. "Well, I lived in Nottinghamshire before I moved to Scotland. That's where I worked, at a mooncalf and unicorn reserve and harvesting center." She wondered how he'd take the harvesting part, but she could easily explain. Peyton didn't harm any animals or plants when she harvested, especially at the Center she'd worked at. After all, there wasn't much danger in gathering dung and magically removing the hair from a unicorn's mane.

She guided a box just inside an open doorway then turned to give her attention to the next box. "No, no," she said, "you can tell me all about Scotland, if you'd like. I'm new to the area, so it might do me some good. Of course I live in a village--Hogsmeade." He'd know all about Hogsmeade. She raised her eyebrows at the sound of his name--his very long name. "That's a lot of names," she said with a grin. "Good thing I've decided to stick with Ali."

Then he started talking creatures, which got even more of her attention, and she guided the box she was moving into the doorway then stowed away her wand. "Oh, Ali, I'd love to help with the delivery," she said. She shrugged a little then added, "I did that sort of thing all the time at the Center." She looked in the direction of the cattle but didn't really see anything from her current angle. "Iced tea? Yeah, that sounds great," she said.

He nodded, smiling. "That I am. Spent some time there on holiday a few years back." He had never been to Nottinghamshire, but he was sure that was just as wonderful. "Besides tha' holiday, the furthest south in England I've been is roundabouts York. Bu' I have heard o' the reserve down there." He wasn't quite sure how he felt about that 'harvesting' bit, but he decided not to ask. No need to get into a disagreement five minutes after we've met. Bad start to the year, that would be.

Excited, he opened his mouth to start waxing eloquent about the wonders of this country. Then his brother's voice cam unbidden to his head: No one wants to hear that, Al. A small frown crossed his face as he remembered what Ciaran had said. When would memories of him stop causing so much pain?

Attempting to smooth the creases from his forehead, he consciously relaxed his face. However, he had missed much of what Peyton had just said when he was consumed in his brooding. As a result, he merely nodded when she finished, hoping she wouldn't deduce that his thought had not been with her. He resumed the flow of conversation where he had come back in. "Eh, yes, but only one more'n mos' people have. Bu' fer the record, 'm glad yeh're sticking with Ali as well." The man allowed a small grin to creep onto his features.

Oh, some help! That would be.. helpful, for lack of a better term. "Excellent! I hope i' doesn' interfere with yer classes a' all, but if i's at the same time, yeh're always welcome ter bring them over an' watch. Actually, that could be fairly educational, come ter think of it..." Yes, the idea had merit. Perhaps she would agree?

"I'll let yeh think on that while I fetch us some tea, eh? I' won't take me but five minutes." He turned and retreated from her view. After the promised five minutes, he cam tramping back into view with two large Irn-Bru bottles full of tea. "Back with th' tea!" he called out ahead of himself.

[Anna Banana]

Text Cut: hpluvr037

Quote:

Originally Posted by hpluvr037

He nodded, smiling. "That I am. Spent some time there on holiday a few years back." He had never been to Nottinghamshire, but he was sure that was just as wonderful. "Besides tha' holiday, the furthest south in England I've been is roundabouts York. Bu' I have heard o' the reserve down there." He wasn't quite sure how he felt about that 'harvesting' bit, but he decided not to ask. No need to get into a disagreement five minutes after we've met. Bad start to the year, that would be.

Excited, he opened his mouth to start waxing eloquent about the wonders of this country. Then his brother's voice cam unbidden to his head: No one wants to hear that, Al. A small frown crossed his face as he remembered what Ciaran had said. When would memories of him stop causing so much pain?

Attempting to smooth the creases from his forehead, he consciously relaxed his face. However, he had missed much of what Peyton had just said when he was consumed in his brooding. As a result, he merely nodded when she finished, hoping she wouldn't deduce that his thought had not been with her. He resumed the flow of conversation where he had come back in. "Eh, yes, but only one more'n mos' people have. Bu' fer the record, 'm glad yeh're sticking with Ali as well." The man allowed a small grin to creep onto his features.

Oh, some help! That would be.. helpful, for lack of a better term. "Excellent! I hope i' doesn' interfere with yer classes a' all, but if i's at the same time, yeh're always welcome ter bring them over an' watch. Actually, that could be fairly educational, come ter think of it..." Yes, the idea had merit. Perhaps she would agree?

"I'll let yeh think on that while I fetch us some tea, eh? I' won't take me but five minutes." He turned and retreated from her view. After the promised five minutes, he cam tramping back into view with two large Irn-Bru bottles full of tea. "Back with th' tea!" he called out ahead of himself.

There was a point in their conversation when Peyton sensed Ali had sort of drifted away, but it was pointless to say anything about it. After all, they'd just met five minutes ago. They were barely colleagues and possibly weren't even what someone would call 'friends' yet. Besides, the conversation had shifted by this point anyway.

Before she could say anything else, he'd disappeared from view and come back a few minutes later with tea in hand. "Thank you," she said, giving him one of her smiles. She sipped on the tea then leaned against the side of a few stacked boxes while she thought about what he'd said.

"So your cattle's going to mom and dad, hmm?" she said. That sort of made her think of Sadie, but she decided to wipe the memory from her mind for the time being. "I think we could spend some time there, yeah. Maybe I could introduce the concept of assisting with a creature's birth? I've done it plently of times at the Center. What can you tell me about their birth anyway?" ...because each creature needed different types of care during the birthing process.

[hpluvr037]

Text Cut: Peyton

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anna Banana

There was a point in their conversation when Peyton sensed Ali had sort of drifted away, but it was pointless to say anything about it. After all, they'd just met five minutes ago. They were barely colleagues and possibly weren't even what someone would call 'friends' yet. Besides, the conversation had shifted by this point anyway.

Before she could say anything else, he'd disappeared from view and come back a few minutes later with tea in hand. "Thank you," she said, giving him one of her smiles. She sipped on the tea then leaned against the side of a few stacked boxes while she thought about what he'd said.

"So your cattle's going to mom and dad, hmm?" she said. That sort of made her think of Sadie, but she decided to wipe the memory from her mind for the time being. "I think we could spend some time there, yeah. Maybe I could introduce the concept of assisting with a creature's birth? I've done it plently of times at the Center. What can you tell me about their birth anyway?" ...because each creature needed different types of care during the birthing process.

"Yeh're welcome," he said as he handed her the mug. A cold beverage was always welcome on a hot summer's day.

Firth nodded. "Tha' they are. Firs' time fer both of 'em, far as I can tell." Plus his grandfather hadn't ever mentioned them having young before. "Tha' sounds excellent! After all, if yeh're going ter keep magical creatures fer pets, or any creatures fer that matter, yeh have ter expect this will happen eventually." Whether it be with a personal pet or a friend's, animals would always give birth. Especially rabbits. "Well, I can' really tell yeh much righ' now, but I have a book on owl order tha' should help. I expect it ter be here any day now."

Had he taken up enough of her time? Probably. "I'll let yeh know when she's gettin' close. I'm glad tha's settled. Should be educational fer the kids!" Educational and gross, no doubt. He could think of a few students that would not be happy for such a practical lesson.

"Bu' I've taken enough o' yer time. I'm sure yeh want ter be gettin' on with the unpacking." Even if it was a difficult chore. "Jus' bring that cup back over whenever yeh want. No rush." But if she cleaned it first, he wouldn't protest. "I's been nice meetin' yeh, Peyton. Good luck with yer firs' year an' let me know if yeh need anything!"