Behind the Barnyard

[Charely Potter]

As you circle around the barnyard exterior you notice a small pathway barely covered by some plants. Curiously as you wander past the vegetation and piles of the cut-up firewood you see a clearing consisting of many stumps to sit on by the circle of rocks. Sitting down you can see the creatures past the nearby Walkway. It looks as though Professor Thompson had arranged for those wanting to partake in s'mores with this setup. Just remember to behave and keep the fire inside the circle of rocks. There is a window in the barnyard out-looking this area for monitoring.

[Felixir]

It was nice to get outside, particularly when the weather was still nice to do so. And there was something about sitting by a fire on a late summer afternoon that Toby found quite appealing. So he headed to the area behind the barnyard as soon as he was done spending time with some of the magical creatures housed nearby.

There was nobody here at the moment, but it didn't matter so much to Toby. He was quite content to just exist here for a while and appreciate the outdoors and everyone.

He didn't sit on one of the stumps just yet, as he could still feel all that ENERGY built up in his legs, harder to shift than ever, so instead Toby lit the fire with his wand and some firewood, shoved his hands in his pockets and walked in a circle around it. Round and round he went, occasionally turning to walk in the opposite direction to stay equally warm on both sides, and humming a tune he made up on the spot as he went.

And then, finally, he felt quite ready to sit down. With a little smile playing on his lips, Toby took a seat on a nearby stump that was the perfect height for him. He sat and stretched his feet out on the ground towards the fire and took a moment to take in his surroundings properly.

[hermionesclone]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Felixir

It was nice to get outside, particularly when the weather was still nice to do so. And there was something about sitting by a fire on a late summer afternoon that Toby found quite appealing. So he headed to the area behind the barnyard as soon as he was done spending time with some of the magical creatures housed nearby.

There was nobody here at the moment, but it didn't matter so much to Toby. He was quite content to just exist here for a while and appreciate the outdoors and everyone.

He didn't sit on one of the stumps just yet, as he could still feel all that ENERGY built up in his legs, harder to shift than ever, so instead Toby lit the fire with his wand and some firewood, shoved his hands in his pockets and walked in a circle around it. Round and round he went, occasionally turning to walk in the opposite direction to stay equally warm on both sides, and humming a tune he made up on the spot as he went.

And then, finally, he felt quite ready to sit down. With a little smile playing on his lips, Toby took a seat on a nearby stump that was the perfect height for him. He sat and stretched his feet out on the ground towards the fire and took a moment to take in his surroundings properly.

......................... What in the name of merlin was Tobias Tempus DOING?!

Grayson, who had been strolling around the grounds and stumbled upon this bad boy of a place, stood off to one side, his head tilted and his blue eyes on the Hufflepuff. Why? Because the dude was acting strange. Was he THAT cold that he wanted to walk round and round the fireplace? He wasn't one to judge -- LOL what a lie -- but there was something about the random walking that seemed weird and he almost wondered if someone had stressed the boy out so much that he decided to play Ring-a-ring-a-rosies by himself around the fire.

And then he was seated. Perfect! Deciding that some sort of company was needed, the sixth year headed over towards the guy and quietly as he could and sat down next to him. Usual greeting? Nah! There was something about the presence of the fire that made him want to use a pun or joke of some sort but something told him that saying that Toby was bringing the heat or that he was smoking' hot wouldn't go down well. Not YET. He needed to know the dude properly.

So an alternative? He placed the tip of his index finger on his tongue and then touched Toby's shoulder. "Tsssssssssss!" Because fire.

Smart.

[Felixir]

Quote:

Originally Posted by hermionesclone

......................... What in the name of merlin was Tobias Tempus DOING?!

Grayson, who had been strolling around the grounds and stumbled upon this bad boy of a place, stood off to one side, his head tilted and his blue eyes on the Hufflepuff. Why? Because the dude was acting strange. Was he THAT cold that he wanted to walk round and round the fireplace? He wasn't one to judge -- LOL what a lie -- but there was something about the random walking that seemed weird and he almost wondered if someone had stressed the boy out so much that he decided to play Ring-a-ring-a-rosies by himself around the fire.

And then he was seated. Perfect! Deciding that some sort of company was needed, the sixth year headed over towards the guy and quietly as he could and sat down next to him. Usual greeting? Nah! There was something about the presence of the fire that made him want to use a pun or joke of some sort but something told him that saying that Toby was bringing the heat or that he was smoking' hot wouldn't go down well. Not YET. He needed to know the dude properly.

So an alternative? He placed the tip of his index finger on his tongue and then touched Toby's shoulder. "Tsssssssssss!" Because fire.

Smart.

While he'd been completely unaware of Grayson's presence until now, even Toby couldn't miss his fellow sixth year as he too approached the stumps and sat down beside him (though he continued looking around at his surroundings, not wanting to, like, stare or anything). But he'd sat BESIDE him, right? Which meant it would be cool if Toby said hi. The Hufflepuff turned to look at him just in time to see Grayson's greeting.

Tsssssssssss!

At once, Toby broke out into a laugh, because it was FUNNY if nothing else. Flattering TOO, even if it was a joke. A joke that tickled him more than was probably necessary.

"Hello to you too, Grayson," Toby grinned at the Slytherin, unable to find a suitably witty greeting to respond with. "Fancy meeting you here." What did that even mean? Did it mean anything? Shhhhhh, just roll with it, Tobes.

[hermionesclone]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Felixir

While he'd been completely unaware of Grayson's presence until now, even Toby couldn't miss his fellow sixth year as he too approached the stumps and sat down beside him (though he continued looking around at his surroundings, not wanting to, like, stare or anything). But he'd sat BESIDE him, right? Which meant it would be cool if Toby said hi. The Hufflepuff turned to look at him just in time to see Grayson's greeting.

Tsssssssssss!

At once, Toby broke out into a laugh, because it was FUNNY if nothing else. Flattering TOO, even if it was a joke. A joke that tickled him more than was probably necessary.

"Hello to you too, Grayson," Toby grinned at the Slytherin, unable to find a suitably witty greeting to respond with. "Fancy meeting you here." What did that even mean? Did it mean anything? Shhhhhh, just roll with it, Tobes.

You know what he liked? People who actually appreciated his efforts. Don't give him none of that sass if he was being nice. So when Toby laughed, Grayson couldn't help but smirk in return. Ego boosting? It kinda was. He almost wondered what would have happened if he'd have called the boy smokin' hot. Would he have had a rampaging Ravenclaw brunette hot on his heels? HMMMMM?

"'Sup, man," he said, complete with the nod and all, "You too. I didn't think many people knew about this place, what with it being kinda secluded and all." Which was GOOD because if it kept the weird ones away, he was happy. "What brings you out here?" Did he start fireplaces and dance around them often? Kinda creepy to do something like that, Tempus. Juuuust saying.

Oh. Hey! HEY. "Do you happen to have any marshmallows?" And was he willing to share?

[Felixir]

Quote:

Originally Posted by hermionesclone

You know what he liked? People who actually appreciated his efforts. Don't give him none of that sass if he was being nice. So when Toby laughed, Grayson couldn't help but smirk in return. Ego boosting? It kinda was. He almost wondered what would have happened if he'd have called the boy smokin' hot. Would he have had a rampaging Ravenclaw brunette hot on his heels? HMMMMM?

"'Sup, man," he said, complete with the nod and all, "You too. I didn't think many people knew about this place, what with it being kinda secluded and all." Which was GOOD because if it kept the weird ones away, he was happy. "What brings you out here?" Did he start fireplaces and dance around them often? Kinda creepy to do something like that, Tempus. Juuuust saying.

Oh. Hey! HEY. "Do you happen to have any marshmallows?" And was he willing to share?

Perhaps it was because he was with another human, and that always elicited smiles from the Hufflepuff, or maybe it was because he'd finally found himself in a situation where he got to properly talk and hang out with Grayson (something he'd been meaning to do for a while), but either way Toby went on grinning. He returned the 'sup' nod almost automatically, and then looked back at their surroundings as Grayson went on.

"Well, I spend a lot of time out here, visiting the animals and all, and I like to wander, so I found it pretty quick. It's real neat back here," Toby said, gesturing a hand at the place in general and then turning back to smile at Grayson. "I just came out here to... y'know... make the most of the good weather. Keeping busy. Visiting everywhere." Essentially letting his feet take him wherever they wanted to go. "And sitting by a fire outside is pretty cool, too. How about you?"

Uhhh... marshmallows? No, Toby didn't have any of those, but he found himself automatically patting his pockets to look for some anyway, as though some might appear about his person. He'd totally been intending to bring some along, too. How had he forgotten them?

"I don't. I've got chocolate, but no marshmallows." He looked around. This whole place was totally set up for making s'mores... would there perhaps be some around here? Orrrr... "I have some in my dorm. I could summon them?" Didn't want to let anyone down, here. Also... now he really wanted some marshmallows too.

[hermionesclone]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Felixir

Perhaps it was because he was with another human, and that always elicited smiles from the Hufflepuff, or maybe it was because he'd finally found himself in a situation where he got to properly talk and hang out with Grayson (something he'd been meaning to do for a while), but either way Toby went on grinning. He returned the 'sup' nod almost automatically, and then looked back at their surroundings as Grayson went on.

"Well, I spend a lot of time out here, visiting the animals and all, and I like to wander, so I found it pretty quick. It's real neat back here," Toby said, gesturing a hand at the place in general and then turning back to smile at Grayson. "I just came out here to... y'know... make the most of the good weather. Keeping busy. Visiting everywhere." Essentially letting his feet take him wherever they wanted to go. "And sitting by a fire outside is pretty cool, too. How about you?"

Uhhh... marshmallows? No, Toby didn't have any of those, but he found himself automatically patting his pockets to look for some anyway, as though some might appear about his person. He'd totally been intending to bring some along, too. How had he forgotten them?

"I don't. I've got chocolate, but no marshmallows." He looked around. This whole place was totally set up for making s'mores... would there perhaps be some around here? Orrrr... "I have some in my dorm. I could summon them?" Didn't want to let anyone down, here. Also... now he really wanted some marshmallows too.

Hufflepuffs were kinda weird and Grayson didn't understand them. Most of them. Why were they so happy when the world was such an awful place? And didn't it get exhausting?! But even so, it was hard not to smile back at the fellow sixth year soooooo smiles for you, Tobias, who was cool enough to return the 'sup nod.

Lulz. To make the most of the good weather. "You're dead right about that. We get some freaking ridiculous weather in this country." They complained a lot too but details. "Pretty much the same, I guess. Being cooped up inside for so long drives me crazy. Hate it. Figured I'd make the most of having some free time before the madness begins." Here's hoping that his mum didn't badger him about school this year. "You've known about this place for long, then?"

He was gonna summon them.

He was gonna summon food for him.

"You would do that for me?" They hardly even knew each other and here he was, offering food as if they were best buds. Maybe he was wrong about Hufflepuffs.

If only the house elves did deliveries. Or, you know, Pizza Hut.

[Felixir]

Quote:

Originally Posted by hermionesclone

Hufflepuffs were kinda weird and Grayson didn't understand them. Most of them. Why were they so happy when the world was such an awful place? And didn't it get exhausting?! But even so, it was hard not to smile back at the fellow sixth year soooooo smiles for you, Tobias, who was cool enough to return the 'sup nod.

Lulz. To make the most of the good weather. "You're dead right about that. We get some freaking ridiculous weather in this country." They complained a lot too but details. "Pretty much the same, I guess. Being cooped up inside for so long drives me crazy. Hate it. Figured I'd make the most of having some free time before the madness begins." Here's hoping that his mum didn't badger him about school this year. "You've known about this place for long, then?"

He was gonna summon them.

He was gonna summon food for him.

"You would do that for me?" They hardly even knew each other and here he was, offering food as if they were best buds. Maybe he was wrong about Hufflepuffs.

If only the house elves did deliveries. Or, you know, Pizza Hut.

Being cooped up inside for so long drives me crazy.

"I know exactly what you mean," Toby nodded, giving an odd little shiver at a CERTAIN MEMORY. "D'you remember a couple of terms ago? Getting snowed in? Nightmare. I think that year made me go crazy." BLEH. What a term. WHAT a term. That had been a tough one for Toby, especially what with timing from other things and stuff. 'Things and stuff'. There was a term Airey would straight up twitch if he heard him say it. "Uh-huh. 'Bout a year, maybe more. I can't remember exactly, I just know I like it here." Grin.

Oh hey, Toby was going to take that as Grayson saying he DID want the marshmallows. Toby only grinned wider and got his wand from his holster.

"'Course I would. I mean, sitting by a fire is made infinitely better when you have marshmallows, right? And I'm always up for sharing. Accio Marshmallows." After addressing Grayson, Toby waved his wand to summon the snacks, focusing on the ones in his dormitory lest his magic got confused and tried to nab a bunch from the hands of a poor unsuspecting house elf. No. Just his own, please.

Which he waited for them to fly at him (how long would it take? They'd just have to wait and see), Toby tucked his wand away again and looked back at at Gray...son. Grayson. Was he allowed to call him Gray? Even just in his head? Toby avoided it just in case he WASN'T allowed. Nicknames could be tricky, 'cause you never knew if the person would like them or not when you just said them in your head.

"Shouldn't take too long. I've summoned from this far before and it's always worked." He smiled again and looked back to the fire, his feet tapping automatically against the dirt underfoot. "This is cool." Sitting by the fire with a potential new friend? Cool. Well... warm. But cool too.