Grounds: The Topiary Garden

[Wilber Winterbottom]

The Topiary Garden is home to creatures both magical and mundane. From Hippogriffs to rabbits and everything in between, these figures have been trimmed from specially selected plants to provide a relaxing environment for you.

Take a seat on the grass or perhaps on one of the polished, wooden benches and inhale the crisp freshness of the air. More often than not, you may find yourself being distracted by a topiary as it waves to you or it randomly scratched its nose. Once in a while, they may even resort to performing a small hilarious act if they are not receiving enough attention. Professor Khanna asks that you refrain from interacting roughly with the topiaries. None would want a broken wing or a twisted paw.


OOC: The topiaries are charmed to move about, however their actions wouldn’t be anything over the top. There will be no attacking the students and professors or dragons breathing fire. You are free to RP for the topiaries as well as to decide what sort of creatures live in the garden!

[Nordic Witch]

JT was now a third year, and his favourite spot so far on the grounds was by far the Topiary Garden. It provided him with interesing topiaries to look at, fresh air, and of course some escape from the hustle, and bustle of the castle. JT liked being in the thick of things where stuff happened, but he also valued some alone time every now and then. This gangly boy with blondish hair and snake robes walked aimlessly around in the garden untill he found this days right spot to sit at. He began smiling from ear at the sight of a topiary that depicted what JT believed was a swedish short snout dragon, breathing fire.

This was today's right JT hummed to himself as he took a seat on one of the shaded benches opposite the topiary. He should probably start on his charms or transfiguration homework, but right now he just wanted to draw. Taking out a blank parchment JT began doddling on the page peering up at the topiary every so often to see how it looked.

[sweetpinkpixie]

Iris had heard about the topiary garden from older students, but this was the first time she’d found the time and motivation to wander in on her own. It was quiet here, save for the occasional brustle of branches and leaves as the topiary moved, and the cool air brushed her cheeks as she walked along the stone paths, her notebook tucked under her arm but ready to whip out should the opportunity present itself. The trees surrounding the garden were tall and spindly, with various shapes of hedges and bushes sculpted into fantastic creatures. Some looked like ordinary animals (rabbits, foxes) but others were more peculiar, like a peacock whose tail was splayed out in intricate curls of green. Iris marveled at the artistic detail as her gaze lingered on a particularly large topiary that seemed to be a stag, the antlers twisting and reaching high into the air. She jotted a few quick notes in her notebook, considered how much Nyle must positively adore this place, then glanced around to see if there were any more unusual pieces she hadn’t yet spotted.

Instead she spotted another magnificent creature.

Iris blinked, eyes widening behind her glasses when she heard TJ humming quietly among all the flora, his lanky figure almost blending in with the shadows of the trees. It was hard to miss him, though - his blond hair practically glowed in the soft afternoon sunlight, and his robes billowed slightly in the breeze.

“TJ, hi!” Iris smiled brightly, stepping closer. “I didn’t know this place was so popular.” She peered over a bit to try and sneak a peek at his piece of parchment. "What are you working on?"

[Nordic Witch]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie

Instead she spotted another magnificent creature.

Iris blinked, eyes widening behind her glasses when she heard TJ humming quietly among all the flora, his lanky figure almost blending in with the shadows of the trees. It was hard to miss him, though - his blond hair practically glowed in the soft afternoon sunlight, and his robes billowed slightly in the breeze.

“TJ, hi!” Iris smiled brightly, stepping closer. “I didn’t know this place was so popular.” She peered over a bit to try and sneak a peek at his piece of parchment. "What are you working on?"

Doodling on his parchment JT hummed to himself in slight frustration as he for the 6th time erased the dragon's eyes, and right wing and tried sketching them again. He just couldn't get them drawn exactly right like he wanted them to be. It was irritating. Luckily though he was distracted by the approaching appearance of the blonde glassy eyed fairy girl of his dreams.

Putting down his quill to not accidently draw a cross over his dragons tail he smiled warmly from ear to ear up at his ravenclaw peer. "Oh hi Iris," Looking around the garden JT nodded in agreement with her statement. "It is popular. I come out here as often as I can when I want some quiet time to draw or study. Some topiaries appear more popular than others to sit under though. By the phoenix over there I just saw some girls wrestle to get sitting space on the bench." He said with a hand gesture to the phoenix topiary. Which in JT's mind was completley idiotic, but he wasn't going to say that to Iris.

Gaze looking down at his dragon drawing JT suddenly got very nervous as he raised it up for Iris to look at. "I'm working on a drawing of the topiary dragon...nothing special." he mumbled out. Please don't laugh.

[sweetpinkpixie]

Iris quirked a brow and scrunched her face as though she had just eaten something incredibly sour. "Wrestling? Over a bench of all things? Sounds a bit extreme for some quiet time where there are plenty of other reasonable and comfortable options, but I guess simply cannot resist a good phoenix topiary," she shrugged, having no problem whatsoever sharing her opinion on the subject. "I personally prefer something a little more... secluded and less open," she said, glancing around the garden with a playful smile. Somewhere like the library or her favorite chair in the Ravenclaw common room. Her freckled features couldn't exactly stand too much direct sunlight either but she supposed if she came out here after completing a proper skincare routine it would be quite nice. "I can see why you come out here though...it’s very peaceful and even more beautiful." ris looked up at him through her thin rimmed glasses with a small, thoughtful smile. "You’ve got good taste, even if there isn't a single bookcase in sight out here."

Iris leaned over a bit more, completely invading his personal bubble, so she could get a better look at his drawing and smiled brightly, immediately, as she took in the dragon sketch. "Wow, JT, that’s really impressive!" she chirped, her eyes lighting up with genuine admiration. "I can see what you’re trying to do with the eyes and wings. Dragons are tricky to get just right, especially with all added intricacies of the leaves and branches topiary shapes demand." She peered a bit closer still, examining the sketch with an almost scholarly focus, her fingers lightly brushing over the parchment as she adjusted her glasses. "The shape of the wings looks good, but maybe try softening the edges a little, like your capturing the light bouncing off the leaves instead of harsh afternoon shadows. It might add a smidgen more personality."

Unsolicited critiquing, as she did so often do, her words were light and cheerful and meant to serve as encouragement from one artist to another. There was something about the warmth in his smile, the easy way he spoke, that made her feel more comfortable in his company than she often did with others and soften her feedback to be a little less direct. She pushed whatever this je ne sais quoi was aside, but it lingered, like a strange little knot she didn’t have the words for in the back of her thoughts.

"You're really gifted, in case you didn't know or if Professor Rook doesn't say it enough," she added, her eyes and smile bright with the kind of sincere enthusiasm she reserved for subjects she really cared about - like magical theory, ancient runes... and apparently, the intricate art of dragon topiary drawing. Iris had considered adding Art to her schedule, but it had meant sacrificing one of her language classes and she just was not willing to do that just yet and she still needed to work out how she could fit Troll into it first.

[Nordic Witch]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie

Iris quirked a brow and scrunched her face as though she had just eaten something incredibly sour. "Wrestling? Over a bench of all things? Sounds a bit extreme for some quiet time where there are plenty of other reasonable and comfortable options, but I guess simply cannot resist a good phoenix topiary," she shrugged, having no problem whatsoever sharing her opinion on the subject. "I personally prefer something a little more... secluded and less open," she said, glancing around the garden with a playful smile. Somewhere like the library or her favorite chair in the Ravenclaw common room. Her freckled features couldn't exactly stand too much direct sunlight either but she supposed if she came out here after completing a proper skincare routine it would be quite nice. "I can see why you come out here though...it’s very peaceful and even more beautiful." ris looked up at him through her thin rimmed glasses with a small, thoughtful smile. "You’ve got good taste, even if there isn't a single bookcase in sight out here."

Iris leaned over a bit more, completely invading his personal bubble, so she could get a better look at his drawing and smiled brightly, immediately, as she took in the dragon sketch. "Wow, JT, that’s really impressive!" she chirped, her eyes lighting up with genuine admiration. "I can see what you’re trying to do with the eyes and wings. Dragons are tricky to get just right, especially with all added intricacies of the leaves and branches topiary shapes demand." She peered a bit closer still, examining the sketch with an almost scholarly focus, her fingers lightly brushing over the parchment as she adjusted her glasses. "The shape of the wings looks good, but maybe try softening the edges a little, like your capturing the light bouncing off the leaves instead of harsh afternoon shadows. It might add a smidgen more personality."

Unsolicited critiquing, as she did so often do, her words were light and cheerful and meant to serve as encouragement from one artist to another. There was something about the warmth in his smile, the easy way he spoke, that made her feel more comfortable in his company than she often did with others and soften her feedback to be a little less direct. She pushed whatever this je ne sais quoi was aside, but it lingered, like a strange little knot she didn’t have the words for in the back of her thoughts.

"You're really gifted, in case you didn't know or if Professor Rook doesn't say it enough," she added, her eyes and smile bright with the kind of sincere enthusiasm she reserved for subjects she really cared about - like magical theory, ancient runes... and apparently, the intricate art of dragon topiary drawing. Iris had considered adding Art to her schedule, but it had meant sacrificing one of her language classes and she just was not willing to do that just yet and she still needed to work out how she could fit Troll into it first.

Still smiling JT shook his head as he darted a glance over at the students under the phoenix topiary again before focusing soley on Iris. "I totally positively agree with you. It's way too extreme to wrestle over a bench of all things when there are plenty of other ones to go around in the garden, but some are a bit bullheaded."It still amazed him what length's other students could go to get what they wanted in just that moment.

"So one of you're favourite places in the castle must the library then?" JT wondered, fairly sure that he was right. It fit all Iris needs of it being less open, more secluded and with books. "But I do have some books with me," JT pointed out as he grabbed his satchel, and opened it showing her both school books, and some other tomes for leisure reading. "Have you read the dragon rider series?"

JT couldn't help it, but he stopped breathing for just a second when Iris invaded his personal bubble to give his dragon drawing a better analyzing look. Refilling his lungs with oxygen again, he coughed several times, eyes watering too before murmuring with happiness and some pride too in his eyes and voice. "Thanks, Iris. Really? I just draw for fun. I shall try giving the dragon more personality though, he deserves it."

"Professor Rook? But I haven't showed her any of my drawings. I haven't dared to. I do love going to Professor Rook's art classes though. Why don't you go to art class Iris?" JT had wondered that for a bit but not asked until now since she seemed to be a gifted drawer.

[sweetpinkpixie]

Her gaze drifted over towards the phoenix topiary in the distance, a quiet frown tugged at the corners of her lips. "I guess some people just want to feel like they’ve won... even if it’s over something small." She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear again, almost absentmindedly, as her mind wandered to the idea of conflict in general as well as how often she would bulldoze her way through debates and fights between herself and her brother. In that sense, she could understand why two girls - friends, she assumed - might bicker over something as irrelevant as a bench. Her parents, both skilled healers, had taught her and Nyle from an early age the importance of empathy, kindness, and the power of words over wands - and words were often exchanged, sometimes with her oversaturating the conversation to smother Nyle into submission.

"Absolutely. The library is positively heavenly!" she exclaimed, stretching her arms up into the rays of sunshine warming the garden. Iris’s eyes brightened when JT mentioned the Dragon Rider series, her thoughts immediately flickering back to when she first read it some odd years ago. "I read that series when I was about... eight, I think? It was definitely a fun read back then. The dragons, the adventure, the bond between the Rider and the dragon...it was all very captivating." She glanced at JT’s satchel for a moment, a quiet flicker of curiosity in her expression, before continuing in a soft but sincere voice. "I remember really admiring Sapphire was such a strong and amazing character...way more than a sidekick and her wisdom and the way her loyalty manifested thanks to her close bond with Firedrake...I really admired it." Her smile softened as she recalled the themes of friendship, courage, and the fight against dark forces. "But... I don’t think I’d call it a favorite now. It’s a little more... childlike than I tend to go for these days. I prefer something a bit more layered." She paused, tilting her head as her thoughts shifted to other series she had read more recently. "There’s The Chronicles of Prydain, which I read those last summer or so. Also with incredible world-building but much darker themes. The way it delves into destiny and the price of heroism...it really stuck with me."

Iris removed her glasses for a moment to clean the lenses with the hem of her shirt and slipped them back on, her fingers lingering on the tops of her ears just a moment longer than necessary, trying to distract herself from the slight flutter in her chest. She gave a small, amused shake of her head at his question, though the soft flush that crept onto her freckled cheeks didn’t quite match her confident tone. "I’ve thought about it... but, honestly, I’m more of a practical artist than a creative one, if that makes sense? Diagrams, rune carvings, sketches of magical constructs... that sort of thing." She gave a shrug, her voice light as she spoke, but there was an underlying fondness in her words. "I think I might leave the more free-flowing art to people like you who actually, you know, enjoy it." Her gaze flickered to the satchel he had pulled out, noticing the books he was carrying with an almost instinctual interest, her focus softening slightly as she admired the titles. "Besides, Nyle’s the artist in the family," she added, her voice quiet, though the words held a kind of affection in spite of the slightly agitated undertone. "It’s easier to let him have his space to create. Plus, he’s got a way of making art feel... alive in a way that I just can’t. If you get the chance to see his work during Art classes, I’m sure you’d see what I mean ー but just don't tell him I said all these nice things about him."

Iris smiled faintly, trying to push away the briefest flicker of memory, the taste of cinnamon from a cozy morning in the living as she and Nyle sat side by side, sketching in their own little worlds. His, of course, a vibrant landscape full of life and energy, while her own was a more subdued, intricate piece, like a researcher documenting artifacts for future study. The warmth of that moment lingered just on the edge of her senses, a taste so clear she almost didn’t notice how it softened the tension in her chest. She tilted her head as she looked back at JT, her expression both playful and sincere, the softness of her gaze betraying something more. "I think my real art is in words and runic complexities. And, besides, I'm still working on fitting Troll into my schedule so I have all the language classes slotted. Art has no choice but to take a backseat. But you," she said, lifting her gaze to make absolutely sure she had captured JT's gaze, "should absolutely show your work to Professor Rook."