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The balcony located on the fourth floor is one of the few balconies in the castle. In an opening along the corridor, on the opposite side of the castle from the library, is where you can find this particular balcony. If you ever need a break from doing that lengthy Arithmancy homework or need a place to relax with a friend, this balcony is a great place to get a few minutes of fresh air before getting back to work again.
You will notice that you are approaching the balcony when you can feel a slight change in temperature. During the autumn and spring seasons, the breezes that come through this opening are inviting. The winter months, however, bring forth a chill, even with the nearby torches being lit. No matter the temperature, the fourth-floor balcony always provides some of the most breathtaking sights of the grounds below and mountains beyond as well as a clear view of the Whomping Willow in all of her glory. Keep note that it does get a little wet here when it rains, so make sure you conjure an umbrella.
Brandon had just received the first 'care package' of his life. Of course, it was from his stepmother. There were five people in his family- 1. Brandon, who wouldn't send himself a care package. 2. His father, who had never pretended to care about him. 3. his little brother, who was too young to understand care packages. 4. his sister, who sent him presents whenever she felt like it and almost never as a group. And 5. Megan. He didn't know why she insisted on sending him things when he tried not to talk to her...
...But he had to admit that she knew what he liked.
In his present, she'd included a chess magazine so he could play out famous historic games just by himself. That wasn't something Brandon had ever done before, but he was so excited to try it out!
Warm in his thick sweater and light jacket, he was laid out on the balcony with his chess set and the magazine. He played Black. Against him was his wolf stuffed animal, playing White. They both knew that White was the losing side, but the wolf was a stuffed animal and didn't get to pick sides. This was his turn to win, okay? Winning at chess was so much more fun than getting made fun of for being 'an above-average loser' at chess.
Thanks to Megan's care package, Brandon was having a nice day outside. He secretly hoped she'd send him some more.
Rhibear ~ Madam Solo ~ Dark Brooding Girl ~ Accio Jedi ~ Gryffinclaw ~ Just a doll
Quote:
Originally Posted by astrocat
Brandon had just received the first 'care package' of his life. Of course, it was from his stepmother. There were five people in his family- 1. Brandon, who wouldn't send himself a care package. 2. His father, who had never pretended to care about him. 3. his little brother, who was too young to understand care packages. 4. his sister, who sent him presents whenever she felt like it and almost never as a group. And 5. Megan. He didn't know why she insisted on sending him things when he tried not to talk to her...
...But he had to admit that she knew what he liked.
In his present, she'd included a chess magazine so he could play out famous historic games just by himself. That wasn't something Brandon had ever done before, but he was so excited to try it out!
Warm in his thick sweater and light jacket, he was laid out on the balcony with his chess set and the magazine. He played Black. Against him was his wolf stuffed animal, playing White. They both knew that White was the losing side, but the wolf was a stuffed animal and didn't get to pick sides. This was his turn to win, okay? Winning at chess was so much more fun than getting made fun of for being 'an above-average loser' at chess.
Thanks to Megan's care package, Brandon was having a nice day outside. He secretly hoped she'd send him some more.
Desiree was bored, and apparently so was her cat! Deciding that she and Mo needed a change of pace from the Hufflepuff common room, she packed a basket full of supplies for a mini picnic: a blanket to sit on, a book for her, toys for Mo, and plenty of snacks for them both. The only question was where to go. After some thought, she headed to the balcony. Today was such a nice day, the view from up there would be amazing!
The mismatched-eyed sphinx cat trotted along at her side, wearing a knitted sweater in the Hufflepuff colors. As they approached, Desiree saw one of her younger housemates already there. She knew his name was Brandon, but she hadn’t had much chance to talk to him yet. “Hi,” she greeted, speaking quietly so as not to disturb him. “Mind if we join you?”
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Old voices I had thought long since dead whisper of another life I might have led If I could take that second chance, If I could make my life anew, If only dreams came true...
The first thing Brandon noticed was the mismatched-eye hairless cat. And their hufflepuff sweater, probably to keep the them from being too cold(a big problem with hairless cats). So the voice talking was a housemate. Who knew something about cats. Not much to go on. He looked up from his game, giving the girl he now recognized as Desiree a friendly grin. "Sure," he responded, hurriedly stuffing the wolf back in this bag. "Would you like to play out this game with me, or should I put this away for now?" He really hoped that she'd play, because he was INVESTED and had no desire to put away his winning game. Buuut he'd pause it if she made him. Reluctantly. "What's your cat's name?"
Rhibear ~ Madam Solo ~ Dark Brooding Girl ~ Accio Jedi ~ Gryffinclaw ~ Just a doll
Quote:
Originally Posted by astrocat
The first thing Brandon noticed was the mismatched-eye hairless cat. And their hufflepuff sweater, probably to keep the them from being too cold(a big problem with hairless cats). So the voice talking was a housemate. Who knew something about cats. Not much to go on. He looked up from his game, giving the girl he now recognized as Desiree a friendly grin. "Sure," he responded, hurriedly stuffing the wolf back in this bag. "Would you like to play out this game with me, or should I put this away for now?" He really hoped that she'd play, because he was INVESTED and had no desire to put away his winning game. Buuut he'd pause it if she made him. Reluctantly. "What's your cat's name?"
Desiree returned Brandon’s grin with a friendly smile of her own. She tilted her head to one side, eyeing the object he put in his bag with interest. What was that? It looked like a stuffed wolf, but Brandon put it away so fast she couldn’t be sure what kind of animal it was. She soon noticed that Mo was looking at the bag too! Before she could react, the hairless cat walked up and pawed at the bag, looking up at Brandon with a mrow!
“Stop, Mo! That’s not yours,” Desiree scolded. To Brandon, she said, “Sorry. I think he wants the animal in your bag. He loves stuffed animals!” Well, she did too, but that was beside the point. Her face brightened at the mention of her cat. “His proper name is Quasimodo, but everybody calls him Mo for short.”
It was only then that she glanced at the chess board. Hmm… Wizard’s chess wasn’t her thing, but it was no big deal if she didn’t win. It was just a game, and anyway, it was a chance to make a new friend. “Sure, I’ll play as long as he lets us,” she said, jerking her head toward Mo. She hoped he wouldn’t swat the pieces off the board! “I’m not very good, though.”
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Old voices I had thought long since dead whisper of another life I might have led If I could take that second chance, If I could make my life anew, If only dreams came true...
"Sorry, Qu... Mo," Brandon said gently, reaching out to let the cat paw at him if he wished(and maybe pet the cat, if he wished). "You deserve a stuffed animal. But that one's important to me, you know? It was from my mother." So the cat couldn't have it. He could find him a different one, if needed. "Only Almost. What made you name him Quasimodo?" Brandon had a few guesses, in order: she'd liked the Disney movie, she thought her cat looked like him, she liked the sound, she'd read the book, she thought only almost was a good name. Now he was curious. "Do you mind if I call him Quasi?"
Brandon showed Desiree the non-magical chess magazine. "You don't have to be good," he answered softly. "The game's already been played, see? Two famous chess players. I use these to learn strategy. Do you mind losing? It's a really good game, you wouldn't make many bad moves or anything." He looked at her anxiously, expecting this would be around the time she got irritated and insistent on winning or not playing at all or maybe flip the chessboard... then he remembered that wasn't a very normal response to his question and Desiree didn't seem that way. Also she had already agreed. "If he knocks off the pieces, I can just put them back."
Rhibear ~ Madam Solo ~ Dark Brooding Girl ~ Accio Jedi ~ Gryffinclaw ~ Just a doll
Quote:
Originally Posted by astrocat
"Sorry, Qu... Mo," Brandon said gently, reaching out to let the cat paw at him if he wished(and maybe pet the cat, if he wished). "You deserve a stuffed animal. But that one's important to me, you know? It was from my mother." So the cat couldn't have it. He could find him a different one, if needed. "Only Almost. What made you name him Quasimodo?" Brandon had a few guesses, in order: she'd liked the Disney movie, she thought her cat looked like him, she liked the sound, she'd read the book, she thought only almost was a good name. Now he was curious. "Do you mind if I call him Quasi?"
Brandon showed Desiree the non-magical chess magazine. "You don't have to be good," he answered softly. "The game's already been played, see? Two famous chess players. I use these to learn strategy. Do you mind losing? It's a really good game, you wouldn't make many bad moves or anything." He looked at her anxiously, expecting this would be around the time she got irritated and insistent on winning or not playing at all or maybe flip the chessboard... then he remembered that wasn't a very normal response to his question and Desiree didn't seem that way. Also she had already agreed. "If he knocks off the pieces, I can just put them back."
Desiree giggled slightly as she watched Mo’s reaction. The little sphinx gave a sad mrp, looking up at Brandon with pleading eyes. The cat stared at him for a minute, then nuzzled against his outstretched hand as if to ask for pets. Silly Mo! She really did spoil him. “He has plenty of stuffed animals,” she said, still giggling. “So many that he thinks every one he sees is his!” As proof, she reached into her basket and pulled out a tiny cat-sized stuffed gargoyle. “You can play with this one, Mo.”
While the cat might not understand sentimental value, Desiree did. “I get it,” she said. “I have a doll like that; my grandmother made it for me when I was little.” That doll would stay in the basket for now because knowing Mo, he’d think it was a toy for him too! Speaking of whom, her face brightened at the question about her cat’s name. “It’s a character from one of my favorite movies, and Mo reminds me a lot of him. He’s funny-looking but a big sweetie deep down,” she explained, unsure how familiar Brandon was with muggle things. “Poor kitty had been in the animal shelter forever! Nobody wanted him because of his looks.”
That thought made her sad, but it vanished as suddenly as it came. Mo tilted his head to one side, meowing in reply to the new nickname. “I think he likes it,” Desiree said with a laugh. “Okay, Quasi it is!”
Ohhh, so the chess game was already played? Well, that made things a whole lot easier! Knowing her skills at wizard’s chess (or more accurately, lack thereof), she would probably lose no matter what she did. At least this way, she wouldn’t have to put in any actual effort to lose. “Not at all,” she replied, neatly arranging her skirt under her as she sat on the other side of the chess board. “Maybe I’ll learn something useful for when I play for real.” Mo had better not wreck the board! She cast a warning look at her cat, but he was conveniently distracted by the stuffed gargoyle at the moment.
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Old voices I had thought long since dead whisper of another life I might have led If I could take that second chance, If I could make my life anew, If only dreams came true...
Brandon felt a little bad for Quasimodo the cat, but he would not be handing over his stuffed animal. It was sentimental, like Desiree said. "My mother bought it for me when I was born. You can't have it, because she's been dead since forever and I'd like to hold on to what's left of her. Also," he said, petting the sweet cat, "It's soft and I like to sleep with it. But you have your own stuffed animals, don't you?" He smiled when Desiree brought out the gargoyle. "Does he name his stuffed animals?" Brandon's stuffed animals were usually nameless, but he knew it was common to name them. "Quasimodo and his gargoyle. You've got a theme going on."
He frowned at the idea of people not wanting Quasi. "That makes no sense. Yes, he looks funny, but he's also beautiful." Looking at him, Brandon only saw something wonderful. All living things were wonderful. And no, he didn't mean it in the way people meant when they said something was beautiful on the inside. He wasn't just being nice- he appreciated the cat's looks. This made him smile. "I have a cat too. Her name is Lilith, and she's an adult black cat. Can you believe people didn't like how she looked either? I think she's one of the most beautiful cats I've ever seen. I love all cats." He was an animal guy.
So she really would play with him? Brandon genuinely smiled. "You'll never believe how long I've been wanting to do this with someone." He wouldn't mess this up, he promised! "It's easy. We just move the pieces around and I guess what the next move will be, and we can talk about why it was or wasn't a good move! ...That doesn't sound too boring, right?" Usually people thought it would be boring, and didn't want to play with him. It was very lonely.
Rhibear ~ Madam Solo ~ Dark Brooding Girl ~ Accio Jedi ~ Gryffinclaw ~ Just a doll
SPOILER!!: Brandon ^_^
Quote:
Originally Posted by astrocat
Brandon felt a little bad for Quasimodo the cat, but he would not be handing over his stuffed animal. It was sentimental, like Desiree said. "My mother bought it for me when I was born. You can't have it, because she's been dead since forever and I'd like to hold on to what's left of her. Also," he said, petting the sweet cat, "It's soft and I like to sleep with it. But you have your own stuffed animals, don't you?" He smiled when Desiree brought out the gargoyle. "Does he name his stuffed animals?" Brandon's stuffed animals were usually nameless, but he knew it was common to name them. "Quasimodo and his gargoyle. You've got a theme going on."
He frowned at the idea of people not wanting Quasi. "That makes no sense. Yes, he looks funny, but he's also beautiful." Looking at him, Brandon only saw something wonderful. All living things were wonderful. And no, he didn't mean it in the way people meant when they said something was beautiful on the inside. He wasn't just being nice- he appreciated the cat's looks. This made him smile. "I have a cat too. Her name is Lilith, and she's an adult black cat. Can you believe people didn't like how she looked either? I think she's one of the most beautiful cats I've ever seen. I love all cats." He was an animal guy.
So she really would play with him? Brandon genuinely smiled. "You'll never believe how long I've been wanting to do this with someone." He wouldn't mess this up, he promised! "It's easy. We just move the pieces around and I guess what the next move will be, and we can talk about why it was or wasn't a good move! ...That doesn't sound too boring, right?" Usually people thought it would be boring, and didn't want to play with him. It was very lonely.
Mo - or Quasi, as he’d just been re-nicknamed - blinked his different-colored eyes and began to purr loudly. He nuzzled against Brandon’s hand as if begging for more pets. Desiree smiled, though her face fell as she heard the story of the stuffed animal. Suffice it to say, her cat would not be getting it! “Sorry about your mum,” she said, unsure what else to say. She couldn’t imagine how she’d feel if she lost her mum or dad! She got quiet as a thought occurred to her. She could’ve been in Brandon’s shoes if her dad hadn’t survived his injuries in that inferi attack years ago…
Before she even realized it, she had her doll - the Prince from Beauty and the Beast only with dark hair and scars across its face - out of her bag and hugged it. The question got a soft giggle from her, and she looked at her cat again. “I don’t know. If he does, they all have names like Meow and Mrp!” Maybe those were actual names in cat language. Who knew? Her face brightened at the mention of the gargoyle plush. “Oh, you know the Disney movie?” Please say yes! She could talk about Disney movies forever!
Watching Brandon with Quasi made Desiree smile. She agreed; he was beautiful in his own way! “He is, isn’t he?” she said, beaming. She gave the cat a little pat on the back, and he purred even louder, clearly loving every minute of the attention he got. Oh, Brandon had a cat too? Cool! “Aww, she sounds cute! That’s just silly. Don’t they know black is elegant?” Just look at Maleficent!
Desiree smiled. “Glad I could help!” Frankly, she was more worried about her messing something up than him. Hmm… boring wasn’t the word she’d use. Confusing, maybe, but not boring. “Not at all. Which piece moves first?”
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Old voices I had thought long since dead whisper of another life I might have led If I could take that second chance, If I could make my life anew, If only dreams came true...
Mo - or Quasi, as he’d just been re-nicknamed - blinked his different-colored eyes and began to purr loudly. He nuzzled against Brandon’s hand as if begging for more pets. Desiree smiled, though her face fell as she heard the story of the stuffed animal. Suffice it to say, her cat would not be getting it! “Sorry about your mum,” she said, unsure what else to say. She couldn’t imagine how she’d feel if she lost her mum or dad! She got quiet as a thought occurred to her. She could’ve been in Brandon’s shoes if her dad hadn’t survived his injuries in that inferi attack years ago…
Before she even realized it, she had her doll - the Prince from Beauty and the Beast only with dark hair and scars across its face - out of her bag and hugged it. The question got a soft giggle from her, and she looked at her cat again. “I don’t know. If he does, they all have names like Meow and Mrp!” Maybe those were actual names in cat language. Who knew? Her face brightened at the mention of the gargoyle plush. “Oh, you know the Disney movie?” Please say yes! She could talk about Disney movies forever!
Watching Brandon with Quasi made Desiree smile. She agreed; he was beautiful in his own way! “He is, isn’t he?” she said, beaming. She gave the cat a little pat on the back, and he purred even louder, clearly loving every minute of the attention he got. Oh, Brandon had a cat too? Cool! “Aww, she sounds cute! That’s just silly. Don’t they know black is elegant?” Just look at Maleficent!
Desiree smiled. “Glad I could help!” Frankly, she was more worried about her messing something up than him. Hmm… boring wasn’t the word she’d use. Confusing, maybe, but not boring. “Not at all. Which piece moves first?”
Brandon loved Quasi's eyes, and he was happy to give him as many pets as necessary. He was pretty good at petting cats. "It's fine," he said with more nonchalance than he felt. "It was a long time ago." And anyways, his dad had always caused him more problems than his dead mother. So it was fine. His eye was drawn to her doll. "It that the one from your Grandmother?" He wondered why it had scars... it was an unconventional doll, for sure. Also, he realized that Desiree must REALLY like Disney movies. "Meow and Mrp are good names. Quasimodo is a good namer." And a good cat in general. Had Brandon seen Disney movies? Yes. But he didn't remember them much- he mostly remembered that his sister liked to watch them when she was sick. Other than that, nobody in his family really watched them. "Um... I've seen the movie before. The details seem to have escaped me." He remembered some of the characters, and some of the songs. And the gargoyles.
"I'm glad someone wanted Quasimodo. He has a good home." He liked to imagine that the extra time the cat had to wait was made up for by how nice it was to live with Desiree. "Lilith is definitely elegant. She's kind of like a mother. She walks around looking concerned at me." That's why he named her after his mother- which was not something he cared to share. "I love cats. I didn't want a cat at first but she's won me over." She helped him sleep, and always made him feel better... she was a perfect companion to one often-lonely child.
"You move that bishop to there, pinning my piece over here. I see it coming, but there's not much I can do about it at the moment. Isn't that interesting?"
Balcony 
