Starting off with a bang (open!) on Library

August Todvin

June 19, 2006 3:41 PM

Starting off with a bang (open!) by August Todvin

August had managed to get through his first twenty-four hours at Sonora relatively unscathed, and now that he felt somewhat settled, his curiosity got the better of him and he'd gotten the idea to start exploring. For his first "journey," he decided to stick close to his common room, since he wasn't familiar with the rest of the school yet, and didn't want to get lost and be caught out of his dorm past curfew.

So, that evening found August wandering around the library, which, as luck would have it, was the area immediately outside of Aladren House. He was meandering aimlessly through the stacks of books, looking for hidden nooks to which he might be able to retreat when he wanted to be alone or read undisturbed. As he went, he was scanning the titles on the colorful spines of the thousands of volumes that surrounded him, and when something caught his eye, he grabbed it from the shelf. His plan was to check the books out and take them back to his room so he would have plenty of things to read there, if he'd be allowed to do that. So far, he had collected several books, among them a well worn copy of "There's A Troll In My Backyard!", a large book full of pictures called "Common Magical Creatures of North America," and a heavy, leather-bound volume entitled "Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Quidditch: A Beginner's Guide." He'd chosen that last one because he didn't know the first thing about Quidditch, but since it seemed to be a fairly big deal at this school, he reckoned that he'd better learn a little bit about it.

As he went in search of the librarian's desk to check out his books, he entered an open area that contained long, wooden tables and chairs, and even though it was only the second day of school, there were lots of people scattered about. August guessed that they must be older students who had already been given loads of homework. He shrugged and began to walk again, still unable to see the check-out desk, when his feet got tangled up in the legs of a chair and he went sprawling, his books flying out of his hands and landing on the ground with a resounding "THWAP!" He laid there for a moment and cursed silently to himself for being such a klutz before sitting up and rubbing his elbow. He'd managed to hit his funny bone on the chair as he went down, and it hurt like the devil. "Ouch," he whispered to himself, as the pain finally began to subside.

August began to consider crawling under the nearby table and staying there until the other students had gone for the night. It would be much less embarrassing than having to stand up at that moment, collect the books he'd dropped, and make the long walk the rest of the way across the room. Plus, he knew he'd caused a disturbance when he heard a couple of people hiss at him to be quiet. He was still sitting on the ground when he heard footsteps approaching, and he felt his cheeks turn bright red.\n\n

0 August Todvin Starting off with a bang (open!) 0 August Todvin 1 5

Gil Idoya

June 20, 2006 10:56 AM

Literally! by Gil Idoya

It wasn't that Gil Idoya wasn't as smart as his twin. Leo was, of course, practically a certifiable genius--La Familia Idoya had been shocked to hear that the reclusive twin hadn't made it to Aladren after all, but had been placed in Crotalus. There had been no surprise when Gil announced that he was a proud Teppenpaw, though. In fact, there hadn't even been much of a response; the letter from his parents had just congratulated him and then continued expressing shock over Leo's sorting.

No, it wasn't that Leo was all that smarter--but he "applied" himself more, or so Papi said. Gil knew that Leo was rarely seen without a book in hand, and seemed to find even Muggle areas of knowledge like the sciences interesting. Gil himself could barely scrape half an iota of attention for Potions or Astronomy. Because of this, everyone but Leo assumed that Gil just wasn't as bright as his brother--though, of course, they admitted, he was far more outgoing and athletic, and wasn't he just the handsomest thing? A little heartbreaker.

But he wasn't going to perpetuate that all-brawn no-brains myth, not now that he had a chance to really shine. He'd already sworn he'd be Quidditch captain for Teppenpaw one day. And now, on the second day of school, he had taken a leaf out of his twin's book--literally! He'd nicked Leo's "List of Books to Read (August)" from his organizer, and had holed himself up in the library. He was currently working his way through One Thousand and Three Famous Witches, and Why You Should Know Them, and had a large pile stacked at his elbow.

He was just starting on Number 437, Amelie Augustinius (she had found the cure for wizardpox, apparently), when he heard footsteps, and then a prodigious THUMP and a muttered, "Ouch!"

Almost grateful for the distraction, Gil leapt out of his chair and circled the table to see a boy about his own age sitting on the floor in the middle of a pile of books, rubbing his elbow.

A smile spread over his sun-browned face as he held out his hand to the boy. "Hola. Have a nice trip?" he asked with just enough lilt in his voice to keep the question from being condescending or mean. "Here, let me help you up."\n\n

0 Gil Idoya Literally! 0 Gil Idoya 0 5

August

June 23, 2006 4:36 PM

Funny bones aren't really that funny by August

August continued to rub his elbow and stared at the floor, too afraid that if he looked up, he'd see nothing but an angry person about to yell at him, or worse, laugh at him. Therefore, he was mildly surprised when he saw a hand extended toward him, and a friendly voice asking if he'd had a nice trip. He almost forgot to be embarrassed, and he looked up at the boy who was standing over him, letting out a chuckle as he realized the guy had made a little joke.

"Yeah, maybe I should come back sometime next fall," August remarked, surprising himself that he'd managed to think of an equally silly retort.

He looked back down at the books that had managed to scatter in three different directions, and then looked back up at the boy, casually waving off the offer of a hand up. "I'm okay, thanks," he said, and leaned over to pick up the book that had landed closest to him before pushing himself up and back onto his feet. He walked over to the other two books and picked them up as well, firmly securing all three under his arm.

He was about to start walking toward the librarian's desk again, thinking that the other guy had probably gone back to whatever he'd been doing before, but a glance back over his shoulder revealed that the boy was still there. He had tanned skin and a friendly smile on his face. August knew he should say something, but he wasn't sure what. He turned to face the boy and stood there for a moment, looking down at the books under his arm and playing with a piece of torn leather on one of the spines.

"Um, sorry if I disturbed you," he finally managed to say, in a soft voice. "I can be such a klutz sometimes." He risked another glance at the boy. He looked like he might be a first year, but it was hard to tell without asking. "I'm August, by the way," August continued. "First year, Aladren. And thanks for not laughing too much at me."\n\n

0 August Funny bones aren't really that funny 0 August 0 5

Gil

June 24, 2006 3:42 PM

That joke wasn't bad, though... by Gil

Gil laughed appreciatively as, in response to his droll comment, the other boy replied that he'd have to make a return visit the next fall. He refused Gil's hand, though, in favor of collecting the books. Gil couldn't be offended; wouldn't his twin have done the exact same thing?

The boy started to walk away, but then turned back, looking uncertain and hesitant. Gil's smile relaxed into an even friendlier expression. It seemed to work; the boy turned back to him, nervously fidgeting with the ragged spine of one of the books. "Um, sorry if I disturbed you. I can be such a klutz sometimes. I'm August, by the way. First year, Aladren. And thanks for not laughing too much at me."

Gil rolled his eyes, but in an amused, inoffensive way. "No need to thank me--I've never yet met a staircase that didn't take an immediate dislike to me," he said, intimating his own clumsiness. "And you didn't disturb me, honestly; I was just doing some... um... preliminary studying. And I needed a break, really." Then he realized that he'd completely forgotten to introduce himself--his father would be horrified at the slip of courtesy! "Oh, sorry. I'm Gil Idoya of the California Idoyas; Teppenpaw firstie." He held out his hand again, flashing the other boy a brilliant smile.\n\n

0 Gil That joke wasn't bad, though... 0 Gil 0 5