Thirty-Seventh Hex - [Voice/Action]

[hisdarkmark]

[Hi Luceti. Today if you happen to be walking anywhere in the village, you might notice an overenthusiastic malamute attached to a leash. At the other end of said-leash is a rather disgruntled British wizard, more or less glaring at the dog as he's dragged along.

Stupid Arumat. Of course he had to disappear and shoulder him with the responsibility of yet another life. It was strange knowing that the man, the last original housemate, was officially gone. Not necessarily sad, though there was a hollow feeling he hadn't been able to shake off ever since he'd realized what had happened.

He didn't get much time to reflect on it though, seeing how the malamute has been working him. On their walk today, the dog's busy barking at pretty much everything, trying to pull Draco in all directions to sniff all the things.]

Gods, you're obnoxious, aren't you?

[He wraps the leash around his wrist to make it a tighter hold, using his free hand to make a grab for his journal while Edge is still pulling him along.]

I can't believe I'm asking this...

Dog training. What do any of you know of it? Time's a factor here, I'm half-tempted to toss him into the lake at this point.

[Later in the day, in fact, he will be at the lake. His lake. The South Lake. Edge the Malamute seems to have calmed down, but Draco's sitting up and a bit on edge. His wand's in front of him, and he seems to be concentrating.]

Expecto Patronum. [Nothing.] ...Expecto Patronum! [Still nothing. A frustrated sigh later and he's back to consulting Luceti as a whole. Though the journal's in his hands, he's hesitating for a moment. It'd be much easier if Hermione were still here, but she's not. That's a fact. She won't be returning anytime soon, so he'll have to make do with the resources he has.]

...second question for the lot of you. When do you reckon it's appropriate to give up on something?

Comments

[theoniongirl]

[Jilly has never met a dog she didn't like...and the Malamute didn't seem to be an exception. She can't help but grin when she sees him tugging gamely at his leash, before she gives the scowling boy on the other end a sympathetic look]

He's beautiful.

[and appears to be quite a handful]

[hisdarkmark]

Yes, well, in his case looks aren't everything. [Hello, Jilly! Edge the Malamute seems to want to meet every single person Draco crosses paths with today, and so he's re-directing Draco to get closer.] Plus you clearly haven't seen him drool.

[theoniongirl]

[she crouches down as the dog comes close, grinning as she reaches out to ruffle his fur] He's just excited, that's all. Nothing wrong with having high spirits, is there boy?

[hisdarkmark]

Why is it always girls that go and encourage him? [Oh shut up, Draco. Edge seems to reflect that sentiment with a sharp tug as he bounds right up to Jilly, patiently waiting while she pets him.] Just a pattern I've noticed.

[theoniongirl]

[that gets a laugh...and does nothing to discourage her. Edge can drool as much as he likes. She's already disheveled and speckled with paint. A bit of drool wasn't going to make things much worse]

Maybe we just aren't as worried about looking silly.

[hisdarkmark]

[Thus part of the reason he's busy looking her over. Bit unpresentable, isn't she? But then again he's the one probably covered in dog fur by now.]

That very well could be it. Whether it's dogs or unicorns, girls are going to fawn. I just have to wonder what the animals think. [...well, Edge doesn't seem to mind.]

[theoniongirl]

Everyone likes to be appreciated.

[hisdarkmark]

So what do you like to be appreciated for? [Because judging by things, it's not for her looks.]

[theoniongirl]

[smart boy.]

[she laughed, still smiling down at the friendly dog and scratching behind his ears]

I don't know. Being a friend, maybe. Or for my art.

[her nose wrinkles when Edge gave her a friendly lick, but she's more amused than anything as she leans back, fingers still threaded in his fur]

How about you? Dog walking?

[hisdarkmark]

[Edge, for the most part, is in doggie-heaven and if he didn't have his leash on he'd probably roll over for a bellyrub. As it is he's busy just leaning heavily against Jilly's hands while Draco just shakes his head.]

Art? [That explains a bit.] I'd rather be appreciated for something more useful than dogwalking, thanks. Like magic.

[theoniongirl]

Magic?

[it's not a disbelieving question. More...curious. Fascinated. She's never had a bit of magic, herself, but it drew her like a moth to flame]

[hisdarkmark]

Yes, magic. I'd be a terrible wizard if I couldn't use magic.

[theoniongirl]

[there's a delighted laugh at that] I suppose you would!

[hisdarkmark]

Reckon you're the first one not to question that statement. I'm kind of impressed.

[theoniongirl]

I have wings, I live with a vampire slayer and a witch, and I recently had a conversation with a dragon.

[her eyes crinkled at the corners, bright with amusement] Why would I doubt that?

...unless you were lying, though I couldn't really blame you. I wouldn't mind being able to claim that, either.

[hisdarkmark]

You're friends with Summers. [Suddenly things make a little more sense.]

It'd be rather difficult to uphold a lie for nearly twenty years. I'd say I'm pretty truthful on this.

[theoniongirl]

I am. [it was kind of wonderful to be able to claim it, really. Not that she ever doubted it, anymore, but considering how far they'd come, there'd been a time when she'd never have expected to say that]

I'm Jilly.

[hisdarkmark]

Draco Malfoy. Pleasure to meet you, I guess.

[theoniongirl]

You guess?

[she ruffles Edge's fur, grinning down at the dog] He guesses. Well, I'll take what I can get.

[hisdarkmark]

I'm still debating. [Edge is just letting his tongue loll out of the side of his mouth, tail wagging as he burrows closer to Jilly's hands. There's a small woof in response.]

[theoniongirl]

It's alright. I can handle a few unfavorable opinions, I think.

[it's said with a grin and another friendly stroke of Edge's fur.] He seems happy, so I can call it even.

[hisdarkmark]

I suppose it really all depends if you consider yourself to be someone I should get to know further. Are you?

[Another snort.] He's pretty much happy with everyone, don't take it personally.

[theoniongirl]

[she laughs at that, her look turning slightly teasing]

You know, you skipped the question of whether or not I wanted to get to know you. Which seems like a pretty silly question when neither of us knows the other one.