fourteen; a new owl at the end of the year, what was I thinking?

[onlyapparate]

[[Strikes are all 60~100% Hackable, depending on how close you are to him.]]

This is it, everyone! The final stretch! I hope you're all studying your hardest! I'm rooting for you all, even those of you whom I don't teach. And I'm not discussing the guests we had outside of that strange teacher and the rather sweet student. Castiel, this is directed at you.

As for me, I have some... rather strange news? My owl, Black, passed away last month. (And yes, his name was just "Black.") He was quite old, so I can't say I was too surprised. It's a bit sad, considering Grandpa got him for me, but, well... it's inevitable. Well, regardless, that isn't the strange part. The odd thing happened last weekend, when I decided to make a quick run to find a new one. That's not to say that the ones the school provides aren't excellent, but we tend to get a lot of post over the summer at home-- but I digress.

Long story short; as I was walking by, this owl began squawking incessantly at me. The owner of the store came to see what the fuss was about, and was surprised. It turns out the bird was a female Madgascar Red Owl, very expensive and for as long as the owner had her, she had always been very quiet. I assumed she didn't like me, but the moment the owner opened her cage, she flew up and perched on my shoulder, quiet as can be. I couldn't get her off to be honest, not without her squawking angrily again, so I ended up purchasing her, only... As soon as I got back to Hogwarts, she flew off my shoulders and that was that. I didn't even have time to give her a name.

She did reappear a few days later, of course, but she's a bit odd. For starters, she gets my mail wrong. I've been finding it in my office, in my room, in the classroom? And even in random places that I don't frequent very often. She's completely unpredictable; sometimes she'll fly in and perch on my shoulder once again, gazing at my surroundings like a hunter stalking its prey. It's more endearing than worrisome, I suppose, but I do hope she doesn't strike at anyone when she's looking like that. For some reason, she's oddly possessive of me.

In any case, if any of you happen to see any post addressed to me, can you stop by my office and hand it to me? I also need to buy a better perch for my owl, my shoulder is starting to hurt. I've been calling her "Red" for a few days now, but I don't want to continue my grandfather's trend of naming birds after colors. Do any of you have any suggestions?

[[ooc; if anyone wants to say they got some of Tobi's mail, feel free! It's probably all junk, bills, or letters from old co-workers who take pity on him. Unless you want to plot amoungst yourselves and have letters you might have sent Thobari end up in someone else's hands.]]

Comments

Re: private;

[yukimi-mama.livejournal.com]

I tolerate a lot of people. That doesn't mean I love them.

Re: private;

[onlyapparate]

She does a little more than tolerate you, I think. Anyone who sticks around you for this long usually means you care about them as much as they care about you.

Re: private;

[yukimi-mama.livejournal.com]

She only stuck around because she was my assistant. If she didn't have to do that, she wouldn't.

Re: private;

[onlyapparate]

[ Sighs. ] You're both hopeless, you know that? She said the same thing about you.

Re: private;

[yukimi-mama.livejournal.com]

Wouldn't that make it the truth?

Re: private;

[onlyapparate]

It means you're both in denial. Except the subject in question is you, not your mutual working relationship.

Anyway, I'll tell you the same thing I told her. If you two stayed with each other for so long, it's because you enjoy each other's company. You could have easily asked for a switch or a transfer and gotten one by now.

Re: private;

[yukimi-mama.livejournal.com]

Maybe they didn't have enough available positions for one of us to transfer? Did you ever think about that?

Re: private;

[onlyapparate]

Uh-huh. And how many years has that been now?

Re: private;

[yukimi-mama.livejournal.com]

...Less than 2 years.

Re: private;

[onlyapparate]

Tell me, Yukimi. Have you ever known any woman to stay with you for two years?

[private]; 1/2

[yukimi-mama.livejournal.com]

private;

[yukimi-mama.livejournal.com]

My last girlfriend. But that was about a year and a half.

private;

[onlyapparate]

And did that go anywhere?

Yes, but if you include the time she knew you before your job here, I'm pretty sure it'd be more, wouldn't it? Maron already knew you and yet she's still spent almost two years by your side.

Re: private;

[yukimi-mama.livejournal.com]

Not really. Not for lack of trying.

That could go a lot of ways, though. It doesn't necessarily mean anything romantically.

Re: private;

[onlyapparate]

Yeah, well. It was probably for the best.

It wouldn't if it weren't for the fact that she admitted she loves you.

Re: private;

[yukimi-mama.livejournal.com]

Probably. I can't imagine what things would be like now.

Then what do you think I should do, huh? You seem to have all the answers!

Re: private;

[onlyapparate]

Better or worse?

I can't tell you what to do, Yukimi. You're the only one who can come to terms with your feelings.

Re: private;

[yukimi-mama.livejournal.com]

Worse.

And would you really be happy if I did say something to her? If I were you, I'd be taking every opportunity to end it.

Re: private;

[onlyapparate]

I'm not that kind of person, Yukimi. I am not going to ruin Maron's chance at happiness over what we did or didn't have ten or so years ago.

More than her ex-boyfriend, I'm her friend. I want what's best for her, and for you.

Re: private;

[yukimi-mama.livejournal.com]

You really think I could make her happy?

Re: private;

[onlyapparate]

I think you could try.

Re: private;

[yukimi-mama.livejournal.com]

You're putting too much faith in me.

Re: private;

[onlyapparate]

Only because you don't put enough faith in yourself.

Re: private;

[yukimi-mama.livejournal.com]

Because I know myself.

Re: private;

[onlyapparate]

Because you don't want to admit you're not as bad as you think.