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Post by Caitlin Collins on Nov 3, 2007 3:31:16 GMT -5
Jacques' laugh seemed to relax Caitlin, making her feel more relaxed. It was more like a cat's purr though, to be honest. Obviously her elephant wasn't the only apt patronus.
"A sari," she corrected him automatically. "Not a sarl. It's a type of traditional dress worn by women in India. Basicallly, it's a long piece of decorated cloth draped in a certain style. You've probably seen it in pictures just never known what they were called."
Her favourite was yet another leaving present; a gift from Yamini and Shreya. It was green, with gold stitching around the edges. That would probably be what she'd wear, although she had no idea what to do with the mask yet.
"What are you going to do for a mask?" she inquired softly, not wanting to disturb the peaceful stillness of the night.
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Post by jacques on Nov 3, 2007 14:22:17 GMT -5
Jacques nodded with understanding, smiling. He had seen tribe people, women, wear them at ceremonies, he must have mis-heard. He stretched his arms out, the muscles flexing briefly, and then laid them across his chest, his feet still hanging over the edge. It was wonderful blissful up here, with someone to talk too it was even better, so quiet, barely a bird chirping, it was almost eerie.
"What are you going to do for a mask?"
He thought for a moment, drawing possible masks in the light layer of dirt by his leg. He might be a jagaur, or a lion, some predator of Africa. Then he reached up a hand, and felt the scars for second, before letting it fall back onto his lap. Yes, he knew what to be, what he was, what he was bannished as. "A tiger."
He said, then smiled bitterly, Just what my dear ol' Father would have wanted me to be. He thought, just as bitter as his smile. Then he softened his face, pointing briefly at the leather neckless, in which a tiger was imbedded.
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Post by Caitlin Collins on Nov 3, 2007 17:19:01 GMT -5
Caitlin watched inquisitively as he drew pictures of masks into the dirt. Most of them seemed to be types of big cats, but he finally came up with an answer to her question.
"A tiger."
She nodded in understanding, remembering the form his patronus had taken. His expression appeared bitter for a moment, but then he gestured at the necklace around his neck - it held a tiger pendant. She stared at it in surprise for a moment before replying.
"Well then, it's clear what my mask must be, isn't it?"
She pulled a bead necklace out from underneath her hoodie to reveal a carved, wooden elephant attached to the end of it. Her grandmother had bought it for her before she died, and had it shipped over from India during the summer.
"Coincidence or what?" she breathed, expressing her surprise. "I have no idea where to actually get an elephant mask from, though."
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Post by jacques on Nov 3, 2007 22:15:59 GMT -5
He smiled, thinking. Judging by her patronous, he suspected it might be an elephant. Still doodling on the layer of dirt, he tried to think where she might find one. "As ironic as it gets," He said seriously, then gave another purr-laugh. He ccould draw one..if she wanted a gray, line stuffed, mess. He thought back to when he had met Susan, she was good at scetching. Hmm..
He looked at her lecklace, examining it carefully. It was wooden, and he suspected it might be special. I hope she didn't get it as an exile gift.. He thought, though he wasn't thinking bitterly. It was beautiful in it's own, simple way. "Maybe..I dunno, I met a student who was a dab hand at drawing if you couldn't find one..come to think of it..I need to fine a tiger." He grinned sheepishly, looking out over the woods.
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Post by Caitlin Collins on Nov 4, 2007 14:55:11 GMT -5
Jacques laughed with Caitlin at the irony of them both having necklaces of their patronus. His laugh really did make him sound like a cat, she mused. It was relaxing, as if he was relaxed enough to reveal his true self. Although that was probably just her embellishing the situation again. She had a wonderful imagination, but it sometimes got ahead of itself.
"Maybe... I dunno, I met a student who was a dab hand at drawing if you couldn't find one... come to think of it... I need to find a tiger."
"What's their name?" Caity asked, wondering if she had met them. She'd met a fair few people since joining Hogwarts, but none she could remember had mentioned liking art. Perhaps a hand-made mask would be better than one bought in a shop, although time was the key factor in that. "I think I'll try and get one from Hogsmeade first. Want to come? They might have a tiger mask too. Although I haven't the slightest idea which shop might sell masks."
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Post by jacques on Nov 4, 2007 16:23:20 GMT -5
Jacques thought for a moment, before recounting her name. "It was Susan. Do you know her?" He asked, looking steadily in her eyes. It seemed almost odd, that two students, both with pasts in countries much farther away then home, had necklaces that symbols something that had been lost. He closed his briefly, enjoy the wind, and then opened them.
"Uh," He paused, his face reddening slightly at her offer, though he secretly happy that she thought him a friend enough to ask. "I'd love to come, when do we go?" He asked, trying to think of a shop that might have masks. "Zonco's maybe.." He said, half to himself. He had met Susan a few days ago, or rather walking into her, and she had wanted to sketch him. She wasn't half bad, in fact, she was very good.
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Post by Caitlin Collins on Nov 4, 2007 16:51:51 GMT -5
"It was Susan. Do you know her?"
Caitlin recalled having met a Susan in the Hogwarts foyer a few days ago, in yet another 'Quin incident'. That one could have turned out a lot worse than it actually did, although she had ended up hexing Quin in frustration.
"Is she a Gryffindor? A bit younger than us?" she asked, knowing that there was probably more than one 'Susan' at Hogwarts. "If so, then yes, I do know her. When to go... Do you have any frees in the afternoons this week? We could go then, it shouldn't take a whole day."
In truth, usually she'd be too self-conscious to invite anyone along, especially people she had only just made friends with, but also knew that she was a very slow shopper. She didn't browse; she inspected everything with minute detail. Perhaps with Jacques around, he would speed her up a bit, and make sure they returned to school before the curfew started.
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Post by jacques on Nov 4, 2007 17:20:30 GMT -5
Jacques nodded in answer to her qwuires about Susan, and smiled the goast of a smile. He could see a that she recalled something, and it looked a bit like the time she had told him about her incident with Quin, and the tower. He wondered if she had had another little run in, and if so, what had happened.
"I'm free most of the week, any day suits me, what afternoons do you have free?" He asked, survaying the forest before returning back to her face. ''Oh yeah, I'm busy on Tuesday and Thursday though." He added, then picked up a rock, and began tossing it in his palm restlessly. He didn't go shopping very much, he owned about two pairs of cloths, which he washed regularly, so it was good to have someone to make sure his dorwrobe.
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Post by Caitlin Collins on Nov 5, 2007 12:54:24 GMT -5
Caitlin laughed at his reply. This was too much. "That's amazing. I'm not free on Tuesdays or Thursdays either," she smiled at him, surprised at how much they seemed to have in common. "Friday would probably be a bit last minute, so Wednesday? I haven't got many lessons then. Wednesday's my nice day," she grinned. "What time do your lessons end?" she asked. "Lunch? We could meet up after the last bell and go down to Hogsmeade for food, if you like." The idea of an afternoon out shopping with Jacques was beginning to grow on her a lot, and she was already looking forward to it. It would be one of the first time she'd been to Hogsmeade, having visited once before just before the term started. She hadn't had a good shopping day in ages, and come to think of it she needed to get some more quills and ink. She'd lost hers somewhere. The one in her bag that she'd intended to write the letters with had been the only one she could find. ((Sorry to bug you about spelling, but I've noticed you make this mistake quite a lot - GHOSTLY not GOASTLY. Sorry - my friends tell me I'm a perfectionist when it comes to written English ))
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Post by jacques on Nov 5, 2007 17:12:51 GMT -5
((Don't worry about it! My friends say my spelling is a disgrace to the English Language..hee hee..Thank you though, I couldn't figure out how to spell it! I guess it sounds like I have goated smile, eh? Oh yeah, should be start another thread for the trip?))
Jacques grinned happily, and nodded. "Yeah, that would be great, lunch is perfect." His voice, quiet as always, was enthusiastic at the prospect. "So, we'll meet at the bottom of the Stair Way at the great hall at last bell then?" He asked, summing up the plan. He gave another, soft purring laugh, and took a deep, silent breath. The fresh, cold air felt nice after being in a stuffy classroom most of the day
He was genuinely excited about the trip. It would be fun, and, come to think of it, he needed more then a pair of clothes. A quill, few bottles of ink..He remembered in the woods that Keaira had had a bow, and had killed the shadows.. He thought quickly, wondering where he might find one. Then, remembering his promise, he relucktently susposed that buying a bow at that time might not be smart. He put it on a list though..maybe later.
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Post by Caitlin Collins on Nov 5, 2007 17:54:52 GMT -5
Caity returned from her musings on quills when Jacques spoke.
"Yeah, that would be great, lunch is perfect. So, we'll meet at the bottom of the stairway at the great hall at last bell then?"
"Sounds good to me," she smiled, glad that it was all arranged. Her mother was always accusing her of doing things at the last possible minute, but she could be organised when she wanted to be. Although that wasn't particularly often.
Glancing over at Jacques, Caity saw a variety of emotions pass over his face. First contentment, then speculation, then - most worryingly - guilt. She thought she saw his eyes dart towards her when he gained this last expression.
"Penny for your thoughts?" she asked cautiously.
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Post by jacques on Nov 5, 2007 18:06:51 GMT -5
Jacques looked at her, just as cautious, and smiled a bleak, innocent grin. It was innocent enough to be proven guilty on spot by the nicest judge, and he shift his feet, not quite looking at her in the eyes. "Well.." He said quietly, "In that night in the woods..and Keaira killed that..shadow..with her bow..I was just wondering.." He looked at her, his face serious, "Well, I can shoot fairly well, and if the time came.." He guestured half-heartedly.
He was better then bad on the bow, he had used a thick vine as bow in the jungle, got him more meals then could be imagened. He had gotten strong back muscles from it, and could strike dead center at 50 paces, though he hadn't had a go in a few years.
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Post by Caitlin Collins on Nov 6, 2007 13:01:41 GMT -5
Jacques grinned hopefully at her, then lowered his gaze so he wasn't meeting her eyes when Caity didn't back down.
She gazed at him reproachfully as he replied, knowing exactly what he was skipping around but not saying out loud. He was preparing himself for another trip to the forest, after he'd only just promised her that he wouldn't go in for an adventure.
"Jacques," she began slowly. "You just promised you wouldn't go in there again," she reminded him. Caitlin paused, taking in his expression and wondering how she was supposed to stop him getting killed if he insisted on taking trips into the forest.
"Let me know," she finally decided on. She was going to regret this later, when she finally came to her senses. "If you have to go into the forest again for whatever reason, tell me and I'll come with you. I've been practicing my patronus to make it stand up to the shadows and dementors, and two sets of eyes are better than one. You know you're more likely to come out of there without getting hurt if someone else is watching yoour back."
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Post by jacques on Nov 6, 2007 20:25:43 GMT -5
Jacques nodded, his face relieved, and then it grew serious, and he gave her a reasuring smile. "Thats great, but, I just mean.." He guestored hopelessly, "Remember when Alessandro said that one student had been killed? What if something happens and we have to fight, or, you never no." He was having trouble finding the right words, but he felt comfortable by her words, but then he said forcefully. "If I go out again, which I promise I won't," He raised a finger to stop any objectiosn, "Only if there is an emergency, I will go alone. I don't want to risk someone else again."
His face was steady, blank, and stubborn. He didn't want another death on his mind because of his antics. He tried to smile reasuringly, though it didn't work very well. He wasn't planning to go back, but he could sense something was amiss, like when birds flee before a storm.
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Post by Caitlin Collins on Nov 7, 2007 11:28:31 GMT -5
Jacques' facial expressions changed as she spoke. When he replied she felt her stomach twist as she realised he would never do as she asked. A nobleness that was probably the reason he had been placed in Gryffindor would prevent him from calling for her help if he thought it would put her in danger. His reassuring smile didn't reassure her in the slightest.
She sighed wearily and checked her watch, having remembered it this time. Once again she was surprised at how much time had passed since she had arrived up here. And she hadn't written any of her letters. Another task for tomorrow.
"I hate to break up this conversation due to my tiredness - again - but I should probably be going now, or I'll be falling asleep in all of my lessons tomorrow." She stood and picked up the bag with her writing materials in - if she left it here then she wouldn't have anything to write with in lessons tomorrow either. "I'll see you Wednesday lunchtime?"
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