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 Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 11:06 am
Herryk was feeling pretty amazing about himself. He kept reaching into his boot to withdraw his battle-card (his boot seemed more practical than his loincloth, after all) so that he could stare at the four shiny badges he had.
Four badges. Four of them, all his.
He remembered how it felt to beat the crap out of that punching bag over at Sleuth's gym. He wanted to find Vero the wisp so that he could talk to it about how awesome his victory was, and he especially wanted to ask Vero if he had looked as awesome as he had felt. Heck, he wanted to find someone -- anyone -- that he could talk to about that punching bag and how he'd beat the crap out of it. Sleuth might even have to replace the punching bag, that's how amazing Herryk had done.
It was pretty awe-inspiring. Well, at least to Herryk. In fact, it was so inspiring that he wanted to relive it, to taste that victory again (even if it was against a lifeless punching bag) and so Herryk starting punching at the air where he stood just outside of the academy, just because he could.
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Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 11:26 am
Jove had been learning many things that summer, but perhaps none so relaxing as exploring the academy building. From the outside. The pup was quite a runner, jumper, and climber, so when given the time and energy, he had found all sorts of wonderful places to sit. Sometimes he brought a book, other days he climbed up as high as possible just to admire the view. Being so small, he didn't often get a chance to look out from a tall place.
Today he was spread out on one of the overhangs sheltering the academy doors, laying on the warm tile as he watched students come and go. It was odd to be watching everyone from so high up, and the little pup thought he could lay there all day if they just kept walking around below.
Suddenly an unfamiliar student wandered by. A MOUNTAIN of a student. Jove's fluffy ears perked up as he watched the blue-skinned figure make punching motions at the air, and wondered what it must be like to be so Jackdamned tall all the time. That boil could probably see over EVERYONE in a crowd, not like the pup who had to squirm and dart between bodies or get squished. With his curiosity piqued, he wiggled a little bit closer to the edge of the overhang.
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Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 11:45 am
If someone happened to move past Herryk, he would pause for a quick moment so that he could flex at the passers-by. He didn't realize that the glances he might've been getting were odd, no. To Herryk, they were merely admiring his beefy fists and stunning pectorals.
And that was awesome.
As his blue eyes followed one particular student towards the school, Herryk caught sight of a small body perched atop the overhang of one of the school's doors. Narrowing his eyes, Herryk strained to get a better glance at the fluffball that was poised so precariously. It had ... fluffy ears ... and Herryk thought he could barely make out a tail.
That was not awesome.
Moving towards the particular overhang, Herryk drew up close and shot the pup-critter a very, very stern look. He rested his fists on his hips and stared for a long, long moment before calmly saying, "Come down, Herryk will catch you, fluffypup. You are going to fall. What are you doing up there?"
Herryk was very, very uncomfortable with this situation. Not only was the fluffypup on the ROOF, for Jack's sake, it also reminded him very slightly of his little Dagny. Herryk did not like thinking about his little Dagny up on the roof of his school, and so he did not like the sight of this fluffypup perched where he was. He did not like it at ALL.
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Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 12:21 pm
The sparsely-clad boil's actions were very confusing to the little pup, who had barely a muscle to speak of, let alone muscles worth admiring. Nor had he ever seen a similar masculine display in a more appropriate context to compare with this. It was just... bizarre.
He watched the tall boil flex and pose at various students passing by, until he realized he was being stared at. By the mountain-boil.
Jove sat back, pushing himself away from the edge. Why was he suddenly getting that stern look? He didn't even know the boil! Herryk, was that his name? Did he always talk in first pers- wait. Fluffypup?! The little boil scowled, and decided to stay right where he was. There was no reason for him to come down just because that mountain told him to. Besides, he liked it up there.
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Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 1:24 pm
A dark scowl slowly crept over Herryk's features. His brows came together in a fierce frown while the corners of his lips drew downwards in an obvious sign of disapproval. He recognized that little scowl that he was now being privy to, Dagny was forever giving him the same frown, or at least Herryk thought so.
Herryk was left with a few options. He could either stand where he was and beg with the little bloke to come down from where he was sitting, or he could try and find a way up to where the little fluffypup was sitting. The second option did not sound very pleasing to Herryk.
Now, history had shown Herryk that dog-spookies were oftentimes the way to the hearts of all things small, fluffy and adorable. The proof was obvious -- he'd come to Sleuth's Gym with a bag of dog-spookies and he'd ended up winning Sleuth's shiny battle-badge. Herryk had taken to carrying around a small supply of dog-spookies because he was certain that they were something of a good-luck charm.
Reaching his hand into his loincloth for a brief moment, he withdrew a small see-through sealed bag that held a small emergency supply of dog-spookies. Dangling them enticingly from forefinger and thumb, a beautiful smile slowly turned his frown upside-down.
"Do you want dog-spookies, fluffypup?" Of course he did. "Just jump down into my arms and I will put you on the ground safe and sound," the draugr promised, hoping he sounded convincing enough.
If this didn't work, Herryk would be forced to take drastic measures.
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Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 8:16 pm
Jove didn't flinch back when the giant boil below him began to intensify his frown. He had grown quite the stubborn streak during his first year at the academy, and wasn't going to back down. So he made himself more comfortable, sitting cross-legged with his tail curling up to touch his lower back, sending a definite signal that he wasn't going to move.
He wrinkled his nose as the stranger reached into the thing covering his delicate area, but it turned into a look of confusion when something in a little bag was pulled out. It was a good thing Jove was too small and innocent to understand the concept of a pervert, because it would have been all too easy to jump to conclusions. However, the little baggie did catch his attention. The little ghostling's ears perked, the doggie part of him clearly interested in the contents of that bag. It was only natural for him to want to see when someone made such a dramatic show of having something!
It was working fine until the giant student spoke, and then the pup's ears flattened right back. Again with that name! He couldn't really find any argument with the spookies, although he wouldn't admit it, not even to his big brother, he did have a thing for a good rawhide bone. It was the name. Fluffypup. Jove scowled as though he was ten times more intimidating than he actually was, and shook his head. No, he wasn't going to come down, even if he was tempted with a bag of spookies.
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Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2011 9:24 am
Well, that wasn't working.
Maybe Herryk should try treating his new buddy less like a dog and more like a boil. That might work. Herryk dropped the spookies on the ground and scratched his chin before tapping his booted toe on the ground.
"What is your name, fluf-- gentleman-sir?" Herryk wasn't very good at these types of situations or the conversations that came with them. All Herryk wanted to do was get the little buddy off of the roof, safe and sound on the ground where he belonged. In his mind he saw the little pup-fellow leaping with great abandon off of the roof and into his waiting arms. Things could never go as easy as Herryk hoped.
"I am Herryk." Man, he really, really did not want to have to climb up to the roof of that wobbly looking overhang.
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Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2011 9:50 am
Jove's gaze followed the spookies all the way to the ground. He hoped the giant boil wasn't going to just leave them there, it would be such a shame...
His fluffy ears perked back up when Herryk made an attempt to talk to him in a... slightly... somewhat... maybe more normal way. He had never been called gentleman-sir before, but thankfully the pup was too curious to take it as another mockery. "Jove," he replied, his quiet, little voice carrying a trace of a British accent.
Ah, so Herryk was the boils name, after all! With his earlier irritation temporarily forgotten, Jove flopped back onto his belly, crossing his arms over at the edge of the overhang and resting his chin there. His curled tail wagged a couple times, as though saying hello in response to the larger boil's introduction, but he made no further efforts to speak up. Nor did he make any efforts to get down.
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Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2011 10:06 am
Herryk had a habit of giving things (and his friends) terrible nicknames, usually if their names were too difficult or long to remember. Now that he knew the boil's name, well, it was just short enough that Herryk would have no issue remembering it. He didn't realize that his nicknames could come off as demeaning or mocking, and he never intended for others to feel that way. It was simply the way Herryk was. Simply put -- kind of dumb.
"Jove," Herryk echoed, offering the other boil a huge smile. "You are up very high, Jove, and it worries Herryk. What will happen if you fall from there, Jove?" He'd noticed how the smaller boil's gaze had followed the spookies, and he leaned down to pick them up.
"These are dog-spookies," Herryk continued, forcing the conversation along, "for Sleuth's hound and other pups. They are not good, Herryk has eaten some before. Pups like them, though, most especially Herryk's Nanna." Herryk's sweet Nanna.
"Nanna is a foxfire pup," he added for no reason at all.
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Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2011 10:41 am
Jove's tail wagged more, curled up over his back in it's usual spitz-like manner. This was good, Herryk seemed less inclined to call him Fluffypup now that a name had been provided. He might not have seemed very bright, but there was an honesty to the guy that sat well with the little ghost.
He frowned when Herryk expressed his concern, not in a grumpy manner this time, but a gentler way that said "But I like it up here...". It sounded like something Ren would say, wanting him to come down so he didn't fall. But how could he fall when he was just lying there?
The wisp watched as Herryk leaned down to pick up the little bag of spookies, He really did seem like a nice guy...
Jove got up and sat on the very edge of the overhang, and pushed himself over the edge. But instead of falling straight down he twisted and grabbed hold of the ledge with both hands, and used it to swing himself down onto the ground below, safe and sound. It was a simple dismount for the little pup, the height or the brief fall didn't scare him at all.
However, turning around to look up at Herryk was a much more intimidating task. The little pup blinked his wide, luminous eyes. From down here the boil was HUGE.
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Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2011 10:57 am
Herryk watched with amazement as the acrobatics unraveled before his eyes. It appeared that Herryk really had been worrying for naught, as Jove appeared completely capable of taking care of himself. Herryk fought the urge to rush forward and scoop up the little boil and swear to protect him for all eternity, but even the thick-headed Draugr knew that such actions would likely not go over well.
Herryk wanted to make friends, not scare everyone he came into contact with.
"You are very small," Herryk said kindly, offering Jove the small bag of dog-spookies, "and Herryk could not have made such a glorious dismount." Yes, Jove may not be big and burly but he did have a lithe and agile way about him that Herryk had to admire. "Herryk is good at lifting and punching, not flipping and twisting. You are good at these things."
In an attempt to make himself less of a floundering mountain, Herryk crouched down and offered Jove a giant smile, "You are a student here?"
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Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2011 11:45 am
Jove puffed up with pride at the compliments, and accepted the bag of spookies. He had never been complimented for his parkour-like feats, usually he was more likely to be cursed at because he was running away from someone, and making a very difficult path to follow. This was a surprise, but a good one for the little pup, and he was even willing to overlook being called small because it was presented in such a flattering context.
He didn't smile back, but he did wag his tail, and his expression was gentle as Herryk crouched down. Even from that perspective he was huge, but at least the pup wasn't craning his neck peering upwards anymore.
Jove nodded, his tail wagging once more. His little ears perked, silently asking whether Herryk was also a student, or just one of the many visitors that seemed to come by this time of year. Lots of prospective students. It was hard to tell which were visiting and which ones were actually enrolling, but the wisp found himself hoping this big brute was going to stay awhile.
He glanced down at the little bag of spookies... which was not as little in his hands as it had looked from up on that overhang. But he could smell them. They weren't like the treats Alessa made, which were targetted for people other than canines, but they reminded him of the time he spent with his caretaker. Right after he was adopted, but before he was taught how to eat with cutlery at a table.
Once again that fluffy tail wagged.
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Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2011 2:08 pm
Herryk would lie to anyone who asked him about this soft spot he had for creatures smaller than he, but this soft spot was not something that the giant Draugr could explain. He was uncomfortable about this weakness, though his actions would show otherwise, but Herryk had this deep-rooted need to protect even when he wasn't sure why he felt this way.
No, he did not know why he felt so compelled to protect those smaller than he even if they were completely and utterly capable of taking care of themselves, just as Jove appeared to be.
Offering the smaller boil another grin, Herryk splayed thick fingers across his chest as he continued speaking. "Herryk is a student here too." He beamed before proudly announcing to Jove, "Herryk has joined Fitness Club and the Bruteball team."
When that fluffy tail wagged, Herryk watched it for a long moment before saying, "Herryk hopes Jove is not bullied at this school. Herryk will smash anyone who tries to pick on Jove." His expression echoed his words, dark brows meeting above the bridge of his nose in a dark frown.
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Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2011 2:22 pm
Jove's ears perked happily, his tail curled up to touch his lower back. So he was a student! And he was in Fitness club, and Bruteball? The little pup didn't have the strength or stamina for Fitness club, but he had signed up for Bruteball as well! It was only a shame he didn't know what playing would actually entail, all he knew was that all the bigger boils were showing an interest, and he wanted to do things they were doing.
At Herryk's more serious words, Jove frowned as though saying "Bullied, never." It wasn't like he was going to actually tell anyone he did get bullied on occasion, and although he tried to stand up for himself, it was hard when he was so tiny and just... so easy to bully.
He pulled out a spookie and took a dainty little bite. They were good! He offered the baggie to Herryk, almost more of a courtesy seeing as the larger boil had already voiced his distaste for the treats.
"Teammates," he said quietly, even a little shyly. At least, they would be teammates if he made the Bruteball team as well. He had no doubt Herryk would be recruited. That guy was a mountain, after all.
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Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2011 2:42 pm
Herryk shook his head at the proffered dog-spookie, indicating that Jove was welcome to eat them all if he so desired. He was glad to hear that Jove was never bullied, but he made a mental note of it to keep an eye out for his newest little friend.
"Jove has joined the Bruteball team?" That was excellent! Herryk grew visibly excited. "This is good news for Herryk. It will be nice to have a friend on the team." If Jove had been bigger, Herryk would have reached out and given him a broslap on the back. As it was, with Herryk's luck, doing so would likely send the little pup shooting across the front stoop of the school.
However, the prospect of Jove joining the Bruteball team was quite worrisome to the Draugr, but he didn't want to mention it to Jove. "Jove is fast and quick, Bruteball team will have many wins when Jove scores a point!" Aaaand the team might also be down one adorably fluffy little pup if Jove was crushed beneath someone Herryk's size.
Herryk would just have to keep an eye out for Jove, probably taking any knocks that came the smaller boil's way.
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