Welcome to Gaia! ::

The barghest wasn't the only ghostly canine out on the grounds that day. Jove was out and about with a heavy book clutched in his arms, looking for a good place to study. He had spent too much time indoors as of late, and although dark, cosy spaces were some of his favourite places to be, he just couldn't bear to sit inside any longer.

So his wandering urge had kicked in, and he headed outside. His goal was to find a nice spot in the forest, maybe even in a tall tree for once instead of a quiet little burrow, and continue his reading in the open air. However, the moment he passed by the school gardens his attention was promptly diverted from his studies.

There he was.

Jove stopped dead in his tracks to stare. It was the boil he had seen once before, at the assembly awhile back. The one who looked uncannily similar. Sure the older student had darker skin, darker hair, but the floppy ears, and fluffy tail... And glowing eyes! From what he had observed of families and shared appearances during his short lifespan, he could have been this boil's brother judging by their looks. It was almost eerie.

Jove just stood there, ears perked at attention, tail slipping from it's upward curl to droop towards knee-level. He couldn't have missed the growl. Was he not wanted? or had he startled the other boil? But those floppy ears... It was hard to tell, since he wasn't used to reading floppy ears, but they were perked forward to, right?

Slowly his head tilted, and then he scented the air. It didn't occur to him that the scent of Hairless, his most recent foxfire acquisition, on his clothes had probably provoked the growling, usually Jove simply smelled of earth and moss and forests, or nothing at all. So he peered back with an innocently speculative expression.

The pup then spared a curious glance at the ground. He knew it was a garden, maybe he was standing on the other canine's plants or something.

Jove was no stranger to canine postures, and when Nuru approached so confidently, he puffed up himself. Not aggressively, but still insisting he was big and confident too. It was always an amusing sight on the scrawny little boil. Like a little scareling being trusted with an important chore for the first time.

He gave the offered hand a quick head-tilted look before reaching out to shake hands. That was a behavior he was taught by his caretaker, and as a result, he had a firm shake that was rather out of character for his small size.

It seemed to make him happy though, having passed whatever judgement Nuru had made, and his fluffy tail wagged slightly behind him.

It was a good thing there had been no babytalk, or Jove would have puffed up like a spiny fish and swore to never again approach students who looked like older brothers. But that didn't mean he wasn't cowed slightly by the larger canine's words.

Tucking his chin ever so slightly, Jove fidgeted with the cuff of one jacket sleeve before replying. "Jove," he said by way of introduction. His voice was so quiet as to be nearly a whisper, with a polite-sounding British accent. He didn't say anything else, he just watched and waited.

It was interesting, watching Nuru's floppy ears.

Jove frowned, ears flopping back in an expression of disgruntlement he couldn't hide. Being quiet wasn't anything unnatural, and it was often a good thing! You couldn't watch birds or stalk rabbits if you were loud and noisy, and his foxfires always preferred a softer tone. But Jove wasn't sure he was supposed to be offended at the comment... So the expression didn't last long.

His head tilted in a mirror image of the larger canine as he thought about the new nickname. It wasn't bad. Certainly not like all the pet names people tried to use on him! He would rather be Joe that Sweetie any time!

His tail began to wag. A new nickname, and admission that he had scared the older student. Well, startled, but Jove didn't get to scare others that often, being naturally as frightening as a glob of cotton candy.

Finally he looked around, little ears perked. Was Nuru gardening before he was interrupted? Was he... digging for things?

The scowl deepened. Now that was a comment he HAD to take offense to. So what if he didn't speak much, there was nothing wrong with it! His communication skills were just fine, and it was entirely possible to know a language without feeling the need to chatter all the time!

The smile did nothing to ease his grumpy expression, nor did Nuru's tail wagging. But... he was a little bit curious.

Jove nodded, slowly, almost grudgingly. He did at least as much observing as the average student did talking.

This student, who looked like he could be an older brother, reminded him of a certain other older brother. One who was blonde and freckled and paid no mind to pointed scowls. How did he always end up hanging around students who were impervious to his glares?

But... Nuru mentioned "things". They weren't just watching something, but... things.

He approached warily, more afraid of showing his growing curiosity than he was of the other canine. What were the things? Were they edible moving things? Or were they like... beetles? Jove had nothing against bugs of any sort, provided they didn't get stuck in his fur, but surely beetles wouldn't get the other boil so excited.