Peaceful Contemplation
Aug 18, 2019 14:12:57 GMT -6
Post by Snick on Aug 18, 2019 14:12:57 GMT -6
Elizabeta was sitting down upon the grass and leaning against a tree. It was a decently warm evening and she just wanted to sit and enjoy the out of doors before she headed back to her Legacy House. Things had calmed down since the kidnapping, perhaps due to the extra security measures and the inability to go to town without faculty coming to oversee things. In truth she felt it was all rather pointless, if these people had inside information or allies among the Faculty, its not going to give any student any more security other than just give students a false sense of security.
She focused on her studies, not just that assigned by her teachers but her own personal research. If it was one thing Elizabeta enjoyed doing, that was researching and improving her own magical abilities and knowledge. This included experimenting with using wandless magic. A simple concept, something house elves did naturally and humans could to, even if limited to just wild random bursts of magic caused by anger, fear or stress in a very young child. Wands made it easier to focus one's magic and non verbal magic was also merely force of will, made easier via the use of a wand. So far, she had no success in producing any sign of magic without using a wand. Elizabeta didn't give up easily.
At this moment she was just relaxing, watching the sun set and contemplating what she learned so far about the Lighthouse and other things. There were times she just enjoyed being away from the mass of students within the school during the day and at meal times. If it was summer she would have brought Eclipse out with her to enjoy fresh air. Too cool now for the tropical snake.
"Penny for them." Walker said, coming up behind her. He was wearing his Quodpot jersey, with a big Zero emblazoned upon it, and smelling strongly of sweat, having come from practice. His long, straight hair hung down sodden around his face and neck, and he had an ice pack strapped to his shoulder -- Such were the rewards of his very physical role in the game. Pain, stiffness and bruises galore. Of course, he had been attacking tackling sleds and dummies, and not the other players, but he liked to put the whole of his efforts into the game, as he did with everything else in life.
With a soft grunt, he moved to sit down next to her, but not facing towards the setting sun. Instead, he sat with his back against the tree, looking out at the school and its various outbuildings. Although he could swim, and quite well, he preferred not to be reminded that they were surrounded on all sides by cold ocean.
"Good evening Walker." Elizabeta greeted the large student. From the dampness of his hair and his clothing it was plain to see he just came from the Quodpot tryouts running all week long. "I have been contemplating past events and simply enjoying the evening."
"How were the tryouts?" She asked, looking over her shoulder at him as he choose to sit so he's facing the school instead of the view of the water.
Rotating his un-iced shoulder until it gave a little pop, Walker turned the movement into a partial shrug. "Not going to give me my penny's worth?" He asked. He had been hoping that there was something else on her mind that could take his mind off of practice, rather than belabour it. "Tryouts were alright. I'm glad this is going to be my last year playing, though." Because, while he excelled at the sport, it was sort of a dead end job. The typical Quodpot player could make it into their late 20's, maybe their early thirties before being too played out to continue. By that time, lots of them became habitual users of pain-killing potions, and went through life with all sorts of internal scar tissue and joints that swelled up whenever cold weather was approaching.
In Salem, cold weather was always approaching.
"We have some players that are promising. Some that are washouts. Duke wants me to help work on the new playbooks." Which was silly, because, with his dyslexia, he really wasn't qualified to work on playbooks. He played instinctively -- alternating between being the wall that protected their players and the goal, and being the hammer that knocked the other team's players around.
"From everything I have seen and heard about the sport, it is wise not to continue it outside of school, despite the potential monetary rewards. Do you have plans already in motion for after graduation?" Elizabeta inquired, her eyes looking over Walker and noticing the ice pack. Without really thinking about it she shifted enough so she was kneeling beside Walker, her slim fingers carefully moving his shirt aside so she can look at the shoulder the icepack was strapped around.
"I know a little basic first aid magic, one picks up such things when living on a dragon reservation. Bruises, scraps, other minor flesh wounds are common when dealing with powerful creatures like dragons." Elizabeta comments as she carefully lifts the icepack, eyes looking over Walker's muscular shoulder. "Very deep bruise forming here."
Walker shook his head. "The bruise doesn't bother me so much. Just the way the bones grate together when I move it." He'd done so much damage to the shoulder with herding Re'em and playing Quodpot that he had accumulated quite the collection of internal scar tissue. The sort of thing that even professional healers would have a tough time dealing with.
He slipped his arm around her waist, his fingers cupping her hip easily. "It's nice of you to offer, though. But I got some linament back in my room that I can put on it before I go to sleep." He looked over at her and said, "I hope to be able to train in veterinary medicine when I graduate. It'll be tough, and my grades have never been the best, but if I can't get in on grades, I can join a pro team for a couple of years and then buy my way into school."
"Veterinary medicine can be quite challenging, plenty to learn and in a wide variety of fields. Magical animal Healing is challenging too but if you study very hard to get the main subjects to a high mark you should be able to manage it. Most Animal Healers or vets run their own practices but the competition to get into Veterinary schools can be tough. I may be able to help, give recommendations to the right people. The fact my family owns a dragon reserve ensures a constant need for experienced animal healers, especially those who aren't intimidated by dragons."
Elizabeta leaned back against the tree since Walker didn't want any help with his shoulder. Though normally she wouldn't mind sitting close to him he rather reeked at this moment since he had not showered before leaving tryouts.
"My applications are in with the schools that teach veterinary magic." He said, amending himself so that she didn't mistake what he wanted. "Naturally, I'm hoping they take me at ASU, but I applied everywhere. My father thinks I should go to Europe, where they still work on the apprentice system, but that would be tough." Either living at home and apparating there every day, or moving abroad to get the instruction he needed. Neither proposition sounded particularly appealing. Plus, there would be the added burden of learning to understand the way they spoke. Even in the UK, where they supposedly spoke english, the heavy accents, the double-speak and the fast-pace at which they spoke all made them really hard to understand sometimes. Walker was a man of few words, he liked to slowly make his way around a sentence, and he liked to be blunt. He didn't know how he'd fare in a foreign country.
"I wish you luck, Walker." Elizabeta replied sincerely. Shifting slightly she regarded the handsome wizard. She wondered why he didn't shower at the stadium after practice yet didn't want to ask least it offend him. Most likely he wasn't even aware that with all his hard work proving his worthiness to be on the Quadpot team, he was unaware of the sweat he produced. Men didn't seem to notice when they stink. Not that it was horribly unpleasant, there was definitely something appealing in the aroma. The sharp tang of testosterone broadcasting to all what a powerful and physical man he is.
"I expect you will want to head to your dorm to get cleaned up before heading to bed." Elizabeta comments, eyes moving away from Walker to regard the view. "It is getting late...though I probably spend some more time out here, I do enjoy the evenings."
Walker arched an eyebrow and then sniffed his pits in the way that men often do when women hint like that. "S'pose I should." Why didn't he shower before leaving the field? Mostly because he wanted to get away from the locker room chatter, and not just the stuff said aloud. With all the new prospective players running around the locker room, there was an undercurrent of anxiety and expectation that set his teeth on edge, but that wasn't something he could really articulate. Nor did he really think it was an issue, other than the fact that he was now aware that he stunk.
"Have a good evening, then." He said, getting to his feet with a soft groan, his body protesting the activity after having been given a few moments' rest.
She focused on her studies, not just that assigned by her teachers but her own personal research. If it was one thing Elizabeta enjoyed doing, that was researching and improving her own magical abilities and knowledge. This included experimenting with using wandless magic. A simple concept, something house elves did naturally and humans could to, even if limited to just wild random bursts of magic caused by anger, fear or stress in a very young child. Wands made it easier to focus one's magic and non verbal magic was also merely force of will, made easier via the use of a wand. So far, she had no success in producing any sign of magic without using a wand. Elizabeta didn't give up easily.
At this moment she was just relaxing, watching the sun set and contemplating what she learned so far about the Lighthouse and other things. There were times she just enjoyed being away from the mass of students within the school during the day and at meal times. If it was summer she would have brought Eclipse out with her to enjoy fresh air. Too cool now for the tropical snake.
"Penny for them." Walker said, coming up behind her. He was wearing his Quodpot jersey, with a big Zero emblazoned upon it, and smelling strongly of sweat, having come from practice. His long, straight hair hung down sodden around his face and neck, and he had an ice pack strapped to his shoulder -- Such were the rewards of his very physical role in the game. Pain, stiffness and bruises galore. Of course, he had been attacking tackling sleds and dummies, and not the other players, but he liked to put the whole of his efforts into the game, as he did with everything else in life.
With a soft grunt, he moved to sit down next to her, but not facing towards the setting sun. Instead, he sat with his back against the tree, looking out at the school and its various outbuildings. Although he could swim, and quite well, he preferred not to be reminded that they were surrounded on all sides by cold ocean.
"Good evening Walker." Elizabeta greeted the large student. From the dampness of his hair and his clothing it was plain to see he just came from the Quodpot tryouts running all week long. "I have been contemplating past events and simply enjoying the evening."
"How were the tryouts?" She asked, looking over her shoulder at him as he choose to sit so he's facing the school instead of the view of the water.
Rotating his un-iced shoulder until it gave a little pop, Walker turned the movement into a partial shrug. "Not going to give me my penny's worth?" He asked. He had been hoping that there was something else on her mind that could take his mind off of practice, rather than belabour it. "Tryouts were alright. I'm glad this is going to be my last year playing, though." Because, while he excelled at the sport, it was sort of a dead end job. The typical Quodpot player could make it into their late 20's, maybe their early thirties before being too played out to continue. By that time, lots of them became habitual users of pain-killing potions, and went through life with all sorts of internal scar tissue and joints that swelled up whenever cold weather was approaching.
In Salem, cold weather was always approaching.
"We have some players that are promising. Some that are washouts. Duke wants me to help work on the new playbooks." Which was silly, because, with his dyslexia, he really wasn't qualified to work on playbooks. He played instinctively -- alternating between being the wall that protected their players and the goal, and being the hammer that knocked the other team's players around.
"From everything I have seen and heard about the sport, it is wise not to continue it outside of school, despite the potential monetary rewards. Do you have plans already in motion for after graduation?" Elizabeta inquired, her eyes looking over Walker and noticing the ice pack. Without really thinking about it she shifted enough so she was kneeling beside Walker, her slim fingers carefully moving his shirt aside so she can look at the shoulder the icepack was strapped around.
"I know a little basic first aid magic, one picks up such things when living on a dragon reservation. Bruises, scraps, other minor flesh wounds are common when dealing with powerful creatures like dragons." Elizabeta comments as she carefully lifts the icepack, eyes looking over Walker's muscular shoulder. "Very deep bruise forming here."
Walker shook his head. "The bruise doesn't bother me so much. Just the way the bones grate together when I move it." He'd done so much damage to the shoulder with herding Re'em and playing Quodpot that he had accumulated quite the collection of internal scar tissue. The sort of thing that even professional healers would have a tough time dealing with.
He slipped his arm around her waist, his fingers cupping her hip easily. "It's nice of you to offer, though. But I got some linament back in my room that I can put on it before I go to sleep." He looked over at her and said, "I hope to be able to train in veterinary medicine when I graduate. It'll be tough, and my grades have never been the best, but if I can't get in on grades, I can join a pro team for a couple of years and then buy my way into school."
"Veterinary medicine can be quite challenging, plenty to learn and in a wide variety of fields. Magical animal Healing is challenging too but if you study very hard to get the main subjects to a high mark you should be able to manage it. Most Animal Healers or vets run their own practices but the competition to get into Veterinary schools can be tough. I may be able to help, give recommendations to the right people. The fact my family owns a dragon reserve ensures a constant need for experienced animal healers, especially those who aren't intimidated by dragons."
Elizabeta leaned back against the tree since Walker didn't want any help with his shoulder. Though normally she wouldn't mind sitting close to him he rather reeked at this moment since he had not showered before leaving tryouts.
"My applications are in with the schools that teach veterinary magic." He said, amending himself so that she didn't mistake what he wanted. "Naturally, I'm hoping they take me at ASU, but I applied everywhere. My father thinks I should go to Europe, where they still work on the apprentice system, but that would be tough." Either living at home and apparating there every day, or moving abroad to get the instruction he needed. Neither proposition sounded particularly appealing. Plus, there would be the added burden of learning to understand the way they spoke. Even in the UK, where they supposedly spoke english, the heavy accents, the double-speak and the fast-pace at which they spoke all made them really hard to understand sometimes. Walker was a man of few words, he liked to slowly make his way around a sentence, and he liked to be blunt. He didn't know how he'd fare in a foreign country.
"I wish you luck, Walker." Elizabeta replied sincerely. Shifting slightly she regarded the handsome wizard. She wondered why he didn't shower at the stadium after practice yet didn't want to ask least it offend him. Most likely he wasn't even aware that with all his hard work proving his worthiness to be on the Quadpot team, he was unaware of the sweat he produced. Men didn't seem to notice when they stink. Not that it was horribly unpleasant, there was definitely something appealing in the aroma. The sharp tang of testosterone broadcasting to all what a powerful and physical man he is.
"I expect you will want to head to your dorm to get cleaned up before heading to bed." Elizabeta comments, eyes moving away from Walker to regard the view. "It is getting late...though I probably spend some more time out here, I do enjoy the evenings."
Walker arched an eyebrow and then sniffed his pits in the way that men often do when women hint like that. "S'pose I should." Why didn't he shower before leaving the field? Mostly because he wanted to get away from the locker room chatter, and not just the stuff said aloud. With all the new prospective players running around the locker room, there was an undercurrent of anxiety and expectation that set his teeth on edge, but that wasn't something he could really articulate. Nor did he really think it was an issue, other than the fact that he was now aware that he stunk.
"Have a good evening, then." He said, getting to his feet with a soft groan, his body protesting the activity after having been given a few moments' rest.
