New term, new Groundskeeper...again. Pity she'd never gotten to talk with the last one, from what Lottie was telling her he wasn't half bad. Then there was the fact that he never actually busted her for anything while she was out and about. Yeah, all around good guy and she would leave it at that. No bringing up Firth and comparing, that was officially bad form.

Alexa would try comparing the former to this one but again, she didn't know him. "I figured he'd have needed a bigger hut with the way he....you know..." Lex saying, eyeing the small hut as they approached. The man was HUGE okay? Okay. She saw him at the table, big wall of solid rock he was. No way was he not hitting his head on everything inside there.

Being just a few steps ahead of Lottie she reached forward and gave a few sharp knocks at the door.

See, if you gave lazy knocks they'd think it was okay to leave you out here waiting a bit longer on account of it not being a major emergency. They didn't have anywhere else to be but that didn't mean she wanted to be sitting out here all day either.

Such a hard time. Lottie was having SUCH a hard time trying to remember the last Groundskeeper name, yo! This is why she should've gone to Airey first and ask for a few favors... and play with Tiberius... bring the fish to the lake again... feed him to Bartholomew, you know, the usual play-date thing. That has never happened. But whatever.

The name, the name... it was an easy one, you see. Nick... something.

Actually, since her mind was busy with this, it was rather easy to overlook how scared she was of meeting this new giant person. There was a reason why she brought Lex along, you know? Only she didn't mention it to her. That that was the reason for her best friend joining her. Hogwartians were braver than this, you know?

Lex's words made her laugh, though, "It's probably charmed," like Lottie's bag, it was always charmed, for either space, safety, anything. "He is quite big, though." And scary, did WE mention scary? And what was with all the buzzing? Was Lex hearing that? It was sliiightly annoying. "I'm not going crazy, right? You're hearing the buzzing too, yes?" Well, she had to ask. And she wasn't staying longer than five minutes because the buzzing would drive her mad, sooo... hurry up, Groundskeeper!

Her eyes were failing to notice any unsuspecting bee, you see.

Kirby wasn't inside. Nope, he was behind his Hut. Working away at caring for his bees. The large man had only decided to step back around briefly to check on a few things when he spotted two kids hanging around his door. He stepped into full view of the two them. Wearing just the netted mask and white gloves of his protective gear to keep the bees from his face and hands. "Hiyo! What can I do for the two of you?" he raised one arm and gave it a single wave to them. "I hadn't left you two out here too long have I? The buzzing really get's to me and I zone out while I work". The soothing sound of bees alway got him relaxed, until he gets too relaxed and a bee stings him out of his transitive state.

That was a good point. It might have just been charmed bigger on the inside for his convenient. Heck, if she was his size the inside would look something like the height of the roof in the Great Hall. An over-exaggeration yes, but dude, he was a giant wall of muscle.

It wasn't until Lottie pointed it out that she was able to better assess what that noise she was hearing actually was.

"Yeah....buzzing, sounds like it's coming from somwhere around there." She said, pointing toward the back of the hut. Seconds later HE/it/freaky mask guy/SOMETHING was turning the corner and heading toward them. The fact that it spoke english automatically ruled out a few of those nouns she'd been grasping at and the height was a dead give away so Lex stood and stared, clearly fascinated.

How did one get that big. She'd been eating her veggies occaisonally and only managed to grow about 2 inches in the last year. The hell was he eating??

"Not really. We just got here. You have good timing Sir. And I take it you're a bee kind of person? Do you have honey? Can I have some sometimes?" SUGAR, because Alexa Cambridge got right to sweets before proper intros. Time to take off the prefect badge for a while incase she got less socially acceptable? We'll see.

This was important buisness. Leo had to warn the groundskeeper before one of the fishers got the idea to eat some fish. He still had nightmares now and then where he relived how sick he actually had been. If it hadn't been for young Odessa and Cece he doubted he'd still be here.

Worried the librarian made it down to the area outside the hut and sat down on the bench to wait for Orsino.

Sander made his way down to the Groundskeeper hut. He had a mission. To talk with the man and hopefully find a solution and a place where he could continue practicing his ice hockey. He noticed the school's librarian sitting on the bench outside the Groundskeeper hut.

The Groundskeeper seemed to be a very person, but Sander had plenty of time...and he did have a mission. No Mission was Impossible if you set your mind to it.

Sander walked up the door of the hut, knocked on it and then like the librarian before him, sat down on the bench and waited patiently for the man to make his appearance.

As he sat down, Sander nodded to the librarian acknowledging his presence.

Should he talk with him....should he not? The man did look somewhat worried.

Text Cut: OH MY GOD.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJ ExpelliarMOOSE

Kirby wasn't inside. Nope, he was behind his Hut. Working away at caring for his bees. The large man had only decided to step back around briefly to check on a few things when he spotted two kids hanging around his door. He stepped into full view of the two them. Wearing just the netted mask and white gloves of his protective gear to keep the bees from his face and hands. "Hiyo! What can I do for the two of you?" he raised one arm and gave it a single wave to them. "I hadn't left you two out here too long have I? The buzzing really get's to me and I zone out while I work". The soothing sound of bees alway got him relaxed, until he gets too relaxed and a bee stings him out of his transitive state.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaniDiNardo

That was a good point. It might have just been charmed bigger on the inside for his convenient. Heck, if she was his size the inside would look something like the height of the roof in the Great Hall. An over-exaggeration yes, but dude, he was a giant wall of muscle.

It wasn't until Lottie pointed it out that she was able to better assess what that noise she was hearing actually was.

"Yeah....buzzing, sounds like it's coming from somwhere around there." She said, pointing toward the back of the hut. Seconds later HE/it/freaky mask guy/SOMETHING was turning the corner and heading toward them. The fact that it spoke english automatically ruled out a few of those nouns she'd been grasping at and the height was a dead give away so Lex stood and stared, clearly fascinated.

How did one get that big. She'd been eating her veggies occaisonally and only managed to grow about 2 inches in the last year. The hell was he eating??

"Not really. We just got here. You have good timing Sir. And I take it you're a bee kind of person? Do you have honey? Can I have some sometimes?" SUGAR, because Alexa Cambridge got right to sweets before proper intros. Time to take off the prefect badge for a while incase she got less socially acceptable? We'll see.

Thank you, Lex. Lottie was clearly relieved that there WAS some buzzing going around somewhere and that it wasn't her imagination or anything. Long exposure to loudness can cause that, too. Probably. But that wasn't the case so no one needs to worry, then. The Hogwartian merely nodded... and literally had no time to say or do anything else because...

o_o

...OH, FOR MERLIN'S SAKE! That creature looked like something out of Airey's drawings... books... something from galaxies at war or whatever. Though, he did have a frightening drawing made by Oakey at his office, and it resembled this thing in front of them.

Lottie just stared as much as Lex did, even more, because Lex spoke first and... well, thank you, best friend, sidetracked much? That explained the buzzing, by the way. So, she just raised her eyebrows at the Gryffindor Prefect and shook her head, "Yeah, no, we're not here to collect honey," though it was healthier than candy, she supposed, but they weren't collecting anything except information, her eyes (and head) finally went up to the man, "I... you know, it's rather rude to greet people with a... mask of sorts...," she was certain it had a proper name, but she couldn't think straight at the moment.

And she felt quite small. This was very rude of him.

Sitting quietly on the bench outside the hut Leo wondered if he should leave and come back later. Orsino didn't seem to be in. But his business was important and needed to be brought to the groundskeeper's attention. A conundrum, Leo didn't like leaving the library unattended too long but this was worth the risk of leaving the student’s to their own wits for an hour or two. Placing his hands in his lap he entwined his fingers and continued to wait.

As a boy walked up to the hut and knocked on the door too. Leo gave him an acknowledging nod. When the boy proceeded to sit down on the bench not too far from Leo he said quietly. "Hello, are you here to see Mr Kirby too?"

They really shouldn't stare like that. It was rude. Then again he was rather large, but it was ALL NATURAL, he wasn't One quarter giant you know. Merlin's Gym Shorts could you imagine! "Ru..?...oh!" He face!palmed his forehead then removed the Protective Mask from his head. "Yes. Well You can call me Kirby, or Mr. Kirby." He didn't mind if they weren't going to be formal with him. He was HIP and COOL you know! for a guy about to turn Forty. "You two can can inside if you like, I've got a few spare I can hand out." He shouldn't be giving out too many now anyways. Winter is Coming, and he'll need them to help keep the Bees alive through winter. "I don't believe I caught your names? Do share" Why invite two strange studentd into his home with knowing their names.

.................................................. .

So he didn't hear the knocking on his door, who can blame him? He was in the middle of one of his workouts. Those were always intense! Once he finally finished he walked over to the door, and opened it just as the Curly-Haired Library-Man spoke. "Well that's me." Orsino smiled and wiped the sweat from his brow. "Hello Kitridge. What can I do you for, Take and Leave Box working out well where I placed it?"
Who was the other...? OH! His Number One Fan! "Hello! You're the Winter Kid from the Feast! Hello, Hello!" It was so good to see him, maybe he'll tell Orsino all of his favortie moments from when he played Quidditch.

Finally Orsino's big figure appeared in the doorway to his hut. Getting to his feet Leo said adressing his colleague some of his worry shining through in his voice. "I need to discuss the fishing dock with you, if you have a few minutes to spare?"

Absently Leo smiled his mind on fish rather than on the book box for once. "The Take and Leave Box is working out wonderfully I've heard. I'm going to go by there tomorrow and see if I need to add any new books to it even if the deal is that the student's should leave a book in place for the one they take out." Some were forgetful, it happened. Noboby was perfect.

Sander was actually surprised when the Librarian turned and spoke with him. He had seen his nod of acknowledgment. Sander replied,"Hello, Sir. Yes I'm here to see the Groundskeeper. The Headmistress had told me he would be the best person to tell me where I could ice skate during the non-winter months." Sander quickly explained. But before he could ask why the Librarian was here sitting outside the Groundskeeper's hut, the door to the hut opened and there stood the Groundskeeper.



Sander blinked in surprise when not only did the Groundskeeper remember who he was, he also remembered what he had been asking about.

"Hello, hello back at you, Mr. Kirby. Yes I'm the Winter Kid from the feast and I thought to by coming here you would have some suggestions where I could practise my Ice Hockey when it's not winter."

"You were lucky that you had the Quidditch Pitch to practice your Quidditch skills, and right now I need a place like that, not necessarily as big as the pitch to freeze. So that I can skate on it."

So okay....all the facts have been told. Please please....don't go all trance like on me again.

This wasn't about his books? It was about the Fishing Dock! "I'm all ears, Kitridge." Well Muscles and Ears...maybe Muscular Ears? Anyways. "It hasn't collapsed into the Lake has it!? I used only the best Wood I could find." This would be tragic, the kids would be falling in with each step they'd take! Winter Kid was next althoug his mind was still stuck on kids paddling themselves in the cold waters of the Black Lake! Why wouldn't the Librarian just jump into action right then and there? Why come to him unless...UNLESS HE ALREADY DID SAVE THE KIDS AND HAD COME HERE TO SCOLD HIM FOR POOR CRAFTSMEN HIP! His gaze went back to the Librarian briefly and raised an eyebrow at Kurly Kitridge glaring at him. Kirby doesn't do poor craftsmenship....

Right Wiinter Kid!! He wanted suggestions on where to play this Ice Hockey game? "Well, I'm no Iceman so I wouldn't know all there is to know about this Ice Game of yours." Orsino paused briefly to think on this a little more this "I would wait for the Ice to Freeze over a part of the Lake, Kid. If I were into this Ice thing as much as you are I'd already be an expert at sliding on top of it."
Kirby's thoughts drifted for a moment. Imagining himself as a penguin...No wait! he needed to continue talking to the Winter Kid. "If you truly need to improve other aspects of your game you can do so without the Ice I assume? I have on countless occasions practices my throws without a broom. I can provide some training equipment if your need of it" He could give the Winter Kid a Medicine Ball or something if he promised to use it properly.

Sander was disappointed to hear that the Groundskeeper had no other alternative where he could skate. Yes he could skate on the ice when it froze, he was going to do that anyway. Sander sighed.

However, he listened politely as the man made other kinds of suggestions...all of which were of no use to him, but he appreciated the man for trying anyway...and when the Groundskeeper was done talking, Sander thanked him politely.

"Thank you for your suggestions, sir. I may take you up on that training equipment loan if the need arises."....which would be never.

"I guess I'm going to have to find another way to practice until the lake starts to freeze. Anyway, I've already taken up too much of your time, so I'll go now.. Thank you again." Sander nodded his thanks before turning around and walking back up the hill disappointed.

Turning his attention to the boy he responded with a nod. “Yes, the headmistress advised you wisely. The groundskeeper is the man to see if you want to know where to skate around the school grounds. I know though from experience that the lake freezes during the winter months and should be perfect for ice skating but Mr Kirby knows best.” And besides Leo, didn’t want to step on the new groundskeeper’s toes.

Waving away the big man's question Leo reassured Orsino. "No, nothing like that has happened to the dock that I’m aware of." He hadn't gone by the dock when he'd gone down to find the groundskeeper so by his knowledge the dock was fine.

"I'm not here to discuss how you built it. I’m sure you choose the best wood. I don’t know anything about building docks to be honest." That was the real truth. Leo had never been especially handy with a hammer so he wouldn’t even know where to start if he set himself the task of building something unless he had very detailed instructions. Even then, Leo would probably only do it if he was forced to.

"Actually I'm here because I'd like to ask you to put up a sign on the fishing dock urging the student's to not eat the lake fish. I've tried eating the fish once. It gave me a bad stomach infection which earned me a visit to the school infirmary. I don't want that to happen to the kids."

At that point the young man who had asked Orsino about ice skating took his leave."Good bye!" Leo called after the boy as he left.

Thank Merlin the Librarian wasn't here to discuss his non-existent poor craftsmanship. "That I did. Straight from the last Farm I worked. They were very gracious to part with so much lumber." The Family had taken time to inscribe the wood with runes that would make it extra sturdy, and durable. That Old Ancient Runes Prof. Botros he believed the man went by, would be impressed with it!s handy rune work. "You've eaten the Fish from the Lake before?" Kirby had hoped this from a dare, "of course you'd go straight to the Healer, did you even clean and cook them? No, nevermind. I can put a sign up. I'm already against Catch and Eat fishing here." That rule applied to you too Kurly, although Kirby was sure Kitridge learned his lesson back then.

Had the farm where Orsino had worked before taking up the position at the school given away the lumber for free? Not that it was Leo’s business per see but considering that they had just come out of a money problems Leo hoped so. "What kind of wood did you build with?" he wondered more for something to say than any real interest.

With a visible shudder Leo responded. "A sign is all I ask for. I learned my lesson from eating the fish. I don’t want any of the student’s getting sick too." A catch and release rule didn’t seem like a bad move either all things considered. With combined efforts they could hopefully prevent problems in the future. "So did you go to Hogwarts in your school days?" Leo asked curiously.

"Eastern White Cedar" Orsino said with a smug look on his face. "A good wood to withstand bad weather, and it lasts."

That wasn't what the Librarian was here for though. Orsino paid closed attention to Kitridges plea for a sign to prevent the kids from eating fish."You'll get your sign, Leo. Don't you worry about it. I'll even see about using some of the spare cedar if I have any left" He was joking about that, but maybe he wasn't. "Yes, yes I did. Graduated in 2060. What about you, Kitridge?"

Leo just nodded to Orsino’s description of the woods characteristics that the dock was built on. He was a novice of wood and as such figured that Orsino had chosen the wood that would fit best in a school environment.
Letting out a sigh of relief Leo said gratefully. "Thank you. It has been nagging at me for a few days." He meant it too. Bad fish was nothing to joke about. "I graduated in 2065. I was a Ravenclaw."

Snatching a glance at his watch he said "I should go back to the library before something happens. Thanks again. Bye!”

Turning on his heel the mop haired man made his way back up to the castle.

Why was Caelen here? Because she wanted to help with the bees. She kind of liked working with animals for some strange reason, and she wasn't THAT scared of them. She even got stung once when she was littler because she picked up a bee in her hands and tried to keep it as a pet. From her mom's scream, the bee's subsequent stinger in her hand, and Rockwell giving her an ice cream cone, bee's weren't good pets. Like at all.

Anyway, the bees. She wouldn't mind working with bees. But first she was going to need to knock on the door first. Because it was bad to just barge in. Manners were needed. And so Caelen stood up and knocked on the door. Thun thun thun.

And then the kid sat back down on the bench. Anti-climatic but needed.

And as she waited, the redhead rebraided her hair and tied a ribbon around it. Though that was kind of hard to do and took two or three tries. And when that was over. she took out her reading book and started well... reading it. Because that's what you did with a book, yes? You read it.

Orsino wasn't in the Main Part of his Hut. No, instead he was in the smaller section where his bed, and couch were. He was sitting down holding a jar of some of the Honey he had collected from earlier in the year and dipping his finger into it from time to time, just sort of stirring it

He could have sworn he had heard some knocking, but his ears had given out on him. Not to mention he was tired, and his legs hurt.

Scratching his once again shaven head, and face to avoid seeing Grey Hairs. The Groundskeeper looked down at what was once Rock Hard Abs. They had lost shape, and he was forming what could be a gut. He had never seen one before, so it was a wild guess. "DID SOMEONE KNOCK!?". Kirby waited for a response. He needed to be sure he wasn't starting to hear things. Not hearing anything for a minute or two. Kirby grumbled to himself and pushed up off the couch. He took Chess, his pet Raven from his Cage and let the bird sit on his Shoulder.

He then opened the door to his hut and saw a young Ravenclaw sitting on his bench. "Did you Knock?" The Groundskeeper asked the Girl who was occuping herself with a book.

Ahh! Caelen was so preoccupied by her book that she almost threw it when she heard someone open the door and talk. She wasn't naturally jumpy. But every rule has an excpetion, she guessed. At least she didn't actually throw it. Because that would've been awkward. Really awkward.

Running her hand over her red braid, she tried to quickly compose herself, touching her neck quickly to try and stop the reddining. Yep. She was composed. Waaay composed. Incredibly composed. Because that was the thing that needed to be happening and she wanted to ask about the bees. Because Calen liked helping for some reason.

"Um, yes sir. I just wanted to know if I can help with the bees?" Because tall man was tall. Like talll. Okay, so maybe it was because she was about five foot even but still he was tall.

Anyway, the bees. What was the anwser. Please let it be yes. She actually wanted to work with the insects. Most people wouldn't workwith insects -supposed- but she loved doing things that most people didn't do. Mostly because she wasn't around kids much. She liked to stretch the envelope.

Oh-HO She wanted to help with the Bees? "Certainly, you can. I've been meaning to go check on them. Add some Honey to their Hives if needed." Orsino tossed the jar of honey from the top of his steps to the girl. She'll catch it...maybe. "I'll meet you around back. I'll just need to collect a few things." With that he closed the door behind him, and went back to his smaller room to grab a few more jars of honey.

Ahh! Caelen wasn't a sporty girl. Catching things wasn't exactly easy for her, and she almost dropped the honey jar before getting a firm grip on it. But the Ravenclaw finally got a firm grip on it and smiled. That wasn't going to mess up his confidence in her at all, right? She kind of needed that to work with the cute little bees.

Smiling to herself, she waited until he was back inside and then put the honey jar on the bench and hid her bag in the bush. She wasn't trying to be sneaky and she didn't REALLY think anyone was going to steal it, but the little redhead needed confirmation that her things were going to be safe. And that was the confirmation.

Picking up the jar of honey, she started to walk out back, humming a song from an old movie. She kind of did that a lot when she was happy. And she was happy. Getting to do things made her happy. The girl in the old shoes supposed it made EVERYONE happy, but it made her hum with happiness. And that was especially good. Because she loved humming.

Beverly prepared herself for the show that was about to commence. She was going to play this real good. Tears and all. Without a backward glance Beverly called on the person the Gryffindor Prefect had sent with her.

"Come on, the Hufflepuff need us to succeed." And fast. Or he might die. Could people die from extreme pain?

Arriving at the hut and standing in front of the door, Beverly willed her eyes to tear up. When one was the only girl in a household crying on cue ALWAYS came in handy. It got her out of any trouble.

She knocked on the door furiously, in which she really did tear up because it hurt. Merlin. Her poor, fragile knuckles.

"Sir, Sir! We need help! PLEASE!" she cried as if she was being chased by a Dementor. Gosh. This was fun.

Help. Help. Hehe.