Jill, from Katherine Kerr's Deverry books

[turtledove_jill]

A young woman with short blonde hair walks in, stops, and looks around in surprise. She is wearing worn baggy trousers, a slightly stained linen shirt, boots, and a swordbelt from which hang a sword and a silver dagger.

"By the Lord of Hell's black hairy balls! Since when did Brin Toraedic have a room that looked like this(OOC: This Jill is from

Comments

[ian_ma1co1m]

Pardon me, miss. You wouldn't happen to have a passionate interest in hyenas, would you?

[turtledove_jill]

"A hyena? What's that?"

[ian_ma1co1m]

A wild animal that hunts in packs, mostly in a land called Africa. You remind me very much of a dear friend of mine who has moved there to study hyenas, is why I ask. Incidentally, that's not a bad thing - she's a very dear friend.

[turtledove_jill]

Jill frowns slightly. "Why does she want to study them? Do they have some sort of magical or medicinal properties?"

[ian_ma1co1m]

Not that I know of, no. She wants to study them because she finds them beautiful creatures, and because they're almost completely a mystery. Their habitat is not very hospitable to human life, being very hot and arid, and few have even tried to study them.

[dinosaurman]

Hyenas. Beautiful. That's a new one.

[ian_ma1co1m]

Really? You haven't been keeping up with Sarah's research papers then, I guess. Shame. She has a way with hyenas.

[dinosaurman]

I could make the obvious comment, but I'm sure you can already see where I'd be going with it. But still, pet project or not, "beautiful" isn't a word I'd use for them.

[ian_ma1co1m]

Oh, I wouldn't either really. But Sarah has odd ideas about what's beautiful. I'll wait while you make the obvious sarcastic barb, to yourself please.

[dinosaurman]

Where's the fun in that? I didn't start talking to you for any kind of intellectual stimulation, so I need to soak as much entertainment value from this as I can.

*screened for the dinosaur island survivors*

[ian_ma1co1m]

*frowns* Speaking of intellectual stimulation. Have you spoken to Ellie recently?

Re: *screened for the dinosaur island survivors*

[dinosaurman]

Not since that party, no. Is she okay?

Re: *screened for the dinosaur island survivors*

[ian_ma1co1m]

We spoke the morning after the party. It depends on your definition of 'okay.' She is unsettled and a little frightened by Hogwarts, and thinking of leaving. Moreover, your silence is not helping to put her ease. I understand you promised her dinner and explanations, and the longer you put that off, the more troubled she becomes.

Re: *screened for the dinosaur island survivors*

[dinosaurman]

I think, if she could leave, it might be the best for her. I did promise her dinner, but after the party, I figured that it would be better to let things lie for a while. Get some space between us.

Re: *screened for the dinosaur island survivors*

[ian_ma1co1m]

Alan. You misunderstand me. I do not mean she is thinking of going away for a few days. I mean she is thinking of abandoning the study of magic altogether. Taking her marbles and going home while she still has a few.

*rubs the back of his neck* In normal circumstances, a perfectly reasonable response. However, this is Hogwarts,and as abnormal and unreasonable as life gets. She is deeply confused about a great many things, and your silence only makes that worse.

Re: *screened for the dinosaur island survivors*

[dinosaurman]

And I think, if she left for good, it would still be the best thing for her. This isn't the best kind of place. El's always been one to fight for all that she's worth, but she never could tell when she was over her head. She's got more to lose by staying here than the rest of us.