haven't you been told to keep your shiny things out of the reach of cats

[purrpawsterous]

[Hogwarts' latest outsider has found herself with some free time! And how is she going to use it? Studying, perhaps? Working on adjusting to the new culture and surroundings she's suddenly found herself in? Learning her way around the school? Doing anything even remotely productive?

No, she's going to tear the tinsel lining the hallway as a

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[empireofmymind]

[Ken has spent the holiday season thus far immersed in studying: to get by in this world (and to catch up in his lessons) he needs to learn everything he can about magic and the history of the Wizarding world - to say nothing of locating the culprits behind the earlier suit-of-armor "pranks".

So his first thought as he comes across Nepeta and the tinsel is actually: Oh. It's the holidays.

He feels a pang, since he's not home with his family - he left without even saying goodbye.

And then the rest of the scene sinks in.]

Ah...um.

[purrpawsterous]

[Oh, hey, somebody's there! For just a second, Nepeta pauses once she hears this new arrival's voice, but she doesn't let go of the tinsel. The delighted little smile doesn't even fade-the fact that she's been 'caught' doesn't even faze her.] Hi!

[And with that, she is back to her rolling and batting at the decoration. Nope, no shame. The girl is watching Ken as she plays, though, like she's expecting him to do something and wants to make sure she gets to see.]

[empireofmymind]

H-hello....

[He looks about, but the hallway's mostly empty. No one else is volunteering to do anything about this, at least.

Plus, her coloring - she's an Outsider, too. Probably.]

Sorry, but - isn't that just for decorating?

[purrpawsterous]

[Again, she pauses, and this time she actually looks down at the thing in her mouth.]

I guess that was its intended purrpose. [She doesn't seem to be totally aware of what she's doing wrong here. What do you mean you aren't allowed to just take things off of other people's walls and play with them?]

[empireofmymind]

Then, ah.

I think you're supposed to...just let it be.

[She must be an Outsider, that's it. She's new to this, and that's why she's behaving so oddly. So Ken's doing the right thing.

It's hard, advising total strangers. It's hard and nobody understands. But if they're in this together as newcomers, they should look out for each other as well. Ken happens to come from a similar world. That gives him an advantage.]

[purrpawsterous]

[Apparently this is an absolutely huge deal to her, or at least that's what the way she's pouting is suggesting.] That wouldn't be any fun at all! [She pulls herself up into a sitting position, which is at least an improvement from rolling around on the floor, but the tinsel stays put in her hands and wrapped all around her.]

[empireofmymind]

[Oh, not pouting. :< Was this nosy, after all?]

No...there are....other things planned that should be fun.

Like a - party, or something...[had there been talk of that? He's been so focused on his own goals, he can't quite recall]...and presents in a few weeks.

Are you from another world? I am too. My name is Ken.

2x HTML fuckup combo!

[purrpawsterous]

A party? [Oh, boy, he's never been to a party before!] Purresents? [Her eyes widen at that and she looks even more delighted.] It's just like Twelfth Purrigee's Eve! Ooh, is there a behemewth leaving, too? [That being troll code for "Christmas tree" but no oh god, don't let her near the Christmas tree, you know what happens when cats get near Christmas trees.]

Oh, I am! I'm Nepeta Leijon. It's a purrleasure to meet you. [She is just going to continue purring at everything, you can't stop her.]

[empireofmymind]

Mm....the holiday's called Christmas. I - don't know about the other thing. But there's a tree and a celebration. It's religious for some people, but also a time to spend with family and friends.

[He offers her a hand, hoping she'll get up and put the tinsel back.] Are you - liking it here, so far? It's very similar to my world.

[There was that suits of armor issue, after all. And she even looks different, so she'd be an easy target for prejudiced students.]

[purrpawsterous]

It sounds and looks a pawful lot like Twelfth Perigee's Eve. [And she fully intends to celebrate it that way regardless!

For a moment, she just sort of stares, perplexed, at the hand she's offered, and then it kind of clicks and she takes the hand and stands up. The tinsel has been released but she is still completely wrapped up in it.] It's... diffurent! I don't know. It's nothing like where I came from.

[empireofmymind]

[He'd taken all the purring so far as an accent, maybe. Or just his being unused to speaking in English. But.

He'll be happy to explain whatever you like, Nepeta. Just as soon as he finishes wrapping his head around something.

Faintly:]

...."pawful"...?

[purrpawsterous]

Pawful. [With her 'really?' stare at the ready, she holds her hand out in front of her. Okay, so it's not exactly a paw, but close enough.] You know, like a cat! It can't be all that purrplexing, can it?

[empireofmymind]

Ah....no....

[He recovers from his purrplexion quickly, put on the spot for spacing out.]

Is there anything else that's confusing you? I don't know much about magic yet, but I'd be happy to explain whatever I can...

[A worried glance at the garland, though. Well, if you keep it, he supposes no real harm will truly be done.]

[purrpawsterous]

I didn't think so! [She is too purroud of her puns to just let people not get them like that!

If only slightly, though, she frowns at his offer, but it's not in disappurr-disapproval.] A lot of things confuse me! Mostly all of the silly things you humans do. It's just hard to adjust, I suppaws. [She's kind of been overwhelmed by a general "how do I even" kind of feeling, if anything, which isn't helping her try to narrow things down.

This is good, because you aren't getting this tinsel back. This sparkly holiday decor has been conquered in the name of Leijon.]

[empireofmymind]

Silly things?

[This isn't like the pawse pause before at the cat puns. Ken gives her a questioning look, hoping she'll specify.]

[purrpawsterous]

Silly things! Like... [For a moment, Nepeta looks incredibly thoughtful. Where does she even begin.] Well, there are the little things, like these holidays, nobody has any idea Lusus is, there are tons of things with different names...stuff like that! And efurrything's so much more... [She makes a couple of vague hand motions. What's the word she's looking for?] ...peaceful here. Lots more! It's a pawful lot to get used to!