Don't go looking for snakes

[stubbornskeptic]

WHO: Jane and Arthur (and anyone who wants to bug them I suppose?)
TONE: Heartwarming baby snake egg raising shenanigans
RATING: G to PG-13 for language maybe
WHEN: Feb 6th, lunchtime
WHERE: The Great Hall
WHAT: Organizing eggvents and eggtivities
STATUS: Ongoing



[As soon as the lunch bell rings, Jane is running right over to the Slytherin table to look for Arthur, the jar of dirt clutched tightly and safely in her hands. Once she finds him she sets it down on the table beside him and sits down with a happy little bounce.]

I got him! Or her, I suppose. I forgot to ask, hoo hoo. Now we just have to organize our schedules so we can take care of the egg until it hatches!

Comments

[rule_britannia]

[At least he's paired with someone he finds tolerable, even if she's sometimes a little too enthusiastic for him. Arthur hadn't really liked Jane at first - he'd had no time for her for the most part - but then he'd found out she liked Conan Doyle.. and things had gone from there.

When she sits, he's half way through a mouthful of food, and coughs, then swallows it down with a gulp of pumpkin juice before he speaks.]

Bloody hell, Crocker, you don't waste any time, do you?

[He gives the egg a look.]

Right. [Cough.] Of course we do. I'm still questioning the validity of this experiment, by the way.

[stubbornskeptic]

Well, the egg needs us right away, doesn't it? Or well, I suppose we just need to keep an eye on it for hatching. I'll want to know as soon as it starts, by the way.

[She gives him a look at that comment. Why does it have to be an experiment, exactly? Can't it just be for funsies?]

Would you change your tune if I told you the name I'd like to give our future snake-baby, Mr. Kirkland?

[rule_britannia]

[He props his head up on one hand, elbow on the table, and half-smiles at her. If nothing else, he can't fault her enthusiasm.]

I might. It depends entirely on the name you've chosen.

[stubbornskeptic]

I was thinking it might be proper to name him after our favorite literary figure: Sherlock Holmes!

[You had better like that one, Arthur.]

[rule_britannia]

[He tilts his head slightly, considers it, then grins slightly.]

Perfect. You do have the most marvellous ideas sometimes.

[stubbornskeptic]

I think you mean, all the time, sir!

[She laughs and nudges him a little.]

So, who gets the first shift? He's not all that interesting, at this point, but we'd ought to keep an eye on him either way. I want to know as soon as he starts to hatch!

[rule_britannia]

Oh, yes, my mistake.

[He shifts a bit against the nudge, then returns it, poking one bony elbow against her ribs.]

I suppose I can take him. Her. Did you actually check on the gender or do we need to wait?

[stubbornskeptic]

Well...I don't suppose there's a spell for that, is there? Seems like something a Slytherin would know, right?

[She smirks and shrugs.]

As long as he's in the egg, I think we can afford him some privacy, don't you?

[rule_britannia]

What are you implying?

[Squint.]

Oh, never mind. I'm sure we can afford it some privacy for the moment. It'll be prodded at enough when it hatches. [He pauses and scratches the top of his jaw.] Let's just keep the human Sherlock away from it.

[stubbornskeptic]

...Yes, that might be a bit awkward. And possibly destructive. Never can tell with him.

[rule_britannia]

Did you see his question about whether or not it would be possible to get more snakes?

[His voice lowers to something of a conspiratorial tone.]

I suspect sociopathy, you know. He bears watching.

[stubbornskeptic]

[Jane frowns.]

Maybe he should get some help, in that case?

[rule_britannia]

I don't think it's anything that can be helped. It'll sort itself out one way or another. He'll either be seen as a genius, or put in prison for the criminally insane.

[He pauses, thinking.]

... Yes, he's definitely worth keeping an eye on.

[stubbornskeptic]

And you're the man to do it?

[rule_britannia]

Me? Goodness, no. I don't have the time to be following around after him.

[Arthur turns a half calculating look onto the snake egg.]

I'll leave that business to his friends. John seems level-headed enough.

[stubbornskeptic]

True. He's fun to prank, too. [Which is a plus in Jane's opinion.]

[rule_britannia]

Is he, now.. [He's trying to hide his curiosity, but it's definitely there.] Do you have a good story to go with that remark?

[stubbornskeptic]

Let's just say he might take his tea with a little something extra every once in a while.

[rule_britannia]

[He lets out a soft snigger.]

I just knew there was a reason I liked you.

[Aside from the whole fellow-Conan-Doyle-fan thing. That helps a lot.]