Into a new world we go

[captaincatblock]

[It had been exciting news at the start, to be invited into the exchange program his wizarding university had with the Hogwarts. Ever since Kuroo had discovered the strange world of wizarding, Hogwarts had been the school everyone this side of the world looked up to. He looked forward to the opportunity to learn Western magic, and to see how the foundation of their wizarding differed from what he knew.

The preparation leading up to the program, though... That was quite tedious, and Kuroo's excitement grew less and less after struggling through Nakano's secret alleyways to look for a bloody oversized cauldron.

Now, after landing in Britain and being in the train, all Kuroo wanted was to sleep. He had gotten there ahead of most other students, stored his baggage, and then just sat to sleep. It was cold, though, so he'd pulled off his jacket, transformed into a cat, and just curled up underneath it. With luck he'll stay asleep for most of the ride. He was sure that the other passengers would just mistake him for someone's pet and leave him alone, especially since his things were right there.]

Comments

[captaincatblock]

Then we're rival teams! [He seems sort of excited by that.] When we're back in Japan, let's arrange for a meeting between our teams. Our coach is getting pretty old, so he'd appreciate the opportunity.

[He grins at the pincushion, though.] You pick things up fast.

[hellacene]

I guess? I don't really pay attention to that kind of thing.

[he's rather proud of it himself, and then he keeps it in a small bag so he can show it to his professor later on for evaluation.] Thanks for the help, Kuroo.

[captaincatblock]

Don't you care about the long tradition and rivalry? The excitement and the passion of teams? [He looks indignant, but it's obvious that Kuroo is just playing it up.] You'll break the old man's heart, Tsukki.

No problem. I'll knock on the Ravenclaw portrait and ask for help once I get homework that I really don't understand.

[hellacene]

[he looks surprised.] If you manage to get in.

I told you, I have no problems communicating with owls. And if you really want help that badly, we can always set up a time to meet.

[captaincatblock]

[Raises his eyebrows.] Is that a challenge? If I get in, you had better vouch for me when your prefect asks why I'm there.

[hellacene]

[he leans his chin on his hand, watching him.] Sure.

But I'm more interested in how you're going to get in. It's not like you can just walk in to the dorms .... and Ravenclaw is different in that you need to answer a different riddle every day.

[frowns at him, and then folds his hands over his chest.] Anyway, you should be thinking more of how to track the cat instead of trying to get into my dorm.

[captaincatblock]

That'll be your riddle to solve, I suppose. [lopsided grin back.] Since you seem to like them so much.

[Although of course his entire plan had been to trail a Ravenclaw around as a cat until he figured out where the painting is, and then getting a Ravenclaw student to take him in as a cat.]

[hellacene]

I suppose. I hope you make it interesting for me, Kuroo.

[he decides to keep all of his stuff then, and to make his way back to the castle, gesturing for him to follow.]

[captaincatblock]

[He shrugs, smiles.] I'm trying my best to catch your interest here.

[But he does follow, dusting off the seat of his pants as he jogs behind him.] Where are we going?

[hellacene]

[he doesn't reply to that, but instead answers his second question - ]

The owlery. We should get our owls familiar with each other, at least, so exchanging messages wouldn't be a problem.

[captaincatblock]

I don't have one. [blink. Was he required to have one? Kuroo didn't see that in the list...] I was just going to keep attaching letters when my parent's bird comes over to give me any.

[hellacene]

[an odd look.] How do you plan to send messages to others ...

well, if you ever need to borrow one, the owlery can loan you a few owls.

[of course, it's a bit of a hike to go up there, since it's a tower on its own, and tsukki mutters,] It's because Hogwarts keeps animals like these that I worry about the cat. Owls can be quite vicious, you know.

[captaincatblock]

I was just going to borrow an owl here and there in the first place. [Sheepishly.] I wasn't really going to send so many letters back, I suppose. [He gets along well with his family, but he's also the only wizard there. They don't get him and also they as a whole are not so big on writing letters.]

Cats can also be quite vicious, but I know what you mean. [Since Fukurodani is still their sort of friendly rivals, damn owls. Kuroo just always needs to defend cats.]

Although this is quite a large number of owls. [he says with a whistle when they get there.]

[hellacene]

You'll be here fora long time, you know - won't your parents be worried?

[kei is just used to people fussing over him and sending him long letters and packages all the time.]

[captaincatblock]

Moderately. You could say that they're quite used to me going off and doing my own thing. They're muggle, so they don't really understand half the things I talk about.

[pats him on the shoulder.] Are you worried about me? That's sweet of you.

[hellacene]

I'm just asking questions. [rather annoyed.

a rather large, great horned owl alights on him later on. nicknamed yam, he's the owl in the carriage earlier who didn't like kuroo at all in his cat form, and still doesn't - apparently he remembers who he is, and starts to show off its wings in order to make itself look bigger while he was perched on a shelf behind tsukki. noticing this, he starts trying to calm it down.]

Sorry, I don't know why he keeps doing this. He's usually a lot nicer. [and he starts to take some treats for him.]

[captaincatblock]

[Kuroo backs away a step from Tsukki and the bird, to show the bird that he's not looking for a fight.]

Birds are pretty perceptive, so who knows. [He inspects the other birds on various perches around them, though, as Tsukki does his thing. There's a particularly small owl nearby that he pets, and who doesn't seem to mind him too much.]

[hellacene]

Yes, but he's usually good even with strangers .... how odd.

[he frowns, and then reaches into his pocket for a letter which he rolls and attaches to him, then affectionately gives him a few pets before letting him fly off.]

My family expects letters every second week or so while they send me things almost all the time. It's quite normal for me to be here.

[captaincatblock]

You strike me as someone who'd be here regardless just because you like animals. [Approaches him again, since the owl is gone. Kuroo's not afraid of it exactly, but he's not sure if the bird will want to actually assault him or not.]

[He does have that small owl on top of his head, though.] Help me with this, will you? I think it thinks my hair is a nest.

[hellacene]

[that makes him laugh, and then he reaches over to kuroo to ease off the small owl from his head, gently trying to make sure its claws don't dig in to kuroo's scalp as he does. it's a good thing he's much taller than him, but all the same - ]

Lean down for me?

[captaincatblock]

[Kuroo does lean his head down so Tsukki can get to the bird, although it sort of crabs it way upright onto the back of his head. He laughs a little at the tickling sensation, then winces at the claw.]

Maybe I should just magic my hair down. But please feel free to use your sweet words to lure this baby bird off my head.

[hellacene]

I don't think anyone would be able to recognize you if you did.

[he very carefully eases the bird off of his head, trying to make sure kuroo doesn't lose a few hairs in the process. the owl then settles in his hands with an affronted hoot as he puts it back onto its perch.]

'Sweet words', really? You are full of it, Kuroo. [but there's no heat in his words, and he's more flattered than anything else.] Is your head alright? I don't think he dug his claws in too deep for any injuries, and it looks fine from here ....

[captaincatblock]

I think I'm fine. [chuckling as he straightens up, running his fingers through his hair to put it back to rights. It just looks even more mussed up is what. Then he beams at Tsukki.] My gallant saviour.

[But he looks up at the endless amount of birds and feathers, and tilts his head at Tsukki.] What other animals have you befriended here?

[hellacene]

[kuroo's hair is a fascinating mess. no wonder the little owl wanted to make a house in it, it probably thought it was a good enough substitute for a nest.

still, the question reveals a lot more about him than he'd like, so rather awkwardly, he tells him,] Anyone they'd let me. If I could go into the Forbidden Forest by myself - I probably would.

[captaincatblock]

It's forbidden for a reason, I suppose. [thoughtfully, like he's actually considering the pros and cons of going in there.]

But if we research on it a little, I don't mind sneaking out with you to go there.