— of feathers and mishaps.
epxander:
his arms are outstretched and he’s almost caught his pet. but, he skids to a halt when tempest flies right into someone’s face just as he’s flying out the door. xan yelps in surprise before his feet are carrying him forward instinctively, acting of their own accord. he snatches the disoriented owl from midair, firmly but carefully. “i’m so sorry,” he apologizes profusely, bowing his head several times before even looking at who had the misfortune of walking into a cloud of feathers. “you okay?”
Howlers. The mere mention of such a letter set a panic so incalculable in Theo. The only thing that made him grateful was that his father was a private man, a man who didn’t like his family business being known. So whenever his father felt the need to yell at him from home, a letter was sent in advanced so that Theo could prepare. He would make sure to be in a spot barren of all except himself and the loathsome letter he’d received.
This morning, he found himself in the owlery, it was quite early in the morning and a weekend at that so it was guaranteed to be free of other students. Another thing Theo had to be grateful for was this father’s letters were always short, several times he’d only been sent a howler that simply stated “YOU” in a great booming voice. He knew to read between the lines, and comprehend the subtext. “You, you’re a failure, a hindrance, how am I to face the other parents when my own kid is a such a disappointment?” Theo knew his father well.
The howler sent to him was of the usual type, a resounding “YOU” echoed the walls, vibrating down as Theo grimaced, shoulders slumped. Somehow, he had gotten word of his less than stellar potions paper grade. He had been two marks away from perfect. He hadn’t registered the commotion behind him, still mulling over the previous events when his face was met with an owl. He was apologized to by its owner, still half-there Theo didn’t really have the heart to strike up any kind of conversation. He was ready to brush the whole thing over, which was when he realized who he was talking to. Xander, Theo was a little shocked, his face betraying him. With eyes slightly wide, he bowed back. He hadn’t expected such a response from him, at least, when taking into account what he’d heard.
“It’s fine, really, I wasn’t paying much attention to where I was going or who was flying-“ He let out a small chuckle, as an awkward silence fell over them.













