Ah! Hello. S’pose I should introduce myself if I’m going to be on here often… I’m Leura, im from Australia, and… quite frankly I don’t know why I was called here. I’ve been staying in Britain for about a month and a half now, and even got myself a little companion. Well, not little, per se, Bellby is… well, they’re a big dog, let’s just say. Anywho… I look forward to whatever comes this way I suppose, and… oh, do try not to hurt any of the spiders around the place, I’m quite fond of them.
—————
Hello! Mod here! Just a few things I wanna make note of before we start. Firstly, this is only partially an oc, as this is… well, imma just write out her full name down here and let yall guess who she is :3
This is Leura H(ornet) Wyrmald, avatar of the Web! She’s very good at guitar :3
If anyone is still wondering it’s Hornet from hollow knight and Silksong if she were in the Magnus archives instead :)
anyways!
rules for the blog;
be respectful, and no sexual asks. Thats… pretty much it. Everything from yapping to asking about lore to magic anons is allowed, just so long as it follows those two rules.
and yes, you are allowed to try to traumatize her.
[there’s a woman in the archives, rifling through files. It’s… hard to tell how old she is, those silvery grey strands against her black hair could very easily be highlights she put in herself… and it’s not like it was very easy to tell from her face either… the woman looked simultaneously in her late 20s and early 60s…]
[she also looked like she knew what she was looking for. She certainly hadn’t bothered notifying anyone she’d be down here.]
”just a bit of research.” [she hummed, not looking up.] “are you one of the Archivist’s assistants? Elias said I may run into you guys down here.”
[those grey strands weren’t all hair, upon closer inspection. Thin silvery lines of silk trailed off her head like some old curse. Definitely of the Web.]
“that’s a bit of a rude way of asking if someone’s Australian.” [the woman finally looked at him, eyebrow raised.] “I don’t really see why that would matter.”
[she’s messing with him. She is 100% messing with him, you could see in her eyes she has been waiting for an excuse to use that line.]
”like I said, research.” [The woman shrugs, pulling a statement out of the absolute mess of a system Gerry has.] “I’m a bit behind on the web’s dealings over here, I figured this would be a good way to catch up.”
“Not unless you or they intend to hurt me.” [the woman sighed, shaking her head.] “I feel like you could’ve just Known my intentions instead of compulsion. It’d be a bit more subtle…”
[and probably would’ve saved her the startings of a migraine…]
”…huh. That’s… interesting, I wonder why I never caught wind of her..” [the woman blinked, looking back down at the completely bogged sorting system with new eyes. Perhaps this ‘Gertrude’ had a reason for all this then…]
[there’s a woman in the archives, rifling through files. It’s… hard to tell how old she is, those silvery grey strands against her black hair could very easily be highlights she put in herself… and it’s not like it was very easy to tell from her face either… the woman looked simultaneously in her late 20s and early 60s…]
[she also looked like she knew what she was looking for. She certainly hadn’t bothered notifying anyone she’d be down here.]
”just a bit of research.” [she hummed, not looking up.] “are you one of the Archivist’s assistants? Elias said I may run into you guys down here.”
[those grey strands weren’t all hair, upon closer inspection. Thin silvery lines of silk trailed off her head like some old curse. Definitely of the Web.]
“that’s a bit of a rude way of asking if someone’s Australian.” [the woman finally looked at him, eyebrow raised.] “I don’t really see why that would matter.”
[she’s messing with him. She is 100% messing with him, you could see in her eyes she has been waiting for an excuse to use that line.]
”like I said, research.” [The woman shrugs, pulling a statement out of the absolute mess of a system Gerry has.] “I’m a bit behind on the web’s dealings over here, I figured this would be a good way to catch up.”
“Not unless you or they intend to hurt me.” [the woman sighed, shaking her head.] “I feel like you could’ve just Known my intentions instead of compulsion. It’d be a bit more subtle…”
[and probably would’ve saved her the startings of a migraine…]
[there’s a woman in the archives, rifling through files. It’s… hard to tell how old she is, those silvery grey strands against her black hair could very easily be highlights she put in herself… and it’s not like it was very easy to tell from her face either… the woman looked simultaneously in her late 20s and early 60s…]
[she also looked like she knew what she was looking for. She certainly hadn’t bothered notifying anyone she’d be down here.]
”just a bit of research.” [she hummed, not looking up.] “are you one of the Archivist’s assistants? Elias said I may run into you guys down here.”
[those grey strands weren’t all hair, upon closer inspection. Thin silvery lines of silk trailed off her head like some old curse. Definitely of the Web.]
“that’s a bit of a rude way of asking if someone’s Australian.” [the woman finally looked at him, eyebrow raised.] “I don’t really see why that would matter.”
[she’s messing with him. She is 100% messing with him, you could see in her eyes she has been waiting for an excuse to use that line.]
”like I said, research.” [The woman shrugs, pulling a statement out of the absolute mess of a system Gerry has.] “I’m a bit behind on the web’s dealings over here, I figured this would be a good way to catch up.”
“Not unless you or they intend to hurt me.” [the woman sighed, shaking her head.] “I feel like you could’ve just Known my intentions instead of compulsion. It’d be a bit more subtle…”
[and probably would’ve saved her the startings of a migraine…]
[there’s a woman in the archives, rifling through files. It’s… hard to tell how old she is, those silvery grey strands against her black hair could very easily be highlights she put in herself… and it’s not like it was very easy to tell from her face either… the woman looked simultaneously in her late 20s and early 60s…]
[she also looked like she knew what she was looking for. She certainly hadn’t bothered notifying anyone she’d be down here.]
”just a bit of research.” [she hummed, not looking up.] “are you one of the Archivist’s assistants? Elias said I may run into you guys down here.”
[those grey strands weren’t all hair, upon closer inspection. Thin silvery lines of silk trailed off her head like some old curse. Definitely of the Web.]
“that’s a bit of a rude way of asking if someone’s Australian.” [the woman finally looked at him, eyebrow raised.] “I don’t really see why that would matter.”
[she’s messing with him. She is 100% messing with him, you could see in her eyes she has been waiting for an excuse to use that line.]
”like I said, research.” [The woman shrugs, pulling a statement out of the absolute mess of a system Gerry has.] “I’m a bit behind on the web’s dealings over here, I figured this would be a good way to catch up.”
“Not unless you or they intend to hurt me.” [the woman sighed, shaking her head.] “I feel like you could’ve just Known my intentions instead of compulsion. It’d be a bit more subtle…”
[and probably would’ve saved her the startings of a migraine…]
[there’s a woman in the archives, rifling through files. It’s… hard to tell how old she is, those silvery grey strands against her black hair could very easily be highlights she put in herself… and it’s not like it was very easy to tell from her face either… the woman looked simultaneously in her late 20s and early 60s…]
[she also looked like she knew what she was looking for. She certainly hadn’t bothered notifying anyone she’d be down here.]
”just a bit of research.” [she hummed, not looking up.] “are you one of the Archivist’s assistants? Elias said I may run into you guys down here.”
[those grey strands weren’t all hair, upon closer inspection. Thin silvery lines of silk trailed off her head like some old curse. Definitely of the Web.]
“that’s a bit of a rude way of asking if someone’s Australian.” [the woman finally looked at him, eyebrow raised.] “I don’t really see why that would matter.”
[she’s messing with him. She is 100% messing with him, you could see in her eyes she has been waiting for an excuse to use that line.]
”like I said, research.” [The woman shrugs, pulling a statement out of the absolute mess of a system Gerry has.] “I’m a bit behind on the web’s dealings over here, I figured this would be a good way to catch up.”
[there’s a woman in the archives, rifling through files. It’s… hard to tell how old she is, those silvery grey strands against her black hair could very easily be highlights she put in herself… and it’s not like it was very easy to tell from her face either… the woman looked simultaneously in her late 20s and early 60s…]
[she also looked like she knew what she was looking for. She certainly hadn’t bothered notifying anyone she’d be down here.]
”just a bit of research.” [she hummed, not looking up.] “are you one of the Archivist’s assistants? Elias said I may run into you guys down here.”
[those grey strands weren’t all hair, upon closer inspection. Thin silvery lines of silk trailed off her head like some old curse. Definitely of the Web.]
“that’s a bit of a rude way of asking if someone’s Australian.” [the woman finally looked at him, eyebrow raised.] “I don’t really see why that would matter.”
[she’s messing with him. She is 100% messing with him, you could see in her eyes she has been waiting for an excuse to use that line.]
”like I said, research.” [The woman shrugs, pulling a statement out of the absolute mess of a system Gerry has.] “I’m a bit behind on the web’s dealings over here, I figured this would be a good way to catch up.”
[there’s a woman in the archives, rifling through files. It’s… hard to tell how old she is, those silvery grey strands against her black hair could very easily be highlights she put in herself… and it’s not like it was very easy to tell from her face either… the woman looked simultaneously in her late 20s and early 60s…]
[she also looked like she knew what she was looking for. She certainly hadn’t bothered notifying anyone she’d be down here.]
”just a bit of research.” [she hummed, not looking up.] “are you one of the Archivist’s assistants? Elias said I may run into you guys down here.”
[those grey strands weren’t all hair, upon closer inspection. Thin silvery lines of silk trailed off her head like some old curse. Definitely of the Web.]
“that’s a bit of a rude way of asking if someone’s Australian.” [the woman finally looked at him, eyebrow raised.] “I don’t really see why that would matter.”
[she’s messing with him. She is 100% messing with him, you could see in her eyes she has been waiting for an excuse to use that line.]
[there’s a woman in the archives, rifling through files. It’s… hard to tell how old she is, those silvery grey strands against her black hair could very easily be highlights she put in herself… and it’s not like it was very easy to tell from her face either… the woman looked simultaneously in her late 20s and early 60s…]
[she also looked like she knew what she was looking for. She certainly hadn’t bothered notifying anyone she’d be down here.]
”just a bit of research.” [she hummed, not looking up.] “are you one of the Archivist’s assistants? Elias said I may run into you guys down here.”
[those grey strands weren’t all hair, upon closer inspection. Thin silvery lines of silk trailed off her head like some old curse. Definitely of the Web.]
[a woman was leaning in the doorway of Elias’s office, tired looking and quiet. She wasn’t the tallest, and had almost night-colored hair, with thin, almost imperceptible strands of spider silk running through them like silver highlights. She looked both young and ancient.]
[she had been waiting for him to return from his break.]
[the woman’s eyes turn to him, and she almost immediately straightens up.]
“ah! You must be Elias! Sorry for dropping in like this, your, ah… receptionist? She wasn’t at her desk and I figured you wouldn’t be gone long enough for it to matter anyhow.” [she apologized.]
”I was wondering if I could have temporary access to the archives.” [the woman smiled.] “I… I’m researching something, and I quite figured if anywhere was going information on what I’m trying to understand, it would be a stronghold of the Beholding.”
[the woman sighed; expecting this question didn’t make the immediate distrust any less bothersome. He had a right to be wary, of course, but not every spider would bite…]
“There’s been some… activity, in Britain. You know the sort. I’m not as in the loop about Britain’s relationship with the dread powers as I’d like to be, so I figured this place would be of some much-needed help.”
”hmm, I’ll… I’ll keep that in mind. Thank you.” [the woman hummed, seeming not at all surprised that Elias wouldn’t have complete control over his own building.]
[a woman was leaning in the doorway of Elias’s office, tired looking and quiet. She wasn’t the tallest, and had almost night-colored hair, with thin, almost imperceptible strands of spider silk running through them like silver highlights. She looked both young and ancient.]
[she had been waiting for him to return from his break.]
[the woman’s eyes turn to him, and she almost immediately straightens up.]
“ah! You must be Elias! Sorry for dropping in like this, your, ah… receptionist? She wasn’t at her desk and I figured you wouldn’t be gone long enough for it to matter anyhow.” [she apologized.]
”I was wondering if I could have temporary access to the archives.” [the woman smiled.] “I… I’m researching something, and I quite figured if anywhere was going information on what I’m trying to understand, it would be a stronghold of the Beholding.”
[the woman sighed; expecting this question didn’t make the immediate distrust any less bothersome. He had a right to be wary, of course, but not every spider would bite…]
“There’s been some… activity, in Britain. You know the sort. I’m not as in the loop about Britain’s relationship with the dread powers as I’d like to be, so I figured this place would be of some much-needed help.”
[a woman was leaning in the doorway of Elias’s office, tired looking and quiet. She wasn’t the tallest, and had almost night-colored hair, with thin, almost imperceptible strands of spider silk running through them like silver highlights. She looked both young and ancient.]
[she had been waiting for him to return from his break.]
[the woman’s eyes turn to him, and she almost immediately straightens up.]
“ah! You must be Elias! Sorry for dropping in like this, your, ah… receptionist? She wasn’t at her desk and I figured you wouldn’t be gone long enough for it to matter anyhow.” [she apologized.]
”I was wondering if I could have temporary access to the archives.” [the woman smiled.] “I… I’m researching something, and I quite figured if anywhere was going information on what I’m trying to understand, it would be a stronghold of the Beholding.”
[a woman was leaning in the doorway of Elias’s office, tired looking and quiet. She wasn’t the tallest, and had almost night-colored hair, with thin, almost imperceptible strands of spider silk running through them like silver highlights. She looked both young and ancient.]
[she had been waiting for him to return from his break.]
[the woman’s eyes turn to him, and she almost immediately straightens up.]
“ah! You must be Elias! Sorry for dropping in like this, your, ah… receptionist? She wasn’t at her desk and I figured you wouldn’t be gone long enough for it to matter anyhow.” [she apologized.]
[unbenownced to Barnabas, a giant, white-grey, absolute UNIT of a dog had just caught the scent of him and broke off their leash.]
[this fact would not stay unknown for very long, as the woman frantically yelling the dog’s name came into earshot about 12 seconds before the Great Pyrenees barreled into him and knocked him to the ground, wagging its tail and sniffing at him like he was the most interesting thing in the whole goddamn world.]
“BELLBY! No, bad dog, get off him, you are not a lapdog!” [the woman huffed, finally catching up to the beast while they stared up at her with a stare that could only be explained by complete lack of braincells in that fluffy noggin.]
[she did manage to get ‘bellby’ off poor Barnabas, offering a hand to help the Victorian era man up.]
“I am… so sorry about that, sir…” [she apologized between breaths.] “I don’t… I don’t know what got into them, they just took off…”
-# I forgot my own @ :(
[ Barnabas stares, utterly lost and slightly bemused. He does not take the hand, that would be improper, but he does get up shakily. ]
No need, no need madame. It is not your fault, I am sure. Dogs are certainly very uncontrollable, from my own experience.
[ He's pretty sure he hit his head from the fall, based on the ringing. But thats not important. ]
[she sighed, raising an eyebrow at Bellby the giant cloud dog.] “yes, I think we can both agree on that…” [the woman chuckled.]
[she was… odd. Spoke like she was older, but didn’t look it at all. Had a very slight Australian accent, dressed like a Canadian man, had an age to her expression that didn’t match her face, and slight, subtle strands of spider silk in her hair.]
“oh, er, I suppose I should introduce myself… my name’s Lerua, pleasure to meet you, even under… overly-chaotic-dog circumstances….” [she chuckled. Bellby looked like they were just happy to be here.]
The pleasure is mine as well, I assure you. I am one Sir Barnabas Bennett. Really, the circumstances do not bother me in the slightest, I find these creatures quite adorable. I had several of my own before my father decided the fluffy carpet each morning was too much of an eyesore.
[ Barnabas does not notice anything amiss. Really, people walked around with bright pink or blue hair, maybe it was just some new weird fashion. Besides, the woman wasn't bringing up the fact he was supposed to be dead or demeaning him in any way, so for now she seemed human enough ]
[the woman chuckled a little at that, shaking her head.] “well, I’m certainly glad you didn’t entirely mind the sudden fluff attack then…” [the woman hummed while her walking cotton ball just stared at Barnabas with big ole eyes like he was the most interesting creature ever.]
“say, I believe I’ve heard of the Bennet family before… you don’t happen to be associated with the Magnus Institute, do you?” [Lerua asked.] “you know… the slightly eccentric building bathed in green that studies and catalogs the esoteric?”
The Magnus Institute? I am to be working there soon.
[ He frowns slightly. ]
Is it reasonable seen so outside? I find their work to be very respectable.
[ Wait, she'd heard of his family... ]
How do you know the house Bennett, exactly?
[ He asks deliberately casually, looking back at the dog all the while. It really was adorable, like his own last unnamed puppy his father had shot when he was asleep. The sight of the poor thing still frightened him to this day... ]
“Oh, just a few historical letters here and there connecting one of them to the founder.” [she smiled, shaking her head.] “I just find it a bit funny another Bennet’s gone and decided to work there. History repeating itself and all that.”
[historical letters? There’s-]
[oh dear lord his letters to Jonah. People have been reading his letters to Jonah. They’re considered ‘historical’ now, oh dear… there must be at least a few in the public records for people to just… ohhhhh dear….]
[on the plus side, Lerua seemed to think he was a descendent of his own bloodline, and Bellby seemed to pick up on Barnabas’s perception of the pup and was very clearly asking for pets.]
[ Barnabas quietly pets the creature, happy to have an excuse not to look this woman in the eye, and has several silent breakdowns. ]
O-oh?
Well, that must certainly be- funny. I have no recollection of ever seeing such things, and if they are in any form related to my lineage- how many are public? That is to say, what exactly do you remember from the contents of them?
”…hmm.” [the woman shrugged.] “fair enough, I suppose. Discovering things about family members can be a bit… interesting, sometimes.” [she chuckled.] “I’m fairly sure I’m related to some eccentric man who was obsessed with gears and saws and kept Tasmanian tigers as pets before they went extinct…”
[ Barnabas says, because he has no clue how to respond to that. Was that man wishing for death or something? Such thoughts were far too scandalous to voice. ]
You do not have any place to be, I hope? I would be rather regretful if I were wasting your time with silly conversation.
[as if sensing that they might have to leave soon, Bellby decided now was a good time to get up on their hind legs and try to climb Barnabas for more pets. This dog was about as tall, if not taller than him, on their hind legs.]
“a- Bellby! No, you already squished him once! Down, down!” [Leura, a bit startled, said as she tried to get the dog back down on the ground and not flopped on top of a man from the Victorian era once again.]
[ Barnabas gives a surprised yelp, then lets out a laugh. ]
What an affectionate dog! Alright then, you fiend, I shan't leave yet.
[ He pets Bellby cheerfully enough. ]
They truly are such wonderous animals! I shall have to take it up with J- whom I share a house with, to inquire if I could get one. Perhaps it would help with the silence.
Aha, it seems the hound agrees also! Such a clever thing, aren't you?
[ There's a certain bemused light in his eyes that's typical to any boy who got picked on because he was "unmanly" and finds themselves more comfortable around animals than people. Kids are the worst ]
[ironically, the dog’s owner got belittled for being too ‘boyish’ for the exact same opinion. Though… this probably had more to do with the fact that some of her animal friends were beasts such as the huntsman spider and the Newcastle big boy, but…]
“They’re certainly a smart dog…” [she chuckled.] “bit too smart, honestly… they kept getting out as a puppy because they figured out how to unlatch the gate..”
[Bellby wagged their tail, looking up at Leura with those big-ole eyes.]
“yes, I know you were curious, but you were a baby! You were too little for wandering around on your own!” [she chuckled, doing that slightly-higher-pitched voice people use on their pets all the time..]
An intelligent animal is the mark of an intelligent owner, so I have heard. Besides, most animals I know are far more intelligent than the common populace.
[ Barnabas remarked half-heartedly. He does sound sincere on the last part. ]
“Oh I believe it.” [Leura chuckled, shaking her head.] “there’s videos out there of crows and raves easily solving problems that humans can’t seem to figure out, not to mention the… unspoken societal rules being so much easier to understand in creatures sometimes than in people…”
[ He doesn't know what a video is, but gets the gist if what it is supposed to represent in this context. ]
Sometimes I do wonder if I missed out on some essential teaching in my childhood, these 'unspoken rules' constantly leave me with my foot in my mouth. How I would love to live among the birds and fish, with no accidental humiliation because I said one thing incorrectly. Ah, but I must sound mad! Forgive my ramblings.
[the woman smiled a little at that.] ”no no, i completely understand what you’re saying there.” [she said.] “animals are a lot easier to read than humans a lot of the time.”
[ Barnabas simply hummed in agreement. Now he needed to find something to talk about, the dog was clearly still keeping him prisoner in its fluffy grasp. ]
You... you did mention my soon place of work. What exactly is the opinion of the public on it?
”oh that,” [she chuckled.] “I’m not quite sure how they managed to do it, but they’ve ended up being somewhat well respected in most ways except in the esoteric community. How one manages that, I have no idea…”
Well, it is a building studying the odd and obscene. Rather fitting, I suppose. I am glad to know that at the very least most parties recognise their noble work.
[ He's rather... passionate about the whole thing, of his voice is any indicator ]
[Leura smiled at that.] “I’ve been to that building once or twice, actually.. checking in on an old friend there, see. Unfortunately she retired by the time I got there, but the institute itself was quite the place.”
[ Barnabas made a 'hmm' noise, as if a theory of his had gotten answered somewhere in the response. ]
It must be.
[ He absent-mindedly scratched Bellby's chin and sighed ]
I must truly be getting home now, I apologise must sincerely for my abrupt departure. J- Elias will worry so. However, I have thoroughly enjoyed our brief conversation, if it is no bother- goodness, if it not too absurd to ask- I would like to most hopefully make acquaintance with you. If you are most amenable, how shall I contact you?
[lerua, surprisingly enough, seemed quite delighted to give Barnabas her phone number, jotting it down on a slip of paper and handing it to the man with a smile and a kind remark.]
[unbenownced to Barnabas, a giant, white-grey, absolute UNIT of a dog had just caught the scent of him and broke off their leash.]
[this fact would not stay unknown for very long, as the woman frantically yelling the dog’s name came into earshot about 12 seconds before the Great Pyrenees barreled into him and knocked him to the ground, wagging its tail and sniffing at him like he was the most interesting thing in the whole goddamn world.]
“BELLBY! No, bad dog, get off him, you are not a lapdog!” [the woman huffed, finally catching up to the beast while they stared up at her with a stare that could only be explained by complete lack of braincells in that fluffy noggin.]
[she did manage to get ‘bellby’ off poor Barnabas, offering a hand to help the Victorian era man up.]
“I am… so sorry about that, sir…” [she apologized between breaths.] “I don’t… I don’t know what got into them, they just took off…”
-# I forgot my own @ :(
[ Barnabas stares, utterly lost and slightly bemused. He does not take the hand, that would be improper, but he does get up shakily. ]
No need, no need madame. It is not your fault, I am sure. Dogs are certainly very uncontrollable, from my own experience.
[ He's pretty sure he hit his head from the fall, based on the ringing. But thats not important. ]
[she sighed, raising an eyebrow at Bellby the giant cloud dog.] “yes, I think we can both agree on that…” [the woman chuckled.]
[she was… odd. Spoke like she was older, but didn’t look it at all. Had a very slight Australian accent, dressed like a Canadian man, had an age to her expression that didn’t match her face, and slight, subtle strands of spider silk in her hair.]
“oh, er, I suppose I should introduce myself… my name’s Lerua, pleasure to meet you, even under… overly-chaotic-dog circumstances….” [she chuckled. Bellby looked like they were just happy to be here.]
The pleasure is mine as well, I assure you. I am one Sir Barnabas Bennett. Really, the circumstances do not bother me in the slightest, I find these creatures quite adorable. I had several of my own before my father decided the fluffy carpet each morning was too much of an eyesore.
[ Barnabas does not notice anything amiss. Really, people walked around with bright pink or blue hair, maybe it was just some new weird fashion. Besides, the woman wasn't bringing up the fact he was supposed to be dead or demeaning him in any way, so for now she seemed human enough ]
[the woman chuckled a little at that, shaking her head.] “well, I’m certainly glad you didn’t entirely mind the sudden fluff attack then…” [the woman hummed while her walking cotton ball just stared at Barnabas with big ole eyes like he was the most interesting creature ever.]
“say, I believe I’ve heard of the Bennet family before… you don’t happen to be associated with the Magnus Institute, do you?” [Lerua asked.] “you know… the slightly eccentric building bathed in green that studies and catalogs the esoteric?”
The Magnus Institute? I am to be working there soon.
[ He frowns slightly. ]
Is it reasonable seen so outside? I find their work to be very respectable.
[ Wait, she'd heard of his family... ]
How do you know the house Bennett, exactly?
[ He asks deliberately casually, looking back at the dog all the while. It really was adorable, like his own last unnamed puppy his father had shot when he was asleep. The sight of the poor thing still frightened him to this day... ]
“Oh, just a few historical letters here and there connecting one of them to the founder.” [she smiled, shaking her head.] “I just find it a bit funny another Bennet’s gone and decided to work there. History repeating itself and all that.”
[historical letters? There’s-]
[oh dear lord his letters to Jonah. People have been reading his letters to Jonah. They’re considered ‘historical’ now, oh dear… there must be at least a few in the public records for people to just… ohhhhh dear….]
[on the plus side, Lerua seemed to think he was a descendent of his own bloodline, and Bellby seemed to pick up on Barnabas’s perception of the pup and was very clearly asking for pets.]
[ Barnabas quietly pets the creature, happy to have an excuse not to look this woman in the eye, and has several silent breakdowns. ]
O-oh?
Well, that must certainly be- funny. I have no recollection of ever seeing such things, and if they are in any form related to my lineage- how many are public? That is to say, what exactly do you remember from the contents of them?
”…hmm.” [the woman shrugged.] “fair enough, I suppose. Discovering things about family members can be a bit… interesting, sometimes.” [she chuckled.] “I’m fairly sure I’m related to some eccentric man who was obsessed with gears and saws and kept Tasmanian tigers as pets before they went extinct…”
[ Barnabas says, because he has no clue how to respond to that. Was that man wishing for death or something? Such thoughts were far too scandalous to voice. ]
You do not have any place to be, I hope? I would be rather regretful if I were wasting your time with silly conversation.
[as if sensing that they might have to leave soon, Bellby decided now was a good time to get up on their hind legs and try to climb Barnabas for more pets. This dog was about as tall, if not taller than him, on their hind legs.]
“a- Bellby! No, you already squished him once! Down, down!” [Leura, a bit startled, said as she tried to get the dog back down on the ground and not flopped on top of a man from the Victorian era once again.]
[ Barnabas gives a surprised yelp, then lets out a laugh. ]
What an affectionate dog! Alright then, you fiend, I shan't leave yet.
[ He pets Bellby cheerfully enough. ]
They truly are such wonderous animals! I shall have to take it up with J- whom I share a house with, to inquire if I could get one. Perhaps it would help with the silence.
Aha, it seems the hound agrees also! Such a clever thing, aren't you?
[ There's a certain bemused light in his eyes that's typical to any boy who got picked on because he was "unmanly" and finds themselves more comfortable around animals than people. Kids are the worst ]
[ironically, the dog’s owner got belittled for being too ‘boyish’ for the exact same opinion. Though… this probably had more to do with the fact that some of her animal friends were beasts such as the huntsman spider and the Newcastle big boy, but…]
“They’re certainly a smart dog…” [she chuckled.] “bit too smart, honestly… they kept getting out as a puppy because they figured out how to unlatch the gate..”
[Bellby wagged their tail, looking up at Leura with those big-ole eyes.]
“yes, I know you were curious, but you were a baby! You were too little for wandering around on your own!” [she chuckled, doing that slightly-higher-pitched voice people use on their pets all the time..]
An intelligent animal is the mark of an intelligent owner, so I have heard. Besides, most animals I know are far more intelligent than the common populace.
[ Barnabas remarked half-heartedly. He does sound sincere on the last part. ]
“Oh I believe it.” [Leura chuckled, shaking her head.] “there’s videos out there of crows and raves easily solving problems that humans can’t seem to figure out, not to mention the… unspoken societal rules being so much easier to understand in creatures sometimes than in people…”
[ He doesn't know what a video is, but gets the gist if what it is supposed to represent in this context. ]
Sometimes I do wonder if I missed out on some essential teaching in my childhood, these 'unspoken rules' constantly leave me with my foot in my mouth. How I would love to live among the birds and fish, with no accidental humiliation because I said one thing incorrectly. Ah, but I must sound mad! Forgive my ramblings.
[the woman smiled a little at that.] ”no no, i completely understand what you’re saying there.” [she said.] “animals are a lot easier to read than humans a lot of the time.”
[ Barnabas simply hummed in agreement. Now he needed to find something to talk about, the dog was clearly still keeping him prisoner in its fluffy grasp. ]
You... you did mention my soon place of work. What exactly is the opinion of the public on it?
”oh that,” [she chuckled.] “I’m not quite sure how they managed to do it, but they’ve ended up being somewhat well respected in most ways except in the esoteric community. How one manages that, I have no idea…”
Well, it is a building studying the odd and obscene. Rather fitting, I suppose. I am glad to know that at the very least most parties recognise their noble work.
[ He's rather... passionate about the whole thing, of his voice is any indicator ]
[Leura smiled at that.] “I’ve been to that building once or twice, actually.. checking in on an old friend there, see. Unfortunately she retired by the time I got there, but the institute itself was quite the place.”
[unbenownced to Barnabas, a giant, white-grey, absolute UNIT of a dog had just caught the scent of him and broke off their leash.]
[this fact would not stay unknown for very long, as the woman frantically yelling the dog’s name came into earshot about 12 seconds before the Great Pyrenees barreled into him and knocked him to the ground, wagging its tail and sniffing at him like he was the most interesting thing in the whole goddamn world.]
“BELLBY! No, bad dog, get off him, you are not a lapdog!” [the woman huffed, finally catching up to the beast while they stared up at her with a stare that could only be explained by complete lack of braincells in that fluffy noggin.]
[she did manage to get ‘bellby’ off poor Barnabas, offering a hand to help the Victorian era man up.]
“I am… so sorry about that, sir…” [she apologized between breaths.] “I don’t… I don’t know what got into them, they just took off…”
-# I forgot my own @ :(
[ Barnabas stares, utterly lost and slightly bemused. He does not take the hand, that would be improper, but he does get up shakily. ]
No need, no need madame. It is not your fault, I am sure. Dogs are certainly very uncontrollable, from my own experience.
[ He's pretty sure he hit his head from the fall, based on the ringing. But thats not important. ]
[she sighed, raising an eyebrow at Bellby the giant cloud dog.] “yes, I think we can both agree on that…” [the woman chuckled.]
[she was… odd. Spoke like she was older, but didn’t look it at all. Had a very slight Australian accent, dressed like a Canadian man, had an age to her expression that didn’t match her face, and slight, subtle strands of spider silk in her hair.]
“oh, er, I suppose I should introduce myself… my name’s Lerua, pleasure to meet you, even under… overly-chaotic-dog circumstances….” [she chuckled. Bellby looked like they were just happy to be here.]
The pleasure is mine as well, I assure you. I am one Sir Barnabas Bennett. Really, the circumstances do not bother me in the slightest, I find these creatures quite adorable. I had several of my own before my father decided the fluffy carpet each morning was too much of an eyesore.
[ Barnabas does not notice anything amiss. Really, people walked around with bright pink or blue hair, maybe it was just some new weird fashion. Besides, the woman wasn't bringing up the fact he was supposed to be dead or demeaning him in any way, so for now she seemed human enough ]
[the woman chuckled a little at that, shaking her head.] “well, I’m certainly glad you didn’t entirely mind the sudden fluff attack then…” [the woman hummed while her walking cotton ball just stared at Barnabas with big ole eyes like he was the most interesting creature ever.]
“say, I believe I’ve heard of the Bennet family before… you don’t happen to be associated with the Magnus Institute, do you?” [Lerua asked.] “you know… the slightly eccentric building bathed in green that studies and catalogs the esoteric?”
The Magnus Institute? I am to be working there soon.
[ He frowns slightly. ]
Is it reasonable seen so outside? I find their work to be very respectable.
[ Wait, she'd heard of his family... ]
How do you know the house Bennett, exactly?
[ He asks deliberately casually, looking back at the dog all the while. It really was adorable, like his own last unnamed puppy his father had shot when he was asleep. The sight of the poor thing still frightened him to this day... ]
“Oh, just a few historical letters here and there connecting one of them to the founder.” [she smiled, shaking her head.] “I just find it a bit funny another Bennet’s gone and decided to work there. History repeating itself and all that.”
[historical letters? There’s-]
[oh dear lord his letters to Jonah. People have been reading his letters to Jonah. They’re considered ‘historical’ now, oh dear… there must be at least a few in the public records for people to just… ohhhhh dear….]
[on the plus side, Lerua seemed to think he was a descendent of his own bloodline, and Bellby seemed to pick up on Barnabas’s perception of the pup and was very clearly asking for pets.]
[ Barnabas quietly pets the creature, happy to have an excuse not to look this woman in the eye, and has several silent breakdowns. ]
O-oh?
Well, that must certainly be- funny. I have no recollection of ever seeing such things, and if they are in any form related to my lineage- how many are public? That is to say, what exactly do you remember from the contents of them?
”…hmm.” [the woman shrugged.] “fair enough, I suppose. Discovering things about family members can be a bit… interesting, sometimes.” [she chuckled.] “I’m fairly sure I’m related to some eccentric man who was obsessed with gears and saws and kept Tasmanian tigers as pets before they went extinct…”
[ Barnabas says, because he has no clue how to respond to that. Was that man wishing for death or something? Such thoughts were far too scandalous to voice. ]
You do not have any place to be, I hope? I would be rather regretful if I were wasting your time with silly conversation.
[as if sensing that they might have to leave soon, Bellby decided now was a good time to get up on their hind legs and try to climb Barnabas for more pets. This dog was about as tall, if not taller than him, on their hind legs.]
“a- Bellby! No, you already squished him once! Down, down!” [Leura, a bit startled, said as she tried to get the dog back down on the ground and not flopped on top of a man from the Victorian era once again.]
[ Barnabas gives a surprised yelp, then lets out a laugh. ]
What an affectionate dog! Alright then, you fiend, I shan't leave yet.
[ He pets Bellby cheerfully enough. ]
They truly are such wonderous animals! I shall have to take it up with J- whom I share a house with, to inquire if I could get one. Perhaps it would help with the silence.
Aha, it seems the hound agrees also! Such a clever thing, aren't you?
[ There's a certain bemused light in his eyes that's typical to any boy who got picked on because he was "unmanly" and finds themselves more comfortable around animals than people. Kids are the worst ]
[ironically, the dog’s owner got belittled for being too ‘boyish’ for the exact same opinion. Though… this probably had more to do with the fact that some of her animal friends were beasts such as the huntsman spider and the Newcastle big boy, but…]
“They’re certainly a smart dog…” [she chuckled.] “bit too smart, honestly… they kept getting out as a puppy because they figured out how to unlatch the gate..”
[Bellby wagged their tail, looking up at Leura with those big-ole eyes.]
“yes, I know you were curious, but you were a baby! You were too little for wandering around on your own!” [she chuckled, doing that slightly-higher-pitched voice people use on their pets all the time..]
An intelligent animal is the mark of an intelligent owner, so I have heard. Besides, most animals I know are far more intelligent than the common populace.
[ Barnabas remarked half-heartedly. He does sound sincere on the last part. ]
“Oh I believe it.” [Leura chuckled, shaking her head.] “there’s videos out there of crows and raves easily solving problems that humans can’t seem to figure out, not to mention the… unspoken societal rules being so much easier to understand in creatures sometimes than in people…”
[ He doesn't know what a video is, but gets the gist if what it is supposed to represent in this context. ]
Sometimes I do wonder if I missed out on some essential teaching in my childhood, these 'unspoken rules' constantly leave me with my foot in my mouth. How I would love to live among the birds and fish, with no accidental humiliation because I said one thing incorrectly. Ah, but I must sound mad! Forgive my ramblings.
[the woman smiled a little at that.] ”no no, i completely understand what you’re saying there.” [she said.] “animals are a lot easier to read than humans a lot of the time.”
[ Barnabas simply hummed in agreement. Now he needed to find something to talk about, the dog was clearly still keeping him prisoner in its fluffy grasp. ]
You... you did mention my soon place of work. What exactly is the opinion of the public on it?
”oh that,” [she chuckled.] “I’m not quite sure how they managed to do it, but they’ve ended up being somewhat well respected in most ways except in the esoteric community. How one manages that, I have no idea…”
