Contemplating Flight (mimosa)

Gaspard watched as the girl's eyes widened and then realized he had been joking with her. It wasn't often that he really did that with strangers, but the girl had just left herself open for teasing. He blinked and just kept his mouth shut and not scowling as he was want to do and mutter about her usage of a double negative. The fact that she seemed to think that everyone liked her had to be false and while he wanted to speak up about that theory, he didn't. Nor did he point out that owls weren't classified as people but as fowl,which was a different type of animal altogether. Somehow, he didn't think that would even phase this girl.

At her next statement, the preteen felt his lower eyelid twitch. Gaspard really should have just walked away from her the moment she had opened her mouth and he'd realized that she knew less than he did about owls. Instead, he'd 'helped' her which got him into this ridiculous conversation.

"I doubt the owl will want to nest in your hair," he stated matter of factly. "The owls stay up in the aviary, unless they're delivering a letter."

Then when Gaspard didn't think it could get any worse, she had to go and ask if owls came in pink! Blinking at her, Gaspard inwardly clamped down on everything that wanted to spew from his mouth which might get him slapped and/or the girl breaking down in tears. His mother had always told him to treat a female with respect, and he was trying, but this girl was making it rather hard to do. She was coming off as quite a flighty person without anything real in her head.

Eventually he got out a slow, "No, they don't."

Glancing around he frowned, wondering why the clerk wasn't around. Unless he'd known somehow that Mimosa would be like this or had they thought to pawn off a customer while they did something else? The boy was quickly rethinking the pros and cons of staying and if he really needed an owl.

"Don't let me stop you from searching though," he gave her a small smile that didn't reach his eyes. "They have rare birds in here from time to time. You might get lucky and find something to your...liking."

When the boy insisted her owl wouldn't want to nest in her hair, Mimosa looked at him once again, puzzled at this new bit of information. Why would her owl go and live with other owls in what sounded like a shared space when he could just live with her? Sharing a room with even one person sounded like a terrible idea, let alone the hundreds and hundreds of owls that lived at Hogwarts.

A thought struck her then, making the witch turn pale in the dark shop. Would she have to share a room at Hogwarts? No, surely they wouldn't do that to her. It was a big castle, Mimosa was certain there would be one room just for her. She would ask Grandpa, and make him make them give her a personal room. Elenore probably had her own room too so Mimosa wouldn't be too much of a problem.

"Oh no, are you sure?" she asked when he point blank stated there were no pink owls. "Maybe they could have just one, for me?" The idea sounded right to her. Why wouldn't they have an owl just for her? Luckily, Gaspard seemed to be thinking along the same lines when he suggested they might have one in the back.

"Then let's go," the child enthused, clearly cheered up at the prospect of finding rare birds. Without a second thought, she reached out and took hold of the boy's arm, pulling him along with her to the back of the store where - he had been right - more rare birds were kept in well lit cages. A brilliant peacock sunned itself from a yellow lamp above it's enclosure to the right while an orange-y red squirrel flitted up and down a tree branch in its own glass container.

"Wow," mimosa breathed out loud, letting go of Gaspard to inch her way closer to the scampering squirrel. "Now these are cool. Do you think a squirrel can deliver letters?" If owls could do it, maybe other animals could too? She would be truly unique is she had a messenger squirrel instead of an owl.

Just then, she spotted something that made her eyes light up, setting her beautiful face aglow with joy. Off to one side was a cage full of small round living puffballs, and some of them were colored pink and purple. "What are those?" she asked, pointing to the cage with the sign "Novelty Pygmy Owls." The little brunette walked closer to the cage, watching the small round balls bounce around the cage excitedly. "Could you please read that for me?" she asked, pointing to the sign on the cage.

It was fascinating to watch her thought process and despite himself, Gaspard was quite curious as to what was flittering around in there. He almost forgot what she might have been distressed about but nodded with certainty that there were no pink owls of any kind. Shrugging rather that replying to her hopeful question that the universe would somehow give her a pink owl because that was what she wanted.

Thinking that they would be parting ways, he was much disappointed and shocked when the girl grabbed him and he couldn't do anything but trail behind her in a daze. He wasn't used to being touched, and while he wanted to jerk his arm away, he didn't want to cause her to fall either because of his action. So, he'd' sighed and tried to make the best of it since it seemed that he wouldn't be able to leave just yet.

It was no use arguing, he could tell that already. Nor did it appear did she have any regard what so ever for conventionality. Saving his breath from telling her they were in an off limits area, he allowed his gaze to roam around unknowing when such a chance could come again.

When he was let go, Gaspard wasn't aware of it at first but then took full advantage to put a bit of distance between them as he quickly cataloged what he saw. When he was asked about squirrels, he distractedly answered, "What?" Going over towards where she was he shook his head. "No. While flying squirrels can glide, they cannot 'fly'," he informed the girl. He was a bit curious what they were doing in an owl shop unless they were being sold illegally or under the table. Who knew, it could have been the clerk's pet for all Gaspard knew.

"How?" Gaspard asked staring at what had drawn the strange girl this time and blinked at the cage. It seemed the universe did indeed bow to this girl and he nearly wanted to groan. Sighing, he quickly read the sign and frowned. They must have used dye or a spell to color the puffballs and the boy wasn't sure if he really liked that idea. He'd grown up studying animals at his mother's heels, and he'd never seen anything in nature like this. Stuffing his hands into his pockets he eyed the blond and told her what her sign said. "They can carry letters. Congratulations, you found your pink owl. I'll be right back," he told her and went to find the clerk.

Once he'd found him he quickly began to bargain with the man and was able to get him to drop the price of not only the pink monstrosity, but also got a decent price on an eagle owl. Smiling in a self satisfied way, he went back to the girl and told her, "The clerk is giving it away free with a purchase of another owl. I hope you don't mind, but I bought myself an eagle owl."

He pointed to the owl in question that had been watching the encounter with a gimlet eye.

The nine year old was certainly disappointed when Gaspard confirmed that squirrels couldn't really fly, the disappointment was short lived however as she found definitive proof that the universe existed only to give her what she wanted. Pink owls! Tiny pink owls small enough to nestle in her hair should she wish. And pink went with every color too! The child looked up at her companion, waiting for his verdict on the matter as he was the owl expert here. When he admitted that yes, they were exactly what she was looking for, Mimosa let out a squeal and bounded towards the cage where half a dozen puffballs were chasing each other for recreation.

The little witch barely heard Gaspard excuse himself as she watched the tiny little birds, wondering which one she should pick. There was a lavender one with big brown eyes, a pink one with dark purple spots in certain places but it was sleeping. Mimosa did not want a sleepy owl. The smallest of the lot was just big enough to fit comfortably in her tiny palm, and it was shaded in white and pink, it's body starting out white and the pink beginning at the wings. It was currently flying above the rest, preening at the attention from the little girl. It's wings, fully opened, were streaked light to dark pink.

It reminded Mimosa of one of Clara's dip dye experiments. And she knew which owl she would bring home.

"Ahem," someone cleared their throat behind her and the brunette turned to see Gaspard had returned with a grown up, presumably a store employee. "Are we ready to pick one then?" he asked as politely as he could and Mimosa nodded, pointing out the tiny one flying above the rest.

"You don't want that," the clerk shook his head. "He's too small, useless for carrying anything other than a note, and he'll probably die soon. Wings won't support his own weight if he grows." the words coming out of his mouth were unacceptable, making Mimosa inch towards Gaspard, her blue eyes trained on the bigger boy, trusting him to verify if the clerk was telling the truth. The girl didn't like the idea of anything dying, this man had to be lying.

"Well I want this one!" she insisted stubbornly, taking a stand next to Gaspard. "Tell him Gaspard! Tell him this owl will live for many years and be super useful." Reaching for her bag to withdraw her card and make the purchase, she stopped when the boy pointed out that he had already gotten her the owl. At once, a brilliant smile set her face aglow.

Gaspard believed in this tiny owl, and that was good enough for her. "Thank you," she squealed, reaching over to give him a biiiiiig hug. The child wrapped both arms around him, squeezing him as tightly as she could without hurting herself before letting him go.

"Yes, that tiny owl please," she reiterated. The clerk merely shook his head, dashing away to get her a cage for her new pet.

"I can't believe I have an owl," Mimosa gushed as both their pets were placed in proper cages. Her owl wasn't even one fourth as large as Gaspard's but she already loved it to the ends of the world and back. She couldn't wait to show it to everyone! "What should I name it? Do you know any good owl names since you seem to know a lot about them? And what should I feed it? Does it eat mac'n'cheese?" Or ice cream?"

Gaspard was a bit torn as he watched the two 'discuss' whether or not getting such a tiny owl was a good idea. While he agreed with the shopkeeper, he knew what it was like wanting something so badly. When Mimosa pleaded and looked towards him for reassurance, he felt like giving her the facts, but the truth was, didn't Hogwarts have the best teachers? It was possible they could help the small creature. There was also the fact that the girl might not actually decide to use the owl continuously either, and the truth was, Gaspard was sure the owl would be fine once it wasn't confined to the overcrowded cage.

Having had his hand taken was one thing, being hugged by someone that wasn't his parents had him stiffen in surprise. It was a good thing she didn't seem to expect a return gesture of affection or anything and he breathed a bit easier once she let him go. He had to stifle a snicker at the man being bossed about by the tiny girl uncaring that he himself was also in the same predicament but chose to overlook it.

Nearly groaning at the outrageous things she wanted to feed the bird he shook his head. Now that she had the animal it was time she was educated about it. "No. No people food. Unless you want the clerk to have the satisfaction of your owl dying."

That he was sure would grab her attention since he had the feeling she would do anything to prove the man wrong about her wee owl. Giving into the rare urge to smile he at the thought, he quickly schooled his face. "You have to let it exercise its wings to strengthen them, okay?"

For names, he wasn't sure how to help her. Anything he came up with wouldn't be the same type of names she would think up; of that he was sure. The family owl was already named Archimedes, so that wouldn't do. Owl and cage in hand, he took the girl's free hand with his own voluntarily and pulled her back out to the public part of the store and stopped in front of the owl treats. "These are for treats, if your owl correctly delivers its letter, or does what you say, or just as a treat. Its like their chocolate. Too much and they'll get sick."

Looking around he pondered a moment and sighed. In for a penny, in for a pound and all that. Setting his caged owl down for a moment he went and gathered up some things and returned after he paid for them and handed the bag to Mimosa. "There's a kit that should help you take care of your owl. Its also got a book to help you with it and let you know about what kind of food it eats. If you don't let it hunt on its own that is."

A rush of relief flooded the child as Gaspard took her side against the clerk's reassuring her that her owl would be fine. As the man went away to get their purchase, Mimosa turned to tot he boy for more information. Gaspard to his credit preferred showing her better than telling her. She liked him already.

"It's okay," the little witch comforted him when he couldn't think of a name for ehr owl. "I'll just call him "Owl" in the meantime until we can come up with a good name. I did the same thing to my Teddy, his name is Bear and he doesn't seem to mind it." It was true, Bear hadn't complained once which must mean Mimosa was a genius at naming things. Owl would love his name too, as soon as she could think of one for him.

When Gaspard lead her to the front of the shop again, showing her the food that Owl could eat, the girl paid as close attention as she could, having gone slightly pale when he mentioned Owl would die if not cared for properly. Mimosa would not let that happen. "No people food," she repeated obediently before letting him go and collect all the food she could use. The idea of treats for special occasions was a bit unusual but she could work it out, she was sure of that.

The two children emerged from the shop, blinking into the sunlight. Each child carried their own owl, Gaspard's a more serious distinguished owl while hers flapping madly around the cage, excited to have more space to itself. It emitted little noises every few seconds and Mimosa was certain everyone would love it no matter how long Owl kept up his tinny hootings.

Once they were out on the street and it was time to part ways, the nine year old witch turned to Gaspard one last time. "Thank you so much for helping me choose the perfect owl," she said sincerely. He had made the shopping a lot more fun and now she knew almost everything there was to know about owls. "Do you go to Hogwarts by train? if you do, i'll see you at the station!" With that, the child held out her free hand like she had seen adults do. Gaspard was taller than her which meant he was closer to being an adult than she was and therefore he deserved the handshake.

"You can tell me aaaaaalllll about Hogwarts on the train, that will be so much fun, good bye!" she finished, waving enthusiastically to the boy as she walked away to find Clara. Of course Gaspard would be counting the days til he saw her again, that was just how the world worked.

Gaspard sort of smiled when she repeated that she shouldn't give her owl people food. He'd been right. She would not allow her pet to die. Before he knew it they were outside and he blinked as he was thanked for helping the girl choose an owl. The boy didn't think he'd really had anything to do with that. Mimosa had gone off on her own to the staff section of the shop and had all but declared the little owl as hers once she saw it. It hadn't mattered that the thing was tiny. It was pink and she probably thought it was cute. If he hadn't of gotten it, he was sure she would have found a way to smuggle the thing out. She just struck him as that type of person.

"You're welcome?" he stated unsure but wanting to be polite. At the question about the train he nodded dumbly and then stared at her confused. Of course he'd see her at the station since it was obvious she was a witch. She couldn't have gotten in otherwise. Well, her guardian or whomever wouldn't have been getting the girl magical things if she wasn't, he mentally corrected himself.

Blinking at the offered hand, he took it and gave it an awkward shake. Then the next bit registered and he mentally groaned. Oh, no. He would find himself a compartment and spell it closed if he had to. He'd already talked more than he normally did and tried to 'help her' as she stated it with the owl situation. There was no way he was going to try and explain something as ancient as Hogwarts! Even if he tried, there was no way to sum it all up in the time it would take to get from Kings Cross to Hogsmeade Station! Before he could even so much as voice an objection, the girl was gone and he was left wondering what had just happened.