InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "I solemnly swear..."

Quirinus Quirrell (double_q) wrote,
@ 2008-09-10 18:37:00

Current mood:

happy

If there's a bustle in your hedgerow, look out. It might be a badger!
Q, wearing his usual work clothes, is puttering around his front steps. It's quite early, but the sun is bright and he is singing.

Good morning good morning
good morning good morning
good morning, a

Nothing to do to save his life
call his wife in
Nothing say but what a day
how's your boy been
Nothing to do, it's up to you
I've got noting to say but it's O.K.

Good morning good morning
good morning a

John is in a shallow pan on the porch, basking in the sun and, for all anyone can tell, enjoying the day and the song.

Q is having a heated argument with a dandelion, who's root seems to be embedded in concrete. He's waiting for Jack so they can beard the badger in it's den.

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time_after_time
2008-09-10 05:54 pm UTC (link)

Jack has dressed much more casually than usual, jeans and a t-shirt actually worn as his outer shirt-- usually he wears a white one as an undershirt under a button-down. Gotta be prepared for badgers, after all. And more dressed than when he met Q.

He's walking up to Q's cottage when he hears singing, followed by an argument with someone or something that isn't actually answering back. Well, not like Jack doesn't do the same himself, talking to things that don't answer.

He sings out a couple of lines to announce himself,
"Going to work don't want to go feeling low down
Heading for home you start to roam then you're in town"

\../, for Led Zeppelin ref too :D

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double_q
2008-09-10 07:03 pm UTC (link)

Q turns at the sound of Jack's voice. He sings the next verse.

Everybody knows there's nothing doing
Everything is closed, it's like a ruin
Everyone you see is half asleep
And you're on your own, you're in the street

"Good morning!" he grins. "I'm just having a bit of a relocation discussion with a dandelion." He waves his hand at the ground. "It says it likes it where it is. I think it'd be better off on the compost heap."

Hee! Thanks!

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time_after_time
2008-09-10 07:07 pm UTC (link)

Jack grins cheerfully and returns,
"Good morning good morning
After a while you start to smile now you feel cool
Then you decide to take a walk by the old school
Nothing had changed it's still the same
I've got nothing to say but it's O.K."

He chuckles and looks to the dandelion curiously. "I could try to intimidate it into moving. Lots of glaring and a stern talking-to."

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double_q
2008-09-10 08:34 pm UTC (link)

Q laughs.

People running 'round it's five o'clock
Everywhere in town it's getting dark
Everyone you see is full of life
It's time for tea and meet the wife

"It's always great to know another Beatles fan!"

"You're more than welcome to give it a try," Q glares at the flower. "I've got to put John back inside. Maybe it just doesn't like me and you'll have it out in a jif. Then we can sing Where have all the flowers gone." He scoops the pan up off the porch. "Back in a mo. Good luck." He ducks inside the cottage.

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time_after_time
2008-09-10 09:14 pm UTC (link)

"Somebody needs to know the time, glad that I'm here
Watching the skirts you start to flirt
Now you're in gear
Go to a show you hope she goes
I've got nothing to say but it's O.K.
Good morning good morning."

He sketches a bow and grins. "And one who sings, too. Some people are self-conscious about it."

The dandelion doesn't seem affected by Q's glaring, unfortunately. "John, who's John?" He's know... a few Johns. The man who couldn't live with being out of time. The-- person-- going by Hart now. Once Jack spots the turtle, he understands. "Ahh, pet then. Get him on inside while I make this flower cower. Might have to resort to the hands-on approach."

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	double_q 2008-09-11 07:08 am UTC (link)
	Q applauds briefly. "You sound pretty good. And," he ducks his head, "I sing all the time. My dorm-mates used to find it incredibly annoying." "Right." Q holds up the pan so Jack can see the turtle a bit better. "After John Lennon," he says shyly. "Be right back. And watch out; I think it might bite." He turns back at the door. "D'you have gloves Jack?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

time_after_time
2008-09-11 02:50 pm UTC (link)

"Why thank you. I don't sing as often as you do. And your dorm-mates should've appreciated the free entertainment."

Jack peers curiously at the turtle and smiles. "I figured. I've named things after them, myself. Uh, not pets though, so maybe not the most flattering choices. Can I call him 'Lennon' or is it just John?" He keeps his fingers to himself.

"Gloves? Nope. Probably should have some, huh?"

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double_q
2008-09-11 03:14 pm UTC (link)

"They said it interfered with their studying. Ravenclaws are noted for our scholarship."

"It's just 'John'. Calling him John Lennon seems, well, a bit presumptuous on my part. You can pet him. He's very friendly. I think."

"Definitely! And not just because of the badger. Some of the spiders have nasty bites that should be avoided. There are some in the shed. If they don't fit I can alter them for you."

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time_after_time
2008-09-11 03:33 pm UTC (link)

"Maybe their studying was interfering with your singing! Uh, not that I'm noted for scholarship myself."

So much for not having to use that name, then. "All right then." He whispers to the turtle, "Just between you and me, I'll call you 'turtle'." He's petted stranger and more dangerous things than turtles, and carefully hovers a finger over the turtle's head, seeing what it'll do about it.

"Just what are you throwing me into out there, Q?"

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double_q
2008-09-11 04:22 pm UTC (link)

"I never thought of it that way." Q smiles. "That was my house at Hogwarts. Ravenclaw. The brains." He rolls his eyes.

John stretches out his head lazily toward Jack's finger. "See?" Q says happily. "He likes you."

"The first part of wilderness is 'wild'," Q points out. "Just taking reasonable precautions." He scurries into the cottage and comes right back out, wearing his hat and tucking his gloves into his pocket. "John is happily eating lettuce on the piano," he tells Jack. "The shed's this way." He points toward the back corner of the grounds.

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time_after_time
2008-09-11 06:34 pm UTC (link)

"Certainly takes some good thinking to remember a bunch of lyrics, get the notes right, things like that. Unless you're one of those packaged music acts, that is."

He looks at the turtle curiously and gives its shell a careful stroke, not sure if it can feel anything through that. "That's good. I wouldn't want the dislike of a turtle."

He nods some, ready to follow Q. "A turtle on a piano, huh? Somehow, that makes sense with his namesake." He nods and starts heading for the shed.

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double_q
2008-09-11 08:39 pm UTC (link)

"You'd be amazed at some of the stuff I remember. I know I am. Although," he hunches a bit, "lately I seem to be a bit forgetful." He rubs the back of his head. "What's that exactly?"

"I worry that he doesn't like me," Q confesses. "Or that I'm doing something wrong."

"I thought so too!" He beams happily. "He seems to enjoy it when I play, though it's sort of hard to tell. D'you have any pets?"

Q has not met the puppies yet.
And he wanted to sing 'Boris the Spider' by The Who, but I said no. It would be mean. ;)

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time_after_time
2008-09-13 12:49 pm UTC (link)

"Oh yeah? Short term retention problems, or missing chunks? By packaged acts, I mean there are some 'pop artists' that are basically shaped by studios to sell lots of albums, even though they've got no musical talent or sincerity whatsoever."

He doesn't know how Q would be able to tell if the turtle didn't. Not much facial expression there. Maybe if the turtle got bitey or something. "Seems content enough."

"Do you play it when he's on it?" He chuckles some-- that'd be something to see. "No, I've never had any pets. Right now we're looking after someone else's, though. Six puppies."

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double_q
2008-09-13 08:00 pm UTC (link)

I'm...not sure," Q says ruefully. "It doesn't seem to be short term. I remember five minutes ago and last night. But it's hard to tell with memory. I don't know I've forgotten until I try to remember. They said at the hospital that it was normal and I shouldn't try to force it." He is genuinely puzzled. "Do they do that? It seems, I don't know, kind of like cheating."

"You think so?" Q seems vastly relieved. "It's just I've never had a pet and I don't want to mess it up. Or hurt him."

"Yes I do!" Q grins hugely. "I think John sort of watches me when I do." He ducks his head and blushes. Jack will probably think he's silly for thinking so. "Six puppies?" he frowns. "Krycek's puppies? Why are they staying here? Is he sick or something?"

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time_after_time
2008-09-13 08:42 pm UTC (link)

"Memory's a very finicky thing, and it's really a bitch to know that you're missing a gap, yeah. I hope it'll come back for you someday." He's certainly experienced with it himself, between the two years that were taken from him-- and inducing memory losses in so many others in their work. "It's probably more common or at least much more noticeable these days than it used to be. Squeaky-clean pretty pop acts with highly electronically produced sounds. Best to stay away from that. The classics last for a reason!"

"He isn't doing things I'd guess an upset turtle might do, not hiding out in that shell or trying to claw and bite. Just my guess from the mouth and nails on him, and if you have a shell like that, it's something you'd use when you felt defensive, right?"

He laughs more as he imagines it-- not laughing at Q, but in enjoyment of the image. "You knew he had six puppies? Yeah, they're his. He didn't want them stuck at the animal shelter they're from, but I guess his place isn't puppy-friendly yet either, so... asked Ianto for an assist, since there's space here and all."

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double_q
2008-09-14 07:05 am UTC (link)

Q nods. It really is. He just wishes he could pick which things he forgot. "I hope so too." He curls his lip. "No fear! It sounds dreadful to me."

He nods thoughtfully. "Good point. He hardly ever goes into his shell. He scratches a bit when he walks on you, but he can't really help that."

Q shoots Jack an anxious glance when he laughs, but it doesn't seem to be mean. "Yeah, he went with me when I got John and he mentioned it. So they're all there?" He jerks a thumb back toward the spa. "How are you getting on?" He shakes his head. "I still think it's slightly insane taking on six pups at once."

They reach the shed and Q goes inside. He comes back out with a battered pair of leather gloves. "Here, try these on for size." He holds them out to Jack.

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time_after_time
2008-09-16 09:36 pm UTC (link)

"It really is! If any of it tries to approach, I'll try to chase it away."

He nods some and smiles. "Ah, not retractable claws, huh? I was assuming from his anatomy."

"That sounds like a much more interesting piano decoration than lace or flowers. He did, huh?" He didn't imagine that Krycek was the shopping-accompanying type. Adopting-accompanying. Whatever the right term is. "Yeah, all six of them are there. It's quite a handful, but I think we're managing all right enough, for all our inexperience."

He examines the gloves before trying to pull them on, they make it partway up his hand before he can't squeeze them further, and he chuckles. "Large hands. Got any others, or can you adjust these?"

Woooo, got distracted and worn out with some room organizing, lost track once again, sorry!

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double_q
2008-09-17 07:20 am UTC (link)

Q laughs, a bit uncertainly. "Thanks. Might be even more than a wand can deal with."

"Uh uh," Q shakes his head. "Luckily he doesn't weigh very much."

"And he gets the most sun, right there in the window." He nods. "I asked him to. He knows more about animals than I do. You're a better man than I am Gunga Din. I don't think I could handle even one puppy, let alone six at once." He shoots Jack an anxious glance. "Could I see them sometime? I promise I'll be careful."

"I'll say. I can adjust them. No problem." He takes out his wand. "Best take them off. I don't want to enlarge your hands too." He takes the gloves, lays them on the ground and does a baby enlargement charm. The gloves expand and Q picks them up. "Try them now." He passes them to Jack.

No worries. I don't suppose you make house calls? ;)

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time_after_time
2008-09-17 09:45 pm UTC (link)

"Generally things that can fit in one hand aren't too heavy, unless they're really deceptively dense. Does happen. Apparently not with turtles."

He hasn't been into any of the cottages or the property, or gone off to the stables for that matter, so he's not sure what it looks like in there. "Ahh, I didn't realize. Thought maybe just dogs." Hidden depths of Krycek and all that. He coughs a bit. "Er, well, he didn't exactly ask me. If he'd asked me, uh. But he asked Ianto to help and Ianto asked me if it was all right, and I couldn't just throw the poor things out." And it was a help for Ianto, excuse to see Krycek more. "I think you'd need to ask him since they're his, or maybe ask Ianto."

He tugs off the gloves and hands them over as Q is getting the wand ready. He chuckles and wiggles his fingers. "Yeah, think they're pretty large as it is. There you go." He nods and re-accepts the gloves, then pulls them on. "Much better."

Well, this was a "lived in this house almost 12 years, been packrat through this time, maybe should clean up a dozen years of that" organization... :P

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double_q
2008-09-18 07:43 am UTC (link)

"Made out of lead or titanium of something like that." Q nods. "Nope, he's just flesh, blood and bone."

"Well, I think it's more dogs than anything else, but it's still more than I know. I don't know much about pet-type animals." He grins. "Yeah, they turn on those cute puppy faces and you're in their power." Q looks back to the main building. "I'll check with Ianto next time I go up to the house."

"Troll-sized hands are definitely contraindicated," he agrees, watching as Jack pulls the gloves on. He smiles, pleased that they fit. "Good! Now," Q turns slightly to the left, "you see those big hedges over there?" He waves a hand. "Those mark the property boundary more or less. And right by the far end, there's the hole that I think the badger lives in."

Ah. I know exactly what you mean! *looks around my room* Exactly!

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time_after_time
2008-09-19 03:36 pm UTC (link)

"Yep. A titanium turtle, there's a thought..."

He nods as well. "Yeah, neither do I. Never had pets. Well, not really. We sort of have a resident creature at work, not quite a pet. I'm used to dealing with lots of different lifeforms, though." He nods again, rapidly. "It's unfair how cute they are. I think Natasha has me wrapped around her little paw. Yeah, Ianto would know better if Krycek would be okay with it."

Laughing lightly, he wiggles his gloved fingers. "Definitely. There we go." He looks over at the hedges in mild surprise. "Oh, they do? And now I sound like some pompous rich bastard who doesn't know the size of his own property, but I'm learning the place. What do we do, then, creep up to the hole and have a look?"

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double_q
2008-09-19 07:28 pm UTC (link)

Q's brow wrinkles. "I suppose I could transfigure him, but that seems kind of mean."

"Neither did I. My mother didn't like the idea. Really? What sort of pet do you have? And where did you work?" He grins. "Natasha? Please tell me one of them isn't named Boris. I wouldn't hurt them," Q says automatically.

"Great! You can keep them if you'd like. I can get another pair if I need them." Q nods. "It pretty big. Ianto really lucked out when that lady left it to him. He could probably make a fortune if he decided to sell the place." He shakes his head. "What I thought we'd do is, I'd sneak around and come up from the other side. Then you'd make a lot of noise and scare it out of it's hole. Then I could stupefy it." He frowns again. "If it comes out."

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time_after_time
2008-09-25 06:51 pm UTC (link)

"Yes, you should accept him just as he is, shell and all."

He tries to think of how to explain, and then figures he might as well just out with it and see how Q reacts. "A pterodactyl. Seriously. Blame Ianto; he's the one who found it. We were working in Cardiff before we ended up here." That draws another grin from him. "No moose and squirrel to worry about, either. No, they've all got Russian names, but no Boris."

"Oh, thanks. They'll probably come in handy to do some work around here. I won't cut into yours, of course, unless you want a hand with some things. Not exactly my expertise, plants." He nods in agreement. "It's a hell of a place, yeah. However she afforded it, she was doing well for herself. So, you'll be nice and quiet, and flag me when it's time for the dramatics?"

Epic fail again, sigh!

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double_q
2008-09-26 06:39 am UTC (link)

"I do," Q tells him, with a fond glance toward the house.

Q eyes go wide a saucers. "Do you really?!" He doesn't doubt for an instant that Jack isn't telling him the truth. "Where do you keep it? I mean, some of those things had a wing-span of 10-plus meters! Oh, so you knew each other before you came here." He nods. That explains a lot. "That's good," Q laughs. "I'd hate to have to be on the lookout for Fearless Leader." A strange look passes over his face, but it's gone in an instant. He resolve to go up to the house as soon as possible and meet the pups.

"That'd be great! It's a big place for one person to look after, even with the wand to help out." Q smiles. "Neither did I," Q shrugs. "I got an 'O' in Herbology. There's not a lot of difference between magical and regular plants. Photosynthesis is photosynthesis." Q looks a bit uncomfortable at this, remembering what he thought went on at the spa. "She sure was," he remarks. He nods. "Right. I'll have my wand shoot up red sparks when I'm ready, then you come in like gangbusters, I stun the badger and Bob's your uncle!" He gazes at the trees. "Give me about ten, fifteen minutes to get into position." He walks off toward the tree-line and slips into the forest, making almost no noise.

No worries! Really! :) *pats*

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time_after_time
2008-09-26 03:50 pm UTC (link)

"Mmhmm! Our base is underground, so there's a fairly large area for it to roost in, but we do have to let it out sometimes to get more of a stretch and fresher air. I'd say a few meters on the wingspan, wider than I'm tall but not huge like that. Yeah, we've known each other a few years now." Jack's turn for a fond glance. "And at work back home, I'm actually his boss. Not the case here, certainly." He looks curiously at Q, not sure what the brief expression was, can't really guess.

"You'll probably need to tell me what to do, what goes in or out of the gardens and what to haul around. I do a lot of running around in my regular work, so don't worry about tiring me out. Do magical plants just have some extra properties to them?" He nods some; he didn't really know Phèdre, would've liked to have, but ah well. "Think I can handle that!"

Jack gets himself settled to wait, keeping watch on where Q heads into the trees to have a rough sense of where to look for the sparks.