[Open] I was a heavy heart to carry

[newtralize]

Who: Newt Scamander(newtralize) and You!
When: Throughout the month of August
Where: Various Locations
What: Quests, Magic, Canon Update, and a heavy dose of sad.
Warnings: Canon Update to end of CoG and will include mentions/talk of death.


I. Arwel's Favors
[One of the upside of having his niffler was for the array of items that the small creature brought back to the house to outfit the new burrow it was making for itself. Of course, a lot of these items weren't well suited for the creature's burrow and eventually abandoned. Either way, there were an assortment of items that he could drop off. Scales and baubles and bells collected from Harry, who isn't too pleased to have some of his treasures taken.

Newt leaves the establishment with the scarf tucked around his neck before taking a walk around the town, not aware of the effects the scarf might have.]

II. Lunasa Ceremonies
[Newt was fond of dancing, but he was far less willing to dance this time around after his rather mortifying display before with the love potions and all.

He had only meant to watch the merriment (he enjoys people watching), but he finds himself suddenly being dragged into the middle and pushed into another person.] Ah wait- [Too late. It seems you're stuck dancing with the man who awkwardly is staring down at your feet and not your face.] I, oh Merlin, I'm quite sorry. I-

[At least he isn't drunk on some potion this time, but this is really not his element.]

III. Lunasa Catwalk
Oh, absolutely not. No.

[He'll dance with strangers and get pulled into their ceremonies. What he isn't going to do? Be a model for someone and walk some catwalk where everyone can stare at him. That is possibly...the last thing he would ever do willingly. Which is to say, it seems like he isn't getting much of a choice. The young fashion designers are just shoving clothes into his arms to change into.]

I- No- I didn't sign up for this.

[Help...]

IV. Mirror, Mirror (August 10th)
[It's early morning when he finds himself pulled towards the Looking-Glass House. He never had a strong care of going to it. Even with new people arriving, he wandered to the Coven moreso than the place filled with mirrors.

Yet, he found himself drawn to it and wanders into the same room where he had found himself arriving months ago. He places a hand on the mirror he had walked through out of; curious as to why he felt pulled towards it. It happens in a flash that he almost wouldn't have believed what had shown in the mirror. He would, if it didn't weigh so heavy on him immediately.

The return to England to Paris to Hogwarts.

He backs away from the mirror as though it had burned him. He felt lightheaded. Breathless. Newt stares at the mirror before looking at the room before looking back at the mirror.

Eventually he leaves though and wanders through the town listlessly for a bit. Newt can be found throughout the city. His usual haunts, but there's a certain sluggishness in his step. A faraway look in his gaze as though he's not really focusing ahead of him and completely lost in a turmoil of thoughts.]

V. Pile's Plea (August 10th and beyond)
[Note: Newt is canon updated at this point]

[The loose pygmy jacks are a good distraction for Newt. He's a common face at Pile's Petagorium, unsurprising no one.

He's got an armful of the small creatures as he's running down a street following another one of the small rabbit-like beasts. Chasing slippery little creatures is somewhat of a normalcy for Newt. He had chased after his niffler countless times that chasing these little guys is almost refreshing. Though, the quantity of them is probably the most tiring part. With the nifflers, he had only five at most to chase after. With the pygmy jacks, he isn't sure if it'll ever end.]

Oh, come on now. [Weaving through people with furry animals in tow is also a little troublesome.] They weren't kidding when they said they weren't familiar with the city. I think I've found them in every corner of the city. [The ones already in Newt's possession look up at Newt innocently enough.]

VI. Wilde Quests
A
[He lets out a bit of a yawn before rubbing his eyes. Surveillance wasn't usually an issue for him. He had done plenty enough stakeouts in the past, but sleep had been fairly difficult as of late.

There was action here and there, which was enough for him to keep going, but enough downtime that it let him to his thoughts too long. He held his wand loosely in his right hand as he watched the witches work on their teleportation spells before glancing around him.

While Newt was usually a quiet man, he seemed quieter than usual.]

B
[Supply runs was better to keep him busy and being quiet, quick and undetectable was definitely a skill Newt had honed over his travels.] This way.

[He speaks in a hushed, quiet tone as he gestures his partner to follow him. He's equipped well enough to fight if they had to fight, but Newt would prefer getting through this without any fighting. He really had enough fighting for a little while.]

VII. Wildcard
[If none of these work, feel free to PM me or message me via plurk rakuranger. Drop me a separate starter or I'm more than happy to write a starter that works for you!]

Comments

Wilder's Recruitment #3 - Theseus

[newtralize]

It hadn't been the first time that Newt had done a task set by the Wilders. He often left the city walls on his own accord because the mystery of what existed passed the walls enticed Newt much more than what happened within the walls. Learning what was out there, he thought, was important. More importantly, learning how the infection affected everything.

Their travels are filled with Newt's insistent questions. All the details of the moles before infections to what changes may occur with infection to how the creatures travel or attack. Knowing what they're up against was important, especially when they could do nothing but to kill them. A mix between mercy for the things that had been infected and to avoid it from spreading.

Both Newt and Theseus are equipped with their magic, but also keep the warhammer. Theseus was fairly new and Newt felt like there was still much practice still necessary in many of the magic branches that a back up seemed smarter, though he obviously has no love for using it.

They're left to their devices once they reach the lands.

Newt turns to Theseus as he draws his wand. "Figure it out ourselves they said. Well, you'd think they'd have more to say," Newt replies with a shrug. He can't say he's surprised, but he does wonder if it's a little irresponsible. "We've certainly got our work cut out for us."

[chosenside]

For the most part, Theseus is fine keeping quiet as Newt asks the Wilders questions about the moles and the infection they've been impacted with. Every so often he pops in his own question, sometimes just wanting a little more details about the moles and their potential weak spots, but Newt's doing a fine job on his own gathering information that Theseus doesn't feel the need to interject too much. Really, his brother would've made a fine officer at the Ministry... but it's enough to work with him right now.

If Theseus is completely honest with himself, he's not entirely confident in his own magic right now, but he's also not one to sit around while infections spread on the outside. This goes doubly true since Newt's involved. He's more than aware that his younger brother can fend and take care of himself, but this is also something out of their normal scope and Newt's also not as strong as he is back home.

Plus, the loss of Leta is still heavily weighing on his mind, even if he doesn't talk about it at all. It's fine. He's fine. Just. Think about the present.

"Informative blokes, aren't they?" Theseus dryly responds back, taking out his own wand and looking at the large field in front of them. He's probably standing closer to Newt than he normally would, but he hopes the other doesn't notice. Overprotective? No, not at all.

"Best if we can draw them out. Lay a trap and attack them there. The Wilders mentioned they operate through sound and vibrations..." He shifts the warhammer that's been strapped to his back, trying to play off how heavy the weapon is. "If magic can't draw them, we can possibly use this warhammer to create an intense vibration."

[newtralize]

Newt tucks his journal into his back pocket of his pants, having written everything he had learned about the moles into it. Of course the man would do anything and everything to learn about every small detail about a creature. The man was rather insatiable when it came to knowledge.

He rolls his sleeves up to his elbows.

"Well, they informed us, but I can't say they're much use passed that it seems. I suppose we did take the job and it isn't their job to involve themselves passed escorting us," Newt says with a bit of a snort. Perhaps it's their mindset of wanting to help others, but he can't imagine just tossing some people into a situation and leaving them in it. That wasn't something he could fathom.

He lets out a deep breath. "Once we start traveling farther into the fields, they'll notice us. We want to lure them out, so I agree. The warhammer may do well enough to agitate them to seek us out. Let's get to work, shall we?" He glances at the other. "Don't get hurt. The infection is a nasty bugger." And he doesn't want to see his brother getting hurt. His mind suddenly goes back to the dream. The destruction that had befallen the city. The remains of the zouwu that sat at the abandoned barracks. The ghostly apparitions that haunted the city. The idea that those apparitions could be his brother or he can come across his brother's-

He swallows audibly. "We've got to stop these things." Though, Theseus probably understands the difficulties of Newt having to take creatures down. While Newt had done enough hunting during his travels, it really wasn't quite the same as basically mercy killing the creatures they were about to face.

[chosenside]

"Almost seems like they're testing us. Giving us enough information to combat the infected moles, but not lending a hand beyond that."

It doesn't sit completely right with Theseus. He's fine with it right now because it's Newt and him on this mission and they're both experienced wizards, but he didn't see any age requirement for taking on these 'quests.' Do these Wilders actually accept anyone that's willing to sign up?? There's children here for Merlin's sake and Theseus can't even imagine sending them on something like this no one tell him about their world's future and Harry Potter.

"I'll be careful. Make sure you do the same." Theseus replies, concern flickering in his eyes as an image of Newt wounded and infected by these moles appears briefly in his mind. It makes his chest tighten, but he can't let himself be pulled into that mindset; it won't help him concentrate and Theseus doesn't want Newt to be distracted by him. He can already tell that he's upset about killing these moles and the Auror isn't about to push more weight onto him.

"We do."

Theseus looks at his brother for a few seconds and puts a hand on his shoulder, gripping it in comfort, before making his way out into the fields.

IV

[textsfromhotland]

[Alphys has come to the Looking Glass House every day since she arrived, in hopes that she'll feel that compelling sensation she was told about, and she could go home. Much like her previous attempts, however, this one yielded nothing.

On her way out, she happens to see a human man who's also leaving, and notices that he looks a little unnerved. She's not sure what happened, but she can't help but wonder if he was also trying to get home. Someone else she can commiserate with!

She follows him for a bit before she can try and catch his attention properly.]

Um, h-heya... were you looking for your mirror, too?

[newtralize]

[He startles a little when she speaks to him. Newt had been so entrapped in his thoughts that he hadn't noticed that he wasn't quite alone. He offers her a smile, though it's strained at best.]

Oh. I- Sorry, I hadn't realized I had company. [Her appearance is quite interesting, though he isn't bothered by it. He wouldn't have before, but this place really normalizes the uniqueness of features on another with people undergoing monster changes.]

Oh, uhm. You can say that. Well, that is, I know which one seems to be mine. [He had been pulled to it, though he can't say why nor can he say that finding it had worked out in his favor.] Why do you ask?

[textsfromhotland]

W-well, I sort of stumbled into mine about a week and a half ago, and someone told me we can't go back through them unless we feel compelled to. S-so I've been trying to come here and see if it would work for me, but it hasn't yet. Has it ever happened to you?

[Of course, his still being here is probably proof it hasn't but maybe some people can just come and go? She's holding onto that sliver of hope for now.]

[newtralize]

[His smile turns a little sympathetic.] I believe you may want to put your time to something else, really. I don't think it's anything that can be stimulated and can just merely happen. I've been here for months now. [While he understands the want to go home, he'd hate for them to spend so much time here when she can make better use of it.]

I'm sure when it happens, it will. There's much that this city offers though.

II. Lunasa Ceremonies

[weirdnecro]

It's fine lovely.

[Sokie offered him a quick smile. It was fine-she figured that he would feel awkward like this. Not his fault; this was a rather particular situation, and she had been shoved in here too. But she still offered his shoulder a gentle squeeze.]

You can be as nervous as you want. But-

[Her voice lowered, conspiratorial, as she added:]

All we have to do is wait for everyone to get wrapped up in the mood, and we can dance our way out. Right?

[newtralize]

[He's honestly a bit used to dancing with strangers if only because working at the Ministry kind of deemed it essential for some of their formal gatherings.

The more recent memories of dancing and making a bit of a fool of himself sticks out though and really was why he was a bit more flustered about the situation. Though the other's more laidback and confident nature that they seem to have and pet name catches him off guard.]

Oh, well- [He guesses that is an option, though the natives sure are pushy about this all aren't they.] Hoping that they won't drag us back into the thick of it if that's the case. It isn't as though I'm opposed to it. More like, my last experience was a tad embarrassing.

[weirdnecro]

[At least she's not simpering at him and asking what he does for the Ministry. And they're not in thick hot robes with the weather being as it is.

And Sokie, he'll find, is casually confident about everything.]

Well, if it means I have to kick off my shoes so we can run-that's what we'll do.

[Her smile widened briefly, and she offered his shoulder another squeeze.]

Had a spill on the dance floor? I've got to admit-I've done that once or twice. But I can blame the heels.

[newtralize]

I really do hope it doesn't come to that. [He'd hate for her to have to give up stuff on herself. But mostly, the idea that they'd have to high tail it out of there as quick as possible. If only the natives weren't so aggressive about their participation...

He's stiff under her touch. He's a bit on the awkward side.]

Oh no. The dancing part was fine. I was acting like a right fool. [Love potion problems.]

III Lunasa Catwalk - BURIES FACE IN HANDS

[chosenside]

[How Theseus got roped into watching this fashion show is truly a mystery. He cares little for these sort of events, really, but the judges and other attendees wouldn't take no for an answer. These people are truly adamant when they want something. Maybe he'll be able to sneak away during an intermission, but for now, he's truly stuck here.

At the very least, he doesn't have to judge any of the models.

It's temping to just take out his comm and check the admittedly advanced piece of technology for any new posts, but he's not going to be rude

So he sits back, and watches each model, clapping when necessary and overall being his usual poised self.]

I can't believe this is how Newt is gonna die.

[newtralize]

[Newt is trying to figure out what is more mortifying. The outfit he's wearing in front of a whole crowd of strangers or the fact that a bunch of people had all but manhandled him into said outfit.

If...one could call this a full outfit. Last he checked, a proper outfit meant one was suitably covered. He can easily say that he is not suitably covered. No matter how much he tries to dig his heels in, he's eventually pushed out to the catwalk and forced to start walking across it.

Just don't look at anyone. Don't make eye contact with anyone. It'll be fine. He just has to get to the end. Do a spin and walk back. This is fine. What's the worst that can happen?

And then he sees Theseus in the crowd and-

No, he has definitely decided what is the most mortifying thing to happen. Wearing this bloody outfit and being caught seen in it by someone he knows. More so, caught by his brother of all people. He's pretty sure he wants the earth to engulf him.]

Oh, applesauce. [He says it under his breath. Even to himself, he seemingly refrains from saying anything too obscene.]

the worst death imaginable

[chosenside]

[At first, Theseus doesn't even notice that it's Newt. Because that outfit is truly gaudy and horrendous and he's too busy being personally affronted by the design to notice the unfortunate soul wearing it until he squints at his face--]

Newt?!

[Newt will at least get to see his brother caught fully off guard, his jaw hanging in a rather undignified manner as the person next to him ribs the Auror in the side to be quiet. But Theseus either doesn't care or doesn't notice because he's staring straight at his brother, like he's really making sure that it's Newt walking down the catwalk and not anything else, such as his eyes playing tricks on him. ...Not that he would ever want to see Newt in an outfit like this, but just the situation is so bizarre.

It's easy to assume that he got dragged into this, similarly to how Theseus got dragged into watching this fashion show in the first place. But Newt has been dealt with a far harsher fate than him.]

Why won't the earth just swallow him so he can stop existing. Death is more merciful tbh

[newtralize]

[For what it's worth, Newt keeps walking and keeps looking anywhere that isn't in the direction of his brother. Of course, that obviously means that he knows Theseus is in the crowd and he doesn't get to fully appreciate his brother gaping like a fish. Mostly because he's gaping like a fish because he caught his brother in some risque outfit and that really is just not how he wanted his day to go.

At least he seemingly goes through the entire walk. The (awkward) pose at the end of the catwalk to show off the outfit a bit before he has to make the walk of shame back off the catwalk.

He surely was already thinking of how to avoid his brother for the rest of his life, assuming he doesn't get forced into another outfit.

Maybe...Maybe Theseus won't go looking for him and they can both consider this some shared, awful fever dream. That would be great, right? This didn't happen. At all. Nope. Just a fluke from their combined imaginations somehow.]

V

[selfishwish]

[Momiji and the pygmy jacks have that much in common, at least--wandering all over the city without any clue where they're going, that is. Though Lùnasa's long since ended, he's stuck with the habit he picked up during the festival of rising early to poke around the streets to see what he can see. Most of the time, it's at least as interesting as the celebrations on his first few days in the city.

Today, he's window-shopping outside some emporium full of things he mostly doesn't recognize, when something furry dashes right over his feet.]

...huh?

[He swivels this way and that, trying to spot whatever'd just darted past--but before he can, he catches sight of Newt dashing through the crowd, almost bang-on his way, arms loaded down with fuzzy, be-horned creatures.]

Oh, hey, careful! [The teen yelps, trying to dart hastily out of the way--and, down at his feet, the pygmy jack who's decided he looks like the most plausible cover in sight scurries hastily after him, trying to hide itself back behind his ankles once more.] If you trip like that, your friends will all get hurt!

[newtralize]

[For what it's worth, Newt doesn't crash into the other. A little pop sound seems to follow as Newt seems to disappear and reappear a few feet behind Momiji and avoids colliding with the other completely. Magic really was handy in that regard.]

Sorry- Oh, pardon me. I'm looking for- aha. [He gently places the creatures in his arms down. Surprisingly enough, they don't sprint away from the man but just sniff and maybe try to chew on his laces before he all but drops to the ground and grabs the pygmy jack that's trying to hide by Momiji's ankles. Of course, this makes it look like he might be trying to grab at the poor boy's ankles. Don't worry. He's a professional.

No, really, he kind of actually is.] These little guys are loose all over the city and need to come back hom-come on now. The fireworks won't scare you anymore. [His hurried tone immediately switches to something softer when he speaks to the small rabbit hybrid.]

[selfishwish]

Woah...!

[Magic is still pretty new for Momiji, and so one second he's bracing to have a guy with an armload of rabbit-things barrel into him, and the next he's gasping in wonder. That was really cool!]

Oh! It's okay, um--[He fidgets and squints at Newt for just a second when the guy grabs around his feet, but then he spots the rogue pygmy jack lurking down there, too, and brightens.]

Awww! They're so cute! [Crouching down to watch Newt try to coax the thing to come along.] Are they like...rabbits? Or...[What do they call the horned rabbits they have in America? (Except not, because they're made-up?) Oh, right:] Like tiny jackalopes!

[It's kind of a bummer that his Curse doesn't seem to have carried over here! It would've been a little exciting to see if he could chat with them like normal bunnies. But instead he just tilts his head curiously and tries to stay still, so as not to spook it.]

Where'd they all get loose from?

August 15th - Theseus

[newtralize]

Newt wasn't a very good liar. He was a bit too honest of a fellow. Perhaps so much that he ended up being much too blunt and matter-of-fact with his words. However, Newt was good at deflecting.

The days after his trip to the Looking-Glass House, he had kept himself busy. After all, there was still much to be done. Magic to practice and odd jobs to do. Cleaning the barracks to researching what he can. It keeps himself busy well enough, but maybe too well. He had always been a bit of a busybody. Maybe more so than usual. It was easier to be busy than to mull over the many thoughts that had been plaguing him.

Honestly, overworking himself wasn't the best thing to do while recovering from injuries. Injuries never stopped him before, anyways.

Fatigue, however, catches up to the magizoologist. A crash and clatter and a "fiddlesticks" can be heard.

Theseus probably was no stranger to Newt's habits; even if it's been sometime since they've shared a space as closely before. Newt wasn't someone who let his health fall. When he had so many creatures to care for, he could ill afford to let his own health fall. He wasn't one for indulging or being frivolous, but he certainly wasn't one to completely run himself ragged either.

The magizoologist was a crumpled heap on the floor looking a bit worse for wear.

[chosenside]

Similarly to Newt, Theseus has been keeping himself busy. Without his work as an Auror, he's been finding himself with more free time than what he's used to. Of course, relearning magic and practicing has taken a good portion of that time, as well as taking on jobs and building connections with others, but it's still fundamentally strange to him that he's not in charge of chasing down Dark Wizards. But Theseus doesn't consider this to be a break, and he dislikes sitting around anyway.

Unfortunately, because of that, he doesn't exactly quite notice that Newt's always been out and about, not resting when he really needs to. Theseus has just been under the impression that his brother can balance working and resting; he's not that sort of reckless. Despite the ribbing he gives Newt, Theseus has relatively high expectations of him.

Which is why it's a surprise to suddenly hear a crash and Theseus turns, about to ask Newt what's going on but--

--his brother is on the floor.

And for a split second, Theseus feels his breath hitch, his mind instantly turning to the worst possible scenario. He barely registers dropping his tea onto the ground, before rushing over to Newt and sitting him up slightly while checking his body for injuries. ...Just the same ones he sustained after protecting Theseus, but they still look bad. The guilt gnaws on him, but he shakes his head to himself before giving Newt a slight shake.

"NEWT! SAY SOMETHING!" Theseus exclaims loudly, not paying much attention to how loud he's being. He's honestly panicking a little and he's still worried about the infection, even though it's been cured. He just wants to hear some sort of reaction out of him.

[newtralize]

He jolts out of his daze when the other yells, pulled out of his stupor. He glances at the other; rather shocked at the sudden exclamation. Perhaps...he had overdone it a bit, but he didn't expect the other to panic.

Newt lets out a shaky breath. "I- I'm fine. Really," Newt says softly. "Sorry, I- I'm not sure what happened." No, he knows what happened. That was a lie. Newt knew that he had overdone it, but he wasn't about to admit that to the other yet. His intention was to just keep himself busy and give the other space before perhaps breaching a difficult topic. Funny. His intention was to not worry Theseus, but he's pretty sure that he had just done the opposite of his intentions because now Theseus was hovering over him. If he wasn't mistaken, the other looked much like he was expecting the worst even.

"I'll be fine. Just- I need a moment," Newt says as he tries to offer the other a comforting smile. Even Newt's smiles have been more brittle as of late. "You don't have to worry, Theese."

Newt was good at deflecting. He wasn't very good at lying.

V Pile's Plea - super belated oops

[thisisamazing]

[Hiccup isn't officially tasked with helping to round these things up. He'd just stopped into town to unload some of Toothless' scales to the blacksmith he's grown most familiar with, and suddenly found a couple of creatures running loose across the road. He's fished one of the pygmy jacks out from under a merchant's stall, to the merchant's relief, with Toothless making an exasperated face at the whole ordeal, when he happens to spot Newt coming down the way. Carting more of these little things?

Holding the squirming pygmy jack in one arm, Hiccup waves him over.] Hey! Is this one of yours? [Because you know, creatures = Newt, right?]

[newtralize]

[It's not such a wrong assumption to think that they might belong to the man, given his growing menagerie back in the barracks.

He hurries over to the other, looking a bit winded. It's been quite a day running the entire city for the little buggers.] Yes, thank you. [The little rabbit-like creature tries to squirm away from Hiccup to join his brethren in Newt's arms.] Some fireworks gave them quite a fright and it's been quite the ordeal to try and get them all back safely.

They're rather recent additions. [Unfortunately.]

[thisisamazing]

[Poor Newt looks like he's had a day. Hiccup has to stifle a smile, passing the squirming little bunny-like thing to Newt to join its siblings. Friends? Whatever.] Poor things. Toothless didn't like the fireworks much either. [He didn't run away, though, he just fired off some plasma blasts into the sky like he was trying to tell the neighbors to keep it down.]

Do you want some help tracking them down? Unless that's all of them there.