Post by TELEMACHUS JASPER HIGGS on Sept 6, 2014 22:35:45 GMT -5
 Telemachus Jasper Higgs FORTY Pureblood Hogwarts Librarian Ten-inch Willow, Unicorn Hair, Swishy BIRTHDAY: 40; April 2nd PATRONUS: Mink ABILITIES: Nonverbal Magic; Animagus (Mink) I suppose we ought to begin with the formalities. Name in full, age, and other pertinent particulars, if you would please. "Telemachus Jasper Higgs. Just recently forty years of age. And, you know, this would go oh-so-much smoother over a little fire whiskey, perhaps with a little ginger. Or even a lot - the whiskey, not the ginger." Sorry. I've been given strict orders not to allow you any strong drink. "Oh pish. You're certainly developing a reputation for being a stick in the mud. Did you say 'under orders?' Have I really developed that poor of a reputation? If not, I'll certainly have to apply myself more vigorously." Getting back to the matter at hand. Telemachus, eh? That's certainly an original name. "It's only been in existence nearly two and a half millennia. Telemachus was the son of Odysseus who came to become a man while his father was away at war. Suffice to say my mother had a wicked sense of humor; my father's fighting was coming to a close when I was conceived, but he spent all of my boyhood imprisoned in Azkaban. I'll admit, it is something of a pain - telling a story behind a name that so few actually know. You can see how I'm content to simply go by 'Telly'." And how was it that you came to be the librarian at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Telly? "Application, interview, acceptance. The same process I assume you followed to become grand inquisitor of journalism for... who did you say you write for again?" I didn't. "Ah. Must be some low budget rag. Had to wonder why you had interest in me. Though it does explain why you're too poor to spring for proper libations." Beg pardon? "Merely a joke. I hope you don't bruise easily, do you? As to your question, I was a student at Hogwarts as a child; both my older brother, Terence, and I attended here, as our parents did before us. Terry, like our parents, was sorted into Slytherin, which I have to admit gave me a bit of a false expectation of that house when I arrived three years after him. I should have probably known better, it was our war criminal father's house after all (along with a good many of his bosom buddies), but I've never known my father outside of photographs. I found my place in Hufflepuff house, which suited me just fine. I was a good enough student, insomuch as I understood what was being taught and I do love to read - I simply don't test well. Following graduation, my mother convinced me to take a job clerking in Borgin & Bourke's..." And... "She meant well. But that place is creepy - and I'm not one to creep easily. There was a time I gave thought to moving down the Alley to Flourish and Botts, but I simply didn't believe I'd be able to tolerate the flux of children." And yet, here you are, librarian at a school for wizarding children. "Aren't you just the Jump-Ahead Jerry? Patience, young man. I left Borgin and Bourkes for a publishing house. It wasn't the most rambunctious of livings, but it was what it was; I had my books and even an inside track should I have decided to take up a quill myself." And why didn't you? "The muse never quite struck. To add to that, all my publishing house was interested in from me should I have chosen to write was recounting of my time at Hogwarts with the famous Harry Potter. I attended with Harry, but I wouldn't say that I knew him - more knew of him. Then again, I was two years his junior and my nose came up to his navel. I was fairly easy to miss. Diminutive size does have its benefits as well, though. When the war came to Hogwarts, and I fought, I was again fairly easy to miss... until I walloped you with a hex, that is." *sly grin* "But I've gotten sidetracked. Minerva, that is... Professor McGonagall had apparently taken a shine to me from my time as a student. What can I say? I may be small, but I'm certainly memorable. And when dear Irma Pince... *muttering under his breath* ... bane of my bloody existence... Well, when Madame Pince retired, I was offered the position." And you had no desire to teach? "Of course the desire was there... is there, but the position simply wasn't. At one point Minerva did offer me the professorship of Magical Theory - sentence to utter insanity that is. I tend not to deal well with first-years, it's as though they've never seen a dwarf before. Every one of them feels compelled to ask me if I'm part goblin. You may consider my application for the open Ancient Runes position forthcoming, as may Minerva." So you're not...? "No! I'm not. I'm a dwarf. I'm small. It's just that simple." *holding up hands* "No abnormally large fingers. No pointed ears or slanted eyes. I'm simply small. Back on topic, I might yet aspire to teach some day, but I fear I may not have the constitution to refrain from hexing disobedient students... which is generally frowned upon around here." *rolls eyes* And you were, albeit briefly Head of Hufflepuff House, were you not? "Briefly, yes... but in purely in interim capacity. The position was always Professor Snug's in waiting. I certainly wasn't going to dispute Claudius' claim either as I quite literally owe the man my life from the Second War." So we've already touched on your relationship, or lack thereof, with your father. What of the rest of your family? "Three peas in a pod. All very distinctly different peas, but peas just the same... and the pod. My mother (Caliope) was never one to lord her blood purity over others. It's a wonder she was ever attracted to my father, if what all of what I've come to learn is true, but then Mother always did blindly believe she could change people for the better. Terry is, well... everything I'm not. Alright, perhaps not everything - he's not a dullard slobbering on his boots, but what he is is tall, muscular, athletic, and a bloody Adonis. He's not brilliant like I am, but he has a fair mind to him and a righteous heart. As I said, if you were to meet him at any age, you certainly wouldn't peg him for a pureblood Slytherin. His children attend Hogwarts now - well... two of them did... already graduated, the third soon enough - and I do my best to be the type of uncle my sister-in-law would completely disapprove of. I have a particular fondness for my nieces, particularly the one who coincidentally was also sorted into my house, as she shares that same reservation I once did, that she'd somehow be looked upon as an outcast for not taking up the family snake, so to speak." So am I to take it that you're not a big proponent of those who proclaim the supremacy of pureblood? "I did fight in a battle against that sort of thing, you remember. And not just because thin, pale, and nose-less was beating down our doors with trolls wanting to put us all in pine boxes. But that whole pureblood superiority business is a bunch of hogwash. Relics clinging to antiquated bigotry and making a case for inbreeding. I know some quite likable muggles and they make some very likable distillations. Have you ever heard of tequila?" Can't say as I have. "Fantastic stuff. Made from distilling cactus. Really puts a burn in your belly. Why in Merlin's name would I want to put down a people that can make something so fantastic? And that's without even delving into the topic of their literature." Suffice to say you're a fan of the drink? "You make that sound like a bad thing! I delight in my hedonism. Yes - as I've been reminded... many times over - there is a time and place for it, specifically not in front of students. But I'd be the boldest face of liars if I were to say I don't enjoy tying one on over a bottle of mead... or beer... or Scotch." And your social life? "That is my social life. I'm sure you'll find that most people fall into one of two categories when they're on the piss: The quite sociable and the quiet reserve. I am the former. Or is what you're digging at my disposition toward the fairer sex? I indulge, from time to time. But have a look at me, I'm the size of most children. There isn't much of a demand for dwarves among witching women and those that do... let's just say, I have standards of my own. I did have a female polecat in a field in Wales take a fancy to me while I was in morphed into mink form. And yes, before you ask, I am registered and quite good and legal as an animagus, thank you very much." And the polecat? "Not exactly my type either... very much a polecat." But you are interested in women? "I believe I made myself clear on that. I'm a likable chap. A bit on the acerbic and sarcastic side, which doesn't always register or go over well with some - I have a splendid deadpan. But most know I mean well, even when I must be the disciplinarian. And the last thing I am is stuffy, I make sure I exude that. The only thing I've ever so horribly serious about are my books and that's mostly because I'm convinced that if I'm not Irma's ghost is going to come back to haunt my library and then I'll never get any reading done." He shifts slightly in his seat, not so much squirming as it is as though he is bothered by an itch in some unscratchable spot. "But yes, I wouldn't turn my nose up at the traditional familial dream - doting wife, two or three little ones to further skew the family away from the serpent." I sense a bit of reservation on your part. "How observant of you! But yes, astute nonetheless. I wouldn't wish my childhood on anyone, much less one to come from my own loins. And my childhood, certain shortcomings aside, wasn't all that terribly poor. But no child should have to grow up being cast out for something they themselves can't control. I don't aspire to be a hermit, but I'm prepared to accept my lot in life if that's what it is to be." That's simultaneously incredibly noble and sad, very much so. "Isn't it grand?" Well, I suppose that will suffice for now. "For now? You'll be returning to conduct a follow-up?" If it's necessary. "And what pray tell could necessitate?" I'd rather not get into it. "Well, then be certain to not show up empty-handed the next time. A nice oak-aged mead would go a long way to loosening my tongue for the particularly juicy bits of gossip. Oho, but you're cursing yourself for not bringing a bottle or two with you this time, aren't you?" It's been a pleasure, Telemachus. "All yours, I assure you, my good boy." hey guys, my name is RYAN! and I am rocking it at 28 years old, role-playing for roughly TWELVE years - so i'm pretty chill with anything. i'm in the HAWAII-ALEUTIAN time zone, and hail from HAWAII so how about that! currently my character looks just like PETER DINKLAGE or so i am told! I found y'all at RETURNING OLD SKOOL ATR-er and that's pretty awesome isn't it? I currently have other faces on here known as TBD, so hit them up for plotting! anyways; peace my dears! |