Magical Ducks

[Rory Fergusson]

Rory was bored, he was bored beyond belief, and while it was a little necessary for him to be there it didn't mean that Rory could be bored, hanging out with Flavio was always nice, and with a transfiguration essay due in a few days he needed Flavio to finish doing it before he could go have fun, but boy was Flavio taking forever. Rory hated doing his own homework, he didn't like having to do any work period but the school was constantly setting him homework and Rory didn't want to do it, and so he didn't, instead he just got others to do it, namely Flavio and so that was why he was even in the student lounge sitting on the chair next to Flavio, swinging on the chair sighing periodically as he grew increasingly bored, it didn't really matter if he didn't do the homework, he didn't think of it as a big deal, if he had something to show then that would be great but if he had nothing, it wasn't exactly Rory fretted about. However, he'd asked Flavio to do it, and then to decide he didn't need it would be a bit annoying to the boy who'd been spending a while on the essay.

"Ah'm bored Flavio," he swung precariously on the chair, balancing himself with his feet on the table, letting out a long bored sigh, loud enough that pretty much everyone in the room would've heard the sigh that he'd just let out. But, he thought it really showed that he was bored, maybe if he was bored enough Flavio would give up on the work and they could just hang out. Since arriving at the school, Rory would definitely class Flavio as one of his few and closest friends, though he didn't know the boy's blood or general status, he didn't much care about it, for once. This was largely because the boy listened to almost everything that he said, did it mostly without questioning and Rory was happy about that aspect of it, that was how people were supposed to treat him. The problem was even if Flavio agreed to do something, he didn't know what they could do, "Ah dinnae know wit we could dae, but this is so dull," he complained with a whine in his tone, he wasn't sure what they could do, but he was willing to give it a try, any suggestions that Flavio was open to, he'd be happy with.
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[Flavio Morales-Tipene]

Flavio was a smart kid who had always been dedicated to his studies and this fact had not changed since he started school at Hogwarts. Though what did change was Flavio's priorities in regards to his studies. As such, Flavio was gradually spending less time with his own studies and throwing them on the back burner for the sake of his friends. He was writing Rory's homework for him and put that ahead of the homework he needed to finish himself. It was all in a plight to keep his friends as Flavio had never made friends before. He didn't want to lose them and if doing Rory's homework sustained their friendship he was happy to do it. That day was no different. Flavio was sitting in the student lounge with his inherently bored friend, finishing a transfiguration essay for him that was due in a few days. If Flavio knew better he would have begun his own essay, but he was sure he could do it last minute after Rory's essay was as perfect as he imagined it to be.

Flavio finally looked up from writing the essay when the other boy let out a loud sigh after stating out loud how bored he was. Flavio smiled at Rory kindly. "I would like this essay to be perfect Rory." He said, returning his attention to the parchment for another moment and adding a few extra sentences with his quill. He dipped the quill in his small bottle of ink before writing even more. During the times Flavio was required to write long essays he detested having to repeatedly dip his quill in ink to keep the writing pigmented enough to read. He now understood why Pia chose self-inking quills above others. When he thought he was finished enough to get away with some down time, Flavio looked up to Rory again. "Rory, we could play chess or maybe see the ducks if you want?" he asked, also unsure of what else to do. He was just glad that the essay was for the most part finished. He slid the parchment closer to Rory, saying "But your essay is finished. Would you like to read it?" to ensure Rory was happy with his hard work that day.

 

[Rory Fergusson]

Rory groaned a little as Flavio said that it needed to be perfect, Rory didn't mind if it was less than perfect, if it was just a bare passing grade that was all he needed, he just needed it done and there was no way he would ever do it himself, he was glad that Flavio was doing it for him, but it didn't need to be a fine piece of art, all it needed to do was pass. The boy shook his head, "It doesnae need tae be perfect Flavio, ah just need to hand something in," he informed the ravenclaw boy with a little shortness in his tone but this was just largely due to the fact he wanted it to be done so that they could do something that would help cure Rory's boredom. Technically speaking Rory didn't need to be sitting with Flavio as he did the work but he had nothing better to be doing with this day, and the slytherin had figured keeping him company was really no skin off his back, although this didn't appear to be so true now, since he felt like he would rather be anywhere than just sitting aimless with Flavio, waiting for him to be done with his essay.

At the suggestions he gave, Rory sat himself up, he didn't know how to play chess, and the ducks were all the way outside, he didn't really want to go all the way out there as much as he didn't mind visiting the ducks with Flavio, perhaps if there were really no other options for them to do. He was momentarily distracted when Flavio passed him the parchment, Rory took it from him and shook his head, instead just taking the time to place his own name at the top of the parchment, "I'm sure it's all good," he told Flavio fully trusting him to have given him good work, if it wasn't and Rory ended up failing or getting into trouble he wasn't going to particularly pleased but Flavio didn't seem like that kind of person. He gave a small smile to the other boy, "Dae ye even know how tae play chess?" he asked unsure as to if the boy would even know to play, he assumed he could given that he'd suggested, but since Rory had never played he thought it good to ask, "Is it an interestin' game?"
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[Flavio Morales-Tipene]

Flavio smiled as Rory ensured him the essay was fine before writing his own name at the top. It reassured the Chilean that he was doing something right and that he was keeping his friend happy. Being so new to the concept of friends that weren't ducks or his family, he wasn't always so sure of how he was supposed to act and what he could do to keep is precious friendships. He was glad that he knew he was at least doing something right in doing Rory's homework for him, just as he was glad to spend time with the other boy even if Rory was as bored as ever.

He smiled wider as Rory asked how to play chess. It wasn't a difficult game to learn and it proved interesting, especially so when it was wizard's chess as the pieces were so violent to each other. It seemed like the kind of game Rory might find enjoyable. "I like playing chess." Flavio said. He had not played chess with anyone but his siblings before and they all knew how to play. He wasn't sure how he could explain the game to Rory or if he even needed to but he was certain his friend would manage. Though Flavio was sure the violent game would at least be entertainment enough to cure Rory's boredom. It would at least cure his own that amounted as he completed his friend's transfiguration essay. "And yes, I do know how to play. I might not know how to explain, though, Rory." He admitted, swallowing because he had never explained the game in English before. The explanation might not have made sense in his second language as it did in Spanish. Though Flavio was willing to try for Rory's sake. "Should we play and see what happens?" Flavio asked knowing that the pair could always do something else if Rory didn't want to play chess. There were many things they could have done to kill time around the student lounge and in the wider areas of the castle.

 

[Rory Fergusson]

Rory was sceptical that chess was fun, but it would certainly be better than just sitting doing nothing watching Flavio do his essay, so he decided he actually wanted to do it. The slytherin wondered if Flavio even had a chess set handy but because he had suggested it, "I'll pick it up, I'm no stupid," he told the other boy sharply, but he pulled himself up from where he sat and moved to the chair across from Flavio, swinging in his chair, clearly waiting for Flavio to get his chess set out. Rory had seen a game or two of muggle chess, and he had seen the wizarding version once and admittedly he hoped that Flavio had the magical version, he liked the destruction that came with it, that was the good part of the game, though perhaps learning it with him would be an enjoyable thing too, and he was a little sceptical about it, but it was something to do, and perhaps he would enjoy himself. Rory had enjoyed visiting and feeding the ducks with Flavio, it had been odd and he'd spent more time standing about but it was still fun.

"Dae ye have a set here or in yer dorm?" Rory had no interest in moving if it wasn't at this location they were currently sat, the slytherin didn't want to move, moving wasn't in his interest, Flavio would could go get it himself if he needed it, "I'm no goin tae yer dorm tae get it, I'll wait here," Rory told him firmly, the boy knew that Flavio would go get it. If it had been the other way, he would force Flavio to come with him all the way to slytherin to get it but this was Flavio's game and the young slytherin needed him to go get it without Rory had to move, "So?" he then added quickly indicating that he was waiting for him to move, since this waiting around was not solving his boredom and he really wanted to just do something.
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[Flavio Morales-Tipene]

The idea of playing chess with Rory and showing him the ropes of the game gradually became more appealing to Flavio. It would beat sitting in the lounge doing nothing and in addition to that, they wouldn't need to move very far in comparison to the small trek they needed to take to feed the ducks, visit to the great hall to retrieve a piece of bread included. The Chilean nodded as Rory said he'd understand the game and then opened his mouth to speak when Rory asked about a chess set. Flavio's family had one, albeit one that was beaten up and worn down to nothing. But it was luckily in the castle as Flavio had been allowed to take it with him to Hogwarts so he had a means to make it through the rainy winter days when he did not want to read or had no homework to complete.

"There is one in my dorm." He answered, quickly standing from his chair and nodding again as Rory refused to follow him. Flavio dusted his robes before turning, leaving the student lounge and heading up to Ravenclaw house where he entered his dorm and sifted through his trunk to find the game. Eventually he found the wooden box buried at the bottom underneath various pieces of old clothing and books. With a grin evident of success, Flavio quickly ran to the student lounge, holding the chess set in the air as he caught Rory's gaze. "Found it!" He exclaimed. As he sat down he placed the set on the table and began putting it together, ready for a game. "What colour do you want to be?" Flavio asked as he put the chess pieces in their appropriate places. When everything was set up, he slid the board closer between him and Rory, waiting for the other boy to pick a side so they could begin.

 

[Rory Fergusson]

Rory nodded when Flavio left the room to get the chess set, he leaned back in his chair letting out a bored sigh, at the very least he was now half on his way to no longer being bored and that was certainly a good thing. The boy tapped his fingers on the table in a poor rhythm until the other boy returned, his bored expression erupting into a small smile as he spotted Flavio re-entering the student lounge with the chess set now in hand. He gave a little cheer and just watched as the boy placed the chess it down in front of them. At this point, Rory stopped swinging in his chair and moved himself to sit right at the table, watching curiously as Flavio put together the chess set. He had seen it been set up before but having never had the chance to learn how to play he was rather excited about the prospect of learning it, and this was quite something for Rory since he didn't really enjoy learning new things, and he wasn't usually interest in learning at all, but since he was already bored then perhaps this was the best way forward.

Rory's attention was grabbed away from the board with the chess pieces on it, looking up at Flavio and he looking at both sides, "Erm, black," he answered since that was the set closest to him, and that seemed like the best thing to do, and he then lightly touched a few of the pieces, picking them up and then turning them over in his hands, "So, how you start?" he asked placing down the piece in his hand and then picking up a second piece, one that had a horse and he looked it over in his hands, "What do these pieces do?" he pointed to the one in the front row. Rory looked up Flavio expectantly waiting for him to tell him how to play.
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[Flavio Morales-Tipene]

Flavio nodded as Rory said he wanted to be black. It was the closest side to him so it was easier that way as it meant they didn't have to spin the board around and risk the pieces toppling over. Flavio cleared his throat before answering Rory's questions in as much of a simple way as possible considering how new Rory was to the game and Flavio's language barrier. "White moves first, and then black moves and the turns repeat until the game is finished." He smiled as Rory picked up one of the knight pieces, reaching forward to take it out of Rory's hand and return it to the board as to not mess up the game. "That is a knight. It moves in a specific pattern." He also answered Rory's question about the pieces in the front row. "Those small pieces are pawns. They can only attack diagonally and they can only move one space forward. Unless it's the first turn, then they can move two spaces. I think." As he explained he pursed his lips together, hoping nothing he had said was wrong or did not make sense in English.

Soon Flavio shook his worries from his head, moving on to the task of playing the game so they didn't waste time. "To play wizard chess you do not need to move the pieces, you say on the grid where you would like the pieces to go, and they move for you." Moving his hands away from the table, Flavio looked from the chess board to Rory, and back again. "I will start now." Flavio announced before hesitating, choosing to move his pawn on the far left forward two spaces and then commanding it as such. When the piece stopped moving, Flavio looked back towards Rory. "Does this make sense?" He queried. The exciting part of the game where pieces attacked each other wasn't close to beginning so he didn't explain it just yet but he was sure he would in due time. "It is your turn." He said, smiling as he wondered what move Rory would make, and if he understood the instructions.

 

[Rory Fergusson]

Rory frowned a little when it turned out that the white pieces moved first, he wanted to move first, but perhaps it made sense that he as someone learning the game was not the one to move first and rather was the one to move after watching how Flavio did, doing what he'd told him to do. The boy listened along looking from the pieces in front of him and then back at his friend, though the boy finished a small explanation with an 'I think' which didn't instill much confidence to Rory about how good Flavio was at this game and his own prospects about then learning and being good at the game, but with little other options and the fact this really wasn't boring he knew it was the only choice he had in terms of game to play. Perhaps it was the language barrier which was stopping this from being a very clear explanation but Rory wouldn't say anything on that matter, though he was from an english speaking country he knew he'd encountered a barrier to being understood, so the slytherin just put that aside and and continued listening.

Rory was glad that at least he wouldn't have to move the pieces by hand, while not too much work definitely more than he was interested in doing and therefore not something he wanted to do. Rory kept his gaze firmly upon the pieces watching as Flavio moved one of the pawns, he watched him do so. He was pretty sure he understood what he was meant to do, and figured that while this first game would probably be quite a mess, it wouldn't be too bad, he was sure it wouldn't be too bad. But it was his turn, and he didn't even look up at Flavio as he moved a pawn at the end of the his row of pawns, the furthest from Flavio's, moving it two steps forward, before glancing back up at Flavio with an expression that asked if it was right. If it was then it was back to being Flavio's turn, "Who taught you to play?" Rory asked with curiosity in his tone, he couldn't help but wonder about it, it didn't seem like that interesting a game, and while Flavio was a little boring, always doing homework, he wasn't that boring. Maybe this game was more interesting than Rory was currently giving it credit for, it still made him interested in knowing where Flavio had learned.
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