diatu | [Closed] What if I'm far from home? Oh brother, I will hear you call

[Closed] What if I'm far from home? Oh brother, I will hear you call

Who: Huey and Louie, then Webby and Lena
Where: The Academy
When: New arrival(s)
What: Huey finds some familiar faces in a sea of strangeness

This was... completely new and strange for the duckling. One minute he'd been minding his business around McDuck Manor, and the next he was here. True, there had been something of a "warning"- a strange swirling feeling around him, lighting up every nerve and then yanking him through time and space -but that did absolutely nothing for the absolute shock of it. What's worse, that feeling didn't subside even after landing; it buzzed pleasantly under his skin, and seemed to get stronger the more he faced a certain direction. So, afraid but curious all the same, he followed the strange "compass."

What he thought wandering through the Tenscore Kingdoms was too long to put here, but suffice to say there was quite an information overload. What are those? Who is that? What kind of creatures are these (both two-legged and some other many-legged varieties he saw around, pets or otherwise). Does he hear conversation about magic-? Continuing to follow the feeling, he traced a path to Diatu Magicademy, and once he passed through its gates did the sensation finally subside. Someone was by soon after his arrival to tend to him, muttering something about "new Sundered" and giving him a crash course on where he was: a school of magic and mystery, summoned here through spells hitherto unknown (or outlawed) to learn to use the power now residing within him. Supplies, House, everything was summarized, and then he was turned loose. The school day was currently in progress but, as a new arrival he would be more expected to explore. Besides, he still had to find his bonded Familiar- one was normally given to a student, but seemed there was something strange about Huey's, so off he went.

And, that's about it. Head still reeling from everything that'd happened in the last twenty minutes- twenty minutes?? it felt like twenty years!! -he walked through the halls of the school, clutching books to his chest. This was all so strange and new... And he was feeling more lost than ever.

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"Let's see... They said he could be in the Great Hall or in the common room of Eiather."

He paused, drumming his fingers around the edges of the book he held.

"I don't know where either of those things are."

Right. He'd figured that would be the case - why would he and Huey be in the same house? They were so different, after all. And yet, having it confirmed was still kind of a downer.

...Hold on.

"Wait, wait, Eiather?"

He wasn't too fussed over House rivalries, but it was hard not to be aware of them. He heard other students in Valhudor, especially those who came from the Tenscore Kingdoms in the first place, complain about how boring and uptight Eiather students were.

Then again, Huey was pretty- Well. Not the point.

"...Yeah?" Huey, who was not privvy to Louie's inner thoughts, just gave him an odd look. "What about it?"

"I'm in Valhudor, and they - we - have this whole thing with Eaither. I mean, there's Color March, which includes all the Houses, but this is definitely beyond that."

He frowned a little as he shrugged. "I mean, it's probably not really a big deal? Just a lot of talk, probably."

"House rivalry?" He considered that, wondering if it was similar to what he'd heard from books, or the whole 'sports team rivalry' culture.

"That doesn't mean that... we...?"

He didn't finish his sentence, but triplets are often in sync so it was likely Louie would get the rest of it anyway.

Louie shook his head. "No way, we can still hang out." It would seem he had, indeed, picked up on Huey's meaning.

"Like I said, it's probably just all talk. Now let's go find an owl, come on. We can ask a professor for directions."

Huey breathed out a sigh of relief, that was a bit deeper than he thought it might be. He'd just gotten his brother, he didn't need divisions of Houses keeping them apart. (He'd already dealt with a divided house anyway and that was more than enough for him, thankyouverymuch.)

"Right! We need to find the owl before he gets himself into trouble. Which is closer?"

"Well, the Great Hall is nearby, but it's lunchtime - that's going to be packed right now," Louie explained. "We'll have a better chance if we start in your Common Room."

"In the Common Room, got it." If nothing else, he can drop off the supplies he was still carrying, that he hadn't time to deal with yet. "Lead away, mon frère."

Louie gave a nod, before he he lead the way... Into a classroom. Fortunately, he didn't have to interrupt a class to ask a teacher for direction, not with lunch going on, so the information was quickly obtained. It wasn't too long before the brothers were at the Eaither Common Room, and along the way, Louie filled Huey in on a few of the people he'd gotten to know there.

But when they were actually inside the Common Room, Louie's demeanor changed from relaxed to a bit nervous, even tense. His red and orange robes were definitely drawing some dirty looks.

A foot slid across the floor just as Louie walked by its owner, sending him tumbling to the ground.

Huey had listened intently as they went, though his eyes strayed every now and then when something interesting passed by- was that a ghost?? No, focus. As they approached the Eiather area, Huey's demeanor changed to wonder. There were so many BOOKS! Books upon books upon scrolls upon-

He was turning a little on the spot, looking at all the learning around him, and wasn't aware anyone had griefed Louie until he heard him hit the floor. INSTANTLY his demeanor changed and he whirled on the spot, looking liable to hit the other student in the head with a book, Housemate or no.

"Hey!! That's my brother, you leave him alone!"

Even threatening the other person- who decided the "better part of valor" was to shrug and go down to lunch -Huey didn't forget Louie either, bending down to pick him up off the floor.

Louie could feel the heat of an embarrassed blush creeping up his neck. This really was becoming a trend, wasn't it? Still, he managed a small but undeniably grateful smile as Huey helped him up.

"Looks like you scared him off," he said, only half-joking. "...Thanks."

"Yeah, of course." He held onto Louie until he was steady, even helped him brush off a little, but still the temper didn't yet leave his face. "If they think they can mess with you with me around, they've got another thing coming!"

Then, a horrible thought, one that wouldn't really ease the angry glare in his face either.

"Has anyone else been doing that?"

Louie shook his head. "This house rivalry stuff? No, I really thought it was just all talk," he said, choosing his words carefully.

Huey didn't need to know that Louie'd been bullied fairly often for a month, after all. It was embarrassing, and Webby had already nearly gotten herself into serious trouble because of it.

He didn't seem entirely convinced and Louie might, for a moment, worry that he would press him more. Then Huey sighed and nodded, letting it go.

"Alright, but if it does, you come get me okay? I'll put a stop to it but good!"

"Sure thing, Huey," Louie said, though honestly, he was just relieved the subject was dropped. "Now, let's see... We still have to see if your owl's here."

Huey paused, half tempted to send Louie to wait by the door rather than come further with him, worried if other Eiather students were like that. He eventually settled on a different solution.

"Fine, but stay by me."

"Oh, come on! Hu-ey!" Louie appreciated the protection, on one level, but still! It made him feel less like a little brother and more like a tiny kid. All the same, that was his only protest as they headed on.

There wasn't another incident, perhaps because Louie kept his head down. There were certainly plenty of dark looks, and the occasional unimpressed kind of sniffing sound, though.

There was a scoff sound at the back of his throat and a hearty eyeroll as they continued. It wasn't until they were mostly alone, climbing the stairs to the Common Room, that he elaborated though.

"It's not just that. It's..." He paused, trying to think. "I don't think 'fish out of water' even begins to describe how I feel right now. Maybe more like a fish being told that suddenly it has to fly to the Moon instead? Anyway."

Huey stopped near the landing and looked over at his brother again.

"Seeing you here, and even just knowing Webby and Lena are here too, without having seen them yet? Is a lot of comfort, and kinda helps what is... quite frankly, a frightening situation." A ghost of a smile, then he walked on, knowing his brother wasn't much for sappy stuff anyway. "Anyway yeah let's just find that owl."

Louie was quiet at first. He'd clearly heard Huey, but it was true - he wasn't one for that kind of mush. The idea of just focusing on Ptolemy seemed like a good one.

But after a moment, he did chime in with, "A nerd brain like yours? I'm sure you can adapt."

Huey laughed, but it was a grateful smile he actually flashed at his brother. Once they stepped into the Common Room though, his attention was swiftly drawn to the (comparatively) enormous owl bantering with other students. It was Ptolemy, no doubt. He could talk?? No, wait- Seems the group was playing some sort of game, rolling dice and- exchanging coins.

"He gambles?"

Louie's eyes followed Huey's gaze, but his reaction was quite different. Where Huey was shocked, Louie broke into an absolute grin.

"Oh man, that's so cool!" Louie enthused, before adding in an awed whisper, "I'm going to learn so much from him..."

"Louie!"

Huey may've been glaring but, hearing their exchange, the owl looked up and then swiftly winged his way over.

"Ahh, you must be Huey!" came the warm greeting, landing by them both. "I was given a heads up of your arrival and I apologize profusely for my own belated appearance, but I was-" Pause. "Occupied."

Louie just snickered in response to Huey's indignant remark, and once they were joined by Huey's familiar, Louie gave a nod of greeting.

"Hey there! I'm his brother, Louie, and I respect your priorities." Another snicker, there.

"Ahh, what a wonderful pleasure to meet you as well, Louie!" Ptolemy was all smiles, if such a word could be used for an owl, despite having just been caught betting with students. "Now, Huey, I am here to make your schooling go easier. You can count on me for advice and information, and if you need me I'll never be far."

Hearing his name called, he turned to look at the crowd of students he'd left, easy enough an action for an owl of course, then looked back at the duck brothers.

"If you'll excuse me however, now that introductions have been made I must get back to my activity. You will know where to find me!" A last exclamation over his shoulder as he returned to the earlier game.

Huey had been rather silent over this whole exchange, caught between marvel and... something else, though it was a rather flat look on his face as he turned to head back downstairs. Overhearing "Who had 12:15?" behind him only flattened that look further.

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