OTA

[fantasticnewt]

Newt sat on a bench in the park across from the building that housed the small flat that the Ministry had provided for him. He held his suitcase on his lap, still wary about having it out of his sight for even a moment. This was a step for him, being out in the world at all. Since he had arrived here a few weeks ago from 1927, everything was simply too much. Too much noise, too much crowd, too much that was unrecognizable, unexplainable...

Sometimes he'd felt as if the world was not all that welcoming to him at the best of times, and now he felt like even more of an outsider. He was an alien here. And not only this, but the shock of going to the Ministry for help and discovering that everyone knew who he was. There was a portrait of him there. A first edition of his book under glass.

He watched a squirrel scurry up a tree. Once safely on a branch, it paused and looked over at him. He offered a little wave.

The latch on his suitcase popped open.

"Quiet down, Dougal," he said gently as he closed the clasp again. "I am not letting you out, not here. If you thought New York was a different world, you've no idea what you might encounter in this place."

The latch popped open again, almost violently this time, and Newt practically flattened himself against the case to make sure it stayed closed, then glanced up and around him frantically, as if afraid he might be caught doing something bad.

[OOC: for the deets on brand new newt, here!">

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[pippa_flynn]

"No, not at all He really is less trouble than any man I've met," she said. "You can pet him if you like. Just reach in the top. But be careful, he might bite."

[fantasticnewt]

Newt still wasn't entirely certain that it wasn't a joke. He really did have so much trouble telling when people were lying to him.

He peered at the creature. He couldn't connect with them as well as magical creatures, but...

"He doesn't really want to be petted," he said.

[pippa_flynn]

"Did he bite you?" she asked, a little surprised. She knew Ichabod could, but he didn't. Usually.

[fantasticnewt]

Newt looked back at her, looking surprised. "No. He isn't violent. Just a bit grumpy. Do you bring a lot of strange men here?"

[pippa_flynn]

"Why? Are you telling me he's spilling secrets?" she laughed and walked over to the tank. "Ichabod, stop telling tales."

Of course, that all but confirmed Newt's question about bringing men home.

[fantasticnewt]

"He likes me better than most," Newt said, and then added, almost apologetically, "But most creatures do." He did not sound judging about her bringing men home, though coming from the time he did, it was slightly scandalous.

[pippa_flynn]

Pippa bent a bit and looked at Ichabod through the glass.

"Snitches get stitches, you wanker," she scolded affectionately. Then she stood to look at Newt.

"Are you some sort of Doctor Doolittle, then?" she asked.

[fantasticnewt]

Newt only looked confused. "I don't know what that is."

[pippa_flynn]

"He could talk to the animals," she replied, then began to sing a bit. "...Walk with the animals. Honk and squeak and squawk with the animals..."

She trailed off.

"Don't mind me. Sit. The tea will be ready in a bit."

The kettle was popping as it began to boil and she went back to the kitchen to see to it.

[fantasticnewt]

Newt decided not to comment on the odd little song. "I understand them," he said after a moment. "Though with magical creatures, it's easier."

He sat.

Then, backing up a few beats in the conversation added, "Why would a snitch have stitches?"

[pippa_flynn]

"You're too new to have seen Orange is the New Black, I imagine," she replied, pouring the water.

"It means that if you tattle, someone will stab you. Snitches get stitches. You see?"

[fantasticnewt]

"... not really," Newt confessed, still confused. "What does a snitch have to do with tattling?"

[pippa_flynn]

"A snitch is a tattle tale. Just another name for it. You've got a lot to learn, Mr. Scamander, if you're going to be in London for long."

[fantasticnewt]

"... oh," said Newt. And then, finally understanding, "You were threatening him!"

[pippa_flynn]

"That I was. But he knows I don't mean it," she laughed. "He's the best iguana in all of London and I spoil him. My one true love."

[fantasticnewt]

"I assume that is also a joke," said Newt. "Though I do know a witch whose animagus husband became very fond of his animal form and spent most of his later years that way."

[pippa_flynn]

"It's really not a joke. The only one I love more than Ichabod is my brother," she replied. Then, "What's an animagus?"

[fantasticnewt]

"A wizard who turns into an animal," said Newt. "They are rare." Then, entirely seriously, "Is your brother also a reptile?"

[pippa_flynn]

"No. He's an actor," she e\replied. "You may have heard of him. Finlay Flynn?"

[fantasticnewt]

An actor. Right, Newt knew what those were. In Muggle films. They even made them with sound now! Which was finally a step up from wizards' moving photographs.

"No," he said simply.

[pippa_flynn]

"Well, you should. Because he's brilliant," she said decisively. Pippa brought the tea in on a tray, two steaming mugs with a bowl of sugar, some milk, and two slices of lemon in case he was that sort.

"Here we go," she said, setting it down the flopping into an overstuffed chair. She kicked her shoes off.

"Now. What do you want to know, Mr. Scamander?"

[fantasticnewt]

Newt wasn't certain what she meant for a moment, but then realized she was offering him information.

He considered this thoughtfully. Then -

"Do you lay eggs?"

[pippa_flynn]

"No," she chuckled softly. "Not me. Though I've heard some sorts of fairies do. Some come from eggs. Some emerge from dew. I know the Phouka are shaped from mud and given life by the Seelie Queen. But I'd imagine I'd have a baby like anyone else," she supplied.