Psychometric // Duckland

[Altair]

September 1973

"Soo," he said, leaning back in his chair.

"Why Psychometry?"

[Dylan Duckheart]

Of course Dylan jumped at the notion of tutoring from Altair.

Dylan was nervous as he sat in the chair. Across from the man he both was afraid of, but that he wanted to learn from. The man seemed to be such a fountain of knowledge, on so many topics.

"I'd love to be able to hear what an object has to say, and to hear its stories."

[Altair]

Hear its stories.

The young man's approach to the subject carried with it an air of romanticism.

"You are aware that not all stories have happy endings?"

[Dylan Duckheart]

He nodded thoughtfully. He knew that some of his stories of relationships had ended in tears. So he supposed that Altair was right, not all stories had happy endings. But did that make the stories not worth telling.

"Yeah, I guess so." Dylan said. But then a thought came to him. "Does that make an object more painful to read?"

[Altair]

"It certainly does," said Altair.

Then, with a bit of hesitation --

"What's the darkest story you know?"

[Dylan Duckheart]

Dylan had been afraid of Altair's answer.

The former Ravenclaw did not want to face any pain. That sounded horrible.

He had to stop to think about the darkest story he had ever heard. That was tricky. Because Dylan truly didn't know many. Mostly because his mind didn't like going there. He wasn't drawn to reading sad books or news articles.

"I think what happens to a Maledictus is pretty awful." Dylan said finally. "I've been determined to find a cure."

[Altair]

Maledictus, huh?

Body dysphoria.

To be forced to take on the permanent form of an animal.

Altair had to mull that over for a moment. It wasn't a bad answer.

He drew a breath.

"Divination can be a rather uncomfortable ability to have. And psychometry can lead you to see things you did not expect. Of course, that is a reason why we try to do these things in a controlled manner."

From what he could tell, Duckheart was not a highly skilled diviner, so it was probably limited what he could get access to anyway.

"I try not to take on students that look for fairytales around every corner," he said, and there was a faint tilt at the corner of his mouth.

It was a subtle way of letting the young man know that he'd been suspected to being in that category, but it was not a rejection.

[Dylan Duckheart]

Dylan squirmed a little as Altair said that Divination could be an uncomfortable ability to have. He wondered whether he had actually had the right idea originally when he thought that Divination was utter nonsense.

Dylan rose his brows as Altair threatened to reject him.

"I promise I'm not looking for fairytails. I want to learn it. To be better at Divination and all its branches." He said, definitively. His eyes looking rather pleadingly to Altair. Hoping that Altair would agree to take him on.

Dylan had never been rejected from an opportunity to learn. Every time he had gone to a professor, they had been happy to help. Even at St. Mungo's, people had been happy to help. So he was not used to this feeling. And he was going to try his utmost to try to prevent a rejection.

[Altair]

"I promise I'm not looking for fairytales. I want to learn it. To be better at Divination and all its branches."

Altair raised an eyebrow.

And sent the young man a smile. Then again, he was known for making people sweat, sometimes without meaning to. Oftentimes fully intending.

"I think we should focus on Psychometry for now," he said gently. "What do you intend to do with the new knowledge though? Do you have a plan for it or do you just want to pick things up for fun?"

[Dylan Duckheart]

Altair's raised brows made Dylan shrink into himself.

He visibly relaxed as Altair sent a smile his way.

Dylan grinned as it became evident that Altair was going to help him. Partially out of relief. Even if it was one step at a time. That was not how Dylan worked. His mind went in a trillion directions.

He paused for a moment as he considered his reasoning. It just seemed like it would be really cool. But he supposed that it could be helpful for his job. (And he felt like that was a better answer.)

"I think mostly for fun. Though I imagine it'll help me in my job at St. Mungos. I work in Spell Damage there."

[Altair]

"I think mostly for fun. Though I imagine it'll help me in my job at St. Mungos. I work in Spell Damage there."

Huh.

That was unexpected - it was a usage he hadn't really considered.

He kind of liked it.

"That's a good idea," Altair said, and it was meant as a compliment, though his brow furrowed and it looked like he was seriously considering the fact.

"What kinds of things would you be reading in a situation as relating to Spell Damage?"

His interest had been peaked.

[Dylan Duckheart]

Dylan took Altair's words that it was a good idea, and the look of contemplation on his face as a massive compliment. He had actually made Altair think. Which he didn't think that he would ever achieve this. Altair always seemed to think such profound things. He imagined that Altair's thoughts were worlds beyond him and most people.

For a moment, Dylan beamed as though he was a little boy again.

Dylan found that it immensely cool that one of his thoughts made Altair think. That felt like an immense privilege somehow.

He paused to consider the question. He wanted to give an answer worthy of Altair.

"Originally I had thought might help if an object can help us divulge what spells were used..." He said initially. But then he thought even more. " I imagine it would also be beneficial if there is a cursed object. Like we can use Divination to find out what had caused the curse. Especially if it's a generationally cursed object. And we can hopefully learn about it in a way that won't spread the curse to the healer."