resource expedition 2
darthcourt10
Well worn.
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Harry Leferts
Small snickers escaped from Harry as he walked over to where Regalia was crouched by some strawberries. The reason, of course, was due to the redness around her mouth and on her hands. Even as he watched, the Re-Class cleaned off one strawberry and was happily taking a bite out of it. At hearing him approach, Regalia looked at him before blushing. "Um..."
All Harry did though was wave her off. "Don't worry about it, Regalia. Just enjoy yourself..." Jerking his thumb, he gestured around them. "You're not the only one after all."
With a look around, Regalia giggled some at the sights that met her. Sure enough, a number of her aunts also had strawberry smeared around their lips. Though some had some haskap joining the red berry as well. "I guess so." Looking down at the partially eaten strawberry, she hummed some. "I wonder if I can grow some of these back home...?"
Thoughtful himself, the black haired boy scratched his chin before shrugging. "Maybe? I wouldn't be too surprised as strawberries do grow in the Aleutians." Considering the thought, he frowned a little bit. "You stated that there are trees on your island?"
Confused as to where this was going, Regalia gave a nod. "That's right, Uncle Harry. We have trees on the island, big ones. Why?"
For several moments, Harry did not say anything before shaking his head. "Well, if there are trees there then the climate is good enough for a number of different berries. Not just strawberries, but you might be able to grow blackberries, raspberries, and the like. Heh, I could ask Rose to see if you can get some blackcurrants or red currants as well. They would be an easy way for you to get some fruit into your diets after all."
Eyes wide, Regalia tilted her head to the side before furrowing her eyebrows. "I've never grown berries or any other type of fruit."
Harry shook his head at that. "Berries aren't that hard really to grow, especially as they grow in the wild like you can see here." Waiting until she nodded, he continued. "So you could plant a bunch outside your normal fields and have them grow there for people to pick once they ripen."
Only nodding to herself, Regalia made a note in her logbooks to look up berries and such. "That sounds pretty good."
With his hands in his pocket, the wizard snapped his fingers. "Actually, I might be able to help there as well. Back in England, my family owns an orchard and such with berries and actual fruit trees. Rose and Haruna-Oba went there last year and are planning to do so this year as well. But there's so much there that they can never get enough. Maybe I should look into seeing if you or some others are allowed to go there to pick fruit. Not like there's not enough there."
Needless to say, Harry missed how a number of the other Abyssals were now staring at him in complete and utter surprise. Clearing her throat to try and hide her own, Regalia shook her head. "Um, maybe talk with Mom and the others? They might have some ideas there."
Slowly, he gave a nod to that. "I'll do that." Turning back to her, Harry gained a small smile. "Still, you seem to be enjoying yourself greatly to be honest."
A bright smile on her face, Regalia gave a nod. "Of course, Uncle Harry! This is actually pretty fun and these strawberries are good." Looking down at the one in her hand, she took another bite with a smile. "They're sweet, but also sometimes have a tangy taste."
Lightly laughing, Harry gave her a grin. "That's true enough, I suppose. Best way to describe them that I've found is that they taste like summer."
Head tilted to the side, Regalia considered that before popping the rest of the strawberry into her mouth and giving a nod. "A taste of summer?" When Harry nodded, she smiled some. "I like that. A taste of summer is exactly how they taste."
Moments later, Harry noticed that Regalia was giving him an odd look and raised an eyebrow. "Is something wrong, Regalia?"
Shaking her head, the Re-Class frowned. "Not wrong, Uncle Harry. But..." Briefly, she chewed her lip before continuing. "I'm just wondering about why you're doing this? Why you brought a bunch of us out here?"
Quiet for a few seconds, Harry smiled softly and looked up at the sky. "To make some good memories to be honest. Ones that you can all share."
Blinking, Regalia frowned some. "What do you mean, Uncle Harry?"
With a small chuckle, the wizard crouched down beside her. "Here, I'll help you while I talk, okay?" At her nod, he began to pick alongside her. "I know that Hoppou told you all a lot about my life. About how my aunt and uncle treated me."
Regalia scowled at that and nodded. "Grandma did, Uncle Harry. And all of us are angry at them because that is not how you treat family! But Grandma told us not to bother with them."
To her confusion, Harry smiled a bit more at that and laughed. "And Hoppou's right. If people went after them because of me, it would feel too much like something that they would do. Besides which, I want to leave that in the past where it belongs. Besides... there's an old saying among us humans, one that applies really well to you and the others as well. Want to hear it?" When she nodded, his smile grew a touch. "The saying is that the best revenge is to live well. Leaving them in the past is the sort of thing that would annoy the Dursleys to no end."
Considering that, Regalia remembered how Hoppou explained that Harry's aunt and uncle were obsessed with appearances. She was not sure that what her Uncle was saying was right, but he would know more about it, right? Shaking that off, the Abyssal turned back to him. "But how does that apply to us?"
Out of the corner of his eye, Harry noted that the other Abyssals were also listening in. "Well, think about it for a moment. Those lily livered codfish who attacked the bunch of you wanted to destroy all of you, right? And yet, what happened? You all survived! More then that though, you're now all thriving and living happily while they aren't. To them, what we're doing now would be worse then anything else as we're not letting what they did bring us down, to defeat us. Instead, we're continuing to enjoy life."
Even though she had to smile at what Harry called the ones responsible for the Great Scattering, the rest struck a cord. In a way, Regalia mused, he was right. To those who harmed her family, who sunk so many of her aunts? The idea of the Fleet of Laughter continuing to survive and doing things like happily pick strawberries with their human uncle would be a slap to their faces. Part of Regalia couldn't help but think that it would likely tickle something deep inside her mother and the others. "That makes sense."
With a hum, Harry paused for a moment. "As to the rest? When I was with the Dursleys it was... dark. But it did do one thing and that was make me appreciate the brighter moments in life. Every instance when I was happy, I grabbed hold of those memories like a glass of cool water in the desert. I then kept them, and used them when I was lost in the darkness." Turning, the wizard regarded Regalia. "That is why I do what I do, Regalia. Maybe it is because of that time that I know just how precious times like this are. When the sun is shining down on good times that I then hold onto and enjoy to their fullest, knowing that there will be dark times. Times that I need the light of my memories to keep me going."
Frowning in thought, Regalia considered what she had just been told. 'I... suppose that makes sense.' A thought then occurred to her. "Aunt Ruadri is always telling stories of the old days. Back before the Great Scattering." head tilted, she continued. "But some of the others, before now didn't like to think back to those happy days. Because it hurt too much."
As he chuckled, Harry reached over and ruffled her hair some. "I suppose that such a thing would hurt, Regalia. Believe it or not, that makes you human. But even good memories that bring us pain for times that are long gone and will never return are still good and should he cherished and treasured. In a way, that is why I want to make so many good memories with you and the others. So that one day, when I'm gone..." Looking up, the black haired boy watched the clouds go by high above. "So that when I'm gone, those memories will still be there. Happy, sun filled days together."
Eyes wide, Regalia shook her head. "Uncle Harry, I-"
Before she could get much further, Harry placed his finger over her mouth. "I'm not going to die yet, Regalia. I'm a wizard and I can look forward to possibly centuries of life, more then a normal human. Who knows, I may well be around for a very long time to come. But... one day I will grow old and pass on, hopefully peacefully and surrounded by my family. There will come a time when all that remains of me is bones, dust, and memories. However, those memories that we build now will be the best legacy that I can have." Waving a hand, he smiled. "Maybe, one day far into the future after I'm gone, something will happen. You or one of the others will be sitting somewhere and perhaps eating a strawberry, which will bring you back in your memories to this day. When we picked your first strawberries under the warm, summer Sun. And I will live again, inside of your memories, your mind, and your heart." Lightly laughing, the wizard spread his arms. "And what better form of immortality is there then to be remembered fondly?"
Small tears in her eyes as she thought about what he had said, Regalia could almost imagine it. "Uncle Harry?" When he nodded, she reached over and hugged him. "I hope that day won't come for a very long time."
Patting her on the back, the nearly thirteen year old nodded. "Same here, Regalia." Moments later, he felt the others also hugging him which made him playfully groan. "Ack!"
Wonderous frowned at him. "Regalia is right, Uncle Harry."
Only shaking his head, Harry shrugged before patting her headgear. "I never said that she wasn't. But at the same time? That is why we should build as many memories like this as we can, right?" When he got nods, he chuckled. "Now, how about we just go back to making them then? Instead of talking about all this heavy stuff?"
Getting nods, the group soon returned to what they had been doing with smiles on their faces.
________________________________________________________________
Engine of the ATV rumbling, Harry pulled it into the parking lot which the others stopped jogging alongside, Ruadri helping Regalia out of the trailer. Hopping off the vehicle, he pulled off his helmet as he watched the others walking up in interest at what they had been doing. "Hey guys!"
Coming to a stop, Tanith blinked some. "Uncle Harry... what were you all... doing?"
With a hum, Harry smiled at her. "What else? Picking strawberries and haskap berries. That way we can have some for dessert and make most of it into preserves that you can take back with you." Pretending not to notice Sunny crossing her arms and giving them amused looks while Ritou facepalmed and shook her head. "Why?"
Meanwhile, Hoppou walked up and took one look at her daughters and granddaughter. Each of them shuffled a bit under her stare before the little Abyssal turned to Harry and narrowed her eyes. "Big Brother was supposed to just take them picking berries!"
Head tilted to the side as if confused, Harry blinked. "Yeah, that was what we were supposed to do, Hoppou. And that is exactly what we did."
In reply, Hoppou wagged one hand at him. "Yes, and Hoppou can see what else you did! You let them eat strawberries when it could ruin their appetite!"
Reeling back as if struck, the young wizard shook his head. "No, no, they didn't eat any strawberries, Hoppou. I know better then to have them ruin their appetite!" Turning, he looked back at them and winked. "Right guys?"
Only looking at each other, they shuffled a bit. "Um..."
Now grinning widely, Harry turned back to an unimpressed Hoppou who had her arms crossed. "See? No strawberries were eaten."
Eyebrow raising, the Northern Ocean Princess gave her adoptive older brother a look. "Why are their hands red and blue then?"
Harry only shook his head and chuckled. "Because they were picking berries, Hoppou. You know how messy that can get."
The Abyssal's eyes narrowed a bit before she pointed. "Hoppou can also see that they have berry smeared on clothes! All of them are messy!"
Still smiling, Harry shook his head at that. "Hoppou, that was from them accidentally smearing the berry juice that they had on their hands from picking the berries. Not eating them after all."
In her eyes, Harry could see the glimmer of amusement. "Really?" When the black haired boy nodded, she once more made a gesture with her hands, a victorious expression on her face. "But why are they having berry all over their faces! Hoppou can see it around their mouths!"
Cringing, Sokie was about to say something when Harry snorted and laughed. "Really, Hoppou? You think that is because they ate berries when they were not supposed to?"
Expression blank, Hoppou gave him a look as her tone became flat. The same type of tone of motherly disapproval known the world over. One especially used when someone was trying to get out of trouble. "Yes."
Just waving her off, Harry snorted again. "No, no. That's not why they have berry juice there. See, there were all these branches, vines, and stuff. They sometimes tripped and fell into the berries. That's all, nothing more and nothing less."
Unable to help herself, Regalia gave a giggle before freezing as Hoppou glanced at her. But there was something about her expression that made the Re-Class blink. What it was though, she didn't quite know... Shaking that off though, she turned back to the conversation as Harry made excuse after lame excuse about how they didn't eat any berries to spoil their appetites. Internally, Regalia continued giggling at her Uncle for being what her grandmother would call "Silly", but it was hilarious.
Somehow, she knew that it would become one of those good memories that her Uncle had told her about. One that she could look back on in the future and smile at. And, with a look at the others around them? Regalia knew that they knew it as well.
And then it became even funnier as Hoppou pulled out her spray bottle and started to call Harry a very silly Uncle as Sunny began to laugh.
Small snickers escaped from Harry as he walked over to where Regalia was crouched by some strawberries. The reason, of course, was due to the redness around her mouth and on her hands. Even as he watched, the Re-Class cleaned off one strawberry and was happily taking a bite out of it. At hearing him approach, Regalia looked at him before blushing. "Um..."
All Harry did though was wave her off. "Don't worry about it, Regalia. Just enjoy yourself..." Jerking his thumb, he gestured around them. "You're not the only one after all."
With a look around, Regalia giggled some at the sights that met her. Sure enough, a number of her aunts also had strawberry smeared around their lips. Though some had some haskap joining the red berry as well. "I guess so." Looking down at the partially eaten strawberry, she hummed some. "I wonder if I can grow some of these back home...?"
Thoughtful himself, the black haired boy scratched his chin before shrugging. "Maybe? I wouldn't be too surprised as strawberries do grow in the Aleutians." Considering the thought, he frowned a little bit. "You stated that there are trees on your island?"
Confused as to where this was going, Regalia gave a nod. "That's right, Uncle Harry. We have trees on the island, big ones. Why?"
For several moments, Harry did not say anything before shaking his head. "Well, if there are trees there then the climate is good enough for a number of different berries. Not just strawberries, but you might be able to grow blackberries, raspberries, and the like. Heh, I could ask Rose to see if you can get some blackcurrants or red currants as well. They would be an easy way for you to get some fruit into your diets after all."
Eyes wide, Regalia tilted her head to the side before furrowing her eyebrows. "I've never grown berries or any other type of fruit."
Harry shook his head at that. "Berries aren't that hard really to grow, especially as they grow in the wild like you can see here." Waiting until she nodded, he continued. "So you could plant a bunch outside your normal fields and have them grow there for people to pick once they ripen."
Only nodding to herself, Regalia made a note in her logbooks to look up berries and such. "That sounds pretty good."
With his hands in his pocket, the wizard snapped his fingers. "Actually, I might be able to help there as well. Back in England, my family owns an orchard and such with berries and actual fruit trees. Rose and Haruna-Oba went there last year and are planning to do so this year as well. But there's so much there that they can never get enough. Maybe I should look into seeing if you or some others are allowed to go there to pick fruit. Not like there's not enough there."
Needless to say, Harry missed how a number of the other Abyssals were now staring at him in complete and utter surprise. Clearing her throat to try and hide her own, Regalia shook her head. "Um, maybe talk with Mom and the others? They might have some ideas there."
Slowly, he gave a nod to that. "I'll do that." Turning back to her, Harry gained a small smile. "Still, you seem to be enjoying yourself greatly to be honest."
A bright smile on her face, Regalia gave a nod. "Of course, Uncle Harry! This is actually pretty fun and these strawberries are good." Looking down at the one in her hand, she took another bite with a smile. "They're sweet, but also sometimes have a tangy taste."
Lightly laughing, Harry gave her a grin. "That's true enough, I suppose. Best way to describe them that I've found is that they taste like summer."
Head tilted to the side, Regalia considered that before popping the rest of the strawberry into her mouth and giving a nod. "A taste of summer?" When Harry nodded, she smiled some. "I like that. A taste of summer is exactly how they taste."
Moments later, Harry noticed that Regalia was giving him an odd look and raised an eyebrow. "Is something wrong, Regalia?"
Shaking her head, the Re-Class frowned. "Not wrong, Uncle Harry. But..." Briefly, she chewed her lip before continuing. "I'm just wondering about why you're doing this? Why you brought a bunch of us out here?"
Quiet for a few seconds, Harry smiled softly and looked up at the sky. "To make some good memories to be honest. Ones that you can all share."
Blinking, Regalia frowned some. "What do you mean, Uncle Harry?"
With a small chuckle, the wizard crouched down beside her. "Here, I'll help you while I talk, okay?" At her nod, he began to pick alongside her. "I know that Hoppou told you all a lot about my life. About how my aunt and uncle treated me."
Regalia scowled at that and nodded. "Grandma did, Uncle Harry. And all of us are angry at them because that is not how you treat family! But Grandma told us not to bother with them."
To her confusion, Harry smiled a bit more at that and laughed. "And Hoppou's right. If people went after them because of me, it would feel too much like something that they would do. Besides which, I want to leave that in the past where it belongs. Besides... there's an old saying among us humans, one that applies really well to you and the others as well. Want to hear it?" When she nodded, his smile grew a touch. "The saying is that the best revenge is to live well. Leaving them in the past is the sort of thing that would annoy the Dursleys to no end."
Considering that, Regalia remembered how Hoppou explained that Harry's aunt and uncle were obsessed with appearances. She was not sure that what her Uncle was saying was right, but he would know more about it, right? Shaking that off, the Abyssal turned back to him. "But how does that apply to us?"
Out of the corner of his eye, Harry noted that the other Abyssals were also listening in. "Well, think about it for a moment. Those lily livered codfish who attacked the bunch of you wanted to destroy all of you, right? And yet, what happened? You all survived! More then that though, you're now all thriving and living happily while they aren't. To them, what we're doing now would be worse then anything else as we're not letting what they did bring us down, to defeat us. Instead, we're continuing to enjoy life."
Even though she had to smile at what Harry called the ones responsible for the Great Scattering, the rest struck a cord. In a way, Regalia mused, he was right. To those who harmed her family, who sunk so many of her aunts? The idea of the Fleet of Laughter continuing to survive and doing things like happily pick strawberries with their human uncle would be a slap to their faces. Part of Regalia couldn't help but think that it would likely tickle something deep inside her mother and the others. "That makes sense."
With a hum, Harry paused for a moment. "As to the rest? When I was with the Dursleys it was... dark. But it did do one thing and that was make me appreciate the brighter moments in life. Every instance when I was happy, I grabbed hold of those memories like a glass of cool water in the desert. I then kept them, and used them when I was lost in the darkness." Turning, the wizard regarded Regalia. "That is why I do what I do, Regalia. Maybe it is because of that time that I know just how precious times like this are. When the sun is shining down on good times that I then hold onto and enjoy to their fullest, knowing that there will be dark times. Times that I need the light of my memories to keep me going."
Frowning in thought, Regalia considered what she had just been told. 'I... suppose that makes sense.' A thought then occurred to her. "Aunt Ruadri is always telling stories of the old days. Back before the Great Scattering." head tilted, she continued. "But some of the others, before now didn't like to think back to those happy days. Because it hurt too much."
As he chuckled, Harry reached over and ruffled her hair some. "I suppose that such a thing would hurt, Regalia. Believe it or not, that makes you human. But even good memories that bring us pain for times that are long gone and will never return are still good and should he cherished and treasured. In a way, that is why I want to make so many good memories with you and the others. So that one day, when I'm gone..." Looking up, the black haired boy watched the clouds go by high above. "So that when I'm gone, those memories will still be there. Happy, sun filled days together."
Eyes wide, Regalia shook her head. "Uncle Harry, I-"
Before she could get much further, Harry placed his finger over her mouth. "I'm not going to die yet, Regalia. I'm a wizard and I can look forward to possibly centuries of life, more then a normal human. Who knows, I may well be around for a very long time to come. But... one day I will grow old and pass on, hopefully peacefully and surrounded by my family. There will come a time when all that remains of me is bones, dust, and memories. However, those memories that we build now will be the best legacy that I can have." Waving a hand, he smiled. "Maybe, one day far into the future after I'm gone, something will happen. You or one of the others will be sitting somewhere and perhaps eating a strawberry, which will bring you back in your memories to this day. When we picked your first strawberries under the warm, summer Sun. And I will live again, inside of your memories, your mind, and your heart." Lightly laughing, the wizard spread his arms. "And what better form of immortality is there then to be remembered fondly?"
Small tears in her eyes as she thought about what he had said, Regalia could almost imagine it. "Uncle Harry?" When he nodded, she reached over and hugged him. "I hope that day won't come for a very long time."
Patting her on the back, the nearly thirteen year old nodded. "Same here, Regalia." Moments later, he felt the others also hugging him which made him playfully groan. "Ack!"
Wonderous frowned at him. "Regalia is right, Uncle Harry."
Only shaking his head, Harry shrugged before patting her headgear. "I never said that she wasn't. But at the same time? That is why we should build as many memories like this as we can, right?" When he got nods, he chuckled. "Now, how about we just go back to making them then? Instead of talking about all this heavy stuff?"
Getting nods, the group soon returned to what they had been doing with smiles on their faces.
________________________________________________________________
Engine of the ATV rumbling, Harry pulled it into the parking lot which the others stopped jogging alongside, Ruadri helping Regalia out of the trailer. Hopping off the vehicle, he pulled off his helmet as he watched the others walking up in interest at what they had been doing. "Hey guys!"
Coming to a stop, Tanith blinked some. "Uncle Harry... what were you all... doing?"
With a hum, Harry smiled at her. "What else? Picking strawberries and haskap berries. That way we can have some for dessert and make most of it into preserves that you can take back with you." Pretending not to notice Sunny crossing her arms and giving them amused looks while Ritou facepalmed and shook her head. "Why?"
Meanwhile, Hoppou walked up and took one look at her daughters and granddaughter. Each of them shuffled a bit under her stare before the little Abyssal turned to Harry and narrowed her eyes. "Big Brother was supposed to just take them picking berries!"
Head tilted to the side as if confused, Harry blinked. "Yeah, that was what we were supposed to do, Hoppou. And that is exactly what we did."
In reply, Hoppou wagged one hand at him. "Yes, and Hoppou can see what else you did! You let them eat strawberries when it could ruin their appetite!"
Reeling back as if struck, the young wizard shook his head. "No, no, they didn't eat any strawberries, Hoppou. I know better then to have them ruin their appetite!" Turning, he looked back at them and winked. "Right guys?"
Only looking at each other, they shuffled a bit. "Um..."
Now grinning widely, Harry turned back to an unimpressed Hoppou who had her arms crossed. "See? No strawberries were eaten."
Eyebrow raising, the Northern Ocean Princess gave her adoptive older brother a look. "Why are their hands red and blue then?"
Harry only shook his head and chuckled. "Because they were picking berries, Hoppou. You know how messy that can get."
The Abyssal's eyes narrowed a bit before she pointed. "Hoppou can also see that they have berry smeared on clothes! All of them are messy!"
Still smiling, Harry shook his head at that. "Hoppou, that was from them accidentally smearing the berry juice that they had on their hands from picking the berries. Not eating them after all."
In her eyes, Harry could see the glimmer of amusement. "Really?" When the black haired boy nodded, she once more made a gesture with her hands, a victorious expression on her face. "But why are they having berry all over their faces! Hoppou can see it around their mouths!"
Cringing, Sokie was about to say something when Harry snorted and laughed. "Really, Hoppou? You think that is because they ate berries when they were not supposed to?"
Expression blank, Hoppou gave him a look as her tone became flat. The same type of tone of motherly disapproval known the world over. One especially used when someone was trying to get out of trouble. "Yes."
Just waving her off, Harry snorted again. "No, no. That's not why they have berry juice there. See, there were all these branches, vines, and stuff. They sometimes tripped and fell into the berries. That's all, nothing more and nothing less."
Unable to help herself, Regalia gave a giggle before freezing as Hoppou glanced at her. But there was something about her expression that made the Re-Class blink. What it was though, she didn't quite know... Shaking that off though, she turned back to the conversation as Harry made excuse after lame excuse about how they didn't eat any berries to spoil their appetites. Internally, Regalia continued giggling at her Uncle for being what her grandmother would call "Silly", but it was hilarious.
Somehow, she knew that it would become one of those good memories that her Uncle had told her about. One that she could look back on in the future and smile at. And, with a look at the others around them? Regalia knew that they knew it as well.
And then it became even funnier as Hoppou pulled out her spray bottle and started to call Harry a very silly Uncle as Sunny began to laugh.