May 19th, 1888 — Sanditon Menagerie

Merlin, how he had missed the bustle of the busy season!

As the resort swelled with guests, so too did Herbert Fudge's unbeating heart swell with pride at the institution that he and Freddie had created. When asked about his ghostly state, the former wizard would often joke that he could not truly die so long as his resort lived on, but in moments like this, Herbert wondered if it was not true, at least in part.

It was not, of course, without its difficulties. Herbert could no longer source beasts himself but required a middleman. He had entirely lost the ability to write, and his scribe was resigning at the end of June to leave for the colonies—such a traitor! And of course, he missed the warm embrace of his wife. These, though, were all acceptable sacrifices to be able to remain upon the mortal coil, rather than disappear into the bleakness of death. He would not walk his daughters down the aisle, but could most assuredly float alongside them!

"Feel free to pet them; they are quite tame," he reassured a guest, having floated through the stone wall of the enclosure behind them to observe them in awe of the giraffe pair. "You may even feed them, if you like," Herbert added with a helpful gesture towards a dish of grain. Their long necks made them look quite imposing, but they were gentle giants.

---

  

---

— who doesn't want a ghost dad? —

— graphics by mj ❤ —

Una had many a memory at the Sanditon resort. Some of them..not so good. So she'd decided to do what she could to remedy that. The resort was actually quite a fun place and surely there was plenty that could be found and seen there while she managed a good mood. When she had heard of the season opener, she'd decided to drag her brother along to attend. They could both have some fun in the process, surely. Though, they weren't likely to spend every moment together there. She was rather well known for flouting propriety and rarely took a chaperone with her. That instance was no different.

She'd learned of the resort's zoo for the first time, surprisingly enough, and had decided to check it out while her brother was off doing whatever it was he felt like doing. The giraffes had been her first target and she'd found herself staring up at them with a look of pure awe. She'd seen them in the distance before when she'd been in Africa previously but hadn't had the chance to view them at such close proximity.

The sudden masculine voice from behind caused Una to jump visibly but she luckily didn't squeak as well. She turned wide eyes to the ghostly figure now much closer but managed to smile at him. "How did you happen to come across them?" she asked pleasantly enough, though she always happened to be a bit suspicious of others that kept creatures as pets. Mr. Podmore's were mostly ones that had either been born into captivity or had been injured to the point where they wouldn't exactly be able to survive in nature. That, was acceptable in her opinion. Any reason other than that, however, was not.

---

  

---

Magnificent MJ Masterpiece

She was unsurprisingly startled by his sudden arrival, but Herbert was happy to note she did not seem at all displeased by it.

“From a dealer on my last trip to Africa,” he answered easily, staring up fondly at the beasts, a bit jealous that she, unlike himself, physically could pet them. “I found a man in the Serengeti who supposedly dealt in ‘miniature erumpants’—reportedly, at least. In actuality, they were little more than magically shrunken rhinoceroses. But Cedar and Willow here were quite striking.”

Herbert remembered first seeing the pair and deciding immediately he must have them.

“Fortunately, the officials I reported the charlatan to were quite obliging as it turned out he also had a nundu—illegal to breed or traffic, understandably so; I obtained the pair as well as some flamingos in exchange.”

---

  

---

— who doesn't want a ghost dad? —

— graphics by mj ❤ —

Una felt her cheeks flushing some as the ghostly man spoke. The flush wasn't from embarrassment though and actually of anger. This "dealer" he spoke of sounded like a man she'd rather not know. And if she did, well he'd certainly rather not know her after she got done with him. Animals weren't meant as pets or trophies to flaunt around. It was actually quite aggravating to her and this man before her was starting to sound as if he were one of those trophy hunter types. He may not kill the animals he flaunted around but he certainly flaunted them around.

"And you didn't think that perhaps the animals would have been better off in the wilds that they's used to?" she asked, her tone a bit tense.

---

  

---

Magnificent MJ Masterpiece

"I wouldn't imagine they'd have much in the way of preferences," he answered brightly, oblivious to her distaste. "After all, they do not think in the same way as you or I—or even in the same way as a magical creature!"

Besides, why would such elegant creatures prefer a life of obscurity when they could live here, well-fed and adored by the many guests the menagerie saw?

---

  

---

— who doesn't want a ghost dad? —

— graphics by mj ❤ —

Una was fully glaring at the ghost now as he spoke as if the creatures had no thoughts of feelings. He was oh so very wrong in her mind but it wasn't all that surprising. Or it shouldn't have been. It seemed as though most thought animals were simply meant to be pets and caged up but she thought very differently.

"And that," she said, tone still terse, "Is where you're wrong. All creatures, magical or not, have their own preferences and I'm sure if you could ask those giraffes they'd much rather be living out their lives in the wide open spaces of the African savanna."

---

  

---

Magnificent MJ Masterpiece

“But I cannot ask those giraffes, not in a way that they could understand,” he pointed out the obvious, confused by her tone, her perspective, “nor could I comprehend them if they did express such wishes.”

As a—former—magizoologist, Herbert cared a great deal about the welfare of creatures, magical or otherwise. The thought of their having opinions, though, and asking them their thoughts on matters? That was simply ludicrous!

---

  

---

— who doesn't want a ghost dad? —

— graphics by mj ❤ —

"And you shouldn't have to ask them," Una said with a shake of her head, cheeks flushed with the anger she felt, "No creature deserves to be cooped up in some exhibit for someone else's enjoyment. The only time they shouldn't be out living in their true environment is if they simply can't survive there on their own." It was something that the American woman felt quite strongly about. If she couldn't heal an animal to a point where it could survive on it's own in the wilderness, then she'd gladly see to it's care in an exhibit of sorts.

---

  

---

Magnificent MJ Masterpiece

“My dear,” he offered graciously, the practiced air of the host about him, “I am afraid we must agree to disagree, and otherwise concede that these are magnificent beasts that deserve the utmost care and dignity.”

She must not be very fun a parties or carnivals, Herbert thought to himself. Her zeal was admirable, though, in his opinion, rather misguided.

---

  

---

— who doesn't want a ghost dad? —

— graphics by mj ❤ —

Una's cheeks were still faintly flushed with anger. But.. he was actually being somewhat sensible. Agreeing to disagree was the best sort of action that could be mustered in that moment as it was quiet evident neither of them would be backing down any time soon.

"Yes, that they are," she answered simply with her lips slightly pursed, her attention drawing back to the giraffes in question. She couldn't help but to smile faintly at them. They were truly magnificent.

---

  

---

Magnificent MJ Masterpiece

Though Herbert could see and feel that the woman was upset, but still could not grasp why. Uncomfortable with the situation, his gossamer form simply disappeared as the ghost moved elsewhere, chalking the matter entirely up to the fragile sensibilities of the fairer sex.

---

  

---

— who doesn't want a ghost dad? —

— graphics by mj ❤ —