#he was supposed to protect his sister but she was chosen by a magical sentient lion robot and now he's helpless to protect her.

[scattered-winter]

anyway if anyone deserved to be on the suffered more than jesus poll, it's rei because on god that boy has suffered

[natsumebookss]

Valka Sparks Voice Lines

Here's my first PN character, Valka! She's a genetically engineered magical girl (called an Actress) from a fictional country called Olympia. I've got a whole novel I'm working on about these girls, so this is kind of a crossover AU, but I've tried to cram as much important lore about her as I can in these lines. I've had her concept since high school, so she is extremely important to me.

Self-Introduction 1: Good to meet you, I'm Valka Sparks. People in my country call me Actress Espoir, the girl genetically engineered to become the worst Witch. I came to Kamihama to avoid that fate, for me and for everyone. I'll help you out with whatever you like, as long as it doesn't involve the other factions. It's best for everyone here if me and the other Actresses just look out for ourselves.

Self-Introduction 2: Call me Valka. I refuse to use the other name that man gave me unless it's on my own terms, and that means using it to make everything blow up in his face. I like to think that's the name I would have had if I wouldn't have been forced into this damned contract...but enough about that. You'd rather know what my crew is doing here, right?

Personal Story

Story Chapter End 1: They're using me to breed the worst possible Witch. That's really all I'll ever be to them?

(NOTE: In the original PN verse, Valka's body contains a dark spirit, created by Star Corporations trying to inject both light and dark magic into her at once. This dark spirit is a Witch in the Magia Record crossover, but is something entirely unique and staggeringly rare in the novel concept. Basically, if Valka were to turn, it would be less like a Witch transformation and more like a possession, where she would still be aware of what was going on without being able to do anything about it.)

Story Chapter End 2: If I'm cast aside by humans and hunted down by Actresses, what even am I?

Story Chapter End 3: I'll give my life to save every Actress who was ever made. That's the only way I can atone for what I am.

Story Select 1: The Firebrands are after my power...it's my fault...

Story Select 2: Is that what hope means to them?

Story Select 3: How can I protect the others if I couldn't even protect Xing?

Story Select 4: I can't let the Manufacturer get to Omega! She has to stay human!

Story Select 5: Aren't humans supposed to dream of loving people who aren't like them?

Story Select 6: I won't fail you again...Omega...

Stats

Strengthening Complete: I tend to prefer brains to brawn, but I could get used to this.

Strengthening Max: I should be able to stave off the new moon better now.

Episode Level Up: Get away from me now before the Manufacturer turns you too.

Magia Level Up: Hopefully, this takes me one step closer to freeing all us Actresses.

Magical Release 1: I was genetically altered to become the worst possible Witch, so I guess that makes me little more than a living weapon to them.

Magical Release 2: Protecting all Magical Girls is out of my scope, but I know I can at least protect my own kind.

Magical Release 3: I do believe a stronger magical girl of hope does exist, though. When she comes, it won't just be for Actresses...we'll all be freed.

(NOTE: Since Valka and Madoka both have hope motifs and Madoka is seen as a Messianic figure in the anime, I like the idea of Valka being a similar, but more minor prophet, like John the Baptist was in the Christian mythos PMMM taps into occasionally.)

Awaken 1: The Premiere Nebula was formed in honor of a fallen friend. For her sake, I must protect it.

Home Screen

Login (first login): You should be careful around me. Star Corporations and the Firebrands can both take advantage of you being close to me. Though I guess that's not a problem since I'm not in Olympia anymore?

Login (morning): You think I'm up too early? Well, since I fought as the Manufacturer's soldier for so long and I'm an athlete now, I guess this is just normal for me.

Login (noon): In Star Corporations, our diets were strictly regimented. Can't have your soldiers falling ill, can you? I still have to keep in shape for my job, but that's why I still like to indulge now and then.

Login (evening): My Witch's power is tied to the moon, so the more light the moon gets, the stronger I am. On the new moon, my Soul Gem darkens and she tries to come out.

Login (night): I'm used to doing patrols right about now, but the Kamihama girls seem to have things handled here. Time for me to turn in for the night.

Login (other): Actress Soul Gems are different from yours, so I don't know how going to a Coordinator would affect me. But if you need to go, I can give it a shot.

Login (AP full): Omega's my apprentice, so I'm still committed to training her even in an unfamiliar environment. These Witches should segue right into today's lesson.

Login (BP full): Fighting copies feels wrong when your country has sentient clones. But if they can duplicate Actresses, we have to put them down.

Tap 1: You guys don't have Cielflight around here? I guess you could say it's like air hockey, except you play on this big magnetic field. It clears my mind, even though I'm up in the air like always.

Tap 2: Omega and I are reserves on a Cielflight team. She plays defense and I play offense. Unfortunately, that means she still tries to shield me in battle, even though she's still a newbie...

Tap 3: Io always calls me "Valvi-nee," but I don't mind. Battle has turned us into sisters, and besides...I never really did have a cute nickname like that growing up.

Tap 4: Since my magic ebbs and flows with the moon, strategy's the name of the game for me. If I didn't have my wits, there's no way I'd be able to beat someone like Alarice on an off day.

Tap 5: What would I have wished for? Probably for my dad to be president. He campaigned when I was little, worked hard...but still couldn't beat the Manufacturer's influence.

Tap 6: My last ex abused me for being an Actress, so love isn't really a thing for me. With the way my powers are, I'm even too weird for Actresses...though sometimes I wish that wasn't true.

Tap 7: Yachiyo Nanami interests me. She's a lot like how I used to be, and I've gotta say...sometimes I'm jealous of how much support she gets from everyone here. The Nebula's all I have back home.

Tap 8: The Manufacturer wanted me to be his beacon of hope. But now I want to be that same light for the Actresses. If I can do that, I feel like that would make up for everything I've done.

Tap 9: My dad was single, so he asked the Manufacturer and Star Corporations to create a baby for him. That's where I came from, and why they still think they own me.

Battle Start: Okay, so here's the plan...

Battle Victory 1: I believe that's checkmate.

(Since she loves strategy games, I had to use this one even though it's similar to Oriko's.)

Battle Victory 2: As long as Star Corporations sees me as their chosen one, I have a reputation to keep.

Battle Victory 3: That's how it's done! Remember this for next time, Omega.

Doppel: *strained* I have to...keep it together!

Dying: The Manufacturer will never win now.

[bellatrixobsessed1]

The Final Agni Kai (A Terrible AU Fanfic that literally no one asked for!)

This was totally going to be the battle between Sie and Zuko in the cabbage fic but I couldn't pass having the fire siblings do this.

Summary: Agni Kai AU where instead of actually fighting the Agni Kai, Zuko and Azula play a monoply-uno hybrid from Hell.

The sky is heavy with smoke and an odor of sulfur. Sozin’s comet paints the mid-afternoon sky a shade of orange-red. Azula, stares up at said sky--she is daydreaming about just leaving everything behind to become a J-pop idol. 

“By decree of Phoenix King Ozai, I now crown you Fire Lord…” But it is hard to do that when the fire sage keeps blabbing on and on. And it is twice as hard when a wild flying bison swoops into view. Suddenly feeling as though she has run out of time, she turns to the sage and asks, “What are you waiting for? Do it!”

Azula had been rather vague so he isn’t sure what he is supposed to just do. All he knows is that he can’t let his dreams just be dreams. Just do it! Azula’s voice echos in his mind. But in his mind she sounds more motivating than angry. 

Appa lands in the courtyard and Zuko dramatically jumps off of him. “Sorry, but you're not gonna become Fire Lord today. I am.”

Azula laughs, “you're hilarious.”

“And you're going down.” Zuko informs her.

“That was my line.” Katara whispers. 

“Sorry.” Zuko replies. 

The fire sage, recalling Azula’s words--just do it!--begins to ignore the interrupting duo and brings the crown closer to Azula’s messy topknot.

She lifts a hand and then the rest of her body. “Wait!” And then to Zuko she says, “You want to become Fire Lord? Fine. Let’s settle this. Just you and me, brother. The showdown that was always meant to be. Monopl-uno!” She whips out a game board and a deck of cards and slaps them onto the ground. 

“You're on!” 

“What are you doing? She’s playing you. She knows she can't take us both, so she's trying to separate us.”

“I know. But I can take her this time.” Zuko declares. 

“But even you admitted to your uncle that you would need help facing Azula.” Katara protests. Also she does not want to have to wait through a game of Monopoly, that game is boring as hell even if it is mashed together with Uno.

“There's something off about her, I can't explain it but she's slipping.” Zuko rubs his chin as he takes in the disheveled sight of his sister. Her hair is a mess and her eyes are tired. “Hmmm...can’t quite put my finger on it.” She flashes him an uncanny and feral smile. “Nope. No idea.”  He makes his way across the courtyard. 

He and Azula stand on opposite ends of the courtyard, kneeling as you do before beginning a game of monopl-uno. It is always best to start any board, card, or any kind of game by kneeling before your God and asking for protection lest the game transform itself into Jumanji and you find yourself stuck in a jungle forever. 

This is what had happened to Jet. He has been stuck in the Foggy Swamp, which is also a jungle, ever since. He is now a backwater redneck. But this is no surprise being as he already liked to chew on straw prior to being transported into the jungle to live out the rest of his fuqboi existence. 

“I'm sorry it has to end this way, brother.” 

“No you're not.”

But she really is. She actually hates monopl-uno, in her foggy state of mind, she had momentarily forgotten this. But she cannot back out of this now. “I am so.” She whispers quietly.

“Are not.”

“Are too.”

“Are not.”

“Are to.”

“Are…”

Luckily Katara is there to get them back on track. The only thing more boring than Monopoly is reading approximately six pages of ‘are not’, ‘are too’. Even more boring than that is pre-algebra. Thank Raava, that math does not exist here. “Will you two just get on with it!?” She asks.

Azula passes out five uno cards and a fat stack of monopoly cash. For every green card, the player receives $500. For the blues the player gets $100. Yellow cards earn the player $50. And red earns the player $20. 10’s & 5’s are a free for all, Azula and Zuko snatch as many as they can. 1’s are distributed by wiping out a Candyland, whoever draws Queen Frostine gets to steal all of the 5’s. Azula bites Zuko as he reaches for the last one dollar bill. He retracts his hand quickly. 

It settles in that Azula is losing her shit.

If no one draws Queen Frostine by the game’s end then the 1’s burst into flames and are claimed by the void that manifests itself as a third player in the form of a sentient piccolo, that plays truly awful covers of Rammstine’s Du Hast and Smashmouth’s All Star the whole time.

With dread, Azula notes that, “Colonel Mustard has murdered Mrs. Scarlett with a candlestick in the billard room.” 

Zuko grips his head in stress, knowing that this means that Azula has to move her gingerbread man to the next purple square. This ends the game.

No one has drawn Queen Frostine. 

The 1’s burst into flames and a piccolo rises.

The first notes of Du Hast echo through the courtyard, terribly off key.

Katara has a wicked urge to puncture her own earholes just to end the madness.

Why did Colonel Mustard have to murder her with a candlestick. If he would have just used the wrench then they might have had a chance to draw Queen Frostine!

Far, far off in the distance Sokka, Suki, and Toph fight a different kind of battle. They play Battle Ships, but they use actual ships. Except the ships are not water ships but airships and they are in the sky and the bombs are real.

Suki is uncomfortable with this. 

It is Toph’s time to shine. She can use echolocation to cheat. 

Aang and Ozai also fight. But their fight is different. It is a battle of wit. They have chosen several popular debate topics including women’s rights, religion, which economic model to follow, and whether or not pineapple belongs on pizza. 

Pineapple does not belong on pizza. 

Neither does cheese, because cheese is gross. 

In fact, pizza does not belong on pizza because pizza is gross and no matter what Aang is still a vegan and Aang is not sure if a good vegan should be eating pizza. 

Iroh finds himself a tall mountain and yodels atop it until the militia stationed at Ba Sing Se submit. 

But none of this is as important as Azula declaration, “go fish!”

Zuko cusses and picks up a goldfish. He curses again. Drawing a goldfish means that he has to pull a block from the jenga tower and that rickety thing is already very close to collapsing. Azula smirks as he nears an old and vacant house in Capital City. It is the same one that they have been stealing boards from since they were children. 

It is on its last legs. 

A bead of sweat drips down Zuko’s forehead as he tugs at the board. The whole house bobs precuriously. Azula and Katara take several huge steps back. They, in fact, stand approximately one-hundred feet from the building, which is a safe number when practicing social distancing. 

Zuko yanks the board free and the building groans. He clenches his jaw. But the building remains up right. 

“Ha! Take that, Azula!” He says loudly. The building shakes at the sudden noise and it topples. He has done this to himself. Now he has to draw six more uno cards and one more go fish card. 

“So, how have you been?” Zuko makes small talk as they walk back to the coronation courtyard. 

Azula thinks that it is a stupid question, she is obviously in a state of mental torment. “Oh, I’m fine.” She replies nonchalantly. 

“Yeah, me too.” He replies. “I read this really cool book the other day.”

Azula hasn’t, she has been stress eating cherries and pacing around her bedroom. “I read one too.” She lies. 

“Which one.” 

“Oh...you’ve never heard of it. It’s a really underground novel.”

They reach the courtyard, Zuko draws his uno and go fish cards. It is still his turn so he rolls the dice. “Yahtzee!” He declares and Azula flinches. She moves her gingerbread man to an orange square and picks up a trivial pursuit card. She relaxes a little, upon remembering that she is a trivial pursuit expert. 

“What’s the tallest piece on a chessboard?” Katara reads the card.

Azula rolls her eyes, this is an easy one. “It is the King.”

Zuko Googles the answer just to be sure that Azula isn’t lying again. 

Katara winces, “correct.” 

Azula flashes a smug smile as she passes go and collects $200. She is glad that she did not have to answer a Guess Who question. Those always throw her off. 

Zuko stands up, it is his turn. He throws down a green skip. This time Azula curses. He then throws down a green reverse card so it is his turn again. Azula snarls. He realizes that he has no more green cards so he picks up a Go Fish card. It is an angelfish. Angelfish act as substitutes for yellow cards so he is stuck with it. Having none of her own, but having the mindstate of one, Azula literally turns herself into a wildcard and flops down onto the deck. She changes it to blue. 

She always changes it to blue.

She has no blue cards, but she never changes it to anything but blue.

She reclaims her human form and draws a Go Fish card. 

It is a clownfish. 

Which makes sense because she played herself (clownfish substitute red cards only), she is the clown in this situation. 

Zuko smirks and throws down a blue seven. 

Azula is about to throw down a blue three, when Zuko brazanly shouts. “No draw fours today? What’s the matter, afraid I’ll reverse it!?”

“Oh! I’ll show you a draw four!” Azula shouts. She lifts her blue drawfour as well as four scrabble tiles--one for each letter of her name, except she is missing the ‘u’ so instead she has Azla--and powers her draw four up with them. 

A is the first letter of the alphabet so Zuko has to not only draw four cards but another two extra. And since Z is the last letter he also has to draw twenty-six extra cards. By this time the deck has run low so he has to pick up a twelve of spades which amounts to twelve green uno cards.

To figure out what number each represents they must spin the twister spinner and consult the magic eight ball. 

“Nooooo!” Zuko screams as she throws the cards down. 

Katara bites her cheek. She doesn’t like cheating to win, but she is pretty sure that Azula had swapped out her ‘u’ scrabble tile for a ‘z’ while Zuko was messing with the Jenga tower. So she doesn’t think too much of it when she completes Zuko’s Connect Four line. 

“Zuko!” She yells. “You forgot to say, ‘I’ve united the four!’” 

Zuko pumps his fist and says. “I’ve united the four!” This nullifies the power up Azula has used on her draw four. It balances out so he only has to draw four uno cards. 

Azula’s face bunches up in disgust as she gives the twister spinner a flick. 

Right hand on blue. 

She places her right hand on blue and the twister board tells her to move her top hat to the chance square. Katara picks up the chance card and reads “go directly to jail. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200.” 

Azula blinks several times. She is trapped, with nowhere to go. She sadly makes her way over to the grate, overwhich they have constructed a jail out of a cardboard box. The word ‘JAIL’ (though Zuko accidentally spelled it ‘JAYL’ at first so that was crossed off and ‘JAIL’ is written beneath it) is written in big red marker. Katara doodled a star under it in pink gel pen. 

Azula sadly lifts the box and sits under it, clutch her knees to her chest as Zuko passes go, collets his $200, and uses it to buy a candyland card. A smile lights up his face, he has drawn Gramma Nut! That means he gets to discard exactly three uno cards. 

He sets them on fire and shouts “uno!” 

He throws his remaining card, a blue five, onto the deck. 

From within her jail cell, Azula shrieks. She sets the jail on fire, marches up to the unused chessboard, flips it over, and throws the pieces at Zuko “I hate this game! This is a stupid fucking  anyways!” 

Zuko and Katara slap each other high five. Unbeknownst to them, Momo swoops down. “But you forgot to play Bop It before saying uno, which means that your victory is null.” 

Zuko slaps his forehead. 

Azula’s eyes grow wide. 

This means only one thing…

One terrible thing…

Azula swallows as she removes Don’t Wake Daddy from the box. The siblings stare at each other. If at any point, daddy wakes up, Ozai will materialize before them and win the game. “Here, you do it!” Zuko says to Azula. She very carefully takes the tweezers and as steady as she can, attempts to extract the wrench representing the funny bone.

But Azula is already shaken from her loss and the stress of losing her friends. She accidently touches the rim and the game buzzes. 

She and Zuko weep as they both take turns pressing the alarm clock. Daddy springs up and Ozai appeared before them to reclaim his Fire Lord crown. In leaving his debate, Aang has automatically won. Ozai’s bending yanks itself from his body, as he had bet it before the debate started. Aang cheers!

Another airship explodes as Toph cackles. 

Ozai begins to weep for he might be the Fire Lord again, but he has no fire. 

Neither Zuko nor Azula are the Fire Lord. They both hug each other and cry as Katara plugs her ears. 

The piccolo still plays Rammstine. 

Ozai also cries because, even though he is Fire Lord in title, no one is going to listen to him since he is a non-bender. The Fire Nation will fall into anarchy unless the siblings can work something out. 

Aang also weeps because her realizes that, Ozai is still the Fire Lord so he is still going to have to defeat him somehow.

Truly, nobody has won here. 

Nobody except Iroh and Toph.

[junhaoshua]

The Great Collie Crossover, 4/10

A/N: I own none of the characters, being neither JK Rowling nor @colubrina. This is just a chance for me to play in the sandbox they have created.This is a birthday/get well soon present for the lovely @colubrina, whose work has been such a joy and inspiration to me.

***

3: The Wrong Strain

“Aren't we all the same person?” Hermione says in confusion.

Other-Hermione shrugs tightly. “I suppose so. What do you know about Veela?”

“Breathtakingly beautiful, entrance any man who looks at them.”

“Yes, well, it seems that regular Veela can carry a disease that turns people into another kind of Veela. To find someone else breathtakingly beautiful and be entranced by them.”

She can’t imagine that. “That’s awful!” Consent and free will and self determination all thrown out the window, just like that. “How is that any different from an imperius?”

“It wears off after a few seconds of separation,” Veela-Hermione says after a few moments. “But well. Perhaps we should go back to the beginning.”

The world ripples. Meeting Fleur and being introduced to a beautiful blonde man. Showing him around London. Dinner and candlelight and - oh.

Veela-Hermione flushes. “Not that far back,” she says hastily, waving her hand.

“Is that how-”

“Transmission occurs? Yes. And in case you’re wondering, the rumours aren’t true. Veelas are not automatically good in bed.”

Time speeds up. Hermione sickening. Miserable. Flinching away from touch. Hugging Harry anyway. Visits to St. Mungo’s. Research. Knowing what she was. A tearful apology from Fleur. Confirmation. Registering as a sentient magical creature, no longer a witch. Knowing she’d die if she didn’t find that magical mate, the one whose touch would save her. An endless, creeping discomfort. Feeling like death on her skin every time someone touched her.

Then brushing against Malfoy and knowing it was him and crying, certain he would laugh at her and condemn her to death. Going to the Manor. Trying not to have a panic attack as she passes the room. Malfoy’s horrified face when she tells him. Tea and pity and fainting in shock when she realises he’s not monster enough to let her die.

“Malfoy?” Hermione asks in shock. “Of all possible soulmates - Draco Malfoy?”

“It was hard to understand,” Veela-Hermione admits. “We took a while to get that.”

Moving in together to a flat where the doorman sneers at her, a flat that shows off the kind of money she can’t imagine. Being given a little orange kitten. Shoulder rubs. Not saying anything about Malfoy’s past actions because she needs him to survive, and him knowing it. Meeting this world’s Blaise.

“I should have known,” Veela-Hermione says, mostly to herself, as Blaise says something insulting and Draco threatens him. “It’s so obvious in hindsight.”

A housewarming with Draco’s friends. Pansy pushing her at Draco. Cuddling up against him, cooing with pleasure, a mindless animal. Licking him. Draco cursing Pansy and throwing everyone out.

Sharing a bed at Blaise’s suggestion. Nietzsche. Slowly getting used to him. Lunch with Narcissa, past-Hermione wearing the same suit as present Veela-Hermione. Being turned away even after saving the Wizarding World, because of course the Malfoys would bring her to an aristocratic pureblood restaurant. Draco assaulting the manager for turning them away. Draco and Harry playing Quidditch at the Manor. Harry going into a strange fit of anger when Draco teases her.

“There’s something in your touch, isn’t there,” Hermione says with sudden understanding. “Why they’re both so insanely protective of you.”

Veela-Hermione looks at her with shock, then laughs. “You got it a lot faster than any of us did.”

A costume party, crow and obscurial. Draco threatening another person, being a bulldog for her. Flirting with pretty, pretty Blaise. Pansy bringing Fleur’s cousin. Pansy becoming another Veela. Dinner with Blaise - and Ginny. Kidnapping the Veela man and making sure he took his potions to clear up the infection. Along with an impotency potion, just to be sure. Harry and Pansy.

And then finding out that Lucius Malfoy had been trying to figure out how to make more of them, mindless adoring Veela pets.

Leaving Draco. Research with Pansy, trying to figure out the answer before the Malfoys did. And the realisation of how the mates were chosen. Harry choking Ron for insulting Pansy. The knowledge that as devoted as the Veela was, their mate was violently, murderously, equally protective of them.

Moping until Pansy and Harry finally drag her back to the flat. Draco trying to make a potion to set her free from him. Reconciliation. A very… intense reconciliation.

Veela-Hermione flushes again and waves a hand. The amorous memories dissolve. “Anyway. Yes. I don’t know how things are for you- probably not quite the same- but that’s what happened to me.”

“My world’s Malfoy looked at me too, that day,” Hermione says softly.

She smiles a little at that, then wraps Hermione in a hug. “Allies can be found in unexpected places. Understanding, and love.” She steps back as the mist thickens into fog. “It’s a matter of being open to it, wherever it comes from.”

***

She finds herself on a graceful white bridge above a duck pond, across from a Hermione wearing well-made jeans and a black cashmere jumper, with guarded eyes and a substantial ring on her finger bearing the Nott family crest. She frowns in confusion. “Are you Theo’s sister too?”

Other-Hermione makes a face. “Merlin, no! We’re not related!”

***

Thank you to the lovely @sulisaints for pre-reading! Crossposted on AO3.

[bffhreprise]

Entry 184

 I watched James closely as his limo drove us toward the gala.  Lady Pendreigh was openly showing affection for him, but I never heard rumor that the two were actually courting.  There were numerous games she could be playing, and I was certain to only be seeing what she wished if a game was in play.  Her affection for James seemed quite real to me, and I still had no clue what all he could do.  His assets, however, were remarkable.

 Over the past two days, I found myself captivated with his home.  Great wealth was casually displayed with no apparent security, but his entire staff was formidable.  Jarod regarded Mila as a person, not just a machine.  If she was as sentient as she seemed, he was right to do so, and her value would be incredible.

 Even Mila’s value was nothing compared with the discovery of living fey.  How James found them and gathered them in his forest was a mystery.  Had he really let the little one indoors on accident, or was he showing more of his power?  The tiny creature seemed to regard him as an ally, possibly even a friend.  Even a handful of fey was a very dangerous force, and I believed James had many.  Just who was he?

 “Since you’ll be with us longer, I was wondering if there was anywhere which you wanted to visit?  I’d feel remiss as a host if I didn’t manage to spend some time with you away from my home.” stated James, noticing that I was watching him.

 Did he now want to deter me from viewing more of his home, or did he have other assets to unveil?  A straightforward approach might serve me best, so I said, “Thank you for the consideration, but I have seen more wonders in your home than I ever would in the city.  I simply wish to visit that remarkable forest and see the creatures within at least once before I go.”

 He casually nodded as he replied “I’m sure we can manage, though my secretary will likely require a contract.  The creatures there are quite rare and precious.”

 A contract from her was not a mere trifle.  I worried over what this might entail.  His words might even be taken as a threat.  Who was I, after all, to argue with the one with Lady Pendreigh on his arm?

 “I see.” I stated.  “I’ll have to discuss this with my family after I peruse the documents then.”

 Lady Pendreigh smiled slightly as she said, “I found the contract to be pretty standard fare for her, Duncan.”

 I nodded and tried to fight the wave of fear which brushed over me.  Aaliyah’s contracts included many, many ways to forfeit one’s own life, and I had imagined too many times what having her come for me would be like.

 Turning to Lady Pendreigh, James asked “Did mother ever finish that painting for you, Alma?”

 He was incredibly relaxed next to her, a man of power regarding her as an equal at best.  He possibly saw himself above her.

 “Yes.  Her talent is quite extraordinary.  I was very impressed by her work.” she replied.

 I had looked into James’ family, but I didn’t find out anything remarkable.  His parents were talented humans as far as I knew.

 “Oh, so you’ve already picked it up?  Mother never mentioned that you stopped by again.” he replied, a hint of disappointment in his voice.

 Lady Pendreigh turned from him.  Her face was still a porcelain mask, but she seemed slightly uncomfortable to me.  What did he have over her?  Was this some sort of code?

 “No, I haven’t.  I made arrangements for her to hold onto the painting for now, as I don’t feel the timing is right to have it publicly displayed.” she claimed.  “Ah.  Let’s have a stroll through the park, since we have some time.  I do like this one.”

 I glanced out the window but saw nothing particularly interesting.  Did she want space from us to discuss something with him?  I surmised as much when the two set out walking without waiting for my sisters and Jarod.  Normally, I’d use spells to enhance my hearing and listen, but such a trick around Lady Pendreigh was dangerous.  If she felt insulted, I could die.  I dissuaded the others from trying to approach with idle conversation.  As I spent more time around Jarod, I couldn’t deny his intellect.  How was he chosen to be the apprentice of Death?  Perhaps there was even more to him than I had guessed.

,,,^._.^,,,

 “Did mother ever finish that painting for you, Alma?” asked James.

  I was certain James didn’t realize how much he distressed me at times, but did he have to bring up that bloody painting right now?  Every time I thought of that visit I paid to his parents, his anger at me came fresh to my mind.

 “Yes.  Her talent is quite extraordinary.  I was very impressed by her work.” I assured him.

 “Oh, so you’ve already picked it up?  Mother never mentioned that you stopped by again.” he commented.

 I released his arm and turned from him.  I couldn’t look at him right now.  “No, I haven’t.” I admitted.  Then I quickly explained “I made arrangements for her to hold onto the painting for now, as I don’t feel the timing is right to have it publicly displayed.”

 I could feel Duncan watching us, studying.  I knew everything said around him would surely be relayed to his mother.  Must James prod sore points right now?  The Williams-Wynn Memorial Park came into view, so I gave into a whim and said, “Ah.  Let’s have a stroll through the park, since we have some time.  I do like this one.”

 The limo pulled over, and I quietly thanked Mila for not questioning me.  James stepped out and offered me his hand after the door opened for him.  I stared up at him and found myself wondering again how a human developed such a perfect face.  He was unusually attractive.

 After briefly enjoying the view, James asked “What is your home in England like?”

 I stared up at him, trying to discern how he came around to ask such a thing.  Still uncertain, I told him “My father owns a castle, but I wouldn’t really call it my home.  I only visited the place a few dozen times in my life.  I should go see father again soon.”

 He nodded, looking thoughtful and took a few more steps before asking “Where did you call home then?”

 “Nowhere, really.” I replied with a shrug.  “Up until coming here, I spent most of my life traveling.  At first, I was traveling with my mother and learning the family trade.  Then I took over.  Mother probably wouldn’t have approved of me staying here this long, but Adelmar, my cousin, does.”

 I was thankful that my cousin wasn’t intruding at the moment.  He’d surely say something highly inappropriate about my stay.

 “Wait.  Was Adelmar the one who sent the tiara to Aaliyah as a birthday present?” he questioned.

 I nodded, saying, “I do apologize about that spell I used on you.  I hadn’t meant for you to feel unwell, but that spell affected you differently than it should have.  I’m guessing your magic threw things off a bit.  Otherwise, I would have stayed longer.”

 I did feel quite guilty over that affair.  James had done nothing to deserve such treatment.

 “You were the one who delivered the tiara?  I suppose that makes sense, given that the tiara looks extremely valuable.  Why would your cousin give something like that to a young girl?” he asked.

 I stopped and stared up at him.  He knew enough about her to know she was far more than a young girl, but, I supposed, he apparently didn’t know enough.  I wasn’t in a position to explain either.  I started walking again as I said, “I do wish I could explain.  I am sorry, James, but I am privy to a great many things which I cannot share, at least not yet.  Hopefully, someday.  Hopefully, soon.”

 Taking hold of his hand again, I gently squeezed it.  There was so very much I wished I could convey.  I had many secrets that I needed to keep, not all of which I’d even be able to tell after we were wed.  If we ever were to wed…  Would James be able to survive if I were to court him?  I had plans prepared to protect him from the worst of the opposition, but the wisdom of them was questionable.

 I turned our conversation to Ancient Tribes of Earth to distract myself from my other thoughts.  There were many events I had considered which could help keep our guild lively.  With thousands of members, we needed plans that could involve everyone in one way or another, and I didn’t feel James fully considered them enough.  Too often, people were simply glad for his presence.  He wasn’t accustomed to having to work to entertain.

 All too soon, the count in my head ran out, and I announced that we should be off.  Arriving too late wouldn’t be any more acceptable than too early, and we all had to maintain our image.  The gala was perfectly acceptable, much to my ire.  I would have enjoyed seeing Maxine slip in her execution.  Even I could admit that she was talented, despite her unsavory nature, but being knocked down a few pegs might help her realize that the world wasn’t her toy.

 Chad was quick as ever to greet me when we made our way to him.  Aaliyah was there, of course, grinning in that insufferably adorable manner.  In part, I wanted to hug her like some exotic pet.  I also wanted to throw her as hard as I could against the wall, but she’d only come back and execute me for making a fuss in front of her father.  I wasn’t remotely amused by her choice of donation for this auction.  Where I was giving a priceless wedding dress that had belonged to an ancestor, she chose to donate the very gun which killed that ancestor.  I wouldn’t be remotely surprised if she had pulled the trigger herself after forcing someone to enchant the bullet.

 After the initial exchange of pleasantries, James’ parents joined us.  They didn’t seem particularly glad to see me, but I could understand why.  We conversed for a time before the lights dimmed.  Maxine took to the stage, greeting everyone and explaining how the auction would proceed.  Then we were treated for music before getting our first viewing of the items up for auction.  I made note of what I would acquire as well as what seemed to please the others, just in case.  Knowing the tastes of James’ parents particularly interested me, so I might find something suitable for each of them at a later time.

 Some time later as we ate, a table near us went vacant in a hurry.  I had overheard their discussion, so I was the first to hear of the robbery.  Given the timing, I was certain this was Maxine’s handiwork.  She couldn’t simply raise money for children without committing some nefarious act.  Her reputation would be ruined.

[ladyhallen]

The Problems of Ronald Weasley - Fire Dragon

The Weasley’s are a family of fire-dragons, all of them born in one clutch but hatching slowly, as how it usually is with Molly’s line, the Great Dragons.

Ron thinks his family is weird.

This is attributed to coming across some dragon books and realizing that dragons were apparently supposed to be territorial and resent sharing space. He comes to terms with it though, like he comes to understand that while other dragons might be like that, the Weasley’s were different. He attributes this to his dam’s line, the Great Dragons of the East.

Ron’s hoard is achievements.

Not even great, outstanding achievements like his clutch-brother Bill achieves in Hogwarts School of Magical Creatures, or world-breaking achievements like his clutch-brother Charlie.

No, Ron’s hoard is a small collection of achievements, like watching the dawn through the first time on top of a hill. Making his dam laugh long and loudly after she’d argued with his sire and stank the den with her smoke in anger.

Ron’s hoard is small and understated, something his family struggles to understand. He understands why that is, though it doesn’t prevent the hurt from settling in.

After all, the entire family’s hoards are large, flashy and attention grabbing.

Bill hoarded beautiful things and guarded them. He was good friends with the Veela’s, and even moved there after he’d graduated, much to their dam’s dismay.

Charlie didn’t hoard things, but he chased after dangerous, exciting things. Usually adventures. He’d go through adventures in his human form and enjoyed the struggle of it. It was certainly attention grabbing. Mostly for their dams stress levels.

Percy hoarded facts. Everyone initially assumed he hoarded the printed word – libraries, but after clutch-sister Ginny had accidentally burnt his books and he didn’t get angry, they all realized that he’d already hoarded and memorized everything written and didn’t mind having the hard copies burnt.

The twins hoarded innovation. New things, exciting things and frequently invented them because the world moved too slow for them after all.

Ginny hoarded things that were different, like witch-sprite Luna who showed she was more sprite and less witch than the rest of her clan. This was difficult to their sire’s stress levels too, since sentient things are difficult hoards and there are rules about it that the government

Compared to that, was it any surprise that Ron’s small hoard is negligible? The twins even tease him sometimes, of having no hoard at all, that he wasn’t a dragon after all.

It hurt, but Ron persevered. His hoard may have been small, but it was still beautiful and he guarded it jealously.

.

Meeting Harry Potter, last descendant of Merlin’s line of Wizards, comes as a complete shock to Ron.

He wasn’t like Ginny, who’d damn near salivated over the thought of Harry Potter, so certain was she that she would belong in her hoard. Or Percy, who wanted to fill in the gaps of facts left when Harry Potter disappeared in the remnants a crumbling cottage in Godric’s Hollow.

No, he didn’t even know that he would become Harry Potter’s friend, and would come to hoard his laughter.

Ron inhales Harry’s firefly smiles and his quiet laughter. He devours the sun-brightness of Harry’s green eyes as he discovers wizarding sweets. (Dragon sweets are entirely different and entirely too expensive for him to waste time on. His dam made better anyway.)

“You’re a dragon!” Harry exclaimed, cheeks flushing red with amazement.

“Yeah,” Ron said shyly. “Uhm, the scientific term is fire-drake. But yeah, dragon.”

“You would be amazing in camping trips,” Harry declared. “Have you ever had that?”

“No..?”

“Camping trips are supposed to be cold and filled with a lot of bugs. I can take care of the bugs and you can take care of the cold. And the marshmallows…” Harry sighed dreamily.

Ron’s eyes were wide and he was blushing. “Uhm, thanks.”

And Harry became part of his hoard. Not that he would ever tell anyone that, making sentients part of hoards was against the rules and having such a famous wizard as part of his hoard somehow made it difficult to call it small and negligible.

.

Hermione Granger pixie half-blood became part of his hoard when she’d clambered on top of a deranged mountain troll screaming in terror but still determined to save Harry’s life.

Ron watched the proceedings with wide eyes, half afraid to Change into his larger shape for fear of squashing something important and half determined to do it anyway, if only to keep his hoard alive.

“Let go of him!” she’d shrieked, pixie eyes going bright with anger but deceptively strong arms wrapping around the Trolls thick neck and squeezing anyway.

“Protection of the Seven – ah!” Harry yelped, clutching his staff for dear life. Apparently, being a world-famous wizard at birth meant nothing when he couldn’t remember anything at all for sheer terror.

“What do you need?” Ron asked Hermione loudly, knowing that the pixie had a plan. Ron didn’t mind asking her, his plans were long term and often took a long time to execute. Her plans were quick, fast and better for skirmishes like that.

“Get Harry down!” she yelled. Her hair was starting to crackle with lightning and Ron abruptly recalled that she’d said her sire had once been a hero and had swallowed a lightning strike. “I can’t concentrate like this.”

Manifesting his tail was infinitely easier than manifesting a hand or leg. It was safer too, less chances of collapsing the school. Their clutch were all large and collapsing something was a definite probability.

He grabbed Harry with some concentration and the wizard helped, hand releasing something that smelled like the crashing of the tides and made the troll yelp.

“You alright?” Ron asked, restraining the urge to sniff Harry just to make sure. Sniffing was bad etiquette, especially without asking.

“Fine,” Harry panted. “I hate being useless.”

Ron patted him. “You just panicked. It’s alright. Now, let’s see if we can rescue the troll from Hermione.” Ron hoarded Harry’s startled laugh.

Hermione definitely didn’t need rescuing. The troll smoked when they checked and her hair smoothed itself again. Her pixie eyes went back to its normal color and she jumped down delicately.

Both boys eyed her with varying degrees of trepidation.

“Well, that was simple. I wonder why I panicked in the first place,” she murmured.

Ron hoarded her smug smile and Harry’s indignant protests.

.

Having Hermione as a friend was infinitely better, because taking care of Harry Potter’s laughter was a full time job. One firedrake couldn’t do it alone.

Harry had the tendency to attract trouble, realize what he’d done wrong and then mope about it. It drove a dragon mad.

Hermione realized his problem by the third incident. Ron liked her immensely. She solved a lot of his worries for his hoard.

“You need to learn more about Magic and Creatures Harry or one day, you’d get eaten no matter how famous your line is,” Hermione declared, thumping a book of Creatures on top of Harry’s homework about protective barriers and ignoring Ron’s whimper of distress at the thought of his hoard being eaten.

Harry pouted. “It’s not my fault everyone expects me to just know not to pull a were-cats tail, or that it would be extremely rude to ask if they hack up hairballs after the full moon.”

Ron determinedly did not laugh. That had been a fun afternoon, playing chase with the pack of were-cats and keeping away from an angry McGonagall. In the end, Hermione had caught the both of them and reamed Harry out for not controlling his impulses and Ron for enabling him. (Ron adored her lectures, she was the only one in Hogwarts brave enough to lecture a dragon.)

“No, it’s not your fault that your Aunt is a bigot and pretends that the Other World doesn’t exist. It is your fault that you continue to be ignorant. Hogwarts houses the most comprehensive magical library in the world and you didn’t even bother to research!”

That, she had a point. Poor Harry hung his head and reached for the book. Ron frowned and patted his shoulder in a gesture of solidarity.

“If the book confuses you about dragons, you can ask me,” Ron said kindly. “A lot of things about dragons are wrong.”

Harry’s grateful look is another one for the hoard.

“If the book confuses you about pixies, don’t ask me,” Hermione said irritably. “I’m a half-pixie, half-human, half-god. It’s amazing I didn’t explode into stardust the moment I was born.”

Ron whined at her low in his throat, knowing she alone would hear. He didn’t like to hear anyone exploding. At all.

“Half-god?” Harry asked, looking up from the book with relief.

“My dad was a hero,” she explained. “And heroes have some of a god’s essence or something, after they get chosen. My dad’s supposed to belong to a fire god in the east, but he swallowed a lightning strike so his magic got confused. So he retired.”

“How did he marry your mother?” Ron asked, finally unloading a curiosity that had plagued him since he met her.

Pixies were vengeful, vicious creatures that held long grudges. They were small and minded their own business. They were also increasingly difficult to find, given that Voldemort had marched most of his undead army through their forest. (That was part of what decimated his army, given that the pixies had gotten angry at the army trampling on their houses.)

Heroes had adventures all over the place and often offended pixies.

They ought not to have married at all.

“She saved his life by accident,” Hermione said. “And he accidentally started a pixie courting ritual when he thanked her.”

Harry sighed dreamily. “Your family is amazing,” he said. “My mum was a witch, but my aunt was ordinary so she left the Other World. My dad apparently offended my uncle somehow, so they spent my entire life insisting I was crazy for seeing the Other World. It wasn’t until Hagrid came that I realized I wasn’t crazy, just different.”

Ron patted Harry again. It soothed his irritated feelings.

“Now, don’t keep stalling me, Harry Potter. Read the book,” she said firmly.

Harry sighed and went back to his book.

.

Dumbledore banned entry to the third floor corridor and Hermione’s curiosity went crazy. Harry’s too.

“Aren’t pixies supposed to not care about things that don’t concern them?” Ron asked, mostly to stall the pair from charging inside the room.

“Blame my father,” she answered, like all times she’d gone against a pixie’s habits. “Heroes are supposed to investigate curiosities, you know. And help people.”

Ron arched an eyebrow at Harry. “And what’s your excuse?”

Harry smiled sunnily, having finally caught on what made Ron relax. It didn’t help his gnawing sense of foreboding.

“I want to know,” he declared. “There’s something overwhelmingly magical hidden here and I want to know why. It’s keeps asking for my attention.”

Ron had felt that too, but he’s not the sort to hoard curiosities. Percy might have, but being Prefect might have distracted him too much.

With a sigh, Ron helped them open the door, Harry’s magic glowing a gentle green that made his eyes shine bright.

“Oh my gosh that’s a Cerberus!” Hermione squealed.

Ron wasn’t too intimidated, his other self was fairly larger than the Cerberus, but that was a lot of teeth. It was impressive.

“How do we put him to sleep?” Ron asked, mostly to himself. “All Cerberus have weaknesses.”

The Cerberus finally noticed the three of them and advanced. Hermione noticed first and grabbed their hands and dragged them to the door, closing it with finality.

“Let’s not do that again,” Hermione declared.

Ron tried not to be too outraged at the hypocrisy. He arched an eyebrow at her, hoping it conveyed how he felt.

Hermione blushed. “Sorry Ron.”

“We can ask Hagrid!” Harry said, finally showing some sense that he ought to have inherited from his witch of a mother. “He’s the beastmaster so he should know these things.

.

Hagrid did indeed know.

And he was such an awful liar that the trio didn’t even need Ron’s nose or Harry’s truth spell to know.

“So why is your Cerberus stuck in the third floor?” Hermione asked, eyes glinting.

“Not my Cerberus,” Hagrid tried to interrupt.

“So he’s stuck there and no one’s visiting?” Ron prodded, catching on.

“I bring him some cow every Sunday,” was the answer.

Ron hoped his face didn’t show his amusement. That was almost too easy. Harry had no such thought to the half-giant’s dignity and laughed. Hermione smirked with a pixie’s triumph, eyes glowing for a moment. Ron hoarded their smiles and laughter, and guiltily included Hagrid’s sighs too. It was a beautiful sound, if a bit unhappy one.

Hagrid sighed in defeat and answered.

.

“So the headmaster’s elf friend is taking a vacation and decided to leave his treasures inside Hogwarts,” Hermione summarized. “And the headmaster, in all his wisdom, realized that leaving it unguarded would be very bad.”

Ron snorted, inadvertently releasing a gust of smoke. “Hogwarts is secure, but it has too much traffic,” he said with scorn. “If you have to hide treasure, put it in a place where no one will die if you place lethal protection.”

Being a dragon, he knew how to defend hoards. Even if his wasn’t tangible, it was just instinct.

“Lethal protection?” Harry asked, cocking his head to the side.

In reply, Ron showed his teeth.

Hermione huffed and Harry’s eyes went wide. Ron hoarded their lack of fear.

.

Rooming with a part dryad, part elf had its difficulties.

For one, when Neville had a nightmare, which he had often, his plants enveloped the room and removed all exits, basically making a cocoon.

This would be fine, since Ron liked closed spaces and he could burn his way through, if he wanted.

The problem was that Seamus was a Fire Sprite and tended to explode things when he was surprised or terrified.

And hurting a dryads plants was a big faux pas. Right up there with asking were-cats about hair balls.

Luckily, they had Harry, who was fast learning useful spells.

Also unluckily, they had Harry, whose spells tended to explode when he didn’t concentrate on it properly.

“You have to change our rooms, Professor McGonagall,” Ron said. He didn’t know what his face showed, but her eyes were a bit wide. He was serious though. He didn’t want to make his Harry cry, which he did when a spell exploded on him.

“I’ll see to removing Mr. Longbottom to the Green Dorms,” she said. “Where he should have been at the very beginning. Who did your room placements?”

Ron didn’t know, he just got it from the prefects.

Her nostrils flared and her eyes turned cat-yellow in irritation. “I will get to the bottom of this. And you should not have Harry rooming with you, he should be sleeping in the Magical dorms.”

This, Ron did not like. He straightened his back and raised his chin – a dragon defending his hoard.

“Do not remove him, he is bearable,” Ron said, archaic speech spilling out in his urgency. “I will thank you to not interfere with him.”

McGonagall sighed but Ron smelled her resignation and didn’t push the point.

..

To be continued