#i am amazed that you and mei didn’t send any of the same questions though hshsh what are the odds

[the-travelling-witch]

💕💚🌟 for childe, xiao, and albedo <3

💕: Who’s the clingier one in the relationship?

For Childe and me, I think it might actually be Childe, although I always gladly welcome his affection. Unless he just came from a sparring session, then stay away from me!! (“Aw babe, but I really missed you!”- “Shower, now!”) Otherwise, I’m just kind of used to 191cm of muscles draping over me or pulling me onto the couch; I normally don’t get much done afterwards.

Most of the time, I’m the one initiating physical intimacy with Xiao but he reciprocates it pretty fast after getting over his initial hesitation. It has gotten a lot better in terms of letting himself indulge in affection but sometimes he still needs some time to let himself give it, too (“Well, you mortals are incredibly fragile compared to us adepti, I wouldn’t want to hurt you”- “I appreciate the sentiment but I’m really not that delicate. Also, I trust you, you would never hurt me, I know it.”)

Albedo and me… It’s hard to say, really. But it’s probably still me haha. Not because Bedo is against initiating it, it’s just… if both of us focus on a project we zone out for hours and kind of… forget. Once we’re done though, we’re pretty well matched though when it comes to clinginess. (“You guys really need to remember eating and drinking too!!” - “Sorry for making you burst down the door every so often ^^;” - “…when was the last time I ate?”)

💚: Who gets jealous?

Not gonna lie… it’s probably me. I mean can you blame me, I managed to bag three extremely attractive and attentive guys, of course I want to keep them all to myself.

“No need to get jealous, babe. You know I only have eyes for you. Although, you do look really hot when you’re glaring~ Yeah, just like that actually!!”

“Tch, loyalty is an important virtue for adepti, would never sink so low as to break it. Besides, you calm me down like nothing else, I could never part from you.”

“There’s no imaginable fear you should have about this, my starlight. Why is it that you still feel this way? Maybe I should research this…”

But, even so, everyone gets jealous eventually, some more and some less, so let’s see…

Childe doesn’t really get jealous because he only really considers those he recognises as strong as threats. Normally there’s not a lot of though people strolling through the city. Basically, a guy has to impress Childe first before he considers them worth the second thought. But once someone does and gets a little too close, oh boy, where’s the murderous intent coming from? Certainly not from the ginger with the friendly smile who’s squeezing the guy’s hand a little too tightly…

Xiao isn’t really familiar with the feeling because he never had much reason to feel jealous before. He’s also too perceptive to be fooled by blatant misunderstandings. At the end of the day, I’m my own person and can choose to do what I want, he doesn’t want to tell me what I can and can’t do. But what’s that sinking feeling in his gut at the image of me with someone else? No, he’s not a fan of that. (“C’mere, you silly adeptus!! How could I ever leave you?”)

Albedo just trusts me too much to feel concerned about me interacting with other men. Human emotions are already complicated, so why make it worse by speculating on someone else’s? Surely if I didn’t feel happy with him anymore, I’d just talk to him about it, right? Plus, if jealousy does ever creep up on him, he just directly talks to me about his troubles. (“You know, I could see you itching to leave the conversation.” - “Yeah, that guy was boring me to death. I just wanted to go home.”)

🌟: Who’s the tease in the relationship?

“Holly”

“Excuse you?! I’m not even doing anything.”

“Sorry but it’s true, sweetheart, you’re just so sexy, you being here is teasing enough.”

“I despise the language employed but I cannot disagree with the statement.”

“The argument does hold up and is factual based on my experiences.”

“If you’re all ganging up on me, then I have something to say, too!”

As you can tell, Childe can’t stop running his mouth and his favourite pastime is apparently using that silver tongue of his to flirt with me me. (“Don’t you have anything better to do?” - “Nope, you’re the best thing for me to do~” - *gestures in ‘See, I told you so’). He also, conveniently, finds ways to flex his muscles or show of his abs whenever I’m around. (“You’re not sly, you know.” - “Well, is it working?” - “… yes”) I’m not sure if he got the memo that we’re married, he’s still hellbent on seducing me.

“Oh, trust me I know. Our marital duties aren’t lost on me~”

“You’re the worst.”

“But you like that, don’t lie.”

“Can’t argue with that…”

Xiao is also mainly a tease through physicality alone. I mean have you seen his arms or his back? Hunting down demons really does give a guy a nice body ㅠㅠ Although, I’m not sure he knows of the effect it has on me, nobody can be that faux innocent. I said before that Xiao doesn’t really initiate physical touch, but he does do it subconsciously to guide me somewhere or to make sure I’m fine. And let me tell you, every time I feel his calloused palm on me… phew, my knees are turning to pudding

“…”

“Too honest?”

“Is that why you were turning red as jueyun chili when I squeezed past you in kitchen yesterday?! I thought it was because of the weather!”

“Well you did put your hand on the small of my back… Stop hiding your face behind your hands!”

Ahem, anyway… Albedo’s teasing always comes out of nowhere, I swear, you can never see it coming! One second he’s telling me about his newest experiment results, the next he’s dropping the most creative flirt on me. But his intelligence is attractive as hell, so it’s 100% effective.

“I’m glad you enjoy them.”

“I do. But please give me a warning, my heart can’t take it.”

“Ah I’m afraid I cannot do that. If I did, I would not be able to observe your adorable blushing face and it just happens to be my favourite thing to study.”

“You’re doing it again!!”

“Apologies, my love”

“I can tell you’re not sorry at all.”

…

“After all of this, you guys still think I’m the tease?”

“Jup.”

“Yes.”

“Affirmative.”

[self-ship ask game]

[shintorikhazumi]

What It Takes To Be A Family (1): Compromise

A/N: Welcome to, “what it takes to be a family”. Just a bunch of diakko family oneshots that I will throw out whenever I... do... Huh. May or may not be interconnected. This little chapter is for Hyde!!! Since I know you like your fluff, and you always give me such sweet feedback! I seriously took your message as a challenge, so let me dish out a small fic for you right now! I don’t want to become doge meme!

Enjoy?

~Shintori Khazumi

Chapter 1: Compromise

She needed a break.

She needed a god. Damn. Break.

Lest she be the one to break under the amazing pressure that was her family. Seriously. Really, Diana was begging for freedom from the weight of a wife and three children on her back- in quite the literal sense-, at barely six AM, after she’d been working up until just a little past four earlier that same morning. Just as she had been doing, every single day for the past two weeks.

So really, she just wanted a rest. Finally, after all her hard labor that had just gotten settled last night-er... today, she simply desired a long, well-deserved repose.

“Wake up, sleepyhead! It’s time to wake up! Let’s gooo! Get a move on!” Akko giggled into her ear, and while Diana adored that sound from her wife’s lips, she found that she’d rather listen to the silent thrum of her heart instead, or nothing at all.

The excited bouncing of the children shook the mattress they were all on, and Diana believed she’d caught motion sickness. She wanted to scream, yell. Even if she didn’t have enough energy to do even that.

‘Dear Beatrix, please send them away.’ -the troubled soul prayed. Wait. ‘But not too far away. Like. Next-room-away, away’, she added as an afterthought.

She loved them all to death. She did. She just- She couldn’t, right now. Couldn’t... whatever.

“Atsuko.”

The woman perked up, pausing in her playful tickling of Diana’s sides whilst lying on top of her squished form. Diana never used that name with her unless she was about to discuss something very important, or was irritated and/or mad about something- not quite in the mood for fun and games.

There was silence. Diana said nothing after that. Yet. She took in a deep breath to calm her nerves that had so quickly built up- despite her exhaustion- at the prospect of having to do what she was about to do. Try to tell them all to stop their antics and leave her be. With a heavy exhale, she addressed the rest of the human tower blocks that were crushing her with their combined masses.

“Kotone. Mei.” Twin brunettes perked up at the call of their names. Barely seven, but already so clever, they slid off of their Mama’s back at the recognition of that tone of voice Diana used, familiar with what it implied. Of course, they’d done this, not without making sure to catch the smallest little bean of their family that had been riding at the very top of this wake up pile, “Logan.”

Logan. Ah, Logan. She was their beloved three-year-old, and she was very... refined, for her age. Diana would have used the word, ‘behaved’, but with the way the child carried herself, and the odd eloquence in spite of her limited speech, ‘refined’ seemed to be a better fit to describe the air around her tiny frame.

Akko always told Diana that it was because the baby had always watched her, growing up; tried to imitate her actions, and the things that she did. It was adorable, really. And just a tad worrying. Diana didn’t need her picking up some negative habits from herself. She knew she wasn’t as perfect a human as most people praised her to be. She was aware of her jarring flaws that, in her opinion, needed an intervention. Such as her workaholic nature, for example.

She definitely had to work on that.

Patting Akko on the thigh, she silently pleaded for her to get off as well so that Diana could ease up for a stretch, already feeling all the little knots and kinks in her body that had formed; from her stiff position during work, or from this little stunt her family had pulled, she didn’t know where they came from, she just wanted them gone.

Maybe she should see a massage therapist some time. Simply extending your limbs out and rolling your head ‘round about did little to assuage the discomfort. This must have been evident to her companions as she felt deft hands working their magic on her. A grateful sigh escaped her lips as she leaned back into that touch, feeling a small kiss planted on her bare shoulder.

Maybe that magic was a little too good as Diana felt the sweet summons of slumber whisking her away quite fast. She hardly minded. Sleep was good. Good... goo...

“...Diana?” A poke on her cheek. “Are you falling asleep? Don’t tell me you already are. I mean, sleeping while sitting down like this is impressive, don’t get me wrong.”

So close. She was so close. Maybe she could get away with it. Maybe she could just go with the flow of things and pass out. She was right on the edge, anyway, and Akko wouldn’t be able to do anything about it-

“You’re awake, aren’t you?” She could practically hear that grin in her wife’s voice.

“I am, but please. Just for this morning. Let me sleep.” She sounded weak and pathetic, almost crying; but it didn’t matter if that meant they’d give her her alone time- for the rest of the morning, preferably. She hoped they’d get the hint. She didn’t just want to outright tell them to leave, because... she couldn’t tell them.

“Hmmm...” Akko was thinking about. Akko was actually contemplating it. Diana could already taste sweet peace and rest, right there on her tongue.

‘Please say yes, please say yes, please say yes.’

“No.”

“But whyyyy?” Diana whined uncharacteristic of her, drunk on sleep deprivation.

“Because it’s already noon! And you said, ‘morning’, so your time is up, sweetie.”

Blue eyes shot open, darting for the clock they’d already seen the first time this morning. “What? No, it isn’t, Akko.”

“Huh?” Akko’s eyes trailed after her gaze, staring at the item on their bedside table, looking like she was trying to piece together some sort of puzzle. “Ah.”

Ah.

Was that all she was going to say? Really?

“I should seriously get that fixed today.” Akko uttered in dismay, moving off the bed, and taking the timepiece into her possession, examining it. “Or should I just buy us a new one? I think something important broke.”

“What...”

A small hand raised to get Diana’s attention. “We thought it would be cool to turn it into a talking clock... so we tried some magic....”

Diana didn’t follow.

“Whew, good thing it failed though, right girls? Wouldn’t want the bureau coming in with questions about the use of taboo life magic-”

“What.”

“Nothing.” Three voices piped up in synch. Diana felt her stomach churn. She was going to throw up. Or pass out. Or both. It was so early in the mor- no, scratch that. She had just woken up, and these little rascals were already presenting her with a headache to don for the rest of the day.

“No, no, no. Say that again. I’m very interested in hearing about that.” Diana faced three brunettes, the tiny pair almost looking like exact clones of the adult (Diana wasn’t sure anymore) woman, now back on the bed, in front of her once more, eyes meeting anything that wasn’t Diana’s narrowed ones.

“More importantly!” Akko clapped her hands.

“What could be more important than making sure you three aren’t in any sort of trouble?!”

“We’re going into town, today!” High-pitched, high-volumed cheering wasn’t what Diana needed at the moment, temples throbbing all the more.

“Says who?” She questioned, really wanting an out and some rest. And an aspirin. And maybe some sleeping pills.

“Come on. What are you saying, Love? We’re finally going out today after all this time spent cooped up in this dusty old mansion!” Akko pouted, pinching Diana’s cheek to keep her awake. “Sparkly Downtown Time!”

“-I happen to like said, ‘dusty old mansion’.” Diana murmured, rolling her eyes. “Does it really have to be today?” She sighed.

“You promised us!” Akko exclaimed, turning to signal for assistance from her three cohorts. “Right?”

Diana gazed upon the three children in front of her- No. Four. Her wife was being one, as well.

“I must have told you any time this week, right?”

“Nope. You said today. Today. This lovely Sunday morning, sun shining, a few clouds to shade our path, traveling along with the aide of the gentle breeze that refreshes. Perfect for being outdoors.”

“Or sleeping.”

“Outdoors.”

“Indoors.”

“Diana.”

“Akko.”

Her wife huffed out an irritated little breath, folding her arms in front of her. “You really don’t want to go out today?” She schooled her gaze on Diana, scanning her (very tired, the head Cavendish would argue) features. Diana felt those eyes run over every inch of her face, as well as frame. They flickered about, meeting Diana’s own from time-to-time, searching. “You... really don’t want to?”

Was she going to give in? Should Diana push for it? “Yes, I really want to rest. I’m tired, Akko.”

She then saw the softening gaze that was reserved just for her. Akko had a warm look for everyone she loved, but this one was special. Only Diana’s. “You’re really that worn out?” She mumbled, softer, hand reaching over to caress Diana’s face. Her thumb brushed over a pale cheekbone, sighing empathetic at the sight of those dark circles under the brightest blue eyes.

Diana didn’t answer. She simply hummed her contentment at the feeling, the touch of those familiar hands. She knew Akko already knew. She was aware that her wife always looked after her, always watching. Ever attentive and loving. She knew who it was that left little notes alongside tea that soothed her stress away, and healthy sweets that gave her just enough energy to make it through another hour of her hectic day. She knew who it was that orchestrated the little team of flower pickers that left fresh bouquets that came straight from their garden, the daily gift bringing in beautiful splashes of color into her otherwise dull office.

As much as she wanted to grant their little request of being taken out for some fun in town, Diana really felt like her body would not cooperate with her, and they’d be in for more disappointment than enjoyment. She felt bad, as she did recall promising to finally set some time aside for them, but with how fatigued she was, she feared she’d cause them worry or troubles instead.

“Okay.” Akko whispered, with a smile and a nod. Leaning forward to plant a soft peck on Diana’s lips, then on her ring finger where the symbol of their eternal bond lay, Akko let up, pulling back and facing three patiently waiting daughters. “Well, you heard her, my babies. It’s a no-go for today.”

“Awww!! But mummy!”

“Hey. You girls know how busy mummy has been.” Akko scolded with love, patting the twins’ heads, before picking Logan up, and placing her on her lap, nuzzling her cheek as the toddler remained blank-faced, but with a stare directed at Diana that was laced with longing.

“B-but... but...” The twins wore crestfallen expressions now; their gazes flitted back and forth, switching their attention between her and Akko’s gentle warning face.

Diana looked at three pairs of beady little eyes begging her. It twisted her heart into knots, knowing that she really hadn’t spent enough time with them this week. There were just so many matters with the hospital and land renovation going on on the Cavendish property that she couldn’t even spare dinner some time to be with them all.

But those sparkly little orbs... Those eyes... They compelled her. She... she couldn’t say, ‘no’.

“But Mama! She promised...” Diana felt her soul tremble at a little whimper Logan did, as well as the crack in Mei’s voice.

“H-how... S-supper. How about supper?” Diana asked. “I’ll take you all out, tonight. We can have some fun. F-fun. You... you girls... like fun?”

Gosh, she needed sleep. Her mind couldn’t come up with words anymore. Or coherent thoughts to express properly.

“I hear there’s a new carnival?”

All the eyes on her blinked.

Then smiles broke out, a flurry of excited energy hitting her, knocking her down onto the bed. The girls had tackled her, and hugged her for dear life, and Diana had to admit that this? This was bliss.

One-by-one they got off her, allowing Diana to sit up. They planted their grateful kisses on her, Diana feeling their happiness in each one, making her tear up a bit. The twins had given her one on each cheek, at the same time. Akko had given her the sweetest kiss on the lips with a little nibble for extra service. She then allowed little Logan to crawl onto Diana’s lap, the lass beckoning her mother down with her stubby little hand, before placing her kiss on Diana’s forehead. She swore her heart died a little at how precious it all was.

“It’s a date, okay? Okay, Diana?” Akko squealed, quite thrilled. She high-fived the twins, kissing the tops of their heads, before kissing Logan’s cheek as well. Diana’s chest warmed at the scene in front of her.

“Mum, it’s a date!” Kotone cheered.

“A date with mum!!!” Mei agreed, as the twins launched themselves onto Diana again, slim arms wrapped around her neck, loosely, from both sides.

“Date. Thank you, mummy.” Logan smiled softly, hand outstretched for Diana to take in her own.

Ahhh. They were all just so... so... They were all just so wonderful, and Diana couldn’t love them any more than she already did. No, maybe she could? They were all such angels, they deserved even more love. Oh wow. Maybe she should buy them some new toys, or dresses. Or maybe they’d like something from the carnival. Should she just buy them their own carni-

“Diana, my love. I think you should sleep before you’re thinking jumps to the extreme.” Akko laughed, giving Diana another kiss. “You’re saying all of that out loud, by the way.”

Diana blinked.

“Come on, do your thing. Sleep. We’ll wake you up around five. Unless you want to have some lunch with us right now.” Akko offered her hands for Diana to take, leading her out of bed with her before picking Logan up as the twins got down on their own.

“Mama, I can walk by myself!” Logan declared to Akko, wanting to be placed down and tread the halls alongside everyone else, on her own two feet like the rest of her family.

“Okay, baby.” Akko laughed, allowing Logan her little wish.

She stood, a legs a little shaky at first, before stabilizing herself and grinning in triumph. It didn’t last long, before a bashful expression replaced it, a hesitant smile playing on her lips. “Mama?”

“Hmm? What is it?” Akko listened.

“I can walk by myself.”

“Mhm? I know you can.”

“I can walk by myself, b-but... I still need you to hold my hand.”

Akko’s smile grew so wide, Diana thought it just looked so beautiful.

Wordlessly, the Akko took her youngest by the hand, walking slowly crouching just a tad so that Logan wouldn’t have to reach high up. Diana relished the sight. She then offered her hands to her twins, the pair accepting gleefully, swinging the joined hands as they walked towards the dining table.

Diana was still a little tired, but the joy her family exuded, and her love for them was enough of an energizer for her to keep on going each and every day, doing her best for them and working her hardest.

Didn’t mean she wanted no sleep anymore, though.

“Can we take that afternoon nap, together? I want sleep but more than that, I want... cuddles.” Diana confessed.

And with a group hug to squish her once more, she had her wish granted.

“Sure.”

Notes:

A/N: So, these kiddies are my hc for them haha. I was supposed to introduce them via another story, with how their names came about and all that, but... well. Maybe next time. Some info is that Mei and Kotone are twins, as previously mentioned, with Akko’s hair color. Identical. Although Mei has slightly wavier hair. They kind of look like Akko, but Kotone has Diana’s eye color. For their eyeshape, something between Akko’s and Diana’s? Yeah.

As for Logan, I posted something on tumblr last time? She kinda looks like Diana. You'll see. Once... once I can show you, lol. Haha. If you don’t follow me on tumblr, you can’t find me... yet. I’ve been tagged explicit for reasons unknown to me so... rip. This is the second time too haha. Welp. Til next time!

~Shintori Khazumi

[hegemoneapple]

Basilisk Eyes: Chapter 45: Council

Crossposted: Basilisk Eyes by Hegemone | Completed: Chapter 45 out of 157 | T | AO3 | FFN | WATT | HPFF

The bench had been righted and Aminah was helped to a seated position. When Harry shook out his staff to leave with the others who weren’t injured, Healer Jordan gently guided him back, muttering that she needed to take a look at his back. Gemma’s small warm hand slipped inside of his and she led him to a bench to sit down while they waited their turn. 

Healer Jordan had summoned glasses of water for everyone who stayed behind as well as a tent that was equipped with healing supplies, camp beds, and a curtain so everyone was able to get out of the wind. 

Harry wondered why they didn’t all just travel to the healing offices in the Center, but didn’t voice his concerns. Healer Jordan and another healer that Harry didn’t know performed diagnostics on everyone and started working on Mei and Tony first, then Aminah. Gemma helped him find a camp bed out of the wind and then Healer Jordan attended to her bruises.  

Harry laid down on the bed and listened to the quiet snippets of conversation between the healers learning that Mei and Tony had sustained burns and cuts. He wasn’t sure how. Aminah seemed to be recovering—she was talking with Gemma—allowing Gemma to write into her hand on her uninjured arm.

Harry drifted off to sleep while he waited for his turn—the camp bed was more comfortable than he realized a camp bed could be. When Healer Jordan gently shook him to wake him, Harry was grateful that the area no longer smelled like burnt fish.

She spent a little more time with Harry than he expected and had to ask Gemma to give him some privacy. Gemma had caught a glimpse of his back apparently and was very concerned and Healer Jordan had to be quite firm with her.

She had healed his other bruises in addition to the new ones. He gingerly pressed his fingers to his face where he had run into a door again that week and it was no longer tender. He felt better than he’d felt in over a month which made him feel a little giddy. He hadn’t really noticed how achy he was until the pain was gone. She had made small noises when she was working with him that made him think that she wasn’t done with him. And that made him nervous.

“Harry, I want you to drink this potion. It will help you heal faster,” Healer Jordan said pressing a small vial into his hand. 

“What is it?” Harry asked, sniffing it. 

“It’s a nutritional supplement.”

He took a sip and found that it was delicious and eagerly downed the rest. He wanted to lie down on the camp bed again… with the potion warming his belly and the relief from his aches and pains, he felt like he could sleep for a year. He laid down again and was surprised when Gemma was pushing against his shoulder nudging him awake. 

“What is it?” he asked groggily. 

Gemma took his hand and wrote, “T-I-M-E” space “T-O” space “G-E-T” space “U-P.”

Harry rubbed his eyes and realized that his glasses weren’t on his face. He moved his hand through the air by the camp bed hoping to find a table. Gemma wrote a question mark on his hand. 

“Do you know where my glasses are?” he asked. 

She reached over him to the other side of the camp bed and he heard his metal frames being dragged across a wood surface. 

“Thanks,” he said as he put them on. 

She pulled on his hand urging him to stand up. He followed reluctantly—wishing he could sleep more. It sounded like Healer Jordan was asking everyone to gather. When he left the tent enclosure, he heard a pop of magic and felt a whoosh of wind and realized that it had been magicked away. 

Healer Jordan invited the five roommates to sit on tree stumps in a close circle in the center of the amphitheater. This time they were not all squinched onto one bench. Gemma guided Harry to one and he heard Healer Jordan helping Aminah find another. Gemma sat next to Harry on his left side, she was close enough that she could lean close and touch his arm. Tony sat on the tree stump next to him.

There was a heavy silence and it finally dawned on Harry that a conversation was brewing. He felt dense. Healer Jordan was going to talk to them about what had happened and why. His stomach contracted and he had a sudden desire to flee the room. He didn’t see any good coming out of talking about the incident.

And why do I have to be here? I was just an innocent bystander, he thought. 

He pressed down on his leg which seemed to be hopping around as if it were filled with Mexican jumping beans. He was surprised that Mei didn’t snap at him. He noticed how quiet she was—that in itself was unnerving.

He heard her wheelchair moving over the sandy, uneven mountain earth and get stuck on something. Mei growled in frustration and Tony barked, “Why on earth are you using a stupid muggle contraption when you could have something magical that actually works?”

Harry had been wondering the same thing, but had been too afraid to ask. He froze—expecting another explosion to send him hurling backward again. 

These two are combustible. 

“You can’t put two and two together, can you?” Mei retorted.  

Tony was sputtering when Healer Jordan interjected from the other side of Tony, “I hear a lot of anger and frustration from both of you. All of you have recently experienced severe trauma that has unalterably changed your lives. It is perfectly normal to experience a wide range of emotions as a result, including anger and frustration. You might even feel as if the emotions have control over you rather than you having control of these emotions. And that’s why we’re here, and this is as good a time as any to start sorting through what you’re feeling. Over the next month, you will be working on healing both in your mind and your body and you will learn how to ride the wave of the emotion rather than being pulled out to sea by the undercurrent or dashed onto the beach,”

Mei’s characteristic snort interrupted directly across the circle from Harry, “Next you’ll be telling us to form pearls from the sand in our wounds.”

Healer Jordan was silent for a moment, then she quietly responded, “That’s fair, Mei. I should have drawn my metaphors from something that was not quite so painfully close to home for you. I am sorry. I apologize.”

Harry was shocked. He hadn’t heard an adult admit to making mistakes, especially to such a caustic teen as Mei. It seemed to also take the wind out of Mei’s sails and he heard her let out a breathy sigh.

“Before we continue with our conversation,” Healer Jordan continued, “we need to make sure we can all understand each other. Tony, I’m going to help you cast the Scribunt loqui spell so that Gemma can see what you’re saying. Harry and Aminah, I’m going to cast a spell that allows you to hear what Gemma is saying. It will still write out your words, Gemma, so that you can see them, too.”

Healer Jordan first worked with Tony. Harry could feel her robes brushing against him as she helped Tony hold his wand against the stump of his wand arm and coached him to focus his magical energy through what remained of his appendage so that he could cast the spell. It took him quite a bit longer to cast the spell, but when he was finally successful, it felt like a huge achievement.

“Nice going, Tony!” Harry leaned over to acknowledge his success along with the others. 

“Did that work, Gemma?” Tony asked. 

Gemma clapped enthusiastically when his words fluttered on the parchment. 

What was truly amazing, though, was to hear Gemma’s voice. It was not the voice Harry imagined she’d have (the magical voice sounded older and deeper than what he’d expected) but to be able to hear the stream of her thoughts rather than the truncated versions he’d been getting was like being caught in an unexpected deluge after a drought. She dove right in, “Oh, Harry, I’m so glad that we can finally talk easily! I have so much to tell you!”

Harry laughed, “Great! I suppose we won’t get any sleep tonight!”

“Not a chance!” she rejoined. Mei groaned in response, but without her usual bile.

Healer Jordan brought them back to the topic at hand. 

“Okay, we need to talk about the events of today to try to heal through processing what happened and why. Typically we would build our community norms as a group, but right now I’m going to introduce some of the tools we use in council when we are sharing difficult thoughts and feelings. First, what happens in council stays in council—if someone shares something that you want to process outside of the group, then you need to ask permission from them to discuss it. I’ll also ask you to speak from your heart and listen from your heart as well. Do your best and know that others are also doing their best. We’ll pass a talking stick and only the person who is holding it can speak—when it is passed, say so aloud and state the name of the person you’re passing it to.” 

Here there was a light jingling of bells and Harry thought that the stick must be decorated with the tiniest of bells.  

Healer Jordan continued: “If you’d like the talking stick, indicate so in a respectful and unobtrusive way—raise your hand, snap your fingers, tap your foot. Speak from your own experiences and use I statements. Be mindful of your contributions to the discussion—if you’ve been contributing a lot, maybe it is time to sit back and listen, if you’ve been listening, maybe it is time for you to lean into the discussion and share your thoughts. Make sure to respectively question things that you don’t agree with, though refrain from attacking others for their beliefs.” 

She took a breath and paused. Harry thought she was done, but she went on. 

“Council conversations are often uncomfortable because we’re digging into areas that maybe are easier to leave buried, but by uncovering them we are able to release toxins that are hurting us and others and then start healing in earnest. I know that this is not the way the wixen community typically addresses challenges and that it will feel very foreign to many of you. Trust that here at the Center, we’ve been practicing and refining these methods for generations and most of our graduates have found them to be very effective.”

She paused again, then said, “I’ll get us started by passing the talking stick around.” 

The bells tinkled again as if she were shaking it in the air.

 “And I’ll ask you each to say your name and share something about yourself that you’d like everyone to know. I’m going to ask that we observe a minute of silence first to help ground us in this work.” 

She was silent and the bells were silenced, though Harry could hear her steady breaths from where she sat on the other side of Tony.

Harry listened as the others shifted on their wooden tree stumps… the sounds that Tony was making—his labored breathing, the sharp movements of his feet made Harry think that he was very uncomfortable with this impending discussion. Mei was rocking the wheels of her chair back and forth slightly and the sand made a loud crunching noise under the wheels—louder now that everyone was so quiet. Aminah who must have been sitting between Mei and Gemma was virtually undetectable by Harry. He really couldn’t tell if she was there or not. Even though Gemma couldn’t hear how noisy her feet were shuffling back and forth on the rocky ground, Harry found it reassuring. 

The minute stretched on much longer than a minute, Harry was pretty certain. He found himself listening to the chattering of the birds in the aspen groves and the way the wind made the aspen leaves shiver and shake. He could feel the sun emerging from behind a cloud and warming his face.

When a gentle bell broke the silence with its clear high pitch, Harry was jarred back to the present. He had drifted off somewhere peaceful for a moment. Healer Jordan let the bell’s quiet resonance fade and then shook the bells on the talking stick and spoke.

“Okay, I’ll start now. I’m Archimedea Jordan and I’d like to share with you that my impetus for working at the Center is connected to my desire to prevent others from feeling the isolation and estrangement that my brother felt after he was wounded during the first Wizarding War.” 

Her voice had a thick quality to it that made Harry feel as though there was a lot more to the story. 

“I’m going to pass the stick to Tony and place it so that he can hold it with his knees.” 

Harry knew that she was explaining this for his benefit. He was going to have to find the stick when it was his turn. He felt heat rising in his neck.

Harry held his breath, waiting for Tony to speak. It sounded like the others had as well. He could hear Tony shifting slightly making the bells on the stick tinkle quietly.

“I’m Tony Montague,” he said and then he was very quiet. 

Harry wondered after a bit if he was done and if should take the stick, but then Tony spoke again. 

“I don’t want to be here and I don’t want to do this,” he said with finality. 

Harry could hear the bells on the stick moving. 

“Harry, I’m ready to pass the stick to you.” 

Harry stretched his hand out to the center of the circle in front of Tony, then started passing it through the air toward the sound of the bells. Tony muttered, “down a bit, mate,” and then Harry found it and took it. He held it in his hands and felt along the length of it. It was embellished with beads and bells of different sizes. It wasn’t just a stick.

“I’m Harry Potter and… ” 

He was torn. He wanted to share the truth—that he was glad to be there—but it seemed like it would be seen as though he were sucking up to Healer Jordan by Tony and Mei. He fought with his general distrust of adults and their systems. Deep down, he felt safer here than he’d felt in a long, long time. 

“I’m not sure why we’re doing this… but I guess I’ll try… to do it.” 

It was hard to get it out, but he finally managed.