#toad hall books & records

[myvinylplaylist]

Toad Hall Books & Records

Rockford, IL

The Best Record Store in Rockford, IL

[brodydalle-archive]

2002 Sink Hole Zine Interview

An Interview with Brody (singer and guitarist) and Ryan (bass) of The Distillers by Kristin Belmonte. All photos also by Kristin Belmonte...

February 14th, 2002 - Valentines Day... Also the day the Distillers started their tour with the Suicide Machines and Sick of It All in New Haven, CT. But for being some mushy day all about flowers n love n shit, it hadn't been going so great for anyone. The Distillers were missing their guitarist, Rose "Casper", everyone looked tired and ...well just kinda haggard, and the day hadn't been going so great for me either. I know the band was supposed to do a sound check and I don't think they did. I wonder why? I walked into Toad’s Place (the club) about 2 hours before showtime, and the band was just kinda sitting around in the middle of the floor, with their equipment all over the place, just talking and what not. One of the other bands was doing their sound check, so it was pretty noisy. Brody was happy to show me her guitar which had just gotten a make-over; she spraypainted it white ("There’s white all over the place outside!"). So me and Brody went over to a corner table and started talking, but didn't even get 10 minutes into the conversation; it had gotten so fucking noisy we couldn't hear each other. So we went down a flight of stairs, and found the band room. "Nah". Down the hall, she found Ryan, the bassist. "Hey Ryan! Wanna do an interview?!" "OK". We settled on the women's bathroom, and since Brody had to take a piss, it was convenient. Ryan was equipped with a bottle of nail polish, and set to work on painting. He was very intent on his nails, I noticed. I think he was painting them maroon....

Sink Hole Kristen-So, you just released a new record last week, do you have an explanation behind the title, “Sing Sing Death House”?

Distiller Brodie-I was watching a documentary on “Sing Sing Death House”, the prison. I really liked the title as a reference for a person. Like in dream books, a house represents yourself, your body. Thats where it came from. Sing Sing Death House is not a catharsis, its just a representation of dealing with shit, like problems. SHK-It came out (the CD) on my birthday, by the way... Brody-Really? Happy Birthday! SHK-Thanks, it was a pretty nice present.

SHK-So what was the scene like, and people in general, back in Australia? Brody-Australia is funny, they’re really good at goofing on themselves...It’s a lot different though, there’s only 18 million people in all of Australia compared to billions in America over the same amount of land. The scene is good, but its small. I used to hang out at this punk club called the Art House. Really, I don’t know how it is-I haven’t been over in a couple of years. SHK-Do you miss it? Brody-Yeah...I miss my family and my old friends. SHK-Which do you like better, Australia or the U.S.? Brody-They’re similar and different. America is one big Colossus. I think I’d find it hard to go back and live in Australia after living and living so much over here.

SHK-Coming to America-did you just up and leave Australia-how did that happen? Brodie-Me and Timothy (Armstrong) had been going out for about a year when I moved to America to be with him. SHK-Thats sweet...but sad cuz it’s Valentines Day Brody-And I’m here and I’m not at home... SHK-Not exactly how you want to spend Valentines Day? Brody-You miss a lot of shit when your away on the road. You miss people’s birthdays, anniversaries, all that shit. SHK-So how are things with you and Tim? Brody-Great, we just had an anniversary. Four years of marriage.

Brody-(while checking out my bag) I love this band (pointing to an Unseen patch). SHK-Yeah, I saw them a couple weeks ago... Brody-They’re pretty great, I was just reading an interview with them.

SHK-So your drummer is from the Nerve Agents, are you sharing him, or whats up with that situation? Brody-Well, the Nerve Agents just broke up (this was breaking news at the time). They broke up less than a month ago and it really sucks cuz they were one of my favorite bands. I’m really still kind of delirious. It’s fucking shame, cuz they were so fucking good. Anyway, when Andy came to the band it was meant to be permanent, but it’s definitely permanent now.

SHK-So who are your other favorite bands? Brody-Well, like I said, I like the Unseen alot. I like the Death Wish Kids, I love Blitz. You know, the standard punk rock lineage-The Exploited, The Ramones. I like Rancid. (of course!) I can’t really think of any new bands I like.

SHK-What did you listen to when you were younger, when you first started getting into everything? Brody-I had just turned 12 in 1991 and Nirvana and Sonic Youth were blowing up and that whole scene was huge. I really liked Fang alot. Do you like Fang? SHK-Never heard of ‘em. Brody-Ahhh...ya gotta listen to Fang...(the sound of drums and guitars suddenly got really fucking loud) Maybe we should find someplace else to talk. Brody-(still) Where were we? Oh, I was telling you about Fang, you’ve gotta hear this band. They influenced so many bands. I swear Kurt (Cobain) listened to Fang, you can really hear it in early Nirvana. They were great, then Sammy (Fang’s lead singer) killed his girlfriend and everybody denied that they listened to them. He was a crazy motherfucker. Yeah, you should get a hold of a Fang record. I think its where all the grunge bands got their ideas from. Ryan-Totally, I think that whole Seattle thing kinda came from them. Brody-Cuz Fang was constantly touring up and down the West Coast all the time.

SHK-So whats your deal (to Ryan), you were working in a record store when they found you? Ryan-I really hate work, but you got to do it, so I always tried to at least work in record stores. It was a record slash comic book slash toy store, so it was fun for a little while. I’m really glad I’m not doing that shit right now-really glad. Brody-I liked that store. They had a really good collection there, good selection. SHK-What was it? (insert commercial here) Ryan-It was called Axis Records and Comics and it was just full of things that you wouldn’t find anywhere else. All kinds of odds-n-ends.

Brody-Are you from here? (New Haven, Connecticut) SHK-Yeah Brody-Whats the scene like? SHK-There’s a good amount of people depending on where you look... Brody-We got here last night and we were trying to find someplace open, like a magazine store or anything, and they were all closed. We had to drive to New Yawk... Ryan-The one thing I’ve noticed is all the buildings turn out to be college buildings. I see something that looks like a church, nope its a library. SHK-Its all Yale. All the dorky college Yaley’s walking around....

SHK-The song “Desperate” is about heroine addiction-is that about you, or someone you know? Brody-It was just in general. It affects a lot of people. A whole lot of people in the punk rock scene especially. That shit is fucked up and evil. It’s the devil, its not cool at all, don’t do it. Yeah, that’s what I say-Don’t do it!

SHK-Sourpuss...Tell me about that whole experience. Brody-(under her breath) god, I hated that band... SHK-Oh, you hated the band, okay. Brody-(playing air guitar) No, I didn’t hate it, it was just my first band. It started when I was 14. It only lasted 2 years. It was a girl band, punk rock girl band. You know a bunch of 14 year olds trying to play really fast and we didn’t really know how to. (the air guitar playing gets REALLY fast) We all learned together, so it was cool, but it was really just a fucking mess. SHK-How old were you when you first listened to punk? Brody-I was 13. My first band (that I heard) was Discharge. That’s really my favorite punk band, still. Fucking Discharge. Ryan-Me? About the same, 12 or 13. There was this guy who worked in the guitar store I worked at who got me into the Germs and The Bad Brains. I was a little skate rat when I was younger, so I was into that whole obnoxious Red Hot Chili Peppers shit, I guess that was what got me into it. SHK-Around here most kids start out with metal and graduate into punk. Ryan-I’m the opposite, I love metal!

SHK-So are you involved at all in Hell Cat? Brody-Me and Timothy sometimes go check out bands together. Kids send me their tapes all the time...

SHK-How long did you last in catholic school? Brody-3 years. I went to the first one, got kicked out, then the 2nd one lasted until about 3 years. I dropped out of school in the 9th grade. I hated school. It fucking sucked. I think everyone hates it. Is there anyone who likes school? I can’t function properly sitting in the same fucking position for a fucking hour. SHK-I used to go to catholic school for a while and it really sucked. Brody-Were you baptized? SHK-Yeah. Brody-Not me. I wasn’t baptized and that got me in trouble. I got in fucking trouble for drinking jesus’ blood and eating his flesh. “Your not a child of god” they’d say. Fuck you! I just want to get drunk off this shit. Man, they’re the same way. Catholics are drunks! Its kind of hypocritical in a way. They’re all pedaphiles, too.

SHK-Do you ever get pissed off about all the comparisons to Rancid? Brody-No! They’re a great fucking band and they’re my best fucking friends, why would that be bad? SHK-In everything you read in magazines and shit, people are ALWAYS comparing or linking you to Rancid... Brody-Thats naturally gonna happen cuz I’m his (Tim’s) wife, but I think thats really just lazy journalism. People are quick to jump on that without even trying to get deeper. What are ya gonna do?

SHK-Where did you get the idea for the song “Gypsy Rose Lee”? Brody-From Gypsy Rose Lee...It’s really about the women who brought me up when I was younger. There was this game we would play when I was real little and I’d be Marilyn Monroe and my friend would be Gypsy Rose Lee. She’d be dancing around with a cape and no underwear on-she was 5...

SHK-A lot of your songs talk about fucked up family life and... Brody-Everyone in this band comes from a dysfunctional family. A lot of people you meet in punk rock come from a dysfunctional family. SHK-Thats why we connect to the music. Brody-Things are a lot better now for my Mother and me. I think that with girls and their mothers you reach a certain age and there’s this undeniable tension. Your trying to leave the nest, she wants you stay...I think for me, I had to realize that my Mom was her own person. It was really weird-I mean when you finnally realize that your mother is her own human being with real feelings. When you realize that even though she’s your mother, she’s a woman with her own identity. It’s a weird thing to go through, but once you do, you’ll be a lot more respectful. I had to become friends with my Mom before we could go back to that mother/daughter relationship. I’m sure it’s like that with Dad’s and their son’s, too.

Ryan-With my Dad, I knew he was his own person, so that didn’t matter. With us, the problem was him relizing that I wasn’t going to be exactly what he wanted to be. My Mom and I get along great. With my Dad, it’s a little weird, but that’s just because he’s highschool football coach guy.

Sink Hole Kristen’s Friend(sorry, don’t know your name-editor)-What do you do for fun when your not on the road? Brody-I like bookstores a lot. I hang out with my friends. I’m kind of a homebody. We have 2 little kittens. I’ll cook dinner, chill out, watch movies, write... SHKF-What is your favorite movie? Brody-Godfather. SHKF-My favorite’s Scarface! Brody-Yeah!!! Scarface is good, I like Goodfellas, too. Mob movies fucking rule! Your (talking to Ryan) the only one who hasn’t seen Godfather! I can’t believe that. Ryan-Neither has Andy or Tony (guitar tech). Brody-That’s unbelievable. It’s one of the most famous movies in cinema history. Ya gotta see it dude. I don’t like the 3rd one, though-it sucked. The 1st and 2nd were awesome. SHK-Are you not big on mafia movies? Ryan-No, I love mafia movies! Goodfellas and Scarface are 2 of my favorite movies ever. Brody-Yeah, aside from the Godfather movies, there’s this French movie called Betty Blue (sp.?) that I like a lot. It’s the story about a relationship between this crazy fucking girl and her boyfriend and they live in this shack on the beach. It’s a funny movie-it’s all in subtitles, but it’s great. You HAVE to see it. That chick is so fucking beautiful! She’s the reason I dyed my hair black. She’s a crack-head now, but back then...She was fucking gor-geous! She had this gap in her teeth and (motions with her hands to show big tits)

SHK-Well, I know you have to go, but I have to end this interview with you describing yourselves in 5 words. Ryan-We are the Distillers. Brody-That’s 4 words dummy. She said words, not syllables. (mumbling) We’re fuckin’ pist as shit. Ryan-How about “hey we’re the Distillers”? (editor’s note-that’s still just 4)

[dontbecattyratty]

Wind in the Willows Masterpost

I have created a master list of adaptations/pastiches and works inspired by The Wind in the Willows that are available to stream for free online. This list includes professional productions (although the recordings themselves may not be professionally produced), and does not include either audiobooks of the original text or amateur productions, or the list would be fairly endless. I will continue to update this list as new versions are posted/uncovered online, by me or by others. I will also try to remove any links that go dead. If you find a dead link, feel free to let me know. I may or may not be able to re-upload any dead links, depending on if I was the uploader of the video.

Feel free to reblog and share, but please do not repost this list!

I have put a lot of time and effort into compiling this list, so if you enjoy it, please let me know and consider checking out my other Wind in the Willows content if you haven’t already.

Thank you to @tremendousdetectivetheorist for help on tracking down the 1996 and 2006 live action films, and to @sardinesandhumbugs for supplying The Willows at Christmas and the UK Tour audio, and for recording the Pitlochry Festival Theatre audio!

A Note on Content Warnings: Due to historical context and the age of The Wind in the Willows, please consider this a blanket content warning that any entries on this list may contain antiziganism, transmisogynistic humor, and misogyny. I have done my best to include more specific content warnings for individual entries with possibly triggering content that falls outside of these general warnings.

List under the cut:

The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad - Disney (1949) Note: in spite of including the opening credits for the whole film this is the Wind in the Willows portion only. Still an excellent find!

Toad of Toad Hall - A.A. Milne - BBC Radio Drama (1973)

Counselling for Toads: A Psychological Adventure - Robert De Board (1983) Note: This is a self-help book and an introduction to transactional analysis through the framework of The Wind and the Willows. Trigger Warnings for: Child abuse, suicide, depression, mental health problems, dysfunctional interpersonal relationships, etc.

The Wind in the Willows - Cosgrove Hall Movie and Series (1983-1990) Note: Movie and all episodes  in parts

"Extended Edition" Movie Note: This is a fan cut of the Cosgrove Hall film, featuring footage from "The Further Adventures of Toad,"  "Wayfarers All," and "Piper at the Gates of Dawn," in order to restore cut chapters from the book.

Cosgrove Hall Season One (Full Episodes)

Cosgrove Hall Season Two (Full Episodes)

Cosgrove Hall Season Three (Full Episodes)

Cosgrove Hall Season Four (Full Episodes)

Cosgrove Hall Season Five/Oh, Mr. Toad! (Full Episodes)

A Tale of Two Toads The Wind in the Willows - Rankin/Bass Animated Entertainment (1987)

The Wind in the Willows - Broadway (1985)

The Wind in the Willows - Burbank Films Australia (1988)

The Wind in the Willows - Eddie Hardin and Peter York (1991) Note: This is a concert loosely based on The Wind in the Willows, narrated by Toad in his later years. It is extremely difficult to sum up beyond that.

Tales of The Willows - William Horwood (1993-1999)

The Willows in Winter (1993)

Toad Triumphant - Abridged - (1995)

The Willows and Beyond - Abridged - (1996) Coming Soon!

The Willows at Christmas - Abridged - (1999)

The Wind in the Willows - The Martin Gates Collection (1994-1996)

The Wind in the Willows (1995)

Mole’s Christmas (1994)

The Adventures of Mole (1995)

The Adventures of Toad (1996)

The Wind in the Willows and The Willows in Winter- Television Cartoons (1995-1996)

The Wind in the Willows (1995) - Television Cartoons

The Willows in Winter (1996) - Television Cartoons

Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride (1996)

The Wind in the Willows (2006)

Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows: A Musical - Douglas Post (2010) Note: This is a musical from 1987, but the cast recording itself was released in 2010, so after a lot of consideration I’ve chosen to place it according to its release date.

The Wind in the Willows - Andrew Gordon (2013)

The Wind in the Willows - UK Tour (Audio) (2016)

The Wind in the Willows - London Palladium Cast Recording (2017)

The Wind in the Willows - London Palladium Proshot (2017)

The Wind in the Willows - Mike Smith and Keith Dawson - Junior Version (2020)

The Wind in the Willows - Audible and Dina Gregory (2020)

In the Willows - Metta Theatre (2021) Note: This is the EP recording of Metta Theatre Company’s hip hop musical, In the Willows. Music videos, behind the scene content, etc., available on the Metta Theatre website.

The Wind in the Willows - Green Matthews (2021)

The Wind in the Willows - Pitlochry Festival Theatre  (Audio) (2021)

[lumiereswig]

What about when the staff/Belle/Adam were all kids?

belle had her nose in a book half the time/all the time and maurice was seriously concerned about having to get her glasses until one day she looked up with a thousand-mile stare and said “i’m going to invent contacts” and she did. as a 9-year old

adam..well, we all know how his childhood went down. T R A U MA. but trauma (while it feels like it can fill up a whole lot) doesn’t fill up the whole of it; adam’s joy and hope and life kept springing up, like sprouts through concrete, little odd wonders like the cloth-bound books in the library and puppet shows that came through town and wondering, ever just wondering, if anything truly miraculous would ever happen to him

lumiere was a harum-scarum young brat on the dirty streets of paris, scaring the poor wits out of his parents and yodeling songs to the never-caring moon while perched on the roof of a bakery. (but a lady in one of the houses nearby did care for his singing and always wondered forever after what became of him, earning her the world-record of the only lady who remembered lumiere during the curse for no reason beyond loving a young boy’s singing)

cogsworth was one of those boys who Collected Things. stamps, toads, rocks, coins, all carefully delineated on little neatly labeled shelves; a little room, a little museum, all his own. in his own little wonderful world where he didn’t have to hear children screaming or roads bumping or his dreadful aunt hortense going on about what she had for breakfast, again, her screechy voice coursing over horrible things

garderobe was incredibly focused as a child, knowing from the start just what she wanted to do, and she regrets it sometimes because wouldn’t it have been fun to dabble as a scientist? to have a little horse-girl phase? but no from the beginning when she saw a ballerina to the very moment she was on that stage herself, and on and on forever after, all she ever wanted was a polished stage and the flood of lights turned her way and people, wonderful people, hanging on her every note

cadenza never felt safe as a little boy, he was always looking over one shoulder, he never felt he had that person he could lock his entire self into, who would accept all of him—the neuroses, the long rambling spools of thought, the hyper obsession and the vaulting, babbling ecstasy of a great composition—and feeling unsafe like that eats away at you, it becomes a kind of prison in its way, and he always felt a little safer with keys beneath his fingertips but it wasn’t until he met garderobe that he found another person can really be a new doorway into happiness

plumette had a childhood surrounded by love, her soft mama with the perfume that smelled like snowdrops, her soft lovely aunts, the grandmama with the crystal, cut-glass animals dotting her window ledge; the view of beautiful labyrinths stretching out away from the palace, her brothers running down the halls yelling, paper cranes in their hands, sending the birds flying down the banisters. and then dark plague—creeping silence—a run, alone, out of paris, through the woods, brambles scratching at her feet. finding that new homes can be built, with new families in new places, even while old ones are treasured.

chapeau found that everything, as a child, was too LOUD. too much shrieking about ribbons. too much squawking about hats. his mother was kind and she tried to hallow out quiet places for him in the millinery, but he found more joy in making those quiet spaces for himself—making himself a quiet temple, in the end, a silent song all to himself.

cuisinier dipped himself into everything as a child—he tried different languages, different lives, as if they were soups, and could warm him up from the blood out. it was only while chopping radishes at a back-alley bar that he found out how alive being the warmth could make you feel—not just waiting for something to raise you up, but raising up everything around you by being a pOWERHOUSE (at chopping radishes)

mrs potts grew up surrounded by lavender fields, always feeling like she could be a little better than this, see a little farther than just the sheep pasture and the back meadow. she loved her family, so, so much—but always felt like she wanted to explore the world, just a little, and find a corner of it to make entirely her own. her hands were always busy, a little something tucked away just for her—embroidering her aprons in spots no one could see, knitting little handwarmers as she waits for the kettle to boil. making the world a little brighter, just by the work of her two small hands.

[bbmyungho]

wager- joshua

member/group: joshua/seventeen

genre: fluff, hogwarts!au, hufflepuff!reader, slytherin!joshua, other members of svt thrown in for good measure :))

a/n: i saw @luvshuas posting about wanting to read hogwarts aus and i thought i’d write them one 🥺 i hope you like it, i love your blog!! (also, super sorry it took me so long to write and post 👉👈)

“Come on, we’re almost there!” Seungkwan ushered me through the halls, panting as I tried to fasten my tie properly around my neck while we rushed to get to potions in time. We practically drifted around the final corner, right in time to stumble into Snape on his way to close the classroom door.

“Oh, how nice of you to join us, Mr. Boo. You too, l/n.” He sneered at us as we entered the class, shuffling down under his outreached arm and seeing all of the seats next to each other filled. I looked at my friend like I’d just been issued a death sentence, his sympathetic gaze already meeting mine. “Oh, what a pity; you two decided to muck about while the rest of us actually bothered to show up on time so there are no seats left next to each other. Hmm.” Snape hummed in bemusement at our misfortune, beady eyes peering around the room before settling back on us.

“Seungkwan, you can join Mr. Yoon in the back, and y/n... you can join Mr. Hong over to your left there.”

I shuffled meekly over to my seat, barely able to look at the admittedly extremely attractive Slytherin boy smiling at me as I approached.

“Hi, I’m Josh.”

“y/n.” I smiled shyly, picking out my potions supplies and waiting for Snape to give us the go ahead to begin our brewing.

“Nice to meet you, y/n. Do you play quidditch?” Josh was laying his head down on his arms now, staring up at me with big doe eyes while I fought the urge to run away back to my comfortable Seungkwan.

“Uh, no. Do- you?”

“Yes, I’m the keeper.” He smiled up at me. “What do you do? Anything outside of classes?” He asked.

“I volunteer in the library sometimes. Keeping track of records and whatnot.” He nodded, presumably satisfied with my answer at last as he turned his attention to the professor now droning on about procedure. I took solace in these few moments of comfortable silence, exchanging a look with Seungkwan at the end of the mini lecture before Josh recalled my attention to him.

“I’ll go get the ingredients we need from the cabinet if you’ll start up with what we have here.” He suggested, reaching over to take the beakers from my side of the table. I caught a whiff of his cologne, fresh and sweet, like honeysuckle, making my cheeks heat up involuntarily at the close proximity to a boy I barely even knew.

“Yeah, sure.” I nodded, watching his back retreat before getting to work.

~

“Y/n!” I was pulled harshly back into reality from whatever daydream I’d been indulged in upon hearing my name, my heart clenching at the sight of some of the first year Hufflepuffs cornered by a Gryffindor boy: Marcus... something. I’d heard he was a bit of a troublemaker.

“Hey, what’s going on, guys?” I approached the group cautiously, the Gryffindor looking rather annoyed at my intrusion on his fun with my house’s first years. They looked like they were having anything but, one of the girls named Hannah bent over with her hands on her knees catching her breath. She looked like she’d just run a marathon, pretty much all of them did.

“We’re just playing a game.” He smiled, an unusual sneer more than anything; either way, it quickly disappeared as his eyes followed the Hufflepuff students away from the two of us. “Reckon you want in?”

Before I could react at all, he turned his wand on me, rushing something out before a loud pop sounded below me and I felt a sting in my leg. I hopped up on one foot, trying to dodge the firecrackers he’d manifested around my feet as I debated whether or not it was worth it to whip out my own wand and maybe turn him into a toad.

I didn’t have a chance before I heard a loud “D’Angelo!” shouted behind me, both of our heads whipping around to see Joshua and the Gryffindor prefect, Seungcheol, approaching; Seungcheol, usually quite smiley and known for being pretty “chill,” actually looked cross. “What exactly do you think you’re doing here?” He scolded. Marcus shoved his wand back into his robes, giving me a death glare before marching off with Seungcheol scolding him the whole way out of sight.

“Hey, you okay? What happened?” Josh’s gaze and tone were both gentle now, his bangs blowing close to his pretty brown eyes in the breeze.

“Yeah, I’m fine. He was picking on some of our first years, but I didn’t want to draw my wand on him or anything so... Uh, thanks for bringing Seungcheol over.” I said, dusting the embers of Marcus’s enchantment off of my legs.

“Oh no problem, we were just walking to the Great Hall. How are your kids?” He asked.

“They’re fine, I’m sure. I don’t know how long he’d been picking on them like that, but they probably just ran back to the common room or something.” I smiled at him, running a hand through my hair as I straightened. “I’m sorry I interrupted your trip to the Great Hall.”

“Don’t worry about it, we can always reconvene later,” he hesitated before adding, “would you maybe like to join me since I lost Cheol?”

I flushed scarlet at his words, quite caught off guard: sure, he was nice and all, but we weren’t really friends. The most I’d heard out of him until potions the other day was a little bit of conversation here and there between him and his friends in passing.

“Uh, actually, I think I’ll go check on the first years, make sure they’re okay. Thank you though.”

“Oh, isn’t the Hufflepuff common room in the kitchens? How about we just walk together til then; we’d be going the same direction, right?” He cocked his head and god if I didn’t think he was pretty before, now I thought he was adorable.

“Oh yeah. Right. Uh, in that case, sure.” I blushed deeper if possible, Josh holding out his hand to beckon me forward ahead of him.

~

“Who was that?” My friend, Momo, didn’t miss a beat in questioning me once the door to the common room closed behind us; we’d arrived at around the same time, and Joshua had bid us a quick farewell when he was sure I was back safe.

“Oh, his name’s Josh. We were paired up in potions the other day and I guess we’re sort of friends now?” I said, greeting Seungkwan with a simple pat to the head before making my way up to my dorm.

“Friends? That’s it? What was he doing here then?!”

“Relax, he just walked me back.” I began to fiddle with my hands as I tried to brush off Momo’s (loud) words, which were earning us a fair amount of attention from the quieter patrons of the common room. Although, I couldn’t quite settle the flutter of butterflies in my stomach or the comfortable heat rushing to my cheeks. 

“Aww, you’re blushing! You’re definitely in to him!” She squealed, wrapping her arms around my torso and jumping happily. 

“No I’m not! I- we barely know each other! We’ve talked like twice, and he’s a Slytherin! We’d never work!” 

“He’s sweet, though, right?” She teased, poking my cheek as I flushed further. “He’s obviously cute! Come on, what’s holding you back?”

“I- just- ugh, can you just leave it alone?” I whined, covering my now very red cheeks with my hands as she smiled. She just shrugged and finally walked off, leaving me to walk into my dorm alone and flop down onto the bed with a frustrated sigh. 

I didn’t like Joshua. Sure, he was handsome and charming and helpful and just about everything I’d find attractive in just about anyone, but we barely knew each other, and we were from polar opposite houses! I was burdened by Momo’s words for the rest of the night, not speaking much at dinner as my eyes searched the dining hall for a certain dark haired Slytherin. 

~

“Alright everyone! For this project, I’ll need you to form groups of two; choose wisely! I’ll give you all a moment to form your groups and find a spot to settle in.” Professor Sprout smiled brightly over the sea of students currently present in our joint herbology class with the Slytherins, everyone now scampering to find their friends and pair up as quickly as possible. 

I turned excitedly to see Seungkwan already giving me a knowing look, smiling and patting the space next to him as I strode over happily. My heart dropped, however, when none other than Momo sat herself down in the seat previously meant for me, whispering something to Seungkwan before they both looked at me, their eyes flitting over teasingly to a group of boys that had yet to settle in. God no, please no-

“Hey y/n, do you have a partner yet?” I turned to see Josh smiling at me expectantly, my heart fluttering as I took in his hair and his lips and damn it maybe I was starting to come to terms with my crush on Joshua- “Uh, y/n?”

I realized I hadn’t replied to him yet in all of this time I’d been ogling him, his eyebrows furrowed in a hint of concern as my mouth fell open and closed quickly. “Oh, uh, yeah- I mean, no, no I don’t have a partner yet.” I smiled sheepishly, Josh’s own smile widening. “Would you, maybe, wanna work together?”

“I was gonna ask you, actually.” He said, motioning me towards the first open station we saw. I smiled and nodded, tossing a glare over my shoulder at Momo and Seungkwan silently cheering me on in the background before we sat down and Joshua’s presence fully stole my attention.

~ 

“y/n!” I startled at the sudden calling of my name in the previously perfect silence of the library, looking up from my records work to see Joshua emerging from the shelves.

“Hi, Josh. Do you need anything?” I asked, taking note of the books he had stacked in his arms.

“Just wanted to check these two out, please.” He said, placing them gently next to the records book in front of me. I smiled and took down the serial numbers and his name quickly, handing the books back to him as quickly as possible so I could finish up my work for the day. It hit me like a lightning bolt when his hand brushed mine as he accepted each of the books back, a glimmer in his eye when I looked at him inquisitively. “Have you read them?”

“Oh, no, not those. Uh, interesting choice of books.” I squirmed awkwardly under the weight of the mundane conversation, mentally facepalming at my inability to think of literally anything else to say.

“They’re for a charms report,” he smiled, “are you coming to the Hufflepuff vs. Slytherin match on Saturday by any chance?”

“Oh, I don’t know, I might just stay in and do some homework, maybe take care of some of my chores that I’ve been putting off-“

“Oh, come on, live a little. Or have you already come to terms with your house’s loss?” He taunted. I rolled my eyes.

“Badgers eat snakes, dear, I think we’ll be just fine.” I teased back. He laughed, a sound I wouldn’t have minded hearing more often, of course, and leaned forward onto the desk.

“How about we make a wager: if Slytherin wins, I get to take you on a date.” My breath hitched in my throat, causing me to choke and my chest to explode into a quiet coughing fit that probably only fanned the flame under Joshua.

“Where did that come from?” I asked frantically.

“Where did your confidence go?” He asked. “What do you say?”

“What if we win?”

“Hmmm, unlikely, but... I’ll wear Hufflepuff robes the whole day Monday. I’ll even see if I can talk the whole team into it.” He said. I mulled over his words quietly, scanning over the pages of records I was taking down while I thought. 

“Okay, then. It’s a deal. I’ll see you Saturday.” I said, offering a shy glance up at him as I tried to keep the raging blush on my cheeks to a minimum. 

“Can’t wait. We’ll set a time and place after the match.” He said, strutting off happily with his books in hand. I bit my lip, fighting to repress the smile that threatened to turn up my lips when I heard a quiet “yes!” echo through the halls outside of the doors before they closed. 

~

“I’m glad you came with us, y/n! It’s been a while since we got you to come to a game!” Jihyo smiled brightly, Momo bouncing along next to her happily as she nodded along.

“Yeah, well, I just thought I’d get out instead of spending my weekend in the dorms. Honestly, it’s nice, getting all excited about watching a match again.” I said, rubbing the back of my neck and looking away towards the towering hoops.

“Yeah, they’ve picked up a new appreciation for the game just recently, actually.” Momo teased, nudging Jihyo and, subsequently, me. I glared at her while Jihyo just looked at us in confusion, leading us to a few empty seats where we’d get a good view of the game.

We sat down right in time to watch the players fly out in procession, Jihyo cheering as her boyfriend Daniel, one of the chasers for the Slytherin team, flew by. I couldn’t help but smile a little at the thought of me getting to cheer Joshua on when he flew out for a game. I did, actually, my breath catching a little in my chest when I saw him fly by with his dark green robes flapping around him, his hair blowing beautifully in the wind and skin gleaming in the sun. I felt my heart quicken when I observed him, now floating in front of the hoop, scanning the crowd for confirmation of my attendance.

It really was nice getting excited for a game, participating in the festivities... having a player searching for you in the crowd, listening specifically for your cheers over the rest. I waved at Josh when his eyes fell in my general direction, his lips quirking up into a lopsided grin when (I’m assuming) he saw me before his attention returned to the match just about to start.

I didn’t know much about the rules anymore, but I did remember enough to know that Joshua was very good and he was trying very hard to win. Whenever he made a good play, he’d look down at me and smile, once even mouthing something to me that I assumed was about taking me out. I felt bad, but I couldn’t help but feel a little downtrodden when my own house made a good play. Was that blasphemous?

Whatever it was, it was what I felt, and I could tell that Joshua was feeling it, too, whenever he’d look down on me with a little pout on his face and make me laugh. As the match got more intense, I leaned forward, the sounds of cheering fans and Momo’s occasional teasing drowning out as I zoned in fully, hoping and praying that Joshua could keep it up, that Jeonghan would catch the snitch.

The buzzer sounded. It was announced that Slytherin had just obtained the snitch. I was completely deaf to the crowd as I sprang from my seat, whooping and cheering while Momo gazed on happily and Jihyo clapped half heartedly along with me in confusion. Joshua’s smile in that moment could’ve made flowers grow, his eyes falling upon my smiling face as he joined the rest of the team for a victory lap around the arena.

[a-place-to-come-back-to]

If/When you finish listening to the uk tour, I would love to hear your Thoughts on it :D

Why of course!! Please enjoy my mostly incomprehensible thoughts!

-I don’t know if it’s just because I’m not British and haven’t spent my life surrounded by the different accents, but the guy who starts singing spring seems like he’s changing his accent every word -(Is this guy in fact Mole?) -The way Ratty says hello KILLS me just “heloooowww” -“whAT was THAT???” “a KINGFISHER” -Compared to Simon Limpkin the actor playing Ratty sounds very posh and definitely gives off more book Ratty vibes with how laidback he is but I must admit that the vibes he gave me at first were that of being slightly drunk -I’m getting severe whiplash from the songs because I’m so used to the west end cast -I still can’t get over how posh Ratty is🤣🤣and that line in messing about “saAAAAAAY” 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 -I do love how Mrs. Otter keeps shrieking when she first comes in -“As soon as he hears our voices he’ll hightail it in the other direction” a full out MOOD Badger, a MOOD -“So you’ve not met Mr. Toad *scream* well you’re in for quite a treat” that caught me so off guard oh my word -Oh the swallows have a short conversation with Ratty and Mole ah the wayfarers all vibes that’s a neat touch. Also I keep remembering at the most inopportune moments that Ratty has a mustache. -The argument they have before Mole leaves for the wild woods definitely seems toned down a bit -I will ashamedly admit that I went pretty much my whole life thinking a boot scraper looked something like a chisel but bent, and it threw me for a loop when they started saying “door scraper” instead of “boot scraper” -“I will dismiss my own butler if he needs to be dismissed” “THEN DIMISS HIM” “thankyourabbitthatwillbeall” -Badger calls Toad Toady and it’s doing things to me -The whiplash between Mole solemnly realizing the foxes would eat Portia and him going “thank goodness you have other children” -The ending of the first act is slightly faster -Oh wow you can hear the chief weasels harmonies so well at the end of taking over the hall and unless I’m mistaken that’s a higher night for “fall” -“What more could I have done to deserve my sentence.......short of  m u r d e r -yknow Mole almost sounds Scottish as well -During a place to come back to that last note being low instead of high threw me off -WAYFARERS ALL FEELS???? OH GIMME -Compared to the disc recordings that I’ve been listening to for the past few days rattys “a felon on the run” seemed very cheery -Throughout this entire recording the way that Ratty delivers his lines has struck me as the actor not being able to remember them which the pauses work in some places but most of the time they don’t -DID BADGER SAY BEASTIES OR BEASTS I CANT TELL -“It’s lucky I’m an otter! G I V E  I T  H E R E” -The friend is still a friend reprise is interesting it sounds like people get beaten up a lot -“TOAADDD” That unearthly roar omw -It is a sweet touch to have Toad be annoying everyone and then Badger still turns around and the defends him but I also like dad!Badge vibes in the west end version where he just automatically protects Toad despite having no idea what’s going on -WAYFARERS ALL FEELS?????

-Overall I really enjoyed it! I adore Mole, Scottish(?) Badger kind of scares me, and I felt bad for Ratty because I kept laughing at him but it was a very nice recording and interesting to hear a different cast!

[mystical-flute]

Home is Wherever I'm With You (ch. 6)

FFN || AO3 || Ko-Fi

“Last chance to back out, bud,” Neal said, glancing over at Henry as he stood near the door of their hotel room. “You’re sure you’re okay with us moving here?”

Henry nodded, grinning. “Positive, Dad! It’ll be a new adventure, like you and Mom always talked about.”

Emma couldn’t help but grin slightly, even if there was a knot in her stomach that threatened to make her scream that they were going back to Boston and to forget this little town. It would have been an adjustment to not having Audrey and Snoopy around, but they could have made it work - right?

But Emma didn’t say anything, only giving Neal a quick peck on the lips. “Be careful, don’t rush yourself getting everything packed.”

“I’ll be fine. I’ve already emailed a few friends to help me out,” Neal said, squeezing her hand before ruffling Henry’s hair. “Good luck, listen to your mom, and don’t start complaining about your teacher before you’ve given them a chance, alright?”

“Yeah, yeah, I won’t,” Henry said with a roll of his eyes.

“I mean it, moving is a big deal. We don’t want to start off on the wrong foot.”

“Especially in a small town like this,” Emma grumbled, before sighing. “C’mon kid. You’re lucky the superintendent was willing to meet with us on a Sunday.”

She gave Neal another quick kiss before heading out with Henry.

The school complex seemed enormous, although Emma supposed that’s what happened in these small towns - they didn’t have to travel miles from school to school because there weren’t a ton of shops and houses in the way.

She was surprised to see a woman standing at the top step, waiting for them.

“Good morning! You must be Mrs. Cassidy,” she said with a wide smile. “And this must be Henry.”

“Ms. Jackson, right?” Emma said as Henry gave a nervous wave. “Thank you for meeting with us on a Sunday.”

“Please, call me Olivia. And it’s no trouble. It’s not often we get new students enrolled here, so this is really exciting for us!” Olivia opened the door, guiding them inside. “Come right on in and we’ll get you set up. When we’re done with Henry’s schedule and the other paperwork I’ll give you a tour.”

“Sounds great,” Emma hummed, glancing around. It seemed like any other school she’d been in. A little older, even than the Boston schools Henry and Audrey attended, but it was that same sickly-sweet charming that the rest of Storybrooke seemed to have.

Olivia’s office seemed normal though, and Emma felt herself relax slightly as she began rapidly typing on her computer.

“Alright then, Henry. I received your records a few minutes ago from Boston - ”

“That quickly?” Emma interrupted. “Sorry, I just didn’t expect them to be working on a Sunday.”

Olivia shrugged. “When something like this pops up, sometimes the system actually moves like we want it to. Anyway, his records and notes from his teachers indicate he’s a fan of art, is that right?”

Henry nodded. “It’s my favorite class. And I was in a special art camp this summer.”

“That’s wonderful, Henry! I think I have an opening in the perfect class.” A few more clicks of her keyboard, the sound of a printer, and she was sliding a schedule across the desk. “You’ll be in Miss Blanchard’s class. She does lots of art projects during her lessons to help students learn in a unique way.”

“We met her yesterday!” Henry chirped. “She seemed really nice.”

Emma couldn’t help but let out a small sigh of relief, knowing Henry would be with Mary-Margaret. “She did. She was volunteering at the hospital when we brought Audrey in.”

“Oh! Yes, that’s right, I heard about Audrey’s return. It’s a miracle, really. She’s been gone as long as I can remember…” Olivia trailed off, seemingly lost in thought, before the bright smile returned as she reached into her desk. “So here’s some information on the schools, and a map for Henry in case he needs it. You can find the pieces for the uniform pretty much anywhere, so don’t worry about that. Although, I will need his size for the sweater.”

Henry soured a little at the mention of a uniform.

“He’s a medium,” Emma said.

Olivia nodded, rising to her feet. “I’ll grab one out of storage while we’re on our tour, if you’re ready?”

“Let’s do it.”

“The main menu for lunch rotates every day, and we’re lucky to have a local farmer that donates much of the produce we use,” Olivia explained as they wandered past a display of science fair projects. “Kids are welcome to eat inside or outside, weather permitting, and we have monitors in both areas.”

“That’s cool! We weren’t allowed to eat lunch outside in Boston,” Henry explained.

Emma couldn’t help but raise a brow. “How’d you swing the farmer donating produce to the school?”

“Well, it helps that he’s married to be one of our teachers,” Olivia explained with a laugh. “Daphne teaches high school, so maybe in a few years Henry will be in her class. Or maybe Audrey. I’m going to be taking her schedule and information to the hospital later.”

“I can take it to her, if you want. Henry and I are going to the hospital later this afternoon,” Emma offered.

Olivia hummed, tapping her finger against her cheek. “Well, since you are technically listed as Audrey’s parent on her school records, that will be fine. I’ll get her schedule and information settled when we head back to the office. Do you happen to know what size she wears?”

“Sounds like a plan. And she’s a medium as well.”

“I’ll get her sweater when we grab Henry’s. Miss Blanchard’s room is - oh, it looks like she’s here. That’s strange,” Olivia frowned as they approached the open classroom door. “Mary-Margaret?”

Something thudded to the ground, and there was a startled yelp.

“Superintendent Jackson! I’m so sorry, I didn’t realize you were here too.”

“I’m showing Mrs. Cassidy and her son around… what brings you here?”

“I’ve been looking for my credit card. I tore my apartment apart but it’s nowhere to be found. So I thought I would check here.”

Olivia blinked. “Oh, I see. I’ll run the security tapes and see if anything’s come up. Nothing has been turned in at the Lost and Found, but that doesn’t mean no one has it.”

“Thank you, Olivia. I appreciate it.”

Emma kept a hand on Henry’s shoulder as they lingered in the doorway. “Hi, Mary-Margaret, I don’t know if you remember - ”

Mary-Margaret smiled slightly. “You’re the family from the hospital. What brings you to the schools though?”

“You’re my new teacher,” Henry announced, glancing around the classroom. “Which one is going to be my desk?”

“I’m - sorry?” Mary-Margaret asked, stepping back as Henry pushed further into the room. “His new teacher?”

Emma sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. “Sorry about that. We’re uh, moving to Storybrooke. He was put in your class.”

“Oh! Well come on in then. I’ll get you caught up on what we’re learning about. Henry, this will be your desk right here,” she said, guiding Henry to a desk near the window. “I’ve been teaching them how to build birdhouses. It helps with building empathy and their math skills.”

“Combining art and math. I wish I had a teacher like you when I was growing up. Maybe I would actually like math,” Emma joked.

Mary-Margaret gave her a weak smile. “Math isn’t my favorite subject either, but just know if Henry finds he’s struggling, the high school has a great tutoring program.”

“You guys sure thought of everything,” Emma remarked.

“Well, we figured it’d be a good way for the older kids to earn a little credit, and help the younger students out. It’s also part of the after-school program.”

Emma smiled. “That all sounds great. It’s really making me feel better that Henry’s still going to get a good education, even if we’re not in Boston.”

“Storybrooke is… like a fairytale, Mrs. Cassidy. We may be small, but we prioritize education,” Olivia explained. “Shall we continue the tour?”

Why did her phrasing sound so odd to Emma? Still, she managed a smile. “Sounds good. C’mon kid.”

They saw the playground, the computer lab, and the library before Olivia led them to a small shop area. “And here we are. Two medium Storybrooke sweaters.” They were presented as if they were made of gold, which had Emma biting back a laugh as she took them. “We’ll just get Audrey’s paperwork all settled and that’ll be it. Unless you had any further questions?”

Emma wracked her brain. “No, I think that’s it. But I’ll contact you if I think of anything.”

“Fantastic,” Olivia said, returning to the office and setting up the same paperwork and schedule for Audrey. “It was very nice to meet you, Mrs. Cassidy. We’ll see you tomorrow at 8:30 sharp then, Henry?”

“Yes Miss Jackson.”

Emma guided him out of the office, hearing Olivia answer a phone call as they disappeared down the hall.

“Lacey, what’s up? Yeah I can…”

---

Madalena was going to kill Rumplestiltskin if she ever got out of here.

No. When she got out of here. Because she would get out of here, of course. She was the Dark Queen Madalena after all! She could get out of here on her own… even if she had failed so far and she had no idea exactly how long she had even been trapped in this godforsaken book.

Her Handsome Hero. What a dumb name for a book. What a ridiculous idea for a plot.

If she had to watch Gideon the Great cut a spider in half one more time, she was going to scream.

And she had screamed multiple times already.

The worst part of living in a book was there being no plot for Madalena. The author hadn’t put a Queen Madalena in it, so she was relegated to being in the back of crowd scenes, completely ignored and unable to do anything to end the sieges that plagued this village.

Not that she wanted to be a hero, of course. No, Madalena just wanted to save her own skin and had been caught in the crossfire one too many times.

“Fear not, Duchess Prudence, I, Gideon, shall slay the evil Sorceress!” the hero of the story says, dramatically flourishing his hands.

Madelena rolled her eyes and made a face. Just once, she’d like to be able to turn Gideon or one of the other townspeople into a toad, or a dog, or something. Anything to make this more bearable.

“Madalena?” a voice suddenly said from above. That wasn’t right, and suddenly everything froze. “I don’t recall you being in the story before.”

“Hello?!”

Why could she move? Who was that voice? It was new, didn’t come from any of the stale creatures around her… had someone from the real world finally picked up the book?

“Madalena, I free you from these pages.”

She didn’t have time to think before she felt herself being yanked up, landing hard on a carpeted floor.

“Oh gods, are you okay?” came the same voice, only this time, it was much closer.

Madelena felt the world tilting for a moment, before everything stilled and she lifted her head from the carpet, heaving in deep breaths and staring down at her hands. Free. She was… free? She pushed herself up into a sitting position, feeling the world tilt slightly again as she glanced around the room.

She knew this place. Rumplestiltskin’s library.

She was free.

“Erm… hello?” the voice asked again, and Madelena jumped, glancing over. “Sorry, are you okay?”

That was a loaded question. Was she okay?

“I…” her voice was raspy. “How long… was I in there?”

“I don’t know… you’re Madalena of Keburg, aren’t you?”

Her head shot over to the young woman who had spoken, eyes wide. They still spoke of her? Good. Then it must not have been all that long.

“I am. They deposed me two years ago.”

The woman’s eyes widened, and Madalena’s heart sank. “No… not two years ago. They just celebrated their Decade of Peace.”

Decade? Decade?!

“I’ve been in that book for eight years…” Madalena whispered. “Oh my gods…”

“I’m glad I got you out of there. What happened?”

Madalena rose to her feet, brushing invisible lint off her gown. “That bastard Rumplestiltskin locked me in there. All I wanted to do was learn some dark magic to take control of a kingdom, that’s not too much to ask for, right?”

“Er… I’m probably not the best person to ask about that, but you’re not the only evil queen in the realm.”

“Oh, no, please don’t call me evil, just dark,” Madalena said, raising a brow. “Who are you, anyway?”

“My name is Belle. I’m Rumplestiltskin’s housekeeper.”

“May the gods have mercy on you then,” Madalena said, rubbing her head. “Thank you for freeing me, Belle.”

“You should hurry and get out of here. Rumplestiltskin will be home any moment.”

Madalena nodded, raising her hand to disappear, before she paused. “I don’t know where to go. I can’t go back to Keburg, I can’t stay in this kingdom…”

“I think you’ll find allies here if you stay off Rumplestiltskin’s radar. He’s not exactly the most popular man here. Now hurry, go!”

“Thank you again for freeing me, Belle. I’ll make sure to leave you in peace when I come to power,” Madalena said, vanishing in a cloud of black smoke. Where she would go, she didn’t know, but if what Belle said was true, perhaps there was a chance for her to find allies.

Maybe she could take down Rumplestiltskin and take his place.

That might be nice.

She landed in the middle of the woods, on some sort of carriage path. No matter which direction she looked, she couldn’t see Rumplestiltskin’s castle. Hopefully, that meant she was far enough away. Now all she had to do was find some food or shelter. Or, find some people to give her food and shelter. She was still a queen after all… even if she had fallen.

A small village wasn’t too far from where she’d landed, and Madalena sighed, pushing herself into the nearest pub.

“The next round is on me!” a man shouted, lifting an empty stein into the air. “Grimsund shall prosper once again!”

There was a roar from the crowd, and Madalena gasped as a mug was shoved into her hand from the nearest barmaid.

“Oh, I - ”

“No need to worry, Prince James paid for this round,” she said with a grin. “He’s just come back from a giant hunt.”

A prince, huh?

Madalena could work with that.

“Thank you, then,” she said to the barmaid. “Is that him over there?”

“Aye, that’s him, but if you think you’ve got a chance with him, you may want to temper your expectations. The rumor is he’s got a different woman in his bed every month,” she explained. “Truth is, I don’t know if he’ll ever commit to one woman, even if the king forces an arrangement.”

Ah, so it was that sort of deal, hm? Fine. Madalena could take out the competition.

“I see, thank you kindly,” she said, sipping at her beer before sauntering over to the prince and dropping into the seat across from him.

He raised a brow. “And who might you be.”

“I might be Queen Madalena of Keburg, I might be just a figment of your imagination,” she smirked.

James furrowed his brow. “Weren’t you deposed?”

“Details, details.”

James looked her up and down. “Well, what can I do for fellow royalty?”

“That’s just it. I’m not exactly royal anymore, and I just spent eight years trapped in a book thanks to the Dark One. As much as I hate to do this, I need help.”

Setting his much on the table, James leaned forward. “And what can you do for me?”

Madalena waved her hand, magic gathering in it. “What do you need?”

---

“Here you go, Emma, grilled cheese and onion rings. Hey - you alright?” Ruby asked, setting the plate down in front of her.

Emma rubbed her eyes and looked up from the newspaper in front of her. “Yeah, thanks. I’m just trying to find a place for us to live, and it’s not like there are a lot of options here.”

Ruby rolled her eyes. “You’re telling me. If there were more affordable houses here, I’d have moved out of the bed and breakfast a long time ago. That, and if Granny would ever let me meet with Victoria…”

The last part was said in a mumble, which had Emma raising a brow. “What do you mean?”

Ruby looked around, before digging through her apron and pulling out a card. “Victoria Belfrey-Polastel. She’s a realtor in town. Wanted to buy Granny’s not too long ago and make it more modern, instead of a dumpy diner and bed and breakfast. Granny hit the roof and refused to ever serve her, but she gave me a card if I ever needed it, but you and your family need it more than I do, so here. Just… don’t tell Granny I told you about her.”

Emma took the card, sliding it into her wallet. “Thanks Ruby. I owe you one.”

“So long as you don’t tell Granny, consider us even.”

And that was how Emma found herself sitting in a way too spotless, modern office that afternoon after making sure Henry didn't need anything.

Seriously, was this Victoria thinking she was selling to celebrities and the too-wealthy in New York City? What was with this place?

“Mrs. Cassidy, welcome.”

Emma briefly considered reminding the woman that her name was Emma, but decided against it. “Thank you for meeting with me. I’m sorry it’s on such short notice.”

“Oh no need to apologize for something like that! This is my job after all, and it’s not often I get a client with a family that needs to be moved. Everyone here just seems to be so settled that they never go anywhere. But what sort of house were you and your family looking for?” Victoria said, flourishing a pen and smoothing out the notepad in front of her.

Emma paused. What were they looking for in a house? They hadn’t had many options when it came to apartments, aside from the location and the spectacular front door that Emma was going to miss.

“Er… at least three bedrooms, although four would be ideal, I guess, so Neal and I can have an office,” she started, running her tongue along her teeth in an attempt to think. “Maybe a nice yard. We’re from Boston and our son has never had a yard to play in.”

Victoria was nodding, scribbling away. “I have two daughters. I get it.”

“Maybe something updated? I don’t know if we can handle moving all of our stuff and finding out the house needs new floors or a new bathroom.”

“Ah!” Victoria suddenly said, tossing the pen onto her desk and rapidly typing on her computer. “I have the perfect house for you, Mrs. Cassidy. 715 Tenth Street. Four bedrooms, two bathrooms, nicely updated and a large backyard. It’s an updated Victorian, and one of the best Storybrooke can offer. We can drive over now, if you want to see it?”

Emma nodded, her throat dry.

But Victoria was right, 715 Tenth Street was what she would call perfect for that family, and she signed on the dotted line in the spotless kitchen - her kitchen, and blinked in shock as Victoria passed her the keys.

“Welcome home, Mrs. Cassidy.”

[vampire03]

DL boys in Hogwarts

(Part 2)

--------------------------------------------------Ruki Mukami:

Year: 7

House: Ravenclaw

No explanation needed for this.

Wand: Pine wood with Veela hair, 10 1/2 inches

Pet: A white owl named Helen

Patronus: Reindeer

Favourite subject: History of magic

An interesting story: One night this bookworm sneaked without permission into the Restricted section out of curiosity, looking for 50 shades of gray, but a few angry books threw a tantrum, trapped him in there and the librarian had to get him out. As a punishment he had to clean up the whole library.

--------------------------------------------------Kou Mukami:

Year: 6

House: Gryffindor

Well I wanted to put him in Slytherin really bad, but this kid took out one of his eyes on his own. If that's not brave idk what is. He also has a sence of justice and fair game in life. So Gryffindor it is.

Wand: Linden wood with Phoenix feather, 10 inches

Pet: A white cat named Bianca

Patronus: Panther

Favorite subject: Flying

An interesting story: Once Kou played a prank on Kanato and jinxed him during rehearsals in the school choir so that his voice sounded like an angry kitten. When Kanato found out it was Kou, the blondie almost got his other eye taken out.

--------------------------------------------------Yuma Mukami:

Year: 6

House: Hufflepuff

I see him in Gryffindor as well, but he is so hard working, there is no way for me not to put him in Hufflepuff.

Wand: Apple wood with unicorn hair, 12 inches

Pet: A toad named Pickle

Patronus: Bear

Favorite subject: Herbology

An interesting story: Once he somehow inserted a recording of a Mandrake screaming in Shu's mp3 as a prank. After that he had to give him a piggyback ride to the infirmary since Shu's ears started bleeding a lot because of it. Then Yuma got a detention and Reiji's admirations.

--------------------------------------------------Azusa Mukami:

Year: 5

House: Hufflepuff

He is really kind and I also remember when he made Yui a music box with only one hand (I think it was in the Dark Fate game) and that's a real hard work we have here.

Wand: Bamboo wood with unicorn hair, 9 1/2 inches

Pet: A bat named Ink

Patronus: Dolphin

Favourite subject: Care for magical creatures

An interesting story: The last year when he was arriving at Hogwarts with the thestrals, he got into a carrige with Kanato. Kanato got angry because the thestrals were "ugly looking" and Azusa jinxed him to go blind for a while.

"There you...go... Kanato-san... Now you don't... have to see them..."

Our baby is savage sometimes

--------------------------------------------------

Carla Tsukinami:

Year: 7

House: Slytherin

He has those Slytherin vibes as well. Also, the whole thing with the Founders blood and stuff reminds me of the blood status drama going around Slytherin.

Wand: Oak with Phoenix feather, 10 1/2 inches

Pet: A snake named Ursula

Patronus: Wolf

Favourite subject: Defence against the dark arts

An interesting story: Once he decided to fight the Giant squid in the lake and he came back beaten up. It took him 5 showers to remove the ink stains all over his body.

--------------------------------------------------Shin Tsukinami:

Year: 6

House: Gryffindor

I wanted to put him in Slytherin so he can be together with his Nii-san, but Slytherin students tend to be very cunning. Shin is the opposite - he jumps right into the action and he is very bold. Also values his pride A LOT. So he goes to Gryffindor.

Wand: Cherry wood with Phoenix feather, 10 inches

Pet: He has a pack of wolves around the castle

Patronus: Wolf

Favourite subject: Flying

An interesting story: Once he decided to let his wolves into the school for Halloween. The the halls were filled with the howling of the wolves and many students got scared. Shin got a detention and the principal casted a spell on all of his wolves so now they cannot enter the school building no matter what.

--------------------------------------------------Kino Sakamaki:

Year: 6

House: Slytherin

He actually is fit to be a Ravenclaw too - very smart and creative, but also cunning and very ambitious to prove his point and to get what he wants. So off he goes to the snake house.

Wand: Guava tree wood with Veela hair, 10 inches

Pet: A crow named Darko

Patronus: Crow

Favourite subject: Charms

An interesting story: Once he tried using his phone despite the magic field in Hogwarts. As a result his phone started flying in the hallways and he had to chase it. When Kino finally caught it, it exploded in his hands.

--------------------------------------------------

Aaand that's part 2 of "DL boys in Hogwarts". If you like it, I am going to make it like a series in this blog! You can send asks and ideas for this AU!

♡♡♡♡♡

[manage-mischief]

Picture Prefect

Read on AO3 here. 

Author’s Note: So, I’m not really sure I ship Dramione. At least, not in an endgame type of way. But, this idea came to me while rereading Harry Potter for the umpteenth time. I think there definitely could have been more to Draco’s character than was in the books/movies. I felt like it would be interesting to understand Hermione’s relationship to him, and that there was likely a bit of romantic tension/pining that may have been behind some of Draco’s actions/motivations. You know what they say about little boys and pulling girls’ pigtails on the schoolyard. Anyways, this takes place during OoTP, before Dumbledore leaves. This is also my first FF, so I’m still learning. I’ve just always thought about writing something but have been too nervous before now. Any kindfeedback or reviews would be appreciated. Thanks in advance :)

Disclaimer: I’m not J.K. Rowling. I own nothing.

Summary: Hermione goes on evening patrol with Draco Malfoy and things progress quite differently than expected. Secrets, lies, and broom cupboards may be involved.

“Let’s get this over with, shall we,” she sighed as she descended the stairs and laid eyes upon her patrol partner for the evening.

He gave a noncommittal grunt in return. Uncharacteristically pleasant this evening, she noted. Without a word, the pair set off past the Great Hall and got to work.

When Hermione had first discovered she was going to be a prefect for Gryffindor House last summer, she had been thrilled, but not surprised. She had top marks in all of her classes, and a (mostly) clean disciplinary record. Sure, she, Harry, and Ron had had a few run-ins with the wrong side of the law. Still, there was, at least in her humble opinion, no one more qualified for the job. When she found out that Ron would have the job alongside her, she had been that much happier. During the celebration held at Grimmauld Place, she had never felt prouder. Yes, she was an intelligent girl. Yes, she had even scored a date to the Yule Ball with internationally-renowned quidditch seeker Viktor Krum (and had especially enjoyed the look of jealousy and disbelief on Pansy Parkinson’s face, she might add), but this accomplishment somehow carried more weight for her.

Being muggle-born, she knew that there were some who viewed her as unworthy of Hogwarts. Some would even go to unspeakable lengths to try and force her out of the wizarding world—as she had learned the hard way during her bout of paralysis-via-basilisk during her second year. But, here she was: the top of her class, muggle-born prefect. The prefect title meant something. Anyone in her world could understand the accomplishment, and no one could deny her the honor that the title bestowed.

Ok, maybe she was a bit over-enthusiastic about the role. It did seem that, most of the time, she was nothing more than a glorified hall-monitor. Yet, she wore her badge with honor. And, as she and Ron strode towards the Prefects Compartment on the Hogwarts Express on her first day she felt that nothing could have lowered her spirits. That is, however, until she saw him. Her new colleague, leaning against a table with his usual, haughty, I’m-better-than-you-because-I’m-pureblood air, his blond hair standing out in stark contrast with his dark robes with emerald green accents. Draco Malfoy.

And so, this is how she ended up on evening patrol on this otherwise wonderful night with a boy who was, in her opinion, one of the rottenest snakes to ever roam the halls of Hogwarts.

The first time she had met Draco had been on the Hogwarts Express during her first year. Bright-eyed and bushy-haired as ever, Hermione had hugged her parents goodbye and wandered onto the magical locomotive, anxious yet elated. She had been thrown into the magical world so fast. One minute, she had been running from bullies in the park by her house as they called her a freak. The next, she was meeting with a stern-but-kindly witch who explained to her that she was talented and special. Hermione was determined to learn as much as she could about her knew world as fast as she could, so she would be able to prove herself at school. Once she set her mind on something, nothing could stop her.

Armed with countless wizarding books and a new bank of knowledge, she confidently strutted into a train compartment and took a seat. She cheerfully introduced herself to the three other young wizards already occupying the space. The others followed suit. Two large, intimidating boys introduced themselves as Crabbe and Goyle. She was pretty sure those were last names, but had a feeling that prying for more information would be futile, seeing as they had both grunted out one-word answers to her questions and then looked away. They did not seem very bright. The third boy had brilliant blond hair and smiled in a way that made her blush slightly in spite of herself. “I’m Draco. Draco Malfoy. It’s a pleasure,” he replied with a cheeky grin.

Draco had been overly friendly to respond, and all too eager to converse with Hermione. They asked each other about their wands, their favorite shops in Diagon Alley, and the classes they were most excited to take. “I can’t wait for Transfiguration. I know it’s one of the more difficult branches of magic, but it seems quite fascinating,” Hermione blabbered on cheerfully. She had been very proud of herself for holding her own during this conversation. Her reading and preparation had paid off! Draco seemed to have no idea she hadn’t grown up in a wizarding household.

He smiled at her. “Well, I hope we’re sorted into the same house. It’ll be a shame if I can’t spend any more time with you in the future.” Hermione again blushed. She kind of liked Draco’s cockiness and confidence. “So,” he continued, “where d’you want to be sorted? I know where I’ll be…Slytherin. My family has been in Slytherin for generations,” he remarked, haughtily.

“Oh, I’m not sure I have a strong preference. Although, Gryffindor seems like it would be a good fit. Or Ravenclaw. I guess we’ll see,” Hermione said.

“Where were your parents when they were here?” Draco asked, eagerly.

“Oh…well…they didn’t go to Hogwarts,” Hermione replied. She didn’t know why she didn’t reveal that her parents were Muggles. She wasn’t the least bit ashamed. But, something about the boy’s mention of his Slytherin family heritage made her wary. Hadn’t she read somewhere that Slytherins were obsessed with blood purity? Surely that was ancient history. It couldn’t mean this boy believed that only pureblood witches and wizards were worthy of magical education, right? After all, with such a small portion of the population having magical blood, there must be hardly any purebloods left!

“Oh, so they went somewhere else? Ilvermorny? Durmstrang? My father wanted to send me there, says Hogwarts’ Headmaster is an old crackpot…”

“No, no. They didn’t go to any magical school. They’re muggles,” Hermione interrupted. Immediately, the tone of the conversation took a sharp turn. Crabbe and Goyle both stared at her as if she had grown an extra head. Draco sat up straighter in his seat, and where before there had been a playful look in his eyes, there was now only wide-eyed fear and accusing. “So, tell me, what makes you think you’re worthy to be here, talking about magic to me and my new friends, when your parents are so backward they probably can’t even tell a wand from a stick in the mud?” Draco sneered at her. His two cronies sniggered. Hermione knew she was not welcome anymore. She shot out of her seat, determined not to cry, and stormed out of the compartment. She could hear Draco’s voice in the distance as she quickly scampered away, fuming. “Well, boys, glad we got rid of her, eh?”

Of course, leaving that compartment was the for the best. She had met Neville and, not long after, her future best friends, Harry and Ron. Luckily, not all wizards were as closed-minded as Malfoy had been. She had not let him get to her, and since then, had outperformed him in every class. Still, she always found it strange to reflect back on the one pleasant conversation she had had with him and relate that cute, smiling boy to the absolute toe-rag she knew today.

Speaking of today, it was getting late, and Hermione was becoming fed up, fast. Her and Malfoy had only been patrolling for half-an-hour, yet it felt as if it had been an eternity. They walked in silence, keeping at least a foot’s distance in between them at all times. The corridor was silent. It was shaping up to be a long, dreadfully boring night.

They reached the first-floor bathrooms around 11 o’clock. “I’ll check the girls and you check the boys,” Hermione broke the silence. Malfoy rolled his eyes and sarcastically replied, “no really Granger? What an ingenious idea.” She simply shook her head and went to check for students out of bed. The bathroom was empty.

“Nothing in there.” She saw Malfoy emerge from the boys’ loo across the hall. “Same here.” On they went.

Half of their shift had now passed, and all they had seen was a sleepwalking Ravenclaw first-year, who Hermione had gently guided back to bed. They were passing by the statue of George the Smarmy when suddenly, she heard footsteps. She paused and cocked her head.

“C’mon Granger,” Malfoy sighed. “It’s probably Filtch and Mrs. Norris.”

“Hush!” Hermione hissed. It most certainly was not Filtch. The footsteps clicked, making it clear their owner was wearing high heels. They were approaching fast. She couldn’t ignore her gut feeling that something was amiss. But, what was it? Why did the footsteps sound so familiar to her? “Have you lost your marbles? Let’s go! It’s a professor or someone! Nothing we have to worry about!”

Aha. It was a professor. Of course. That’s why Hermione recognized the footsteps immediately. She could hear in them the haughty sense of purpose that made her loathe Defense Against the Darks Arts classes daily. Umbridge. Just as she could hear the toad-like professor approach their corridor, another pair of footsteps sounded in the distance. Umbridge must have been meeting someone. But who, at this hour?

She didn’t know why she did it. Perhaps it was because she was on edge from all of the secrecy surrounding the DA. Perhaps it was because of the wrenching feeling in her gut that Umbridge was up to more than she let on here at Hogwarts. But, no matter the reason, before she knew it, she was grabbing Malfoy by the front of his robes and pulling him into the nearest broom closet.

“What the bloody hell, Granger?!?” he hissed indignantly. At least he had the sense not to shout. Otherwise, their cover would have been blown. “What’re you playing at?”

“Be quiet,” she shushed him promptly. Quickly, she pulled out the pair of extendable ears she kept hidden in her pockets. As much as she hated to admit it, Fred and George had really hit the mark with their creation. She always kept a pair with her, and had found them to come in handy on many occasions. As she fiddled with the device, Malfoy continued to look at her, wide-eyed. “What the hell are those?!”

“Extendable ears, now, HUSH!” Hermione said matter-of-factly. “Extendable what?” “Ears. They let you listen in on other peoples’ conversations without getting caught. Now please kindly shut up so I can hear what’s going on!”

“…in this time of night. I wanted to do this privately. Most students use this corridor to snog without getting caught, so I thought it would do the trick.”

Umbridge’s girly voice echoed. Malfoy was still staring at her with a look of pure confusion.

A private meeting. But with who?

“Of course, Dolores. Do you have any updates?”

The second voice belonged to a man. She knew she had heard it before. But…it couldn’t be…

“Oh my god,” Malfoy whispered, now seemingly as invested in the conversation as Hermione had been. “What’s Fudge doing here?”

Hermione’s eyes widened. Fudge. The Minister of Magic. She was sure glad she had had the sense to hide in the cupboard, even if she was a little too close to Malfoy for comfort. She couldn’t have had him running away and blowing her cover.

The pair of them remained quiet, now both eager to hear what was going on.

“Well, Cornelius. I’m afraid matters at Hogwarts are far worse than we feared.”

“How so?”

“Well first of all, there’s the Potter boy. He and his little friends seem determined to undermine my authority at every turn! He has no respect for the Ministry. Always going on about You-Know-Who despite my countless warnings and punishments!”

There was heavy silence for a moment before Fudge spoke again.

“And do the other students believe him?”

“Some do. Others think he’s gone mad. Most don’t know what to think, and it has been hard for me to convince them to take our side, despite our efforts to disparage him in the Prophet.”

“Surely these students have more sense than to believe the word of a 15-year-old boy over the Ministry and the Prophet! Why are we having such difficulty keeping this under control? I thought I could trust you to handle this, Dolores.”

“I…I am doing all that can be done! But that’s the thing. It isn’t just Potter who has been proclaiming the story that You-Know-Who has returned. It’s Dumbledore, as well. It is not so easy to discredit the Headmaster in the Prophet. He is too well known and well respected. Students love him. Which is why I am proposing that we focus our efforts on a new plan.”

“Yes?”

“Removing Dumbledore from this school, and making me Headmistress.”

“That is quite easier said than done, Dolores. You said it yourself, Dumbledore has the respect of the student body, as well as most of the parents, I might add. Implicating him in illicit activity to remove him from Hogwarts will be extremely difficult.”

“We almost got Potter, this summer.”

“Yes, and the fact that those Dementors even showed up in Little Whinging was a happy accident! How can we expect something like that to happen again?  And at Hogwarts, no less?”

“Yes…a happy accident…well. I shall keep my eyes open for any ‘accidents’  that will allow us to relieve Albus from his post. In the meantime, you’d best be heading back to London. It is getting late. But I promise you this, Cornelius. Come hell or high water, I shall make sure Albus Dumbledore never sets foot in this school again. You can count on me.”

“We’ll see, Dolores. Have a good evening.”

Their footsteps echoed down the halls and disappeared into the night.

“I can’t believe it,” Hermione exclaimed. “That conniving little…”

“Blimey Granger. I thought you were intelligent!” Malfoy rolled his eyes. She glared daggers at him, daring him to continue insulting her. He sighed, “Of course the Ministry’s trying to oust Dumbledore! Fudge is scared of him. He thinks Dumbledore’s going to take his job.”

Hermione was taken aback at his words. She had known this information, of course, thanks to her months of living with the Order. Still, she was surprised that Malfoy knew this information, and that he had been so willing to admit it. Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. Draco couldn’t have come across this information by himself. What was his shifty father telling him?

“Like you even care,” Hermione tersely responded. “You and your father have been trying to get rid of Dumbledore since the day you arrived here! And probably before! You’d just love old Umbridge to become Headmistress and become her little pet.” Ok. Tirade over. Yelling at Malfoy, while satisfying, wasn’t going to do her any good. Hermione knew they should be continuing their patrol. Plus, she wanted to return to the Common Room and fill Harry and Ron in on the evening’s events. Hopefully they’d still be awake…

“You always think you know me, but you don’t.”

“Excuse me?” Hermione whipped her head towards him just before she was about to exit their cramped hiding spot. Had she heard correctly?

Malfoy gave a sad sort of grunt. He hesitated for a moment, as if considering whether or not he should continue. Hermione continued staring at him intently. She was mystified.

“You and your little Potter Protection Squad. You all always think you know me, know my story, know my life. ‘Oh, Malfoy hates everything good. He’s always out to ruin things for us. He’s a jerk. He’s the enemy. He’s evil,’” he mimicked her in a high-pitched voice. Hermione couldn’t speak, still baffled. He continued.

“For your information, I detest Umbridge just as much as you do. I just know how to be subtle about it. And I know my place. I know what happens to me if I don’t get on her good side. You wouldn’t understand. You’re from a muggle family.”

“You know what, Malfoy? I am absolutely sick and tired of you bringing up my parentage. I have as much of a right to be here as you! And I understand plenty, thank you very much! I am top of our class and work hard to prove myself to intolerant people like you and your family every single day! Don’t you forget you were impressed by me when we met on the Hogwarts Express first year! Impressed by more than just my knowledge of the wizarding world, I might add!” She spit back, her breath labored from the force of her outburst. She could feel her cheeks flushing. It had been an unspoken agreement between them to never mention their first encounter. She could see his face tint red as well.

He stared at her for a moment. Then, without warning, grabbed her by both of her arms and turned her so they were face to face, which was quite cramped due to their inopportune hiding place. His gesture was not threatening, however. He looked sad.

“You don’t understand. I…I sometimes envy that you’re from…well…your background.” He huffed. “I mean being a Malfoy is an honor. People envy me.” His voiced switched back to the shaky timbre it had been. “But…there’s certain…expectations. My family is one of the greatest pureblood lines in wizard history. Malfoy and Black. We have a reputation to uphold. My father reminds me of that every chance he gets.” His face darkened. “I have to hate Dumbledore. I have to be friends with people like Crabbe and Goyle. I have to suck up to Umbridge and support her for headmistress. You don’t understand what happens if I don’t.”

Hermione continued to stare at him. She blinked, trying to understand why and how Draco was capable of showing such vulnerability with her. He searched her face, almost desperately, for a reaction. Hermione softened her face. Perhaps there was more to him than she thought. Maybe he just needed someone to listen. When he realized her receptiveness, he spoke once again.

“Everyone in my family expects me to be like my father. Become a…” he stopped himself. But she knew what he would have said. “Well, become like him,” he carefully worded. “No one has ever asked me what I want to do. And I can’t tell them. I can’t tell my family to shove it…that I don’t want to be part of their circle! That I’m terrified of what’s coming and of what I’ll have to do!” Draco’s voice broke. Hermione remained silent, entranced. Without thinking, she took his hand gently. They both looked down at their hands, now touching. When he spoke again, he refused to meet her gaze.

“My parents were part of an arranged marriage. Even their lives weren’t their own. Everything…every bloody thing that’s ever happened in my life and before has been about blood purity. About money, and power, and respect. They expect me to uphold that tradition. I’ll marry a pureblood girl. I can’t object. I’ll be disowned. Banished. Burned off of the family tree for even thinking about, as they call it, ‘tainting the bloodline.’” He sighed once more. He finally brought his eyes back to meet hers. His stare was intense and a bit frantic. Hermione felt her heart pounding in her chest and her cheeks growing hot. Who was this boy, and what had he done with the tosser Draco Malfoy? At least she knew how to deal with him when he was being a jerk. But this? This vulnerable Draco standing before her? Her brain could not figure him out.

His voiced softened further. “I’m sorry I’ve called you names. I know you probably won’t believe me, but I truly am.” And then, it rose once more, “But don’t you understand? I have to act this way! You terrify me, Hermione. And…that just…can’t happen. I…I don’t have a choice.”

She let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. The pressure in her chest was too much to bear.

“Draco. Everyone has a choice,” she whispered, softly, her eyes still locked on his.

He swallowed. Then, he leaned forward, slowly. She could feel her own body move towards his in response. Her heart pounded and her mind went blank as she felt his strong arms wrapping around her and pulling her into a kiss. She pressed into him, her body moving with his in a passionate dance. He ran his hands through her hair. She could feel her pulse rising, heat surging through her body. The pair continued hungrily for a few more moments. Then, as if on a timer, they both regained composure and pulled back from each other, panting. Hermione smoothed out her hair. Draco fussed with his now-disheveled robes. They regarded each other once again, neither sure what to say to the other.

Hermione blinked in a vain attempt to regain focus. She couldn’t deny that had been the most passionate kiss she’d ever received, including those from Viktor—who had more than once professed his love for her. But, she thought to herself, that will never excuse his behavior. He had humiliated and degraded her, time and time again. The names he had called her were almost unforgivable. Had he changed? She couldn’t be sure. But, one late-night encounter in a broom closet was far from enough proof for Hermione. After a few moments of silence, she realized he was waiting for her to speak. To say something about what just happened. Her mind was still racing too fast to latch onto a single thought.

“I’m sorry about your family Draco. That sounds very hard.”

Oh, if she could have kicked herself in the moment! Sorry about your family?!? That sounds hard?!? She felt like a proper wanker! What an idiotic response to what had just happened!

“I wish things were different,” he replied. This shocked her.

“Are you saying you want to be with me?” She inquired.

“I’m not sure,” he answered, almost inaudibly, sheepishly running his hands through his hair.

“Draco,” she sighed. This was all too much information for Hermione to handle. “I’m not sure, either. Thank you for apologizing for calling me those awful names…but…I’m not sure that’s enough. You just said it yourself. Your family life is complicated. I’m sorry. If you ever want to change, to escape, I will be here for you. And, I may even want…this…too. But, I won’t be the girl who you degrade in public and then snog in a broom closet when no one is watching. I don’t deserve that.”

Draco simply stared back at her for a long time. She could tell he was thinking. Would he really say he wanted her? Would he really change? Would she really want to be with him, even if he did? Ugh, Harry always said girls were confusing, but she was beginning to think that boys that were really the ones who were bonkers!

Finally, he cleared his throat and spoke once again, “I’m sorry. I just…” he shook his head. He glanced towards the door. “We had better finish patrol and then head to our dorms.” Under his breath, Hermione heard him mutter, “I have a lot to think about.”

Unable to form any intelligible words, she just nodded her head. The pair emerged from their cupboard and set off back down the corridor, as silent as before. When they finally parted for their respective common rooms, they met each other’s gaze once again. Draco smiled softly, “Goodnight, Hermione.”

She gave a tentative smile in return. “Goodnight, Draco.”

As she entered the Gryffindor Common Room, she was deep in thought.

“Oi, Hermione! You’re back late,” Ron shouted to her from the table in the corner, on which Harry and him had stacked piles of books and essays. In the back of her mind, she mentally rolled her eyes. Of course, they hadn’t finished their homework.

“Was patrol with Malfoy as awful as we thought?” She gave a noncommittal sigh which Harry took for annoyance. “That bad, huh? What a git,” he shook his head. He and Ron then launched into a conversation about how much they hated Draco Malfoy. Hermione did not listen. She was still deep in thought, her thoughts swimming as if she were looking at them from the surface of a pensive: slippery and liquid and not quite fully formed.

“You alright, Hermione?” Ron asked, snapping her back to reality.

“Fine,” she answered half-heartedly. “Just dead tired. I think I’m going to head to bed.”

She climbed the stairs to the 5th year girls’ dormitory, and told herself she would tell the boys about Umbridge’s conversation in the morning. Right now, she was too preoccupied with thoughts of a certain Slytherin prefect to think about anything else. As she crawled into bed and closed the curtains of her four-poster, she found herself clinging to a small bit of naive hope. It did seem like Draco was serious when he kissed her. Maybe, just maybe, people could change for the better, even people as entrenched in the pureblood movement as Draco Malfoy.

She should have known it was silly to hope for such things.

[rayj4ck]

Day 12, 8/15. Diary

Webby is faced with a karma decision. 

@weblenaweek

Webby hummed to herself as she ran the duster over the bookshelf. One day, she had felt bad that Duckworth had to clean the ENTIRE sprawling mansion all by himself, even if he enjoyed it or considered it his responsibility. So she had picked up a vacuum and started on some of the rugs in the halls. Well, Duckworth had caught her and was actually very upset with her. But that backfired spectacularly, because now it was stealth training. How many rooms can she clean before the omnipresent ghost catches her? Her current record was 12, which was a far cry from the whole mansion. But she was getting better. 

Lost in her reminiscing, she didn’t notice her extended duster bump into something, but she did notice when it fell off the shelf and onto her head.

“Ow.” She muttered, rubbing her head and checking the floor for the offending object. It was an unmarked black book. Webby hesitated, because in the McDuck mansion there was a 15% chance any unmarked book was cursed. But she updated all those locations daily, and this wasn’t one of them. She cautiously picked up the book and opened it to the inside cover. There, she saw the words Personal Diary of Lena de Spell. She immediately slammed the cover shut again, and threw the book onto a chair across the room from her for good measure. She looked at it for a long moment, before tearing her eyes away and pacing back and forth.

“No. No way. I can’t.” She said to herself, but her eyes gravitated back toward the book anyway. 

-

“Leeeeenaaaaaa!” She heard from down the hallway. Confused, Lena paused the ingredient mixing and went to stick her head out the door. Before she could even take a couple of steps, however, Webby was suddenly there. Lena had just enough time to widen her eyes at Webby’s intense face before a book was shoved into her hands. “I found this, but I didn’t read it I promise!”

“I know you didn’t,” Lena said soothingly. 

“Really? How?” 

“Because if anyone other than me reads the inside pages, they’re turned into a larger-than-average toad for twelve hours.”

“Really?” Webby looked at her with a new excitement in her eyes, which is exactly what Lena wanted. But she was also looking hungrily at the book, which is not what Lena wanted. 

“Maybe.” She said, shrugging her shoulders and donning her aloof, mysterious persona in an instant. “Do you want to read some of it? We probably won’t have time for everything though.”

All Webby did was give her that big, ecstatic smile she loved so much, so she smiled fondly and opened the book to a random page and handed it over to Webby. She took it as if she were receiving the Ten Commandments. Looking down she began to read aloud. “September 14th. Dear diary, I talked to Selene tonight, and she-”

“Woah, not that one!” Lena shouted, yanking the diary out of her hand. “I, uh, some of that was told to me in confidence. I think. It’s not my secret to tell.” She gently closed the book. “Ask her next time you….I have a fun idea.” 

-

“Aaaaannnndddd….done.” Lena held up the book before her proudly, and she felt Webby wrap an arm around her shoulder. Shen could practically feel the excitement radiating off the girl, and a lot of it was contagious. The cover proudly read Personal Diary of Lena de Spell and Webby Vanderquack. All others will be turned into a salamander.  

[freshlyjuicedbeetles]

Severus Snape x Reader - Meeting with Umbridge

Modern Setting/ Order of the Phoenix

Established relationship

Female reader

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The Pink Tyrant had taken over Hogwarts.

Severus came home nearly every day for a year with new drama that Dolores Umbridge, some Ministry bureaucrat turned teacher had stirred up. She had a problem with sticking her nose where it was not wanted or needed. He admitted he was thankful that he no longer lived on campus anymore, thus granting him a reprieve from her antics. First, she completely overhauled the Defense Against the Dark Arts program for the worse, then the Ministry gave her more power to oversee the day to day operations and standards at Hogwarts, reporting back to the Minister. She unfairly limited the student’s activities outside of school, to the point their freedom and rights were being affected. She tried to fire professors she found unfit mainly Dumbledore, but others were in her sights. She even made a scene over firing the Divinations professor in front of the students. A line had been crossed, you don’t allow students to see that. Even Severus said it was hard to watch.

Umbridge’s personality was lacking too. She was fake; her fake cheerfulness, her fake attention-getting cough. Everyone wanted her gone. Towards the end of the year, she started meeting with the immediate family of anyone who worked at Hogwarts. She soon called for me.

“She wants to meet you,” Severus said, placing his dark leather satchel on a kitchen chair as he returned home. I gave it to him when we got married. He uses it to shuffle student work and his grade book to and from Hogwarts.

“Who? The cat lady?” I asked.

Severus’ eyebrow quirked, “That’s one descriptor. I had a few others in mind. She wants to have tea.”

“Tea?” I repeated, “What? So, she can poison me?”

“I wouldn’t drink it,” Severus said plainly.

From his satchel, Severus pulled a bright pink envelope. He held it as though it would burn him as he handed it to me. It was a formal invitation on personalized pink stationary, the paper was even perfumed with a sickly-sweet smell that made me cough.

“Well, I guess it’s my turn.”

~

I was nervous to meet this woman. I didn’t know what she’d say to me and I didn’t expect this meeting to be pleasant given everything I had heard.  I put extra effort into my appearance, not just to look nice and professional, but I didn’t want to give her anything to use against me if she went low. I made sure my clothes were crisp, my hair was in place and checked my teeth several times before I apparated to Hogwarts.

The school was quiet for once. It was during class hours, but even then, Hogwarts still had an element of life before. Then, I saw the Educational Decrees haphazardly hung on the stone wall of the Entrance Hall. The amount coupled with no doubt Filch’s less than superb handiwork left me speechless. Did I really have to meet with this person?

The few students I saw in the hallways looked beaten into submission. They hung their heads, just trying to make it through the day. Their uniforms were immaculate, well past even military standards. Dumbledore never truly enforced the dress code.

I made my way to her office from memory. I took a breath before I knocked on the door. It opened on its own after a moment.

I was assaulted with a pink saturated room, the sound of meowing kittens and the overbearing smell of floral in the air. Everything was so over the top, I had to wonder if she genuinely enjoyed these things or if she was trying to make herself seem comforting and feminine while completely overdoing it. It was so overdone, it was creepy. The dozens of little kitten eyes staring at you didn’t help the aura, either.

“Ah, Mrs. Snape.” Umbridge stood as I entered.

‘Merlin, she really does look like a toad.’ I thought.

“Hello,” I replied, cordially. I tried to remain neutral about this woman until I met her. I knew that everything I had heard about Dolores Umbridge was shaded by anecdote from Severus, who can let his own biases get in the way. I was willing to hear what she had to say. There were some alarming changes she made, but I was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. Being a teacher was hard even when you had the proper education and experience, unlike in her case.

“Sit, sit, sit,” She fussed like a kindly grandmother, ready to plump up her grandchildren with sweets, ushering me into a pink upholstered chair in front of her desk.

“How do you take your tea, dear?”

“One sugar, please,” I requested.

The tea poured itself into two pale pink teacups and with a minor flick of her wand, the sugar was added. Even the sugar cubes were died pink.

“Why I must say, you’re actually quite pretty.” She said as she sat down with her tea.  “I’m not quite sure who or what to expect,” She giggled at herself. The sound was like glass breaking. I repressed a grimace.

I wasn’t sure who she was backhandedly complimenting (insulting?), me or Severus.

“I’m a bit confused as to why I’m here. I’m not a teacher…” I said. “You’ve been calling on other spouses and family?”

“I just want to get to know my subordinates, that’s all.” She replied with a smile. From her desk, she produced a pink clipboard and parchment and daintily, dabbed her pink quill in ink.

“Am I a subordinate or is Severus?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

She said nothing and scribbled in her notes. I felt like I, and thus, Severus was about to be analyzed.

“How long have you two been married?” Umbridge asked.

“Ten years in April,” I answered.

“And how did you meet?”

“As students here at Hogwarts. We dated briefly in our seventh year but broke up just before graduation.”

“And why is that?”

Umbridge was already poking too far but backing down would show weakness. I settled for a half-truth.

“We were kids, we drifted apart.” I shrugged. In truth, I couldn’t follow him down the dark path he was about to travel.

“This all about sizing up Severus and the rest of the staff isn’t? Like how orphanages do home visits to see what kind of environment they’re potentially sending a kid to. You don’t want your staff around any unsavory kind, do you? Well, here are some things about Severus Snape. He likes cold and dark places, he’s read every book imaginable and can’t rid of any. He has an irrational fear of elephants and he just can’t function if he doesn’t have his favorite quill and ink; Martin’s Quill in style 388, standard nib and Waterman’s ink in 00, Blackest Black, 25, red for grading.” I ranted. I knew how private Severus was and I didn’t like people trying to take that from him.

I expected reproach for my tone.  Umbridge only gave a small, saccharine giggle, “Well, we all have our eccentricities!”

She took a sip of tea. “What is your blood status?”

I was taken aback, about how bluntly she asked that. Kids were more open about their blood status, but not mine and Severus’ generation. “Half-blood. About 53% magic quantum if you want to be specific.”

“And your House?”

“Slytherin.”

“Do you interact with muggles?”

“I know a couple.”

“Oh, you know a couple? How many?”

“Two, I guess.”

“How well?”

“Well enough that I spend a fair amount of time with them.”

“And how did you meet?”

“We grew up together in the same neighborhood and went to the same muggle school before I came to Hogwarts.”

“And do you engage in Muggle activity?”

I scoffed, “What’s muggle activity? Basic home utilities? The internet? Cell phones? Yes, I do. You do realize that we’re no different from Muggles, that we’re all humans, right?” I asked seriously.

Umbridge grimaced as she recorded her notes. She was trying to see how Muggle I was and how my Muggle dealings could affect Severus and in turn, the school which ultimately affected her.

“Look, before you cast your ire at me, remember that Severus was raised by a Muggle, too. I’ve read the rankings of Hogwarts. You have one master level teacher in this school and that’s him. Do you have any idea how hard those are to come by? How long he had to study? There’s only one other school that has a master level teacher and it’s in India somewhere. Parents want their children to be taught by master level teachers and Dumbledore. Now that he’s gone and if you cast Severus off because of your bias against my answers, Hogwarts will crumble. I love this school, but it can’t get by on reputation alone.

“Not only that but can you keep up with the traditions? Do you know where the school gets it’s Christmas and Halloween decorations? Did you know that each staff member has their own ornament on the Christmas tree? How are you going to manage Hell Week; the last week of school when the seventh years go nuts? What about Dumbledore’s tradition of letting everyone off on the first warm day of Spring?”

Umbridge sat quietly, listening to me with a smirk on her face. “Adorable,” She replied, as she slashed a check mark on her paper. “Unfortunately, Albus Dumbledore is mentally unstable.”

“Oh, he is not,” I groaned, “I’ll admit, he’s not perfect and I have my problems with him, too, but he’s wise, intelligent and he’s good with the kids. I don’t see anything wrong with him as Headmaster. And hey, I wasn’t the one who gave him the ghost peppers and illegal fireworks.” I replied, a bit defensively about the last part.

Umbridge jotted down a note on her parchment. “I see this is a controversial topic, let’s move on.”

“His parents, what are they like?”

“Severus’? Ask him.” I wasn’t going to tell her Severus’ and Eileen’s story of abuse at the hands of Tobias; how Tobias died of an aneurysm in his sleep when Severus was seventeen and Eileen hung herself in a dank mental ward a year later.

Umbridge was getting annoyed but tried to hide it.

“Do you and Snape plan on having children?”

“Who says we don’t have any already?” I countered.

I saw her grip on her quill tighten, but she relaxed, calming herself. “Since I see no other Snape on my rolls. I would assume any children you may have are young. Would they attend Hogwarts?”

“Honestly, no.”

“And why is that?”

“I don’t like your teaching methods,” I replied simply. “Even Muggles know that practicum experience is a better method than pure theory. I also don’t like how you made this grand institution into your personal prison. You have the Malfoy boy running around, essentially unlimited, turning in kids because they looked at him wrong. He’s one the last students around here that should be given any power. I wouldn’t trust him with a paperclip. You would know that if you paid attention.”

I leaned forward. Umbridge started to fume, her pink painted lips disappearing until a tight line. She didn’t like being questioned.

“Let me ask you about your qualifications to teach. Do you have any? I didn’t think sitting on Wizengamot was enough, personally, but hey, I could be wrong. Severus fell ass first into this job, but you can read his file and see that he all the certifications he is regulated by law to have for teaching. I’m sure the Prime Minister would be interested to hear that students aren’t getting the proper education due to an underqualified teacher. We may be separate from the Muggle British government, but we’re still ruled by the Queen. Same laws and such right? I bet even Fudge may be impeached for misusing his power.”

Umbridge shot up, frowning, her face beet red.

“You are a very rude woman, Mrs. Snape.”

I took this as my chance to leave and stood up, but not without the final word. “Yeah, well, I married Severus, didn’t I? What? Did you think I’d be a princess?”

I turned around just as I passed the threshold, “Oh, in case no one told you. This school has a way of spitting out those it doesn’t like. Ever wonder why the Defense post is always open?”

Umbridge sputtered, trying to ask what I meant, but I had already apparated home.

[pricechecktranslations]

TTDS: The Emerald Girl; Chapter 2

Torture Tower Doesn’t Sleep: The Emerald Girl infomine under the cut

Scene 1

The scene opens in Stella’s bar, Stella talking to Raymond and the emerald girl/Tsukumo (looks 15-16) that he brought with him. She’s initially shocked, thinking Raymond is her father, because the girl calls him Papa (she has a very childlike manner of speaking). As a note, Tsukumo’s hair reaches down to her knees (both that and her eyes are emerald).

Tsukumo wants milk—though she doesn’t seem to know what milk is, first grabbing Raymond’s coffee before being corrected (despite having ordered milk before they left the capital a week prior).

Apparently, according to Hargain Tsukumo can’t retain any memories past three days, due to her mind being incomplete (she calls Raymond papa simply because he’s the first person she saw when she woke up).

Raymond is in town partially to retrieve the second half of the records that Romarius gave to Hargain. They’re waiting on Liam to show up in the bar, which he does shortly, wearing lamellar armor (he’s dissatisfied with it after buying it locally, but there’s a lot of restrictions to civilians buying armor in the capital city). On his right arm he has an ornate gold bracelet from Hargain—allegedly it protects the body from evil influences.

Raymond disparages him for believing a Crossrosier artifact, but Liam insists Hargain is the real deal. Raymond has to admit to himself that if he was a mere charlatan, Romarius wouldn’t have gone to him for help.

Liam is there mostly as an accompaniment—all combat will still be Raymond’s. He wants to get everything done quickly and get back to the mansion. He’s weirdly upbeat about the whole thing—Raymond speculates it’s because he knows about wraiths, and thus has no fear of the unknown about them.

Ends with a thought of his dubious allies in this, Liam and the emerald girl who wants more milk.

Scene 2

Cut to one week earlier, when Tsukumo woke up. Hargain explains she’s a “magical artificial human” (sort of—the word is the word for “artificial human” with “magic” shoved in the middle). A person he created with magic. He couldn’t make her from nothing however—he used a corpse in creating her. In a way, that makes it necromancy (which is forbidden).

Hargain’s not happy she thinks Raymond is her dad, but she woke up faster than he predicted. He tells Raymond he will take Tsukumo to Torcia Tower so she can unleash her power against a wraith—So, this is what Hargain was doing for Romarius.

The plan is also to capture Beritoad, not kill him, as Romarius wants his alchemy powers (this is why he didn’t kill Beritoad after defeating him, and simply turned him into a powerless toad). Raymond agrees on the condition that he get to accompany Tsukumo to Torcia Tower.

Raymond offhandedly mentions the wraiths, plural, in the tower, which gets Hargain confused. First because he thinks he means Rabiah, and then because he thought there were two underlings to Beritoad rather than three (then he admits he has trouble remembering things he has no interest in).

Hargain initially refuses, thinking Raymond will just ditch Tsukumo and report back to Romarius, before deciding to send Liam along with them to make sure he does as planned.

Scene 3

Finally we’re in a scene in Torcia Tower. Rack is working on Josephine in the torture tool collection room. There’s also this funny bit (roughly translated: “She was talking to the box as though it was a dog or a cat that she owned. /But the box didn’t say anything back. /Obviously. /A box is just a box after all.”), which leads into some recap on how they view the torture devices as siblings, etc.

Maiden is there behind her. Lot of exposition in this part that’s just recap so I won’t repeat it. Rack’s happy that Josephine is finally recovered—she’d been sad at her being out of commission, being her favorite device after all.

Scene 4

Beritoad is bathing in the chapel on the fourth floor. His bathing pot was fixed by Maiden.

More recap on Beritoad and his circumstances. He still has a long way to go before he has his power back. He thinks on the people who have gotten in the way of that, listing off “Helios VI”, “Strasphia/Stolasphere” (sutorasufia—until I know who this is I wouldn’t begin to know how to translate it, but “Stolas” is the name of a mythological demon at any rate), and “Romarius”.

Everyone’s expecting Gibbet to bring in some new prey soon.

He’s gotten very concerned about Gibbet lately, thinking that he’s let her talk to too many people (that, and he can’t spy on her when she’s outside the tower). But he can’t entrust her role to anyone else—the moment Rack and Gibbet leave the tower, where his power can’t reach, they’ll revert back to their original forms.

More recap, but some new info—Beritoad’s clairvoyance power was once able to see even far off places.

Some confirmation that Beritoad cares about no one but himself.

He gets out of his bath, and then senses someone coming to the tower, thinking it’s Gibbet and their prey.

Scene 5

Torcia’s lock is simple as always, and Raymond easily lets the little crew in. Tsukumo runs out into the hall while Liam takes out and lights up a lamp he has on him. He’s got a long case with him, which contains a rifle he got earlier.

Raymond doesn’t think it’ll do much good—he thinks on the acid bullets that Lloyd had in the last book, but he doesn’t know how to make them. Benji could, but he didn’t go to see him because he didn’t want him to come with them and be put in danger (despite his initial act of using him as bait, he seems to have developed a friendship with the eccentric doctor due to his acceptance of him being part wraith).

He didn’t tell Stella they were going to Torcia, though she could probably guess. She didn’t ask to come along, which is fine by him as she’s a weak, ordinary girl.

He then realizes, looking at Liam and Tsukumo, that despite wanting to avoid getting a friend and ordinary girl involved, he’s already done that with them (pretty sure Tsukumo’s already been hinted at being stronger than she looks, but still).

Scene 6

They try to go through the secret passage in the fireplace at first, but as expected it’s been blocked up with quicklime. Liam starts looking for another secret passage, finding one on the floor. They can’t open it, as there’s no handle or lock or anything. Liam thinks it might be a secret basement—but then, they’re trying to go up, not down.

Liam comments on Raymond’s dynamic with Tsukumo, how he does behave a little like her parent. This brings up the topic of his looking young, and Raymond explains that it’s not just because he’s half wraith. He says that his time was stopped by a certain wraith fifteen years earlier. He doesn’t say which wraith (it’s not Romarius or the girls or Beritoad). Before they leave the living room, Liam picks something up and takes it with them (it doesn’t say what).

Scene 7

Beritoad sees they’ve entered, and has called Maiden and Rack to the chapel. He tasks them with handling the intruders. He explains the situation to them, Rack growing furious upon hearing Raymond’s name (due to him being the murderer of Hank). She almost transforms again before calming down.

He also tells Maiden to give up on befriending him. Then he sends the two of them out.

Scene 8

Hargain is sitting in a chair in his lab. There’s several tubes coming from the chair, connected to his head through gold rings that he’s wearing (?). He seems to be witnessing events somehow? It’s vague, he basically says something along the lines of, “Come, show me your power Tsukumo”

Scene 9

They’re now on the second floor. They don’t have Romarius’ anti-Beritoad-eyes talisman, so they were expecting Gibbet to be waiting for them there, but she isn’t.

Raymond wants to find out what Gibbet is—she bleeds, so he knows she isn’t a wraith. All of the girls, in fact, feel different from wraiths he’s encountered before.

Tsukumo notices the flowers that Gibbet has planted around. Raymond goes to pluck one (scraping his hand in the process, though it stops bleeding almost instantly). There’s a bit more recap—a lot of the first half of the novel seems to be setting things up for people who might not have read the first one for whatever reason?

They can’t find Gibbet (Raymond is a touch disappointed about that), and head up to the third floor (it’s the first time he’s actually been on the third floor). They reach the door that leads there at the to of the stairs when someone shouts “Fire!” and several little somethings are shot at them.

Scene 10

A bit of exposition on Josephine R—how what started as a rack device was mixed with other torture devices into a battle chariot. She’s added two artillery canons on the back since the last time, and it fires spikes.

Rack refused to let Maiden fight alongside her. Both because she wants to test Josephine R’s strength, but also because she wants to uphold their process, having Maiden wait on the fourth floor. This is because their power level varies depending on how close they are to Beritoad. Gibbet is weakest but has her power no matter where she is in the tower (though she loses her torture powers if she goes outside). Maiden is the most powerful, but is powerless if she’s too far from Beritoad. Rack is simply weaker if she’s farther away, but still has some strength.

Maiden has the power to drop objects through walls and floors, which is how she got Josephine R to the third floor. But Maiden’s powers don’t extend to the second floor, which is why Rack has to wait for them there instead of going down to the second floor to meet them.

Mothy’s writing on this is really nice and I’m sad I’m not translating it.

 Rack realizes that her spikes didn’t hit the people coming up the stairs, but rather a bag of quicklime. She hears them congratulating themselves on using that as a decoy, and sees Raymond coming up the stairs (as a note, Rack is periodically struggling not to lose it every time she thinks of Raymond).

Tsukumo is about Rack’s height. Raymond misremembers Josephine’s name as Julianna. Rack, infuriated, calls it “The legendary torture device resurrected after being burdened with a sorrowful fate” (rough translation—she clarifies the “sad fate” refers to him destroying it, and the “legends” it’s from are the ones she and Josephine R will make henceforth).

She fires again, one of the spikes catching Raymond in the arm as he dodges with the others. She moves Josephine to go after them, firing when they’re in sight (they haven’t run down the stairs, but are more hiding in the shadows.

As she pulls the lever, a strong wind blows. The wind grows in power, becoming a cyclone. It throws Rack off of Josephine and through a nearby window.

Scene 11

Soon afterward, Raymond is in the chapel. He prepares to kill Beritoad with his estoc, and Beritoad asks him who Tsukumo is (it seems the cyclone was her doing). Raymond’s as surprised as he is on her powers. Beritoad then says he has a guess on that (but is vague).

He taunts Raymond, implying that he doesn’t know what he’s gotten himself into and runs a risk of destroying himself (I think Tsukumo is some kind of anti-wraith creature, myself).

Liam stops Raymond before he can kill Beritoad. They argue, Raymond putting Liam down for his position in Crossrosier. Beritoad watches them argue, enjoying it.

Liam pulls a gun on Raymond. Raymond of course could probably win against him (Tsukumo is napping the next room over), but Liam pushes on Raymond’s self-bigotry, stating that if he kills Liam, his friend, then he’ll no longer be human.

Raymond backs down, and so does Liam. Though Raymond claims it’s less that he’s been successfully persuaded, and more they don’t have time to argue, as Gibbet is coming back.

Raymond suspects Liam knew about Tsukumo’s power from the start, but they really don’t have time. Liam can’t find the records/book that Hargain wanted. He figures they can just have Beritoad tell them where it is later though (and brings up possibly torturing him, which Beritoad finds hilarious).

They grab him.

Scene 12

Gibbet is running back to Torcia from Mercerie City. Apparently it’s no longer good as a hunting ground (apparently someone has interfered with her work there, although it doesn’t say who).

Scene 13

What she had done with the city was invite the mayor of town into the tower. She had him tortured, but didn’t sacrifice him right away. Instead, she had him made into Beritoad’s servant—like Hank was (I don’t know if this means Hank was tortured into being evil or what).

When the mayor went back, he went to work sending people to the tower, one by one. And it was working—that is, until someone killed the mayor.

Gibbet had gone to his house to look into the matter, and there gotten attacked by his assassin (so, I think this means she’s running back to the tower because she’s being pursued? but it doesn’t say who the assassin is).

Scene 14

Gibbet arrives at Torcia right as the sun is starting to come up. She can tell something’s wrong right away—she can’t sense Rack, Maiden, or Beritoad around. When she gets closer, she notices that the window is broken on the third floor. And that there is a large wooden rack device on the ground outside.

She realizes after a moment that it’s Rack, having lost her human form due to being outside the tower. She can’t easily carry her inside, as she’s heavy and doesn’t have wheels (unlike Josephine), so leaves her there for now.

She goes inside to see what’s happened. She heads up to the third floor, and sees traces of the fight.

There are traces of a fight on the fourth floor too (the fight we skipped over). The iron maidens Maiden uses are tossed about here and there, and someone shot at them (though that likely had no effect). There’s no one around—all their prisoners were sacrificed recently.

Gibbet goes looking frantically for Maiden. The floor is flooded—which is odd because the only water they need is for prisoners to drink, Beritoad to bathe in, and Gibbet’s tea water. Not enough to flood this bad.

She figures Beritoad can’t be dead (though it’s clear he’s vanished), as if he was she’d become a mere torture device herself (which I’m pretty sure isn’t true but she doesn’t know that).

Midway to the fifth floor, she finds Maiden—now a mere Iron Maiden, larger than the others with a large keyhole in the center. This confirms that Beritoad, and his powers that were keeping her human, are no longer in the tower.

All the doors on the fifth floor have been broken in. All the books have been torn off the shelves (likely from Liam’s search for the Ending Records), but the Pot of Basuzu remains untouched. From this she finally arrives at the conclusion that it was Raymond—but then, that doesn’t answer why he didn’t just kill Beritoad where he was.

At any rate, she needs to get Beritoad back and restore Maiden and Rack. She mutters to herself about taking Rack back inside, and then hears someone (Rabiah) respond that she doesn’t need to outside the window (at first she thinks she’s hearing things, but then he speaks up again. Also, as a note, he calls her “honey”).

She freaks out at first, as he appears to her as a large raven outside the window (and birds freak her out). He opens the window with his talons and comes inside, to her horror. He objects to her trying to shoo him away (behaving as though he knows her). She claims to not know him, and he says, a bit lonely, (roughly), “Oh, right, you’re not Honey you’re Gibbet now”. (I’m not sure if this is implying “Honey” is some previous identity of hers or if I’m misreading it).

Seeing that Gibbet hates birds, he changes from a raven into a young man (the transformation is described as many feathers dancing around him and obscuring his figure). He has black hair, brown skin, and a beautiful face with the red star shaped tattoo on his cheek. Then he introduces himself to her as Rabiah, Beritoad’s loyal familiar.

[whompingcauldron]

BULLY - Sirius Black

SIRIUS BLACK X READER

WARNINGS: None

PROMPT: Where Sirius apologises

MASTERLIST

Your dark robes swayed, as you entered the dining hall you had missed so much. The floating candles made the bewitched ceiling glow, you sat down with your best friends; Marlene McKinnon and Lily Evans, two strikingly beautiful girls, the three of you hit off since you shared a dormitory together.

Your stomach grumbled as your E/C eyes flicked from the large wooden door to your best friends, Marlene was twirling a golden lock around her wand and Lily's nose was stuck into a book.

Finally, the doors flung open, nervous first years stumbled in, anxious, nervous, for what was about to happen, you always enjoyed this typical yearly scene, it amused you to see these eleven and twelve-year-olds stressed about getting sorted. At the end of the table, were the one and only; Marauders, a group of four boys who practically ruled the school. The leader; James Potter was an arrogant git, who bullied Severus Snape, Lily's friend, and others, the genuinely smart and friendly one; Remus Lupin, he was a good student and took care of his friends, though after a certain period of time he would come to school, covered in scars and bruises, it caused a lot of gossips, next was the outcast; Peter Pettigrew; a short (he has a strong resemblance to a rat as Marlene had stated) boy with small watery eyes, he trailed behind those three boys constantly, and finally, the womaniser; Sirius Black; girls drooled all over him, constantly trying to lure him into their bed, only a few girls had managed to get him alone, but it was nothing serious. The Marauders were snickering and howling with laughter, they always seemed to be up to something, and that something wasn't good.

Gryffindor had gained thirteen new pupils, you hoped that they'd make Godric Gryffindor proud, and yourself, you were a prefect and very proud of that. Remus Lupin was also a prefect, so you spent most of your duties with him, he was kind to you and never seemed to bore you, he'd tell you about something stupid Peter had said, or how James had yet again, failed to seduce Lily. This, of course, you already knew, Lily ranted about how he had the brain of a common toad, that he was badly mannered and that he should give up. Halfway through Dumbledore's speech, Sirius groaned loudly, which made everyone turn to him.

▬▬▬▬▬

'Well, Mr Black, you are right on queue as I was about to say; Let the feast, begin!' cheered the professor.

You chuckled to yourself as you watched the first years' jaws drop in awe, the goblets filled themselves with sweet pumpkin juice, plates stacked with mounds of delicious food, and absolutely mouth-watering pudding. You and your best friends chatted supper away, mouths stuffed with pies, the three of you talked about a wide variety of topics. Bedtime arrived soon, tonight was the only night where you wouldn't be on duty, you planned to spend the night engulfing sweets and gossiping.

▬▬▬▬▬

Morning arrived at a supersonic speed, you dragged your tired self out of bed and into the bathroom, eyeing your messy reflection, vivid purple under-eye bags could be seen along with your h/c hair tangled. You cleaned yourself up and put on your perfectly folded uniform, you'd always wondered who did all of this work. It was quite early and no one was really awake, so you took 'Witch Weekly' and headed down to the common room, the sizzling logs from the fire slightly shifted as the fire crackled. Indulged into your magazine, reading the advice column, you didn't notice the four infamous Marauders walk into the room, Sirius' silky black hair caught your attention and you looked up from your book, he noticed you looking and winked at you and you inaudibly gagged. Remus furrowed his brows at Sirius and turned to you.

'Oh, hey Y/N," he waved at you, 'we've got our prefect duties later don't forget.'

'Yep, I know.' you sighed,

'Well, catch you later, bye!'

You watched as they scrambled out the circular room, not even bothering to know what they were up to. The room glowed a gorgeous golden colour as the roaring fire illuminated it, you eyed the scarlet tapestries and the bulletin board, that was soon to be covered in important notices about Hogsmeade, N.E.W.T.S, O.W.L.S and such. Swinging your legs over the squashy armchair you sat in, you walked over to the tall grandfather clock by the entrance and read the time; 7:20 AM, almost time for breakfast. Walking out of the portrait hole, clenching your magazine and you're worn out satchel that slouched over your left shoulder, hopping onto a moving staircase, you made your way down to breakfast.

▬▬▬▬▬

Pouring yourself some Pixie Puffs, you listened carefully to Lily.

'It's a rather interesting subject, I mean why do we keep certain animals as pets when they're obviously dangerous.'

'Well, maybe because there's no record of them doing no harm.' suggested Marlene,

'Possibly. But, I think it's alright if the person who's taking care of them was a professional.' you said honestly.

Lily rolled her eyes, ready to prove you wrong, but Marlene quickly interrupted.

'Anyways, have you heard about Frank and Alice?'

'What about them?' asked Lily.

You were suddenly very intrigued, Marlene leaned in, ready to spill the tea.

'Rumour has it that, she'd been waiting all summer for him to ask her out, eventually, she got sick and tired of lying there day after day waiting for him to ask her, soooo...'

'So? Come on, finish!' you urged,

'Wait, don't tell me-'

But before Lily could finish, Marlene squealed like a piglet.

'She asked him out! And, to no surprise, he said yes!'

'Merlin's beard! Are you serious?' you croaked, choking on your cereal,

'I was about to ask if she'd done that.' laughed the auburn-haired girl.

▬▬▬▬▬

After a few of your morning classes, you had a free period, so the three of you headed off to the Clock Tower Courtyard, hoping to be able to start your essay on Veritaserum. It was a calm day, and you wanted to be in advance, although you knew that Marlene would start getting bored and boundlessly blab to you about her struggles with boys. Sitting down on the freshly mown grass, you pulled out a spare book and placed it on your lap, layering on a brand new piece of parchment, grabbing your ink you dipped it into some ink and started scribbling on information.

halfway through your essay, you noticed two notorious boys hexing a Slytherin boy, Sirius and James versus Severus, Lily shot up, storming up to them, boiling with rage, you quickly grabbed her arm.

'Let me take care of this, otherwise, Potter'll be asking you out, again.' you told her.

She pursed her lips and slightly nodded, sitting back down next to Marlene, who was impatiently watching you march off.

'Leave him alone!' you barked,

'L/N, come to ruin our free period?' snarled James,

'You two better stop now, or I'll be sending you off to detention with Professor McGonagall in a shoebox.' you threatened,

'Why don't you tail along your two little friends, as usual, seems to be the only good thing you do.' implied Sirius.

'You'll regret saying that.' you bellowed,

'What're you gonna do, huh? Turn me into a matchstick, very harmful.' teased the boy.

You growled loudly and flicked your wand, sending Sirius flying, pointing it at James, he backed up slightly, holding his hands up in surrender.

'Alright, alright, relax.'

Stomping off, you snatched up your books and ran up to the astronomy tower, you could feel the steam blowing out of your ears and nose, glaring at people who looked at you oddly, you were going to hide in the library but right now you needed fresh air. A couple of students and teachers tried to ask you what was wrong but you ignored them.

Perched on the railing, head in your palms, you stared at the passing students. Breathing in the fresh air, you relaxed. After a few minutes, you heard footsteps shuffle behind you, swiftly turning around, your eyes met the eyes a boy's grey ones, a boy just a few minutes you had hexed.

'What do you want?' you scowled,

'I just wanted to say, to say sorry.'

'Since when does the Sirius Black apologise?' you asked, moving closer to him,

'Ever since he's developed a crush on the Y/N L/N.' said Sirius lightly smiling.

Your eyes widened and you opened your mouth to say something, but before you could say anything, Sirius literally took the breath out of you, he placed his rough lips on your soft ones. The kiss was awkward at first, but it slowly melted into something passionate yet gentle, you felt him grin into the kiss, slowly pulling away.

'Well, what are we?' you questioned,

'Not quite sure, but we'll figure it out.' he responded,

Taking your hand in his and placing a weak kiss on the back of your hand.

'I know we will'

▬▬▬▬

A/N: I don't really like the ending, but hope you enjoyed it! <3

[sleepyshadow47]

📚“The Girl with a Thousand Books”📚 - E.S. #paintingorphoto #photo #or #painting #books #shelves #coats #red #redhair #old #vintage #warm #home #mystery #lovely #partofme #mine #ginger #fire #fierce #gorockford (at Toad Hall Books and Records) https://www.instagram.com/p/BsC8ygDAv1C/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=165hd9dtjvq81

[editoress]

Chapter 1: Hired [Treasure Hell]

I wrote some Treasure Planet self insert for this weekend.  Not really sure what for except I love the book and move both, and I adore writing in this style.

Montressor spaceport was nothing if not lively.  The crescent bay was crammed with docks and inns and trading houses, and through all those things moved an unfathomable number of people.  It was less of a wonder after a few years of living there, but a wonder it remained.  Ships came and went on their golden sails; spacers who had been to corners of the galaxy she'd never even heard of passed her on the street; and the air rang all hours of the day with song and machinery and stories.

In a place where there was too much to pay notice to and take in, Elizabeth had, as usual, chosen to attend to the details.  Today's details had been a sour-sounding cough and a badly sprained wrist, and both procedures had been fully paid for.  Altogether she considered the day a success.

And then, instead of leaving, her last patient cleared her throat delicately and said, "Doctor, can I, er, have my records?"

Elizabeth paused in the act of waving Sally Henderson goodbye.  "Oh," she said.  She slowly retreated behind her desk and began thumbing precisely through her patient files.  They were in alphabetical order, not that there were so very many to search through. "An awful lot of patients," she noted as she pulled Sally's file loose, "have been asking for their records lately."

"We-ell."  Sally drew out the word searchingly.  "Business has been so good lately.  I think they must have moved uptown, you know, to the fancier districts."  She fiddled with her handkerchief with three stout hands; the fourth was carefully and professionally bound. "Also."

"Mhmm," Elizabeth prompted, handing the papers over.

"Well," Sally said again.  "Some people believe that you harbor rogues and thieves. The lower element, you know." She smiled a little too widely. "I'm sure it's not true, but what can you do about gossips!"

Elizabeth had opened her mouth, hoping for some relevant and reassuring words to see their own way out, when one of the bells beside her desk rang decisively.  She had five, one for each entrance and each patient room. She had just turned to look incredulously at the particular bell that was still vibrating in place when Cutter burst into the lobby with a crash of metal.  The grate that served as his mouth lit blue as he spoke, his voice deep and tinny.   "Back door for you, Doctor," he announced loudly, and vanished.

Elizabeth let the matter settle into silence with dignity.  "Please excuse me, Miss Henderson," she said at last.

"Oh, of course, Doctor," said Sally, who had already backed up to the front door. Elizabeth didn't even hear the platitude the woman offered as she scurried away.  Elizabeth locked the door as soon after as she dared and walked swiftly toward the back of the building.  She drew in a deep, annoyed breath.  Then she remembered that it was late, and she was feeling the strain of running a financially unsound business, and she let out her breath, trying to shove out any malice with it.

It flared back up at once when she stepped into the back hall and saw George Merry standing around as though he had nothing better to do.  She had seen him just earlier this week for a knife wound he'd more than earned, by all accounts.  She had also made herself perfectly clear he had a head on his shoulders for a reason and ought to use it if he intended to keep the thing.  "What happened now?" she demanded.

George started. "Doc Anderson."  He touched his forehead in a sort of semi-salute. When she showed no interest in civilities, he held out both hands in defense.  "I didn't do nothing, I swear!  This is business talk."

Elizabeth did stop at that, brow furrowed in confusion.  For a long moment, she feared she was about to lose the other half of her clientele, too, and have to move shop back to Montressor proper sooner than expected. She shook that thought off along with whatever annoyance she could cast out.  "Sorry, George.  It's been a long week, and I thought you'd gone and got stabbed again."

"Not me, Doc," he replied.  "But I've got a job for you."

She steepled her fingers beneath her nose.  "But you didn't get stabbed."

"No, damnit!" He pulled his kerchief off in agitation, but it caught on his horns.  Abashedly, he worked it back on again.  "It's not that kind of job.  Well, could be.  Been hired for a voyage, me and the lads."

Elizabeth had not the slightest idea who comprised the most recent incarnation of 'the lads.'  She hypothesized it didn't include the fellow he had gotten in a knife fight with a few days earlier, but alarmingly enough, she couldn't really be sure.  "I see. Be careful."

George gave her a wiry, crooked grin.  "You can make sure of that yourself, Doc.  The bloke hiring said as he hadn't got a doctor, so I says, I know one tough as nails."

She laughed. "Flattery will get you everywhere, Mister Merry," she allowed.  "But I'm not sure it'll get me on a ship."

"Come by the dock anyway," he insisted.  "We're to sail on the Legacy. They're still in talks for a few more hands.  If you like the job, and if you've got any sense I wager you will—"

"Enough."  She waved his expressive gestures out of her face. "I'll come.  For your eagerness, Mister Merry, if not your manners."

George shoved his hands in his pockets.  "You're well past manners with our lot, Doc," he declared.

"Bold words for a man who howled when he got stitches," she intoned in reply. She smiled in the face of his dark glower.  "Tomorrow is soon enough, I hope."

"Aye."  His goal achieved, he half-saluted again and turned to leave.

"George," she called after him.  "Your recommending me for this job—this doesn't have anything to do with my reputation for legal discretion, does it?"

"It's honest work, Doc," George replied, but he was practically on the other side of the door when he said it.  Elizabeth sighed after him.

She turned the corner to find Cutter waiting in the hallway, whirring with half a dozen medical tools. He was only as high as her shoulder, but if pressed, she would have said he was looming.  "He left, Cutter.  He didn't need medical help."

"Shame," Cutter said.  He reluctantly put his tools away.

"I'm going to lock up for the night.  Will you be all right here?"

Cutter pressed one jointed hand to his iron grate of a mouth.  "Oh no, what if I'm robbed by the lower element?"

She snorted. "Funny."  Fortunately, that was the one thing she did not have to worry about.  She had a local reputation that kept a lot of thieves and burglars—not all, but a lot—from troubling her.  Unfortunately, that was most of the payment they offered. "Goodnight, Cutter."

Cutter had already disappeared into a supply room, humming ominously as he went.

Elizabeth pulled on her coat, a great, dark, woolen thing that had seen better days.  She fancied it made her look mysterious, with its thick shadows and its heavy length that smacked at her calves.  Cutter claimed it made her look like a bag of old laundry, but he didn't wear coats at all, so that just showed what he knew.  Either way, it was welcome in the still, cold air.

The streets were shadowed over when she left.  As she walked, stars began to pick their way out of the sunlit haze that was slowly retreating from the spaceport.  A brougham clopped by, scattering pedestrians as it went.  A trio of bird-like fellows watched it intently as it passed and then dove into muttered conversation.  Elizabeth kept a weather eye out, as George Merry would have said, but she must have looked intimidating indeed in the coat, for no one gave her more than an appraising glance.

At last she arrived at the doorstep of the Singing Toad Inn.  Contrary to its name, no singing drifted from its well-lit interior, and as far as she knew the innkeeper had no toads at all, vocal or otherwise.  But it was warm and clean.  Too, it was one of the quieter inns, since it had only a few rooms.  Elizabeth was all too aware she had been taking one of them up for months now.

"Ho!" called the innkeep cheerily as she saw her way inside.  "Dinner?"

"Yes, please," she replied.  "Evening," she added to the many-eyed lady in the corner, but it was in vain.  The lady continued to smoke as fervently as though she meant to send up a signal across the station.

"What'll it be?"

Elizabeth wiggled her way out of the coat.  "You know me, Todd, I'll eat whatever's left."

"Right you are." Todd lumbered back into the kitchen, calling for 'Missus.'  Elizabeth had never once learned his wife's name.  The woman apparently ran the whole shop but never spoke to customers.

Elizabeth seated herself at the bar.  She breathed in deep, trying to guess what might have been served, but all she got for her trouble was a lungful of pipe smoke.  She coughed discreetly as possible.  Her eyes were still watering when Todd returned.  "On its way," he assured her.  He slapped his hands down on the bar and nodded distractedly.  "Er," he said.

Elizabeth waited him out.

"How much longer do you reckon you were going to stay?" he managed after several false starts.  "It's no mind to me and Missus."  He glanced warily over his shoulder to the door of the kitchen. After a moment, he decided very professionally, "But we wouldn't want accounts to get behind."

"Very delicately done," she congratulated him.  "No, I wouldn't want that, either.  I appreciate you letting me know when my account is running out."

Todd's obvious discomfort lessened at the thanks, as it did every time.  "No trouble, miss."

She was already calculating what she had and what could be done with it when she remembered she still had another decision to make.  It would have been impolite to not at least consider this job of George's, whether or not she fancied several months on a ship. "I can let you know tomorrow," she said slowly.

"Well enough! Fine talk," Todd said with some relief.  He lightly slapped his hands on the bar again.  "What's happening tomorrow?"

"Oh."  She smiled and waved a hand.  "Probably nothing."

*

Elizabeth had the good fortune to be a naturally early riser, so leaving the inn with time to spare was the least of her worries for the day.  She walked briskly and ate breakfast at the same time.  On the way to her practice she winked and nodded to anyone she recognized, offering a "Good morning!" in instances her mouth wasn't full of biscuit.  The whole place was bright with the bustle of tradesmen hurrying to work and groups of laughing spacers dragging hung-over friends to the docks.  Someone had started on an accordion a couple of streets over.  Elizabeth hummed along as she unlocked the door and came into the front office.

"Cutter?" she called.  She listened, not only for a reply but also for any indication he was up to something, but the building was silent.  "Cutter?"

They came through the lobby door at the same time, which was considerably less comfortable for Elizabeth than for the robot.  "Ouch," Cutter said anyway.

"You can say that again," she muttered, shoving her hands inside her coat to cover her breasts, which had gotten the worst of it.  "I came to tell you I won't be in until late, possibly after lunch."

"Why'd you come in early to tell me you'd be late?" he asked.

Elizabeth sighed in a longsuffering way she had perfected with practice.  "I have something of an interview this morning.  Be so kind as to hold down the fort until I get back."

Cutter whirred wordlessly for a moment, and she could have sworn his eyes glowed brighter. "I'm going to run the practice by myself?" he asked slowly.

"For a few hours," she clarified.  "Very likely, no one will come.  If they do—Cutter, are you listening?"

"Medical oaths," he said, placating.  "I understand."  He spread his hands magnanimously.  "The benefit of the patient.  Do no harm. And so on."

She was going to have to trust that that would do.  "I wish you were as enthusiastic about the principles as you are about the work." She made it as far as the door before reminding him, "Just a few hours, mind."

"Yes, Doctor."

Thoroughly unconvinced, she bid goodbye to Cutter and started for the docks.  A few inquiries here and there led her to the Legacy that George had mentioned, and thence to the financier of the voyage.  The Legacy had been pointed out with some respect; to guide her to the financier, most people rolled their eyes, gestured shortly, and gave her no more mind.

She at last found the man on a clear hunt for supplies.  He was well dressed, older than her by a good fifteen years, and even in a diverse crowd such as this he stuck out like a sore thumb.  His ears flopped comically as he tried to shake loose from a vendor.

"Thank you," he was saying, hysteria mixing with well-bred civility, "thank you, no, I have one.  Several, actually."

"Doctor Doppler?" Elizabeth called authoritatively.

"Excuse me," he told the vendor with infinite relief.  He freed himself at last and walked nearly with dignity to meet Elizabeth.

She held out her hand. "Doctor Anderson.  I heard you're hiring."

"Ah, yes!" He beamed at her and shook her hand enthusiastically.  "You must be the, er, other doctor.  In the medical field, I presume."

"That's me," she confirmed, amused.  "Do you expect to need a medical doctor?"

"Oh, goodness, no.  But," he added, hefting his veritable mountain of purchases, "preparedness is the key to success."  What looked like a metal gauntlet began easing its way out of a bag.  He managed to shoulder it back into place and muttered, "At least, I very much hope so."

She grinned. "Well, it can't hurt.  I take it you're otherwise prepared?"

Doppler made a delicate gesture as if viewing a priceless work of art.  "To the last detail.  Except for you, of course, if you'd like to join.  I'm prepared to offer general terms—generous terms—" He flapped his hands.  "Anyway. We set sail on the RLS Legacy in four days.  I expect we'll be back in four months, certainly no more than six. The crew came very well recommended from a good local man, you've met him.  You can find them at the Spyglass Inn.  You have a card, of course, Doctor?"

"Oh," said Elizabeth, who had in fact one card.  She cast about in her pockets and discreetly shook off any biscuit crumbs before handing it to him.  "Of course."

"Thank you." He smiled warmly as he glanced over it. "Oh!  Here at the spaceport.  How exciting!"  He carefully stuffed it in one of his many shopping bags.  "I hope you'll take the job.  You can never have too many doctors around."

His excitement was infectious.  She offered a wide smile.  "I have to agree with you there.  But I should warn you I'm not a ship doctor by trade or experience."

"Stellar, ahaha," Doppler replied, unperturbed.  "This will be my first voyage as well.  An astrophysicist finally visits the stars."  He peered at her over his glasses. "Perhaps you've heard of my work?"

"Er." Elizabeth searched for a compromise between honesty and cordiality and allowed, "I might have read something."  Before he could ask what, she put in, "If you'll excuse me, I'd like to talk to the crew before I decide."

"Yes!  Yes, of course.  Off with you."  He beamed and waved.  "Until later, Doctor."

She laughed. "Goodbye, Doctor."

Doppler's jovial mood affected her all the way back to the Spyglass Inn.  That was definitely the sort of fellow she could stand to work for, if temporarily.  More practically, anyone who financed a voyage and bought that much in the way of last-minute supplies was the sort of fellow she could well afford to work for.  And yet it was too early to settle on a decision.  First, she had to take a closer look at this voyage.

The Spyglass Inn was a well kept tavern and inn right off the docks, exactly the sort of place one might expect to find spacers just waiting to board a ship.  Elizabeth stepped inside, humming, and was immediately met by a bright red arachnid face and glowing yellow eyes.  The man towered over her, teeth bared in a low-slung jaw.

"Israel Hands!" she cried.

Hands, who looked a good deal more alive than the last time she had seen him, only sneered.  His eyes narrowed.  "It's Scroop," he hissed.

"You what?" she blurted out incredulously before she could help herself.

Hands's claws clicked, and his voice lowered to a growl.  "You're in the way."

Now that's gratitude! she thought to herself, but a moment later she realized aloud, "Of course.  Sorry.  You wouldn't remember me."

"Hold off, Scroop!" yelled a familiar voice from deeper within the tavern.  "That's her!  That's the doc!"

Elizabeth realized then that Israel Hands, another of her less than legal patients, was part of this crew she had come to investigate, and also that he really did intend to go by the name Scroop.  Neither revelation filled her with confidence.  She went forward anyway, searching for the face to go with the voice of George Merry.  She found him at one end of a very long table filled with spacers and ale.  He casually toasted her before draining the last of his glass.

"And a very good morning to you," she returned.  "Bit early, isn't it?"

"It's breakfast, Doc," George protested.

Hands shouldered her on his way to the wall, which he leaned against menacingly.  Elizabeth scanned the table for other familiar faces and came up with two or three she knew in passing but not well enough to gauge the overall crowd.  "I take it this is the crew."

"Most of us. Why?"

She frowned. "Just wondering what sort of voyage this is."

"The sort that pays well, is all I know," George said sagely.  He laid one finger along the side of his nose, but what he was trying to convey she couldn't fathom.

"Pays well!" trilled a voice in her ear.  Elizabeth leapt back just in time to avoid a hurtling miniature of George as it cartwheeled through the space between them.  It stopped to hover over the table.  It was only two or three inches tall but slouched just like the man. "Pays well!  Pays well!" it cried.

"Georgie's fatter!" shouted someone halfway down the table.  The tiny George puffed out its gut obediently.

"Bugger off, Morph!" George said succinctly.  He waved his hat through the apparition, which dissolved into a pink amorphous mass with a high, cackling laugh.  The creature zipped through the air over Elizabeth's shoulder.  She whirled around to follow its path and came face to face with a mountain of a man.

It was a rare thing for Elizabeth to have to look up any great distance to anyone.  This man, though, had all of Hands's height—and none of the gangly build.  He was massive, and she could tell that his size was more than partly due to muscle. Even the complex iron machinery of his cybernetic limbs couldn't match the size of their flesh-and-blood counterparts. But for all that, he was smiling widely as he cooed over the blob, and his voice was light and lilting.

"Now, Mister Merry," he said with perfect tones of paternal disappointment, "there's no call to be rude to Morphy here.  He didn't mean a thing by it."  Morph purred innocuously.

"Sorry—" George cleared his throat. "Eh, sorry, Morph."

Morph seemed none the wiser for the apology.

"Silver," George continued more boldly, "this is the doc we were looking to bring along. Just in case and all."

Silver turned to her with surprising speed.  "Why!" he exclaimed.  "You didn't tell me you'd found a proper lady!"

Elizabeth felt at once flattered and alarmed by this assessment.  "Not a lady, sir," she corrected quickly.  She held out her hand.  "Doctor Elizabeth Anderson."

His cybernetic hand engulfed hers, and he wrung her hand enthusiastically.  With his other he removed his hat and pressed it to his chest. "John Silver, as it please you," he returned.  "A real university doctor?  Why, that's a lucky thing!"

"You're part of the crew?" she guessed.

He gave her a modest smile with too much glint to be genuine.  "Aye, the good doctor was kind enough to hire an old spacer.  Now, I'm not the swashbuckling young lad I was once, so I'll be ship's cook.  But by the powers, I'll put my heart into it, you may lay to that!"

"If I join, I'll hold you to that," she informed him.  She leveled a finger at him.  "I'm serious about my food."

Silver boomed out a laugh, and Elizabeth couldn't help joining him.  "Ah!" he wheezed, wiping a tear from his remaining eye. "Now that's a lass after my own heart, that is."

"If you join, Doc?" George repeated, offended. "Hold on, if?"

"That's right," she said firmly, refusing to fall for the sad-eyes act of a man who mugged people regularly.  "I spoke with Doctor Doppler earlier.  He's willing to have me on.  But I haven't decided yet."

"Told you," someone down the table muttered.  "Not enough money for a doctor."

George scowled at her. "Why the hell not?  Every time you get a spacer in they've got to listen to how you wish you'd gotten to 'em sooner."

"I see word really gets around," she said a little sourly.

"I'm saying now you get to!" he insisted.  "And the pay's good.  Company's good.  And I recommended you, professional-like, and I'll look like a fool if you don't come."

"If I can have a word," Silver put in.  Something about his voice quieted the table.  He stepped forward with his hat once again in hand.  His solemnity was almost too dramatic, but something of the performance was sincere enough to make her listen.  "Speaking as someone who's seen his share of ships, and who's himself needed a doctor once or twice, it'd be a great weight off all our shoulders to have you with us, Doctor."  He smiled indulgently over the table of spacers.  "There's some young cocks who imagine as they're invincible, but you and I—well, we know there's a lot can happen in four months."

He made a point, and it was a point she had thought of more than once.  True, there were a hundred voyages leaving from Montressor spaceport every day, but this one had asked for her help.  She let out a breath.  "Do you know what our purpose would be?"

For an instant, he considered her thoughtfully; then, with a sheepish grin and a shrug, he said, "Some private expedition of this doctor's.  'T'ain't no business of mine.  As for me, my purpose is to feed the crew!"

"Fair enough," she sighed.  She looked down at George, who was twirling his empty glass on the table and pretending not to listen so intently.  "Why me?" she asked him.

He grunted. "You're the only doctor I know."

It was a simple, believable answer, and she could sketch out the most likely story for herself: George Merry had been asked by Doctor Doppler, a new hand at space voyages, to help find and hire the necessary ships and crew; and so George had recommended whoever he knew, which happened to be mostly from the less legal side of the spectrum.  Still, Occam's Razor panned out until it didn't, and she had the gut feeling that if she went, this voyage would be a disaster.

She wondered what Cutter would say about it.  He had his own way of being direct and logical.  What will this voyage be if you don't go? he would retort.  And the answer, of course, was that it might still be a disaster, just one without a doctor on board.

Elizabeth put her hands on her hips and glanced around the room—at George, at Silver, at Hands, at the woman whose eye she had once patched up.  "Well, shipmates," she declared dryly, "I suppose I'm hired."

[sgurrdearg]

answer 20 questions and tag other people you’d like to know better!

i was tagged by @brienneofqarth

1. name: Ali

2. nicknames: Al, Sgurr, Rainbow, Stan, Natwit (only my aunt can call me that)

3. zodiac sign: Scorpio sun, Gemini moon, Pisces rising

4. height: 5′4″

5. languages spoken: Scots, English, fairly decent Spanish still, some French, Gaelic, Haitian Creole, Russian & German... in order of acceptable-ness...

6. nationality: Scottish

7. favorite fruit: hmmm BANANAS, any melon, oranges, grapes, blueberries, rhubarb, figs, pomegranate, dates, avocado....... tbh the only fruit I don’t like is raspberries

8. favorite season: Autumn

9. favorite scent: Lavender, patchouli, Nag Champa, geranium, honeysuckle, cinnamon, cloves, aniseed.... I love earthy, herby, spicy scents. Pine, soil, general green smell??? Like grass and leaves. Also shout out to highlighters and petrol.

10. favorite color: Purple

11. favorite animal: Cats, dogs, vampire squid, bats, toads, axolotls, literally all sharks

12. favorite fictional character: Regis, tho Hawkeye Pierce from M*A*S*H (the tv show only lollll) is top of the list 4eva. Vernon Roche, Jaxon Hall; my two pieces of shit. Milva & Angoulême & Philippa Eilhart. Also Jo March is my eternal love. omg and Pepper from A Closed and Common Orbit. Honestly some of my favest fictional characters are certain OCs of friends. EDIT: I’m fucking going back to this bc I am a DUMBASS who forgot Mass Effect existed??? Garrus, lomlllllllllllllllllll, and Jack.

13. coffee, tea or hot chocolate?: I take literally any hot beverage and don’t complain. Tea is my fave tho I need a coffee in the morning.

14. number of blankets you sleep with:I sleep with a duvet or just a light sleeping bag or a combo of both depending on the weather and my health. I get fevers near constantly.

15. when your blog was created: This one was 2013 or 2014, I really don’t remember. I joined tumblr back in early 2011 I think.

16. favorite subject: Geomorphology, Glaciology, Sedimentology...... Geology and anything tangentially related tbqh but those were my specialties. Palaeontology.... archaeology and anthropology also but I only dabbled in those as tools (and as study for when I was about to go to uni for archaeology and switched course and uni applications literally last second).

17. currently watching: Star Trek TNG.

18. favorite band: Ariana Grande.... but as far as an actual BAND band?? Japanese Breakfast, Pink Floyd, Journey, Dire Straits I guess... also Peter Gabriel, Sufjan Stevens, Purity Ring, CHVRCHES, Misterwives.

19. instruments played: None any more, unless horrific singing counts. Used to play violin, self taught recorder lmao and piano, and properly played guitar for years. I’m super illiterate when it comes to music tho and was always a rote learner with it bc even with legit years of study I’m unable to read music bc I’m too dumb so

20. favorite book: uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh idk. Sophie’s World by Jostein Gaarder?? That was my favourite as a little kid and I still love it now but idk. I still adore the His Dark Materials trilogy. Baptism of Fire?? LOTR?? I don’t really have a favourite book any more tbh. Big fan of the Bone Season series by Samantha Shannon tho.

I tag @aloy-sobek, @trickyjesters, @gedankeninventur, @cobaltash, @pixleyus, @alynshir, @foolandtheflyingship, @lelianassong, @pixelhanzo and @beauyaasha if they wants to. And anyone else if they wanna just grab it and say i tagged, whatevs