[Translation: don't tell anyone you're doing this. An irony, really, considering what Wei Wuxian asked that they do not speak of with Lan Wangji, also. It feels like she's keeping an awful lot of secrets for everyone.
She is still going to do it. Apparates herself right into the corner of the Wards, and sends a message back.]
Alright, I am in the Wards now. Eastern corner. Make yourself known.
She is still going to do it. Apparates herself right into the corner of the Wards, and sends a message back.]
Alright, I am in the Wards now. Eastern corner. Make yourself known.
( And lo, behold: the man, his... package, mantled, held dearly in his arms. Made small and reduced by time, crumbling and pressure — beneath her fetters, so slim that she (it) has contorted nearly into dust and nothing. As if she were only her covers of blankets.
He bears her confidently, calmly, far from dissuaded. )
Lessen her.
[There is a fragment of a second, when Hermione seeks Lan Wangji's gaze for confirmation, consent, certainty - he is as stern and steady as usual, only with a memento in his arms.
She sucks in a breath, steels herself, and nods at him in confirmation. Lessen her.
Casting a shrinking spell on a living creature is dangerous, potentially deadly if the creature resists or tries to fight it. But this is not a living creature. (And not undead, either.) She can consider the memento nothing more than an object for her to cleverly shrink in size.
She takes her wand out, and whispers her reducto carefully, ennunciating every letter perfectly, and pouring her magic into the mantled package. Slowly, and with a few more applications of the spell, she gets it down to the size of a melon.]
That's as much as I can manage without the danger of destruction, but wait. [One stasis charm, to preserve it from harm, and a protection ward of her own are both placed on the now melon-sized bundle of fetters.]
If the time comes that you want it to be restored to normal size, come find me. I will break all the spells on her and she'll be returned to what she was before.
[That out of the way, Hermione now looks up, lips pressed together in concern.]
Do you need to smuggle her unseen out of the city?
She sucks in a breath, steels herself, and nods at him in confirmation. Lessen her.
Casting a shrinking spell on a living creature is dangerous, potentially deadly if the creature resists or tries to fight it. But this is not a living creature. (And not undead, either.) She can consider the memento nothing more than an object for her to cleverly shrink in size.
She takes her wand out, and whispers her reducto carefully, ennunciating every letter perfectly, and pouring her magic into the mantled package. Slowly, and with a few more applications of the spell, she gets it down to the size of a melon.]
That's as much as I can manage without the danger of destruction, but wait. [One stasis charm, to preserve it from harm, and a protection ward of her own are both placed on the now melon-sized bundle of fetters.]
If the time comes that you want it to be restored to normal size, come find me. I will break all the spells on her and she'll be returned to what she was before.
[That out of the way, Hermione now looks up, lips pressed together in concern.]
Do you need to smuggle her unseen out of the city?
( She performs adequately, efficiently, strings of her magic like wisps and braids and binding. The corpse — shrivels. Shrinks. Assumes fresh shape, and he nearly reaches out a hand to stay the process, hesitant of its intrusion.
But it is done, before his touch might land.
It is done and this — the creature may join him. He does not nod, paralysed, the sketch of his thanks. Barely whispers. )
She must be with me a few days longer.
( Simple, wrenched from him — articulated in the way of sincere, innate and marrow-deep necessity. This is no whim, no preference, but a requirement. It msut be so. It must be so. )
But it is done, before his touch might land.
It is done and this — the creature may join him. He does not nod, paralysed, the sketch of his thanks. Barely whispers. )
She must be with me a few days longer.
( Simple, wrenched from him — articulated in the way of sincere, innate and marrow-deep necessity. This is no whim, no preference, but a requirement. It msut be so. It must be so. )
[ A beat, and then a very softly muttered, mostly to herself: ] Right, that sounds healthy.
[ She clears her throat, looks towards Lan Wangji again, from the side of her eyes - like one would approach a hippogriff for the first time. At times it feels necessary to do a little bow first, and attempt to show deferrence so that this specific hippogriff does not spook. ]
Can I enquire who she is now?
[ She clears her throat, looks towards Lan Wangji again, from the side of her eyes - like one would approach a hippogriff for the first time. At times it feels necessary to do a little bow first, and attempt to show deferrence so that this specific hippogriff does not spook. ]
Can I enquire who she is now?
( It is — of health. The body, the soul. The heart, fissured and divided, cracked parts brittle in Lan Wangji's hands. Sand, debris. Ashes.
He clings to the corpse, draws her close. No, closer. So small now, she could fit in his person, he could her, a shield. Consume her. )
Dead. She is dead. ( Is this not obvious? Plain? He need not meet her gaze. ) I beg, excuse me.
( A man must retreat. )
He clings to the corpse, draws her close. No, closer. So small now, she could fit in his person, he could her, a shield. Consume her. )
Dead. She is dead. ( Is this not obvious? Plain? He need not meet her gaze. ) I beg, excuse me.
( A man must retreat. )
( Here he comes, glory that is fresh bathed and dried beast of fur and tooth and claw, wearing a dapper tie as if it demarcates his purported domesticity, his safety. Licyn knows the language of dogs as it pertains to people, and so his progress is simple with the wags of his tail that no wolf would give so readily, the ease of his body posture, the way he tries to make himself smaller, nonthreatening, even though by merit of his simple size he's nothing of the sort. Narrow chested, however, leaves him lankier instead of the kind of robust that sends people trembling, and he's quick to move, scenting the air as he goes.
Not trying to track much, aside from familiar scents, such as — yes, there, he knows that one. Hermione, who lets herself be fussed into allowing a furry bed crasher (no matter that it was the once, that she ever did settles in his memory) and a door.
A door he sits prettily at, overwhelmingly large for a wolf in any space, let alone the confined corridor of the hall in the sleeping cabins area, and he paws, delicately, at the door. Nudges it with his nose. Figures out a way to flick his paw forward, knocking with his nails. )
Not trying to track much, aside from familiar scents, such as — yes, there, he knows that one. Hermione, who lets herself be fussed into allowing a furry bed crasher (no matter that it was the once, that she ever did settles in his memory) and a door.
A door he sits prettily at, overwhelmingly large for a wolf in any space, let alone the confined corridor of the hall in the sleeping cabins area, and he paws, delicately, at the door. Nudges it with his nose. Figures out a way to flick his paw forward, knocking with his nails. )
[ For all that she talked about missing bubble baths and the likes, she has not actually gone to the train's spa, for reasons of privacy. Last time, in a snowy mountain inn, she'd ended up soaking in hot springs in the company of too many naked men.
Her cabin on the train comes with its own ensuite bathroom and Hermione takes full advantage of it.
She has scrubbed months' worth of dirty and ash and grime out of her hair, finger-combed her wet curls into submission first, then into two braids when they partly dried. She has cleaned her whole wardrobe and seen to mending tears in the clothes she wore in Alem. She's even located the kettle in this cabin, and made herself tea!
She's awake, however, even as the night approaches, so she hears the scuffle outside her door and the scratch on it. It sets her on guard instantly.
She summons her wand into her hand wordlessly, and makes her way to the door, opening it a crack - ready.]
Ah - who - oh!
[Not entirely ready. She pulls the cabin door fully open and looks down at a clean, but otherwise large wolf, and although he is not one of Diego's Graces, he is still familiar.]
Well, hello, you. I haven't seen you around like this since the Mouse House. Been busy, have we?
Her cabin on the train comes with its own ensuite bathroom and Hermione takes full advantage of it.
She has scrubbed months' worth of dirty and ash and grime out of her hair, finger-combed her wet curls into submission first, then into two braids when they partly dried. She has cleaned her whole wardrobe and seen to mending tears in the clothes she wore in Alem. She's even located the kettle in this cabin, and made herself tea!
She's awake, however, even as the night approaches, so she hears the scuffle outside her door and the scratch on it. It sets her on guard instantly.
She summons her wand into her hand wordlessly, and makes her way to the door, opening it a crack - ready.]
Ah - who - oh!
[Not entirely ready. She pulls the cabin door fully open and looks down at a clean, but otherwise large wolf, and although he is not one of Diego's Graces, he is still familiar.]
Well, hello, you. I haven't seen you around like this since the Mouse House. Been busy, have we?
shall we run with night 2? one night for him to go "..." at how sleeping works here
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bravelyrunsaway
2023-04-10 06:08 pm (UTC)(link)
( Truth told, it's not like he can't get along perfectly well sleeping anywhere he likes. What he doesn't like, on the other hand, is magic sleep. Which is what he assumes is happening when he dropped into dreamland the night before and slept undisturbed for eight hours, with no interruptions.
That's not natural for him. On any level. )
Woooaooo!
( A soft sort of pitched not howl, but almost warbling, and he stands again to butt his head right into her thigh. Pet him, he's a good, busy, well mannered wolf, there's nothing to fear in letting him in your door. Your door as one more barrier against whatever searing well can find them as they're made to sleep, darling, sleep, don't say a word. )
That's not natural for him. On any level. )
Woooaooo!
( A soft sort of pitched not howl, but almost warbling, and he stands again to butt his head right into her thigh. Pet him, he's a good, busy, well mannered wolf, there's nothing to fear in letting him in your door. Your door as one more barrier against whatever searing well can find them as they're made to sleep, darling, sleep, don't say a word. )
[ Truth be told, Hermione chalked it up to exhaustion from a seemingly-endless war that made her sleep, even before the train's magic pulled the rest of the people under in the same way. She's made some progress with her evening rituals today, just in case she gets tired again - case in point, the tea and the washed hair and the other chores all done. All that's left is the drinking of that tea, writing her notes, and trying to figure out her thoughts.
The whole being alone with her thoughts in first class is not going to be great for her, so it's honestly a welcome distraction. Even though she flaps a little when the wolf warbles, and ruffles up his fur quickly. ] Shh, you're going to draw attention. [ Grumbled, admonishingly, as if she's not encouraging the behaviour by actually petting the wolf's fur, fingers running through his mane.
She even notes the tie. ] Dapper of you.
[ Five more pets before she sighs and steps aside. ] Well, come on in already.
The whole being alone with her thoughts in first class is not going to be great for her, so it's honestly a welcome distraction. Even though she flaps a little when the wolf warbles, and ruffles up his fur quickly. ] Shh, you're going to draw attention. [ Grumbled, admonishingly, as if she's not encouraging the behaviour by actually petting the wolf's fur, fingers running through his mane.
She even notes the tie. ] Dapper of you.
[ Five more pets before she sighs and steps aside. ] Well, come on in already.
( Her fingers may notice as she gets into the ruff pets, there's a chain under all that fur as well. The tie is the disguise for it, but one of the communication pendants of their group of ragtag odd fits. He's not concerned about it, ears flicking forward with the dapper comment, Licyn practically prancing in with a low sweep of his tail, like he considered wagging it for the nod to doggy behaviour, but didn't care enough to bother committing.
Thus all his well bathed glory flounces right in and sets to sniffing, taking in the scents (nice new soap) (oh, that's some kind of tea) (magic here too, magic is searing everywhere) and nosing at the table and the notebook and everything else, like a too curious cat.
Only a wolf.
... A rather large one. His ears never stop moving, one always shifting to track Hermione, the other twitching to register new noises, pinning them down. Most of it is the sound of the train traveling, and the implication of the storms outside, or the sounds of movement in the hall outside. No screams. That's nice. )
Thus all his well bathed glory flounces right in and sets to sniffing, taking in the scents (nice new soap) (oh, that's some kind of tea) (magic here too, magic is searing everywhere) and nosing at the table and the notebook and everything else, like a too curious cat.
Only a wolf.
... A rather large one. His ears never stop moving, one always shifting to track Hermione, the other twitching to register new noises, pinning them down. Most of it is the sound of the train traveling, and the implication of the storms outside, or the sounds of movement in the hall outside. No screams. That's nice. )
[ She closes the door quietly behind her, settling for locking it shut rather than putting wards up, just as a precaution. Of course, with a big wolf sniffing at her belongings in her cabin, Hermione Granger considers taking precautions to protect them both from outsiders. Any other person would assume a wolf would be protection enough.
But she's not any other person.
What she is, finally, is observant. As the wolf sniffs around, she notices the glint of a chain, and follows it down to the tie, spotting a talisman there in soft fur. ]
...oh, Merlin. You're not a pet at all, are you?
But she's not any other person.
What she is, finally, is observant. As the wolf sniffs around, she notices the glint of a chain, and follows it down to the tie, spotting a talisman there in soft fur. ]
...oh, Merlin. You're not a pet at all, are you?
( Licyn turns his massive head toward Hermione, giving his best impression of raised eyebrows and wide eyes. His mouth opens just enough for his tongue to loll out, implying a sort of canine laugh. He's not always or often with his pendant, it depends on certain needs and necessities, but when he 'thinks' her way, he also 'thinks' at the pendant itself.
Which she'll notice shows up with a familiar name on her own pendant, once she looks at it. )
Fond as I am of pets, love, no, never been one for being kept.
( Being he doesn't expect her to hear him in her mind, or to check her device immediately, she gets to witness him more carefully placing a paw on the chair to lever up and cock his head to the side, one eye on what she's written. His vision simply works differently in this form, but like this, he can make out words, and with the thralling of his pendant, he can even understand them.
... There's not much to look at right now, but he's being nosy for the interest of being nosy in the meantime. )
Nor for keeping pets. What's all the writing about, love, are you journaling?
( Expecting no answers, he comes close to nosing her notes. )
Which she'll notice shows up with a familiar name on her own pendant, once she looks at it. )
Fond as I am of pets, love, no, never been one for being kept.
( Being he doesn't expect her to hear him in her mind, or to check her device immediately, she gets to witness him more carefully placing a paw on the chair to lever up and cock his head to the side, one eye on what she's written. His vision simply works differently in this form, but like this, he can make out words, and with the thralling of his pendant, he can even understand them.
... There's not much to look at right now, but he's being nosy for the interest of being nosy in the meantime. )
Nor for keeping pets. What's all the writing about, love, are you journaling?
( Expecting no answers, he comes close to nosing her notes. )
[ She feels her pendant light up with the telling sign of someone sending her a message, and fishes it out with some wariness. It can't possibly be the wolf - how would that even work? Telepathy? Via technology, of all things?
Then she sees the username, and all hypotheses stop dead in their tracks, a knot suddenly in her throat. Humiliating - humiliating, to realise so belatedly that the wolf from Serthica was not only not a pet, but probably laughing secretly at her this whole time.
Now, every little love is not funny, or endearing, but raises her shackles even more until she's looking livid. ]
Licyn? Licyn - seriously? You're able to turn into a wolf, and you're just going to not say?!
Then she sees the username, and all hypotheses stop dead in their tracks, a knot suddenly in her throat. Humiliating - humiliating, to realise so belatedly that the wolf from Serthica was not only not a pet, but probably laughing secretly at her this whole time.
Now, every little love is not funny, or endearing, but raises her shackles even more until she's looking livid. ]
Licyn? Licyn - seriously? You're able to turn into a wolf, and you're just going to not say?!
( Now she gets the full brunt of his attention again, and his head canting to the side, curious. He notes she has the message reader out, and he blinks, slow, because that means... oh? Did it send? He hasn't tried it like this before, so that's a bit of interesting news.
He ends up taking the seat like he's people, perching in it near daintily, so he can look across the space at Hermione nearer to eye level. )
Why would I point it out?
He ends up taking the seat like he's people, perching in it near daintily, so he can look across the space at Hermione nearer to eye level. )
Why would I point it out?
Because - [ she starts, after a sputter, and then sits down on the opposite chair, at eye level with what in hindsight looks like a massive wolf.
Licyn.
She can't even get mad properly, because that was her inviting the wolf into her bed, thinking it was someone's big dog, or a pet, or something magical and harmless to her. She'd been tired and had wanted a cuddle, and a cuddle she'd gotten. It would've been perfect, if not for the fact that she now knows Licyn was the one who took up more than half the bed. ]
Because why would you not? It's clear that you're not trying to hide it, since you're actually sending me messages? Which - how - also, fascinating. But that aside, you should really be upfront with people you give puppy eyes to for a spot on their bed.
Licyn.
She can't even get mad properly, because that was her inviting the wolf into her bed, thinking it was someone's big dog, or a pet, or something magical and harmless to her. She'd been tired and had wanted a cuddle, and a cuddle she'd gotten. It would've been perfect, if not for the fact that she now knows Licyn was the one who took up more than half the bed. ]
Because why would you not? It's clear that you're not trying to hide it, since you're actually sending me messages? Which - how - also, fascinating. But that aside, you should really be upfront with people you give puppy eyes to for a spot on their bed.
( He holds her gaze, one ear canted forward as he listens, the other flicking every so often, still tracking new sounds, or repeated ones. He breathes in, once more scenting the air, but everything about him otherwise feels still for the moment. )
I am, I'm asking as a wolf. What they're getting is me, this way, not me as the whole two legged less fluffy kind. You're struggling with what people fail to accept when it's as simple as breathing. I'm a very nice pillow, and that's that, isn't it?
( Tongue blepping out the front of his mouth, between his teeth. )
I don't hide what I am no matter how I look. I didn't even think this trick would work, before now only the Doctor's heard me, and I don't try using my pendant when I'm working.
I am, I'm asking as a wolf. What they're getting is me, this way, not me as the whole two legged less fluffy kind. You're struggling with what people fail to accept when it's as simple as breathing. I'm a very nice pillow, and that's that, isn't it?
( Tongue blepping out the front of his mouth, between his teeth. )
I don't hide what I am no matter how I look. I didn't even think this trick would work, before now only the Doctor's heard me, and I don't try using my pendant when I'm working.
( He cants both ears forward, offering her a slow blink. )
Wolfen.
( As if that explains enough and everything she could possibly want to know.
He knows it doesn't, but she can start asking her specific questions. He turns his shoulders and neck and head to look back toward the bed. Where he'd like to curl up for a nap now, a nice nap before the whole night goes naptime on all of them. )
Wolfen.
( As if that explains enough and everything she could possibly want to know.
He knows it doesn't, but she can start asking her specific questions. He turns his shoulders and neck and head to look back toward the bed. Where he'd like to curl up for a nap now, a nice nap before the whole night goes naptime on all of them. )
[Oh, she knows exactly how much space he takes up in a bed and now that she knows that he's not just a big, tame wolf, but Licyn, she doesn't immediately allow him to climb up on it.]
There are werewolves in my world, [she starts to explain.] who are people who transform into half-man-half-wolf when the full moon is out. But you have control over yourself, and you look like a full wolf - not something else.
[She purses her lips, and then considers perhaps an Animagus would be able to pull this off, but they would not call themselves wolven. So clearly, Licyn is something completely different.] Have you always been wolven?
There are werewolves in my world, [she starts to explain.] who are people who transform into half-man-half-wolf when the full moon is out. But you have control over yourself, and you look like a full wolf - not something else.
[She purses her lips, and then considers perhaps an Animagus would be able to pull this off, but they would not call themselves wolven. So clearly, Licyn is something completely different.] Have you always been wolven?
( his ears twitch around, one staying focussed on her as she speaks. that bed, Hermione. that bed sings to him. he lifts a paw, letting it hover over the edge of the chair he perched himself on. )
I'm not human. I'm wolfen. You're only born wolfen, there's no becoming like this. Not that I've ever heard of in years traveling and listening to far smarter people chatter on like chickens over lizards on the idea.
( he slowly looks back at her, giving her wide eyes and a duck of his chin towards his chest. it makes him look less assuming, just a touch pathetic. he's entirely aware of this. )
These werewolves you mention sound cursed. That's not a transformation that can be anything but painful, love, no creature is meant to be the forced melding of two at once.
I'm not human. I'm wolfen. You're only born wolfen, there's no becoming like this. Not that I've ever heard of in years traveling and listening to far smarter people chatter on like chickens over lizards on the idea.
( he slowly looks back at her, giving her wide eyes and a duck of his chin towards his chest. it makes him look less assuming, just a touch pathetic. he's entirely aware of this. )
These werewolves you mention sound cursed. That's not a transformation that can be anything but painful, love, no creature is meant to be the forced melding of two at once.
un: dollhouse | text? audio? morse code? we don't know (the day after the day of the undead rising)
thedreamer
2023-06-11 05:04 am (UTC)(link)
Hermione Granger! Please...
Hang on.
Don't like that. That's rubbish.
[ Excuse the live commentary in real time. ]
[ switching to audio hold please — ]
Ah, better! I want to hear your voice. Hermione Granger, please report to me.
[ (Under his breath)... ]
Always wanted to say that. Excellent.
[ He did actually reach out for a purpose. An important one. ]
You don't actually have to report to me. Physically, I mean. But I am expecting a response or I'll come looking for you. Easy to find you with my pocket watch, though that doesn't tell me how you are.
[ And after what happened, he's taking no chances. ]
So! Status update. Pronto. Lickety-split. PDQ.
Hang on.
Don't like that. That's rubbish.
[ Excuse the live commentary in real time. ]
[ switching to audio hold please — ]
Ah, better! I want to hear your voice. Hermione Granger, please report to me.
[ (Under his breath)... ]
Always wanted to say that. Excellent.
[ He did actually reach out for a purpose. An important one. ]
You don't actually have to report to me. Physically, I mean. But I am expecting a response or I'll come looking for you. Easy to find you with my pocket watch, though that doesn't tell me how you are.
[ And after what happened, he's taking no chances. ]
So! Status update. Pronto. Lickety-split. PDQ.
un: Black Prince; text (before they leave the pocket dimension!)
blackscales
2023-08-14 01:37 pm (UTC)(link)
Hermione;
Anduin is with us once more.
He does not recall his previous time in Akhuras.
Anduin is with us once more.
He does not recall his previous time in Akhuras.
[It takes a while to reply, just because she's standing there reading and rereading the message. Anduin is back (this is good!), but he doesn't recall his previous time in Akhuras (this is not that great, but it's been known to happen; granted she didn't think it'd happen to her) and also - it's Wrathion telling her, which brings up a myriad of questions. She'll start easy.]
I'll try to introduce myself first, instead of launching myself at him for a hug, then. How do you feel about all this?
I'll try to introduce myself first, instead of launching myself at him for a hug, then. How do you feel about all this?
I'm refraining from telling him too much.
[ That's it! What else could there be.]
[ That's it! What else could there be.]
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