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court-jobi · 1 year

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Behind the Bar

Pairing: Geralt of Rivia x Kenna (Herbalist OC)

Words: 4,249

Ratings: Teen/Up Audience

Warnings: none

A/N: An interlude for two unlikely, fast friends over a bar chat… about perceptions, monsters, and the magic a simple act of kindness can have in their grey world. This is a one-shot set a little time after the start of my upcoming fic, A Stroke of Luck; enjoy~

Summary: A calm, predictable routine had settled between the Witcher and Dandelion’s new, darling addition to his masterplan; a comfortable, easy end to the day– with Kenna as his company. The two were no longer acquaintances after shared meals, close calls on the road, exchanging goods, and crossing paths at several turns that one could only perceive as fated meetings. After a day of earning her own keep at the local spot where Dandelion has posted up in the city, Kenna steps in to defend Geralt for what he’s due– something he’s clearly never experienced in such a charming way.

Normally, knights are the noble ones in the city; not herbalists with a mind for money and deduction skills.

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A red tethered topknot collected most of Kenna’s sweat from the stockpot. On hot days like this, brewing outside is not only a necessity, but a mercy.

Her celandine seeds currently roasting over the flame are potent in a moderate amount, but with the steamy heat of summer driving everyone in Velen to the nearest river, Kenna knew trying to cook off copious amounts of pollen in a small kitchen would cause headaches galore– a migraine just waiting to happen. Still, catching a breath herself was a sacrifice she was willing to make for the sake of this batch.

"Twenty minutes," Kenna rasped to herself- wistfully catching sight of the still wind chime at the far corner of the patio. No breeze today. "Maybe thirty. Then a much needed cool down..."

Kenna brushed off the polleny barbs on a dirt rag, and took a swig from her canteen. She counted the horses filling up the stable overhang across the way, brows flicking up at the sight of a familiar dun.

"Roach~"

The mare turned head and gave a quick, barreling whinny. Kenna ducked under the tarped shelter and through the walkway to scratch the Witcher's much-loved steed across the blaze of her snout. She found the sweet spot under the horse's bangs easily, relishing in the fluttery burrs coming from deep in her barded chest.

"Like that, don't you..." Kenna hummed down to Roach’s head nuzzling straight against her stomach. "Glad to see you too. Wonder what your friend's gotten up to, hm baby? Is he inside?"

Roach couldn't give an answer, but Kenna engaged the conversation anyway.

"Yeah, I should go say hi. Maybe bring a little treat to a special someone after, huh?" Kenna cooed, and earned another agreeable burr. Seemed the ashen-colored mare next to Roach shared the sentiment. With a final scratch, Kenna doubled back inside the back door, shedding the potholders strung to her wrists and making her way to the bar.

Slipping past a few of the entertaining girls for the night with a welcoming smile, Kenna joined Dandelion’s side by the peddler’s table as he looked on. Activity near the front door had his attention with strong degree of disapproval.

"Uh-oh. That's a look.” Kenna murmured over his shoulder, not making it look obvious that she was looking, too. “What's going on?"

"Mmmm. I think someone’s trying to stiff Geralt." Dandelion sniffed haughtily. "That lout’s been floundering ever since he got the full story of the contract he lent out. Job's done- he better pay him." Dandelion spoke with conviction, but with an aire of a joke. "Or else I might just sing ‘The Song’ as loud as I can manage."

"Geralt said he doesn't like it."

"I don't care if he doesn't like it- it's the principle!" Dandelion soured. "Ts'why I put the line right in there!" He seemed certainly proud of his creative stroke, but moseyed on over to his band’s half circle to try and break from his foul mood and give his impatience time to cool off.

Looking back, Kenna sorted herself around the counter, treading close to the end where Geralt wore a flat scowl of his own. His hair partly wisped about by a likely rushed scuffle, it stuck behind his ear a little haphazardly on one side, and only proved the dangerous risks and efforts of his line of work.

Catching herself from staring too much, she did fall in line and familiarize herself with the current state of coin and orders coming in. It wasn’t her night to tend the dining pots, but she was always agreeable to help Marge out when things picked up around this hour. Some slips were for standing tabs, meals to-go, and for the brews currently being concocted outside on her burner as quick medicines. On the stake beside the coinbox sat the paid out tabs, half-crumpled; she saw a regular’s- Corrull, from up the high street- had just paid out. To her surprise, he was the one Geralt was talking to by the door.

Kenna picked out his higher pitched voice rushing out a pleading laugh to break the tension. Back still turned to her, Geralt crossed his arms and leaned onto one heavy-set foot.

"Please, I've had bit’of business since Hump day, Witcher; you know how these things go! I gotta keep up. There's been costs, and doctors calls- my youngest girl's been tied in knots over this whole housing mess.. been mislaid for almost a week now from the stress."

"This isn't what we agreed to."

"Have a heart, man- damn godlings are a mess- not tryna snuff you, or nothing, but twenty coin really gonna put you out that much? It's a good thing ya done- you have my thanks, honest-"

"Grateful conscience or not. Still won’t buy me dinner." Geralt managed levely.

Kenna's brow furrowed and her chin upticked- Dande was right.

Corrull went on about his recent laundry list of expenses before Kenna's feet moved on their own and came from the bar to their space with a confident air in her shoulders, messing with her hand towel just casually enough to show authority as part of Marge’s staff.

"Everything ok here, gentlemen?" Kenna eyed them both, more focus landing on Geralt’s noncompliant company.

"Kenna, love!" Corrull visibly waffled, "Just settling up with a posting, no trouble here."

Geralt wasn't impressed, glaring daggers into the man's temple and rolling off to the side, not quite meeting her eye back.

Kenna kept aloof and light. "That so?"

Geralt groused, "Wouldn't say that."

Geralt's tone kept sound but the edge on the last beat ruffled Corrull ever so much, even in a bystander's presence. Kenna looked back to Corrull for a clearer answer than his nervous chuff of laughter.

"Just hard to uh-- settle up when your pot's empty, ya know miss? Just paid off my tab, you can check! I'm good for it, Witcher!" He claimed, posture jumpy. Geralt soured even more.

Kenna's brow lifted, her proof coming to mind.

"True enough, he sure did," Kenna lilted, stepping back to the bar. With a quick blind grab, she flipped up the spoked slip of paper. "Amount of- oh look here.. twenty pieces. Got the Friday special, I see. Someone was feeling indulgent."

Geralt eyed her back more calm than before, with a curious sort of furrow to his brow. Beside him, he glanced in his peripheral as the man's throat bobbed. Guilty as sin.

"Tell you boys what," Kenna slipped comfortably onto the low tabletop to address them, slipping the sheet to Corrull, "How's about you take this, my friend... And we'll settle that up when you're not in such a tight spot. Got a week's due date, after all- says so on the door."

She referenced the casual plaque above his very head with a pointed nod, and while both looked up dumbly to it, she rustled up the increments of five gold pieces to the total of twenty.

"And this-- can be used to pay the Witcher what he's owed."

Stance calm and collected, Kenna kept her tone equally sweet, but with a careful look that meant this was more than a suggestion aimed straight at the portly man.

Geralt unfurled his arms to keep casual rest on the hilt of his shortsword, looking far less threatening, but solemn to a fault.

Swallowing against a flare of pride, the man nodded all too quickly,

"Mmm-- agreeable. Fair enough. Call it done, Master Witcher?"

With the same severe look that wasn't to be messed with earlier, Geralt shrugged off with a dismissive wave.

"Fine by me."

"Good deal!" Kenna brightened with a knowing smile. "Then you'll take this..."

Corrull came to claim the tab and drop off the remaining bag of coins beside the stack on the counter, before she offered,

"And-- a quick word I hear, from a wise man?"

"Yesm, Ma'am?"

Her voice dropped a fraction in volume.

"Pay your debts, in the order in which they're received. Just good business."

Message delivered; Corrull’s subdued nod was prompt indication. Satisfied by the small sweaty blink away of nerves he showed, Kenna patted the coin bag and carried on wiping out a still drying cup within reach- as casual an act as always.

"Lovely," she perked up again, "do enjoy your night, barber. We'll see you back to settle that one up- whenever's convenient for you."

"Course, ma'am.... Witcher, my regards."

"Hm." Geralt nodded briefly.

And Corrull slipped out of the Rusted Arrow's well worn door with a shake of the head and a jerky rake of his hair, making off not unlike a dog with his tail between his legs.

Slipping off the counter's edge to a less precarious posture, Kenna huffed at the obvious poor planning and shitty business sense of the patron. As thankful as she was for regulars, that display wouldn't endear the Barbersons to her for a while.

Back to Geralt, the Witcher pocketed the bag before shedding his swords off under the counter edge and took a seat.

Kenna rallied a cleansing breath, catching Geralt's eye and giving a sympathetic little smile. All previous ‘peddler’s appeal’ voice gone, she dropped to her more natural, unfussy tone.

"Hey there, stranger."

"Hey," Geralt smirked back lifelessly. "Thanks for that."

Clearly he wasn't all too pleased.

"...Does that happen often?"

Geralt dismissed with a curt shake, "Few and far between."

Kenna hummed, content enough for the rarity of such stinginess of people. Witchers took on the strangest and deadliest of occupations, in her eyes... Managing payment for those services seemed a given, especially the more desperate the man was to get a witcher's help.

Refreshing her tucked hair back, Kenna shook off her abrupt wave of justice. Geralt spoke up again, so she recentered to listen- though wilted at the same time, noticing his head cocked down a bit staring off at the bar too absently.

"Iron's gone up in the last month. Everything's more costly. Arrowheads, sinker lines, horseshoes even..." He huffed dully. "This kind of job will barely cover my regular list–thanks-" He acknowledged her pour of some ale with a sip. After a thin lipped swallow, Geralt eyed Kenna with a resolute firmness of his brow. "I don't mean to sound cold over a bit of short change. But twenty coin's twenty coin. The rest is pretty much spoken for."

Kenna scoffed lightly with an ease of her brow.

"You don't owe me a single explanation- not to anyone, Geralt. You earn what you earn- and you should get every bit of it. It's only right."

"Still," he drawled, giving a small nod. "All I mean is every bit counts, wasn't meant to be greedy. Witchers get enough shit as it is."

"You said that last time," Kenna frowned thinking back to his visit at the start of the month.

"Kinda nice tho... Having someone stick up for a Witcher for once. That's a rare sight."

Geralt was looking off through the window’s condensation, so he missed Kenna’s wry little smile. A thank you, in his own way.

"So I literally scored you dinner with my little stunt, huh?" She hinted.

"Sure did." He looked back, visibly more relaxed.

Kenna couldn't stifle the pride blooming in her chest again. They say good deeds don't go unpunished, but she couldn't see a downside when the timing was so perfect.

"Well don't worry- it's not a favor you gotta return when it's over your hard earned money." She tapped the counter, working her jaw casually, eyeing him up amicably. "Dinner’s up to you now; what'll it be? Same special as Jackass out there, orrrr we have a good bit of chicken, greens, Redwood rarebit- and if I remember right, bread from this morning? I think it's still good."

"You pick. Sounds good."

Hyperverbal as always.

This Witcher... days like his, stretching on to the night, where a meal is hit or miss... Been a long day, Kenna imagined, so she decided to cut him slack.

"Alright, Mr. Chatty," Kenna dropped the hostess' airs, and settled into her routine. "One bread or two?"

"Mm," he hummed. "How much'll that get me?"

Kenna paused. He's dead serious.

"Two," she decided, with a smile.

"Might as well."

Navigating the stovetop was fast paced with three girls working tonight, so Kenna was able to slide in and out with minimal invasion. Sweet girls- this was their first job for two of them; trying so hard to please and make a few extra tips. Kenna was simply glad for the exclusive backdoor access to the outside fireplace, and left the interior fires for the staff to have as much space to manage mealtimes as possible. Paired with the visiting bard, she wasn’t necessarily in this job for the money- more for the company, “in” with the local herbalists, and here to manage Dandie’s books while he wooed the populace. Didn’t hurt to make a few friends along the way- or treat them to a kinder night of conversation than what they were typically dealt…

"You're quick."

Geralt was studying her even before she dropped off a couple plates to his spot. The sole attention might have scared any of the other girls, Kenna thought. But under Geralt’s eye- that almost rang a compliment.

"I’m not exactly a field track star, Geralt. I hate running." She teased with an eye roll. Sidestepping around the bustle wasn't a task to be taken slowly.

"Quick at reading people," Geralt stated as his correction, "Reading a room. Diffusing situations."

"Working with all the hotheads in here?” Kenna mused, “You pick it up after a while if you don't wanna go mad. And I’ve worked in quite a few spots like this one."

"You know what I mean. C'mon."

Kenna shook her head- not following.

Geralt worked through a bite before asking, "How do you manage it?"

"... Stopping barfights, or not losing my patience?"

"Understanding people." he asked with a careful eye.

Well, this is chattier.

"Well,” Kenna started, “I like people- shocker."

Geralt gave a conceding look and kept eating.

"All kinds. And that's... -not a popular opinion. People find anything to fight about nowadays. Dwarves, elves- witchers; don't have to explain that one."

Geralt's wariness softened.

"I guess the more I've moved, the more I’ve listened.. People are complex, no matter where they come from. We have…” she paused to collect stray thoughts together and blew some air through thought, “These ideas of what we should be, what we wanna be, and what we are. And if I look hard enough- I start to 'get' it, myself. I can hear it in their stories. There’s things people say- and things they don't say. Both are telling."

"And I dunno." Kenna stepped back towards the back counter, arms lax but bracing herself upwards. "Everyone's got a story. Maybe if we all listened a bit, we'd understand each other better. Not get so wrapped up in this political mess, greed, vendettas and actually put that energy towards something better. Better for all of us.."

She waved humorlessly to him; the gesture was received with a smirk.

"I may not be a huge part of the solution in my tiny little corner of the world.... But I just don't wanna be part of the problem. It pays to listen in."

Geralt blinked, a thought passing through, fleeting.

"Life's too short, y'know?" Kenna spun to the positive. "Might as well make the ride easy for folks while I'm here. Do some good. It's in rare form, like you saw tonight. That's why I try my hardest to 'herd the cats'; it works to calm me down at least." She sullied as the barber’s interaction seeped back in.

The cat-eyes focused, a question behind them and his brow lifted.

"You think it's naive-- I can see it on your face."

"Difference between optimism and being naive.” Geralt answered, “You're not naive."

"Well, thanks." She wiped a cup, not convinced at his still-inquisitive gaze.

"... I think you're what the world needs."

Kenna blanked out, staring back. He offered a little, thin lipped smile- barely there. Then took another drink.

"... Wow." Kenna managed out of her confusion. "Here I thought I was talking your ear off."

"No,” he wiped a bit of juice between his thumb and forefinger. “You just made me think."

"About what?"

"Couple things," he rose and joined her behind the bar, sitting with his back to the room-- across from her, her equal.

Squared up, she sipped from her canteen in new company.

"What are you thinking about?"

"These spectres. Ghouls. Settling into houses around this area; they’re often tortured. Beings that were never properly laid to rest when they met their end. It makes sense to know why they breed suffering and wrath on everything, because they never got the chance to feel it themselves. Just as they're misunderstood in life- they also are in death. They're trapped in the mortal plane, and can do real harm in the moments between real and unreal."

Kenna was surprised at the tangent. Still, he was sharing. This had to be fairly rare too.

"Huh."

"The job–one I just did,” he rolled back his shoulders, “The spirit was that of a child who was feeding on the collective dreams of the owners of the wellerman’s house from nearly a decade ago. His parents. Kid died young, but was hardly mourned because he was some sickly thing- seen as a burden on the family. The family moved on to bear more children, seemingly much happier. But so much hatred and scorn drove the child's spirit to madness in the last days of life- and so, he haunted them in death, until they went mad and passed with equal unrest. Arguably before their time."

"Woah."

"Coursem now,” Geralt nodded on, “You'd think justice was done- the nightwraith would be content with handfuls of residents coming in and out of that home. But he wasn't sated. Bitterness rots. Destroys you. Lingers– it's a slow thing, that only hurts:"

"-yourself." Kenna reasoned along with him, "And that even happens to undead creatures like that?"

"It's how they thrive. You don't know any different way to survive when you're in a plane of your own."

It sounded lonely, in the worst sense.

Geralt mused with the storytelling genius of all those cautionary tales she’d been reared on,

"He fed on what he believed was real-- but it wasn't. Wraiths can feel the living- but not hear and really see. So with new residents, he transferred leaching from one source to another, thinking his family was still alive after years of roaming alone. Full of misplaced hatred and nowhere to put his grief."

"So he was going to kill the barbersons, too?" Kenna worried a bit.

"Bit by bit from madness- sure."

"So... What did you do?"

"Laid him to rest. With his family, where he belonged all along." Geralt’s eyes flickered to the nearer of the two swords- the silver blade.

"That’s-- wow." And the more she thought... "...And you get only three hundred coins for all that?!"

Geralt snickered lightly,

"Three hundred was generous. I've handled worse for less. This was a selfish child whittled away by an illness that took him from his family. Imagine a woman scorned by a lover, demanding eternal restitution."

"Oooo, that's messy." Kenna winced.

"I'd take on a hungry grottore anyday."

Kenna gawked flatly. Those things are terrifying.

But Geralt reached back for his stein,

"I'm joking. Breathe, sweet thing."

Sweet thing? That was new and thrilling in its own right.

Kenna watched him from her perch, ever amazed at the ease which Geralt so willingly deals with such extremes of monsters.

“I think that’s a bit of a trend with you, isn't it?” Kenna recovered her backbone, “Taking on the worst of jobs that accost the body mind and spirit, and get paid nickels for it?”

“Long as I can get a hot meal and a night’s rest out of it.”

“Not without the creepiest nightmares, I’d imagine…” Kenna shuddered off.

Geralt shrugged again, “One can wish.”

Kenna huffed, but wrenched at her neck in a shudder of nervous energy,

"Well geez Geralt, that's some heavy stuff. What on earth did I say that made you think about all that?"

Geralt joined her side now: looking out at the bar, leaning back, hip to hip.

"What I meant was... There's talent in reading people, all kinds. You can put yourself in someone else's shoes, and know how to relate. Makes people at ease. Anyone who meets you-- they’re better for it." He looks at her. "I meant what I said; the world needs more people like you. For what it’s worth, the more there is of you-- the less there are of monsters like that."

Kenna hadn’t considered that connection- specters did start out as souls with flesh and blood at one point. The compliment surely meant more when Geralt spelled it out so graciously.

There was no doubt in her mind now- hearing how nobly Dandie constantly bragged on this Witcher. As if her own little talks here and there didn’t confirm it, Geralt was always surprising her, tale after tale. Humanizing him all the more to her.

With a smarmy brow lifted, Geralt passed the mug to his lips again,

"You also asked me if I get stiffed often for payment. Had to think about that too. Would you believe me if I told you there’s only one person who's ever asked me about that before?"

In a whole lifetime, only one friend? "Really?"

As soon as she’d asked, Dandelion bellowed out some rousing opening liner to a shanty. He was really putting in the effort now- to announce the arrival of some fisherman’s party that he recognized coming in the door and set to immediately boost their spirits after a long day. Geralt pointed the bard out with a silent finger, perfect timing.

Of course–Dandelion had been concerned, the moment she walked in the room. Kenna softened to know his eye out for Geralt wasn’t coincidence.

"Imagine my surprise... To learn you two found each other." Geralt muttered.

"Looks like we share a knack for picking up stray witchers."

Geralt huffed a small bit through his nose; a smile teasing the edges of his eyes. They wrinkled in little, soft lines.

"He's insufferable and rarely shuts up when I need him to... But he's a good friend. Best I've had in a long time."

Kenna smiled again, happy for the turn of fate. The odds of her acquaintanceship between a bard and a monster hunter on separate instances to merge so perfectly could only be a happy accident.

Kenna held out a small hand as he might to one of his formal business prospects, more to tease than offer a real truce

"Well, if you'd like- make it two, Geralt. You'll have my ear when you need it; and I'll come set your bullies straight at the pub anytime you want. Deal?"

But Geralt clearly had other intentions on the receiving end. His gaze flickered for a moment, surprised to catch her open hand. Yet the act brought a wider grin to his face, which was a welcome sight.

Geralt took her hand of course, but lifted it for a quick, polite kiss instead of a shake to seal the invitation.

"Deal.” he agreed.

Stifling that flip in her heart very quick, Kenna turned interested,

"So that's a yes on the bully-fighting? Better polish off my fisticuffs."

"If I'm ever going to let you fight, you're using a blade. Not glorified punches." Geralt countered.

"Hope you plan on teaching me,” she coughed out a laugh. “I've never used one."

Geralt sighed with a flutter of an eye roll, "You and Dandelion both. What am I gonna do with you..."

Kenna couldn’t resist;

"Swordplay, it sounds like~"

Geralt’s sharp eyes flared, sights fixed on her from a half submerged sip from his stein. Doubt, dipped with interest- clearly wondering if he heard her right.

Kenna smirked at being able to catch him off guard. Dandelion was right about him appreciating a bit of quick wit.

"I'll start restocking your cache and be out back if you need me."

Kenna passed across him to grab his side pouch perched on the ground where he kept his elixir reserves. As always, that was her usual forte beyond serving up a meal he’d enjoy. Before crossing him again, she remembered to snag a couple apples from the top rack dangling from the bartop.

"Gotta check in on the ladies, too. M’sure Dandie will wanna hear your ghost story.”

“Oh gods forbid.” Geralt scowled playfully. “I’m not giving him any more ideas for his songs.”

“Oh he’s got plenty already. See ya.” Kenna turned and slipped out from the bar.

– And what to her luck, her batch of celandine was just the right, toasty color on the back stove.

“Perfect timing, Roach,” Kenna called to the mare across the way, “Come get a treat, sweet girl~”

Roach perked up and trotted her way over, head shoved under the awning and ready for the herbalist’s touch. She may think the lady’s pot always smelled weird in that tent of hers, but Geralt spoke nicely about his new little friend, Kenna. Wherever they went, Roach always had the suspicion the Path would lead right back to this one…

FIN

#ASoL:Witcher #masterlist #geralt x ofc #geralt x oc #herbalist oc #my work #my oc #game Geralt is top tier #henry cavill #the witcher fanfiction

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coffeemap1 · 2 years

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Organic Fair Trade Coffee Is Good for the Planet

Coffee! The eye opening elixir. Coffee! Black, drinkable, the energizing drink that livens our lives. Coffee! A long history from an exotic unknown berry to a massive commodity production, back to exotic again. And what a past this bitter black beverage has had. The dancing goats, to high volume commodity sales, to the near extinction of the finest of quality coffee beans, the art of growing and handling coffee berries has never died. It has only been altered though out time.

Coffee! The eye opening elixir. Coffee! Black, drinkable, the energizing drink that livens our lives. Coffee! A long history from an exotic unknown berry to a massive commodity production, back to exotic again. One must hand it to that little coffee shop from Seattle that now encompasses the globe. They sure did take the world by storm. In one fell swoop that little coffee company took a commodity beverage and cast it back into the exotic drinkable realm where it was born from as well as distorting the beauty of specialty gourmet coffee for future generations. What is now perceived as a quality coffee bean has traveled back to the art of commodity coffee. The competition on the street corner for a drinkable cup of coffee has become fierce. Each brewer says that their brew is the "perfect cup of coffee". However they all grab from the same commodity level stocks. Of course without these commodity grown stocks coffee would be in greatly diminished supplies. Yes, coffee is in diminished supply. That is the supply of good quality coffee beans had almost vanished over the last couple of decades as corner boutiques converted to the ravishing corner coffee shop.

There is a change! Finally there is a change in the air. The very small boutique miau cafe shop and coffee roaster is finally allowed the glory of finding high quality coffee beans once again. Small farm and niche green coffee beans are now becoming available to the fair trade coffee market. Quality organic coffee is being selectively grown just for the small independent coffee roasting operations.

Finally we have coffee drinkers who care more and more about the people of the Earth and the planet that we live on. We now have coffee drinkers who care about the survival of coffee farmers and the lands on which the coffee bean is grown. There are specialty coffee drinkers who cherish the survival and health of our mother earth.

Sustainable Organic Fair Trade Coffee is finally becoming a household request. Fair trade is good for the people. Organic coffee is healthier for you as well as giving health back to our planet.

Fair trade coffee provides a fair platform for the whole supply chain of this wonderful drink. Fair trade coffee beans mean fair prices for those who drink it. It may not be the cheapest coffee to buy however for the quality and sustainability the prices are equitable. It also provides better wages and living conditions for those who grow and produce the sought after bean. Fair trade is an agreement between farmers, workers, shippers, and consumers to care about each other and everyone involved. After all that is what community and health is all about.

Foresight by coffee growers proved beneficial. The few that saw a future for renewed exotic demand set course with new direction. Armed with a brighter knowledge these coffee plantations moved away from the distorted massive commodity market left to flounder by that little coffee shop from Seattle. These foresight seers set their sights on a smaller specialty marketplace. This knowledge was that there would be a need for finely grown and carefully cared for coffee beans. They knew that the land was important, that their community was important, and the survival of quality coffee was important. There would be a need for carefully grown, hand selected, artistically roasted, and rushed to the discerning consumers waiting coffee grinder and brewing system coffee. Out of the fair trade coffee supply grew the expertise to market the perfect cup of coffee. Quality fair trade organic coffee beans are available. Still a consumer can find the organic coffee they seek for their cup of coffee at the corner commodity brewer. Astute coffee drinkers find it a poor substitute for the real experience of fine coffee.

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witcher-and-his-bard-archive · 3 years

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What The Tide Brings

for @petrificustotaluss ❤ this was not an official ask, but i loved the idea too much not to write it!

Keeping the lighthouse is a family tradition. Before Eskel, it was Vesemir and after him, if Geralt is still capable, he will take over. If not, it will be Lambert and so on until no one is left to tend to it. But Eskel is new here, he's only been around a couple of months and he's still adjusting. It's not the solitude that bothers him, not really, and he loves the location right on the ocean, but there's something that just feels off and he can't quite place it.

He starts his mornings the same way every day, with breakfast and tea, then sets himself to his chores. In the afternoons, he reads and paints and in the evenings he lights a fire in the hearth and watches out for incoming ships. But the island is a lonely one and there isn't much traffic, so he rarely has much to report in his log. The days progress in much the same way, changing only in the content in his books and paintings and what he eats for supper and then one day while he's heading down to the beach to fish, he finds…. something.

He climbs down the rocky ledge to the beach to closer inspect it. It's just above the tide line so even if the tide came in high, it would remain untouched. Eskel crouches down next to it and it's actually an amalgamation of bits of stone and shell and coral and while from a distance it's just a pile, it's actually quite beautiful up close. No one lives nearby so Eskel is certain it cannot belong to anyone and he doesn't feel any guilt about picking it up and taking it home with him.

He takes it inside and sets it on the mantle where he can look at it when he reads. The following morning, there is another.

This one is simpler but unmistakably handmade and Eskel would call it windchimes under other circumstances. There is a cross of driftwood at the top with small, beautiful stones and bits of softened sea glass tied on rope. When he picks it up it blows lightly in the wind and for something so simple, it makes a remarkably beautiful sound. He takes it back to the lighthouse and hangs it outside the front door.

The gifts keep coming, each one more beautiful than the next and there's no denying any longer that someone is leaving them there intentionally. But no one lives within a hundred miles and Eskel would know if there were ships passing through, so he can't figure out who is leaving the gifts.

He resolves to find out.

Vesemir taught him to brew teas to keep him awake and alert long into the night if need be. And this is not a situation where he needs to be awake, but no one needs to know but him. So he brews his tea and fills out his log and in the early hours of the morning, he slips down to the beach to wait.

For a little while, there is nothing and then, just before dawn, just before Eskel would regularly wake, the surface of the ocean ripples and something breaks the surface. Eskel watches as a head appears from beneath the waves, shiny blonde hair flat against the skull and then blue eyes, so bright he can see them even in the early morning light. He holds his breath as the man slips above the surface, strong arms and a strong chest now fully visible. And then the man freezes.

Eskel doesn't move for fear of startling him, but he holds his gaze, soft and unwavering until the man turns abruptly and dives back below, a thick silver-blue tail slapping the water as he goes. And then, just as suddenly as he appeared, he's gone and Eskel is left stunned and alone.

He's heard the tales of merfolk, of course, every ship's captain and lighthouse keeper has, but he never believed in them until now. Because his visitor was certainly not human. From the chest up he had seemed so, but no human man bears a scaled tail and no human is that shockingly beautiful.

Eskel sits in the sand for some time thinking about it as the sun rises and the day begins around him. He starts his routine late that day and as he goes through the motions, he can't seem to shake the image of blonde hair and bright blue eyes. He's reminded of the fields of buttercups where he grew up and absently starts referring to the creature as Jaskier.

He spends the entire morning thinking about him and by lunchtime, he's made up his mind to leave a gift of his own. He wants to show that he doesn't mean any harm, that whatever Jaskier is doing around here, he's welcome to stay and that Eskel appreciates the gifts he's been leaving. But he can't exactly leave a painting and he doesn't know what else a merperson might want or need, so he thinks on it as he eats and comes up with the idea to carve something for him.

It's been a long time since he's done any whittling, but he's sure he'll still be able to pull something off. He looks around his untidy kitchen and living area and reluctantly ignores them for the time being, heading upstairs to dig out his knife.

Eskel spends far longer than he should trying to find a piece of wood that's acceptable for carving and then even longer trying to decide what to carve.

At first, he considers a whale, but then thinking about it, he doesn't know if that might offend a merperson. What is their relationship with the other creatures around them? He doesn't know. So he thinks about something else he might recognize. Coral, perhaps? A shell?

Eventually, he settles on a ship. It came before the idea for a lighthouse, but he thought that might be presumptuous and had returned back to the ship idea.

He gets to work, carving out the basic shape with practiced draws and shortly he's left with something that already resembles a ship. He carves out the shape of the bow, and the deck then makes a quick decision to add sails and a little rope coming off the side for the anchor. When it's done he smiles down at it. It's not his best work, by far, but it's been years since he's done anything like this and he's out of practice. But it's finished before he has to turn in, which is what he wanted because he wants to wake up early tomorrow to deliver to Jaskier himself if he can.

So he tucks the knife back into his pocket and carries the boat back up to the lighthouse. He sets it on a table and goes about the rest of his evening, tucking into bed early so he can wake up early.

When dawn rolls around, Eskel is exhausted, but he manages to wake up and he hurries down to the beach with his little boat. He sets it down in the sand where he'd found the other gifts and backs away in case Jaskier sees him and gets nervous again. He doesn't want to startle him.

And just like yesterday, after a few moments, he rises out of the surf only this time he doesn't turn back. This time he sees the boat and comes closer, pulling himself up out of the water and picking the boat up in his hand. He turns it over, inspecting it, raking clawed fingers gently along the side. After a moment, evidently unaware of Eskel sitting close by, he curls his tail up under himself and sits and looks at the boat. His eyes are wide with interest and a small smile spreads across his lips as he turns the boat around in his hands once more.

Eskel holds his breath, afraid to even move lest he startle Jaskier. He watches him carefully but lets himself look this time. Jaskier really is beautiful. His hair shines in the early morning sun and when he shifts, his tail seems almost to shimmer.

Abruptly, Jaskier looks up and spots Eskel and for a moment, neither of them moves, but then Jaskier cocks his head and shifts. Eskel thinks he's about to slide back into the water and he can only hope he takes the boat with him, but he doesn't. Instead, Jaskier slides closer to the bottom of the ledge and holds the boat up to him.

"Did you make this?" he asks and Eskel is a little startled to hear his voice. It's as beautiful as the rest of him, but he hadn't expected him to speak in the common tongue. He nods, unsure of what else to say. "It's lovely," Jaskier smiles.

"'S for you."

"For me?"

"You left such beautiful things," Eskel shrugs, rubbing the back of his neck, "I thought I could give something back in return."

"Oh." Jaskier looks down at the carving.

"Is that... okay?" Eskel asks. After a moment, Jaskier looks back at him.

"Yes."

"Thank you," Eskel adds, "for the gifts. And I'm sorry if I startled you yesterday, I just wanted to see who was leaving them. At this, Jaskier's face flushes a bright red and his gaze drops to the sand in front of him.

"I think you're beautiful," he mumbles, the colour in his cheeks deepening, "and you always seemed so alone up here."

Eskel flounders. He has never considered himself beautiful, especially not with his scar and especially not in comparison to someone like Jaskier.

"Oh."

"I didn't want to disturb you, I just wanted to... visit," he shrugs lamely, "to come and see you."

"You could have just come up when I was on the beach," Eskel suggests and Jaskier looks perplexed.

"Just come up and talk to you?" he asks as if it's a foreign concept. And really, Eskel doesn't know anything about merpeople, it could be.

"Yeah," he says, "I wouldn't mind. It'd be nice to have someone to talk to while I fish."

"Oh. I... have never had someone I could just talk to before."

"What do you mean?"

"Back at my home, I'm a prince," he sighs, "so everyone is intimidated by me because my father is the king. They never want to talk to me in case they anger me or my father, I suppose. And my parents are too busy."

Eskel nods, he knows what that was like. It was just his dad and the three of them, but Lambert was enough work for four parents, never mind one on his own. If Eskel hadn't had Geralt, he would have spent much of his younger life alone.

"Well," he says, "you're welcome to come here. I'd be happy to have company." Jaskier beams at him and Eskel's heart clenches a little. It's been too long since he's had company, he tells himself. "I have a few things to do around the house, but I'll be back shortly if you'd like to wait." Jaskier nods eagerly and just as Eskel calls out to him.

"Wait! I have something for you."

Eskel clambers down the rocks and Jaskier slides over to him, holding out a wreath of dried coral and shells. It's a little damp but holds its shape and Jaskier looks so proud of himself when he gives it to him.

"Thank you," Eskel smiles, "I'll hang it above the fireplace with the first one."

Eskel's chores take altogether too much time and he finds himself skipping over things that aren't necessary and putting jobs aside for later that aren't as important. He shouldn't, but he's eager to get back down to the beach and see Jaskier, even if he can't quite explain why. When everything is finished, he gathers his fishing supplies and makes a lunch to take to the beach with him.

Jaskier is waiting in the shallow water, lying on his stomach and tracing lines in the sand. He looks positively radiant in the afternoon sun, but Eskel finds himself wondering if the sun is good for his skin. He keeps his thoughts to himself and heads down to the beach.

"Hey," he says a little awkwardly and Jaskier perks up. He smiles at Eskel and swipes away the lines in the sand. "I usually go to the end of the rocks, if you want to come?"

"Yes," Jaskier grins and slips back into the water. By the time Eskel makes it to the end of the jut of land, Jaskier is perfectly poised on a flat rock just above the water's edge.

Eskel situates himself and pulls out a worm to hook and Jaskier gives him a funny look.

"What?" Eskel asks, then abruptly realizes Jaskeir has likely never fished like this before. "You put a worm on the hook to attract a fish."

Jaskier wrinkles up his nose at him and then dives soundly into the water. He reappears a moment later with a fish in his hands, offering it up to Eskel where he bobs before him.

"Thank you," Eskel says, trying to avoid the note of confusion in his voice. "You didn't have to."

"I don't mind. Do you need more?"

"No, I-" he wants to tell him no, but Jaskier looks so hopeful that he can't possibly. "If you don't mind?"

"Not at all," Jaskier chirps.

Eskel sets his fishing supplies aside and lies back against the rocks. This time, when Jaskier resurfaces, he comes to lie next to him in the sun. Once Jaskier gets talking, he doesn't stop, but Eskel is happy enough to sit back and listen to him.

It's not until the sun is sinking low in the sky that he realizes how long they've been there. Eskel casts a disappointed look at the fish sitting next to them on the rocks. He'll take them with him anyway because he doesn't want to offend Jaskier, but he's already mentally planning what he's going to eat for supper instead. Only Jaskier follows his gaze and frowns at the fish, picking them up and chucking them back into the water.

"I'll get more," he says and with that, he slips back into the water. He resurfaces only a moment later, holding two fish up to Eskel and smiling almost sadly.

"This was nice," he says and Eskel can't help but smile. He crouches down next to him.

"You're welcome to come back."

"Tomorrow?"

"Any time," Eskel smiles. "Goodnight, Jas-" he stops himself, but Jaskier is already cocking his head at him.

"What?"

"Goodnight," Eskel mumbles, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Julian," he offers and Eskel smiles.

"Eskel. Goodnight, Julian."

"Goodnight, Eskel." He turns with a flick of his tail and dives down beneath the surface. For a moment, Eskel watches him, but then the glimmer of his scales fades into the darkness and he's gone.

Julian, he thinks to himself and he can't help but smile.

Julian continues to visit him in the weeks that follow and Eskel finds himself changing up his entire schedule for the time he gets to spend with his new friend. Although more and more often the word friend feels wrong. Because he thinks about Julian even after he's left and he looks forward to seeing him in the morning and he's started whittling little trinkets for him to take home with him.

And Julian tells him more about his people and how they live and Eskel hangs on every word. It's incredible to think there's an entire kingdom practically beneath his feet and he's never known. They talk about everything; Eskel tells him about his brothers and Julian tells him about his family, though he's never very enthusiastic about it.

He shows up every single day and Eskel finds himself hanging on his words, watching the way Julian gestures when he speaks and the way he squirms when he gets too warm sitting out in the sun. He likes to roll off the rocks straight into the water and splash Eskel in the process, once he even pulled him in with him, holding him aloft by wrapping his tail around his legs. And Eskel hasn't been able to stop thinking about that since.

How Julian was warm against him, despite the coolness of the water. How he held him tight and smiled mere inches from his face. Eskel had wanted to lean in, to kiss those plush lips and run his hands through blond, shining hair. He thinks about it still, even as he makes his way down to the rocks. He's packed a lunch and has a carved humpback whale for Julian - Eskel has asked and he'd said they were his favourite. But Julian doesn't come.

Eskel waits and worries and by the time night has fallen and the air has cooled off, he's sure he's done something wrong. Maybe he said something out of place and offended him, or maybe Julian knows how he feels and he's disgusted by it. A sickly feeling swirls in Eskel's gut and he leaves the little carving above the tideline in the hopes Julian will come back during the night.

But when he checks in the morning, the whale is still there and his heart sinks. Surely, he has done something to offend him or Julian would have just said he wouldn't be back. But he didn't and Eskel is alone again. He leaves the carving, in the slim hopes that Julian will still come and collect his final gift, but he's not optimistic.

Night seems to set in early that day and Eskel is tucked into bed long before he normally will be. He can't bear to look out over the ocean tonight knowing Julian is out there and just doesn't want to see him any longer. He buries his head in the pillow and tries to think of anything but Julian and the sea he calls home, but he's surrounded by it, inescapably.

For the next two days, Eskel goes through the motions, wondering how he spent his time before Julian. He's bored, antsy, wishing he had something to do to occupy his mind, but he can't focus on books and his paintings all seem dull and pointless. And he can't even bring himself to look at driftwood again.

But when he can't sleep one night, he climbs out of bed and wanders down to the rocks, wishing he knew how to make this empty feeling stop. But when he gets there, the little whale is gone, replaced by a bottle, soft with the tide and tied neatly with twine. His heart skips a beat and he looks around wildly for any other sign of Julian. There isn't any, but Eskel sits down next to the gift and waits.

He's not sure when he fell asleep, but the next thing he knows it's bright and he opens his eyes to the sun high in the sky and a gull perched on the rock next to him. It flies away when he sits up and next to him, there's a little gasp. He turns to see Julian's head, just peering out of the water and he's so relieved he could cry.

"What are you doing here?" he asks gently, afraid of making things worse.

"I'm sorry I was gone," Julian whispers, "my father found out I've been coming to the surface so often and he was… less than impressed."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean-"

"Don't apologize," Julian smiles, "I'd rather be here."

"You were gone for so long, I thought I'd done something wrong-"

"Not at all! I would give all of them up for you." Eskel ducks his head, but he sees the light flush that crosses Julian's cheeks and he fumbles into a sitting position.

"You don't mean that," he mumbles. Julian just looks up at him and pushes himself a little further out of the water.

"Come down here and I'll show you," he whispers and he looks so sincere that Eskel couldn't possibly deny him.

He pulls his boots off and slips down to sit on the lower rocks and he sits with his feet in the water. Julian slips beneath the surface but stays close enough that Eskel can watch him swimming toward him. He resurfaces between Eskel's feet, pulling himself onto the rock between his thighs and leans up so they're nose to nose. Eskel's mouth goes dry and he searches Julian's eyes for any sign of hesitation.

"I'd like to kiss you," Julian whispers and Eskel is barely aware that he's nodding before soft lips are pressed to his own, sharp claws gently running through his hair.

When he pulls away, Julian is beaming at him and he leans in for another kiss before humming softly and drawing away again.

"Could I stay here? Nearby, I mean."

"Of course," Eskel says quickly, "but your family-"

"They told me if I came back to you I'd forfeit the crown and my place in the kingdom."

"Then why are you back?" Eskel exclaims. Julian's hand slips to cup Eskel's jaw and he smiles.

"Because I gave it up."

"For me?"

"For us."

#eskel x jaskier #mer!jaskier #lighthouse keeper eskel #mermay 2021 #rex writes #the witcher

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sofuckingdarling-blog-blog · 3 years

Text

Erwin, Levi and Tea part 2 of 2.

So he told himself safe things, like that his admiration for Levi was perfectly reasonable, after all everyone admired Levi, even people who didn't much like the man admired him. His yearning for closeness was just a result of that admiration. But Erwin knew better and a part of him had known that he was drawn to Levi in a more passionate way then admiration would dictate, that he had felt something there that was strong and unyielding since he first set eyes on the way Levi flew. But Erwin tried his best to be careful during tea time, he focused on moderating himself, perfected the timing of his stares. Sometimes though, he felt himself to transparent, a gaze lingered to long an accidental touch that caused a bright red flush to become obvious on his pale cheekbones, but each time he thought he may have outed himself. Levi was as unaffected as ever and Erwin could internally sigh with relief.

Erwin was always the one to approach Levi and that didn't change until Levi lost Petra and Farlan. He remembers clearly the urgent knock at his door and the shock he felt seeing the smaller man's eyes bloodshot and rimmed red looking frantically around , trying to avoid looking at Erwin altogether As if somehow looking at him would hurt. Erwin just opened his door and offered to brew Levi some tea, his brewing skills had gotten better thanks to Levi's detailed and somewhat impatient instruction. Levi nodded still refusing to look at him and he left his office and came back with two cups and pot of chamomile tea, hoping it would help soothe Levi's nerves. The night was long ,countless cups of tea were drained and Erwin sat at his desk mindlessly going over the same pieces of paperwork, thoughts focused solely on the man in front of him. It seemed odd that hours earlier this same man held a blade to Erwin, furious and half in shock with grief, needing an outlet. Levi had lashed out .

Erwin was actually happy to be the recipient of that violent grief stricken action, it gave him a chance to let his comrade know the depth of his importance in the fight for humanity, it allowed him to express to the Levi that holding on to regret would only hurt him and the people depending on him. He was able to tell him with sincerity that they would push forward together and make sure that the death of his loved ones has meaning. He did his best to give Levi clarity and a solid goal while he was floundering in his grief. That this incredibly powerful man listened to Erwin's words through his pain set his soul alight. it was shaky, new and hard won, but Erwin knew that a certain amount of Levi's trust had been given to him in that moment.

Still as they sat facing each other mugs of tea in had Erwin was afraid to make a wrong step, to somehow damage his hurting comrades trust before they had a chance to build on it. He felt at a loss, his heart and guts felt tight and twisted up. Erwin knew to well that there was nothing anyone could say that would really help ease the pain. So Erwin was quiet, and as with most things in their slow blooming relationship, He let Levi take the lead. He remembers hoping that night that the warmth from the chamomile was comforting to Levi that somehow the familiarity of their interaction would help ease the frantic mans tension. At that moment Erwin wished he could infuse the tea with every warm thought he held for the man in front of him. He knew it was a stupid silly vain thing to wish for but the twisting in his gut relaxed at thought.

It was as though his body was calling out for him to comfort the grief stricken Levi. But he knew that they were not at such an intimate level and the knowledge was bitter in his throat, it pricked at the corners of his eyes and he had to compose himself subtly before looking back at the narrow steel grey eyes. His eyes seemed less frantic and more resigned underneath the delicate furrowed brows, and Erwin's stomach clenched at the thought of the turmoil Levi was experiencing. Erwin knew that Levi's heart was more tender then his in dealing with this sort of loss, not that Levi was in any way weaker because of it, just newer to the Corps and with a heart more decent then Erwin, Levi's heart to Erwin was a very clear indicator of strength, because despite all he had experienced it was still so full of the capacity to love. lost in these thoughts Erwin almost missed it when Levi said "Farlan, Isabel and I, we were saving up to go to the surface, you know? We were going to be filthy rich, the sort of rich where we wouldn't even have to wipe our own asses if we didn't want to." his fingers traced the outlines on a fancy tin of tea. "It seems stupid now, I'm sure it sounds stupid, but It wasn't about being rich, it was about comfort, if we could fantasize about a life that we didn't have to struggle through everyday just to be constantly shit on it was easier to wake up in the mornings."

Erwin blinked, shocked at the unprompted confession, in awe over the heart wrenching honesty. his heart pounding in his chest. Erwin hadn't known about the specific aspects of their plans to get to the surface, he knew the surface was the end goal of getting the bounty on Erwin but he didn't know the details. They came as a bit of a surprise to Erwin, but the comfort aspect made complete sense to him, having to live everyday struggling to survive carrying around the burden of a growling stomach would be hard without a fantasy to sustain you. That they fantasized about wealth was unsurprising. Full stomachs everyday, safe comfortable places to sleep, the ability to indulge in the things that made them happy. No longer being powerless.

Levi continued fingers still tracing the fancy lettering on the tin of luxury tea face resolutely pointed downwards "I wanted to tell you thank you though, for the tea, I don't actually care about being wealthy like the pigs in Sina but I didn't think someone like me would get the chance to look at some shit like this, and here I am drinking it almost every week, i mean shit its unbelievable, Isabel and Farlan were impressed, they didn't really like the tea very much but I'd bring some over to their ungrateful asses anyway, they were happy for me that I got to drink fancy ass tea. They were good people like that." Levi's laugh is hollow "Thanks Erwin" he gets up suddenly and walks to the door.

"We can drink tea whenever Levi" Erwin blurts out and before he can stop himself "Whatever tea you want, any sort of tea in all of Sina in all of the walls" and Erwin feels absolutely ridiculous and disgustingly bare under Levi's steady gaze. but to his massive surprise and relief the smaller mans lip curls up so slightly it would be easy to miss and Erwin probably would have missed it had he not spent so much time studying Levi's expressions. "Sure Erwin, whatever old man don't have a stroke" he closes the door behind him with a thud.

Erwin is left with his thoughts and the rising sun, he feels stuck to the spot behind his desk. His ears are red and he thinks about how Levi and his friends had dreamed of luxury, his friends are no longer around but Erwin is grateful that for the duration of their time with the Survey Corp they had full bellies and warm safe beds and even according the Levi got to try some of the luxury tea's that Erwin had bought. Erwin had no idea how Levi managed to sneak them out without him knowing but he suspects a lock picking kit and graceful, nimble, fingers that are all to familiar from Erwin's observation of them griping a tea cup by the rim or tracing over beautifully decorated packages. One day Erwin thinks he will manage to pluck up the courage to ask Levi why he holds his cup in such an odd way. Erwin shakes his head free from his frivolous thoughts, thoughts that are caught up in Levi completely.

Erwin knows that its selfish but he is so happy that Levi is still here living, breathing, and with him in the Survey Corp. He wasn't lying when he said that humanity needed Levi's strength, but Erwin knows that isn't the only reason he wants Levi around. He decides then that life really is to short, especially for them. In the short time they have left, since being in the Scouts is like living on borrowed time, Erwin wants to be the one that indulges Levi, he realizes this like a smack to his face stinging, bright and obvious. He wants to be the one that exposes Levi to every luxury possible given his budget. He may not be wealthy like the nobles in Sina but he has a fair amount of money, he is well connected, motivated and talented in scheming.

So when Levi comes to him a day after his night spent grieving in Erwin's room, Erwin is relieved. He let out a breath he had been holding since he stupidly let words naked with the desire of Levi's company spill from his mouth. Levi asks him if he's ever heard of tea that blooms when its brewed and Erwin smiles. He tells Levi he actually know where to get some, and Levi looks up at him through his fringe which looks like it needs a cut soon and says "Great lets get some of that shit" and Erwin's entire frame feels electric. He follows the request up by asking Erwin if he would be wiling to brew some tea in an hour or so, after dinner, and Erwin is sure his body is made of something capable of creating sparks.

He feels the desire to shower Levi in good things as something sharp and warm, almost possessive almost jealous. It's the part of him that guards his observations of Levi and each cup of tea he drinks with a feverish tenacity. That feels pleasure curl as deep as his bone marrow each time Levi requests a specific blend of tea, or lets out an obviously pleased sigh after sipping from his cup. That Levi had ever had the desire for luxury is a blessing for Erwin who delights in every good thing he can give the small man. Erwin who is awestruck by the wonder that colors Levi's expressions at things he never thought he would see or experience underground. He wants to keep those expressions to himself because there is something so fragile and breakable in those expressions of contentment, pleasure, excitement, wonder and awe that he has to fight back his instincts to protect and remind himself to enjoy the time he has with this incredible person. Erwin is no longer a frugal man, as Levi has unleased every indulgent part of him.

#eruri #eruri feels #levi/erwin #erwin/levi #erwin smith #erwin danchou #levi heichou #levi ackerman #aot #aot imagines #aot headcanons #snk #Levi/Tea

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halothenthehorns · 3 years

Text

THE EGG AND THE EYE

Despite Remus' rather tired eyes as he never enjoyed being active any days preceding or following the full moon, and it wasn't helping the ever growing fear of the next task creeping closer, Remus wouldn't deny he couldn't think of how better to be spending his time as he got started.

Harry wasn't sure how long this bath would take, so he chose to do it after school hours so he could take his time.

"You make it sound so difficult to lock a door," James shook his head.

"I think he's just making up excuses for using that Prefect bathroom, and after hours is the best time," Remus smirked.

Harry ignored them both.

Though still not wanting to take any advice from that Hufflepuff, Harry also chose to use the prefects' bathroom, at least fewer people were likely to be in there.

Harry grumbled something about how he still wasn't going to admit they were right, it's not like he'd wanted to go in there just because he'd heard rumors about how cool that place was, and they couldn't force him to say otherwise.

Harry had to be careful with this excursion, he'd been caught out of bed by Filch once before,

"The fact that you've only been caught once is what gets to me," Sirius shook his head fondly.

"By our fourth year we'd caught up with him as much as any teacher," James agreed.

"And you only got caught that time because you forgot the cloak," Remus snorted. "If you'd paid attention a little more, even then you would have gotten away with it."

Harry wasn't sure if they were teasing him for not being as trouble making as them again, or trying to mock him for that experience again, either way he chose not to answer.

and had no want of a repeat. He made sure to have his Invisibility Cloak on him,

"At least he'll remember it this time," Lily reminded to get the boys to stop smirking.

and the Marauders Map.

"The two kind of go hand in hand," Remus agreed.

On Thursday night,

"Why did you wait almost a whole other week?" James asked.

"Homework," Harry used as a main excuse, but also adding, "plus I spent a few nights making sure I could walk down there and scout the place out without getting caught."

"Look at you, finally showing some forethought," Sirius praised.

Harry slipped through the common room much like he had the night he'd gone to visit Hagrid, waiting for Ron to open the portrait hole to get out.

"Still think that one's a bit too paranoid on your part," Remus rolled his eyes. "No one ever pays much attention to that."

Harry made his way down to the correct door, whispered the password, and stepped inside before locking the door behind him. His first impression was it would be worth being a prefect just to use this bathroom regularly.

"Well now you can without the responsibility," Sirius smirked.

"You're lucky you never got caught in there," Remus reminded him, "or I would have most likely gone down with you. Then of course I would have had to pay you back for getting me into trouble."

Sirius had a challenging smirk in place as he stated, "wouldn't be the first, wouldn't be the last."

Candles softly lit the marble chamber, a large rectangular shallow pool filled the main portion of the room with a hundred golden taps all around the edge each encrusted with a different jewel, along with a diving board.

Harry's mind was starting to gape a bit at such grandeur. A diving board for a bathtub! The splendor of the castle had always seemed like a lot to the boy from the cupboard, but this new leap of wealth still somehow managed to surprise him.

Fluffy towels were in a cubby in the far wall, and opposite that was the stained glass image of a blonde mermaid fast asleep.

Then Harry felt a zap pelt his brain, now blinking spastically as he was sure that should have meant something more to him, but was instantly distracted by Remus trying to cover up some laughter. He quickly smothered it and explained for Harry, "I don't know who conjured up that image, but it's the farthest thing from what Merpeople actually look like."

Harry was very sure that news shouldn't have come as a surprise to him, but simply nodded in understanding.

Harry's footsteps echoed a bit as he walked up the few steps leading to this, and though he was very impressed and aching to try all those taps, now that he was here he was more sure than ever Cedric might be playing him.

Remus was suddenly distracted as well from Harry getting to find this new place, to his mind spinning back to that noise again and why Cedric would have lead Harry hear. Water, in the Prefects bathroom, it couldn't have anything to do with that particular painting of the mermaid? He'd only ever heard descriptions of them, but apparently they had a beautiful singing voice, underwater. Above water it was a senseless high pitched noise. He was immensely curious to know if this had been what Cedric had figured out, but even if it was, what would the second task have to do with Mermaids? They were bottom dwellers, even in the Hogwarts lake they were only rumored to have come to the surface once in the school's history. He kept the thought to himself for now until he was more sure of this.

How was this place going to help him solve his egg?

He was already here, so he decided to enjoy himself anyways, setting all of his stuff aside as he got to work. Every tap shot out water the perfect temperature he wanted, and each was also mingled with magical bubbles. One set such a thick foam Harry could have sat on it, another left a purple mist hanging just above the surface, Harry's favorite was the one that shot patterns in the water's surface.

"I used to spend hours playing with all of those taps," Lily agreed fondly. "Sometimes I'd even drain the water again just to watch them fill all over again."

After a surprisingly short time to fill, Harry slipped inside and treaded water for a bit, his feet barely touched the bottom.

Harry was surprised at his own daring at that, as he'd never learned to swim. Though he supposed being in there by himself was a good way to practice and it didn't seem deep enough that so long as he didn't try anything foolish he shouldn't have a problem.

After a few laps, Harry went back to the edge and picked up his egg, but still had no new revelations for it. Even opening still created the same cacophony, if not worse because of its new echo. He'd been leaning over the side concentrating so hard, he dropped the egg with a start when someone spoke,

All five of them couldn't help but startle a little as well. That's all Harry needed, to get caught and in trouble on top of this tournament mess.

telling him to put the egg in the water.

"Guess that's better than, what on earth are you doing in here," James raised a surprised brow, trying to figure out who'd catch him there and not tell him off.

Harry swallowed a large amount of bubbles in surprise as he spun around, seeing a ghost sitting on a nearby tap.

"Oh hey, Myrtle's back," Sirius said, relaxing back at once.

"Why is she in there?" Lily demanded around a squeaky voice, her hand already twitching like she was going to cover her modesty now.

"We told you she went snooping through some of the other bathrooms," Remus snorted at her surprise. "Why would you think this one was excluded?"

"Did she really spy on me though?" Harry couldn't help but fidget at such a perversion of privacy.

"Well yeah," Sirius couldn't help but give Harry a sad little smile, "but I like to at least pretend she closed her eyes while you were changing."

Harry still couldn't help a disgusted shiver, even with his memory finally being soothed of why he'd wondered he would run into the ghost again in another bathroom, this wouldn't have been his choice of moments.

It was Moaning Myrtle.

Harry yelled at her in shock, stating he wasn't wearing anything! The surrounding water was thick enough this wasn't the point, but Harry suspected she'd been around longer than he'd been in.

Myrtle told that she'd had her eyes closed when he got in,

Even with Myrtle having said it herself didn't make the shivers quite stop.

and then reminded how he hadn't come to see her in ages.

"Can't imagine why," James scowled at the reminder of that Chamber. Myrtle used to be something funny to think about, she was always a good laugh and sometimes even helpful considering all the times she'd spied on people in the bathrooms and if cajoled right she'd pass along the information. Now all he could think about in relation to that ghost was a basilisk fang.

Harry floundered for a moment, still keeping his knees bent so all Myrtle could see was his head,

Sirius wanted to make a comment about that, but actually managed to restrain himself with Lily still looking flustered and her husband in the room.

before reminding he wasn't supposed to be in there, it was a girls one.

"Bit of a pointless thing to say after spending half a year in there," Remus snickered.

Myrtle reminded he didn't use to care, he'd been in all the time.

"Not for the exclusive company though," Harry muttered.

While that had been true in his second year, this was only because of the private location so they could brew a secret potion. Aloud he told her that he'd been caught for going in there, which was half true, Percy had once told them off for coming out.

"Yeah, and I know how you always listen to everything Percy says," James stated with the utmost sincerity.

Fibbing he hadn't gone in after that.

Myrtle was not impressed as she switched back to telling Harry to put the egg in the water, that's what Diggory had done.

"How often does she spy on people in there?" Lily demanded, her voice still a little too pitchy than normal, the Marauders were taking this far to casually in her opinion.

"Don't know, never kept a record of her or anything," Remus shrugged.

"Often enough it wasn't exactly a surprise if we found her in there," James couldn't help but laugh a bit at his wife's continued squeamishness over this. She was just a harmless ghost, he was honestly convinced she did it more for attention than pervy intent.

Harry demanded how often she spied on people?

Myrtle just said sometimes, though Harry was the first she'd spoken to.

"Because that's so much better," Lily groaned. "How did you know she was there then?" She asked of the boys.

"If Harry had been keeping his eye on the map, he would have seen her show up," Sirius reminded.

"How on earth does that thing work," Lily demanded of them. "Ghosts aren't alive, why would she register?"

"The Homunculus charm," Remus said like that explained everything.

Lily looked honestly surprised, but Harry had no clue what that was so she told him, "the charm marks where everyone is in a specific location so long as they have even a vague human mind. Like the ghosts and Peeves would be included," she added on for herself. "It just never occurred to me that was the spell they used, because I could never find the incantation, just mentions of it in old texts."

"Sirius found it in a book from his house," Remus shrugged.

"There's a lot of musty old stuff in that place," Sirius rolled his eyes, "I got bored and looked through it at one point, came back and found it a few years later when it actually came in handy."

"Would the basilisk have shown up on the map?" Harry asked, thinking normal pets like Crookshanks never had, but then Mrs. Norris had so was the giant snake stretching it?

"Nope," James stated, "not human like enough."

"So how come Filch's cat's on there?" Lily demanded of them.

"She got her own separate charm to track her," Sirius grumbled, "we realized that mistake and added it after the fact."

Harry sarcastically snapped back how honored he was, telling her to keep her eyes shut as he crawled out.

He made sure she wasn't looking as he dried off and went after his fallen egg, then set his towel aside again and slipped back in. Myrtle looked up after that, repeating for him to stick the egg in the water.

Remus was instantly distracted from his old pet project and was now much more focused on seeing if his idea was right. He couldn't think of too many other creatures that this would apply to...

Harry opened the seal beneath the surface, but among the new bubbles no screeching echoed underneath, instead Harry could swear he heard gurgling singing.

"Oh," Remus smiled in triumph at the exact moment the other three stated in surprise.

Harry gave an agitated little sigh, he was sick of always being the one things to had to be explained to, but didn't question it as he had a gut feeling he'd come to his own conclusions on this soon enough and watched impatiently as Remus happily yelped, "it's mermaids."

"What does that have to do with a triwizard task?" Sirius demanded grumpily, the first one had been bad enough, and this wasn't starting off much better. Those creatures were rumored to be as vicious and territorial as dragons, with the added bonus of drowning their victims to death rather than setting them on fire.

"No clue," James tried to shush him and wave him quiet so he could hear this.

Myrtle told Harry he had to be underwater as well to hear the words, and when Harry hesitated she got a bit bossy by telling him to get one with it.

"Guess she doesn't get the opportunity much," Lily grumbled, though even she was finally distracted from the ghosts habits to pay attention to this.

Harry took a deep breath before ducking down as well, and finally heard:

Insert mermaid song

"That, was not encouraging," Remus' smile slipped right off his face as the full impact of the challenge sank in.

"Hang on, read that again," James requested, sure he'd heard a bit wrong.

Remus obliged, to the now stunned faces of the others.

"What's this on about an hour?" Lily demanded as she began biting at her lip at once at the thought. "What are you looking for?"

"Another bit to lead you to the last event I guess," Sirius sighed, but even as the worry started flooding him he couldn't deny at least this sounded more bearable and doable than the first.

"I'm still stuck on that part where they took something," James grumbled, running his hand through his hair in thought. "Are you looking for two things, or is the challenge personalized?"

"I really don't like the sounds of this," Remus groaned the more he thought about it. "They're only giving you a pinch more information than the first time, and it still seems as deadly as ever." He was still categorizing everything he'd ever heard about mermaids as well as aquatic life in general, none of it exactly pleasant, and all very hard to deal with inside the water where only a few select spells worked properly.

"Let's look on the bright side," Lily tried to keep their attention. "Least now he has something to work with, and I'm sure Harry'll figure it out," she gave him a winning smile at the end.

Harry wasn't as sure as her, unable to erase the nasty feeling that this was hardly his favorite challenge and he'd still take the dragon back, but didn't argue the point either.

Harry came back to the surface for air, tried to recite it, but then had to go under a few times before he got it right. Then he set the egg to the side again, and began swimming a few laps as he thought it all out.

Myrtle called him slow for not guessing who this could be about, while smirking down at him.

"No," Remus snapped at once, as he'd noticed that look on Harry's face. It must be annoying to constantly have things explained to him, then and now with his lapse of the magical world, but that was hardly his fault as he stated, "it's not exactly a common problem for many wizards, I'm positive it'd be just as hard to work out for the other champions."

"You guys figured it out in like, a second," Harry grumbled.

"We," James quickly corrected as he gestured at first Sirius and himself, "have a running expert on all things beast," now waving vaguely at Remus who was squinting at him like he was trying to decide if that was supposed to be insulting or a compliment. Knowing James, a combination of both. "So we know a bit more about it than the typical person."

"I didn't get it until he said it," Lily shrugged as she jabbed her thumb at Remus as well, "I was just surprised you could suddenly hear it underwater."

Harry did at least feel marginally better his mother had at least been on the same page as him for most of it.

Harry hadn't seen Myrtle this cheerful since Hermione had a tail.

"There's a fond memory," Sirius couldn't help but laugh, the magical mistakes people could do to themselves had always endeared him.

Harry ignored her as he kept up his swim, puzzling together that whatever this was must have something to do with a creature underwater if that's where you could hear the voice. He realized he was speaking aloud when Myrtle agreed that had been Diggory's conclusion, it had taken him ages to put this together.

Harry mostly ignored her, his eyes still on the water as he asked what else was in the lake besides the giant squid? Myrtle was not happy with the answer that there were all sorts, she'd been flushed down there from time to time.

All five of them made spluttering noises of disgust at that!

"Are you telling me the plumbing empties into the lake!" Sirius demanded, going a little green at the thought. "I thought it was just banished once it left the pipes. We never found where they exited off, so-" he cut himself with a retch.

"Great, and I used to go swimming in that," James groaned, his skin starting to crawl.

"I like to think Sirius was half right," Lily had her nose crinkled so much she looked like she was imitating a pug. "Surely it goes through some sort of magical cleaning system. There are creatures like the giant squid living in there who would get sick from that."

"Let's just move on," Remus grumbled, not really wanting to sit around thinking about it.

Trying not to think about Moaning Myrtle zooming down a pipe to the lake with the contents of a toilet.

"Can't imagine why you wouldn't want to paint that picture," Sirius muttered to find some amusement again.

Harry instead looked around himself again, his eyes landing on the painting of a human voice coming out of the water, like the mermaid.

"You see, that's a brilliant deduction," Lily smiled.

"I probably never would have got there without that painting," Harry tried to brush off.

"But you did," James rolled his eyes, "so take the compliment."

Harry muttered something that didn't quite mask the pleased look on his face at his parents complimenting him.

Harry asked if she'd seen any of those down there, and Myrtle praised that had been what Diggory got to in the end, but he'd taken hours and that was with her awake.

Harry's pleased feelings increased into a full blown smirk, unable to really beat away that pride that he'd done something faster than Diggory. Then he got an intense curling feeling in his gut, and Harry was once again wondering why his own jealous feelings at Cedric really hurt like that.

Harry was suddenly bubbling with his own excitement as he was sure he'd got it, the second task was to go into the lake and find merpeople!

His happiness drained as suddenly as if someone had pulled the plug in this tub. Harry could hardly swim.

Sure a bit of floundering in his water was easy, but while Dudley had taken lessons in his youth, his aunt and uncle had never ponied up the money for him, most likely hoping he'd one day drown.

"Oh thank you for that lovely bleeding reminder," Lily narrowed her eyes nastily, all of them having to fight down the urge to go drown those people in a bathtub.

Harry spoke his problem aloud to Myrtle, asking how he was supposed to breathe?

Harry looked around expectantly, to find they looked rather stumped at the thought.

"That, is a remarkably good question," Lily frowned, fidgeting with a lock of her hair as she cast her mind around for a spell or potion she could lock on. There was a potion that would temporarily give him gills, as well as some transfiguration, but those were advanced, and she'd be surprised if an older student could pull it off in time, let alone a fourteen year old.

"Well, it's not exactly common for people to do so," James explained as his mind offered up a few suggestions he quickly dispelled as they wouldn't be any use to Harry's age. "I'm not really sure how Hogwarts expects you to pull it off without adult help honestly."

"Um," Sirius cocked his head to the side in thought, "ah, let me get back to you on that one."

At this, Myrtle's eyes filled with sudden tears again.

"Uh oh," Remus groaned.

"Now you've done it," Sirius sighed, resisting the temptation to plug up his ears at the thought of this.

"What'd I do?" Harry yelped in surprise, they'd gone from speculating his problem to all looking annoyed in an instant.

"Not sure," James rolled his eyes, "but you said something to set off Myrtle, so here we go."

Wailing at how tactless he was, talking about breathing in front of her!

"Oh," Lily nodded, "well I've seen her be set off by less."

Harry was starting to regret that he hadn't put his trousers on the last time he'd gotten out, so maybe he could have snuck away by now.

She buried her face in her sleeves, and Harry only now remembered how touchy she could be, when other ghosts didn't react to that kind of stuff.

"Well you said it," Sirius sniffed, "Myrtle's one of a kind."

He impatiently apologized,

"I wasn't aware you could be impatiently sorry," Remus chuckled.

"But I'm glad you can pull it off," James grinned.

while Myrtle brokenly stated he wasn't the first, nobody had cared when she was alive. It had taken the school ages to find her body.

"Here we go again," Sirius threw his hands up in exasperation. "This is the story we mentioned before, if ever you asked how she died she'd just go on about this bit."

"Not even a very thrilling tale," James agreed with a sigh.

Olive Hornby had been the first to do so, laughing about how she'd probably been in there crying again, and Myrtle had made her pay for that. Myrtle haunted her for years, even going to a wedding to follow her around.

Lily still felt kind of bad for Myrtle, but it didn't stop her snapping, "what's she blaming her for? It wasn't that girl who got her killed. Why's she even allowed to do that?"

"Well you know Myrtle doesn't even know who did it," Remus reminded, "so she's just haunting the first person who came into contact with her after the fact."

"I think at some point she got a restraining order from the Ministry banishing her back to Hogwarts," James shrugged. "At least, I hope Olive did, I know I wouldn't want to put up with that."

Harry had stopped listening, still playing the song in his head about how something he'd miss would be taken. What were they going to take?

Myrtle was still chatting about how the Ministry of Magic had eventually got her to stop stalking and forced her back to her toilet.

"Fair compensation for stalking," Sirius snorted.

Harry vaguely agreed that was a good idea,

"I can see you were just riveted by that," Lily giggled.

while deciding it was time for him to go. He demanded she keep her eyes shut while he got dressed again, and once he was done and picking up all three of his things Myrtle asked if he'd come visit her again?

"I'm sure that's top of your to do list," James rolled his eyes.

"Could always find some more illegal potions to brew in there," Sirius offered, "I'm sure you'll come up with a reason to eventually."

"You're not encouraging," Lily grumbled at him.

Harry lied that he'd try, while privately thinking he wouldn't unless her's was the last bathroom available.

"And even then I'd rather use the lake," Remus finished as if reading, "because apparently it goes there anyways."

The others got a fascinating combination of laughter and disgust on their faces, so Remus admitted he'd been joking but still kept going with a wicked smirk in place.

Harry said his goodbye as he slipped his cloak on and activated his map to track the school again, the egg under his other arm. Filch and Mrs. Norris were down in their office, Peeves was bouncing around the trophy room, all seemed calm and a peaceful walk back to his tower, until he spotted something odd.

"Was it Sinestra sneaking into Vectors office?" Sirius asked innocently. "I caught that a fair few times."

"And I begged you every time not to tell me," Remus grumbled without looking up.

Peeves was not the only thing that was moving. A single dot was flitting around a room in the bottom left-hand corner - Snape's office.

"I can understand why you'd be keeping an eye on him," James muttered in disgust, he was always top of his list to keep tabs on.

But the dot wasn't labeled 'Severus Snape,' it was Bartemius Crouch.

Remus had to blink down at the pages several times to convince his brain he'd read that, and by the time he was convinced that name wasn't vanishing Lily had come over her shock and snatched the book away to see for herself, now juggling the thick spine and baby all at once and still managing to hold a look of disbelief in place.

"What on earth is he doing?" Sirius tried to demand, but his voice failed him in shock so it came out more of a whisper.

"How can he even be," James waved his hand around for emphasis of not even being aware what this was. "I thought he was so sick Percy was doing his job, now he's crawling around the castle."

"In Snape's private office," Remus agreed as he gently took the book back.

"I really want to know what's changed this guy," Lily demanded as she kept glaring at the book. "The only time he's acted the way I know him now was at the World Cup. Ever since then he's been acting like, well I don't even know."

"I have a bad feeling about me finding out," Harry grumbled as he kneaded his temple with his knuckles, something was pounding away in there insisting what he'd said was true enough.

"Well, best get it over with then," Remus tried to shrug this off for Harry's sake, his own mind wondering how much Dumbledore knew about this. Surely Crouch wasn't on the property without the headmaster knowing, which surely meant Snape had knowledge of what was going on and maybe invisible Harry would find something out. There was no doubt in anyone's mind Harry would go investigating this.

Harry watched the dot uncertainly, trying to understand how Crouch could be so sick he'd miss the Yule Ball, but was now sneaking around his school after midnight. The little label was moving around and occasionally pausing.

"Bit of an odd time for an inventory check," Sirius muttered.

Curiosity getting the better of him,

"No surprise there," James agreed.

Harry changed course and headed that way, his nose still pressed to the map as he moved along, passing into a shortcut. This seemed very out of character for Crouch sneaking around someone else's office.

They all agreed, none of them could come up with a feasible explanation for this. Even Remus' idea about the teachers having foreknowledge was lacking when he was reminded of the time, surely nothing so pressing was happening that Snape's cupboard had to be raided at this time.

Halfway down, Harry's leg suddenly wasn't level, and in fact had sunk into a trick step.

"Oh bugger," James groaned, already his fingers sliding past his glasses to hide his eyes from what this could mean.

He wobbled, and the still damp egg came free of his grasp, clanging on every step on the way down,

Sirius was counting all the ways in his head how bad this was, and already reaching double digits for his poor pup.

while the Invisibility Cloak tried to slide down with it, and in Harry's wild grasp to catch that the Map slipped free floating halfway down the stairs as well from where Harry was jammed.

Lily was biting her tongue to stop herself bemoaning that this really couldn't get any worse, then she realized next thing his wand was probably going to go sailing away as well!

The golden egg fell through the tapestry at the bottom of the staircase, burst open, and began wailing loudly in the corridor below.

"And that's my limit," Remus groaned, letting his head hang for a moment before looking pleadingly at his friends, "anyone else want to read about the travesty to come?"

"Nope," Sirius shook his head quickly, "that's all yours."

James removed his fingers so that he could glare at the book doing this to his son as he stated, "sorry Moony, you have fun with that."

"He's just going to get caught out of bed," Lily tried for some optimism. "Worst that can happen is he might get a detention."

"With the cloak and map on him," Sirius tallied up for her. "Try week's worth of detentions."

"Maybe being a champion they'll cut him some slack," James offered weakly.

"Good luck with that," Remus snorted.

Harry tried to reach with his wand to wipe the Map blank, but it was too far.

"And why did that stop you?" Sirius asked, rolling his eyes, "just say the spell and it'll still be done." Then he suddenly brightened all the more and said, "you've still got your wand on you, least that didn't come loose. Just summon everything back to you and hide under the cloak."

"You'll still be stuck in there until someone pulls you free," James winced, "so it's a question of being caught or let your leg go numb for how many hours."

Harry had gone from looking flabbergasted at Sirius, the thought hadn't even crossed his panicky mind, to thinking that his dad's options were more likely.

Making sure the cloak was still covering him, all Harry could do was tense in fear as the roar reached his ear, Peeves!

"There's a momentary relief," Remus couldn't help a small smile, "least he's not approaching you at defcon five."

"Filch always blames Peeves first," Sirius agreed.

Filch had arrived almost instantly upon the racket the egg was making, shouting about the poltergeist, but quickly catching sight of the real noise.

They all tensed in preparation for Filch making the connection...but then James suddenly brightened with the widest smirk in place. "Actually, this could still work out. Harry's hiding under the cloak, Filch shouldn't be able to find him. That could belong to any champion, so Harry could just steal it back before anyone's the wiser when Filch takes it back to his office."

"Could work," Sirius agreed eagerly, "so long as Harry keeps his head."

Harry could hear him stoop to pick up the egg, the wailing was cut off, and Harry stayed very still

"Not like you had a choice," Remus muttered.

as he waited for Filch to pull back the tapestry to his hidden corridor, expecting to see Peeves, but instead his eyes would surely land on the Map.

"No, really," Sirius insisted, watching Harry with the most disappointed eyes he could muster. "Summon it back to you already. You are losing some very important scheming points for not reacting already."

"I panicked," Harry defended, "went on lockdown, I think I stopped breathing for a few moments, let alone think."

Filch began whispering to Mrs. Norris about how this was a Triwizard clue, Peeves had been stealing from a champion.

"Actually no," Lily shook her head, "I've never known Peeves to actively steal personal belongings, or at least hang onto them. He might chuck it across the room."

"I can still see him trying this though," Remus disagreed. "If one of the champions had left it out, Peeves would think this was a great idea."

He ripped back the tapestry,

"Like Peeves would still be hiding there though," James scoffed.

"He'd either be floating above laughing, or at the other end of the school by now," Sirius agreed.

and Harry got a proper look at Filch's strained face and popping eyes landing on an apparently deserted corridor.

Filch began whispering to himself about how Peeves could hide all he'd like but surely Dumbledore would have him kicked out for this.

"I am as positive as can be Dumbledore has no control of Peeves being in that school," Remus snickered.

"I've never known magic that could get rid of one," Lily agreed, "and even if by some miracle you did, another would just appear. They're spirits of chaos after all-"

"And who harbors more chaos than a school," James finished for her.

"Really makes you wonder if Fleur was lying," Sirius cocked his head to the side, "I wouldn't honestly be surprised if all schools housed one of some kind."

"I wouldn't put it past her," Lily tisked, thinking she'd probably exaggerated every bit of her perfect precious school.

Filch began climbing the stairs, still muttering to himself, his cat at his heels now watching Harry with her eerie eyes through the Cloak. This wasn't the first time Harry had to wonder if this worked on cats.

"And the answer is still yes, physically she can't see you," Remus sighed.

"But she can use her other sharper senses, like smell," Sirius grumbled. "It just depends on how intelligent she is to work out if the scent is old, or fresh and she should get Filch, or what."

James was muttering under his breath about how bad this could get and didn't add in.

Harry tried desperately to wrench his leg free as Filch kept climbing closer, he'd reach the map first or walk right into Harry-

then someone called for what Filch was up to?

Lily scowled and said a few choice words even as relief flooded her, Harry's life really knew how to set the tension.

Filch stopped where he was and looked back down to see Snape.

Remus couldn't help face planting the pages for a moment, counting up all the number of times this guy kept showing up to ruin their lives and not happy at all with the number.

"Of bleeding course!" Sirius snarled in outrage. "Because if there's one person to make a situation worse, it'll always be him to show up!"

"I swear he has a radar on my last name," James moaned, "there is no other explanation how he keeps doing this."

He was wearing a long gray nightshirt and he looked livid.

"Because I always wanted to know what he slept in," Sirius crinkled up his nose.

Filch explained himself, showing the egg still in his grasp and what he knew Peeves had been up to.

Snape quickly reached his side, his eyes taking in the scene while Harry watched with a pounding heart he was sure would give him away.

"You're not helping by exaggerating," Lily sighed, though honestly she couldn't help a small smile at the same time. After all the heart pounding, fear inducing moments this tournament had already done to her, a thing like dealing with Filch and detention felt like a cake walk.

Snape's first comment was to say Peeves couldn't get into his office.

"Oh?" James drew the vowel too far out in surprise. "Well maybe we were slightly wrong, and it was a surprise visit being conducted."

"Hope he gets fired for something," Sirius grumbled, knowing it wasn't exactly Crouch's job to do...well whatever on earth could even be going on, but if it was putting Snape in a bad mood he was all for it.

The two began talking over each other, Filch still trying to go on about what Peeves had done, Snape saying how someone had broken into his office and only a wizard could have done so. Snape won by snapping out that he didn't give a damn about that Poltergeist, he wanted Filch's help to search the castle for whoever had been in his office.

Remus couldn't help a petty little smile that Snape was running to anyone for help, thinking the last time Snape had needed something he'd turned to Filch then to. Seemed the caretaker even he'd hated in his youth was the only friend he seemed to want help from now, not that he had any others.

Filch tried to argue, looking longingly towards the way he was sure Peeves had gone.

"He's kidding himself," Lily rolled his eyes, "he must know better than anyone Peeves wouldn't still be hanging around. He's got his evidence, he can come back later."

"You be sure to tell him that dear," James smiled at her.

Harry was pleading with the universe they'd just go, while Mrs. Norris was still keeping eyes on him. Harry knew if anything she could smell him, why had he used all that scented soap!

"Yes, why indeed did you not have the foresight not to play with that new toy," Sirius scolded, wagging his finger in Harry's face for emphasis.

Harry momentarily considered trying to catch that finger and hold it hostage until his godfather reconsidered doing it again, he was wound tight as could go at the remembered stress of this, but then Sirius turned eagerly back to listen to Remus and Harry lost his moment.

Filch told Snape he'd help, but first he had to see the headmaster, there was no way he'd condone letting Peeves get away with this.

Snape replied his office was more important than that- but was cut off by a distinctive and repetitive clunk.

"And the party continues?" Remus raised a sharp brow.

"Just how many teachers wander around this castle at night," Harry threw up his hands in exasperation.

"More than you'd think, but few enough this usually isn't such a problem," James said in what he was sure was a wise old voice.

Both stopped speaking at once as Mad-Eye appeared.

"While the footsteps were distinctive enough I guessed as much," Lily rolled her eyes, "could it not have been anyone else besides him. Harry actually had a chance to get out of this mess, but the one person in that castle who can see past that cloak shows up!"

"So glad we're on the same page love," James huffed as he slumped back into his seat, the game was definitely up now.

Moody took in the full scene, his first response to ask the two if they were having a pajama party?

"Well I should hope not," Remus tried for a laugh, "McGonagall wasn't invited, and you know how upset she'd be about that."

"See, this is why you should have stuck around," Sirius grinned at him.

Filch began explaining everything, but when he got to Snape's office Snape snapped at him to shut it.

Lily raised a sharp brow like she wanted to give Snape a suspicious look for doing that. What was he trying to hide from Moody?

Moody took a few steps up so he could be more on level with them, his blue eye alone being able to take in the full scene.

"Someone should make that the next painting hung up in school," James couldn't help a small smile, "it feels like the perfect metaphor for how Harry's life goes. Mostly observing and just waiting to get caught."

"I'm sure Snape would love one hung in his office," Sirius agreed.

Moody's lopsided gash of a mouth opened in surprise.

"What master Auror skills he has," Lily grimaced. "He practically gave away Harry's position before he said a word."

For a moment he seemed to be deciding what to do, then he closed his mouth and turned to Snape.

They all braced themselves for this boot to drop.

Asking about this person who broke in?

"Again," James couldn't help but point out with a smirk, though it faded right back off as he couldn't help but question, "though even knowing who did it doesn't help any of my questions."

"He's not going to tell," Lily yelped in surprise.

"I guess not," Remus agreed slowly, "if he didn't say it right off the bat, I can't imagine he would...but why not?"

"Who cares," Sirius grinned, "Harry's going to get away with it for sure now."

Snape replied it was of no importance to him.

"You weren't saying so a second ago," Sirius sneered, knowing Snape thought anything concerning him was the most important thing in the world.

Moody disagreed, asking if Snape had any suspects?

Snape grudgingly admitted it was most likely a student, this had happened before so students could steal and make their own potions.

Remus enunciated each syllable carefully, "hypocrite." Before continuing on more casually, "I know for a fact he used to filch from Slughorn all the time to brew his own vats for whatever he wanted."

Lily didn't bother to deny it, she'd just never wanted to ask where he got them.

Moody asked if he was sure he didn't have anything else hidden in there?

"Oh please have Moody go check next," Sirius sneered. "Would make my day for him to get fired for something illegal I know he has in there."

"I wouldn't hold your breath," Lily couldn't help but mutter a tad bitterly.

Snape narrowed his eyes at Moody as he said dangerously Moody knew full well he had nothing else, he'd searched his office already.

"Well lookie there," James' grin managed to spring back to life instantly. "As if Moody hadn't already proved himself useful to this school, now he's actually listening to us."

"Pity he didn't find anything," Remus sighed.

"Probably keeps a secret stash hidden in the dungeons somewhere, so he can torture students at his own disposal," Sirius said, only half kidding.

Moody agreed that was a privilege Dumbledore had allowed-

Snape cut him off with a temper, saying Dumbledore trusted him and he still didn't believe the headmaster had granted this!

"And yet he did it anyways," Lily snapped back, "which finally shows there is still a brain in his head."

While honestly pleased his wife still hadn't switched back to even remotely defending Snape again, he still couldn't help but expect a relapse, this new version was honestly scaring him as he recoiled slightly. Lily was speaking of him with as much hatred as she'd once shown James, so it wasn't exactly as pleasant a new sensation as he would have once thought.

Moody agreed Dumbledore did trust Snape, the man believed in second chances.

"What did he do with his first chance?" Harry asked in surprise.

"Most likely, got caught as a Death Eater," Sirius growled. "We've only heard rumours before now he was one, but that seems the most likely. I'm just wondering how in Merlin's beard Dumbledore let that slide enough to give him a job."

"I'm sad to say we probably won't find out," Remus huffed.

Moody disagreed, saying there were some spots that didn't come off, finishing with an obvious look at Snape.

His eyes narrowed, and he did something very strange, his right arm flinched like he meant to grasp hold of his left forearm like he'd been stung.

Harry felt a buzzing go off in the base of his skull, glancing down at that forearm as well and so very sure he should remember something being there on Snape's... but then he looked around and saw no one else had a clue what this could mean so he didn't press it.

Moody laughed at the reaction, telling Snape to run along to bed.

"Be a good little bat and I'll throw you some fruit later," James happily agreed.

"Don't be ridiculous Prongs," Remus said back without looking up, "he's obviously more of an O- type."

"Why should that stop me?" James demanded over the other three's giggling, "as if I'd ever give him what he actually wanted."

Remus could have kept the banter going, but he was far too curious for this night to be over and Harry to get away from Snape in general to keep on.

Snape was outraged, exclaiming he had just as much a right to walk this castle as anyone.

Moody agreed he could prowl away, but he was now looking forward all the more to meeting him in a lonely corridor.

"I am begging you to sit in on that one pup," Sirius turned pleading eyes on Harry. "Foot trapped or not."

"I'll get right on that," Harry shot back, not at all denying he'd pay good money to see that fight.

Then Moody added as an afterthought that that he'd spotted the map and Snape must have dropped it.

"Oh bloody hell," Sirius yelped, his heart starting to beat too hard at where this could lead.

"Remus isn't around to keep him away this time," James groaned.

Harry couldn't deny any such things of happening, because he was quite sure he wouldn't have his map for some time after this night, and it was not an encouraging thought at all.

Harry realized what was happening as both Filch and Snape spotted it for the first time, and Harry threw caution to the wind and waved to get Moody's attention under the cloak, mouthing at the DADA teacher that was his!

"Not sure how that makes it better," Lily got out around gnawing on her lip. "He's doing you a favor by not telling your there, not sure if that'll extend to your stuff."

Snape was reaching for it, an expression of dawning comprehension on his face -

Remus was resisting the urge to chuck the book across the room, he didn't want to read out this next part.

but Moody reacted fasted by summoning it to him, the parchment zooming right out from Snape's fingers.

"Moody is officially my favorite person ever," James sagged in relief.

"We owe him big for doing all this," Sirius agreed fervently.

While as happy as the boys, Lily was still more than curious as to why Moody was. Even having helped out Harry before with the first task, that should have been out of pity or even a reward for Harry doing the right thing. Helping to keep Harry out of trouble like this though was just odd, what was the reason? Surely even Dumbledore wouldn't have gone this far.

Quickly stuffing it out of sight and correcting himself that was his, he must have dropped it earlier.

Snape wasn't paying this any attention, his mind clearly putting together what only Snape could,

"Well yes, he does have the extenuating circumstances of knowing all of that is yours," Remus rolled his eyes.

"But even he can't think you're stupid enough to have just thrown those around willy nilly," Sirius scowled, "so you've got to wonder what he really thinks Harry's up to."

"Here's hoping I don't have to find out," James huffed, wanting Snape to be gone already.

Whispering the name Potter.

Moody asked what he meant, and Snape turned back in Harry's direction now, his eyes landing unerringly right on him as if he could suddenly see him there now that he knew.

All five of them gave a nasty shudder at that, more than thankful whatever magic possessed that cloak didn't work like that.

Putting together that everything that was here belonged to Potter, he was here underneath his Invisibility Cloak.

"I forgot he even knew about the cloak too," James groaned in disgust. "Merlin that man has successfully wrecked my school life by knowing about both of those now."

"It does indeed put a damper that he figured out that was Harry's that night," Sirius agreed, this not even having occurred to him at the time as he'd been more focused on other things, but it was true, Snape had found it and at once linked it to being Harry's. The man must have put it together as well as the Map that he'd seen it in Marauder hands often enough he'd pieced it all together.

Snape suddenly put his arm out and began climbing the stairs, clearly thinking he was going to find Harry like a blind man, Harry swore he saw his nose dilating like he could sniff Harry out.

"I always said that over large nose had to come in handy for something," Sirius rolled his eyes at the idea.

Harry was forced to lean as far back as he could while still being stuck in place to avoid the fingers, just as Moody barked Snape was being ridiculous, there was no one else around. He'd be happy to pass along the message to Dumbledore though that Snape's first thought was Potter.

"I should be flattered," Harry grumbled.

Snape stopped his approach, turning back to glare at Moody what he meant by that?

Moody stated that Dumbledore wanted to know everyone who had it out for the boy. In the torchlight illuminating his face, every scar and misshapen feature seemed to hold a whole new ghastly shadow.

James' face gave a nasty twitch at the reminder he hadn't forgotten, it was still very unsettling to picture Moody like that.

Snape did not reply to that, instead his arm dropped back down to his side and he stated he knew Potter had a habit of wandering after hours, he'd only been looking out for Potter's best interest.

"A top priority of yours, as you've always made clear," Sirius said, his voice laced with sarcasm.

"Habit?" Lily repeated in disgust. "Harry really doesn't do it that often, not even as often as I did. Two or three times a year at best."

Harry did a double take at his mum saying that, she'd never mentioned any explicit school breaking like that to him, but Remus was still eagerly reading and now clearly enjoying Snape's predicament against Moody to notice.

Moody didn't seem to believe him as he repeated that back at Snape.

There was silence all around until Snape spoke up again that he was going to bed.

"Scamper off with your tail between your legs," Sirius chirped, still wishing more than anything Moody had been around in their day, he clearly came in handy.

Moody agreed that was the best idea he'd had this night. Then he turned dismissively away from him towards Filch, telling him to hand over the egg.

Filch refused, clutching the egg as though it were his firstborn son.

James scowled lightly as his mind flickered to that feeling, not ever having believed he'd mock anyone for that description, but it reminded him too much of his numbered days being able to do that for his own infant and any mockery of it didn't sit right.

Protesting this was evidence of Peeves' doing!

"Bloody hell man, you're never getting rid of that poltergeist, move on," Remus sighed.

Moody shot back it was the property of a school champion and it was to be handed over. Snape walked past the squabbling duo without any acknowledgement, and clearly outed here, Filch unhappily passed the egg along and turned to leave as well, muttering to his cat to come along, they could still go to Dumbledore and report this.

"There's Moody's point," Lily rolled her eyes, "Filch can still tell for all the good it'll do without the egg in his possession."

When both were far out of sight, Moody heaved himself up the stairs to Harry's position, mentioning how close that had been.

Harry thanked him for not mentioning he'd been present.

Moody asked what the Marauder's Map was, pulling it back out of his pocket and investigating it.

"Something of the utmost genius," Sirius stated at once.

"Crafted by only the keenest of artists," James quickly tacked on pompously.

Remus pretended he wasn't going to add on by reading, but no one could deny the faint tones of pride lacing his own voice while reading about their map.

Harry tried to explain what it was while wincing around some pain, his leg was beginning to hurt in its trapped position.

Moody's magical eye was going haywire as it studied every inch of the paper,

Harry couldn't help but to start twitching in unease, some feeling trying to rear up in him warning he didn't like Moody having hold of his map...

telling him this was some object to be had.

"Yes!" James crowed as if he'd received the end of all compliments. "Can you believe the Alastor Moody just complimented us!"

"I'm at a loss for words," Sirius agreed, his eager smile not being dampened one bit.

"Can you imagine when you do become an Auror and mention this to him before he even finds it," Remus added for his friends benefit. "Moody'll be so impressed, he'll probably try having you make some for even more buildings and places."

James's chest swelled with pride at the very idea of receiving this praise in person, but would never dream of denying, "well of course I just drew it, if he wants full replications he'll owe you two some compensation as well."

"This could be fun," Sirius' smirk widened at once. "Can you imagine us actually making a business of plotting out and recreating our map for other buildings."

"Places like the Ministry for example would go haywire for dozens of copies," Lily couldn't stop herself adding in.

They all looked floored at the idea, nothing like this had even crossed their minds before as anything more than a childhood pet project for their own security, and partial vanity, but this really was the first time they realized what they really could have on their hands.

Harry agreed it came in handy, trying to ignore his eyes starting to water from the pain as he asked his Professor to give him a hand.

Sirius was suddenly accosted back to this reality, and remembered back to a time he'd found P-, that rat, stuck in there. He'd fallen in hours ago apparently and was limping for ages afterwards, it really could leave a bruise if someone was left in there long enough not being able to pull themselves out. He didn't say this aloud, what had once been almost a funny memory suddenly made him realize who his brain had been intentionally leaving out this whole discussion of their map and he was not happy at the reminder.

Moody was momentarily surprised at the interruption before looking up and realizing where Harry still was, quickly grabbing hold of him and pulling him back out. Then he asked Harry if he'd seen who was in Snape's office?

Harry agreed it had been Mr. Crouch.

Harry felt his jaw do an odd number, something in him kicking and screaming to say that wasn't quite right, but Harry had more than enough practice to hastily brush that aside and ignore it best he could.

Moody's magical eye whizzed over the entire surface of the map. He looked suddenly alarmed.

"Well that can't be right," Lily cocked her head to the side. "He's supposed to be heading security or something, there's no way Crouch got onto the property without Dumbledore knowing, and why wouldn't he tell Moody as well."

"Something about this really isn't adding up," James agreed.

Harry gave a nasty twitch but still declined his answer which he knew he'd be grateful for in the long run.

Moody found this very interesting, still taking this map in.

Harry couldn't think of any way to reply. He was grateful Moody had gotten him out of trouble, and wanted to ask about all this, so threw caution to the wind and asked what Crouch would be doing here?

Moody's magical eye went and landed on Harry now, clearly sizing him up on how much to tell him, before answering that while Moody may be obsessed with catching Dark wizards, it was nothing compared to Crouch.

"Interesting way of putting it," Lily sniffed.

"Moody caught them," Sirius explained for Harry.

"While Crouch threw the book at them, the heaviest and hardest ones he could find, on even the smallest of charges," James finished with the smallest of frowns showing his displeasure.

"It's supposedly to show he's not taking any Death Eater's lightly," Remus sighed, "but really, from what I've heard, he gets bleeding cruel sometimes."

"It seems to be working though," Lily sighed, "as no one's trying to stop him."

Harry was getting a terrible feeling as this continued, he was very sure he had strong feelings about this topic that just weren't coming to the surface quite yet, but thanked them all the same as clearly they didn't like talking about it. Even as anti- Voldemort as they all were, obviously something of what Crouch was doing didn't feel much better.

Harry then asked if perhaps Crouch knew something more was going on?

Moody looked at Harry suspiciously, asking what that could be?

Harry didn't want to admit he'd been hearing things from the outside, fearing it could lead to some inquiries about Sirius.

"I can't really see me being his first train of thought," Sirius gave an uneasy smile, "he and the likes would still think I'm after you after all."

"Better safe than sorry," James muttered, hoping Harry did keep his mouth shut.

Still, Harry tried to play it off he'd just heard some things, like the Dark Mark at the World Cup and things from the prophet, it was all odd.

Moody watched Harry with something like mild respect before telling Harry what a sharp lad he was.

"Is that really so hard to work out?" Lily rolled her eyes. "No one would think to put those two together?" She wasn't trying to underplay Harry for knowing this, but it wouldn't take a genius either.

"Well most his age are only concerned with Quidditch stats," Remus shrugged, "so I guess it's more of a compliment for paying attention like that."

Moody's eyes were back on the Marauder's Map as he said Crouch was most likely thinking along the same lines as Harry, all this talk going around was making people nervous. Then his lopsided mouth did something resembling a smile as he finished if there was one thing he hated, his eyes now on the left-hand corner of the map,

The Marauders knew that map like that back of their own wand of course, so they realized he was in fact looking at the dungeons, back in Snape's direction.

it was a free Death Eater.

Harry just stared, sure Moody couldn't mean what he thought he did.

Lily didn't even need to see the map to put together what that meant, restraining herself for saying just a few more foul things at yet more proof of what Severus had turned into.

Then Moody turned and said now he had a question for him.

Harry's heart sank as he guessed what was coming, he was going to be asked where this map had come from, which could lead to some awkward answers involving his old teacher Professor Lupin and even his dad, plus the Weasley twins.

"Two of which aren't exactly Moody's concern," James muttered with just a tad more sulleness in his voice as he realized he was technically speaking of himself in past tense.

"Is this thing even technically legal?" Lily suddenly asked as she did worry about Remus, and the twins for that matter. "Wouldn't you need permission from the Headmaster to have such a thing?"

"Don't know, not like we asked," Sirius rolled his eyes at the thought.

"There's not technically a rule against it," Remus put just a touch more emphasis than was called for into that.

"Of course that makes it all better," Lily snorted.

"This is all pointless anyways," James tried to wave back attention to the important matter, "it's not like Harry's going to spill."

Instead, Moody asked if he could borrow it?

"Err," James stuttered, sure he'd heard wrong.

"Great, if it's not one teacher confiscating it, it's another," Sirius scowled as he realized what that really meant, like Harry had a choice.

Remus flushed in remembrance of that action, Sirius had made it clear he wasn't holding a grudge about that but it still wasn't a pleasant reminder as he quickly read in hopes Harry would somehow get past this, or at least have the intentions of stealing it back.

Harry was so surprised, and grateful Moody had done him a favor this night, he supposed he should return it no matter how fond he was of his map.

"Well I guess," James blustered, "when you put it like that."

"So long as it's a temporary loan," Sirius stated in no uncertain terms. "If Remus couldn't break the curse no one can, and Moody doesn't need to be leaving with that at the end of the year."

"I'll make sure of it," Harry swore, that uneasy feeling in him still not settling even if he did now understand why he wouldn't get his map back tonight. Something in him was kicking his insides telling him he should have taken another long look at that map before he handed it over...

He agreed, and Moody thanked him while telling him to get back off to bed. The two climbed the stairs and at first headed in the same direction, Moody still holding the map like a treasure.

James still couldn't stop a genuine smile creeping across his face. He hadn't been able to help it last night, in between his tossing and turning and thinking over all the events to come, his realization of what had happened to Moody had lingered in there as well. Fear for his life, less accurately his face but still, really had been leaving him slightly dubious of his job of choice he'd been set on...but now he really was considering something else. He always had been a good artist, he'd been the one to hand draw out that map that even impressed Moody in this way, so if he could be of help to this department some other way...

They meant to split off when they reached Moody's office, but the teacher called Harry back and asked if he'd ever considered a job as an Auror?

Lily and James couldn't help but startle, the idea hadn't even yet occurred to them that though Harry was the age, he'd have some job in his life. It was really saying something if it was in fact the very one his father was looking for.

Harry said no in surprise, and Moody told him he should be considering it, while also glancing at the egg back in Harry's arms and also pointing out Harry hadn't been taking that on a walk.

"Without a leash? He wouldn't dream of it," Sirius smirked.

Harry agreed he'd been working on the clue, and Moody told him he had no doubts Harry would work it out. Then he did leave.

Harry made his way back to Gryffindor Tower, his mind still churning over Snape and Crouch, Crouch being dominant with all the questions about him. Why was he pretending to be ill but coming up here? What had he been doing in Snape's office?

"Both excellent questions," Lily wrinkled up her forehead, not coming up with an answer she did like, either in explanation or just plain chasing away her chills.

There was also that small other thing, that Moody actually thought Harry could be an auror. The idea seemed intriguing, but Harry decided as he climbed into bed, he'd like to see a few more noses on the other Aurors before he considered it.

Causing some smattering of laughter in the end as Remus handed the book a little guiltily to Lily, not wanting to admit that he was rather relieved he wasn't going to be the one to read that next task as well, and masking that by telling Harry, "I do believe the majority of them at least have the full percentage of their noses."

"That's right comforting," Harry smiled back, but something in him was lingering on the idea.

#Harry Potter #GoF #Fanfiction #reading the books #Marauders #Remus Lupin #Sirius Black #James Potter #Lily Potter #jilly

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stephdavido03 · 3 years

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The Economics of Visual Effects By Melena Ryzik February 27, 2013 New York Times

LOS ANGELES – There’s a high-stakes fight brewing here, between the digital artists who create the movie-magic effects that many blockbusters depend on and the studios that employ them. Audiences got a taste of it on Sunday, when Bill Westenhofer, a visual effects winner for “Life of Pi,” was played off the Oscar stage with the “Jaws” music, just as he was talking about the bankruptcy of the film’s effects house, Rhythm & Hues.

In a related protest, more than 400 people, many of them laid-off Rhythm & Hues workers, demonstrated just a few blocks from the theater where the Oscars were taking place, voicing their grievances against the industry. According to Deadline.com, they protested working conditions (long hours without equivalent pay) and the foreign subsidies that draw jobs overseas. Some talked of unionizing. A plane bearing the banner ““BOXOFFICE + BANKRUPT = VISUAL EFFECTS VFXUNION.COM” was scheduled to fly over the Dolby Theater during the Oscars red carpet.

Rhythm & Hues is not the only casualty of the business. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the German company Pixomondo, which won an Oscar for “Hugo” last year, is closing its London offices because of financial strain, and shutting its Detroit office in November. At a time when the entertainment industry is sustained by tentpole movies driven by visual effects, it seems bewildering that so many are floundering. (The site Before VFX illustrates what blockbusters would look like without the digital add-ons.)

Many thought that playing off Mr. Westenhofer was poor form, especially after an introduction by the cast of the effects-heavy “Avengers.”

“It’s particularly galling that the FX guy, speaking about a protest that was happening outside that directly addresses the financial realities that are starting to damage the FX community in a way they may not be able to fully recover from, was cut short at a ceremony where they actually had a computer-animated character give away an award on live television,” Drew McWeeny, an editor at HitFix, wrote.

In an interview in the press room at the ceremony, Mr. Westenhofer elaborated on his speech.

“The visual effects are definitely in a challenging position right now, and we’ve got to figure out how to make this business model work, because there are artists that are struggling right now,” he said. “And I wanted to point out that we aren’t technicians. Visual effects is not just a commodity that’s being done by people pushing buttons. We’re artists, and if we don’t find a way to fix the business model, we start to lose the artistry. If anything, ‘Life of Pi’ shows that we’re artists and not just technicians.”

Backstage, Ang Lee, the best director winner for “Life of Pi,” also took up the cause of the effects workers. “I refuse to think those are technicians that work, hundreds of them work by the computers. We create something that’s visual art,” he said. “The bad news, it’s too expensive. It’s very hard.”

“Once it gets cheaper and easier,” he added, “more filmmakers are going to dive into that and create something more and more interesting. And that language will establish the audience in the future.”

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blvelight · 5 years

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hey guys !! i’m kat and i’m super excited for this rp ! i live in the nt, i’m a double leo and a floundering english student who’s fallen behind on my skincare routine this past week and feels a bit like shit as a result.. dk what that says about me when it’s all put together but let’s hope it’s nothing too ugly dgsfklj i’m super late with getting my intros all ready for opening — bc i have less than an hour as i’m typing out this intro to get dree and tally’s prepared DSKGLF — so stats, plots, etc are gonna have to wait as well, unfortunately. but getting to the point:

☕ . ˚ ◝ ( deepika padukone. cis female. she/her. ) amla jothadi is a thirty-one year old libra. the deja brew cake decorator’s go-to order is raspberry peach italian soda and a chocolatine. they like to listen to he can only hold her by amy winehouse while they wait for their order. the employees of the deja brew think they are apprehensive but swear they’re totally adept as well. maybe that’s why neatly-stacked novels, lilacs, bitten pen caps, and singing in a long and hot shower remind me of them.

i’m literally just copying this from an old intro and fixing shit for location’s sake, so don’t @ me if i fucked up a bit in doing that DFKLS

had lived in london for her entire life and her home life was rather.. standard ??

middle child, only daughter syndrome didn’t hit her too hard bc she was the apple of her father’s eye and was a near-mirror image of her mother, so she had them both wrapped around her finger fsgdkldfgj

her and her brothers got along okay, hair-pulling and exclusion bc of “boys only”/”leave my friends alone” moments aside, so it really was a rather mundane childhood that she had

p much the crybaby of her graduating class, overly sentimental and sweet so she was at most an annoyance to some

but it did make her a solid target for some of the mean kids bc they could get a reaction out of her pretty easily

nonetheless, she wasn’t the type to hold grudges for it, just dodged them and moved on from it as much as she could bc she figured they’d get bored of seeking her out eventually

all in all a teacher’s pet, friendly to all and just. adorable. slkdfgjdfs

she had an interest in cooking and writing from a young age, but left the former as a hobby and began to build a desire to do the latter as a career

but of course ! nothing is that simple !

at some point she realized that writing probably wouldn’t pay the bills by itself — when she actually became an adult and would have to do that herself sfgdlk

so upon entering uni, she decided to go for a communications degree, thinking that she could at least start off as a secretary or clerk at a media group before doing something creative there

.. but years passed after graduating and she was still but a clerk. handling files and documents, answering calls that shouldn’t even be sent her way at times bc the people around her couldn’t be bothered, having a hard time with putting her foot down so she winds up swamped and stagnant before even hitting her thirties

and that’s not at all how she pictured her life at this age, so she’s disappointed and stressed and sad af

but she thought she had to take it bc it seemed like an unspoken rule that you do four years at uni, you do your masters or get out there and lock yourself down to a company/occupation for the next 40 years of your life before living it up at 70 in florida or at your tiny house in the countryside

her passion for writing and some of her hobbies floundered bc of how much the desk jockey life stressed her out, the only thing keeping her from wholly spiralling being her fridays at the pub with her college friends

.. though seeing things work out for them ( for the most part ) where they didn’t for her didn’t alleviate her worries 100%

so come her 29th birthday, she.. had her inevitable quarter life crisis of sorts, cringey rom com plotlines serving as inspo

bc she just. wasn’t happy with her life at that point, had no real sense of adventure or pure freedom bc she locked herself down to what she thought she’s supposed to do or focus on

and it was when she was binging.. rom coms klgjdsfgkl that she figured she should throw caution to the wind and go somewhere else. some deep diving via google for destinations later and she fell in love with italy !

.... yes, we’re going on a bit of a road trip before we get to l.a, bear with me for a sec

so she spent time in a little village, just living life and staying far from her former office life, going at her own pace

she wanted to delve into writing as she planned at one point, a now or never kind of thing, and it was just a relief to even get back to it so she’s been at it ever since

cooking classes and baking, reading in the garden near her house, lots of other cute things filled up her days now and she’s having a great time as a result sgkldjsd

it was there that she began doing a few odd jobs here and there so she could sustain herself financially, as opposed to returning to some 9-5 life so soon, and just focused on herself and her interests with this new lifestyle

it’s been a year or so since she left that village and travelled a bit — south of france, spain, basically went all over the mediterranean on her way to the states for what was supposed to be a few months of leisure and repeating the cycle she’s been on for a while

but then.. she got to l.a. and just ?? decided to stay a little longer than expected, has been here for a few months now and doesn’t have any upcoming plans to uproot herself again

she’s currently working part-time at deja brew as a cake decorator. figured she might as well work at the café she frequents bc coffee ? treats ?? a chill reading environment ??? sign her up !

you can find her at some cozy little bookstore nestled somewhere in the city as another gig she’s taken up for now, or at her small studio apartment that’s littered with plants, novels and pillows fdksgjgldfk

personality and such

basically........ amla’s baby

she’s not naive, but she has a relatively gentle soul

wholesome isn’t quite a word i’d use to describe her but she’s just super cute and a simpleton in some respects

the type to spare baby ants and spiders from being crushed by a slipper for being in the house, but to get someone else to take care of the.. creepier insects jskdfh

she’s not a big risk-taker bc the unknown scares her, so for her to even do what she’s been doing for the last two years took a lot out of her to muster up the nerve

so she’s a bit of an anxious person who at times needs assurance, even from a complete stranger

v big on global issues bc she wants the world to be a more peaceful place, so there’s a side of her that tends to see in black and white rather than grey…. or rose ig sdgklsd

the simple things in life appeal to her a lot, though a luxury or two is welcome if she can put it to good use

the mom friend in some situations :( a cutie

she’s a romantic, like she has the vibe even when she tries to play it off like the extent of it is a bit closeted, secretive yknow ??

bc even then.. she has her trepidations bc of the relationships that had flamed out in the past for whatever reason

has a cat named rory, who she loves and might be projecting her slight baby fever onto for the time being

.. basically she’s your white picket fence fantasist — but make it rustic and less cliché — who’s managing to grip her bearings on the matter, if you couldn’t already tell slkgjgfsd

y’know how some people get really emotional and quiet in an argument but proceed to snap almost out of fucking nowhere ?? that’s amla

sdlfkgj she’s used to having been a doormat or target in the past, so she tends to let herself take it until she realizes “ hey, i don’t need to be shit on like this, how dare you — ”

just. love her please fklfgdjskld

#╳┊: — we packin’ diamond pistols ! •「 ooc ! 」#hqbrew:intro #going straight to my queue fdsklgj #and i'll mention my d*scord and all of that in one of the other intros bc. im not navigating html right now ! nope !#q.

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thrandilf · 6 years

Text

The Worst Pirate I've Ever Seen

Ahoy! A Julian Devorak adventure!

AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/15748518

Coarse rope swayed under the calloused soles of Julian's feet and his roughened hands as he bounded up the ship's rigging. Ocean waves crashed below him in the darkness, a comforting constant din. He grinned as he hauled himself into the crow's nest, ignoring a disdainful caw of an actual crow kept caged on the lookout point.

This was his favorite part of seafaring- the serene ocean glistening in the starlight. Adventure awaited in every direction, the wild breeze soaring in his ears calling to his heart to wander forever. He gazed up at the sky through his windswept locks and rehearsed his constellation charts, verifying that the ship was headed west as planned. It was peaceful, lovely, stunning-

"I think I have scurvy."

Julian groaned, not even needing to turn around to look at the man behind him. "You don't have scurvy."

"You sure?" The pirate in the crow's nest with him was the picture of perfect somewhat sunburnt health. The only thing Julian could prescribe was rest for the circles around the man's eyes.

"We've been over this. You're homesick."

It earned him a loud sniffle. "I DON'T have FEELINGS!"

Julian was ship medic, which on occasion turned into drinking buddy, comic relief, and unofficial therapist. He wasn't even supposed to be a pirate in the first place, but he'd been plundered from a trade ship and conscripted into a life of piracy, spared for his abundant charisma and charm and he supposed for his (dubious) medical abilities.

The main difference between the spice traders and the pirates was marked increase in personal drama.

"Well I've made damn sure that you're all eating like you live in a tropical pineapple scented paradise, so admit that you're sad and don't have scurvy!"

The sailor sighed. "I might cash in next port we fall into. Take my share, settle down. The sea changes you."

"And people say I'M dramatic."

"You are!"

Julian watched dawn crest over the sea, pleased to see land in the distance, and less pleased when he realized what land it was. "Captain!"

The pirate captain was a younger, respectable man as far as pirates went. He raised his eyebrows under his tricorn hat at Julian, prepared for antics of some kind. "Yes, Devorak?"

"Is there a particular reason we're sailing towards Vesuvia?"

"Sure. It's a small country- but absolutely filled to the gills with gold. Run by some bratty blond no one else will bother defending."

Julian coughed. "Yes, well. I've met this bratty blond. I ah, amputated his arm, in fact."

The captain roared with laughter. "Excellent! You'll have to tell me all about it."

Julian explained it later to the captain and first mate below deck, embellishing only harmless details of the battle- as if either of them believed Julian had truly killed any jaded warriors while simultaneously crouched under cover with Lucio, terrified for his life. He delighted in acting out Lucio's whiny, self absorbed floundering and rage at needing his grievously wounded limb cut off crudely in a war camp tent, sharing a laugh at the concept of a man who denied defeat even at death's door.

The first mate was particularly amused. She grinned at Julian. "I hear Lucio got a real wonder to replace his arm- an alchemical beauty made of pure gold."

The captain laughed. "Say, Devorak- wouldn't it be incredible to take his arm again? Ha!"

Julian laughed.

And kept laughing.

Oh, what a delectable joke!

He finally breathed again and his crewmates were looking at him expectantly. Julian's eyes widened. "This is- this is harebrained even for me. Absolutely bonkers. You can't be serious."

The captain mused for a moment. "Vesuvia itself wouldn't be difficult to loot- quick in and out disguised as a merchant ship as we hustle around the port and terrorize some small fry. Now, Lucio is an idiot. His arm is completely solid gold, magic, and power. It's likely the most valuable object we know of. If we can get inside the palace with you as our In to distract him- forget the city! The palace is full of so many riches they won't notice what's gone!"

"So you want me to infiltrate the palace, let our crew loot to their heart's content, and if possible steal Lucio's arm?"

"Yeah."

Julian stared in disbelief. "That's the worst scheme I've ever heard."

The first mate scowled, disappointment on her tanned features. "So, we're not storming the castle?"

Julian smirked. "I've never looked forward to anything more in my entire life."

-~-

Julian was filled with dread.

It wasn't out of fondness for Lucio. No, if there was anyone who deserved to have pirates ransack their house, it was Lucio. This was the most righteous conquest so far in Julian's life as a professional scoundrel. Lucio was volatile at best and he'd have to tread carefully.

They made port with ease, looking for all the world like honest merchants. Pirates could clean up well if they liked- Julian had even sacrificed the last of his apricot oil soap to the cause. Julian let the majority of the crew do as they pleased in the city and led the first mate and a few more respectable looking pirates to the palace.

The palace guards blocked the gate, glaring at Julian. "Password?"

Julian stood tall, grinning widely. "Tell Lucio Doctor Jules is here to ah, check up on him. I come with greetings for an old friend."

One guard left and the other employee eyed him. "You cut his arm off, right?"

"Yes- our relationship is rather complicated."

The remaining guard lowered their voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "Was it gross? Like blood everywhere?"

"Appallingly so. Gushing blood and torn muscle sinew everywhere. I had to cauterize the wound."

"Ew." They looked delighted.

The other guard returned and waved them through the gate. Julian eyed the moat under the grand bridge to the palace with suspicion. Long curvy shapes drifted in the water and one of his crew members looked over with wide eyes. "Vampire eels?"

"Yeah Aislinn," said the first mate. "Don't jump in no matter what you do. Didn't think this guy was the type to have exotic pets all over."

Right on cue, Mercedes and Melchior bounded out of the palace foyer barking and snarling. Julian put himself in front of his crew, blocking the huge white dogs as they yipped and tried to jump him. "Ack! It's ME! Come on guys!"

Lucio himself followed the dogs, grinning widely and taking his time to call them off. His voice was as raspy and high pitched as Julian remembered- a perfect balance of sinister and annoying with a shot of whiny. "Alright, alright. It's just Jules!" His gold trimmed white blazer was roguishly open to reveal toned muscle under his red decorated sash. Despite the provocative neglect of buttons and regal shoulder cape, Lucio's arm still stood out the most. Typical that he'd want to draw attention to his wealth with every first impression. "Doctor Jules- finally dropped by to apologize?"

Julian had expected this. "I wanted to check in on an old friend when I found out my merchant ship was headed to Vesuvia. May we talk somewhere without my entourage? We've been at sea for months and I'm sure they could use-"

Lucio waved his hand dismissively. "Yes yes, go ask some servants for rum or whatever else it is I don't drink."

This was ridiculously easy. The first mate grinned at waved at Julian. "We'll be enjoying the grandeur and hospitality, see you later!"

Lucio sighed loudly. "You must be so low in life, Jules, trouncing around with sailors who barely have soles on their shoes. Rustic. Abhorrent. Please, have something civilized to drink with me while we discuss your employment."

"My what?!"

Lucio plopped down on a couch in a vast private parlor complete with floor to ceiling windows and a balcony. They faced a huge magical fish tank that took up an entire wall, housing a deadly gorgeous lionfish the size of Julian's torso. Julian busied himself with staring at the vivid coral rock sculptures and swaying deep sea plants in the tank. Lucio poured a glass of wine for himself. "Come on Jules- surely you'd rather work for me. If I travel, it's in class."

Julian held back a groan. Prolonged exposure to Lucio would be a blight upon his soul. "I'm quite content. I booked free passage providing medical expertise and I've seen more of the world than ever before- even took a trip back to Praka."

"Ah, Praka!" Lucio sipped his wine, slouched and uncaring about Julian's tensed posture. "The prettiest girls are from Praka, you know. Goddesses, all of them. Meet any lovely ladies there?"

Julian floundered. This wasn't how he imagined this conversation going. "Er- at least seven."

"Seven? Jules, you've GOT to get out more!" Lucio winked. "Don't you owe me some company? Have a drink, I insist!"

"Ah- coffee, if you please." Lucio snapped his fingers for a servant and Julian's mind raced. His companions were likely already looting what they could get away with like kids at a sweets stall, and he didn't have too much time no matter how smooth and rich the coffee brew. "Do you mind if I take a look at you? I am rather sorry about the amputation- nasty business."

"As you should be."

"I don't delight in harming others!" Julian took a sip of his coffee when a servant brought it to him and stood up, circling behind Lucio. He brought his hands down to his shoulders and squeezed, feeling the joining of metal to flesh under the guise of giving Lucio a massage. "It doesn't pain you, does it?"

"Only my pride!" exclaimed Lucio.

Julian felt around as much as he could without getting caught. There didn't seem to be a catch or release mechanism on it, and it felt seamlessly grafted to Lucio's flesh. "Magic?" he asked.

"Of course- what else would it be?" Lucio finished his glass of wine and poured another. Julian noted that it was barely 9 AM and scowled with judgement, even if he also was prone to bouts of day drinking. "If not now, since you're so inclined to take a slow boat everywhere, then in the future- I insist you'll be my official physician. If I have need of you, I expect you to be here."

Julian wasn't one to turn down future job prospects, and keeping Lucio happy was key as he withdrew his hands. "Of course. I'd be honored."

"Good!" Lucio yawned and Julian's ears twitched as he thought he heard a commotion in the distance. "I have an execution to freshen up for- what's that noise?"

Julian panicked. He needed to distract Lucio and followed his basic instincts. "I must leave!" he exclaimed. With a dramatic spin on his feet he chugged the rest of his coffee and sprinted out a window with a horrifying, all consuming crash of glass as he hurtled through the air to the eel infested moat.

"What the FUCK!" Lucio blinked at the glass shards all over the floor and laughed at Julian's high pitched screams of horror as he fell down into the water. Lucio didn't even bother getting up, shaking his head and drinking directly from his wine bottle. "Typical Jules. SOMEBODY NEEDS TO FIX THIS WINDOW!"

Julian belatedly remembered the pet vampire eels and screeched, flailing in the swirling depths as something sank fangs into his thigh. He managed to kick it off and frantically scramble to shore, running with adrenaline pumping so hard through him he crashed into a street vendor's cart. "MY CABBAGES!" he wailed.

"I'M SORRY!" Julian haphazardly bolted through the crowded streets, soaking wet, limping, and injured with bloodied cuts all over his face and hands. Many people shrieked at seeing him and helpfully ducked out of the way.

What he didn't expect was to be physically grabbed as he turned down a side street. He readied himself to fight but paused as he realized his would be attacker was a small older woman giving him a stern look. "I- I gotta go I'm so sorry-"

She spoke in a strong accent that reminded Julian's salty heart achingly of home. "You've got to be the worst pirate I've ever seen."

Julian laughed nervously. "Pirate? You must be-"

"I'm coming with you."

"Uh, what?"

"I'm Mazelinka." She jerked her head back down the street. "I live down there. You'll need to remember that when you're back."

"I-"

"You are a disaster, boy!" She snapped. "I make a better pirate than you!" She thrust a small package at him. "For your injuries. I knew you'd need them. I see much."

Julian melted under her short glare and led her to the docks, unsure why he suddenly trusted Mazelinka with his life. "Call me Ilya."

She chuckled at him and remained silent. Julian got the bizarre feeling he'd just been adopted.

-~-

The pirate captain stared at Julian with disbelief. The crew gathered around their exquisitely expensive spoils dumped out on the table, already sailing off to another country to pawn off things such as a priceless vase and large amounts of ruby jewelry. "You went to steal Lucio's arm and came back with an entire old woman?"

Julian blushed. "Yes."

The captain grinned at Mazelinka. "Welcome aboard. Devorak's outdone himself! We needed a lookout since Scurvy Boy left us this very morning."

Julian smirked and rummaged in his pockets. "Now, I don't want you to think I'd come back, ah, empty handed?" He held up a piece of carved gold on a short vibrant violet ribbon, a token of the shoulder rub he'd given Lucio. "Think one of Lucio's war metals will fetch a pretty price?"

The gathered crew cheered and clapped him on the back as he tossed it on the table. With luck, Lucio would blame the loss on a blacked out partying episode. Julian excused himself for some fresh air and leaned on the railing, sighing as he gazed up at the cloudy sky.

The first mate lounged next to him, grinning as the wind whipped their hair. "Say, Devorak- ever thought of getting an eyepatch? It'd look good on you."

Julian snorted. "That's HIGHLY unlikely."

#julian devorak #julians route #the arcana game #ilya devorak #count lucio #fanfic #my writing #i think this is crackfic lmaooooo

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