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[ Luna Lovegood is perhaps the best she's looked in months. Despite the exhausted look about her, and the expression of queasiness — she's void of any trace of Corruption. She's been spending the past several days sleeping, and not sleeping; trying to calm her stomach from the copious amounts of wild animals she'd devoured as a beast. While sustenance for her in Beastform, her stomach now she's human again is... far more delicate. But the worst of it has passed, at least. And Peter has been a blessing for her, making sure she's alright — even if eating has been a little bit of a struggle.

She sits in her room, sat on her bed with her knees curled up to her chest, still dressed in pyjamas. Her Omni rests on her bedside as she begins the broadcast. She's anxious; her brow drawn down in a sorrowful frown. It's important, though. People deserve apologies, even she deserves no luxury of apology in return. She hurt people, quite a lot — and while the memories of the latter half of April are foggy at best, she knows she's done some terrible things. ]

I realise a great deal of people may be very upset with me right now. I would have done this sooner, but I... needed a little bit of time to sort out my mind. [ She's still trying to do that, but it's now or never. ]

I remember the butterflies, and then... it gets a bit mixed up after that. [ It was like... falling down a very, very deep hole. Slowly slipping away from herself, and into something cold and dark and twisted. ]

I'm sorry. I know I hurt a lot of people, I know I— I think I killed people, too. I know I wasn't myself, I became someone terrible and then something terrible. A monstrous Beast. [ It hurts to refer herself as that. No beast is monstrous. But she did monstrous things. That is... simply how it is, and she's ashamed of herself. ] I know people might think it isn't my fault, that I became a Beast — but I still did those things. I barely even know who I did them to, I don't remember much.

But I'm very sorry.

[ She doesn't expect forgiveness, not at all. She's alright with that. Luna's quiet for a long tome, just leaving the apology there. But after a while, she inhales and continues. ]

I was lucky. My friends found me, my boyfriend found me. They brought me back. They knew who I was even though I was a Beast. I can only guess others haven't and won't be so fortunate. [ How many times have Sleepers been killed as Beasts? How many will be in future? ]

I've been doing some thinking, the past couple of days. How to... maybe help Sleepers, somehow. Back home, someone very important to me, a hero to me really, led the way in the study of magical beasts — he's one of the greatest Magizoologists known to Wizardkind. He offered a great deal of insight into beast behaviours, abilities and how best to care for them — compiled it into a textbook.

I'd... like to start doing something like that, but for Sleepers in their Beastforms. I want to do it as my area of study at the School of Mutter. An encyclopaedia of Sleepers' forms of Beasthood, noting their appearance, abilities, strengths and weaknesses. But also how best to help them, calm them down. Bring them back.

[ She doesn't want it to mean it's how to kill them. No, no. Not at all. It's how best to help Sleepers, so they don't have to be killed. But also knowing how best to deal with them, so other Sleepers don't end up getting killed when dealing with Beasts. Merlin knows how many Witches and Wizards were likely killed by magical creatures they had no clue on how to handle them. Wild animals are just that, they can kill. ]

I could have very easily met death at the hands of a Hunter, but I was lucky I didn't. Knowledge is a very powerful tool, and I believe it could do a great deal of good. [ That being said: ] If people have information they'd like to share about their Beastforms, or how they've dealt with bringing Sleepers back — I would like to hear it for my research.

If you'd rather speak in person, you may find me at Ritual Gig in Willful Machine. [ There's a little pause, her voice wobbling slightly. ] You... may have known it as John Constantine's shop, but moving forward I shall be taking up the reins in his absence.

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[Michael doesn't actually respond to the network post - at least, not directly to Luna - but he does stop by the shop she indicated later that day. He raps his knuckles against the door as he opens it, hovering in the doorway.]

Luna?

[ The whole network broadcast has been... exhausting. It's actually nice to get away to the shop and just... enjoy the quiet. Get some work done, take stock. Poor Willow must have had to hold the fort down plenty for most of April while Luna was... out of commission. It still feels... odd, now that John's not here, though. She misses him a great deal.

Michael is a wonderful distraction from pondering too hard on that, though. She looks up, towards the door and her eyes widen. The thinks the wards should be alright with Michael being a demon, he's a nice one, after all. Maul's really the only one who has an outright ban from the place. ]

Hello, Michael. Please come in. [ She waves him in. ] I'm... assuming you might be here about the network post...?

[Seems that way; Michael doesn't appear to notice anything unusual as he enters, at least.]

Ah - well, yes and no. I haven't gone full beast mode yet, so I can't tell you much about that. But Peter and I were talking, before...you know, everything, and he thought you might be able to help me with a project.

I've been trying to figure out ways to...stop myself from hurting people, when I start getting corrupted. Like a cell, sort of, but I'm a little hard to contain when I don't want to be. He thought maybe your magic could affect me somehow. Make it easier.

... Oh. [ A project—? She's... actually intrigued. And really, it does sound like something that might be good for her to work on. Her work on Beasthood will be ongoing and needs a little time to get things going, but something like a project for her to dive into sounds like a good idea. ]

Admittedly, I don't have much experience with trapping demons but I've had to magically restrain Paimon before. [ She's thoughtful for a moment, frowning. It might take a bit of working out. ] But I'd like to help.

... I'm assuming the occult kind of magic wouldn't work on you? Things like wards and sigils?

I doubt it. That stuff technically exists where I'm from, but it's all just made up by humans - it doesn't do anything to us. But - [shrug] - no one's ever actually tried them on me here, we could give it a shot.

[Really, he doesn't think it'll work. People in Deerington tried stuff like holy water, at least the one time. But how stupid would it be to not try, only to find out later it works fine?]

I've learned a few things here and there about bindings and trappings, I could certainly give them a go. [ She hums thoughtfully for a moment. It wouldn't hurt to try, at the very least. ] But I've got spells of my own I could use, too. When I trapped Paimon, I just magically tied him up, essentially. He didn't get out of it, but I'm not sure if he really tried.

[ The fight had kind of... gone out of him, by that point. He was actually behaving for her. So... who knows. ]

I think I've seen a Room-Sealing Spell in one of my textbooks too, but I've never tried it. Basically the door can only be opened by another witch or wizard. Would either of those maybe work...?

[Michael hums thoughtfully.]

I don't mind seeing if the room thing works, but it might be a little inconvenient if you were the only person who could let me out again. The tying up - does that require that you're around, specifically, or could it be set up and triggered later?

[It'd be one thing if they lived together or something, but Michael doesn't necessarily want to trap Luna into babysitting a corrupted demon. Especially since he and Paimon tend to go around the same times - she'd likely be stuck with two of them.]

I could try both now, if you'd like to see. The incarcerous spell is quite simple to do. And there's rooms here in the shop that's safe to use the room sealing spell on. [ She nods. ] They do need me to undo either of them, yes. But I don't mind being the one to let you out again if need be. I suppose I might be making a name for myself being the demon helper.

[ Considering all she does with Paimon, she is... definitely a demon helper now. ]

I could maybe invent something to actually set them off, so I don't need to be there in the first place. There's spells that work with triggers to set them off, like boundary lines. [ That would be quite the challenge. But she is... very much her mother's daughter, she doesn't mind some experimenting. ]

Oh, well, I'd hate to put you out. Especially since...well. You remember how Paimon and I went sort of nuts together, a few months ago? I've noticed that the two of us tend to get hit hard in the same months. Might be a demon thing, you really would be the demon helper.

[So really, even expecting Luna to be able to come get him in the first place, much less be the one to let him out, might be a little much.]

But sure - let's test it out before we worry too much about logistics.

It's no trouble, really. I don't mind, and I quite like to help where I can. [ There's a small shrug, smiling slightly. ] What's another demon, really? I've at least found Paimon generally still listens to me, even when he's not completely himself.

[ For the most part. Bonds between Witches and Demons are pretty solid things, thank Merlin. She nods, though, taking out her wand. Let's give this a try! ]

Alright, why don't you stand here. [ She takes his hand to gently lead him to a more open space on the floor, just in case he ends up toppling over — then steps back, wand at the ready. ] Ready—?

[ Once he gives her the go ahead, she flicks her wand at him and utters: Incarcerous—! Ropes materialise from her wand-tip out of thin air, flinging themselves towards Michael at speed. They snare on him, wrapping tightly. One set forces his arms to his sides as they curl around him, another curls around his legs a tie up his legs at the thigh and mid-calf — knotting firmly in place.

... now the question is whether he might be able to worm his way out them somehow. ]

Well, don't expect me to do that. You've seen it, I can be...mean.

[Michael winces a little. He knows himself, knows perfectly well his own capacity for all sorts of cruelty. He doesn't act like that anymore now, but that doesn't mean he's not capable.

He follows and nods, and watches as the ropes lash out to wrap around him. He probably would have lost his balance and fallen over, if he hadn't been expecting them!]

Wow, those are fast! [He chuckles, charmed.] Okay, well, the first thing I'd try is probably this...

[He bursts into blue demon fire in an attempt to simply burn them away! There's a couple other options he could attempt, not all of which he even particularly wants to demonstrate, but this is the most basic one.]

[ There's a weak smile at that. Ah, yes. She knows. But it's not as if she's not dealt with people being mean or cruel before — she's... used to that.

They can definitely catch someone unaware, but unfortunately despite being magically conjured the ropes are... just that. Ropes. They might not be easy enough to untie or struggle out of, but she certainly doesn't expect someone to burn their way out of them. Her eyes go wide at the sight of the blue flames — but she's ultimately impressed at the sight even if it means it... hasn't worked. ]

I didn't know you could do blue flames! [ It's very cool—! With a wave of her wand, she charms the charred remains of rope away. She's quite for a few moments, thoughtful: trapping spells, trapping spells... ] ... Maybe I need something more... magical.

[ Oh—! ]

A bubble—!

[ ... yes, a bubble. She's going to go raking around in her satchel for a spell book, hopefully she has the right one with her. ]

Edited 2022-06-01 02:32 (UTC)

Technically I'm always on fire. I just keep it lower, usually.

[Michael watches the ropes burn away with a strange mix of disappointment and triumph. Yeah, he wants to find something that'll safely contain him...but that doesn't mean it's not still a little satisfying to come up on top.

Brushing the ashes off his arms, he moves to peer at whatever Luna's consulting.]

A bubble? [...] Would it float?

It is a wonder you don't burn all the upholstery. [ Although well, that's also probably just how demon-fire works. Not burning things if he doesn't want to. She's currently looking under charms used in Duelling. It's a bit of a stretch to use it in something like this, but it might work. Aha—! ]

I don't think so, no. [ Best he doesn't... float away. She taps the entry in her book, turning the book slightly to show him. ] The Ebublio Jinx. A charm which entraps the targeted individual, or indeed any target, in a very large bubble that could not be popped by physical force.

... Now I think about it, they used this on Fire-Breathing Chickens to contain them a couple of years ago when a Wizard was caught breeding them illegally.

Are those like cockatrices? I've worked with them, once or twice. We'd model a decent number of tortures after human legends - though we did get away from chicken-based ones over the years.

[Michael moves back to his spot on the floor, rolling his shoulders. He'll probably attempt the fire again, just in case; he's pretty sure he runs hotter than a chicken beast. But what else could he attempt to get out...?]

Just actual chickens that breath fire, but we do have cockatrices too. [ There's a blink. Torture by cockatrice is certainly a thing she has just heard about. ] ... I suppose they're very destructive by nature.

[ Well, then. Luna reads over the spell again, doing a short practice of the wand movements to one side. Charms do require at great deal of precision, always better to practice first. And then, with as steadying breath to ready herself, she points her wand at Michael. She draws a precise 'e'-shape in the air: ]

Ebublio—!

[ With a flash of blue light, a huge bubble forms at his feet and reaches up, quickly enclosing him within it. Luna looks intrigued, she's not done this spell before, after all. She approaches, reaching to try and pop it with her finger — but the bubble's surface simply bends under the pressure. ]

Oh, that's quite a fun spell. [ She steps back again. ] Give it a go of trying to get out of it.

Huh!

[Michael pokes his side of the bubble as well, grinning. That's not a real attempt to escape, that's just fun.]

Well, let's see what the fire does... [He'll ignite a hand and place it against the bubble's surface, just to see what happens.] I could also try punching it very hard. Or stabbing.

[ The bubble seems to hold well enough against his flaming hand, much like it seems quite apt at holding fire-breathing chickens. He'll find any physical force will be met with the bubble simply bending against him, resuming its original shape once more. ]

I think this... might work..? [ Luna's thoughtful for a moment. ] Perhaps if I invent some kind of trap for it to form somehow when you're under the effects of Corruption, it'll keep you contained until we can get you sorted again.

Maybe either in the form enchanting a room to trigger it, something password activated? Or perhaps something you could wear?

[ That might take a bit of work, but it's not impossible...? ]

Yeah, this seems to be holding.

[Can he move around in it like a hamster ball? He's gonna try to hamster ball it.]

Trapping me in a room might work, but I've also got a lot of housemates. Wouldn't want to stick one of them in here accidentally... [Maybe the shop? But there's a lot of foot traffic there.] How easy would it be for someone who isn't you to break it from outside?

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