video; un: quibbler

[creidim]

[ 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.

Comments

[grice]

Really great. I'm learning potions.

[ before scuttling into her home, falco uses his free arm to turn his face and hug luna's waist. genuine and affectionate, there's also a lingering hold there that seeks to offer comfort in some way.

his smile is bright and relieved, and his embrace is longing and hopeful. he's glad she's here, that she's better— and he hopes that the hurt will lift just a tiny bit this afternoon. ]

Is . . . Your neck okay?

[ it was hard to see on the omni, and when he pulls back to look up, he does search for it— and hopes that his own bite, despite well-meaning (??) wasn't a scar on her skin, but a blurrly memory on her beast's pelt. ]

[creidim]

Oh, that's lovely. [ There's a little smile at the hug, her arm reaching around his shoulders to hug him gently back. ] If you ever need a little help on things like medicinal plants, I can offer some books.

[ The question gives her pause, a reminder of partly why he's here. She remembers little parts, mostly sensations and smells. She exhales silently, sagging a bit as they each pull away from the embrace.

But... she can at least offer him assurances; she's walked away from it all with little physical injury. The Beast took the damage, she just remembers the pain of it. She's been... feeling the ache since she came back. ]

It's alright, yes. [ Her voice is quiet. ] It... didn't mark me. I was okay when I changed back.

[ But now she's wondering about him—? She just can't quite bring herself to ask, but the question is there on her face as she looks at him: What about you—? ]

[grice]

[ ah, she— oh. she wants to know about him. there’s a bit of a dark green hue around his ears; either he’s shy or trying to hide something. at least, physically, there wasn’t anything to hide. he’d still have the memory, and the ache—

but it was hard to be self-preserving when you’d always bounce back? it was hard to feel like he should be dwelling on it when anything he sustains is gone within a day. at most, he sleeps more than necessary. torn and bloody clothes are the only things he loses. while it’s not particularly healthy (possibly even dangerous to think), falco stills says it with soft reassurance. ]

I always heal. It’s alright.

[creidim]

It doesn't feel alright. [ Not to her, she means. What she'd done to him, both himself and as that giant, like the ones she's seen in his memory. But she doesn't understand what that's about — she'd thought maybe those giants were different creatures entirely, their own race of creatures. But... no...? ]

Those... giants. What you turned into— they're people—? You're one of them—?

[grice]

[ falco flinches subtly, knowing deeper within that it perhaps wasn't "alright". that wasn't the word. if falco was in her place, it wouldn't feel alright, either— he's always still racked with guilt about it. but how else to say that he isn't angry, or harmed, and that they can still move forward? he didn't know how.

with his head already lowered, eyes kept to the still covered and cradled bundle napping in his arms, there's a small bounce to it. he's nodding. ]

It's passed down— from Warrior to Candidate. I got it a while after the time you saw, when we met.

[creidim]

[ Part of her shouldn't be surprised. She's already seen the fact children are fighting in the war in his home world. But there's still something that strikes her with it all the same. Not just a soldier, but someone able to transform into some huge creature to help fight in that war — like a secret weapon. ]

So it's like a mantle—? The ability to become one of those beings? [ She's quiet for a moment, her brow pinching. ] It... doesn't feel right, you know? Sometimes people would think I was too young, and you're younger than me.

[ Barely fifteen and breaking into the Ministry, ending up fighting Death Eaters. ]

I'm sorry I hurt you.

[grice]

[ it was simply fact that falco's home country didn't care about him, his people or his age— it meant more power and more fodder. falco bows his head in agreement. he knows just how wrong it is and wishes it all gone, but that is his history. that was a tragedy that he got sucked in. the truth was, if he didn't get it earlier, like he did, he would have gotten it anyway, officially. ]

I'm sorry, too. And I'm sorry you went through that.

[ it wasn't her fault, and it was so unfair— but he accepts her words, with a gentle reach of his hand to hers to leave a squeeze. although— that's not the only thing he does with her hand. falco carefully begins to guide her to the lump he's holding, pausing to wait for her acceptance to continue. he places her palm on top of the spherical top and tugs down the fabric covering it up.

luna is now touching a multicolored egg, of sorts. one that unfolds to apex of its tip into a face with big doe eyes, blinking about from slumber to stare up at her through the light.

and then, the egg smiles at her with contagious serenity. ]

[creidim]

[ There's a solemn nod. She's thankful he accepts it, even if she knows that he has no obligation to do so. There's a hard swallow, a quiet graveness on her face. There's a feeling of loss about it all, in the trying to pick up the pieces of it all. Where to go from here. She squeezes his hand back with the tiniest of smiles before he's guiding it towards him, her eyes shifting downwards to the bundle against him as she gives him permission to continue. Curiosity gets the better of her, her head tilting—

Oh.

Luna's captivated by the sight, staring for a long moment with held breath as the strange egg unfolds from it's sleep. Oh—! And then she's bending down slightly with wide eyes to gaze a little closely to the little creature. A quiet, adoring joy blossoms over her face. Creatures are always such a love of hers, and she's always excited to meet more of them. But this is... something very special. ]

Oh, hello. [ She speaks ever so softly to it. Merlin it looks only like a baby creature, even if she might not know what the creature is. She... is in love. ] Look at you—! You're lovely.

[ She gently tickles one of it's cheeks, cooing softly to it before her gaze lifts back up to meet the boy's. ]

Do they have a name?

[grice]

Confetti.

[ a name as playful and sweet as the spherical thing just absolutely adoring and responding to the attention with coos of his own. falco can’t help but to smile warmly at the exchange. confetti chirps and does something inevitably irresistible: his stubby little feather paws reach for the the young woman’s face, with such lively, almost laughing little shrieks. falco knows what he wants, but before he just allows it to happen, he gestures with his shoulder, and a little lift of his arms: ]

Do you want to hold him?

[creidim]

Confetti's a good name. [ A very fun name, celebratory even. Luna's quickly endeared to the little creature as they reach out to touch her face. What a cheery little fellow—! She actually manages a little grin, still uttering little soft sounds in reply to him. ]

Oh, I'd love to. Would that be alright?

[ Her hands are already reaching for him — yes, she would very much like to hold him. But then there's a couple of raised eyebrows in questioning, she's never seen anything like him before, so she'd rather take Falco's advice on handling: ]

How's best to hold him?

[grice]

[ confetti looks ecstatic to be guided into the hands of the other— and a powerful little thing he is. from the proximity and the desire to reach out and gift, confetti exudes a contagious bubbling of happiness. it's a touch of magical influence, in fact! ]

I've been doing it like this, [ he gestures, one hand curving beneath him and the other curved to support his back. ] like a baby.

[ miss rose taught him even further how to perfect his infant handling skills, and the child (the mandalorian one) had helped give a start to it in the first place. with confetti in luna's arms, it chirps and shrills, pats at her gently as he probes his new handler— oh, no. it's doing the baby babble-squeal.

may luna rest in peace. ]

maybe could wrap this one?

[creidim]

[ It's not difficult to coax the joy out of her. It comes easily in the face of curious creatures. But certainly there's something at work — something eases a little in her behind the eyes. Luna hums thoughtfully, tickling the creature about the cheeks once more. ]

Oh, I see—! [ She shifts her arms carefully, holding him as directed. Admittedly she's not really held babies, just creatures and even then it wasn't always quite like this. The baby Nifflers for one, she misses them so, were more than a handful. But, there! Luna utters out a chuckle at the babble-squeals.

This is a good way to die. ]

Thank you for bringing him, he's lovely.

[ Just the cheer-up she needed. ]

Now how about you come sit and tell me about your Beastform, and then why don't you go see Peter. He's upstairs in his room right now, but I'm sure he'd love to see you.

[ She's... kind of let him be. Paimon's been out, considering the broadcast on the network. ]

certainly!

[grice]

[ falco nods immediately, but— oh, god, look! it's too endearing. he's caught watching the both of them with warm eyes and glad he made a good decision. finding a chair to skid up close so he could sit for a moment, he starts: ]

I don't know my Beastform yet, but— I know what my corruption is like. I have an idea of what it could lead to.

[ and so he tells her, how his own possession is uniquely tied to how his corruption manifests. the silence itself was more like corruption given sentience— it would always start with a cold at its mildest stage. his pacifistic nature would become combative, and aggressive toward provocation. it was easier to think negatively, to be angry, to be beyond saddened, to hang onto grudges that would otherwise be forgiven. he would begin to see things, he would have more episodes. slime, purple eyes, deafness—

he would end his observations with what a full possession would look like: a lot of slime and hunger for negativity, with falco's consciousness aware of what's happening but too small to keep it canned. it does not kill if it isn't forced to; the silence feeds off of the worst emotions and brings them to light as a neverending fuel. he could only guess that his beastform would be the silence at its absolute prime and freedom. how to combat it? he doesn't know for certain, but holy objects work against him as is. he's certain it would work again. strong, protective wards. hope. positivity. happiness.

once he's done, he'd gladly leave luna to have some fun with confetti, before climbing the stairs to visit peter. he was here for him, too. a little search for advice between haunted boys. ]