((Okay, the rules. Anyone can join! But, you must post with substance, and you must be patient and willing to wait for one person at a time. This actually does have an intended plan, so don't go off on your own thing too much. Enjoy! =) ))
When Ginny was fourteen, she had been married. Her husband had been a boy of the same age, by the name of Conan Sulai. Together, she and Conan ruled a country that was 3000 years in the past. Unfortunately, Conan tried to kill her. Needless to say, Ginny filed for divorce.
Now, the country she and Conan had ruled together was in turmoil. The citizens were considering revolt against King Conan, they were tired of his rule. He knew there was only one way to keep the country together. He need an heir. Since he couldn't get married and produce one in a day, he knew he had to get Ginny to agree to announce her son as the heir to the throne.
The problem was, Ginny hated Conan with a passion.
Still, he had to try. His adviser, Sam, was pushing him to do at least this right. And so Conan had contacted Sirius Back. Black had delivered a letter to Ginny, asking her to meet him. Grudgingly, she had agreed. Under the condition that they meet at Hogwarts. Conan agreed.
Now, Ginny stood on the steps of the school, her hands shoved deep into the front pocket of the black hoodie she wore. In addition, she had on jeans and sneakers, and her red hair hung down her back. She didn't smile as she stood there, her entire being suggested annoyance. In fact, she radiated agitation.
On the step, sitting beside her, was her small son, Cody. He sat with his elbows on his knees, his face in his hands. He was pouting, his adorable face set into a frown. His beautiful ice blue eyes stared off down the road, and the wind moved his black hair from his forehead. He looked up at Ginny.
"Mom, is Dad gonna be here when that other guy comes?"
Ginny knelt down, sighed and rubbing the four year old's back.
"I don't know, angel. Maybe." She smiled at him, "And if he isn't, there's no need to be scared. Conan is a big wimp." She winked at Cody, causing the little boy to giggle.
He smiled, his eyes lighting up much as her's did when she was truly happy.
"Okay." He giggled again, then nodded at her.
Alex ran through the opened door attempting to get away from his annoying sister. He suddenly stopped in his tracks. "Hey Proffesor Weasly and oh it's Cody right." He said smiling trying to catch his breath.
Thump thump, thump thump. Pitter patter of dog paws could barely even be heard as a black dog ran swiftly through the Forbidden Forest. Birds flew out of the way as he leaped over logs and crunched down on leaves.; Snuffles ran quickly, fearing he would be late.
He made his way through the trees till slowly he could see them thinning out. From the corner of his eye he spotted a boy and a girl. First years maybe daring to break school rules and enter the forest. His tail wagged but he didn't slow his pace even though he very much so was tempted to go harass them. Instead he decided to make them jump a little. He slowed to a slow skipping walk and hiding behind a tree he growled a deep low rumble, quiet at first then he growled louder, his teeth snarled.
The children heard them and quickly started screaming, running from the forest as fast as they could. Snuffles had a moments laughter before focussing on getting to the Castle himself. He took of running once more.
There's the clearing, almost there, hope I'm not late. What if He's already there? I hope she isn't mad at me. Snuffles thought in his head as he ran. He reached the end of the forest and kept running, up the steps leading down to Hagrid's Hut.
Finally after what seemed like just a few moments Snuffles could make out the silhouette of two figures. One was relatively taller then the other and her red hair shown in the sunlight. Snuffle's heart raced as he slowed to a walk as he made his way to them.
He stopped just a few short feet away, and slowly closed eyes. Where Snuffles had just stood, Sirius replaced him in black pants, a black robe covering his red shirt. "Am I late?" He said, not looking at Ginny's eyes. His own were a scared purple.
Jessie looked out of the window of the common room, spotting the bright red hair of a Weasley. She assumed it was Ginny. There was a small child seated beside her, probably her son Cody. Sirius and Alex were there too, Alex seemed to be a passerby, but Sirius appeared planned.
Jessie ran to her bed and grabbed her broom. She used her wand to blow open the window. She ran and jumped out of it, with her broom in hand. She swung a leg over her broom and flew down to where Ginny and everyone was. She landed somewhat lightly, her hair slightly windblown.
She leaned her broom against the building and ran her fingers through her hair. She smiled at everyone and said, *Hey guys! What's going on?* She noted Ginny's annoyed look and that she didn't seem to feel the need to hide it.
Ginny looked up at Sirius from where she still knelt next to Cody. She frowned, and stood slowly.
"No. By the way, thanks so much for helping him." She growled at him, taking a small step towards him. She clenched her fists, "I had finally gotten him out of my life and you open the door to bring him back in?"
Cody looked up at Sirius and his mother, his smile evaporating.
"Mom, leave him alone..." He said quietly. He could tell that Sirius hadn't meant to upset Ginny.
Ginny ran a hand through her hair, anger rolling off her in waves. She turned as Jessie landed on the ground near them. She folded her arms, "Hi Jessie." She muttered. Without saying anything, she sat next down on the step. She reached over and pulled Cody into her lap, burying her face into his hair.
Cody hugged her back, and smiled at Jessie as a way of greeting.
The atomosphere of Hogwarts was different than so many years ago, when Xaver had last been to the grounds. The fleeting scents and heavy aromas were somehow stronger, thicker, than ever before - pine, swampy earth, freshly mowed grasses, and a pronounced sense of ancient youth, even in its oxymoronic nature. Eternally young, but with a dark and pronounced wisdom that only came with age.
The same sort of tarnish that threaded through Xaver's very own being. Knowledge beyond that of a standard. Knowledge that haunted.
And changed.
No matter how much he refuted the belief, Xaver knew, within, he had changed. Perhaps not astronomically.. But there were many sure, though subtle, differences to his creature. Many alterations that he took for granted, many that he didn't understand, and a fair few, that he simply didn't even notice. Stuck with a mindset and outlook that he'd settled into for centuries, it was a very vampiric sense of unease that was coming to Xaver astride the tide of change.
The salty aroma of the clouds gave way as the Fallen lord dropped, easily, from the cloud cover of the skies, making an easy, and patient descent, the dark enormities of his wings stretched wide, the satin black feathers glittering, and shifting about in the breeze. He sucked in a breath as he closed the bredth of his wings, his drop escalating in speed until he opened them once more, stalling until he'd circled the castle, and had spotted the small group, noting Ginny, and Cody, not needing his senses to know they were there. Not only was it that he'd been told, prior, where they would be, but Xaver could scout out his family, no matter where they were. ..Else, he'd die trying, anyway.
Booted feet touched the ground as he landed with a sort of almost airy, easy grace. His dark wings closed behind him, folding into their natural, though easily foreboding position of rest, though if one truly knew the Fallen king, it was just as natural, that he was very rarely at a state of ease, let alone a state of anything less than dangerous.
He kneeled beside Cody and Ginny, and despite his attire, the dark pants, and navy longsleeved shirt that enhanced the lean musculature of his figure, and the sharpness of his features, he smiled, warmth that was nothing but honest and gentle touching the corners of his mouth, and melting the ice that was his moody gaze.
"Hey, Strangers."
His octaves were low, and calm, despite the situation.
His focus, momentarily, fixed only on his family. As if oblivious of everyone else.
Ginny didn't look up, preferring to keep her face buried in her son's obsidian hair and hiding her annoyance. She spoke, however, her voice slightly muffled.
"Hey Xav."
Her tones were low, upset, aggravated. She wasn't scared, just angry. If she'd had her way, she'd never lay eyes on Conan Sulai's face again. Not even for her kingdom.
In her opinion, Cody's well being came first. And it was in his best interest, according to her, to keep the boy away from people she hated.
Cody grinned widely at his dad and let his eyes go over his mom, as if to say, 'She's acting like a kid.' Cody didn't use telepathy, Ginny had avoided teaching him it so far. But he knew his dad could understand him without words even without the psychic powers. Cody giggled.
For him, this was a happy occasion. He'd get to be announced as Prince, which meant he'd be allowed to see the kingdom his mother had once ruled over daily.
Cody leaned against Ginny, knowing she wanted to hold him and hug him. He knew she wanted him to stay a small child forever. It bothered him usually.
But for some strange reason, not today.
Sirius stood awkwardly next to Cody, a little ways outside the now forming group as the presence of Xaver was aware to him. He didn't speak to make himself known. Merely stood there waiting to see what would happen next. Part of him wondered, does Xaver know it was me that sent the letter to Ginny? He thought to himself. He feared what would happen if Xaver didn't know and happened to find out that it was he who sent Ginny's past back to her. Sirius felt it was the right thing to do though, well not now. Before he did though, when he had spoken to Conan.
Sirius hoped the honored guest would arrive soon, to be able to reassure him that what he did was right. In the meantime all he could do was stand staring at his shoes, his hands in his pockets meekly avoiding everyone.
Jessie watched Xaver descend from the clouds. He landed so lightly, it was as if he was a feather. She smiled at the warmth that came from his smile, the way he looked at his family. She knew that he would never let anything happen to them.
She watched Sirius nervously stand there, and she wondered why everyone was so edgy. It seemed like the kind of day where nothing could go wrong, no bad could happen. It appeared that she was wrong. Just watching Ginny alone told her that.
Jessie scuffled her feet, her blue converse kicking up a small bit of dust. She watched it fall back to the ground, where she kicked it up again. She was hardly amused, but it was something to do.
He looked around him to see Sirius, Jessie, Cody, Ginny, and Xaver. Very bad timing... He thought to himself. "Sorry I think I'll be leaving right now.
((d**n it....I forgot that I should have brought Harry into this.....whatever......too late =P))
It was only a moment later there came a commotion not too far down the path leading from Hogwarts. If one looked up, they could see a group of three people, two men in gray flanking a man wearing red and brown. The man in the middle had sandy hair, a boyish face. He had his hands shoved deep into his pockets, looking like a child who doesn't want to go where his parents are making him.
Ginny never moved, though she obviously knew the men had arrived, and were close by. She simply squeezed Cody again, as though doing so would transform him into the small infant he used to be. Her annoyance was apparent.
Cody, however, grinned widely, as though he'd been waiting for this day his whole life. He sorta had been. He had always wanted to see the kingdoms his parents ruled over, and now fate was forcing his mother to allow him this. He looked up at Jessie, watching her play with the dust on the ground as he waited for the men to approach.
When they were about ten feet away, all three men stopped, and the middle one looked up. Immediately, Conan's eyes went to Ginny, or what he could see of her. His face softened, and he cleared his throat.
"It's nice to see you, Gin..."
((When I said post with substance, I WASN'T joking. It has to be more than one paragraph in order for me to even pay attention to the post.))
((You're so stubborn Ginny ;D It's funny!))
Jessie looked up as the men approached. Apparently one of them knew Ginny. They must have known her pretty well, if you could judge by the way he spoke to her. ~The men flanking him might be body guards~ Jessie guessed. That would lead to the conclusion that he was fairly important, even though she had never seen him before.
Jessie still had no idea what was going on, but figured she would learn soon enough. She had already figured out quite a few things with out anyone explaining to her. Clearly something must have happened between Ginny and this man, and Ginny didn't like it.
Cody seemed to be enjoying himself, the exact opposite from his mother. It was strange how even when people were so closely related, they could have such different opinions.
(She's not stubborn she's smart lol. I'm glad she's 'stubborn' when it comes to writing.)
Sirius sighed, watching as Conan approached there larger forming group. This was all his fault, Sirius didn't like Conan and he felt ashamed that he had dragged Ginny into this. He hoped Ginny didn't hold a grudge.
Sirius noticed Cody's change in facial expression and hoped that it wasn't for Conan. Sirius never understood why Cody had wanted so badly to become Conan's friend at Hogsmead. He hoped it wouldn't happen again. He feared he wouldn't be able to conscience Cody otherwise if it were to happen again.
Conan was such a jerk.
Conan was controlling jerk.
sirius sighed, all his fault...
He remained silent, watching Conan along with Ginny very carefully, knowing nothing crucial would happen but still worried something would.
((Me too!! ;D))
Jessie simply observed. There was not much else that she could do because she was sure that these men had good telepathy skills. Even if they didn't, she felt that she shouldn't risk it.
Jessie heard Sirius sigh and wondered what it was about. Maybe he felt responsible, ashamed, or aggravated. There were too many emotions that could be expressed through a sigh that she just couldn't tell which one Sirius felt.
"Shut up." Ginny mumbled into Cody's hair, her voice surprisingly full of venom. She picked her head up and looked at him. It was worse than a glare, with how scary she seemed. Her eyes were dark with anger, her cheeks pink from the effort of keeping her temper in check. She looked ready to kill, and had no one else been there, she would have.
Conan took a small step back, but quickly regained his composure. Hoping, against hope, that no one had seen his momentary fear. His escorts shifted, hiding their amusement by looking away.
Conan took a deep breath, "Ginny, I'm simply trying to make this more plea sent-"
"Pleasant? It'd be more pleasant if you were dead." Ginny snapped, her voice a low growl.
Running was heard, and out of the entrance hall, erupted Albus.
Albus had seen Ginny, Jessie, Xaver, Sirius, Cody and Alex outside from his room, then, being approached by someone
Albus didn't know, but he had heard enough about him. His wand was clenched in his hand, ready to do anything. He had felt danger as Conan approached the castle. Xaver and Ginny was there, the two strongest people he knew, but, if something happened, he wanted to be there, ready to help with anything.
Albus opened his mouth, going to speak out, but then, looked at Ginny.
Quickly, his mouth was shut by those eyes, filled with anger. The atmosphere was tense, as Albus put his wand down, then quickly walked over to Jessie, looking into her eyes, then looked at Conan.
The hate towards that man had only buildt up the last year. When in Ginny, Cody and Xaver's trial,
when they had heard that Conan had hit her twice, he had to restrain himself.
Albus ripped his mental way into his mind, wanting to think a bit, without any of the others knowing what
he thought. Conan was a powerful wizard, Albus knew, so he could easily break into his mind, if he tried occlumency. ~What a despicable human being.~
"Wishing and dreaming will get you know where Ginny. So why don't we discuss the matter at hand?" He snapped at her angrily. Sirius was suddenly very anxious and curious to get this over with. His sudden outburst at Ginny made him pause in his head, thinking over what he just said.
She was powerful, what would stop her from simply knocking out the person that technically had gotten her there. Sirius was fearful for his self yes, but he for some reason was blinded by his actions, almost siding with Conan on the matter.
((The funniest part of this? Conan is--and always has been-- a muggle. =) ))
"Go f**k yourself, Sirius!" Ginny snapped back, turning her eyes upon him. She would have stood to face him had she not been holding Cody on her lap. Nonetheless, she looked less than a moment away from simply moving the boy and going after Sirius. Though, it was more likely she'd chase after Conan first.
Cody jumped when his mother spoke, surprised by the hatred and venom in her voice. He had never heard her speak so harshly. He twisted, looking at her face with wide eyes, "Momma?" He questioned, "Don't be angry. It was bound to happen."
Ginny looked down at her little boy, her eyes softening as she did so. She smoothed his hair, "I know, Angel...I just didn't want it to happen so soon."
Conan fidgited,"So you expected them to revolt?" He asked, now the angry one, "You knew they would and didn't even warn me?!" He clenched his fists, but immediately lost his anger when Ginny looked up at him. His blood chilled as she glared at him, this time not saying anything.
(Seems to me like the creator of Conan wanted to add a little sarcasm into the mixture thus making him a muggle? Perhaps increasing her power and fear towards others. =] None the less it worked because I'm sure scared sh.tless to see what either character will do.)
Sirius for once didn't alter his stance, he stood firm knowing that she would not lay a finger on him so long as Cody was safely in her grasp. He almost could smirk at her though the fear deep inside him kept him from doing such foolish actions.
"I know, Angel...I just didn't want it to happen so soon."
"For that you have not only Conan to blame but me as well. And I'm sorry, but Conan has a point, why did you not warm him of the revolt against him and his family?" Sirius eyed Ginny cautiously, carefully he slid his fingers into his pocket, touching his smooth black wand that lay in his pocket.
He didn't think it would come down to that but Sirius was unable to decipher through Ginny's face, he was unable to see how angry or frustrated she really was though her words sure did explain some sides to her emotions.
((Hm. I never knew Conan was a muggle until now!))
Mira as Angel had been romping around in the woods and had stopped wh en she heard someone stomping along. She had turned to see Conan and his bodygaurds carelessly walking along. It had looked as if they had some where important to go. 'Uh oh.' Was the thought that came to mind.
Angel had followed them through the brush to see what was going on, remebering a past meeting with Conan and knowing that he was far from friendly. She had been surprised to see him meeting Ginny though. And what had Cody to do in all of this? Mira had turned back into herself and had been somewhat hidden. Or enough so as to not be really noticed.
Now though she came out quietly not interrupting the conversation or anything, but for the plain fact that she didn't like to eavesdrop that much. She felt much better knowing that she was in plain sight.
Xaver's smile was that of gentle, calm assurance, as much as his eyes relayed curiosity and concern, and he nodded to Cody before he rose, standing near his family, though his back was to the castle, and his position was instinctively defensive. Xaver had never been one to relax, unless upon certain rare occasions, when anywhere but home. His exterior was a case of cool, collected, calm and patient mannerisms, though he was a man light on his toes - always in springy alertness. Ready; anticipating. Near to the point of paranoia.
The Fallen lord's jaw hardened when the others approached, his figure setting into an ages-old military stance, callous-padded hands clasping at the small of his back, and the broad breadth of his shoulders bracing. Squarely, not rounded by shame. His jaw set and high, though firmly, rather than displaying the arrogance tha human male exuded.
Xaver remained unusually still as the tensions rose, as well as the animosity of the banter, his eyes barely following the others - instead remaining over his family. Ginny, and Cody's reactions.
((((AHHHHH. Forgive the shlt post, please... -le sigh-)))))
Why hadn't she told him? Ginny looked at Sirius, seemingly surprised he had asked that question. Her brow furrowed as if she were truly perplexed at it. Then she spoke in a clear voice.
"I hate him."
She squeezed Cody again, as though holding onto the boy kept her from losing sight of her own emotions. She turned her eyes from Sirius, looking at Conan.
"I hate you."
Ginny hated few people in the world. But Conan was one of them, it seemed.
Cody squeaked as Ginny squeezed him and he looked to Xaver for help. His mother's emotions were filling his own head, he felt them. Deep anger, sadness...fear.
What was she afraid of?
Jessie looked on, meeting different people's eyes. She would be filled with there emotions, and then once they looked away she would be only left with her own confusion, fear, anger. It appeared as if everyone here knew more than she did. She was left to guess.
Ginny was clearly angry and Sirius wasn't helping much. In fact, if Cody wasn't there, Ginny would probably be ripping him to shreds, after Conan of course.
Jessie stuck her hands in her pockets. Her right hand fingered her willow wood wand. She stroked it's smooth wood, hoping that she wouldn't need to use it today. There was no guarantee, however, she could only wait and see.
Mira looked around at the people surrounding her, bad combo... bad combo. She could feel the tension in the air and saw Jessie fiddling with her wand. Mira desperatly willed Jessie not to draw it, but didn't send it to her mentally, for knowledge that Ginny would easily hear it.
So instead she just looked at Conan with emotion written plainly on her face. It was clear Mira wanted nothing to do with him, that she hated him, and never wanted to see him. But, why, then, she questioned herself. Why was she standing here? Anticipation? Fear? Pity? Or just because she was bored? Mira still herself had no idea.
Jessie watched Conan and Ginny the closest of all, wishing that they would say something to explain what was going on. She knew that this probably wouldn't happen, but it was all that she could hope for.
Jessie watched Mira glare at Conan. She wondered, ~How does she know him? I would think that she would have told me about him if she really hates him as much as she's showing.~
((Sorry, not the longest post, but I don't really have much to work with here...))
Sirius sighed, moving his hands swiftly from his pocket he placed them in front of him, as if showing off Conan and Ginny that stood opposite each other. He shrugged, looking at Conan. "I got her here, will you just get everything over with."
He didn't like the feeling he had standing there, he felt torn in two and he wasn't one to pick sides. Even if he had to he couldn't have, Ginny had her reasons sure but something about Conan's side made him think that his side was correct. Sirius simply felt content in saying neither side was right, nor were they wrong.
They were just two people, trying to do what is right for there lives, trying to compete in the world like everyone else for survival. The winner?
No one could ever possibly win that race. Not even if they tried.
"I hate him."
Xaver's gaze followed Ginny, eyes setting as the plush curvature of her mouth formed the words. Knowing that in more ways than even he knew, Ginny deserved every right to despise the mortal male that had more than once abused her sense of rights, self, and meaning. The bastard was worth little more than political interest. Interest that Ginny was assuredly tied to, unfortunately. And so, as well, was their son.
Which remained the underlying reason of the entire unfortunate meeting.
His gaze, uneasily, flitted over Sirius.
"What, exactly, is said everything?"
Mira stayed rooted to the spot. Now she knew why. Fear. Xaver and Ginny scared the poop out of her. And here they were, two of the most powerful people she has ever known, one of them very angry, but she could never tell what Xaver was feeling by his facial expressions.
So Mira stayed standing there out of fear to move. Her dislike to Conan was still written on her face, remembering meeting him and how he spoke to Ginny. She just wanted to know why this meeting was arranged, and why Sirius would do it. He knew Ginny hated Conan. Mira scowled a bit. Why would Sirius bring Ginny and Conan together? To just talk? Heighly unlikely.
Jessie stayed still. She was picking up more and more throught the conversation, but wanted someone to say something really obvious to explain more to her. She watched as people's expressions fickered across their faces. She looked at Xaver. His face showed about as much expression as a rock. Maybe less.
"I got her here, will you just get everything over with."
Jessie was surprised. Why would Sirius bring Ginny to meet with Conan? He must have known that she hated him! And what was everything that he had to do? Why was Cody here? So many questions unanswered with still more swirling in her head.
Jessie was rooted to the spot. Partially because her foot was asleep and partially because she needed to know what would happen. And yet, she was also afraid. Ginny was angrier than Jessie had ever seen her. How could she know what Ginny would do?
"They want us to let them take our son back to Romania!" Ginny said, before Conan could speak. He held up his hands, as though he could defend himself from her words with them.
"You are welcome to come as well," He said flatly. His gaze flickered to Xaver, and he shivered before he looked to Ginny, "We only want to announce him as crowned Prince, Ginny. It's not like we're sentencing him to death!"
Ginny growled, "Yes it is! It put him in even more danger! As if the kid doesn't have enough problems!"
Cody slid off his mother's lap, turning to face her. He cupped her face in his hands and planted a big kiss on her cheek.
"Momma, I want to be the Prince." He told her gravely, still holding her face. All anger went from Ginny's expression and she just stared at her small son.
"Momma, I want to be the Prince."
Albus looked at Cody, a bit surprised. ~Why do he wants to be the prince?~
Then, he took his wand down in his pocket again, but still, don't changing his stance.
Even still the atmosphere had changed, the feeling of danger was slowly sliding away,
but, he had to be ready to counter-act.
Albus looked down on the ground. A sad feeling was sweeping over him, coming from no where.
It took over him, and a few tears appeared in his eyes, only to be blinked away.
Why did he feel like this so sudden? Was it empathy? What was it really...?
Mira's jaw dropped and she stumbled backwards a bit. Her hair was flung backwards off her shoulders and she stood there for a moment. So this is what Conan wanted? But it definatley wasn't what Ginny wanted. And how could Cody leave?
Mira's eyes flickered from the normal brown to white as they sometimes did when she was angry. But she wasn't angry now, was she? No, she was confused... Or rather she was extremely angry. At Conan. She had no right to be as angry as she was. It wasn't her son, it wasn't her decision in any way.
Mira grimanced, her normal soft features, hardened by this anger. Her face, with as much emotion as there was raging behind it, showed nothing. All that changed, was the occasional flicked of her yees from brown to white.
((Sorry I don't have a lot to work with, so I apologize if that post is repetative.))
Ginny reached out, touching Cody's cheek, "Darling, how can you possibly want that?" She shook her head slowly, "It's not fun, trust me. I was Queen...people are always watching you...people are always telling you what to do. Are you sure you want that?"
She had given him a life in which he could do anything. She had wanted to try and get him away from the whole Prince thing. Yet it had chased him down, had caught him.
Cody smiled, "I know. I know it's no fun. But if I don't, then someone lesser in intelligence will do it. I can't condemn kingdoms of people like that."
Conan nodded, 'See, Ginny? He wants to." He folded his arms smugly, avoiding looking at Ginny, Xaver, or Sirius.
"There is a time and place for you to have to determine such decisions, my son. And indeed they will be yours, to make - but not now. Not yet."
Xaver's tones were low and calm, though hard. His last words fierce, as his gaze moved to Conan.
"Conan, Codium is still a boy. Intelligent, yes, but still very much a child. My child."
It had never been any doubt, from the time Cody was born, even, that Cody was Xaver's son. He was so like his mother, in his temperments, but the boy's looks imitated his father's closely. From the dark hair, to the marble pale skin, and the moody, expressive oceans of blue eyes. Cody's gaze, however, was still entirely young, despite his quick mind. Still light; bouyant. Xaver's eyes had very much become cold, assertive sheets of impenatrable ice, to the outside world.
They weren't so now.
"Our child."
His glance was an affectionate one, Ginny's way.
Xaver's dark blue orbs were dark with the passion that thudded heavily within his chest - the nerves, and the need to protect.
To safely harbor his family.
Feeling as if Conan was prying too close to the ones he loved.
Xaver's shoulder's flexed, defensively.
Cody pulled a face at his full middle name, looking as though he'd had something bad to eat. He looked at his dad, anger beginning in the bit of his stomach.
"I'm not a baby." He said, his voice unusually hard.
Conan kept his arms folded, but his smug smile died.
"We need him now, Xian. Now, before the coup takes over." He scowled, "If Ginny had stayed in Romania, her first child would have been the Prince upon birth."
Ginny looked up at him, "There are many reasons I left there, you being the major one."
Xaver didn't immediately react to Cody's tone, though his gaze flickered to the boy, unnamed emotion stirring.
"You mightn't be a baby, but you are my son. And you will do as your mother and I see fit until you are old enough to determine your own decisions about this. Which you are yet, not."
His tone was light, but with an underlying, set firmness.
His gaze moved back to Conan.
"You are relying on a child to solve all of your problems?"
Xaver's gaze hardened.
Anger frothing, just beneath the surface.
It was a warm day - it had been a warm week - but suddenly the grasses about his creature became crystallized - the atomosphere, more wintry.
A sure and solid sign, even with the Fallen lord's composure, the cold threat that remained just buried beneath the surface.
"Yes, and I'm not ashamed to admit it." Conan said, frowning. "If we don't at least announce him, then the coup is going to over throw our government." He urned to Ginny, almost pleading in his tones, "The people in the coup are worse than Mahn, Ginny."
Ginny scowled, "And that's supposed to get me to say ok to this crazy scheme?"
Cody, however, hadn't said anything. Just chose to glare at his father, shoving his hands in his pockets. He was used to getting his way, used to never being told no. This was unusual, in a highly upsetting way. Finally, he looked away, muttering under his breath, "You did care if I was your son when I was born."
He scowled, his blue eyes dark with his anger.
Conan ignored the child, glaring at Ginny. She gave him a look that was pure venom, "I said no, Conan. I don't want my son exposed to that danger!"
"He won't be in danger if you come with him!" Conan cried out, "They all respect you, Ginny!"
As Ginny rounded on Conan, Xaver's gaze withdrew, to Cody, his dark orbs fixing on the boy. Absorbing the glare.
Hearing his son's mutter easily.
Inhuman senses catching far more than the words, and the agitated state of the boy's heartbeat.
"I had no knowledge of you until years later, Codium. You know this."
((Giving you all something to work with. Hahaha.))
Cody looked up at Xaver, still scowling, "You still don't care, Dad." He said angrily, "You go off and disappear for days on end, sometimes without even saying bye to me." He clenched his hands in his pockets, "You don't care until someone tries to take us away."
Ginny and Conan stopped arguing as they heard Cody's words and simply chose to stare at him. Ginny in disbelief, Conan in amusement.
"Cody, don't say things like that to your dad!" She scolded, but Cody didn't even look at her.
Mira's anger disappeared and she stood motionless. "C-" She said softly, she couldn't believe what Cady had just said. She turned into Angel and sat there, finding it much easier to hide emotion as a dog. She turned and looked at Cody with big puppy dog eyes, hoping to make eye contact. Her eyes conveyed her disbelief, her shock and her disappointment.
A weariness that could only have been named ancient graced the depths of his eyes, and furrowed his brow, the curve of his mouth pulling into a taut line.
Xaver never looked away from Cody, the dark hollows of his gaze becoming more shadowed, and shuttered, as the boy spoke.
"If you are presuming still that I have no care for you, or your mother, you still have much to realize, and more to understand."
Xaver's tones were in no way cold - he was not speaking to an enemy. His low octaves, however, were still very solid, and chilly phantoms of such ice.
"Perhaps someday you will understand the reasons for my absences. And though I go on knowing their consequences to you, my family, are still unevenly justified - perhaps soon you will come to realize what I've done.."
The Fallen lord's scathing gaze crossed Conan.
"For the people."
His jaw set.
"You are asking Codium to perform in a situation for which he is neither prepared, nor old enough for."
Xaver once more looked at Cody.
"My father had me armed with weapons and fists and littered with bruises to prepare me for my 'duties' when I was around your age. They trained me, and I still yet was not ready. You have had no such prerequisites. It may very well have been centuries ago, but things have not changed so much."
Cody stomped his foot, like a child. Which he was.
"No, Dad! Things have changed! We aren't in the Fallen realm, either. Humans are different. They don't lust for war, they are too busy saving their own skins."
Ginny stood, slowly, her eyebrows raised, "Oh?" She questioned.
"Yes! Too selfish, too slow. Too worried for themselves. If someone takes over, they are content to let that person as long as things go well." Cody looked between his parents, then at Conan..
"He's the prime example! They didn't mind him until things went bad. He doesn't know how to handle it, and to save himself he is asking someone who can handle it!"
Conan took a small step back, "Wha? I didn't.."
Ginny simply tilted her head, staring at her son.
"Is that all humans are, angel? Selfish creatures?"
"If you've not forgotten, you, my son, are both Fallen and Human."
Xaver bit back a sharp retort.
"And Fallen do not lust for war."
.. An uncontrolled bloodlust was far worse. Humans knew that terror only through vampiric myths.
Fallen bloodlust was in many senses, worse.
Fallen didn't feed on blood - it was the carnage, in uncontrolled situations, they could come to seek...
But none of them needed to know that.
"Your assumptions of Humans include, as well, your mother, just as of Fallen, include me. And I know, you know better."
MIra had regained composure and turned back into herself. She smirked and made it plain enough for Conan to see. She was pretty sure he wouldn't see it, though he was so taken aback by the 5 year old's plain coment that he wasn't fit to rule his kingdom.
A step back was made from Albus, wanting to distance him a bit.
Albus looked down, feeling sad. Watching at Cody, made him remember when he was at Cody's age.
He was Harry Potters kid. Everyone expected great things from him.
That he was a really strong wizard. That he was perfect- that he was beatiful- that he was everything.
The media had been all around him. His situation wasn't like Cody's, but, he felt that the situation was happening going over again.
Cody frowned, "You guys don't count."
But Conan didn't want to argue about this now. He looked at Ginny, "Listen, Gin. Can we please just agree to at least announce him as Prince?" He asked, painfully trying to compromise, "And you guys can bring him some other time?"
Ginny scowled, "Conan, I said no! I don't want him to be announced!"
Conan scowled back, matching her dark look.
"If all we say is that you have a sin and that he is the heir to the throne, what damage can it do?"
Cody looked between his mother and Conan for a moment, still moody and angry. He glanced at Xaver, then down at the ground, his anger boiling underneath the surface.
Sirius stood motionless, watching them discuss the problem back and fourth. He seemed to be out of the conversation (more f-ing literally then you think ha you guys left me) but he didn't mind listening, afraid that if he said something wrong he could do more damage.
His side had fallen to Conan's, and he supposed that partly included Cody now as well. Cody was right, intelligent, and perfect for Prince. He didn't think Ginny should make that decision for him. He kept his thoughts in his head, not daring to speak.
Jessie watched and listened in fascination. How could Cody say such things to his father? Of course, almost every child says something like that at some point, but it still came as a shock. She felt that Ginny should be able to control Cody's life still, but it would be a great experience for Cody to be Prince. No matter how bad it turns out, Cody would come out of it more knowledgeable than before.
Jessie realized that Cody would get lots of attention if he was prince. She thought about how hard it must be for Albus to be Harry Potter's son. He had gotten through it, but it must be hard for him to see Cody about to go through the same thing. Jessie side-stepped slightly until she was right next to Albus, her hand brushing his lightly. She tried to fit all of her emotions in that single touch, her support for Albus, her love for him. She wanted to let him know that no matter what happened, she would still be there for him. She wanted to let him know through that single touch.
Her gaze focused on the scene before her. Conan and his bodyguards, who hadn't moved once. Ginny, Cody, and Xaver, anger showing on their faces, and heard clearly in their words. Sirius, Mira, Albus, and herself, all listening quietly, afraid to say the wrong thing. She wished that Ginny would decide to let Cody be Prince so that Conan would leave them all in peace. Hopefully make all the tension in the small area go away.