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A Visit with Cloris - Mockridge Dower House
Author: Kirley Mockridge
Date: 07-27-13 17:37
Cloris Mockridge sat in her parlor, behind her antique desk that had belonged to her late husband's grandmother. Her silver-blonde head was bent over her correspondence, and she didn't bother to look up until the house-elf squeaked, "Master is here, with Miss Catesby."
"Show them in," she ordered. She knew it wouldn't have mattered, Kirley could go wherever he liked on any of the properties, but she did appreciate that he respected her privacy. "Kirley. Miss Catesby," she said as they came into the room.
"Mother," Kirley responded, stepping away from Cass to kiss the cheek that was turned up toward him. "Thank you for seeing us."
"Mrs Mockridge," Cass murmured politely.
"Come in and sit, please. Given the length of time it has taken my son to make any sort of progress on a relationship, I doubt this is a social call, nor one to announce any news that I may be hoping for," Cloris said, shooting a slightly wicked smirk at her son when his ears turned pink from embarrassment.
Cassandra gave her a cool smile and said, "Such news would, of course, be presented to yourself, Nephele and Valeria, first and foremost... should there be any such news to give." Her expression, as her gaze met Cloris', was of limpid innocence.
"I had hoped that would be the case, but since it apparently is not," Cloris began, only to be interrupted by Kirley.
"Mother, we were hoping for your assistance. That bloody reporter has been saying some disturbing things about Cass' sister, and I can't find any records in the Ministry to prove or disprove anything," he explained, not willing to play Cloris' game.
"And you came to me because?" the elder witch drawled, raising an eyebrow at her only surviving son before looking to Cassandra.
Cassandra settled herself on one of the parlour chairs and said, "because you strike us as the kind of person who likes to be well-informed. We were hoping that a little bird might possibly have whispered in your ear."
"Lots of little birds whisper in my ears. Perhaps a more clear picture of exactly what you are wanting to know?" Cloris asked, not bothering to deny that she liked to be well-informed.
"What Callandra may have been working on when Smythe-Jones was Minister," Kirley said bluntly.
Cloris nodded and snapped her fingers, looking over at the house-elf who appeared.
"Yes, Mistress?" it squeaked.
"I need my personal account ledger from the Smythe-Jones years."
"Yes, Mistress!" it squeaked again and disappeared with a crack.
Cassandra exchanged glanced with Kirley; it seemed their and Nephele's suppositions had been correct.
"I keep notes of what my donations are supposed to be going to," Cloris explained. "In some cases, I keep notes of the public story and the actual purpose, if I know it. I am always aware that I may be called on to account for my spending." The house-elf appeared and handed her a stack of books before disappearing again. Flipping through the pages, she muttered quietly before she found the page. "Here, you see this donation was directly to Callandra. She was involved in a project with Grimshaw-Spore, out on Grim's Island. I don't know a great deal about it, but I do know that Pansy was there before the holidays. With Blaise and Phyllida."
Kirley nodded as he glanced at the page. "It's a good thing the vaults are deep, Mother."
"We were lucky not to lose them all on Alistair's death," Cloris said. "Generous donations have helped with that."
"So Rita Skeeter's articles do have a germ of truth in them," Cassandra murmured. "Again. I would love to know where she was getting her information from. She's better informed even than the Ministry it seems.
"Perhaps that is not the most pressing issue however," she continued. "As much as I would love to snap her acid-green quill in half, if her information is real then she's going to spill more and more of it across the pages of the Prophet. We've already had several articles on the subject. I doubt she will stop at those. Not now."
She glanced at Kirley. "I do not appreciate family secrets being spread about for all the world to see. To stop that, I suspect I need to find out the truth, find Rita's source and sever it."
"That seems to be the best option," he agreed. "I've been attempting to do the same with her Ministry sources."
"Which explains why she's attacking Cassandra through her sister now," Cloris said calmly, ignoring her son's raised eyebrow. "You're making her job difficult, so she's going to go after you. I believe she did the same thing to Hermione Weasley during your school years, when she was still Miss Granger. The difference is that your weak spot is quite different." The Mockridge Matriarch got up, pacing around the room. It was clear to her, if not to the others, that Skeeter was going after Cass to get to Kirley, because the rest of them had impeccable reputations and because very few wanted to bring the wrath of the entire family down upon their heads. Skeeter wasn't stupid, she was really quite clever.
Cassandra looked first startled and then thoughtful. "It's true that by helping me, Kirley has refocused his attentions," she said. "It's simply not possible to investigate every single story that Skeeter writes. She's too prolific." As well as the recent rash of articles about Callandra Catesby, Skeeter's quill had penned several more about Hogwarts professors.
She looked at Kirley. "It drags your attention away from those cases you were investigating before."
Kirley nodded. He could see the logic. "And she must be onto something big, or think she is, to risk coming after me on a personal level. That or she forgets who I am because I'm more charming than Alistair was and don't have Mother's temper," he mused.
Cloris' smirk was wicked. "Don't worry about her source for now, I'll do some investigating on my own. It almost has to be someone in my circle, since it is likely another donor," she said thoughtfully. "As for Skeeter, I'm not certain what her end game is, but I would warn the Minister that it may involve attempts to discredit Dumbledore himself and possibly the Order of the Phoenix with him. I can't be certain, of course, I'm not Skeeter, but it's not an illogical jump. Not with her trying to go after all of the professors as if questioning his judgement in hiring them all or keeping them despite their issues."
"And McGonagall is a skilled witch," Cassandra said; she had the greatest respect for the Professor as a Transfiguration teacher. "But she lacks the, for want of a better word, aura of Dumbledore. I have seen no evidence as yet that either she or any of the other Professors can put a stop to Skeeter's games.
"That though is an issue for someone else. My concern has to be the Catesby family name. And..." she sighed, "as much as I hate to admit it, that probably means a visit to a certain Mr Zabini."
Cloris nodded. "Minerva is indeed skilled, but she does not have Dumbledore's clout, and the Governors are already mumbling. I'll admit to doing my own share of it, but that was before Skeeter's articles and was actually based on a letter from Valeria. However, that particular issue seems to have improved, at least somewhat." She reclaimed her seat and looked to Cassandra.
"Of course your concern has to be for your own family, it is only natural. And our family will support you as we can. There may not be news yet, but I am not blind. You matter to Kirley, which makes you my best hope for more grandchildren at some point in my life, therefore, whatever help you require that is within my power shall be provided," Cloris said in a disturbingly matter-of-fact tone. Kirley closed his eyes and counted to ten silently, hoping to not throttle his own mother.
Cassandra decided not to mention her decision not to marry and produce children; she would not be the one to pass on the Catesby curse to another generation, but saying so only opened herself up to the question of 'why', not to mention more arguments from Kirley on the subject. She could only be grateful that the curse was one Catesby family secret Rita Skeeter so far remained in ignorance of. With any luck, it would stay that way.
"That is very kind of you, Mrs Mockridge," she said, "although I hope you understand that I make no promises on the grandchildren front. Divination was never my favourite subject. Far too airy-fairy for my tastes."
"Naturally, and there is no real hurry," Cloris said. "For the moment, I am simply pleased to see both Kirley and Nephele making progress. I had begun to fear neither would ever do anything about it."
"Mother, we should be going. Keep us posted on things with Skeeter's source?" Kirley said, offering Cass a hand up from the chair. It was probably best to get out of the Dower House before the temptation toward Matricide became any stronger.
The D-Word Squared
Author: Rylee
Date: 07-28-13 11:58
I only had two classes during the day, and I was ultimately done by three o'clock in the afternoon, and free until Astronomy tonight at ten-thirty, and I was considering skipping it and suffering the potential point loss and detention - though I had a valid reason for wanting to ditch my final class tonight and just remain curled up in the Common Common room until curfew.
This morning I'd gotten a letter from my mother, a letter from my father, and a letter from my sister and not a singular one of them held a modicum of good news. I had pretty much spent the day floating through class, I don't even remember if I actually took any notes in my classes. I'd have to talk to Gideon or Aderyn later and get notes.
For now, I sat on one of the loveseats, having co-opted it and claimed it for myself as I re-read the letter from my mother. My parents were in the process of finalizing their divorce, and I would be given a choice of where I wished to spend my school holidays including summer break. She did not mention where my father would be going, but she did mention the fact that he was already in the process of moving out.
The letter from my father claimed my attention next, and within was an address. He would be moving to our family villa in Venice, and I was more than welcome to come stay with him whenever I desired. For now, however, it would be best if I stayed with my Mother for the first part of the summer holidays. None of them bothered to tell me what had caused the need for a divorce, despite me having asked in the three letters I'd sent since I'd gotten word from my eldest sister.
I finished up reading the letter from my father, and turned to the letter from my sister, who had been the one tending to my Grandfather while he was in the hospital. He'd gotten sick while he'd been visiting her during one of her dance competitions. My mother had been there, and his wife Caroline had gone to the hospital as soon as she'd heard. My grandfather was the reason that I'd become more athletic last year. He'd spent the summer teaching me about Quidditch, about lots of other Muggle sports as well and it had sparked my interest.
Now, he was dying, or maybe he's already died and I wouldn't be able to say good bye to him, or thank him for the changes that he'd inspired in me this year. After a few moments, I pulled out a parchment and quickly penned a letter to him, pouring everything into that letter from him. I thanked him, promised that I would continue playing and being active in his memory and I hoped that he would find peace.
Once that letter was written I wrote another to my sister Charlotte, a letter to my mother and a letter to my father. The letters that I wrote to my parents were far more strongly worded than anything I'd ever sent them prior. I needed to know why they were ending their marriage. Why they were shattering the only family that I knew, why they were fighting and arguing and breaking everything apart when my grandfather was dying in a hospital with only his wife and his eldest grandfather there to support him.
Never before had I believed my parents to be so petty and trivial, but this, this was above and beyond acceptable. They needed to get things together and go spend time with Nathaniel before he died - if they weren't already too late.
Once the letters were finished, I quickly headed to the owlery, and sent them off. The one to my grandfather and sister were delivered by Lixue, my parents were each sent off by school owl.
Once those letters were sent, I headed back to the Common Commons and attempted to work on getting the last of my assignment done for Astronomy tonight. Deciding that I would be going after all.
Location Unknown: Marked
Author: Ethan Somerset
Date: 07-28-13 13:31
The Dark Mark burned Hattie's arm as if it were on fire, but also yielded a thrill of satisfaction. After years of loyal service to Lord Voldemort without ever fully joining the ranks of the Death Eaters, Hattie finally found a place within his innermost circle. Never mind the fact that Voldemort no longer lived. The witch he had endowed as his spiritual daughter cut an admirable figure in her own right.
Adriana Fairchild smiled at Hattie and said, "Welcome to the fold, Hattie Harsnip. I expect from you the same enthusiasm you gave your previous master."
"You will not be disappointed," Hattie murmured.
Adriana rose a perfectly arched eyebrow, reserving not to comment. She knew very well that Hattie had ultimately failed Lord Voldemort, but she also knew that an unexpected factor had contributed to her failure.
Instead, she gave Hattie's youthful cheek a pinch and said, "You're just the cutest little thing. Don't ever change, you hear me?"
Something like deep resentment filled Hattie, since she had longed to get out Penn Ellison's body ever since leaving Hogwarts, but she dipped her head and said, "Yes."
Adriana patted Hattie's cheek and then turned to Meadow to bestow the Dark Mark onto her arm. Yannick Cole and Kastor Jorgenson also received their marks.
"Welcome, my new friends," Adriana said, once the induction ceremony ended. "I'm so very glad you've joined me. Yannick and Kastor, I should like to discuss assignments with you. Please follow me to the library."
"What about me?" Hattie asked. Her question came out petulantly, making her childlike appearance all the more apparent.
Adriana had already begun to walk off but stopped to cast a glance over her shoulder at Hattie. "We'll talk later," she said. The discussion closed, she continued to the library with the two wizards in tow.
Meadow rolled her eyes at Hattie and walked away in a different direction.
"Where are you going?"
"Away," Meadow called back without turning to look at Hattie. They had spent every waking moment together since Meadow had rescued Hattie en route to Azkaban. A little time apart didn't sound like such a bad thing.
Hattie suddenly found herself alone in the cloister. With it being springtime and nearly summer, the garden had come to life. She walked to the fountain and sat down on its edge, dipping her fingers into the cool water of the basin.
She was glad to have finally found Adriana and been accepted as one of her Death Eaters, but Hattie didn't know what to expect about this next chapter in her life. She thought she would finally be rid of her current body, but it seemed that Adriana had other ideas.
Illusions
Author: Fritz Schnackenpfefferhausen
Date: 07-28-13 14:31
Dressed in impeccable business robes, a very distinguished, middle-aged wizard walks through the offices of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement as if he belongs there. He doesn't, but those who notice him feel as if he does. He looks like a solicitor or perhaps a high-ranking official, but he is neither of those things. The wizard is a spy of his own making.
His interest lies not in the inner workings of the department, the various cases and criminals under investigation, or any top secret information he could pilfer and sell to the highest bidder, but rather the fate of a singular wizard. Learning what is to become of Berthold Beatenberg, where he is now and where he will be on any given day, will support the wizard's effort to free his old friend from custody.
"May I help you?"
The wizard turns and finds himself looking at a pretty face. The witch appears to be a receptionist. She has sleek blonde hair and carries a thick folder of parchment in her arms. Rectangular reading glasses dangle from a chain around her neck.
"Good morning, or is it afternoon already?" The wizard makes a show of glancing at the expensive watch on his wrist before declaring, "Not quite, then." He smiles and explains, "I'm meeting with William. He asked me to visit with him in his cubicle."
William is generic enough that there is surely someone in the department by that name. In fact, there are several. The receptionist nods and smiles and indicates for the wizard to continue, since he seems to know where he is going anyway.
He carries on, acting as if he belongs, all the while keeping his eyes open and ears perked for the information he needs to get to his dear old friend.
He lingers just long enough to not stand out like a sore thumb and then makes his way back to the bank of lifts, mentally filing away what he has learned. By the time he arrives back at his son's London home, the enchantment that caused him look younger has faded.
Hans looks up from the antique catalog he is perusing and studies his father's elderly features. "Where have you been?"
Johann fixes him with a steely glare. "Gathering information."
Hans falls silent, able to guess what his father is planning. He won't stand in the way, unless Adriana finds out and asks him to intervene. He is stuck between a rock and a hard place and is well aware that there will be consequences, no matter what the outcome will be.
Justin's Missing (Jordan)
Author: Plum
Date: 07-28-13 15:31
Smiling at a cute redhead he recognizes from one of his classes, Jordan Hodges heads for a small table set against a faux window currently displaying ponies grazing in a sun dappled field. He'd ask the redhead out if not for hearing she's seeing someone. That and between school and work it's not been easy having an active dating life. If he was doing just one or the other, no problem but working at Devi Linguistic Services, his homework, research, and study time for his full load of classes is seriously cut into. Glancing around at the women in the canteen, Jordan vows to find the time. Even if all he does is go out for a drink with some mates, that's better than spending all his spare moments on school or work projects.
Flipping open a notebook, Jordan reads over some notes. There's an excellent chance of an unannounced quiz in his next class. The professor is known for giving them every couple of weeks and is due just anytime now if she stays true to form. He methodically works through a bag of onion and chive flavored crisps and drinks coffee while he reviews. A throat clearing and an all too familiar voice saying, "Jordan?" has him looking up then standing.
"Mum! What are you doing here? How did you find me?" he asks, stepping in to hug Ava Hodges.
Ava waits until they've stepped apart and both are moving to sit before answering her son's questions, starting with the latter. "I found you purely by chance. I was in dire need of coffee and just happened to be nearer to this cafeteria than the other. As to why I'm here, your brother left school. I came here in hopes he's contacted your grandmother and was going to speak to you when the class you had a short time ago let out but was late getting to the classroom. Not knowing where you might be in between that one and your next, I was going to grab this much needed coffee then go locate that classroom to wait for your arrival."
Jordan's taken aback by this news as his brother has not indicated any problems in the owls he regularly sends. "Justin left school? Why?"
"We aren't sure but according to his roommates and a few of his classmates, he's been very unhappy about something though none will say what exactly."
"Do you think they're holding back or is it that they don't actually know?"
"A combination. I think at least one or two know something specific but the rest only know he's been bothered by something though not what."
Jordan picks up his notes to put in his satchel. "I'm going to dash home and see if he's there. I told him once where I kept a spare key and the way to bypass the security charms."
"I'll go check again with your grandmother then go back to her house. She had something here this morning she couldn't cancel but contacted William who was going to return home in case Justin shows up there."
"Where's Dad?"
"He was going to come and search here while I stayed home and contacted a few people there and searched some of the local hangouts, that sort of thing but Malachi has a horrible cold, possibly flu, so I made him stay there rather than come all this way and also have the effects of the large time difference to deal with."
Jordan and Ava makes plans on where they should meet up and when before splitting up, all thoughts of that quiz he's now sure to miss pushed aside for the moment.
Helping Hands (Fallon and Fletcher)
Author: Arlington J Montgomery
Date: 07-28-13 20:00
Written with Orion Howell
Looking around the streets of Hogsmeade, Orion sighed and ran a hand through his hair. His other hand currently held onto Sagitta's, since they had Side-Along-Apparated into the village. He had planned on waiting for Desi to get home, but his niece's silent presence was slowly driving him crazy. He didn't know how to help her, or even how to talk to her, and the Morgans seemed like his only hope. So he'd asked if she wanted to meet some friends of his, though really, they were Desi's friends and his acquaintances, but they were his best hope for help. "Come on, they live just down this way," he said, grateful Desi had made sure he had the address so he could find his way.
Sagitta nodded and walked silently at his side, her auburn curls up in pigtails and a somber expression on her freckled face. She wore a black dress that looked older than she was, one of a handful that had been in her suitcase. He'd already planned on sending a letter to Bronwyn, begging for her help in making sure the girl would have all the clothes she needed, since he knew she'd be more willing to do the shopping than Desi would. "That's the house there, I think," he said, pointing toward the yard where he saw a couple of children playing.
Crew was zooming around the front yard on one of his favorite brooms, he stood up, perfectly balanced on the handle. He glanced over to his little brother wandering about the yard before he came to a stop in front of Orion and the girl with him.
"Hey! Do I know you? Who's that?" He glanced over at Sagitta, even at the age of nine, he could tell she was upset.
"Crew, right? I'm Orion, Desi's friend," he said. "This is my niece, Sagitta. I was hoping she could play with you while I talk to your mom and dad for a bit." Hopefully that didn't sound completely ridiculous
.
"Yes, Sir, I'm Crew. Oh yeah, I've heard about you." He glanced over at the older girl and nodded. "Sure, let me tell Mum and Dad you're here."
The nine year old ran inside to fetch his parents, before coming back out.
"You can go on in, Mr. O." Crew then offered his hand to Sagitta. "I'm Crew, that's my brother, Mase. Wanna play?"
Orion nodded and headed inside as Sagitta let go of his hand and nodded shyly. "Okay. What are you playing?" she asked quietly. Her entire world had been turned upside down in the last few days, and despite being nearly eleven, she felt much younger. And she'd never really been allowed to play with any other children at her grandparents' home.
Crew grinned and help out his broom. "I was practicing! My parents both play Quidditch. Can you fly?" He knew she was upset, and knew better than to ask.
Fallon met Orion at the door and pulled him into a hug. "I don't normally hug guys I don't know that well, but you look like you needed that." That earned a laugh from her husband.
"Orion, have a seat. Would you like anything to drink, tea, beer?"
Orion smiled slightly and nodded. "A beer would be great," he said, checking back outside to see Sagitta shaking her head softly. "My parents and my brothers were found dead yesterday morning. My niece spent a few days on her own apparently, with just corpses, before anyone checked on them. I have no idea what happened, or how to take care of a nearly eleven year old girl." She'd told him just the night before that her birthday was coming up, just ten days away.
"I don't know how to fly," she said to Crew. "Father didn't have much time to teach me and Grandmother said it wasn't ladylike. It looks like fun, but it might be hard in this," she said, plucking at the heavy skirt.
Fal perched on the edge of a chair and frowned. "Oh that is horrible. The poor little thing. I know what it's like to lose a parent." She glanced outside to check on Crew and Sagitta.
"Well, kids aren't easy. Our boys are a little hyperactive though. We'll be glad to help you out however we can, alright?" Etch handed the ice cold beer to Orion before taking a seat across from him.
"Well, I can teach you." He examined her clothes before grabbing her hand. "I can fix that! If you don't mind wearing boy clothes, they should fit." He tugged her off to his room after scooping up his little brother and dropping him off in the living room with his parents. "I didn't leave Mase outside, Mom!"
"Some ideas would be great. Desi's the one who suggested I come see you two, and she was going to come with me after work, but I was worried about her. She just sat there most of the morning, like she was afraid to speak or do anything. I know how my parents could be, so I'm sure her life wasn't easy, but to be so quiet didn't seem natural. And her clothes. She was dropped off by the lawyer last night with one suitcase, with a handful of those same old-fashioned dresses," he explained. "I'm tempted to owl Bronwyn to see if she'd take her shopping, I'm about hopeless when it comes to clothes."
Sagitta shrugged. "Grandmother always said it wouldn't be ladylike to wear boy clothes, but Grandmother said a lot of things weren't ladylike." She let Crew lead her up to his room, looking a bit bewildered.
Fallon nodded and picked up her youngest son. "Desi was right, we can help you. Though I can say I was surprised to see you. Orion, Sagitta's going through a lot right now, this change can't, won't, be easy for her. You're going to have to be understanding that it's going to be tough on her."
Etch looked at the other man for a moment, he was definitely lost. "It's not natural for a child to be so withdrawn. Hopefully Crew can help take her mind off of everything, if even for a little while."
Crew frowned "You should do what works for you. Though, those clothes don't look comfortable at all." He rummaged through his closet and handed Sagitta a pair of jeans and a tee shirt. "The bathroom's there, if you wanna change."
"I didn't think it was natural either, but I know my brothers. Castor was her father, Pollux was his twin. I have no idea who her mother was, but the letter said that she hasn't been around since Sagitta was quite small. My mother was very controlling, and she would have had complete reign over Sagitta, I'm thinking. I can't be sure, I hadn't really spoken with anyone in my family in years. When I worked for the Ministry, it wasn't encouraged, and we didn't really agree on a lot of things," Orion explained.
Sagitta took the clothes and went into the bathroom, changing into the unfamiliar clothes with difficulty. "How do the bottoms stay up? Oh, nevermind, I found the metal thing," she said. When she came out, she looked more comfortable, and despite being over a year older, Crew's clothes still looked big on her. "Do you think Uncle Orion will be mad that I'm not wearing my dress?" she asked, biting her bottom lip nervously.
"It sounds like you haven't had the ideal family life. I hate to say it, but she may be better off being able to not be so...controlled." Etch didn't want to sound like he wasn't being compassionate, but he had to wonder about the family.
Fallon nodded and sat Mase back on the floor to play before turning her attention back to Orion. "Why haven't you spoken to them?" She got a look from Fletcher, but continued anyways, "Oh, well I can understand, with your previous job, you had to keep the distance."
Crew grinned. "They're muggle clothes, more comfortable to play in then other stuff. They fit!" He noticed a look of relief on the older girls face. "Why would he be mad? He's your uncle, he should love you despite what you put on the outside. You look pretty, even not in your dress."
"Do people ever call you anything 'sides Sagitta? It's kind of a mouth full. Can I call you Ita?" He questioned before running back outside, an extra broom in his hands.
Orion shook his head. "The job was the excuse. My parents were not easy people to live with, and I'm rather the black sheep of the family. I'm pretty sure I was disowned too, though I never got anything official in that aspect. According to the papers I was sent from the Ministry yesterday, I have limited access to the family vaults as Sagitta's guardian, but she's been left everything."
Sagitta smiled slightly. "I'd like that," she answered before she followed him, walking, not running. She shot a careful glance at her uncle as she walked through, noting that the adults paused while they were coming through and she seemed reassured by his smile as she headed back outside with Crew.
"Well, black sheep or not, I bet you're the better man, Orion." Fal replied. "At least she'll have everything she needs. I may have to nag Bron about letting me help her with the shopping."
"Fal and I will be glad to watch her anytime you need too, if you have class or something?"
Crew waved at his parents as he and Sagitta headed outside, he was determined to have her up on a broom by the evening.
"That would be great, Fallon. I have no idea what she needs clothing wise, just that those horrible dresses can't be comfortable or right for a child, you know? And as for classes, I was actually thinking about asking Driver if he might help me. Thought if I could include the chance to kick my arse once in awhile, he might go for it," Orion said with a self-deprecating grin. "Desi helps when she's not busy with work, but I haven't asked about her caseload lately." He was trying to hide the slight color in his ears at being praised, it wasn't something he was used to hearing from those who didn't know him well.
"You're welcome. I'll be glad to help with that. No, dresses that look like they belong in the dark ages do not belong on a nearly eleven year old girl."
Etch had to laugh "I bet he would welcome the opportunity to kick your arse."
"Now, why don't we get those kids in here, get both of you some dinner then let miss Sagitta get settled in at home." Fal grinned at Orion, she knew he had probably forgotten to eat as well.