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alt_charlieSo, Tonks and I went out this morning to check up on the weirdness from the device thing. We went for the methodical approach -- flying all about at calculated distances in various directions, approaching the line of the disturbance from all sorts of directions, trying to quantify what we were feeling, that sort of thing.
It's definitely related to the whatsis. We started out plotting the line we thought we felt, and it went along with what Sirius and Tonks felt the other day: northwest to southeast, along the coastline. Then we tried flying out at odd angles and crossing back over where the line should be, waiting to see when things got weird again, and it was the same line.
Once we'd established that, we were planning to fly up it and see where it led to, but by that point my broom had bucked me off four times and refused to take off again until I moved further away twice, Tonks kept getting so dizzy she could barely see, both of us were feeling incredibly drained like we'd been using immense amounts of magic, and the problems kept coming and going in waves as we flew along, in no pattern we could figure out except that it got a little worse every time we got hit. So we decided it would be better for us to leave it for a bit until we could recover some.
Second part of the day was up to Armitage to see if we could pick up George McCalman. I'm sorry to say that didn't go well enough either. George is at Moddey now, at least, but his parents weren't very interested in hearing us out. Mrs McCalman was bad enough, arguing that the Protectorate was looking out for them and we had no business being there when "the wizardfolk" would know what to do with their baby for the good of everyone, but then Mr McCalman came back from his work detail and flipped his lid about us talking treason and his wife cheating on him because no child of his would have turned out that way and their baby being sent to poison the work of this great nation... you get the picture.
It was rough. We Obliviated them both before Mr McCalman could turn more violent and faked a cot death, but now I'm worried Mr McCalman will take that out on his wife, too.
It's definitely related to the whatsis. We started out plotting the line we thought we felt, and it went along with what Sirius and Tonks felt the other day: northwest to southeast, along the coastline. Then we tried flying out at odd angles and crossing back over where the line should be, waiting to see when things got weird again, and it was the same line.
Once we'd established that, we were planning to fly up it and see where it led to, but by that point my broom had bucked me off four times and refused to take off again until I moved further away twice, Tonks kept getting so dizzy she could barely see, both of us were feeling incredibly drained like we'd been using immense amounts of magic, and the problems kept coming and going in waves as we flew along, in no pattern we could figure out except that it got a little worse every time we got hit. So we decided it would be better for us to leave it for a bit until we could recover some.
Second part of the day was up to Armitage to see if we could pick up George McCalman. I'm sorry to say that didn't go well enough either. George is at Moddey now, at least, but his parents weren't very interested in hearing us out. Mrs McCalman was bad enough, arguing that the Protectorate was looking out for them and we had no business being there when "the wizardfolk" would know what to do with their baby for the good of everyone, but then Mr McCalman came back from his work detail and flipped his lid about us talking treason and his wife cheating on him because no child of his would have turned out that way and their baby being sent to poison the work of this great nation... you get the picture.
It was rough. We Obliviated them both before Mr McCalman could turn more violent and faked a cot death, but now I'm worried Mr McCalman will take that out on his wife, too.
Re: Private Message to Charlie
Date: 2013-11-05 03:57 am (UTC)I know I was trying too hard, I could tell it wasn't working even while I kept arguing, but I kept thinking that if I could hit on just the right phrasing, I could make her realise that flesh and blood should come before political allegiances. There was that moment when I almost, almost thought I was getting through to her ... and then he walked in, and that was that.
I hope I didn't make it too hard for you.
Re: Private Message to Charlie
Date: 2013-11-05 04:07 am (UTC)Only, I was a bit worried about you. I mean, in the heat of it. With him.
It really got you, didn't it?
Re: Private Message to Charlie
Date: 2013-11-05 04:29 am (UTC)I was trying so hard not to let it, but I guess it did really hit me. I know you said about how we can't make it personal, and I didn't think it was going to be personal, and then we were there in the middle of a fight and both of them were talking about their own baby like he was going to -- I don't know, like he was going to single-handedly bring down the whole Protectorate just by drooling. Or something like that. And it got personal, really quickly.
Makes me want to go back to Moddey and cuddle George extra, just to let him know that even if he wound up with parents who've bought into the whole shite stew, that doesn't mean nobody cares about him. (I know, I know, Alice and Frank and the rest of them will do all the cuddling anyone could want, but I feel ... almost responsible for him, really.)
Anywiz. Even though it was rough, I'd still like to come back with you again in future if you'll have me. Or put together another expedition to find more about the octoboroses. Dizziness, puking, falling off brooms, magic-disrupting Clouds of Doom, pissing-down rain, screaming parents, and emotional gut-punches aside, I had a nice time with you today. (Which sounds horrible. But you know what I mean. Today was awful in a lot of directions, but it would've been more awful alone or without you there to make bad jokes with.)
Re: Private Message to Charlie
Date: 2013-11-05 04:55 am (UTC)And there wasn't only dizziness, and puking, and being bucked off our brooms, and magic-disrupting Clouds o' Doom and pissing-down rain. There was also a very fine lunch and time to warm up together before we had to go out and face parents going shouty bloody crackers at us.
And, after all, it was only rain pissing down on us, so it could have been an awfully lot worse.
I'd say if you tot up both columns, we came out ahead. I'd definitely have another go with you. Camps or octoboroses or whatever you want.
Re: Private Message to Charlie
Date: 2013-11-05 05:02 am (UTC)You can have another go with me whenever you want, luv!
(Sorry, you walked straight into that one.)
And, yeah. George gets to grow up at Moddey with people who'll love him and getting to learn how to use his magic instead of having to hide it, and you're right, that's a win overall, for him and for us, even if it isn't the absolute best way it all could've come out. I just have to keep reminding myself that things aren't failures just because they weren't smashing successes.
And just because I keep thinking about Percy doesn't meanAnd don't say things could be worse! You'll jinx it!
I think I'm going to take my bruised backside down to the hot springs for bit of a soak. How are you feeling? Is the last of the dizziness still lingering? I've never seen you look that pale.
Re: Private Message to Charlie
Date: 2013-11-05 10:03 pm (UTC)I've got to say, though, I was done in by the end of my shift, and then I came home to a bit of madness, and it's been mad all day and no sleeping for me.
Ugh. It's the bloody Watch again. I'd forgot they were likely to wind themselves up over Bonfire night. Anywiz, I got home this morning to find Bea with Kreacher and Themselves already at Laszlo's.
Apparently, Remus had firecalled Ellie just to see if she remembered there'd be a delivery before half-eight that she'd need to open the cellar for, and she came completely to bits.
Last night a delegation of our local Watchers came by after midnight and were right put out they couldn't talk to Mr Ponds or his wife, who'd left just a mudblood to put them off. They were as ugly as could be to her. And it was so late, and she was rattled, and she's not told us all of it, I don't think. I don't like to imagine what they said or tried that has her avoiding our questions the way she is.
I expect it's going to be a long night, and we've sorted out that we all need to stay at Laszlo's tonight. There are a couple of blokes who've stopped in two or three times already today, but we've been so busy they couldn't get Remus's ear. I don't expect they'll give up, though, and I can tell he sees he's probably not going to be able to duck their 'invitation' this time to come out on the Watch with them all. Not that we've had a free moment to talk about it, because it truly has been busy.
For a holiday no one officially celebrates, I'd warrant a lot of our business today is supplying people with things to mark the night. Loads of people are wanting just one candle, thanks!, or a special sweet for tonight's afters, or a packet of Spark Sprigs that make your fire sparkle and snap in a merry way. I'm glad we got those in early this year, because at this rate, we're going to need another order before Christmas!
Anywiz. Hope your bruises aren't too horrid today. Mine are just tender enough to remind me I spent the day with you!
Re: Private Message to Charlie
Date: 2013-11-06 04:22 am (UTC)And poor Ellie. Can you give her a day or two off to regroup once things calm down a bit? Sounds like someone was probably right awful to her. I wonder if you could give her some kind of talisman to keep in her pocket that she could summon one of you with, without whoever was hassling her noticing? Like the buttons, only going just to you lot and letting you 'casually' come looking for her. It might help her feel safer, if nothing else, since she can't exactly defend herself without putting herself more at risk.
As for me, the hot springs helped, and so did the bruise paste we keep on hand. Have I given you some of that before? I'll bring some with me next time, since it's likely we'll wind up just as battered the second time around.
Re: Private Message to Charlie
Date: 2013-11-06 04:46 am (UTC)Worried for Remus. They did come back and wouldn't back down. He's already gone off with them because he didn't want them hanging about here and making our regular lot uncomfortable. I expect they'll be out late, and he'll be a wreck from trying to keep that lot from doing Merlin knows what. At least the moon's only just new.
Thank you for being calm and sane and sensible. That's an excellent idea about the talisman, by the way. I expect Remus or Sirius could make just the thing for her. It would make me feel better about leaving her here alone all those nights.
Do, please, bring us that bruise paste. I'm worse than a ripe peach for bruising. And so clumsy, I'm always crashing into things. As I'm sure you've noticed.
Re: Private Message to Charlie
Date: 2013-11-06 04:56 am (UTC)That's not clumsy, it's just not knowing where you end and the rest of the world begins. Easier to figure it out when you aren't shifting things around all the time! I'll bring along the paste as soon's I've got a spare minute to pop down.
And I can be sensible for you whenever you need. For Remus -- I wonder if the best way to handle that might be to be as useless and in-the-way as possible, until they wind up thinking he's more trouble than he's worth? (Foxy dumb, Em calls it -- apparently it took Dree years to figure out he was deliberately breaking all the dishes whenever he was left with the washing-up!) Won't help immediately, but it could get him out of things after a few more nights like this.
Re: Private Message to Charlie
Date: 2013-11-06 05:51 am (UTC)And if that doesn't sound like the advice of a second brother! Ha.
Actually, I wouldn't be surprised if Remus has come up with nearly the same thing with his awfully polite but rather inept middle-aged bloke act. He tries that on all the time with us.