lady_moon | (no subject)

He stares at her in disbelief.

"You kidnapped me! You really kidnapped me! What the shit, Moon! Draco will have a fit!"

"That's the point," she says. "If you're just a bed-warmer, then he won't miss you. If you aren't, well... then... the playing field changes, doesn't it? What sorts of things do you eat? You seemed to like the odd ice creams I fed you..."

She starts to head off toward the castle, her words carried on the gentle, warm breeze.

But Miniver isn't so amenable to kidnapping. He calls D'Artagnan over and places him on a shoulder, then sets off trudging in the opposite direction. "I'M GOING HOME," he informs Moon, rather stupidly.

She turns around, but keeps walking towards the castle.

"There's nothing that way but beach! And eventually, you'll wind up at the castle. All paths lead to the castle!"

Miniver slows down and looks back over his shoulder.

"Really?" he asks, a shiver of nervousness in his voice. "I'm really stuck here?"

"Until one of us takes you back, yes."

This was his cage for the time being.

Big and pretty, but inescapable.

He raises his hand to pet his bird and whimpers softly.

"How long?"

"That's up to Draco," she says quietly. "Now, come on. Let's get something to eat and drink and find you a room, hmm?"

She cares about Miniver, and she hates the sound of that whimper, but at least he has Dart with him.

Biting his lip and looking back over his shoulder, he does follow. But only because the sand and water are big and scary and the castle might have hidey-places in it. And... castle. Kinda cool.

"Does Ruin live here?"

"Technically, yes, but his current residence is in Greece with Mary Anne. They bought a home there. He visits here when he's looking for one of us."

She holds out her hand.

"Nothing bad will happen to you, Miniver. I promise."

He sighs and takes her hand, shoving the other deep into his pocket as he follows her.

"Okay."

Her hand holds his in a reassuring grip and she smiles at him.

"Do you like the beach? The water is safe to swim in..."

"I can't swim," he whispers. "But it sounds pretty. Moon, what if Ruin comes after Draco again and I'm not there to protect him? Or Will?"

Moon blinks.

"Why would you need to protect Will? And you didn't protect him last time. Draco has to stumble on his own, Miniver. You holding him up every single time he falls isn't helping anything. Besides, I don't think Ruin's going to be doing anything to Draco anytime soon," she says somewhat smugly.

"I mean, protect Draco FROM Will and... and I know I didn't. And I know you talked to Ruin but... but... if I can't protect Draco, especially now he hasn't got his magic, what good am I?"

"Ruin will help Draco learn how to protect himself from the likes of Will," she assures him. Draco must learn to protect himself. Against enemies, against friends, against himself."

They near the castle.

"And you... you need to learn you have far more importance by simply being than by what you can do for someone like Draco."

"Okay, um, how? By getting kidnapped?" SULK.

D'Artagnan, who has more sense, nibbles at Miniver's ear.

"OW. Okay. Fine. So... I get to stay in the castle, then? Is there anywhere I can't go, or are you gonna tie me up or something?"

"Why? Do you like being tied up?" she asks with a faint smile.

He stops in his tracks, taking one step back. "No!"

She tugs him.

"Then why should I tie you up?" Moon smiles at him. "You're free to go anywhere in the castle where the door unlocked. The beach is yours, too, to explore. If you go far enough south, away from the castle, you'll find some forests... a fresh water lake... I don't know if there are any animals here. I've never bothered to look."

"...and if I get lost? Will eird magic things come eat me?"

"No!"

She laughs as they approach the massive doors to the castle.

"And you can't really get lost," she muses. "All paths lead here in this place... you just have to think about being here and when you turn the next corner... there it is."

"Okay. Will Dart get lost? He's just a baby after all..."

"Stop worrying, Miniver. This place takes care of what's in it. Dart will be fine."

The doors open on well-oiled hinges without her touching them, and she leads him into the main hall. Tapestries and paintings depicting the tarot and their various forms line the walls, and the stone floor is covered in a thick, deep red rug.

"Do you want to be in an upper floor room or do you prefer to be on the ground?" she asks, stopping at the massive spiralling stairwell in the centre of the hall.

Miniver's mind is only half with her or less. He's busy staring in wonder at the surroundings.

"Um, wherever you have a room, I guess."

Probably upstairs. He's a little like a bird. He likes to be up high. Always has.