Brian Rogers (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
subplotkudzu) wrote2008-07-27 06:01 am
subplotkudzu) wrote2008-07-27 06:01 am
Entry tags:
and the Root of All Evil V
Chapter 5: Nosferatu!
That question is answered over the course of the day, much to Castor’s dismay: Mommeshanz & Knarlhump are putting up formal notices about Sidekick Auditions! Our heroes discover this rather directly, as Knarlhump appears behind them asking them to move out of the way so he can plaster one of the huge, garish posters over the wall. “But Miiiiiister Mommmmmenshanzzz told me that Dummmmbledore gave his permmission!” wailed the house elf when the students badgered him about his defacing the school walls. Juliet’s attempts to deface the poster via sparks (“again with the burning things,” noted Pollux) were successful, but the house elf was putting one up every few feet.
The school is abuzz with excitement, and Manny corners the Fontaine girls to insist that Jasmyn appear at the upcoming audition. He is noticeably cool to Dasiy, but that might be because Daisy is downright chilly to him, having worked with other similar agents through her parents in the past. Nonetheless, the sisters decide that Jasmyn should go, if only to see what’s going on. Castor attends as well, dragging along Rowan.
On the day of the auditions the twins get a letter from their Mum, informing them that she was going to be at the school for a board meeting that afternoon and had made plans to take them out to dinner. Castor cursed, knowing this would cut into his attending the club meeting, but figured he could get both in. The twins meet Mrs. Dee at the front doors to the school, where she separates herself from a cluster of other adults – obviously the other Board members – to give her children hugs and ask after them.
The other Board members are waiting in some annoyance, including Lucious Malfoy, who vents to Mrs. Dee about the insult of having to wait for the final attendee. Eventually that attendee, a haughty Goblin named Scotog, who limps in with an uneven stride and a look of pure arrogance that puts even Malfoy to shame. “Don’t complain to me about wasting your time, Malfoy. I know to the Sickle exactly how much your time is worth,” he sneers when the pale-haired wizard voices a complaint. Mrs. Dee tells her sons to join her after the meeting for dinner at Hogsmead.
Castor accepts his hug and then sprints to the auditions, where he joins Jasmyn & Rowan. That week’s meeting of the fan club is twice as large as normal. Professor Night is, as usual, absent. Peri is present, however, which is a bit of a shock: the Slytherin girl has been visible only in her classes for the last week or so, apparently abandoning her other social engagements. She’s in full form tonight, however, sitting at the head table with Mr. Mommenshanz and some other adults. Given the look on her face, Jasmyn suspects it’s not that Peri expects an inside track to the role, but that she’s realized that the real power lies in being a producer rather than an actor. Manny, upon seeing Jasmyn, heads over to give her a big handshake and a conspiratorial wink.
The initial discussions are not promising – first is the announcement that since the part has to go to a student at the school for filming, in part, over the summer, 7th year students are not being considered and can leave to clear some space. Many disgruntled 7th years file out of the room at this news. The remaining students are given forms to fill out (Castor signs in as “Pollux Dee”) and are ordered into lines based on their year – one student per year will be selected for the next round. “Since the Crypt Raider has had sidekicks of all ages and genders over the years the part could go to anyone” Manny gushes, trying to regain some of the momentum lost when the 7th years were exiled.
Daisy runs in to one of those exiled 7th year students in the hall, who is already complaining about the preferential treatment Jasmyn received. Daisy swings by the room and is horrified at the audition – it is nothing more than a beauty contest! Students are called up one at a time, asked to do pirouette, do some basic physical activity for stunt purposes (run and jump) and read a single line. She is shoved out of the doorway by a limping Goblin, who clambers onto the stage, takes the last chair behind the table ignores everyone.
The one point where he does perk up is when Jasmyn is introduced: “Her,” he announces. “Go with the name.” “But Scotog,” Manny whispers, “we have to audition everyone….” To which the goblin grunts his annoyance. Rowan is so shaken by this that her own line reading is as wooden as even, though Castor sees some of the producers’ interest in the girl’s exotic looks.
However, at the end of the meeting the chosen few are: Robbie Mardling (Slytherin 1st year); Jasmyn Fontaine (Ravenclaw 2nd year); Fortitude Hollingberry (Hufflepuff 3rd year); Wendy Wield (Hufflepuff 4th year); Rex Faust (Gryffindor 5th year); Evan Young (Gryffindor 6th year). Scotog limps out abruptly, leaving the others to do the grunt work at the end.
Castor is just able to get to the board room before the meeting lets out. Pollux has been waiting, and his cat had managed to push the door open a crack after Scotog’s departure. Pollux is able to make out some discussion of the school’s money woes, that the film is bringing in much needed cash and that Scotog spouted some “nonsense” about the “Heir of Slytherin”. What is that all about? There’s no way to raise the issue over dinner, but Mrs. Dee is clearly concerned about the schools finances. Is the school going broke?
While Castor has had his master plan, Pollux has been focusing his attentions on discerning the origins of the voice he heard – if he can’t figure out who said it, he can try to figure out where it came from. After doing some research on his own, he went to Professor Flitwick to find ways to map the school, that he might discern the air duct’s path.
Flitwick laid out a few possibilities – not knowing all of Pollux’ intentions of course – including the accurate map in Filch’s office. Pollux didn’t think he’d be likely to lay his hands on that (and it might not include the ductwork), but he was intrigued by the other options: one spell to summon a air spirit that could carry back the layout of the castle, another for a spell that would put the wizard in direct contact with the personality of the building. “Not that I would recommend starting that with a building as old and deep in personality as Hogwarts, of course,” the diminutive professor warned him. Pollux assured him he wouldn’t, and, being Pollux, probably won’t. Not unless it’s really necessary.
Pollux crams practice in these spells into his already full schedule – he has already added Hindi lessons from one of this fellow 2nd year Hufflepuffs and some extra time with Professor Kettleburn into his schedule so that he might master Indian magic traditions. The Hindi professor is willing to set aside some time for the boy, who is so clearly earnest in his desire to understand the differences between European wizardry and what was developed elsewhere, and since Professor Binns is as useful as a, well, prejudiced Eurocentric ghost in these matters someone had to do something. Books are recommended, absorbed and expanded upon in Pollux massive notebook, filled with his tight, precise hand.
After their next herbology class the Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors are witness to Filch making a respectful request to Sprout that the ungrateful little wretches (read: students) wash their feet thoroughly before returning to the school. Really thoroughly. Perhaps with lye. Someone, it seems, has been tracking muddy footprints around the dungeons. Size 13 feet with a shuffling step – probably one of those rule breaking Gryffindors. Sprout does her best to mollify him, but does she really see any students with feet that big?
Daisy & Jasmyn get a letter back from their parents – they’re equally horrified by the audition, and have done the research Daisy requested on Mr. Mommenshanz and the film. Manny has a spotty reputation – some money concerns a while back – and he’s now exclusively the agent to Mr. Night. The word on the street about the ‘serial film’ project is that without Night’s direct presence the producers are looking more for faces and names than getting the best actors.
Next Friday finds Pollux tired: Bess slept on his chest all night, increasing her weight every time he tried to move. Peri, in her role as Mommeshanz’s facilitator, is calling all of the finalists to her table for breakfast. This is the first time she’s lingered at breakfast in weeks. Jasmyn ignores her, until eventually some of the other students all but force her to go over, wanting a) Peri’s yelling to stop and b) for Jasmyn to stop acting like such a prima donna. Most of the other finalists - Fortitude, Wendy, Rex and Evan - are awfully lethargic. Falling asleep in their oatmeal level tired. Peri looks a little thrilled at this, and asks unctuously if Jasmyn is also coming down with something. Robbie, first year Slytherin, is fine.
Jasmyn can see a handful of small red pinpricks around the tired kids’ necks, under their ears. Rex brushes this off as just a rash. Rex, a budding artist, also has his sketchbook with him, and Jasmyn sees the latest sketches are of a pale, wrinkled, pinch-faced monster in a cloak. “Jusss wha I been dream’in bout,” Rex answers drowsily when asked.
That day’s DADA topic is on Vampires; Juliet, Jasmyn and Castor do a fine job listing off the three types – Tepes, Asian & Nosferatu. The Nosferatu style must sleep in the dirt of its grave, is most powerful while the grave-dirt is still on it, and has hideous, pale, pinched features. They will sometimes slumber for centuries before rising and feeding on sleeping victims. It is repelled by garlic, has supernatural strength, and can climb walls like a spider. The image in the book looks like Roy’s sketch, but without the spindly fangs.
Much of the class is creeped out by these monsters, and Night spends his time on the Tepes style: the most prevalent in Britain since the middle of the 19th century and therefore more of a threat. When Juliet asks about Nosferatu, he runs through the basics and points them to books that might clear things up, admitting to not being an expert.
The students gather after class, mulling over these clues: the fatigue, the neck wounds, the muddy footprints. Could a vampire be attacking the other finalists? Why? Is Jasmyn next on the list? Why wasn’t Owen affected? Jasmyn doubles back to ask Night a few questions about the audition process – even though she knows he doesn’t want to hear about it – and he assures her that he contractually has final selection of who will be playing the major roles. Castor is relieved to hear it, as it means the master plan can go forward once he eliminates everyone other than Rowan.
Could that be Peri’s plan as well, clearing the path for her fellow Slytherin Owen Mardling? She was coddling him a lot at breakfast. Maybe Peri is the vampire! That would be so cool! Research indicates that’s not the case, no matter how pinched and ugly Peri’s face looks when Juliet has just scored on her, but it’s a nice idea.
Remembering something from their first class, Pollux too goes back to Professor Night, looking for insight on African magical traditions. His father’s library has some books on Voodoo, but since Night had studied with actual witch doctors….
The professor is thrilled, and dedicates some time to giving Pollux the basics of what he knew – rituals for questioning & dispelling ghosts, the difference between Loa and Spirits, and the basic spell for shrinking heads (they have to be removed from the body first) and what it’s good for (it holds whispers of the dead man’s memories, so they might be referenced later). It’s all very complex, and adds nicely to Pollux thesis for the refutation of everything Reg Slaughter espoused.
Over the weekend Daisy’s work is interrupted by an arrow thru the window, the arrow imbedding itself in her door, a sheaf of papers bound around it. “Message for you,” chimes Kestral.
“How do you know it’s for me?” Daisy asks, already unraveling the music tied to the arrow. He hit her window from the edge of the forest? My, what muscles those centaurs have. And what eyes. Sigh….
“Who would be firing notes through the window for me?” her roommate replies sulkily. “Just ask him not to do it again – I don’t want to get skewered.”
Daisy grabs her violin and heads to the rooftop to look at the music: centaur composition, clearly carrying magic but unlike anything she’d seen before. She rosins up her bow and dives in, hearing the centaur join her from the woods in the other half of the duet.
She finds that the music transfers her consciousness into a space where it’s just her and the centaur, playing, orbiting each other. It’s a borderland space, neither here nor there, with them in perfect harmony, staring into each other’s eyes through the last, plaintive notes. They have just a second together in silence before the spell ends, reaching out to each other…. “Woah,” Daisy whispers when the spell ends. Once her head clears she starts unraveling the spell’s effect so that she can duplicate it in her orchestration, pulling the audience into the reality of the play.
Once again Daisy’s work is interrupted, this time by Jasmyn, who had watched the last few moments from the doorway. “My God,” she shrieks! “My sister is snogging a horse!” Daisy is on her in an instant. “I am not! And if you discuss this with anyone – ANYONE – I’ll…” she pauses, not sure what she’ll do, but knowing enough about Centaur culture to know that her friend was taking a terrible risk fraternizing with her. Jasmyn and Daisy have always been more allies than enemies, however, so the younger girl quickly swears to not tell a soul, except perhaps her roommate.
That question is answered over the course of the day, much to Castor’s dismay: Mommeshanz & Knarlhump are putting up formal notices about Sidekick Auditions! Our heroes discover this rather directly, as Knarlhump appears behind them asking them to move out of the way so he can plaster one of the huge, garish posters over the wall. “But Miiiiiister Mommmmmenshanzzz told me that Dummmmbledore gave his permmission!” wailed the house elf when the students badgered him about his defacing the school walls. Juliet’s attempts to deface the poster via sparks (“again with the burning things,” noted Pollux) were successful, but the house elf was putting one up every few feet.
The school is abuzz with excitement, and Manny corners the Fontaine girls to insist that Jasmyn appear at the upcoming audition. He is noticeably cool to Dasiy, but that might be because Daisy is downright chilly to him, having worked with other similar agents through her parents in the past. Nonetheless, the sisters decide that Jasmyn should go, if only to see what’s going on. Castor attends as well, dragging along Rowan.
On the day of the auditions the twins get a letter from their Mum, informing them that she was going to be at the school for a board meeting that afternoon and had made plans to take them out to dinner. Castor cursed, knowing this would cut into his attending the club meeting, but figured he could get both in. The twins meet Mrs. Dee at the front doors to the school, where she separates herself from a cluster of other adults – obviously the other Board members – to give her children hugs and ask after them.
The other Board members are waiting in some annoyance, including Lucious Malfoy, who vents to Mrs. Dee about the insult of having to wait for the final attendee. Eventually that attendee, a haughty Goblin named Scotog, who limps in with an uneven stride and a look of pure arrogance that puts even Malfoy to shame. “Don’t complain to me about wasting your time, Malfoy. I know to the Sickle exactly how much your time is worth,” he sneers when the pale-haired wizard voices a complaint. Mrs. Dee tells her sons to join her after the meeting for dinner at Hogsmead.
Castor accepts his hug and then sprints to the auditions, where he joins Jasmyn & Rowan. That week’s meeting of the fan club is twice as large as normal. Professor Night is, as usual, absent. Peri is present, however, which is a bit of a shock: the Slytherin girl has been visible only in her classes for the last week or so, apparently abandoning her other social engagements. She’s in full form tonight, however, sitting at the head table with Mr. Mommenshanz and some other adults. Given the look on her face, Jasmyn suspects it’s not that Peri expects an inside track to the role, but that she’s realized that the real power lies in being a producer rather than an actor. Manny, upon seeing Jasmyn, heads over to give her a big handshake and a conspiratorial wink.
The initial discussions are not promising – first is the announcement that since the part has to go to a student at the school for filming, in part, over the summer, 7th year students are not being considered and can leave to clear some space. Many disgruntled 7th years file out of the room at this news. The remaining students are given forms to fill out (Castor signs in as “Pollux Dee”) and are ordered into lines based on their year – one student per year will be selected for the next round. “Since the Crypt Raider has had sidekicks of all ages and genders over the years the part could go to anyone” Manny gushes, trying to regain some of the momentum lost when the 7th years were exiled.
Daisy runs in to one of those exiled 7th year students in the hall, who is already complaining about the preferential treatment Jasmyn received. Daisy swings by the room and is horrified at the audition – it is nothing more than a beauty contest! Students are called up one at a time, asked to do pirouette, do some basic physical activity for stunt purposes (run and jump) and read a single line. She is shoved out of the doorway by a limping Goblin, who clambers onto the stage, takes the last chair behind the table ignores everyone.
The one point where he does perk up is when Jasmyn is introduced: “Her,” he announces. “Go with the name.” “But Scotog,” Manny whispers, “we have to audition everyone….” To which the goblin grunts his annoyance. Rowan is so shaken by this that her own line reading is as wooden as even, though Castor sees some of the producers’ interest in the girl’s exotic looks.
However, at the end of the meeting the chosen few are: Robbie Mardling (Slytherin 1st year); Jasmyn Fontaine (Ravenclaw 2nd year); Fortitude Hollingberry (Hufflepuff 3rd year); Wendy Wield (Hufflepuff 4th year); Rex Faust (Gryffindor 5th year); Evan Young (Gryffindor 6th year). Scotog limps out abruptly, leaving the others to do the grunt work at the end.
Castor is just able to get to the board room before the meeting lets out. Pollux has been waiting, and his cat had managed to push the door open a crack after Scotog’s departure. Pollux is able to make out some discussion of the school’s money woes, that the film is bringing in much needed cash and that Scotog spouted some “nonsense” about the “Heir of Slytherin”. What is that all about? There’s no way to raise the issue over dinner, but Mrs. Dee is clearly concerned about the schools finances. Is the school going broke?
While Castor has had his master plan, Pollux has been focusing his attentions on discerning the origins of the voice he heard – if he can’t figure out who said it, he can try to figure out where it came from. After doing some research on his own, he went to Professor Flitwick to find ways to map the school, that he might discern the air duct’s path.
Flitwick laid out a few possibilities – not knowing all of Pollux’ intentions of course – including the accurate map in Filch’s office. Pollux didn’t think he’d be likely to lay his hands on that (and it might not include the ductwork), but he was intrigued by the other options: one spell to summon a air spirit that could carry back the layout of the castle, another for a spell that would put the wizard in direct contact with the personality of the building. “Not that I would recommend starting that with a building as old and deep in personality as Hogwarts, of course,” the diminutive professor warned him. Pollux assured him he wouldn’t, and, being Pollux, probably won’t. Not unless it’s really necessary.
Pollux crams practice in these spells into his already full schedule – he has already added Hindi lessons from one of this fellow 2nd year Hufflepuffs and some extra time with Professor Kettleburn into his schedule so that he might master Indian magic traditions. The Hindi professor is willing to set aside some time for the boy, who is so clearly earnest in his desire to understand the differences between European wizardry and what was developed elsewhere, and since Professor Binns is as useful as a, well, prejudiced Eurocentric ghost in these matters someone had to do something. Books are recommended, absorbed and expanded upon in Pollux massive notebook, filled with his tight, precise hand.
After their next herbology class the Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors are witness to Filch making a respectful request to Sprout that the ungrateful little wretches (read: students) wash their feet thoroughly before returning to the school. Really thoroughly. Perhaps with lye. Someone, it seems, has been tracking muddy footprints around the dungeons. Size 13 feet with a shuffling step – probably one of those rule breaking Gryffindors. Sprout does her best to mollify him, but does she really see any students with feet that big?
Daisy & Jasmyn get a letter back from their parents – they’re equally horrified by the audition, and have done the research Daisy requested on Mr. Mommenshanz and the film. Manny has a spotty reputation – some money concerns a while back – and he’s now exclusively the agent to Mr. Night. The word on the street about the ‘serial film’ project is that without Night’s direct presence the producers are looking more for faces and names than getting the best actors.
Next Friday finds Pollux tired: Bess slept on his chest all night, increasing her weight every time he tried to move. Peri, in her role as Mommeshanz’s facilitator, is calling all of the finalists to her table for breakfast. This is the first time she’s lingered at breakfast in weeks. Jasmyn ignores her, until eventually some of the other students all but force her to go over, wanting a) Peri’s yelling to stop and b) for Jasmyn to stop acting like such a prima donna. Most of the other finalists - Fortitude, Wendy, Rex and Evan - are awfully lethargic. Falling asleep in their oatmeal level tired. Peri looks a little thrilled at this, and asks unctuously if Jasmyn is also coming down with something. Robbie, first year Slytherin, is fine.
Jasmyn can see a handful of small red pinpricks around the tired kids’ necks, under their ears. Rex brushes this off as just a rash. Rex, a budding artist, also has his sketchbook with him, and Jasmyn sees the latest sketches are of a pale, wrinkled, pinch-faced monster in a cloak. “Jusss wha I been dream’in bout,” Rex answers drowsily when asked.
That day’s DADA topic is on Vampires; Juliet, Jasmyn and Castor do a fine job listing off the three types – Tepes, Asian & Nosferatu. The Nosferatu style must sleep in the dirt of its grave, is most powerful while the grave-dirt is still on it, and has hideous, pale, pinched features. They will sometimes slumber for centuries before rising and feeding on sleeping victims. It is repelled by garlic, has supernatural strength, and can climb walls like a spider. The image in the book looks like Roy’s sketch, but without the spindly fangs.
Much of the class is creeped out by these monsters, and Night spends his time on the Tepes style: the most prevalent in Britain since the middle of the 19th century and therefore more of a threat. When Juliet asks about Nosferatu, he runs through the basics and points them to books that might clear things up, admitting to not being an expert.
The students gather after class, mulling over these clues: the fatigue, the neck wounds, the muddy footprints. Could a vampire be attacking the other finalists? Why? Is Jasmyn next on the list? Why wasn’t Owen affected? Jasmyn doubles back to ask Night a few questions about the audition process – even though she knows he doesn’t want to hear about it – and he assures her that he contractually has final selection of who will be playing the major roles. Castor is relieved to hear it, as it means the master plan can go forward once he eliminates everyone other than Rowan.
Could that be Peri’s plan as well, clearing the path for her fellow Slytherin Owen Mardling? She was coddling him a lot at breakfast. Maybe Peri is the vampire! That would be so cool! Research indicates that’s not the case, no matter how pinched and ugly Peri’s face looks when Juliet has just scored on her, but it’s a nice idea.
Remembering something from their first class, Pollux too goes back to Professor Night, looking for insight on African magical traditions. His father’s library has some books on Voodoo, but since Night had studied with actual witch doctors….
The professor is thrilled, and dedicates some time to giving Pollux the basics of what he knew – rituals for questioning & dispelling ghosts, the difference between Loa and Spirits, and the basic spell for shrinking heads (they have to be removed from the body first) and what it’s good for (it holds whispers of the dead man’s memories, so they might be referenced later). It’s all very complex, and adds nicely to Pollux thesis for the refutation of everything Reg Slaughter espoused.
Over the weekend Daisy’s work is interrupted by an arrow thru the window, the arrow imbedding itself in her door, a sheaf of papers bound around it. “Message for you,” chimes Kestral.
“How do you know it’s for me?” Daisy asks, already unraveling the music tied to the arrow. He hit her window from the edge of the forest? My, what muscles those centaurs have. And what eyes. Sigh….
“Who would be firing notes through the window for me?” her roommate replies sulkily. “Just ask him not to do it again – I don’t want to get skewered.”
Daisy grabs her violin and heads to the rooftop to look at the music: centaur composition, clearly carrying magic but unlike anything she’d seen before. She rosins up her bow and dives in, hearing the centaur join her from the woods in the other half of the duet.
She finds that the music transfers her consciousness into a space where it’s just her and the centaur, playing, orbiting each other. It’s a borderland space, neither here nor there, with them in perfect harmony, staring into each other’s eyes through the last, plaintive notes. They have just a second together in silence before the spell ends, reaching out to each other…. “Woah,” Daisy whispers when the spell ends. Once her head clears she starts unraveling the spell’s effect so that she can duplicate it in her orchestration, pulling the audience into the reality of the play.
Once again Daisy’s work is interrupted, this time by Jasmyn, who had watched the last few moments from the doorway. “My God,” she shrieks! “My sister is snogging a horse!” Daisy is on her in an instant. “I am not! And if you discuss this with anyone – ANYONE – I’ll…” she pauses, not sure what she’ll do, but knowing enough about Centaur culture to know that her friend was taking a terrible risk fraternizing with her. Jasmyn and Daisy have always been more allies than enemies, however, so the younger girl quickly swears to not tell a soul, except perhaps her roommate.