001 — video ( seelie )

[hexuality]

Hullo.

[ And the smiling, freckled face of one Ginny Weasley is all up in this locket. She's clearly outside, soaking in the sunshine as she pulls back so her face isn't filling up the view. ]

There's been loads of talk lately about learning how to fight. Well, fight in other ways, proper swords and all. I reckon I got by all right with my wand during the worm fiasco but I can't deny that's a good thought. Merlin knows I've considered it. [ She laughs. ] Especially since I can imagine my mum in fits over me swinging a sword around.

[ She pauses, then, biting her lip around a thoughtful smile before scrambling forward (carefully) to hang her locket off a low branch of a tree in the bailey. She's sprawled (perhaps rather unladlylike, given the gown she's still getting used to wearing) on a stone bench, a broomstick in her lap, and she looks positively pleased about it. ]

But this is what I'm really excited about. I've had it since the fighting was over, as a gift... [ But she was still a little too banged up to use it. BUT NOW. ] It'd be nice, don't you think, to explore this place a bit? Beyond the castle. I'd love to see what's out there, properly out there.

[ Ginny releases the broom and it rises gently into the air. She touches it fondly. ]

Can't say I fancy flying in a dress, though. Am I allowed trousers here?

Comments

[bullhorned]

... you can fly? Bloody hell.

[But hell, if she can fly, maybe she can help him with something else.]

[hexuality]

Surprise?

[bullhorned]

As you say. [More like nonesense yntil he sees it. Speaking of...] Show me.

[hexuality]

You might take me out for a drink before you ask a witch to show you her broom.

[ But she's winking, already leaning forward, eager. ]

You don't believe me?

[bullhorned]

I ain't ever seen anyone fly. 'Course I don't believe it.

[And he's a bit flustered by her teasing, as well. And he seems to not show any expression in response.]

[hexuality]

[ She studies him for a second, amused and thoughtful. Then - ]

I can't do tricks in this dress. [ BUT. She leaves the locket hanging on the branch and goes to sit on the broom in a side saddle sort of way, kicking off the ground so that she's hovering a few feet above the ground. ] I can do a bit of this, though.

[bullhorned]

[It is a wholly underwhelming experience seeing her floating in the small image provided by the locket. He might almost dismiss it as a trick, but he supposes its as much demonstration as he'll get. He's not likely to tell her to ditch the dress, after all. So he nods, acts impressed, then decides to settle another matter.]

That magic you used against the worms. Think you might fancy doing that a bit more?

[hexuality]

[ It's very underwhelming, even for her. She wants to rocket into the air, corkscrew through it, do flips and loops and race the clouds. But she doesn't. For now. ]

Yeah, it's just as much a part of me as anything else.

[bullhorned]

I've something I'd like to see you try it on. You're the only one I know what could do it.

[He reckons the only way to see if the shield in progress really can repel magic is just to use magic on it]

[hexuality]

[ She looks intrigued, her head cocking a fraction. ]

What d'you need?

[bullhorned]

You and your wand, at the forge. I want to see if the Seelie have the right of it with the bit of metal they gave me.

[hexuality]

What's it meant to do?

[bullhorned]

[There is a moment where he is reluctant to answer, because he doesn't trust these lockets. He decides not to give the whole answer.]

It's supposed to be magic.

[hexuality]

The Seelie gave me my broom and it works fine, so I'm sure...

[ She trails off with a soft hum then slips off her broom to stand on the bench and back down. ]

The forge, you said?

[bullhorned]

[Again, he remains skeptical. Suspicious. And unwilling to trust in anything unless he can be sure in it.]

Aye. You know where it is?

[hexuality]

No, but I will. You're there now?

[bullhorned]

I'm always there.

[There is absolutely no irony or sarcasm in his tone. He has quarters fit for the prince. But he never uses them. Better a bed of hay in a corner of the forge than being treated like something he isn't.]

[hexuality]

Well, I can never say no to seeing a new bit of the castle. [ She plucks her broom from the air and slings it over her shoulder, reaching for the locket too. ] I'll come find you, then.

[bullhorned]

I'll be waiting.

[And so he will be. He's working on the shield even now. In the depths of the forge, he'll be barechested and drenched in sweat. The shield is presently a battered piece of metal that he's made into close to its appropriate shape, but still in need of more work. And so the steady tempo of heavy hammer blows ringing on steel will be all she needs to find him.]

[hexuality]

[ It takes a bit of asking, but Ginny eventually finds her way, and her first impression is the blast of sweltering heat that reminds her of being thirteen years old and watching dragons breathe fire in an arena. Not nearly as intense, but enough for her to decide to leave her broom outside (no bloody way she's letting it catch fire), and she enters properly to seek out Gendry.

The hammer blows are enough of a hint and she stops a fair distance away, certain he won't hear her over the din, and crosses her arms as she waits. And when there's a break in the pounding, she calls out: ]

Not that I mind the show— [ She grins. ] But it's a little warm for standing round.

[bullhorned]

[He turned around and for the moment, he seemed to blush from her comment. But he was already red from the heat, mercifully shielding him from further embarrassment. He set the hammer down and moved around to the other side of his work.]

There you are. Here, have a look.

[With a pair of tongs, he raised the shield higher so that she could see it. It was still misshapen, but what was striking was how reflective it was. It seemed as fine as mirrored glass, but not nearly so delicate. And that was after he'd heated and beaten it. That alone made it extraordinary.]

[hexuality]

[ She doesn't know very much about armour and shields and swords, even with the empty suits standing around Hogwarts castle. Even so, Ginny can recognise the unusual quality of the offered shield and she steps closer to take a look; she isn't about to touch it, she isn't an idiot, but she wants to—just out of curiosity. ]

You said it's meant to be magic? [ Ginny glances up from her own reflection in the metal to the young man holding it, brows knit. ] I've never seen anything like it.

[bullhorned]

Not quite magic. [He lets it fall back on the anvil again with a clang.] It's supposed to reflect magic. Only, I ain't got no magic to see if they told me true.

[He looks to her now. This is where she comes in.]

[hexuality]

[ She raises her brows at him, interest piqued. ]

You want me to hex you?

[bullhorned]

[Hex? He stares at her.]

No. I want you to fling some of your magic at this here shield. At an angle, mayhaps. So as if don't come back and hurt you.