Ficlet: What's in a Name
Title: What's in a Name
Summary: Tom Riddle encounters Walburga Black at a high society event.
Characters/Pairings: Tom Riddle, Walburga Black
Genre: General
Rating/Warnings: PG
Medium: Ficlet
Word Count: 486
Can the Order post to Tumblr?: Sure
If yes, your Tumblr username: N/A
I looked around the posh gathering, assessing possible targets. It was the usual collection of magical aristocracy, glittering and gossiping and laughing gently behind double-edged words. But if you were observant, there was usually at least one opportunity.
And there she was.
I made my way to an ill-lit side of the room where Walburga Black stood, elegant as a calla lily with her graceful neck, dark hair piled into a complicated chignon, and impeccably tailored robes. The dissatisfaction on her face was like a wound.
“Miss Black?”
Her eyes fell on me and clearly liked what they saw. “Mr. Riddle, I believe? You can call me Wallie. All my friends do.”
I smiled. “Wallie.” I raised her hand to my lips and brushed them gently across, just this side of proper protocol. “Please call me Tom, then. Now, Wallie, would you mind terribly if I asked you a personal question?”
Her eyelashes fluttered. “Not at all.”
“Do you not like your given name?”
She wrinkled her nose daintily. “Would you want to be called Walburga? It’s an ugly name.”
“Oh, but such an evocative name.” I let my voice tip promise into the word, caressing it. “A strong name. Germanic. Did you know that the first part, wald, means power, or leader, or perhaps...ruler? I think that suits you...oh, marvelously. Don’t you think?”
Her eyes were wide. “And the second part?”
“Burg is fortress. So, your name, lovely Wallie, signals power and protection. Unyielding. A force to be reckoned with. Walburga.” I whispered into her ear. “She who is meant to rule from on high.”
She inhaled sharply, her spine rigid. And then the dissatisfaction bled through her again, sagging her shoulders. “Not if my father has anything to say about it.”
I smiled. “And yet you have that name. Perhaps you simply need to explore alternative avenues to...”
“To what?”
“To making your will manifest.” I leaned into her, my voice dropping lightly as summer rain between us. “Beauty is one kind of power, Wallie - one you have quite a lot of. You should use it more. Everyone likes to listen to beauty. So many people are willing to grant beauty liberties that they don’t grant lesser mortals.”
A small smile played on her lips. “Oh, really?”
“Trust me, Wallie.”
“I believe you, beautiful Tom.” She raised a hand to the side of my cheek, her fingers sliding like silk across the skin. “And you know, you should call me Walburga. My best friends do.”
“It would be my distinct pleasure, Walburga.” I lifted my elbow. “Now, might I escort you to the refreshments table? I believe there are some fine fellows there who might be interested in some beauty.”
She placed her arm in mine. “Thank you, Tom - for everything. You’re a gem.”
“May others have your keen perception, dear Walburga.”
Her tinkling laughter trailed behind us as we left the shadows.
16 points
Summary: Tom Riddle encounters Walburga Black at a high society event.
Characters/Pairings: Tom Riddle, Walburga Black
Genre: General
Rating/Warnings: PG
Medium: Ficlet
Word Count: 486
Can the Order post to Tumblr?: Sure
If yes, your Tumblr username: N/A
I looked around the posh gathering, assessing possible targets. It was the usual collection of magical aristocracy, glittering and gossiping and laughing gently behind double-edged words. But if you were observant, there was usually at least one opportunity.
And there she was.
I made my way to an ill-lit side of the room where Walburga Black stood, elegant as a calla lily with her graceful neck, dark hair piled into a complicated chignon, and impeccably tailored robes. The dissatisfaction on her face was like a wound.
“Miss Black?”
Her eyes fell on me and clearly liked what they saw. “Mr. Riddle, I believe? You can call me Wallie. All my friends do.”
I smiled. “Wallie.” I raised her hand to my lips and brushed them gently across, just this side of proper protocol. “Please call me Tom, then. Now, Wallie, would you mind terribly if I asked you a personal question?”
Her eyelashes fluttered. “Not at all.”
“Do you not like your given name?”
She wrinkled her nose daintily. “Would you want to be called Walburga? It’s an ugly name.”
“Oh, but such an evocative name.” I let my voice tip promise into the word, caressing it. “A strong name. Germanic. Did you know that the first part, wald, means power, or leader, or perhaps...ruler? I think that suits you...oh, marvelously. Don’t you think?”
Her eyes were wide. “And the second part?”
“Burg is fortress. So, your name, lovely Wallie, signals power and protection. Unyielding. A force to be reckoned with. Walburga.” I whispered into her ear. “She who is meant to rule from on high.”
She inhaled sharply, her spine rigid. And then the dissatisfaction bled through her again, sagging her shoulders. “Not if my father has anything to say about it.”
I smiled. “And yet you have that name. Perhaps you simply need to explore alternative avenues to...”
“To what?”
“To making your will manifest.” I leaned into her, my voice dropping lightly as summer rain between us. “Beauty is one kind of power, Wallie - one you have quite a lot of. You should use it more. Everyone likes to listen to beauty. So many people are willing to grant beauty liberties that they don’t grant lesser mortals.”
A small smile played on her lips. “Oh, really?”
“Trust me, Wallie.”
“I believe you, beautiful Tom.” She raised a hand to the side of my cheek, her fingers sliding like silk across the skin. “And you know, you should call me Walburga. My best friends do.”
“It would be my distinct pleasure, Walburga.” I lifted my elbow. “Now, might I escort you to the refreshments table? I believe there are some fine fellows there who might be interested in some beauty.”
She placed her arm in mine. “Thank you, Tom - for everything. You’re a gem.”
“May others have your keen perception, dear Walburga.”
Her tinkling laughter trailed behind us as we left the shadows.
16 points