Angry

[i_am_shiny]

[ Locked to tm_dumbledore and thekitchenboy ]The Ring swings its weight and tips the teacup over on Dumbledore's desk. It rolls and falls onto the ground with a loud plunk, where it seethed silently. The wizard Dumbledore had cast a spell on it! A cheering spell, no less! Some master this bumbling fool was turning out to be. Well, if Dumbledore does not wish to properly use

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[thekitchenboy]

From afar off, on top of Gormenghast Mountain, Steerpike raises his head from his work. The telescope is nearly finished; it's in pieces, but the pieces appear coherent, the mirrors tightly locked into place by revolving clamps.

He pauses, decides that perhaps he was caught in a memory, and he returns to his work.

[i_am_shiny]

Steerpike... look further...

[thekitchenboy]

Steerpike sits up completely, his posture erect, and he places the set of pliers he holds in his still-sore right arm on a nearby table.

"Who is that?" He whispers to the near-silent house.

His mind surges. Has my madness returned to me? Have I staved it off for as long as it will stay away?

[i_am_shiny]

This is no madness. I offer you power beyond your imagination. Step closer...

[thekitchenboy]

Steerpike finds himself stepping forward without realizing how or why. "Who are you?" He whispers, stretching out his arms.

[i_am_shiny]

The air swirls around him and he is brought to a room in Hogwarts, where a wizard is slumbering on his chair. Two teacups are laid out on the table, though one has been tipped over. A golden ring shines brightly on the floor.

Come closer!

[thekitchenboy]

Steerpike jumps as the room changes. He stands very still, seeing the fact that he's not only in a place that he has never been to before, but that there is another occupant of the room.

The glittering of the ring catches his eye. Those same blue eyes dart up to the sleeping form of the old man as he crouches before the ring. He stares at it.

You are the ring I have heard about, Steerpike thinks, too frightened to speak out loud for fear of awakening the wizard.

[i_am_shiny]

The Ring does not reply, but draws Steerpike ever closer to itself.

[thekitchenboy]

Steerpike's eyes dart to the wizard again, and his fear of awakening Dumbledore outweights his common sense. He takes up the ring between the thumb and forefinger of his right arm, and for the moment, he hardly feels the pain in his left shoulder.

[i_am_shiny]

A soft urgent whisper enters Steerpike's ears.

Quickly, leave before the wizard awakes!

[tm_dumbledore]

Almost as if hearing the whisper of the Ring, Fawkes comes awake on his perch. Head cocked to one side, the Phoenix trills an inquistive note at a Steeprike caught with the Ring flashing between his fingers.

[thekitchenboy]

Steerpike backs up slowly, nearly knocking over one of the many bizarre instruments in Dumbledore's office. His eyes desperately search for an exit, and, finding the staircase, he begins to move toward it, eyes remaining on Fawkes.

[tm_dumbledore]

Fawkes shifts from side to side, spreading his wings. The second Steerpike sets a foot outside the room, the bird drops off his perch and swoops towards the open door.

[thekitchenboy]

Steerpike gasps, trying desperately not to shout out loud. He curls his hand around the ring as he enters the open hallway and he quickly tries to get his bearings.

The urge to put on the ring becomes quite powerful, but he ignores it as he tries to look for a staircase or exit or something to the castle he finds himself in.

[tm_dumbledore]

Light draws his attention and halfway along the hall, he finds a window looking out; to his left, he can see Hogwarts gates, standing open. To his right, he can just make out kids on broomsticks high above the Quidditch Pitch. There is thick ivy climbing down to the ground. Fawkes screetches behind him, waking up the portrait to his left.

What ho! cries the picture of Sir Cadogan Stand fast there, knave!

[thekitchenboy]

Steerpike jumps at the shouting portrait and breaks out into a run. But the burst of speed doesn't last for long. He stumbles over an antique carpet runner, trips, and lands on his stomach. In a sudden impulse (or perhaps out of safekeeping), Steerpike puts the ring on.

He vanishes from sight.