Rufus & Michael Change of Pace Part I
Who: Rufus & Michael
When: Wed, November 19, evening
Where: Rufus' house in London
What: Michael hallucinates, Rufus calms him down with port.
*Rufus*
Heading towards the training room, he opened the door, bumping into Michael.
"MIchael, wha?" he asked before seeing the fire. Grabbing his wand, he quickly put out the flames in the corner.
"Michael? Are you alright? What happened?"
*Michael*
Trembling, she shook her head, unsure of the voice and shape in front of her. Running her hands over Rufus' shirt, she relaxed a little bit at the solid form.
"I don't know... I... I think I was hearing and seeing things... There was someone else in the room..."
*Rufus*
"Michael, it's me, Rufus," he reassured the girl.
"There's no one else here. But the curtains were on fire. Did someone get through the wards?" he asked worriedly.
*Michael*
She blushed a bit as she shook her head.
"I... I don't know... It... Fernando... and Mallory..."
She shook her head again as she laughed a bit nervously.
"I thought I heard a dragon too... I lashed out. I'm sorry. I didn't damage anything, did I?"
*Rufus*
He held the girl close.
"Let me check the room over. Make sure nothing's going on," he said, bristling at the name Mallory.
*Michael*
She nodded slightly as she took a shaky breath.
"It.. it might be the spell... Cho... she said that there was the possible side effect of hallucinations..."
*Rufus*
He kept an arm around Michael as he cast a few spells into the room, ensuring they were safe. The last thing he needed was to have his training room broken into.
"It's safe in here now. And there's no sign of the wards being damaged," he explained.
"It might have been a hallucination. Are you alright now?"
*Michael*
Breathing out another sigh, she nodded as she stayed curled up slightly in Rufus' arm.
"Yeah... Just.. just shaken..."
She chuckled softly.
"Ya know, with thinking a dragon all of a sudden was in the room."
*Rufus*
He held the girl close, wondering if the change in Michael's gender had led to this quivering child in his arms. It reminded him of days long gone.
"It's understandable. Do you want some port to calm you down?"
*Michael*
Relaxing a bit due to Rufus' arms around him and the other man's familiar voice, she breathed out a shaky sigh before nodding.
"Port would be good. Company would be good too. Non-morphing hallucination company..."
*Rufus*
He chuckled.
"I assure you, I'm not going to change into anything, and neither will I disappear."
He smiled.
"Can I let go of you and get the port?" he asked quietly.
*Michael*
She bit her lip a moment as she curled up slightly before nodding slowly.
"Yeah... yeah... ya can go and get it..." she said softly.
*Rufus*
"Don't worry, I'm just going across the room," he said, continuing to talk so that Michael would know where he was.
"I'm right over here," he announced when he got to the cabinet that held the port and poured two glasses.
"Think you can make it over here?"
*Michael*
Nodding, she turned her hair warily as she wrapped her arms around herself.
"Yeah, I can make it," she said softly before heading across the room. "I'm sorry 'bout your curtains. I didn't mean to set 'em on fire..."
*Rufus*
"Better the curtains than someone getting a piece of you," he said with a smile as he held the port out for Michael.
"Still shaken up? The port will help."
*Michael*
Taking the glass from Rufus, he nodded his head reluctantly after awhile.
"Yeah. It... it was a pretty bad hallucination..." she said quietly before taking a long drink from her glass.
*Rufus*
He rubbed Michael's back reassuringly.
"It's alright Michael. It's over now. Do you want to talk about it?"
*Michael*
Swallowing hard, she ran her fingers over the glass in her hands before taking another long drink.
"Fernando was there... I... I could have sworn he was there and he was talking to me..." she breathed out.
*Rufus*
He wrapped his arm around Michael.
"What did he say?" he asked curiously, knowing that Alessandra believed the dead could talk, but he himself had other ideas.
*Michael*
She turned her head away as she curled up slightly into herself.
"Bad things..." she said softly. "Just... bad things..."
*Rufus*
"It's alright Michael, it's alright," he reassured Michael.
He transfigured a table to a couch and led Michael to it.
"Sit. Relax a bit. You're safe. I'll keep you safe, Michael," he said, a faint smile on his lips.
*Michael*
Sitting down, she shook her head slightly before draining the rest of her drink.
"I'm sorry... The echolocation spell must be going wonky or something. Cho said there might be side effects..."
*Rufus*
He ran his fingers through Michael's hair.
"It's alright, Michael. No harm done as long as you're alright."
Grabbing the bottle of port, he poured Michael another glass.
*Michael*
She breathed out a sigh as she nodded.
"Scared the crap out of me..." she said softly before taking another swig of her drink.
*Rufus*
He ran his fingers through Michael's hair.
"It's alright, Michael. No harm done as long as you're alright."
Grabbing the bottle of port, he poured Michael another glass.
*Michael*
She breathed out a sigh as she nodded.
"Scared the crap out of me..." she said softly before taking another swig of her drink.
*Rufus*
"I believe it. Then again, seeing Mallory would make me so irate I probably would have burned the whole room down. What he and his brother did was simply atrocious. And then that he got acquitted of murder," he said shaking his head.
*Michael*
She smiled slightly, enjoying the fact that someone wasn't defending Mallory for once and saying he was a good guy. She snorted slightly as she shook her head.
"Although one of those murders was Liam, but everyone was too busy jumping for joy to punish him for anything."
*Rufus*
"Good riddance to bad rubbish. It's quite a shame that no one managed to kill William in all that fighting," he said. "The trial was a farce and Black is blind when it concerns that boy."
*Michael*
Grinning smugly, she nodded.
"Yeah, he does. Always yells at me when I end up hurting Mallory in our sparring sessions, even if he deserved it."
She shifted a bit uncomfortably before she sighed.
"Although him surviving that last battle was partly my doing. Saved his ass a few times."
*Rufus*
He snorted.
"Well, I'm sure that makes you a better person, but I doubt he's shown his gratitude. Unfortunately we're often forced to work with people who should be in Azkaban or the like. And we should be better than them, but it's often a find line between being the better man and treating everyone fairly and doing what's right."
*Michael*
She nodded slightly.
"Well, I owed him. He helped me out and I might have died of blood lose or gotten eaten by some hungry werewolf if he hadn't found me. It was the least that I could do."
*Rufus*
He nodded.
"Well, now you're even. So you don't owe him anything anymore. He owes you."
*Michael*
She looked towards Rufus curiously.
"How do ya figure that?"
*Rufus*
He smirked.
"Well, you haven't killed him yet in training even though you're clearly the better fighter and an honest Auror and he's a murderer."
*Michael*
She blushed slightly as she ran her fingers over her wine glass.
"Well.... When ya put it that way..." she said softly before taking a long sip of her port.
*Rufus*
He nodded.
"I can present it many ways," he said.
"That's one of the benefits of being in politics."
*Michael*
She laughed.
"Twisting the truth until it says what ya want it to say?"
*Rufus*
He chuckled as he refilled their glasses and put an arm around Michael, squeezing his shoulder reassuringly.
"Do you want to talk about the hallucination? It might help?"
*Michael*
Turning her head down towards her glass, she bit her lip slightly.
"I don't know... I... It was just bad... First it was Fernando and then it turned into Mallory and then... I attacked him as a lion and he turned into a dragon and I lashed out and then ran..."
*Rufus*
He nodded.
"I can't imagine how hard that must have been," he said, running his fingers through Michael's hair. There was something truly wonderful about good alcohol.
"Seeing Fernando turn into Mallory. But the dragon? Have you had any experiences with dragons?" he asked.
*Michael*
She shook her head slightly.
"More hearing than seeing.... Would have been worse if I could have seen it..." she said softly before blushing in shame and shaking her head again. "No... not really... Just once..."
*Rufus*
"What happened?" he asked, hoping his voice portrayed his concern.
*Michael*
Curling up into herself slightly, she shook her head.
"It was nothing. I was just a stupid little kid. It doesn't matter," she mumbled before taking a sip of her drink.
*Rufus*
He quirked an eyebrow.
"I know you know enough to know when you're lying. What happened?"
*Michael*
She blushed more as she turned her head away from Rufus and swallowed hard.
"I was seven. After... when I was seven, there was an emergency call and my... my father went out, but I heard where he was going so after a bit I snuck out... Someone was trying to smuggle a dragon into the States by ship and when they went to stop them, the dragon got loose...." she said quietly.
*Rufus*
He nodded.
"Did you try to stop the dragon yourself?" he asked.
*Michael*
She nodded slowly.
"It was going after the Aurors and Dad... I was just trying to help..." she breathed out.
*Rufus*
"Things ended up getting worse, didn't they?" he asked curiously.
: *Michael*
She nodded again as she bit her lip.
"I was just trying to get its attention so they could do something, but then it came after me instead... I... it was so big and I couldn't move.... Gods, Dad was so mad with me after that..."
*Rufus*
He pulled Michael close.
"You were just trying to help. Any good son would have done the same thing. I'm sure if you'd of been my son, you would have done the same for me. I would certainly do that for you."
*Michael*
Chuckling softly, her breath caught a bit in her throat as she curled up in Rufus' arms.
"Ya don't want me helping ya. I never end up doing anything that actually helps," she said softly.
*Rufus*
"That's bullshit Michael and you know it. You saved Mallory's life and I'm sure you've saved others' lives. You helped get Fernando's body to his family. You're an incredible fighter and you're a good man. That's why I took you on," he said, running his fingers through Michael's hair.
*Michael*
She chuckled softly.
"I saved Mallory's ass and he saved mine, but I can't seem to save anyone that matters... I ended up getting my eyes clawed out before helping to carry Fernando's body out past the apparition border for a little bit... I'm such a good fighter that I got knocked out by my best friend and I've made a good job at fucking up other people's lives. Not sure how much of a good man that makes me..." she said softly before laughing wryly. "Actually, not much of a man at all right now."
*Rufus*
He chuckled.
"You're a man inside and this was just some horrid curse that I'm sure will be reversed soon enough. You helped even though you got your eyes clawed out, Michael. You have a big heart and a good head on those shoulders. You'll go far, I know."
*Michael*
She bowed her head slightly and blushed.
"Thanks. That means a lot."
She chuckled softly.
"Hopefully it hasn't already been reversed at Hogwarts..."
*rufus*
"I think we'd know if it had," he said with a smile. "Word travels fast sometimes."
*Michael*
She chuckled softly before finishing off her glass of port.
"And really slow the rest. Ya never know which one it's gonna be."
*Rufus*
He chuckled as he poured Michael another glass of port.
"So, how'd the curtains catch on fire?" he asked.
*Michael*
She smiled sheepishly as she ran a hand through her hair.
"I panicked. It happens when I panic. Ya know, when ya get stressed and raw magic starts acting out. Mine tends to set things on fire...."
*Rufus*
He nodded.
"Well, if it really had been Mallory here, you would have easily won as I've heard that he hates fire more than anything. Some childhood trauma, I presume."
*Michael*
She nodded.
"Yeah, he's got bad scars on his side," she said as she ran a hand over her left side. "It's a really big weak spot in his fighting stance."
*Rufus*
"If he's got a weak spot that big, he should probably get over it before he thinks of applying to become an Auror."
*Michael*
She snorted before taking a sip of her port.
"We've been working on it. Still think he doesn't have a chance of being an Auror and that he's crazy for wanting to get into the training."
*Rufus*
"Has he gotten any better about it?" he asked curiously.
"He probably doesn't, but we should give him a chance. We have to be just and fair after all. "
: *Michael*
She had the desire to roll her eyes before she huffed out a sigh.
"Yeah, I guess. Not very much better though. And I guess ya have a point...."
*Rufus*
"Well, keep pushing him on that. You might even want to bring fire into the attack training sessions. It is a favorite spell of dark wizards and he needs to get past that weakness if he hopes to make it into the Aurors," he explained, refilling his on glass of port and sipping at it.
*Michael*
She frowned slightly.
"That might be difficult. We mostly do hand to hand sparring. We haven't really tried wizarding duels."
*Rufus*
He nodded.
"Well, perhaps it's time for a change of pace then. Maybe do a wizard duel and see how he fairs. Or set up a training room to contain the spells and make it an attack situation. You could even blindfold him or charm the room to be night..."
*Michael*
She frowned slightly in thought.
"I guess.... Although considering we're almost killing each other without magic, I'm not sure if I wanna see what we'll do with it...."
*Rufus*
"Just have someone on hand who can step in if it gets out of hand," he suggested.
*Michael*
She laughed as she quirked an eyebrow as much as she could.
"Like who? Sirius would baby us and step in whenever a spell gets too close."
: *Rufus*
"I would do it for you if you wished," he suggested. "Besides, Black has no say over your training anymore."
*Michael*
She tilted her head curiously.
"Ya would?"
*Rufus*
"Of course. It wouldn't be bad. We could do it as a preliminary round. Set up a couple for all the students. Controlled training exercise to see their progress this term and decide what they need to improve upon. Perhaps it would be myself and Robards, but I can stop him from interfering," he said.
: *Michael*
She frowned slightly.
"So.... everyone fighting each other or would I have to be fighting all of 'em?"
*Rufus*
"We'd make it one on one sessions. Easier to evaluate each student that way," he added, running a hand over his hair in thought.
: *Michael*
She nodded.
"Well, yeah, I figured that, but would ya have the trainees fighting each other or would they be pitted against higher level people?"
*Rufus*
"Probably against higher level people. We would need to challenge them after all," he explained.
*Michael*
She nodded before frowning slightly.
"So... Aside from fighting Mallory, what would I be doing?"
*Rufus*
"Well, if you're willing, I'd like to have you fighting all of them. I think you're quite capable of handling yourself and challenging them," he said with a smile.
*Michael*
She blushed slightly as she shook her head.
"I... wow. That's really a compliment. I'm not sure if I can handle that many fights in a row though..."
*Rufus*
He nodded.
"Completely understandable. I wouldn't want to overwork you. Need you in top shape for our own training sessions. But I think you could definitely handle Mallory. Maybe a few others. And then we can divide the rest among some others," he explained.
"Does that sound alright to you?"3
*Michael*
She grinned as she nodded.
"Yeah. That sounds manageable. Especially with ya guys there to stop Mallory from doing something stupid."
She made a bit of a face.
"If we're changed back by then, can I not fight any girls if possible? It feels weird..."
*Rufus*
He nodded.
"Of course, I don't see that being a problem. You know you'll need to get over that. Maybe I should partner you with Johnston for awhile - she won't go easy on you."
*Michael*
She giggled slightly as she nodded.
"I know, I know. Just feels like I'm being an ass if I'm beating up a girl. Ya know, the whole gentleman thing," she said before taking a long sip of her port.
*Rufus*
"They're Aurors or wannabes. Or dark-wizards. You can't think of them as people in a fight. You protect your own but you get the job done. You vanquish the dark wizards. We all sign up knowing that every day could be our last," he explained.
*Michael*
She wanted to roll her eyes again.
"Well, in an actual battle, battle, yeah, ya gotta kick whoever's butt ya gotta, but in just a training fight.... Especially if the girl can't fight well, it gets to be nerve-wracking."
*Rufus*
He chuckled as he sipped his port.
"Well, hopefully you'll get past that. After all, you need to be able to train women and men."
*Michael*
She sighed as she nodded and then took a sip of his port.
"I know. I just wish there were better women to train right now."
*Rufus*
"Like Cho?" he asked.
*Michael*
She tensed slightly as she turned her head away.
"She doesn't really wanna be an Auror. She's just looking for something to keep her occupied," she muttered.
*Rufus*
He nodded.
"I know. Don't worry. It's alright. In the end, it's her life," he said resting a hand on Michael's shoulder.
*Michael*
She sighed as she ran a hand over her glass before draining it.
"Sorry.... Sore topic and all...." she said softly.
*Rufus*
"Apparently," he said, going to refill Michael's glass.
"You want to stay here tonight? I don't want you apparating with this much port in you..."
*Michael*
She shook her head, putting a hand to her head as it spun slightly.
"No, I should be fine. It hasn't been that much, right?"
*Rufus*
"It has... I mean, I probably shouldn't have kept pouring, but I just got carried away..." he said rubbing Michael's shoulder.
*Michael*
She giggled slightly as she took a sip of her drink.
"Getting carried away with port is good though. It was definitely needed, especially after that hallucination."
*Rufus*
"What?!" he said jumping slightly and trying not to curse then the wine spilled on him.
"It's alright, Michael, I'll take care of it," he said setting down the bottle of port and reaching for his wand.
*Michael*
Shaking her head slightly, she swore under her breath again as she patted around the sofa for something to mop the wine up with.
"Shit, I'm sorry. No, I got it. Just needa find something to soak it up with," she muttered.
Not finding anything, she reached down and pulled off her shirt. It was dark colored anyways and just for sparring. A little wine wouldn't hurt it. Using one hand to find where the wine had spilled, she pressed the other hand with the shirt on the spots. She remembered something about patting and not scrubbing. At least she thought that's what it was.
*Rufus*
He jumped slightly when he felt Michael's hand on his crotch and his resulting reaction to the half naked teenage girl leaning over him and dabbing at his crotch with his shirt.
"Michael... really, it's alright.. you're going to ruin your shirt..."
*Michael*
"It's just a training shirt," she mumbled before her hand went still.
Her face blushing bright red, she swallowed hard. Ok... That definitely was.... what she had thought it was. Feeling far too warm even with her shirt off, she pulled her hand away and stood up a bit wobbily.
"Gods, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to.... shit, this is embarrassing..."
*Rufus*
He reached up to steady Michael.
"It's alright. It's not your fault... I just... well... you're attractive... in both forms," he admitted.
*Michael*
Her face flushed more as she shook her head slightly.
"Lots of people have been saying I'm pretty as a girl. Should have been more considerate to ya. I mean, it's only natural to react if ya got a pretty girl close to ya," she mumbled.
*Rufus*
He nodded.
"Sit down, you've had too much too drink..." he said gently.
*Michael*
She stayed flushed as she shook her head slightly.
"But you're...."
*Rufus*
"It's happened before when we're training. I just get excited easily," he explained.
*Michael*
She frowned slightly.
"But that just happens with a good fight. It's not the same as just sitting and talking and stuff..." she said before heaving a big sigh.
*Rufus*
"When you're sitting and drinking and talking with a pretty girl it's fairly similar..." he said, his eyes dropping to Michael's chest.
*Michael*
She blushed more, thinking about those things with Cho.
"Well... yeah... It is...." she mumbled reluctantly.
*Rufus*
He smiled.
"Sit down, have some more port... my... little problem will just go away..." he explained.
*Michael*
She nodded as she plopped back down onto the couch.
"Ok... I'll try and not... um... inspire your little problem to get worse..." she mumbled.
*Rufus*
He chuckled.
"You could help," he teased.
*Michael*
Turning bright red, she coughed a bit.
"Help?" she squeaked.
*Rufus*
"I was just joking," he teased, wondering if Michael would believe him.
*Michael*
She swallowed hard as she nodded.
"Of course. Just the joke caught me off guard and wasn't there going to be more port?"
*Rufus*
He chuckled as he poured Michael another glass of port.
"Unless you don't want it to be a joke," he muttered.
*Michael*
Turning bright red, she nearly dropped the glass again.
"No. No. Of course not. That'd be wrong."
*Rufus*
He chuckled.
"We're consenting adults, Michael. And Alessandra and I have an open marriage...." he said, putting his hand on Michael's to steady the girl's hand.
*Michael*
Blushing more, she pulled her glass away from Rufus' hand and drained a good deal of it.
"But we're.... well... we're guys. Normally..." she said softly. "And Cho..."
*Rufus*
He coughed.
"Well... I am occasionally attracted to men...." he said, not knowing what to say about Cho.
*Michael*
She turned her head to face Rufus curiously. Swallowing hard, she shifted a bit nervously.
"Do... do ya... do stuff?" she asked quietly. "Like... serious stuff..."
*Rufus*
"I'm not sure I understand your question," he said in a low voice.
*Michael*
She blushed as she swallowed hard again.
"Ya know... like kissing and.. and sex.... and dating and all..."
*Rufus*
"Occasionally. Sometimes it's just me and another person, sometimes Alessandra's there..." he explained, not sure if he was making sense.
*Michael*
She tilted her slightly.
"But it's wrong.... Isn't it?" she asked softly.
*Rufus*
"It depends on your sense of right and wrong. The Brazilians are a bit more lax and understanding. Recuperating down there, some of my ideas shifted a bit.." he explained.
"Alessandra and I ... we love each other, but we both have high sex drives. And we're okay with it. It adds spice to the marriage."
*Michael*
She blushed a bit as she shook her head slightly.
"Yeah... but... but with guys... That's wrong, right?"
*Rufus*
"You think it's wrong for two men to do stuff together?" he asked curiously.
*Michael*
She swallowed hard before she finished off her drink.
"My father.... he said it was wrong and disgusting..." she said quietly.
*Rufus*
"Well.... I'm sure he had his reasons for thinking that... but how could it be so wrong and disgusting and feel so good.."
*Michael*
She blushed slightly.
"A lot of things that are wrong feel good though...." she pointed out.
*Rufus*
"Such as?" he asked curiously.
*Michael*
She waved her hand dismissively.
"Well... ya know... sleeping with boys. All that and more. Can't really think 'bout it all. Although getting drunk off your ass is one of 'em depending who ya talk to."
*Rufus*
He chuckled.
"Sometimes you need to get drunk off your ass," he said. "And besides, if sex with a man was so wrong, why would we have prostates?"
*Michael*
She blushed brighter as she shifted on her seat. Looking down at her lap, she ran her hand over her pants.
"I think I might have spilled some wine on me..."
*Rufus*
He raised an eyebrow as he took Michael's shirt and dabbed at her pants.
"Oh? It doesn't look like it..."
*Michael*
She blushed brighter as she shifted on the couch.
"Are ya sure? I... it feels like I'm wet..." she mumbled.
*Rufus*
He coughed.
"Well, that could be... the female body... reacting.."
*Michael*
Her face burned redder as she put a hand over her face.
"Oh gods... I... shit.... Maybe I should go to bed before I embarrass myself more...."
*Rufus*
He patted Michael's leg and squeezed it affectionately.
"Stay... it's alright..."
*Michael*
She put both hands over her face after she put her glass on the table again.
"Gods.... My head hurts so much right now..."
*Rufus*
He wrapped an arm around Michael's shoulders.
"Want me help you to bed?"
*Michael*
She shook her head.
"I don't know. I feel like I need a lot more to drink..." she admitted.
*Rufus*
He chuckled.
"I think I can arrange that," he said with a smile.
*Michael*
She laughed before shaking her head and then holding it to stop the room from swaying.
"Just... just weird... talking 'bout this with someone..."
Not to mention someone who was her mentor and hard....
*Rufus*
"Have some more port - that'll help," he said, hoping Michael would stop over thinking this.
When: Wed, November 19, evening
Where: Rufus' house in London
What: Michael hallucinates, Rufus calms him down with port.
*Rufus*
Heading towards the training room, he opened the door, bumping into Michael.
"MIchael, wha?" he asked before seeing the fire. Grabbing his wand, he quickly put out the flames in the corner.
"Michael? Are you alright? What happened?"
*Michael*
Trembling, she shook her head, unsure of the voice and shape in front of her. Running her hands over Rufus' shirt, she relaxed a little bit at the solid form.
"I don't know... I... I think I was hearing and seeing things... There was someone else in the room..."
*Rufus*
"Michael, it's me, Rufus," he reassured the girl.
"There's no one else here. But the curtains were on fire. Did someone get through the wards?" he asked worriedly.
*Michael*
She blushed a bit as she shook her head.
"I... I don't know... It... Fernando... and Mallory..."
She shook her head again as she laughed a bit nervously.
"I thought I heard a dragon too... I lashed out. I'm sorry. I didn't damage anything, did I?"
*Rufus*
He held the girl close.
"Let me check the room over. Make sure nothing's going on," he said, bristling at the name Mallory.
*Michael*
She nodded slightly as she took a shaky breath.
"It.. it might be the spell... Cho... she said that there was the possible side effect of hallucinations..."
*Rufus*
He kept an arm around Michael as he cast a few spells into the room, ensuring they were safe. The last thing he needed was to have his training room broken into.
"It's safe in here now. And there's no sign of the wards being damaged," he explained.
"It might have been a hallucination. Are you alright now?"
*Michael*
Breathing out another sigh, she nodded as she stayed curled up slightly in Rufus' arm.
"Yeah... Just.. just shaken..."
She chuckled softly.
"Ya know, with thinking a dragon all of a sudden was in the room."
*Rufus*
He held the girl close, wondering if the change in Michael's gender had led to this quivering child in his arms. It reminded him of days long gone.
"It's understandable. Do you want some port to calm you down?"
*Michael*
Relaxing a bit due to Rufus' arms around him and the other man's familiar voice, she breathed out a shaky sigh before nodding.
"Port would be good. Company would be good too. Non-morphing hallucination company..."
*Rufus*
He chuckled.
"I assure you, I'm not going to change into anything, and neither will I disappear."
He smiled.
"Can I let go of you and get the port?" he asked quietly.
*Michael*
She bit her lip a moment as she curled up slightly before nodding slowly.
"Yeah... yeah... ya can go and get it..." she said softly.
*Rufus*
"Don't worry, I'm just going across the room," he said, continuing to talk so that Michael would know where he was.
"I'm right over here," he announced when he got to the cabinet that held the port and poured two glasses.
"Think you can make it over here?"
*Michael*
Nodding, she turned her hair warily as she wrapped her arms around herself.
"Yeah, I can make it," she said softly before heading across the room. "I'm sorry 'bout your curtains. I didn't mean to set 'em on fire..."
*Rufus*
"Better the curtains than someone getting a piece of you," he said with a smile as he held the port out for Michael.
"Still shaken up? The port will help."
*Michael*
Taking the glass from Rufus, he nodded his head reluctantly after awhile.
"Yeah. It... it was a pretty bad hallucination..." she said quietly before taking a long drink from her glass.
*Rufus*
He rubbed Michael's back reassuringly.
"It's alright Michael. It's over now. Do you want to talk about it?"
*Michael*
Swallowing hard, she ran her fingers over the glass in her hands before taking another long drink.
"Fernando was there... I... I could have sworn he was there and he was talking to me..." she breathed out.
*Rufus*
He wrapped his arm around Michael.
"What did he say?" he asked curiously, knowing that Alessandra believed the dead could talk, but he himself had other ideas.
*Michael*
She turned her head away as she curled up slightly into herself.
"Bad things..." she said softly. "Just... bad things..."
*Rufus*
"It's alright Michael, it's alright," he reassured Michael.
He transfigured a table to a couch and led Michael to it.
"Sit. Relax a bit. You're safe. I'll keep you safe, Michael," he said, a faint smile on his lips.
*Michael*
Sitting down, she shook her head slightly before draining the rest of her drink.
"I'm sorry... The echolocation spell must be going wonky or something. Cho said there might be side effects..."
*Rufus*
He ran his fingers through Michael's hair.
"It's alright, Michael. No harm done as long as you're alright."
Grabbing the bottle of port, he poured Michael another glass.
*Michael*
She breathed out a sigh as she nodded.
"Scared the crap out of me..." she said softly before taking another swig of her drink.
*Rufus*
He ran his fingers through Michael's hair.
"It's alright, Michael. No harm done as long as you're alright."
Grabbing the bottle of port, he poured Michael another glass.
*Michael*
She breathed out a sigh as she nodded.
"Scared the crap out of me..." she said softly before taking another swig of her drink.
*Rufus*
"I believe it. Then again, seeing Mallory would make me so irate I probably would have burned the whole room down. What he and his brother did was simply atrocious. And then that he got acquitted of murder," he said shaking his head.
*Michael*
She smiled slightly, enjoying the fact that someone wasn't defending Mallory for once and saying he was a good guy. She snorted slightly as she shook her head.
"Although one of those murders was Liam, but everyone was too busy jumping for joy to punish him for anything."
*Rufus*
"Good riddance to bad rubbish. It's quite a shame that no one managed to kill William in all that fighting," he said. "The trial was a farce and Black is blind when it concerns that boy."
*Michael*
Grinning smugly, she nodded.
"Yeah, he does. Always yells at me when I end up hurting Mallory in our sparring sessions, even if he deserved it."
She shifted a bit uncomfortably before she sighed.
"Although him surviving that last battle was partly my doing. Saved his ass a few times."
*Rufus*
He snorted.
"Well, I'm sure that makes you a better person, but I doubt he's shown his gratitude. Unfortunately we're often forced to work with people who should be in Azkaban or the like. And we should be better than them, but it's often a find line between being the better man and treating everyone fairly and doing what's right."
*Michael*
She nodded slightly.
"Well, I owed him. He helped me out and I might have died of blood lose or gotten eaten by some hungry werewolf if he hadn't found me. It was the least that I could do."
*Rufus*
He nodded.
"Well, now you're even. So you don't owe him anything anymore. He owes you."
*Michael*
She looked towards Rufus curiously.
"How do ya figure that?"
*Rufus*
He smirked.
"Well, you haven't killed him yet in training even though you're clearly the better fighter and an honest Auror and he's a murderer."
*Michael*
She blushed slightly as she ran her fingers over her wine glass.
"Well.... When ya put it that way..." she said softly before taking a long sip of her port.
*Rufus*
He nodded.
"I can present it many ways," he said.
"That's one of the benefits of being in politics."
*Michael*
She laughed.
"Twisting the truth until it says what ya want it to say?"
*Rufus*
He chuckled as he refilled their glasses and put an arm around Michael, squeezing his shoulder reassuringly.
"Do you want to talk about the hallucination? It might help?"
*Michael*
Turning her head down towards her glass, she bit her lip slightly.
"I don't know... I... It was just bad... First it was Fernando and then it turned into Mallory and then... I attacked him as a lion and he turned into a dragon and I lashed out and then ran..."
*Rufus*
He nodded.
"I can't imagine how hard that must have been," he said, running his fingers through Michael's hair. There was something truly wonderful about good alcohol.
"Seeing Fernando turn into Mallory. But the dragon? Have you had any experiences with dragons?" he asked.
*Michael*
She shook her head slightly.
"More hearing than seeing.... Would have been worse if I could have seen it..." she said softly before blushing in shame and shaking her head again. "No... not really... Just once..."
*Rufus*
"What happened?" he asked, hoping his voice portrayed his concern.
*Michael*
Curling up into herself slightly, she shook her head.
"It was nothing. I was just a stupid little kid. It doesn't matter," she mumbled before taking a sip of her drink.
*Rufus*
He quirked an eyebrow.
"I know you know enough to know when you're lying. What happened?"
*Michael*
She blushed more as she turned her head away from Rufus and swallowed hard.
"I was seven. After... when I was seven, there was an emergency call and my... my father went out, but I heard where he was going so after a bit I snuck out... Someone was trying to smuggle a dragon into the States by ship and when they went to stop them, the dragon got loose...." she said quietly.
*Rufus*
He nodded.
"Did you try to stop the dragon yourself?" he asked.
*Michael*
She nodded slowly.
"It was going after the Aurors and Dad... I was just trying to help..." she breathed out.
*Rufus*
"Things ended up getting worse, didn't they?" he asked curiously.
: *Michael*
She nodded again as she bit her lip.
"I was just trying to get its attention so they could do something, but then it came after me instead... I... it was so big and I couldn't move.... Gods, Dad was so mad with me after that..."
*Rufus*
He pulled Michael close.
"You were just trying to help. Any good son would have done the same thing. I'm sure if you'd of been my son, you would have done the same for me. I would certainly do that for you."
*Michael*
Chuckling softly, her breath caught a bit in her throat as she curled up in Rufus' arms.
"Ya don't want me helping ya. I never end up doing anything that actually helps," she said softly.
*Rufus*
"That's bullshit Michael and you know it. You saved Mallory's life and I'm sure you've saved others' lives. You helped get Fernando's body to his family. You're an incredible fighter and you're a good man. That's why I took you on," he said, running his fingers through Michael's hair.
*Michael*
She chuckled softly.
"I saved Mallory's ass and he saved mine, but I can't seem to save anyone that matters... I ended up getting my eyes clawed out before helping to carry Fernando's body out past the apparition border for a little bit... I'm such a good fighter that I got knocked out by my best friend and I've made a good job at fucking up other people's lives. Not sure how much of a good man that makes me..." she said softly before laughing wryly. "Actually, not much of a man at all right now."
*Rufus*
He chuckled.
"You're a man inside and this was just some horrid curse that I'm sure will be reversed soon enough. You helped even though you got your eyes clawed out, Michael. You have a big heart and a good head on those shoulders. You'll go far, I know."
*Michael*
She bowed her head slightly and blushed.
"Thanks. That means a lot."
She chuckled softly.
"Hopefully it hasn't already been reversed at Hogwarts..."
*rufus*
"I think we'd know if it had," he said with a smile. "Word travels fast sometimes."
*Michael*
She chuckled softly before finishing off her glass of port.
"And really slow the rest. Ya never know which one it's gonna be."
*Rufus*
He chuckled as he poured Michael another glass of port.
"So, how'd the curtains catch on fire?" he asked.
*Michael*
She smiled sheepishly as she ran a hand through her hair.
"I panicked. It happens when I panic. Ya know, when ya get stressed and raw magic starts acting out. Mine tends to set things on fire...."
*Rufus*
He nodded.
"Well, if it really had been Mallory here, you would have easily won as I've heard that he hates fire more than anything. Some childhood trauma, I presume."
*Michael*
She nodded.
"Yeah, he's got bad scars on his side," she said as she ran a hand over her left side. "It's a really big weak spot in his fighting stance."
*Rufus*
"If he's got a weak spot that big, he should probably get over it before he thinks of applying to become an Auror."
*Michael*
She snorted before taking a sip of her port.
"We've been working on it. Still think he doesn't have a chance of being an Auror and that he's crazy for wanting to get into the training."
*Rufus*
"Has he gotten any better about it?" he asked curiously.
"He probably doesn't, but we should give him a chance. We have to be just and fair after all. "
: *Michael*
She had the desire to roll her eyes before she huffed out a sigh.
"Yeah, I guess. Not very much better though. And I guess ya have a point...."
*Rufus*
"Well, keep pushing him on that. You might even want to bring fire into the attack training sessions. It is a favorite spell of dark wizards and he needs to get past that weakness if he hopes to make it into the Aurors," he explained, refilling his on glass of port and sipping at it.
*Michael*
She frowned slightly.
"That might be difficult. We mostly do hand to hand sparring. We haven't really tried wizarding duels."
*Rufus*
He nodded.
"Well, perhaps it's time for a change of pace then. Maybe do a wizard duel and see how he fairs. Or set up a training room to contain the spells and make it an attack situation. You could even blindfold him or charm the room to be night..."
*Michael*
She frowned slightly in thought.
"I guess.... Although considering we're almost killing each other without magic, I'm not sure if I wanna see what we'll do with it...."
*Rufus*
"Just have someone on hand who can step in if it gets out of hand," he suggested.
*Michael*
She laughed as she quirked an eyebrow as much as she could.
"Like who? Sirius would baby us and step in whenever a spell gets too close."
: *Rufus*
"I would do it for you if you wished," he suggested. "Besides, Black has no say over your training anymore."
*Michael*
She tilted her head curiously.
"Ya would?"
*Rufus*
"Of course. It wouldn't be bad. We could do it as a preliminary round. Set up a couple for all the students. Controlled training exercise to see their progress this term and decide what they need to improve upon. Perhaps it would be myself and Robards, but I can stop him from interfering," he said.
: *Michael*
She frowned slightly.
"So.... everyone fighting each other or would I have to be fighting all of 'em?"
*Rufus*
"We'd make it one on one sessions. Easier to evaluate each student that way," he added, running a hand over his hair in thought.
: *Michael*
She nodded.
"Well, yeah, I figured that, but would ya have the trainees fighting each other or would they be pitted against higher level people?"
*Rufus*
"Probably against higher level people. We would need to challenge them after all," he explained.
*Michael*
She nodded before frowning slightly.
"So... Aside from fighting Mallory, what would I be doing?"
*Rufus*
"Well, if you're willing, I'd like to have you fighting all of them. I think you're quite capable of handling yourself and challenging them," he said with a smile.
*Michael*
She blushed slightly as she shook her head.
"I... wow. That's really a compliment. I'm not sure if I can handle that many fights in a row though..."
*Rufus*
He nodded.
"Completely understandable. I wouldn't want to overwork you. Need you in top shape for our own training sessions. But I think you could definitely handle Mallory. Maybe a few others. And then we can divide the rest among some others," he explained.
"Does that sound alright to you?"3
*Michael*
She grinned as she nodded.
"Yeah. That sounds manageable. Especially with ya guys there to stop Mallory from doing something stupid."
She made a bit of a face.
"If we're changed back by then, can I not fight any girls if possible? It feels weird..."
*Rufus*
He nodded.
"Of course, I don't see that being a problem. You know you'll need to get over that. Maybe I should partner you with Johnston for awhile - she won't go easy on you."
*Michael*
She giggled slightly as she nodded.
"I know, I know. Just feels like I'm being an ass if I'm beating up a girl. Ya know, the whole gentleman thing," she said before taking a long sip of her port.
*Rufus*
"They're Aurors or wannabes. Or dark-wizards. You can't think of them as people in a fight. You protect your own but you get the job done. You vanquish the dark wizards. We all sign up knowing that every day could be our last," he explained.
*Michael*
She wanted to roll her eyes again.
"Well, in an actual battle, battle, yeah, ya gotta kick whoever's butt ya gotta, but in just a training fight.... Especially if the girl can't fight well, it gets to be nerve-wracking."
*Rufus*
He chuckled as he sipped his port.
"Well, hopefully you'll get past that. After all, you need to be able to train women and men."
*Michael*
She sighed as she nodded and then took a sip of his port.
"I know. I just wish there were better women to train right now."
*Rufus*
"Like Cho?" he asked.
*Michael*
She tensed slightly as she turned her head away.
"She doesn't really wanna be an Auror. She's just looking for something to keep her occupied," she muttered.
*Rufus*
He nodded.
"I know. Don't worry. It's alright. In the end, it's her life," he said resting a hand on Michael's shoulder.
*Michael*
She sighed as she ran a hand over her glass before draining it.
"Sorry.... Sore topic and all...." she said softly.
*Rufus*
"Apparently," he said, going to refill Michael's glass.
"You want to stay here tonight? I don't want you apparating with this much port in you..."
*Michael*
She shook her head, putting a hand to her head as it spun slightly.
"No, I should be fine. It hasn't been that much, right?"
*Rufus*
"It has... I mean, I probably shouldn't have kept pouring, but I just got carried away..." he said rubbing Michael's shoulder.
*Michael*
She giggled slightly as she took a sip of her drink.
"Getting carried away with port is good though. It was definitely needed, especially after that hallucination."
*Rufus*
"What?!" he said jumping slightly and trying not to curse then the wine spilled on him.
"It's alright, Michael, I'll take care of it," he said setting down the bottle of port and reaching for his wand.
*Michael*
Shaking her head slightly, she swore under her breath again as she patted around the sofa for something to mop the wine up with.
"Shit, I'm sorry. No, I got it. Just needa find something to soak it up with," she muttered.
Not finding anything, she reached down and pulled off her shirt. It was dark colored anyways and just for sparring. A little wine wouldn't hurt it. Using one hand to find where the wine had spilled, she pressed the other hand with the shirt on the spots. She remembered something about patting and not scrubbing. At least she thought that's what it was.
*Rufus*
He jumped slightly when he felt Michael's hand on his crotch and his resulting reaction to the half naked teenage girl leaning over him and dabbing at his crotch with his shirt.
"Michael... really, it's alright.. you're going to ruin your shirt..."
*Michael*
"It's just a training shirt," she mumbled before her hand went still.
Her face blushing bright red, she swallowed hard. Ok... That definitely was.... what she had thought it was. Feeling far too warm even with her shirt off, she pulled her hand away and stood up a bit wobbily.
"Gods, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to.... shit, this is embarrassing..."
*Rufus*
He reached up to steady Michael.
"It's alright. It's not your fault... I just... well... you're attractive... in both forms," he admitted.
*Michael*
Her face flushed more as she shook her head slightly.
"Lots of people have been saying I'm pretty as a girl. Should have been more considerate to ya. I mean, it's only natural to react if ya got a pretty girl close to ya," she mumbled.
*Rufus*
He nodded.
"Sit down, you've had too much too drink..." he said gently.
*Michael*
She stayed flushed as she shook her head slightly.
"But you're...."
*Rufus*
"It's happened before when we're training. I just get excited easily," he explained.
*Michael*
She frowned slightly.
"But that just happens with a good fight. It's not the same as just sitting and talking and stuff..." she said before heaving a big sigh.
*Rufus*
"When you're sitting and drinking and talking with a pretty girl it's fairly similar..." he said, his eyes dropping to Michael's chest.
*Michael*
She blushed more, thinking about those things with Cho.
"Well... yeah... It is...." she mumbled reluctantly.
*Rufus*
He smiled.
"Sit down, have some more port... my... little problem will just go away..." he explained.
*Michael*
She nodded as she plopped back down onto the couch.
"Ok... I'll try and not... um... inspire your little problem to get worse..." she mumbled.
*Rufus*
He chuckled.
"You could help," he teased.
*Michael*
Turning bright red, she coughed a bit.
"Help?" she squeaked.
*Rufus*
"I was just joking," he teased, wondering if Michael would believe him.
*Michael*
She swallowed hard as she nodded.
"Of course. Just the joke caught me off guard and wasn't there going to be more port?"
*Rufus*
He chuckled as he poured Michael another glass of port.
"Unless you don't want it to be a joke," he muttered.
*Michael*
Turning bright red, she nearly dropped the glass again.
"No. No. Of course not. That'd be wrong."
*Rufus*
He chuckled.
"We're consenting adults, Michael. And Alessandra and I have an open marriage...." he said, putting his hand on Michael's to steady the girl's hand.
*Michael*
Blushing more, she pulled her glass away from Rufus' hand and drained a good deal of it.
"But we're.... well... we're guys. Normally..." she said softly. "And Cho..."
*Rufus*
He coughed.
"Well... I am occasionally attracted to men...." he said, not knowing what to say about Cho.
*Michael*
She turned her head to face Rufus curiously. Swallowing hard, she shifted a bit nervously.
"Do... do ya... do stuff?" she asked quietly. "Like... serious stuff..."
*Rufus*
"I'm not sure I understand your question," he said in a low voice.
*Michael*
She blushed as she swallowed hard again.
"Ya know... like kissing and.. and sex.... and dating and all..."
*Rufus*
"Occasionally. Sometimes it's just me and another person, sometimes Alessandra's there..." he explained, not sure if he was making sense.
*Michael*
She tilted her slightly.
"But it's wrong.... Isn't it?" she asked softly.
*Rufus*
"It depends on your sense of right and wrong. The Brazilians are a bit more lax and understanding. Recuperating down there, some of my ideas shifted a bit.." he explained.
"Alessandra and I ... we love each other, but we both have high sex drives. And we're okay with it. It adds spice to the marriage."
*Michael*
She blushed a bit as she shook her head slightly.
"Yeah... but... but with guys... That's wrong, right?"
*Rufus*
"You think it's wrong for two men to do stuff together?" he asked curiously.
*Michael*
She swallowed hard before she finished off her drink.
"My father.... he said it was wrong and disgusting..." she said quietly.
*Rufus*
"Well.... I'm sure he had his reasons for thinking that... but how could it be so wrong and disgusting and feel so good.."
*Michael*
She blushed slightly.
"A lot of things that are wrong feel good though...." she pointed out.
*Rufus*
"Such as?" he asked curiously.
*Michael*
She waved her hand dismissively.
"Well... ya know... sleeping with boys. All that and more. Can't really think 'bout it all. Although getting drunk off your ass is one of 'em depending who ya talk to."
*Rufus*
He chuckled.
"Sometimes you need to get drunk off your ass," he said. "And besides, if sex with a man was so wrong, why would we have prostates?"
*Michael*
She blushed brighter as she shifted on her seat. Looking down at her lap, she ran her hand over her pants.
"I think I might have spilled some wine on me..."
*Rufus*
He raised an eyebrow as he took Michael's shirt and dabbed at her pants.
"Oh? It doesn't look like it..."
*Michael*
She blushed brighter as she shifted on the couch.
"Are ya sure? I... it feels like I'm wet..." she mumbled.
*Rufus*
He coughed.
"Well, that could be... the female body... reacting.."
*Michael*
Her face burned redder as she put a hand over her face.
"Oh gods... I... shit.... Maybe I should go to bed before I embarrass myself more...."
*Rufus*
He patted Michael's leg and squeezed it affectionately.
"Stay... it's alright..."
*Michael*
She put both hands over her face after she put her glass on the table again.
"Gods.... My head hurts so much right now..."
*Rufus*
He wrapped an arm around Michael's shoulders.
"Want me help you to bed?"
*Michael*
She shook her head.
"I don't know. I feel like I need a lot more to drink..." she admitted.
*Rufus*
He chuckled.
"I think I can arrange that," he said with a smile.
*Michael*
She laughed before shaking her head and then holding it to stop the room from swaying.
"Just... just weird... talking 'bout this with someone..."
Not to mention someone who was her mentor and hard....
*Rufus*
"Have some more port - that'll help," he said, hoping Michael would stop over thinking this.