InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "L is for Lance"

Jayne Dough (jayne_dough) wrote in pandorarpg,
@ 2011-11-24 20:13:00

Entry tags:

!status: complete, ^date: november 04 2003, character: jayne dough, character: rosalind bungs, npc: pandora zurlo

Who: Jayne Dough/Pandora Zurlo, Rosalind Bungs
What: A meeting of old friends goes awry
Where: Diagon Alley
When: November 4, 5:35 PM

Being a Senior Administrator in a lesser used department had some perks - such as nobody noticing when Jayne didn't come in to work on Monday.

Now that things had calmed down some, she had figured it might be time to try and return to a normal semblance of a life. Pandora hadn't bothered her since Sunday - had only appeared in dreams that had left her sweat-soaked and trembling. Unfortunately, the moment she'd stepped into the Ministry, Pandora's voice had returned with a constant commentary on those around her, who had memories that needed to be harvested, and much to Jayne's surprise, accurate analyses of the politics of the time. Jayne had even overheard her say something to the effect of, when Pandora's power had grown enough, Jayne's place in the Ministry would be assured.

She didn't know whether to be relieved or worried.

Thankfully, she hadn't had to argue with her inner demon, as Pandora was an intelligent woman, she knew that the Ministry would be on high alert and another 'harvest' attempt would likely be intercepted before it was complete.

It was with great relief that she finally finished her day and left the Ministry, and headed to a bakery in Diagon Alley to grab something to reward herself for another day without bloodshed.

Merlin, since when is that my definition of a good day?

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rabungs
2011-11-25 01:38 am UTC (link)

Rosalind waved to her secretary as she left the office. It was another slow day - any slower and she wouldn't be able to keep this up any longer. This was the only business she knew, but what was she to do when fewer and fewer purebloods used her services? Even if she opened up to more possible clients, matchmaking just wasn't something the young witches and wizards did anymore.

Her mind revolved around how to bend the books so that she could pay the rent next month as she walked out onto Diagon Alley, but she was immediately distracted by the sight of an old friend. She and Jayne had once been close, but time had drawn them in different directions. Jayne looked obviously preoccupied, and Rosalind wondered if she should just leave her be. She had always been so solitary...

However, when faced with an altertive of returning her thoughts to her finances, the prospect of meeting up with an old friend was much more attractive.

"Jayne!" she called out to stop her before she was lost in the crowd.

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jayne_dough
2011-11-26 02:54 am UTC (link)

Jayne wasn't used to hearing someone call out for her, and usually assumed that anyone shouting it was speaking to someone else. At least until her friendly neighbourhood madwoman spoke into her mind.

"Oh, wonderful. They're coming to us now. It sort of takes away the fun of the chase, but I can leave that until my powers are back."

Jayne turned around in resignation, very much preferring to do so under her own power rather than being taken over again, and felt her stomach drop at the sight of Rosalind. They'd traveled in similar circles back in school, and though Ros had often pretended indifference toward Jayne due to her blood status, they had developed a friendship away from prying eyes.

But she's my friend... or at least she used to be.

"She has my memory. I- We need it back. You know the deal. And we both know that what I want, I will take one way or the other."

Truer words had not been said.

"Rosalind," she replied with a nod. "I was just about to get some tea."

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	rabungs 2011-11-26 02:56 am UTC (link)
	"Good idea, I could do with some myself," Rosalind replied, catching up to Jayne. "It's been a long time, and you look like hell," she said matter-of-factly. "Kind of like you've been sleeping as badly as I've been. What say we have a drink, and catch up?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

jayne_dough
2011-11-26 03:00 am UTC (link)

Guilt - it had been eating away at Jayne for days now, and it made its presence known yet again as Rosalind mentioned her uneasy nights.

"It's the memory. She's reliving it in her sleep... lucky child."

"Well, I'd hoped to just bring it home, and have a quiet night in." With any luck, Rosalind would take the hint and go in another direction. Her life my very well depend on it.

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	rabungs 2011-11-26 03:02 am UTC (link)
	"Excellent idea," Ros grabbed onto the words immediately. Perhaps if she had company tonight, then the dreams wouldn't come. "Come on, you to mine or me to yours. It really would be nice to talk again." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

jayne_dough
2011-11-27 04:18 am UTC (link)

Jayne couldn't ignore the insistant presence in her mind, demanding that she accept the invitation. "All right, let's go to your place. As long as you've got Earl Grey."

Rosalind nodded, and within minutes, they were entering her old friend's flat. Jayne looked around as Rosalind went to start the kettle, browsing by a bookshelf and smiling as she spotted a couple of old textbooks.

"You've known each other a while, haven't you?"

She nodded to herself, knowing Pandora would know it for what it was. She spotted an old Potions text and pulled it out, then opened it to a particular chapter. There was her own handwriting, an explanation of a potion-making exercise in layman's terms to help Rosalind with her own skills.

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	rabungs 2011-11-28 01:25 am UTC (link)
	As she put together the tea cups, Rosalind couldn't shake the idea that something was different in Jayne. Most wouldn't have noticed it, but the number of people who knew Jayne well enough to do so could be counted on one hand. "Do you still take it straight?" she called out as the whistle blew, sounding its shrill squawk through the kitchen. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

jayne_dough
2011-11-28 02:17 am UTC (link)

"Yes," Jayne replied distractedly.

Why do you kill them? Isn't there some other way?

"What does it matter? If there were, it would involve something voluntary on their part. Not much fun, is it?"

Have you even tried? Or thought about it?

"And what would the use be? Their screams are far less genuine when they're offered freely."

But don't you want people to work for you? To do work for you? That's how Voldemort worked.

"And he was a lazy man who didn't have the guts to do his own dirty work."

Jayne looked toward the doorway to the kitchen, spotting Rosalind as she poured the water into the teacups.

"You wouldn't want me to take her anyway. She is not the kind to bow to another."

You're right.

"Though others... perhaps I was too quick in my judgement on the merit. But most are not worthy of my attention. Not like you, Jayne. You are so much like I used to be, before... The powerless deserve to have power, and has it not been said that the meek shall inherit the earth?"

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	rabungs 2011-11-30 12:07 am UTC (link)
	Rosalind carried the two cups of tea into the main room and set them on the coffee table, taking a seat on the sofa as she looked to where Jayne was wandering amid the bookshelves. "So, I heard about the death in your department. Can't have been easy dealing with the kerfuffle." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

jayne_dough
2011-11-30 12:24 am UTC (link)

"Did you want to do this yourself?"

I can't kill someone, especially someone I know. I'm not like you.

"Don't be so certain you know what it's like to be like me. I was like you once."

And in that moment, Jayne felt the familiar sensation of control being robbed from her, and Pandora's mind controlling her actions. Her wand was drawn and a stupefy muttered from her lips, and Rosalind sprawled upon the sofa, unconscious. Jayne was surprised at the spell, having expected something immediate and bloody, as there was no chance of interruption.

"She was your friend. This is the most merciful way of doing what needs to be done. But, there is something I would like to check first..."

Jayne's body moved closer to Rosalind, and her hands reached out, beginning a gradual search along pale skin, only stopping once a dark mark was spotted on the ball of Rosalind's right foot.

"Now let's see..."

Jayne's wand was placed against the dark spot, and various phrases were muttered, each resulting in a coloured glow from the tip of the wand, but no other reaction came from them. Finally, a phrase was spoken, and the tip seemed to absorb into the darkened skin.

"Ah, so that's the one. The link would give me back most of my power, but not all. Such mercy will only be reserved for those who can prove loyal to me, otherwise they are of no use. Now, are you certain you don't want me to use her?"

No. Please, just... do what you have to do.

She stood up and looked down at the body. A cleaning spell was cast first, "Can't be too careful when it comes to evidence, my dear," then a quick cutting spell aimed for Rosalind's neck. It all happened so quickly, there would have been no time to wince even if Jayne had been in control of her own body.

She looked down at Rosalind one last time, saddened by the life that had just been taken. At the same time, however, she felt peace at knowing that this was the most merciful choice.

Rosalind would never have followed Pandora. From the options available, death was her only true choice.

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