[ V i d e o ]

[greatestgood]

[Private to Albus -]

It's time. Invite who you wish, but we've held off long enough. [He blames himself for the wait. Overcoming what he now knows about himself hasn't been easy and he has spent a lot of time going off by himself to think.]

[/]

Wizards and Witches in my world can transfigure themselves into animals. I know I am bright enough to accomplish it, but, as I understand it, I won't be able to choose my form. [He sighs and rests a hand on the back of the beautiful bird in his lap. Yes, that is a Phoenix.] If I could choose, I would want to be like this little one. What does a Phoenix have to fear?

Comments

[li_amaranth]

A bucket of water.

[It's a joke, honest.]

I see your phoenix hatched. He's cute for a little firecracker.

[greatestgood]

Behave, Li.

[He covers the chick's ears, tutting.]

I have two; a boy and a girl. They make a pretty pair.

[li_amaranth]

I'm perfectly well behaved.

[She smirks slightly and leans in to look at the chick a little better.]

It's not my fault if you can't take a joke about water. Whatever, they little firecrackers are adorable.

[When it comes to babies, she's surprisingly gentle for her so...]

Have you named them yet?

[greatestgood]

When you want to be.

[The chicks have earned their feathers, though they are much smaller than a full grown Phoenix.]

I'm a protective father.

[Gellert peers down at the babies, humming.]

I need to speak to Albus about the possibilities. I think he named his Phoenix Fawkes...

[li_amaranth]

Well, yeah. I can't be well behaved all the time. I'd never have any fun.

[She rolls her eyes before turning her attention to the chicks, noting the feathers and just how small and delicate they looked compared to their adult counterparts.]

And I'm a protective mother, what's your point?

[Especially over certain 'idiot foals' she knows. She adore you Gellert, honest.]

Oh? Then I'm guessing one of the chicks is going to him soon as they can?

video;

[namemeansbeauty]

As much as they can be reborn, I always wonder if they still fear the leadup to that.

[Because it must still be terrifying knowing it was slowly going to happen.]

video;

[greatestgood]

Burning days are inevitable and while you and I would fear them, I don't think they feel any pain.

[It's over in a flash anyway and then they are precious chicks again.]

video;

[namemeansbeauty]

But how are we to know they don't. I mean unless they could tell us, but I don't think they can.

[She was actually thinking over this whole thing.]

Then again, you have other animals who shed or lose their tails if a predator gets it and they don't bat an eyelid either. But it makes one wonder how they don't feel anything if they don't.

video;

[greatestgood]

There are ways to tell, I'm sure. Their attitude before and after and so forth.

[He will watch them on those days out of sheer curiosity.]

It's instinct; it's natural for them. The nerves may not be as receptive.

video;

[namemeansbeauty]

[She nodded slightly. In all honesty, she was calling this a learning experience.]

Maybe. Adapting to a situation one is used to. [She paused for a moment.]

Oh, I am sorry. I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Belle.

[phoenixstrut]

[Just... silent staring for a few seconds. Dove might be in pure shock.]

How?

[greatestgood]

How what, pray tell? [He blinks, smirking faintly.]

[phoenixstrut]

There's a phoenix sitting in your lap. How?

[If he looks carefully enough, he can probably see her mind spinning behind those golden eyes. There's something increasingly sad in them... maybe even desperate.]

[greatestgood]

There is one sitting in my lap and another...over there. [He motions vaguely off screen.] Albus and I helped them hatch.

Are you alright?

[phoenixstrut]

[She shakes her head to clear it.] I- yes- sorry.... I just haven't seen one since I left home. [Well over a year ago. She's missed him that long.]

You found eggs here? In Genessia?

[That might be hope in her voice, and...Nope, no, no way. She will not cry on video, even if the beautiful bird looks just like Era had after his hatching.]

[private]

[chambermusicandtenpins]

You're right. I have made you wait long enough.

The only ones I would invite are the children; tell me when and where to meet and I will be there.

[private]

[greatestgood]

Sunset - where I first showed you the eggs. [Magic makes marriage ceremonies rather special and theirs will be one of a kind.]

[private]->[action]

[chambermusicandtenpins]

Very well, then, love. I will see you there.

[And when sunset arrives, he is there -- dressed in the finest suit he has, his hair and beard impeccable combed. He looks impossibly excited and happy, with only a tiny bit of nerves showing through in his smile.]

[action]

[greatestgood]

[Albus will be greeted by two happy Phoenixes, trilling and fluffing themselves for his attention. There are fireproof ribbons around their necks and they are trying their hardest to stay on the stands Gellert has created for them. But it's hard! They want to say hi!

Gellert is standing in a clearing between two trees, looking impeccably Victorian. His golden hair is gathered into a ponytail with a ribbon that matches the color the Phoenixes are wearing.]

Are you ready?

[action]

[chambermusicandtenpins]

I am. I think I always have been.

[He steps closer, staring at Gellert as if enthralled. With a quiet, impossibly loving smile, he palms each side of Gellert's face and looks at him as if to memorize the sight.]

You are beautiful, love.

[Video]

[burnt_offering]

That's a phoenix? It doesn't look anything like Marco... [Ace is fascinated by how different one phoenix can look from another.]

[Video]

[greatestgood]

Yes and... [He shifts the communicator to show the female Phoenix sunning by the window.] There is another.

Marco is the man who can change his form? Or is he a bird that can become a man?

[Video]

[burnt_offering]

Oh, damn. They're amazing! [Ace is so glad for the view of the female, what amazing creatures.] In our world, you can get pretty amazing powers from devil fruits. His lets him turn into a phoenix. [There's a pause, just for a moment. But he continues quickly.] I'm kinda in the same boat you are. If I could choose to turn into an animal, I'd want to be a phoenix too. But I got the flames, minus the bird.

[Video]

[greatestgood]

Have you found any of these fruits in Genessia? [Gellert is the sort that would partake of them.] How do you use your flames? Are you now immune to heat?

[Video]

[burnt_offering]

Nope. Not that it'd be a promise that you'd get something good, even if you found one. You might get a mythical zoan like Marco, sure. And end up something amazing and fantastic. Or you might end up getting one that turns you to snot. It's kinda a crapshoot. [Ace shakes his head.] I turn into the flames. I am the fire. I can produce fire and control fire too, but it's my body. [Ace actually has to think about this.] Yeah, I guess I am. Didn't think about it much before, but I had an easy time through a desert and people use me like I'm a hot water bottle. So I figure that yeah, I'm immune to the heat now.