#rokinnon

[atwistedoldfriend]

[atwistedoldfriend]

Writing Prompt: Evan and Marlene have a child, but Marlene still dies, so Evan has to explain to his child what happen to her.

He was awakened by an unrelenting fist hammering on hisdoor. He scowled into the darkness and then grumbled, “See who it is Tolmi.” He sat up swinging his legs off the bed,fumbling for his slippers. Then he just sat there in the dark, half dozing ashe waited for his house elf to report.

“Master Evan?”The door swept open slowly and the light from the hall haloed around the littlehouse elf’s silhouette, making him somehow smaller and yet larger at the sametime.

“What is it Tolmi?”He asked sharply, rubbing a hand across his face in an attempt to wake himselfa little more.

“An auror Master.”

Evan scowled but he didn’t question the elf further, justslid his feet into his slippers and grabbed his robe. He cinched it as he movedto the door, his thoughts already downstairs with his unexpected guest as hetried to figure out why an aurorwould be on his doorstep before the crack of dawn.

The sight of Alastor Moody in his living room was at oncewelcome and heart stopping, though he did a good job of masking his unease bymoving to stoke the fire. “What can I dofor you Mr. Moody?”

“Gonna need you tohave a seat Mr. Rosier.” The head auror said stiffly.

By the time Alastor Moody walked out his front door, Evan’sentire existence had changed. He stared down at the bundle resting uneasily inher basket on his couch still not certain he’d caught up with the conversation.

“I’m afraid I’ve bad news Mr. Rosier.” He sat gingerly on thecouch as if afraid the slightest movement would awaken her.  “The McKinnon’s were hit by death eatersthis evening.” The buzz like the obnoxious whining of a fly filled hisears. “We found the babe hidden. Seems the Death Eaters didn’t know abouther.”

“Marlene?” Had his voice really trembled?

“This little one is the only survivor. I’m told she is yours. By law Ihave to bring her here, but Ms. McKinnon has friends that have already offeredto—”

“She’s mine.” No hesitancy. No questions. It didn’t matter thathe’d never wanted children—that he had nothing to offer a child.

“If you’re sure…” Thereluctance had been obvious and Evan understood it. He was a bachelor with nochildren and no family (his father hardly counted). He agreed to sign thenecessary paperwork later that day, but he let Tolmi escort the auror out, foronce oblivious when his obsession left.

Meanwhile the babe slept on, unaware of just how much changeshe heralded. Evan didn’t pretend it was love. He didn’t love anything. He hadn’teven loved Marlene—at least he’d never recognized it as such. Obsessed?Desired? Enjoyed? Sure all descriptors that applied and yet he’d never beenwilling to risk everything for her. If he had, she’d have been alive just then.Instead all he had was an infant he’d barely met and a strange hollowness inthe pit of his stomach that had nothing to do with hunger.

“Tolmi?”

“Yes Master Evan?”Tolmi stood nearby, ears perked and lantern eyes fixed on the bundle.

“Set up a crib in myroom. We’ll figure everything else out tomorrow.”

Ten Years Later

In the beginning, he resented her. She was unexpectedresponsibility and a burden he’d never wanted. Nights that would have once beenspent in a bizarre sort of blood haze were derailed because he had few friends(and really only two he was comfortable leaving his child with) so getting ababysitter wasn’t exactly practical or likely. So like it or not, her needs supersededeverything.

A constant reminder of the woman he liked to pretend hadmeant nothing to him, their daughter was everything bright and sunny. Acomplete mystery to him, Evan was often at a loss (and grateful for his houseelf). He never treated her like a child. He hadn’t the patience or time forsuch nonsense, which meant that by two Arianne would sit beside him in hispotion lab naming ingredients (and enduring his patient corrections when she gotthe pronunciation wrong) while he worked on various potions and by four she wasdemanding he let her help.

She never cared much for her grandfather (for which he wasgrateful) and he was fairly certain Walden could do no wrong in her eyes. Shewould spend two hours packing her overnight bag for trips to see Aunt Narcissaeven though he never let her stay anywhere longer than a night.

They were two peas in a pod, and to his surprise—he was happy.

“Da?” She was tenwhen reality came calling. He supposed he should have expected it, she was theperfect combination of them both, and neither of them had ever been content tojust ‘exist’. They had to know things, and their daughter possessed the same avaricefor knowledge.

“What is it poppet?”He asked absently, flipping the page in his book and then pausing to glance upat her. She’d settled herself in front of the fire with her easel and paints,and she’d even taken the time to lay out a sheet for possible paint splattersand drops. Somehow she’d managed to get a smudge of purple on the bridge of hernose, and a dollop of red glistened on her cheek. Her golden curls were ahaphazard mess on her head, but Evan had learned long ago that was because itwas just them. When she went out, there was nothing about her that wasn’t outof place—as if she’d learned to contain the nature he struggled with. At homeshe was comfortable with mess and chaos. It was her safe space. In public shewas as much him as she was Marlene because she could smile and could carry aconversation with that same glibness her mother had possessed or she could be ‘savage’as Walden called it.

“What happened to mymother?”

He stilled, the air seeming to vanish from the room. Evenknowing he should have expected it, he hadn’t, and as such, he had no preparedresponse for her. His daughter had a healthy appreciation for privacy and hadlearned when not to ask questions. Clearly she had decided that she’d put thisone aside for long enough.

“And don’t tell meshe ‘went to a better place’ like Tolmi did.” She said fiercely, making itobvious she’d already tried this question elsewhere and the answer had clearlynot been satisfactory.

He closed the book and sat forward bracing his elbows on hisknees as he tried to decide how best to approach the topic. As if sensing hewas doing this, she leveled a green-eyed frown that was somehow all Marleneeven though they were his eyes and said, “Da.”

Evan held his hands up and nodded. “Alright, I s’pose you’re old enough.” He said, surprised by hisown reluctance. “Your mother…” Hecleared his throat, ignoring the strange tightness that seized his throat. “You were born at the end of a war and yourmother was every bit as fierce as you are. What do you think she did whenpeople she cared about were in trouble?”

Arianne lowered her paintbrush and turned to eyeball herfather. “Why weren’t you with her?”She asked with the pointed bluntness only a child could get away with.

Evan pursed his lips and then blew out a soft breath. “That is—”

“So help me Da, ifyou don’t tell me I’m gonna splatter you with paint, see if I don’t!”

Just like her mother.

A sad smile slashed across his face and he looked down, notquite able to meet her gaze. “Ourrelationship…well it wasn’t like Aunt Narcissa’s and Uncle Lucius. We werestill…figuring things out.” He shifted, more uncomfortable than he could recallfeeling in ages. “And your mother wasn’texactly the type to go running to anyonefor help. If she’d asked…” he raked a hand back through his hair,struggling for the right answer because lying had never been an option. Not tohis daughter.

“Da?” He wassurprised to feel a small hand on his shoulder and he glanced up to find hersettling gingerly on the couch beside him, smock gone and paintbrush abandoned.“It’s okay.” she told him. Sotrusting and full of confidence in him.

For the first time in his life, Evan knew regret for the rolehe’d played. He pursed his lips and then said roughly, “We were on two different sides of the war poppet. When you go off toHogwarts I’m sure you’ll hear all about it, and someday I’ll tell you more. Fornow, just know that no matter how different we were, and no matter what peopletold us—we didn’t care, and I’m glad because if we’d listened, you wouldn’t behere and I would have lost her completely.” It was the closest he’d everget to admitting how much her loss had impacted him.

Arianne regarded him intently, her vivacious little featuresunmoving before she slid forward and wrapped a spindling arm around his neck. “I love you Da, and I think I know why mumdid too.”

Somehow, even though he’d not said it, she’d guessed it.Moments like these always made him wonder exactly how like ‘him’ his daughterwas, but if she possessed the same urges, he’d never seen any sign of them. Itwas as though Marlene’s nature had completely silenced them and in many ways,he was grateful for that. He shifted awkwardly to draw her into a hug, and thena dimple was flashing in his cheek when he felt her little fingers curling intohis sides in an effort to tickle him. “Alrightbrat, go finish your painting.” He grumbled at her, pushing her gently backto her easel. He wasn’t sure he’d ever understand her, but he knew one thing: Marlenehad saved his life by giving her to him and it was a gift he would cherish forthe rest of his life…

[atwistedoldfriend]

Ursine Vulpine ft. Annaca - Wicked Game (Lyrics)

The world was on fire and no one could save me but you. It's strange what desire will make foolish people do. I never dreamed that I'd meet somebody like you. And I never dreamed that I'd lose somebody like you. No, I don't want to fall in love No, I don't want to fall in love With you, with you What a wicked game you play to make me feel this way. What a wicked thing to do, to let me dream of you. What a wicked thing to say, you never felt this way. What a wicked thing to do, to make me dream of you

[avenging-eagle]

♬: A playlist of 5 songs my muse associates yours [or their relationship] with. (Sorry couldn't resist)

Home Daughter

Now he's moving close,My heart in my throat.I won't say a word,But I think he knows...

Stay Down Shiny Toy Guns

They're all the lies you turn to red(I've got this feeling again)I should be living like you're dead(I've got this feeling again)

Between Two Points The Glitch Mob

Behind darknessBeneath candlesWhispers waltzAround our dreams

Familiar Taste of Poison Halestorm

I tell myself that you're no good for meI wish you well, but desire never leavesI could fight this til the endBut maybe I don't want to win

Until We Bleed Lykke Li

I'm nakedI'm numbI'm stupidI'm stayingAnd if Cupid's got a gunThen he's shootin'

[avenging-eagle]

♪ Marlene and Evan

Treacherous- Taylor Swift

Put your lips close to mineAs long as they don’t touchOut of focus, eye to eyeTill the gravity’s too muchAnd I’ll do anything you sayIf you say it with your handsAnd I’d be smart to walk away,But you’re quicksandThis slope is treacherousThis path is recklessThis slope is treacherousAnd I, I, I like itI can’t decide if it’s a choiceGetting swept awayI hear the sound of my own voiceAsking you to stayAnd all we are is skin and boneTrained to get alongForever going with the flow,But you’re frictionChorus

This hope is treacherousThis daydream is dangerousThis hope is treacherous