The Inspection

[acciomod]

On the whole, the weather had been temperamental lately. One minute, it was absolutely bucketing it down, and the next, it was bright sunshine. The amount of rain had turned the ground into a muddy mess, but at least the tents provided perfectly adequate shelter, and a gazebo had been erected over the community dining table to protect everyone from the elements.

Despite the temperamental weather, however, it had been fairly warm throughout the past two weeks, so the chill in the air during dinner that evening was particularly noticeable, even before the dark, hooded figure by the Ministry's representative's desk had been seen.

Nervously, the Ministry representative approached the table.

"I'm afraid we have a visitor," he said, addressing everyone at the table and hoping that anyone not there could hear him. "This is a Dementor, one of the Guards at Azkaban. It's a high security prison. He's just here to, well, ensure that a certain escaped criminal isn't hiding amongst you.

"I don't expect he'll be here for more than an half an hour, so do try not to worry too much. They can make people rather, well... uncomfortable."

Bowing his head slightly, he left the Outsiders to their meal.

[And so, a Dementor is lurking around the camp, just in case one of the Outsiders is secretly Sirius Black. They're known to sap the happiness out of the environment, and - in cases where there are true horrors in someone's past - cause traumatic memories to resurface.

The chilly, depressed feeling can be lifted by the deliciousness of chocolate, though the Outsiders will need to discover this on their own. Good thing there's dessert.]

Comments

[nibelungvalesti]

Why is that? Is the magic too variable?

[Of course it must be the magic. The material involved can simply be wrought again by whatever craftsman did it the first time, but magic is a much trickier beast.]

[a_real_soul]

Different construction mostly. I am, more one of a kind than anything else.

[nibelungvalesti]

[Then why does one not simply use the same construction this time? she wonders, but does not ask. It is in the nature of mortals to create an object and consider themselves satisfied. If she is the pinnacle of achievement, then perhaps her creator is satisfied, and sees no reason to continue. If this is the case, then her existence is less alarming.]

Do you heal? Or must you be repaired?

[a_real_soul]

I require repair if serious injury is sustained.

[She is basically the pinnacle for Hakase at least.]

[nibelungvalesti]

Can it be provided here?

[The question is primarily academic. She has no intention of involving herself with the fights of humans or their creations... though there is no denying that evil she ought to battle lurks entirely too closely.]

[a_real_soul]

Not as easily if my internals are damaged. Small damage to my frame can be easily solved by repair charms.

[nibelungvalesti]

[She lets that statement hang in silence for a long moment.]

Sell your soul dearly. It would be a shame to spend it wastefully, after going to such lengths to get it.

[a_real_soul]

I'll be careful, I promise.

[nibelungvalesti]

[Strange, that she would give advice... but a warrior's soul deserved respect, no matter the strange container it might come in, did it not?]

[With no more to say on her part, she turns away. Social courtesy isn't exactly her thing, after all...]