your local creature queen

“Yeah, that s’what they think. Something I was exposed to that could have been worse, but only blew out my ears.” He paused. “I think one of the theories was a Mandrake I was exposed to, only it wasn’t fully grown or something, but loud enough to affect me and m’hearing,” he explained. It felt close enough to the truth but far enough away from it at the same time that it wouldn’t expose anything. “Didn’t kill me, but it did enough damage that it can’t be fixed.” He was lucky to be alive one way or another.

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Florence raised a brow at that. She understood not knowing, but she wondered what he could have been doing that would have put him in contact with a mandrake of any age. It was curious. “Well, I’m glad it didn’t kill you.” She said, face softening. “We already lost you once, and that was only temporary. Don’t need to go losing you permanently. It wouldn’t sit well.”

“Well, of course.” Emmeline nodded, it was good to make everyone aware of the creatures, muggles included. “That’s a good point and if you need any help with that, I’m happy to help in any way I can.”

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“I appreciate the offer,” Florence nodded, smiling brightly. “I’ll keep you posted. Lots to plan.”

“Never had much trouble sleeping before, honestly. Fall asleep faster, I reckon.” Of course, he had expected to be asked what had happened. It wasn’t as if anyone stopped hearing all of a sudden. Florence, especially, would be concerned, if not only because she held a modicum of worry for just about everyone she met.  “Don’t really remember,” he said parroting back the same thing he had told the Healers when they had asked. “Passed out, woke up at Mungo s’and not able to hear properly.” 

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“Wish that were me honestly.” Florence said with a soft laugh. She’d never been a very good sleeper herself. Too many thoughts bouncing around her head. “Well that’s curious.” She found herself wondering if it were a magical malady or perhaps a muggle one. Would he ever know? “If nothing magical could fix it does that mean it was something magical that caused it?” That was how these things tended to work, but perhaps he simply didn’t want it fixed. It was simply another thing that happened to Hayden that he would carry and live with. 

“S’exhausting work, that s’for sure,” he nodded to her point. More than anything, though, it freed up his mind so that he could do more solitary thinking and contemplation. “Er, yeah, ‘m alright. Bit of hearing loss and all,” he said as he tapped the now permanent fixture of the aids in his ear. “But never used them for much, anyway. People get busy. S’alright. ‘M pretty much as low maintenance as people come.”

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“Do you sleep like a baby now? Entirely exhausted and out like a light?” She wondered. At the mention of his hearing aides, she’d given him her full attention. She had noticed but didn’t want to call attention to them. Sometimes things such as that could be a tough topic of conversation. “What happened?” She asked softly, taking his own mention of them as an invitation to inquire?

“Well, ‘ve found a job,” he said. “’M a construction worker, with muggles, so been doing that for a bit now.” He found it almost a better fit than the last job he had, though much harder to do while drunk or hungover. “I can still help, though,” he added. “Hours aren’t nearly as brutal as bartending. Have weekends off, too.” 

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“Oh wonderful— so you’re going to get even stronger.” Florence laughed imagining Hayden throwing around large slabs of concrete as if she had any idea what muggle construction entailed. As he offered his help her face softened, a happy smile making its way across her face. “That would be lovely.” She nodded before switching topics once again. “You’re getting on alright, yeah? I know you’ve been back a few months already but— well I haven’t been a very good friend in the new year. Let the time get away from me.”

“So, basically like fire, s’what you’re saying,” said Hayden as she described the alleged colors. “Suppose if s’gonna be any colors, may as well look like fire.” It felt appropriate. “So, this mean you going to move forward with doing something then?” 

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“Powerful and uncontrolled.” She said with a nod. It was appropriate, those most of them were. They were a visual representation of personality a manifestation and who a person was in their core just as much as what they were feeling at any given moment. “It does.” She smiled brightly, “If you’re still looking for a job perhaps you’d like to help? You’ll be compensated for the idea but you know, if you’re free.”

“Well, kinda. I think it’s great to celebrate but also being considerate of what other people might be feeling with everything going on.” She smiled at Florence, “But knowing you I know you will have thought about that and will put on the celebration you think is most appropriate in these times.”

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“Well, it’s really about the creatures.” Florence said with the tilt of her head, taking in Emmeline’s words. “Especially now that muggles know of their existence, I think it’s more important than ever to do what we can to protect them and educate people about them.”

Hayden scrunched up his nose and shook his head at her comment. “No, ‘m pretty sure I got rid of that thing when I was a kid.” Hayden looked at her as she seemed to light up. “S’an okay idea,” he shrugged. “Er, not really. Dunno if I remember discovering any of this.” He gestured around to indicate their general surrounding. Honestly, some days he felt a bit disenchanted by the magical world. 

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“Nope. I see it.” She smiled, if not only for the adorable face he’d made for the truth of his soul. “It’s brilliant shades of red. Some deep red tones, a few muddy ones, a little bit of brownish orange.” She nodded, taking in the familiar and comfortable colors of Hayden’s aura. Listening to Hayden’s response she often wondered what kind of experiences she would have had had she not been raised with magic. How differently she life would have been.

“Alright, so, that s’what it should be about then, your creatures. Doesn’t feel inappropriate assuming you’re talking about this whole statute falling mess. S’nothing to do with that. In fact, could be a good opportunity to have open minded muggles learn about magical creatures. Donate money. Have an auction. Benefit of sorts. Raise money for your creatures and also have it fall on or near the anniversary of the sanctuary.” 

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Florence felt her heart swell at the suggestion, a smile spreading wide across her face. “You have a beautiful soul, Hayden Ward.” She said, bouncing in her seat with excitement. “That is the most brilliant idea I have ever heard.” Florence’s mind was suddenly teeming with learning stations she could set up. “Do you remember what it was like?” She made herself refocus on Hayden sitting in front of her. “The first time you saw a magical creature?”

“No! No— this is absurd! These creatures need to be protected we can’t just stand by and do nothing while people running around shooting them for sport!”

Emmeline didn’t really know what to say, yes sometimes it was fun to mark the anniversary with a celebrations but sometimes that could cause problems as well. It was definitely a catch twenty two situation. No right or wrong answer. Just a choice. “I think you need to decide what you want to do. A celebration would be nice-”, Emmeline paused there as she was unsure of where she was going with that comment.

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“It sounds like a but might be coming at the end of that sentence.” Florence replied, looking at Emmeline curiously.

Hayden looked at her. He leaned on the table that separated them, as if studying her even if only for a moment. His eyes narrowed. “What do you hope to get out of this? Are you hoping to mark time? Bring about more awareness to the Sanctuary? Fun excuse to have a party?” 

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Florence narrowed her eyes back in mockery, though she took his words into consideration. “Well— it certainly marks time.” A year was a big deal when so many people thought the Sanctuary was too big an undertaking for her in the first place— though, she knew that and it was certainly enough for her. “But no— it’s always about my creatures. What I can do to make things best for them.”

“I don’t think you want m’opinion on this,” said Hayden. Or rather, Hayden had no particular opinion on the subject. He was always of the mind people should do as they please. “What do you want to do is really what you should be asking.”

“I wouldn't have asked if I didn’t want your opinion.” She said honestly. Though she had an idea that his idea might include as few people as possible. “Perhaps it doesn’t have to be something grand or extravagant. Small and intimate can be just as fulfilling don’t you think?”

“You know, people like you are important.” It was a random, out-of-the-blue thing to say, but his mind had wandered far away from the inconsistencies of his sweater. “You’re optimistic, and positive, and fuck if we don’t need more of that lately.”

It wasn’t often that Florence lacked for words. Talking in excess was an easy way to cover up the constant buzzing in her mind. “That’s really lovely of you to say.” She said, face softening as his words warmed her heart. “Though I think I need another drink in me or else I’ll start crying.” She laughed, unused to such kind words, especially coming with matching feelings.

Florence had been mulling over Killian's words for the better part of a month now. Flip flopping back and forth on whether she wanted to go forward with an anniversary party for the sanctuary. Going over the paperwork she discovered it was entirely in the budget and would likely bring in even more donations so that she might provide even better accommodations for short term creature stays. “What do you think? Would it be inappropriate to hold an anniversary soiree for the Sanctuary with everything that’s been going on?”

“You know, that’s the sort of thing where you could acquire donors to help fund the event. Look into private security or even have Minchum provide for some aspects of the evening,” said Killian. “I’m sure it’s all things you’re considering, though,” he added, not wanting to seem like he was trying to step all over her toes. However, Killian did have experience with throwing extravagant events and parties. “You should let me know if it happens, though,” he added. 

Killian raised his glass now. “To your future endeavors.” 

“Hayden wouldn’t know actual fun if it bit him in his sorry large arse. Unless you’re drinking in a bar, you aren’t doing it right for him.” A simplification, but still not wrong. “With my own two bare hands. And many sleepless nights. And a thousand mistakes. Which makes it that much better. I really enjoyed the stripes that turned into zigzags.”

“He doesn’t even really need a bar though does he?” Florence said with a laugh. The less people the better was likely the thought process for their mutual friend. “Wonderful mistakes!” She exclaimed, eyes tracing a particularly wonky zigzag. “Every mistake we make is a mark of progress and that you didn’t give up is such a wonderful thing because you made something magnificent!”