plan b | ondina

[ares edward lestrange]

for my amusement.

To many, Christmas Eve was usually a day spent with family or genuine loved ones. Usually cuddled by the fire, speaking of their wild winter experiences…At least that’s how it once was for the Lestrange’s. Ares was always close with his sisters as a youth, even if he played stupid pranks on them while they grew up. Things were well until the drama around their family mainly around his father’s stupid actions came around. And with Andromeda’s simply beautiful plan to get rid of their parents all together almost a year ago — it still brought a smirk to the Lestrange’s lips.

And here, Ares found himself stepping through the last mirror that allowed Purifier members into their new undisclosed base. It brought a warming feeling to the Lestrange, one that he couldn’t feel in his own home, especially considering the one he spent most of his life in had come crashing down. There were a few members around, discussing amongst themselves when Elaine would actually produce her next meeting, talks of potential attacks or even plans but Ares knew when Elaine was ready she would come up with something. He walked over to the small fire place, where a few sofa and couches were and noticed a familiar person sitting upon one of them.

”Is this seat taken?” Ares questioned as he leaned over, smirking down at the girl while light blue eyes observed her face. He had seen her a few times, potentially even greeted her once or twice, but Ares wasn’t particularly a friendly person. They were a waste of time and emotion. Friendships were usually only worth it with the benefits of power. But Ares knew how to fake it till you made it.

Ondina Nell Weasley & hope this works!

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Ondina Nell Weasley]

i dare you.

THE WEASLEY'S TENDED TO CONGREGATE FOR major holidays and Ondina had learned to hate it. She was either ostracised or overwhelmed, and the few times she'd had attacks meant that she was often seen as a ticking time bomb. And if she'd purposefully ruined a few family dinners, what was the big deal? Nowadays, it usually meant that she took any opportunity to avoid the family home. This time, she'd decided to cart a few bits of paperwork up to the base by hand. It could have been sent, but Ondina had been desperate for a distraction.

Sitting on a hard-back chair, the large brown envelopes set on her crossed legs, Ondina waited to be seen. It was fairly busy, considering the time of year. But, Ondina had never taken her fellow Purifier brethren as the type infused with holiday spirit, so it wasn't all that surprising. She picked at the sticky flap on her parchment and jerked her leg restlessly, head bent so that she didn't see when a person sidled up and loomed over her, not until they spoke.

The word 'yes' hovered on the tip of her tongue instinctively, lifting her head with a scowl readily in place. She hadn't come for company. However, the sight of a pretty pair of crystalline eyes and a strong jaw cut with a fine layer of scruff silenced her momentarily. She was girl of exquisite taste

"Not any more," She said with a simpering smile, her leg stilling as she tried to place his face. She'd seen him around before, he had a swaggering walk she'd always found a little bit over the top. But, other than that, she had little to recall. "So," She turned her head, shaking out her long red hair as she looked him up and down very slowly. "I know what I'm doing here on Christmas Eve, but," She kissed her teeth, unable to resist her natural penchant for poking the dark. "What about you?" 

ares edward lestrange

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[ares edward lestrange]

for my amusement.

The holidays had created difficulty for Ares, especially now with a lack of parents and a guilt because of it, staying away from the family home and even away from his siblings during the major holidays was a requirement he set for himself in the passing years. The Purifier’s base seemed to be a perfect place to reside in, with most of the members having a lack of sense of caring, for others or even potentially themselves. They all craved power and that was one thing Ares could agree that the Purifiers knew best. Their overpowering need for strength and power.

With his potential spot to sit finally in place and a pretty girl sitting amongst it, Ares couldn’t help but feign a grin. He couldn’t help but feel rather fake to his fellow members, knowing he should never really trust them apart from Elaine. Who knew who was possibly back stabbing them? All of them, themselves were lies in their own little way, hiding the knowledge of their Purifier roles from the ones they loved or cared for. Being a purifier was one thing Ares never made aware of to his siblings and simply had no intention to for the future.

The smile that the Lestrange received in return resulted with him passing the side of the free chair before he fully sunk into it, a sigh of relief as he did so. As the red-head began to speak once more, Ares’ hands clasped over one another, resting upon his lap while pale eyes crossed over to hers, a grin twitching his lips. ”Begging Elaine for her forgiveness. But with the Christmas tide approaching, I have a feeling she’s up to something…Big.” He shrugged. Ares had been here days prior, seeking the leader to explain his sudden disappearance over the year, but it seemed as if no one truly noticed. ”And yourself? What exactly are you doing here on this fine Christmas Eve?”

Ondina Nell Weasley

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Ondina Nell Weasley]

i dare you.

THOUGH HE WAS PROBABLY EXAGGERATING IT wouldn't have been that shocking if he wasn't. Elaine was the type people begged, often and always. Ondina figured she enjoyed it. She scoffed, crossing her legs and flicking her hair behind her shoulder as she as spoke, "And why are we begging so close to Christmas?" Though Ondina didn't comment on the prospect of something 'big' happening. Elaine was always up to something. Each member often had their own individual side missions and very rarely were they spoken about freely.

"Ah." Ondina turned her face away, giving him a view of her profile as she watched someone stroll across the floor and enter a room with a bag that wriggled as if something were trapped inside. "If I told you," She turned her head, tutting her tongue as if the truth was unfortunate. "I'd have to kill you." In actuality, Elaine had tasked her with finding a dragons egg, but she'd had to wait while she found a breeder worth conversing with. Dragon eggs weren't easy to come by. Especially the illegal kind. "But, either way it's better than home." She shrugged her shoulders easily and inspected her painted nails. "Christmas is awful and fake," Ondina said bluntly. "And the food is disgusting."

ares edward lestrange

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[ares edward lestrange]

for my amusement.

Ares had never exactly begged anyone for their forgiveness but with Elaine, he would beg a million times over. She had power that he hadn’t exactly seen in anyone before and with him out of the Purifiers, he knew he would have no clue on what exactly to do. The conversation needed to happen sooner rather than later, to apologise for disappearing earlier in the year and then relying on his job in Hogs Head to provide some kind of alibi. ”Because who else will gift me presents?” He grinned, relaxing back in the chair. ”Something happened in the period of Christmas 2023. It led to me disappearing for a short while.” He vaguely told her, shrugging.

He watched as the redhead turned and brows rose, intrigued in her appearance just a little further before his own eyes wandered, watching another member of the Purifiers walk across the room and into the next room over. The bag the person held left Ares’ mind working in overtime as he tried to guess what exactly it was. He gave up once the woman before him spoke once more. ”’Tis a shame. I’ll gladly accept your reasons for bringing me to an early grave.” He joked, throwing his head back slightly as he laughed. He knew she wouldn’t give up her plans so easily and while he would usually challenge a person to get answers out of them, with this woman…He didn’t mind the wait.

Once she spoke about Christmas at home, Ares dramatically sighed, his hands resting on his thigh while he hummed in agreement. ”Don’t I know it.” Christmas in the Lestrange house was different as the years went on, growing a little worse once Ares graduated and eventually his sisters too. It grew tense once his parents found out about Ariadne’s time with James Potter, who Ares believed didn’t really pose as a threat to the family. His parents disagreed otherwise. ”Though food at ours was rather…Pleasant. After any holiday I most definitely couldn’t eat for days on end.” Ah, how he missed the simpler times. ”Tell me if I’m being rude, but while I remember your face I don’t exactly…Remember your name. What is it?”

Ondina Nell Weasley

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Ondina Nell Weasley]

i dare you.

THE CONFIDENCE WITH WHICH HE SPOKE surprised Ondina. Elaine could be very generous, as long as you did what you were told. She wasn't exactly Santa Claus, even if he seemed to think so. But, she hadn't expected him to fly with such honesty. She was used to dancing around questions, it was a very typical trait among Purifiers. His confidence was either admirable, or stupid. She naturally leaned towards the latter. Sitting back slightly, Ondina widened her eyes and said with faux wonder, "Did you have to go back to the North Pole?"

She looked at him keenly, wondering if that confidence was as unshakeable as it seemed. But, he still joked, his laugh loud and intrusive so that it drew a few stares, which he didn't seem to mind either. "You don't fear death?" She asked with a slight smirk, not expecting a serious answer, as he seemed incapable of giving one. "I don't like holiday recipes," Ondina explained, much preferring her carefully catered diet. Her immune system a constant ticking time bomb. "It's all butter and starch."

And then he asked her name and Ondina paused. This was a different question entirely. She didn't like being asked such a question when she was in the Purifier base, especially by someone she wasn't totally familiar with. They could report her back to the Ministry, for all she knew. "I didn't give it," She said plainly, a slight smile curling the corners of her mouth, evading the question entirely. "What's yours?" 

ares edward lestrange

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[ares edward lestrange]

for my amusement.

ARES WAS A typical man, filled with arrogance but confused it for confidence, but he was sure in the fact that Elaine would forgive him. At least around this Christmas time. At the girl’s mocking jokes, Ares looked up at her with a drab smile, his lips parting to create a dry laugh. ”Ha-Ha. Very funny.” Though, the North Pole did seem rather interesting, when would Ares ever find the time to go? ”Travelled to the States actually. Waste of cash and a lot of gas. It’s bland. Just like London.” He revealed, drawing his shoulders into a shrug.

”Doesn't everyone fear death?” He countered in question, a brow raising. Death as a whole wasn’t…The scariest thing for the Lestrange, but dying at the hands of his siblings…That was the ultimate fear. Or to die in the hands of someone he loved. Like Sarah, or even Sebastian…When the time came. He could understand the female's point around holiday foods, but luckily for Ares he wasn’t exactly a picky eater. If he was hungry and food was placed before him, he would definitely chow down. But being an adult now, it meant food had to be prepared himself, and there were times he really appreciated his job because of the snacks they served. ”Butter, starch and they take way too long. Have you seen the preparation for a Thanksgiving Dinner? Ridiculous.”

At her diversion in regards to her name, Ares concluded there and then he enjoyed her company and hoped the two of them could be potential friends. It was weird, being friends alongside other Purifier members. But if she wouldn’t give her name, why should he give his? ”I don’t know.” He shrugged, a playful smile on his lips. ”I mean I did ask for yours first.”

Ondina Nell Weasley

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Ondina Nell Weasley]

i dare you.

ONDINA HAD NEVER TRAVELLED VERY FAR FROM home. She had never been good at assimilating in unfamiliar climates. She hated the drabness of London, but at least it was somewhat predictable. So, she wasn't terribly impressed that he had travelled off to the US, nor that he seemed quite fed up of it. He didn't give it a glowing review, but she wouldn't have either, most likely. So she shrugged, "It's disgusting," She agreed, because London had its faults - a great many of them. "And the air quality is poor." But, she didn't live in London for the most part, she lived at home in the countryside. "But, it has its uses." Like real estate, but that was a story for a different audience.

"I thought so," Said Ondina, her eyes narrowed as she regarded him. "But, you didn't answer my question." He seemed fairly experienced in the art of avoiding answering questions, but so was Ondina. Although she was far better used at convincing others. So, she didn't realise he was pushing her towards questions of holiday traditions until it was much too late. She admired his ability, but rankled at it being used against her. "I can't say that I have," She said succinctly, crossing her ankles, her hands folded on her knee delicately. "And I can't say I'd like to." She definitely would not. Kitchens were messy enough without making her hair frizzy and smelly along with it.

However, Ondina decided she didn't dislike the young man. He was as slippery as an eel, but that wasn't a bad connection to have in her line of work. So, she laughed as if he'd told a joke and sat back, offering her hand as she decided that a name could be anything she liked. "You can call me Harper for now," She said, alluding that it was something of an alias, but not that it was inexplicably attached to her. "What should I call you?" He asked, her head tilting curiously. "Saint Nick?" 

ares edward lestrange

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[ares edward lestrange]

for my amusement.

HIS DECISION ON where he stayed hadn't exactly been the best of choices, something Ares discovered when he actually settled down in the States for the few months he was there. The Muggles or the No-Maj's - that the Americans called them - were very hands on, all about money. Tips and whatever the heck gratitude was. Even grabbing a taxi proved to be a waste of money. London proved to be the same at times, mingling with the Muggles that only seemed to be driven on one thing: money. His father had once been the same, driven on power and fortune but Ares had no care for it, proved by the apartment he lived in. "Most places with fancy skyscrapers are. Though I don't picture you finding much enjoyment in the countryside either." Ares couldn't picture many things about the redhead, after all he barely knew her. He agreed with her in some aspect though, London was a large place, filled with millions of people...with wizards and witches alike. Who would notice a few of them just...disappearing? That is if the Lestrange's future plans went ahead.

At her remark, Ares' eyes rolled. From his playful teasing jabs, surely she would've caught onto the idea he didn't fear it. So, the smile on his lips grew, especially since she wanted to nip it in the bud. Though he didn't fear the idea of Death, the Lestrange simply feared dying by the hands of someone he loved. Andromeda had come close once, torturing him with scars to prove it. But their relations had improved. If 'Harper' took a swing at him with a curse that would surely kill him, Ares would welcome it with wide arms. He wasn't a good man after all. And he knew it. "I don't." He stated vaguely, seriousness crossing his features. "Does that answer your question?" He added, crossing his own arms. "Trust me. You truly don't want to. I forgot the pain Muggles go through to stuff one little Turkey. I surely regret choosing the 'I've been stranded' act." His time in America truly was one Ares wouldn't forget. Especially since he was limited to using magic to prevent his sister's from discovering his location. More so Ariadne over Andy, since the latter was surely locked away.

A brow rose at her name, especially from the phrasing. "So we're using aliases. Okay." Ares shook his head as he chuckled quietly. "I think Saint Nick is perfect Harper." It was definitely ironic for the Lestrange as he was nothing like a Saint. More like the Devil. Sticking out his hand to the redhead, Ares tilted his head similar to how she held her own. "Nice to meet you Harper. I'm Saint Nick...the Third."

Ondina Nell Weasley & sorry for the wait!

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Ondina Nell Weasley]

i dare you.

ONDINA WAS VERY MUCH UPFRONT ABOUT HER dislike for the city, but she didn't like much about the outdoors at all. What she did not appreciate was feeling seen. Even in the vaguest of terms, and the young man beside her seemed to have sussed something about her that she felt a deep lack of appreciation for. She turned to him, almost as if insulted at his assumptions and said primly, "I grew up in the countryside, actually." That did not, of course, confirm whether or not he was right. He was.

Narrowing her eyes, Ondina saw the plain seriousness in his face and frowned. "I don't believe you." She said, because even those he actively sought death feared it in some capacity. The pain, the unknown, the dark. At least, that is what Ondina thought. But, the more she looked at him the less sure he was. He seemed unfazed, an odd and inhuman light in his eyes that she didn't find at all comforting. "Actually, perhaps I've changed my mind." And she filed it away beside her animal wariness and her strange exhilaration.

"Ugh, Turkey." Ondina shook her hair out, her chin pulling in to her chest in disgust. "I'm not a fan of the clucking sort of meat." She wasn't a fan of any kind of meat any more, though she dabbled occasionally. She'd learned from a muggle specialist that it was supposed to be quite bad for you, though white meat was considerably better than red meat. But, she didn't like birds in the slightest. They were vermin, in her opinion.

"I don't know you." Ondina said with a simple shrug, her face splitting in a wide smile. "Does that offend you?" She said with a simpering tone of voice. Ondina was in the Purifier base, she didn't need anyone unnecessarily knowing who she was. And who she was connected to. She wasn't ashamed of being a Weasley, but they weren't exactly known for dabbling in the dark arts. She had no intention of being underestimated. Plus, it was fun. "You don't look like a saint to me," She drawled, her eyes hooded and watchful. "I'll call you Nicky." She said as she crossed her legs. "Suits you."

ares edward lestrange

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[ares edward lestrange]

for my amusement.

INTRIGUED, ARES ROSE A BROW in surprise. The way the woman had presented herself was rather…Business savvy. As if she knew what she wanted in the big city, and wouldn’t let anyone push her away from certain goals. ”Interesting!” He chirped, smiling. Now that she had mentioned it, the twang in her voice seemed a little off, too far to relate to neighbouring cities. ”Sorry if I offended.”

Ares shrugged in his initial response, grinning in her direction as she narrowed her eyes. ”Not many people do.” About…Numerous things anyway. Once upon a time he feared every aspect of death, like the next person. But when you had a bat-shit crazy sister and faced Death once before, the pain and emotional thought of it seemed to easily disperse. But dying to the hand of someone he loved was still there. Even dying by Sarah’s hand was a fear, and the Lestrange had no love for that woman anymore. ”Quick to judge and reevaluate I see.” He assumed, glad the topic shifted onto the wonders and disgust of Thanksgiving. ”I’m a huge fan of Turkey and Chicken. Just not when the situation calls for them. I like to enjoy my meals without putting a celebration or purpose towards it. He explained, pausing as his hand rose to his chin. ”Then again, it’s better than being Vegan. Curse that Muggle that got me into that for a few weeks.” Weeks without protein drove the Lestrange insane.

”And I don’t know you. But I could always get to know you.” He retorted, his lips mimicking her smile. ”Not at all. It’s hard to befriend people here. You could be a murdering psychopath after all.” He shrugged. ”Don’t most Saints?” He added in question. ”But I suppose Nicky works. I’ll actually know who’s calling me in these Halls whenever I enter now.”

Ondina Nell Weasley

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Ondina Nell Weasley]

i dare you.

HE DIDN'T SOUND VERY SORRY AT ALL, ONDINA thought as she stared at him. And she wasn't terribly offended any way. Nor did she believe that ol' Saint Nick was the type to second guess anything he said or did. She didn't hate that assumption about him, but she didn't enjoy him prying in to her private life either. They were in a highly illegal base doing what the Ministry had described as 'plots of national terrorism'. She shrugged one shoulder loosely and turned her head away without a second word.

There was a cold lack of reaction for him that might have unsettled Ondina if she was made of weaker stuff. Instead, it just infuriated her mildly. Ondina liked to get under people's skin. It was her first line of defence in any interaction. She couldn't see an in with this guy and that bothered her. Listening to him rant and rave about meat made her lips pull down at the corners, his voice like white noise in her ears. "I don't care about any of that stuff." She said bluntly, her lips curling in to a half sneer. "Unless you're planning to ask me out to dinner?" She raised a delicately sculpted brow, only half serious.

"Are you a murdering psychopath?" Ondina asked conversationally, wondering if he was flirting with her or simply making light of her very real suspicions. She knew that sometimes people did that to draw attention away from invasive questions. "I didn't think people came here to make friends..." Ondina practically purred, turning her head to smile at him salaciously. "I thought they came here for the connections, Nicky." She clicked her tongue. "What've you got to offer me, hm?"

ares edward lestrange

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[ares edward lestrange]

for my amusement.

ARES KNEW FROM THE PITS of his gut he wasn’t sorry in anyway. The grin on his lips and the tone of his voice was enough to contradict and mock his words. But given how smart the female seemed to be…Surely she already observed that. Ares liked that, a smart woman, one who thought for herself instead of others. Maybe he needed to love someone like that, not the ‘damaged’ or insane lot.

But by all means, Harper didn’t make Ares feel uncomfortable at all. Given where they were, it would’ve been odd to befriend anyone, but Ares enjoyed speaking to those who simply didn’t know him. He was an odd ball after all. But he most certainly enjoyed how blunt she was with him. Most women beat around the bush, about things they wanted, didn’t want, loved or hated. Harper was all real. ”Are you suggesting I should ask you out to dinner Miss Harper?” He responded, questioning her. At her next question, he tilted his head, grin working into a smirk. ”I could be anything you want me to be.” Merlin, when would the Lestrange not flirt with anything that had legs?

”That’s fine by me Miss Harper. We don’t need to be friends.” He wouldn’t exactly…Class the two of them friends…Just yet. Levels of friendship with Ares was met when the other person could tolerate with how irritable he could be. ”A quick hand, brute force…I came here for the power after all.” He hoped what she meant by his quick hand though, Ares was a skilled thief after all.

Ondina Nell Weasley

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Ondina Nell Weasley]

i dare you.

ONDINA HAD ALWAYS ENJOYED BEING THE VERY centre of attention. It made her feel incredibly warm and important, but she wasn't idiotic enough to think it was always sincere when she was. Especially in a place like this. Nicky's smooth flirting was not unfamiliar, nor did it seem terribly sincere - and yet Ondina enjoyed it while it lasted, easing in to the role of the sweetened victim as she leaned back in her seat, her lids dropping an inch, running her hand down her crossed leg.

"Well," She drawled, tongue dipping out over her bottom lip. "I don't make suggestions." She made demands. And then he leaned in to his own role and Ondina saw how well it fit him. How easily he might charm some unsuspecting person in to his bed, how he might draw out their deepest secrets and desires with his smart mouth and creasing smile. "But, with a promise like that..." She preened at him and he grinned back. And Ondina knew exactly what he was, because they were somewhat the same. His eyes gleamed, but there was a blankness to his face between flirtations. As if his responses were queued.

"Good." Ondina said and she dropped her smiling pretence, her wide eyes blinking, her mouth held in a straight, emotionless line. It was the most honest she had looked since she'd stepped foot in to the lair. "I don't need any more friends." And her lip quirked just a little. It was not so much a flirtation as it was a fact. She reached up and her thin, bird-boned hand patted his cheek lightly - her hands were always oddly cold. "Didn't we all?" And her grin grew to an almost manic level before she tugged on the end of her skirt and rose. "You should call me." She said with a nod, not a suggestion, a demand. And then she left him there, with his pretty face and his fake smiles. Just like Saint Nick himself. 

ares edward lestrange

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[ares edward lestrange]

[end! ]