Why Don't You And I?, A Mirrorverse Tale

[ShadowSpinner]

C/N- Looksie! A new chapter! I promised one by the end of August! It would have been here earlier, but I hated the old one and scrapped it. Also, small UFA joke in there, can you spot it?

Also, I'm working on that list!

Keeps Getting Better (The Actions Remix)

Demon was wondering if Jareth had been buried among the rubble. The Unaligned Fey were, as a rule, children of the Lady Summer, the Trickster, and Ares. Quick to anger, to cruelty, and to the sort of fierceness and devotion that earned them less than complementary names among those in the know. They were also a rootless people, by and by large, content to wander among the labyrinth-the-mother, and the Castle of Dreams and Puzzles at its heart. However, when they found shiny things, they got distracted. Demon had never been certain if Jareth would be the rule or the exception, and Cricket had never given her a straight answer.

“Miss Device?” called the voice, and Demon said a word she’d heard off of Jareth a time or two.

“Ancient Sumerian?” Professor Dumbledore blinked, then nodded. “Ah, the King. May I ask why you’re in the castle?”

Demon grinned. “We are solving the Voldemort puzzle. We just have one last piece before we deal with the Snakey One.” And Sis had come up with a good way to deal with the body.

“Are you certain it is in the castle?” Though he was hiding it well, Demon was probably among the top five sensers of dismay, shock, and other such things.
Keeping Future-Snape, or Snape-Prime, as Cricket and everyone else who’d seen a certain Star Trek movie had called him, secret from everyone, was a priority. (And, as one or two people had put it, Snape could hold grudges for England.) So she lied. Or, rather, told a fey truth. “Cricket is, um, what’s your term for it…”
“Many talents hold many titles,” the Professor said wryly. “Your own condition…”

“I know, I know,” Demon gave a slightly bitter grin. “Trust me. It’s… I want to say the Speaker of the Dead. Stupid, as she doesn’t often. I like Echo better.” The Professor actually blinked and repeated the title soundlessly.

“Truly? Do you also have a Puppetmaster and Orator, any other legends I should be aware of? “ Dumbledore shook his head. “I’m not used to being so thoroughly shocked. Though I suppose a Weather Mage would be hard to find, even for you. There hasn’t been one to be found for eight hundred years, and the castle’s protection against bad storms, especially September first, is fading.” Demon let out a mad cackle.

“All three, actually, and more besides,” Jareth said, hopping nimbly over the slightly raised mess in front of the door. “You might prefer to clean out that room, some dangerous artifacts there. And it must have been difficult indeed to switch the dates, what, three hundred years ago?”

“The late Lady Aine did so,” the headmaster said, and Demon wondered what had happened then.

“The Lady, for all her Seelie roots, always did have the traits of an acolyte of the Patron of Lost Causes,” Jareth said, almost fond. “One her daughter seems to share, unfortunately.”

And Cricket was going to be bugged for help, because Demon was actually a bit lost now, and that was never a good spot to be in with Jareth.
~

Cricket, clad in what Demon privately thought was her craziest outfit yet, sighed, tapping her cherry red heels together. “Three hundred years ago- about industrial revolution, I’d say. Halloween was probably closer to the official opening day before that, so students could help their families with harvests and such. Wool, though… huh. Guess that’s why they have spring break?” Cricket shook her head. “I’ll ask someone later. But with the Industrial Revolution came so widespread a use of iron that most of the fey were driven into Fey until the Red Curse hit.”

“Okay, and Lady Aine?” Demon asked. Then she looked at the clock. “Don’t you have understudy rehearsal soon?”

“Ten minutes. I can run in these heels, as long as I don’t take the steps two at a time,” Cricket waved a hand absently. “Lady Aine was Ross’s mother, and Queen Alusine’s off-and-on lover.”

Demon blinked. “…Really?” Cricket rolled her eyes.

“Old news, ducks. Lady Aine was killed by Death Eaters around… fifteen years ago? Right around their beginnings, anyway. None of them took it well, and all but one of the killers were caught. I wonder if it was a Horcrux death… the diadem, possibly? Right time for it.” Cricket waved, and Demon finally turned around to see Regulus Black waiting.

“I was sent to tell you to get over to the stage now,” Regulus said. “And you’re right. One of those men was Abraxas Malfoy, actually.”

“Explains why the Fieries haven’t been unleashed,” Demon mused.

Cricket tilted her head as she stood and smoothed her DIY flares. “Do tell.”

Demon nodded wickedly. “They’re waiting until Malfoy thinks he’s safe. You know he’s going to go after Ross.”

“For the sake of his non-exisitant honor? Of course,” Regulus might have smiled. “That’s why the Clearwaters are staying there.”

“It’s not Fieries,” Cricket said, absently. “It’s something else, I think.”

Demon poked the girl. “What?”

“I’m not certain, not yet, and I’m not going to jump the gun on this one,”
Cricket said ruefully. “When I’m certain, I’ll speak.”

“Good, then let’s go watch my brother make an imbecile of himself,” Regulus said.

The two girls looked at each other.

“You’ve never heard Sirius sing, have you?” Cricket asked wryly.

“Not since I was nine,” Regulus looked a bit rueful. “Never much occasion at home, and we didn’t see each other often in school.”

“You’re in for a shock, then,” Demon grinned. “The mutt may be an ass, but he’s an ass who can sing.”

Cricket rolled her eyes. “Must you insult people when they can’t defend themselves?” She teased.

Demon poked her friend. “Pot? This is the kettle…”

Cricket widened her eyes. “But everyone’s taller than me! Hell, I think there are PIXIES taller than me!”

“That’s because they are, love,” Sirius said from his position over Adi’s neck. “Did I mention I love this job?”

Peter, from his position on the flys, called down. “Yes, you did. Often. Something about gorgeous girls swooning at your feet.”

Adi snickered. “Love being appreciated. Cricket, your turn. Maybe you can get something half-decent out of him.”

As Cricket slowly made her way over the stage, she glimpsed her shaking hands. Her head felt light. Stage fright, it’s just stage fright, she said, as Adi made her way to a darkened corner to coax the Count out.

Sirius gave her a searching look. “You look like Moony five minutes before moonrise,” he whispered.

“Feel like it,” she admitted. “Help me stay up?”

If the two were a bit closer than normal thoughout their parts, no one really cared to notice. There was a reason Jacques and Sanne liked using couples, and had kept begging for Cricket to play against Sirius. Snap and crackle made a show come to life.

“There’s only so much a heart can take, before it starts to break, please don’t make me love you, please don’t make me need you,” Cricket carefully took a few steps forward, “I’ve no room in my life for something like this…”

The shaking in her hands was abating, lost in the music. She didn’t notice Adi and Sanne sharing triumphant grins.

“You’re the one I think of soon as I awaken, funny how the heart tells the mind what to do,” Cricket sang, a touch of wistful humor in her voice. Adi raised an eyebrow but didn’t comment.

“Not quite how I remember this affair going,” Dracula whispered. “Madam Harker was regretting the marriage rather swiftly, if I remember rightly. Harker always had a, whats the term, a stick up his arse. Yes.”

Adi fought back an inappropriate fit of the giggles. “Damn you.”

“The proper response to that is even more dead than I am,” he replied, a smirk on his face.

[Asthenia182]

This day is officially the best day ever. First, I didn't have to go outside for marching band, then I had yoga, which is good for my chi, and then you update.

This day rocks for me.

In any case, I enjoyed this chapter. Dumbledore is rather strange. A weather mage, hard to find? PLEASE.

Puppetmaster and Orator? Interesting. What do those translate into, for our people? *is curious*

Regulus is fantastic. I love having him around.

And Sirius and you! ADORABLE!

I'm glad you updated. You definitely kicked this day into awesome-overdrive.

[Silvermasque]

Mwahahahaha! Have I mentioned I love it when you update Cricket! It makes my whole day!

How the wicked shall triumph...

[Demon of Your Soul]

I read this last night, but I have much to do today and couldn't review immediately.

YAY UPDATES! I love chapters with me in them! Btw, totally nailed me in this one, especially the first part with Jareth and Dumbledore, although I was slightly less confused than you thought... (I've become a fair Industrial Revolution buff, since sophomroe year )

Puppetmaster = Mel, am I right? Totally blanking on the Orator though... Ashe? You?

And in my defense, I don't spend my life in the Faerie Courts, so the fact that Queen Alusine bats for the other team is news to me!

Anyway yes, it was love, love, love, and you really did a bang up job of me!

[Shadow_Singer]

Lovely update, Cricket! You just make my day with these. *grins*

Huh, wonder what I could of thought up to do away with Voldie's body. Whatever it is, it's sure to be good.

And, sis? I think that Adi is Orator because of her Voice of Command. I'd more likely be called a Truth Keeper or something.

Someday, Cricket, you should publish this; because that would be awesome. You know, the Red Curse concept because crossovers are frowned upon for some strange reason in published fiction.

[ShadowSpinner]

Please don't get used to the speed, I got "The Art of Suicide, and it inspired me. Yup, Adi is the Orator.

Have any of you read Black Ships?

Dirty Sunshine (The This Is My Life Remix)

“Are you trying to depress me?” Sheri laughed, as Demon and Cricket were trying to out-dramaticize each other while singing Emilie Autumn’s “The Art of Suicide”.

“It’s a satire,” Cricket said impishly. “I like it. It’s silly and has the word ankles in it.” She frowned. “Did someone tear the curtains?” Sheri came over to look.

“Huh, weird,” she said, studying the three jagged tears. She placed her hands over them. “Long fingers, three of them… Cricket, could one of your Remnants gotten loose?”

Cricket leaned up. “Maybelle might have, she’s the right height, but last time I saw her she was in Queens following around some ferals and interfering in their nightmares.”

Demon sighed and reminded herself that Cricket wasn’t entirely sane.

“You named them?” Sheri asked. Then blinked. “Oh, right. Ghost-like things.” She stared at the otherwise inoffensive red curtain. Then she twirled the ivory rope holding it back. “Mending charms should work, right?”

Demon frowned. “There’s not huge gaps, just a tear. Doesn’t look like it was torn at so much as slit.”

“Flat blades?” Cricket offered. “Hands are rarely straight and steady, especially with think velvet?”

“Fixed knife-like things, however, would just veer a bit,” Sheri said, tracing the gaps. “Anyone else nervous?”

“One, two,” Cricket said eerily.

“Do I want to know?” Sirius asked, looking at the curtains. “Damn, looks like someone tried Snape’s cutting hex…”

“Mache,” Cricket swore a streak in the Unseelie’s bastard Irish.

“When’s the last time we checked the curtains?” Demon asked glumly. She frowned. “When’d you learn sectumsempra?”

“Where do you think Snape pulled off such a loathing of testing his spells on people?” Sirius said sardonically. At Demon’s skeptical look, he added, “Bella got ahold of it. That summer was fun.”

Cricket stood on her toes and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Just imagine the Barbaras handing her her ass.”

Sirius grinned. “Laine? That’s Patronus material right there.” He looked at Sheri. “By the way, Jacob still can’t get over the fishnets, Canary.”

Demon snorted. “But she can’t… ooh, bad Cricket. I want a sonic scream machine.”
Cricket gave her a sour look. “Melusine invented it.” She sighed. “Pity. Just
imagine Sara or Lily with one.”

“I like my eardrums, actually,” Sirius pointed out. “Speaking of ears, Sheri, we’re rehearsing Life After Life in twenty minutes.”

Sheri poked through the middle tear. “Yes, because I either have to worry about mad wizards or Freddy Krueger while singing.”

“I wonder how he eats pizza,” Cricket mused. “Or pie.”

The other three blinked. “Yeah, not as scary now,” Demon snickered. “I just imagined him with cherry pie stuck in his claws.”

~

Snape frowned. “Are they certain there is a portal?” Sara gave him a raised eyebrow.

“You sound almost worried,” she said, looking at the vials. They seemed like creepy, gross stuff to the casual glance, but Sara was sure she caught a glimmer of illusion on them. Weird.

“And you seem to have developed a tic,” he pointed out. “I merely would like to finish my current project before my death.”

“One second,” Sara almost… a-ha! “You’re storing potions under illusions?” She studied them, then looked at the faint gold magic cord. “Are these rigged to explode? The Queens might have something to say about that.”

“The Madwoman already did,” Snape said dryly. “They won’t damage the Manor, they are merely to prevent certain aspects of my work from capture, should the Dark Lord come too near.”

Sara reflected gloomily that they’d probably kill Snape, as well. He was like that. “What’s the project?”

“Something to deal with…” Snape scowled. Sara merely did something that was closer to a snarl than a smile and waited. “I really don’t think you will appreciate it.”

“You mean I won’t like it,” Sara said wearily. She knew better than to bash her head against the wall, but she wanted to. “What is it?”

Snape gave her a look that would have sent most running. Sara merely went over to his notes, reflecting that he had to have left certain people on a safe list. She scanned them. Then blinked. “You’re trying to cure the Plague? Why’s that a bad thing?”

Snape gave something like scowl. “My methods are highly unpleasant.”

“So it’s not going to work,” Sara said, looking at Snape’s projected figures. “You forgot to incorporate the strain to the heart. It’ll cause the veins to burst or the heart to hit the wall.”

“How are you so sure?” Snape asked. Sara gave him a wry look.

“Pamphlet from the CDC,” she said sardonically. Then she sighed. “I think maybe three of us have already caught it- me, Mel, and Ashe. Probably more, if Ari, Cait, or Cricket didn’t catch it, I’ll be amazed- Philadelphia had a major epidemic, almost as bad as Chicago.”

“I didn’t realize,” Snape sounded like he might be apologetic, if you really, really strained your ears and had an open mind.

“I lived,” Sara said finally. “Let’s change the topic now I know you aren’t planning on locking Sirius in dog form.” She smirked. “Though he might be more pleasant that way…”

~

Lily was studying the stage from the upper mezzazine. Harry, who was already two, was trying to see better without leaving his seat. “Uncle Padfoot!”

“Yes,” Lily said, focusing on the curtain. Sheri was clearly enjoying herself, and Lily really hoped that Harley Quinn wasn’t going to come to the theatre. She might think Sheri was mimicking her, and that lead to nothing good. The song called for it, though.

The balcony door swung open, and Lily gave a quick, grateful smile as Remus and Tara came up, the hedgehog riding her shoulder. Harry let out a happy cry.

Tara had probably been the first person to show Lily around New York, and help her reintergrate into the muggle world. It was strange, really, and the thirty year gap between universes hadn’t helped. But she’d mostly adapted, and it wasn’t as if she hadn’t been isolated after Hogwarts, anyway. Here at least she had a small but growing circle of friends.

There was a tug in the air, and Lily pulled out her wand, wondering if Tara’s plan would work. She’d taken it from some sci-fi show, and had set off a round of jokes.

The three thuds didn’t even disrupt the rehearsal.

Lily sighed, a list of names in her head. The glorious dead her foot. “So, Tara, are you going to take Professor Dumbledore’s contract?”

Tara nodded, watching as Harry carefully placed Morgan Freeman on the ground and watched her prickly pet meander. “It’ll be July there, so…November here. A week after Harry’s birthday, actually.”

“It’s horribly ironic, isn’t it?” Lily laughed. “He was born on Halloween, and in …”

“Snape-Prime,” Remus offered. Tara snickered, remembering watching that movie with everyone last New Year’s Eve. Sirius had been very annoyed Peter’s predictions of lightsabers hadn’t been true. The toy ones had started showing up in the manor a little afterwards.

“Said that we died on Halloween,” Lily finished. Remus nodded.

“Flipping the Snake the bird?” Tara offered. “I like that metaphor.”

“I am now visualizing that… I hope Fawkes doesn’t practice Legilimency,” Remus mused, “Otherwise I’ll be having a few bird related issues when I next see him.”

“So Phoenixes are part of the corvid family?” Tara asked absently. “Not much of a surprise.”

[Demon of Your Soul]

*is totally not here because Cricket poked her into reviewing*

Hee... I :heart: lil' Harry. Have I said that? No? Well I should have... love that kid. Good thing we rescued him from his own worst enemy aka his life.

Yay for ironic paradoxes and Snape-prime!

And I'm surprised at Delenn that she didn't spot the glamories sooner or didn't know Snape enough to know that he would have done it. Is ay this because Delenn just owned my ass at Rickman-fanship. Why I ever doubted is beyond me...

GAH! Reading Dracula concurrent with reading this and knowing I'm one of the three brides is REALLY bothering me! I want to rehearse so badly! And at the same time, I want a bigger point in the book... of course, I've only just started Dr. Seward's entries, so I'm not too far yet... Oh, speaking of, I also watched Bram Stoker's Dracula to approximately as far as I am in the book... REALLY preferring book!Lucy a whole lot to movie!Lucy right now... and random lesbian scene is random and annoying. Just fyi...

Ugh, I don't want to have to recheck/respell the mansion... so much tediousness... can;t I just get amd at Sirius on stage instead?

And, huh, what... was Tara using the infamous time-and-space portal (of doom) that once upon a time involved Grasks? YESYESYES?!

[ShadowSpinner]

C/N: Note in advance, this is set directly after “The Flourfight of 2012”. On another note, the two songs in the title, Sunny Came Home and Suicide Alley? They are awesome.

Graske? I guess... let's go with that. And the book and the movie have little in common. Though maybe now I'll finish my odd little fic on the subject...

Sunny Came Home (The Corner of First And Insane Remix)

Sam was giggling. Normally it was Sanne who giggled, but today’s rehearsal was on crack.

Adi was merely singing “A Perfect Life” with a remarkably straight face, considering Cricket and Sirius were arguing.

“Really, no one’s going to believe it if we don’t make it more realistic,” Sirius said, flour still on patches on his shirt. Cricket looked up at him skeptically.

“You just want to piss off your mother,” Cricket said, arms crossed. Sam was pretty sure her floury t-shirt had been borrowed from someone taller, because Sanne had been systematically weaning her out of that habit.

“Actually, I just want to go to Vegas, it sounds interesting,” Sirius said in a deadpan everyone was sure he’d copied off of Remus. He got a few stares. James and Remus were grinning, remembering his first ideas on the subject.

“Did you get an offer for a show?” Cait teased. She’d escaped the worst of the flourfight, with one handprint on her shoulder from Ashe.

“An excuse to get Cricket into that little red dress Sanne gave her?” Demon offered, covered head to toe. Cricket glared at her friend.

“Why would I wear that?” she asked.

“So you wouldn’t be wearing anything, then?” Demon shot back. She hadn’t earned the title “Queen of the Guttersnipes” for nothing. Cricket gave a crooked grin, clearly deciding to be evil and give as good as she got. Sara was the usual title challenger, but Cricket had gotten an early start on theory, and much less problems with using things.

Thankfully for the ears of everyone else, Ari looked up from the letters she was reading, somehow flour-free. Jackson, thinking he’d escaped it as well, was trying to read over her shoulder. No one had the heart to tell him someone had poured it down his back. “Bruce Wayne’s holding a Halloween party again.”

Cricket crossed herself.

Sheri said, “It’s cute, really, that he keeps trying like that.”

Ari grinned, a touch wistfully. “Be nice to go, since I can’t go home now.” The rails into Philadelphia were torn again, and repair would take weeks.

“It might be more stressful than the show,” Mel pointed out wryly. “There might be ninjas.”

“Speaking of stress, darlings,” Adi said, calling a bit of magic to keep everyone in line, “We might be having protests in the City soon. The Rose is a target. “

“Not Westboro Baptist,” Cricket groaned. “Can’t somebody smite them already?”

Mel made a violent agreeing noise.

“I wish,” Adi said wryly. “It’s not them, thankfully. I think I’d sic someone on them. But I let the website know, and asked them to keep a lookout. Somehow it ended up on OhNoTheyDidn’t. And the blogosphere took it up.” She looked at Tara, who shook her head.

“Not me. But we were the first theater to open, and we’re the only Spooky-only actoring company in the state,” she pointed out. “Add in Sara and Remus’ database of Spookies and people want us to stay open. They’re doing the same in Columbia and NYU, too.”

“Generally the awesomely bitchy, snarky people who go on that type of site,” Cricket pointed out. “Can you imagine the counter-protest?”

“I know Julliard’s is going to kick ass,” Jane called from the flies. “We’re playing all types of music, and even the teachers are getting in on it.”

Lily shook her head. “That’s insane. Maybe we should make the under-agers emergency Portkeys?”

James nodded. “We can apparate you lot to school, too, if it gets bad.”

Jane nodded. “Thanks, I think Robbie, Susan and Fi are going to need it most. Eddie’s pretty Zen about it all, and Becca and I are fifteen, we can take care of ourselves.”

Mel and Remus looked up skeptically.

“Well, mostly,” Jane grinned sheepishly. “Don’t you have to get on with the singing?”

~

Nicole was laughing as she entered the dining hall. “Cricket,” she snickered, “When Mel asked you to deter Sirius from wake-up pranks-”

“After everything else failed,” Sara pointed out under her breath.

“I don’t think she meant for you to give him donkey ears,” Nicole pointed out.

“My idea,” Demon said cheerily.

“He’s going to be awful,” Ashe predicted.

“Bring it,” Cricket said sleepily.

~

Sirius was planning his revenge on Cricket when he heard a muffled sob. He winced. Not good with crying people. Harry he could deal with, because a not-quite-two-year-old wasn’t so hard, but once the emotions got complicated and gah, most times letting people cry on Padfoot seemed to help.

Becca was the one crying, the teenager curled up on a chair, staring at a computer screen. Sirius snuck up behind her. “You alright?”

“No,” Becca said dully. “I’m not. Leave me alone.”

“Won’t,” Sirius said, pulling over another chair. “I’ll be shouted at for it.” He waited. She finally tangled her hand in her curls and scowled.

“Family sucks sometimes,” she dropped her head on the table.

“I wouldn’t know,” Sirius said in a flat deadpan. Becca snorted.

“My mom emailed me,” she said softly, head coming up. “She said she was sorry. She wants me to come home.”

Sirius groaned. This is why Remus existed. He dealt better with this stuff. Or anyone else. “You don’t have to. Lainey witnessed the truthiness of what you said, you’re free to stay here if you want.”

“Truthiness?” Becca said, neatly sidestepping the issue. “Have you been watching the Colbert Report?”

“I was stuck in the Manor for ages,” Sirius said. “It was entertaining. Now help me annoy Cricket.”

Becca was craning her head. “Better plan. Let’s watch Nicole and Norrington kiss. Finally, Jane and I had a bet running.”

“Who won?” Sirius asked. Nicole had a “silly boy” expression, the same one he saw on Tara’s face every once and a while.

“Jay,” Becca groaned. “She laid a bet not two hours ago. Wonder if she knew?”

“Couldn’t have, she was running errands for Sara all day,” Sirius pointed out. “And Norrington was doing something with Bruce…” He snickered as Becca raised an eyebrow.

“Thank you, that’s the best mental picture I’ve had all day. Week, even.” She said brightly.

“I try,” Sirius said dryly.

“Oh, and Crick’s going to try to talk you out of retaliation,” Becca said finally. “She has a plan.”

Sirius sighed and grinned. So maybe he’d get to have his cake and eat it too?

[Demon of Your Soul]

This is going to eb a bad review for teh sake of Cricket's self-esteem.

I did read this chapter, I just didn't review. Why? I'm a lazy ass and it was alte at night when I needed to sleep.

The review part of this bad review: it's was lovely blah blah blah awesome blah blah blah write more blah blah blah NOW blah blah blah...

The non-review part of this bad review: this is partially extended soapbox (see Panic Room soapbox) and partially my craziness which cannot be confined to a PM because my PM box is jammed full and I don't knwo what to do about it. Anyway, I am a loon and I have decided I relaly want to write 'The King and I ' fan fiction. My insanity has reached an apex, I know, because such a thing is impossible, I know, since the story is so well tied-up. Nonetheless, I WANNA. Obviously, I've come to the road-block that HOW THE HELL AM I GONNA WRITE A STORY?! There's nothing to write! So... I just thought I'd let you all (here meaning Cricket ) know and if you have any thoughts/ideas for me, you could share them.

Cricket I apologize for encroahing on your topic and your storyness, but I fail at maintaining my inbox and I heart all my messages too much to delete many more...