fantasticbeasts_kinkmeme | Prompt Post #1

The plot thickens! Probably. Maybe?

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A thunderbird. There’s a thunderbird in the closet. It looks exactly as the only book of North American creatures Newt was able to find says it should, but sickly. Its feathers- which clearly populate the jar he found- are dull, and it looks weak both in legs and wings. The closet has been expanded with magic to fit the creature’s size, but there is no access to sunlight or fresh air.

Newt suspects it’s not been allowed to fly or move very much, either, judging by the heavy iron chain around its neck. He steps cautiously into the closet, taking long, slow breaths, “Hello.”

The thunderbird reacts immediately, stretching its wings out as wide as they’ll go, calling at such a volume that Newt flinches. He grips his trousers to keep from making sudden movements.

“Easy now,” he murmurs, “I’m not here to hurt you. I promise.”

The thunderbird calls again and stares at Newt suspiciously. It lowers its head lowered threateningly.

Newt doesn’t move from the doorway. “You don’t belong down here. I know they were bad to you, but I promise they’re gone now. Oh, but you must have guessed that. Nobody has been around to feed you, have they?”

The thunderbird cocks its head, lifting it slowly. Newt wonders if it likes the sound of Newt’s voice.

Newt watches it calmly. “May I come over to you? Can I see if you need any help or medical treatment?”

He’s not sure if the thunderbird understands him, but there’s a part of him that’s already wondering if thunderbirds and hippogriffs may be distantly related because the thunderbird inclines its head. Newt takes a breath and a cautious step forward. The thunderbird stays very still as Newt crosses the distance between them.

Newt watches the thunderbird cautiously, reaching for a leg that shows evidence of infected sores. “You seem to have some bruising and old wounds here. I imagine your wings aren’t in much better shape- the muscles must be atrophied somewhat from a lack of flying. What would you say to coming with me? I can make you a sky.”

The thunderbird stares imperiously at Newt.

“Shall I bring you some salve? Or, no, food and water. Let me bring you some food and water,” Newt says encouragingly. “We’ll take the rest from there.”

The thunderbird looks skeptical and rears just slightly, letting Newt know he isn't trusted. Fair enough. Newt slides his wand out from his sleeve- he's gotten so used to the motion that he hardly needs to move his arm anymore, especially when facing down skittish creatures. The Thunderbird tugs his head away at the sight of the wand and Newt holds it up so the creature can see exactly what he's doing, his other hand held palm up.

“Shhh, shhh. This will never be used in anger to you,” he says softly, “I'm just going to bring you some food. That's all.”

Newt summons raw meat from the cold storage and two bowls. The thunderbird appears to be part bird and part large cat, and Newt wonders if he would prefer to eat after hunting, but he doesn't dare let him out of the chains just yet. Those wings could probably still send Newt hurtling into a wall.

He places the meat in one bowl, casts Aguamenti into the other, and steps back. “There we go.”

He watches the thunderbird lower his beak towards the bowls. He has one eye on Newt, who stays very still, but after a brief standoff, he can no longer stay away from the food. Newt makes a soft, encouraging noise and settles in to wait. He doesn't want to overfeed the thunderbird, not knowing enough about the proper eating habits, so when the bird empties his dishes, Newt banishes the food bowl and refills the water. The thunderbird squawks and stamps a paw.

“No more just yet,” Newt says, softly but firmly, keeping his tone neutral, “I don't know how long it's been since you last ate, and giving you too much at once will only make you sick. May I see to your wounds? That should give you enough time to digest and then I’ll feel better about giving you more.”

The thunderbird cranes his neck. His wings spread out to their fullest extent and then sweep back. Newt takes that as assent. He opens his suitcase slowly, keeping his movements deliberate. The salve is something he’s been working on since he began his trip, using plants from the places he’s been and that his creatures use. He finds it works quite well on himself, and he’s used it on Martha to great effect.

The thunderbird almost shoves his beak into the jar once Newt has it in range and Newt laughs, startled, “That’s not food, my friend.”

The thunderbird blinks and removes his beak from the jar, shaking it in a way that reminds Newt of a cat. Newt scoops a fingerful of salve out of the jar and tentatively reaches out a hand. He places it softly on an open sore, watching as the thunderbird shudders. For a moment Newt worries that he’s lost whatever goodwill has been built, but when the thunderbird doesn’t pull away or try to scratch Newt’s face off, he decides to keep going and spreads the salve slowly.

“There we go,” he murmurs, “That’s much better, isn’t it?”

He uses his wand to clean out partially open wounds and covers them and any sores he can find in the salve. When he is done, and the thunderbird hasn’t moved once, Newt decides he is calm enough to release him from the chain around his neck. He moves out of the way and unlocks the ring. The thunderbird’s wings spread and flex, and he tests out all his legs, but he doesn’t immediately lunge for Newt’s throat, watching Newt with his head cocked to the side.

Newt smiles softly. “Well, how’s that, then? Better?” He reaches carefully to brush his hand along the soft feathers and the thunderbird actually leans into it. “Well then, how would you like to go home?”

+

Dear Theseus -(stop)- Am well in Cairo -(stop)- Plan to leave for Americas soon -(stop)- Tell mother work goes well -(stop)- Found many animals -(stop)- Your brother -(stop)-

+

“Can't you mount a search and make your brother come home?”

“I could if you wanted to be sure he’d never trust either of us again.”

“Theseus! Be serious. He’s been gone a year.”

Theseus rubs his face with his hands, leaning back in his chair and setting aside a stack of match-making proposals. (It is finally his turn to marry. He was not expecting such an embarrassment of riches when it came to choosing a bride, but there will always be a generation of young men lost to the War, and with Newt engaged and no longer seen as a drain on resources, fathers who never would have thought twice about having Theseus for their daughters are now desperate enough to abase themselves.)

“The contract says two years before they must marry, and Percival will be more than willing to rewrite if we ask. Newt’s only been gone eleven months, anyway. There’s still work to be done for his book.”

“He doesn't write.”

“My contacts are looking out for him. And he has.”

Their mother throws her arms in the air, exasperated. “A three-sentence message sent through a Muggle telegram office from his last known place of existing doesn't count!” she looks pointedly at Theseus, “And Merlin only knows who gave him the idea to do that.”

“It worked, didn’t it? Muggles have useful technology, I see no reason not to use it,” Theseus shrugs. “At least we had that telegram. He could have given us nothing. We at least know that he’s on the mend, if not fully healed after the incident in Abyssinia, and he’s going to America.”

“Incident,” their mother snorts, “And the Americas take up an awful lot of territory.”

Theseus watches their mother pace the study floor in silence. Sometimes it can be hard to tell if she's looking to him as head of the family or just worrying about her baby son. After a long moment, he leans on his elbows on his desk.

“I'm sure he's fine, Mother. He’s tamed a nundu, for Merlin’s sake. Healer Ibsituu confirmed it.”

“He only nearly got himself killed to do it.”

“But he did it,” Theseus says gently, “He took the initiative to save a creature most would have run from at first sight. He doesn’t trust himself around people like that. Never has and his marriages didn’t help.”

Theseus immediately regrets his words- he tries not to bring up Newt’s marriages, knowing that she blames herself for them. Sure enough, her face crumples. She stops pacing abruptly and holds herself very carefully, head high. She goes to the window behind Theseus’s desk, staring out of it in silence, watching over her grazing herd of hippogriffs.

Theseus rises and moves to stand behind her, gripping her shoulders gently. “Mother, I’m sorry.”

“We only wanted him to be safe and provided for,” she murmurs, reaching up and putting her hand over one of Theseus’s. “We didn’t know what the Great War would bring. Your father knew Caesius Prewett for so many years and they were good friends, and Hastia seemed like our best hope...”

“Nobody could have known what Mettius would do to keep them from divorcing once she was found out.”

“And then we threw him to Greengrass right after the war.”

“We all thought the best of Julian, but that was the point. He knew exactly how to manipulate and charm. Nobody would have suspected his depravity- not even Newt. He’s never blamed you for that,” Theseus says and he squeezes their mother’s shoulders. “Don’t be so distressed. He’s going to have to come back to turning his notes into a book and give it to Augustus.”

Their mother smiles faintly and pats Theseus’s hand. “Yes, you’re right. Of course, you’re right.”

“You don’t sound terribly convinced.” That gets a soft laugh and Theseus counts it a win. “If he doesn’t show up in the next three months, I’ll get Percival and we’ll go looking for him ourselves. Promise.”

+

Theseus is reading through his reports (two wizards who have just been brought into the Ministry for trial, charged with breaking the Statute of Secrecy by hexing a hapless Muggle) and considering whether or not he should write to Percival again, or simply show up in Percival’s office to berate him for a month and a half of no-contact. He is reaching for a Howler when he comes across the envelope in Percival’s handwriting at the bottom of his letter basket.

My dear Theseus,

I am terribly sorry to have been so derelict in not replying to your messages before now. I was appointed to an urgent case for MACUSA that took much more time to crack than I expected. Uncooperative suspects can be so hard to get through to sometimes. I’m sure you understand.

Things largely fine here. New group called Second Salem is trying to gain traction but so far not much to report.

Pearl White is doing well, last I heard, but I’ve not been in recent contact.

As ever yours,
Percival

Theseus crushes the parchment between his hands, frowning darkly. There is no way this message comes from Percival’s hand. “Helene!”

Theseus’s secretary appeared in his office so fast she might as well have Apparated. “Sir?”

“Have you had any recent contact with any of our counterparts in MACUSA, DMLE notwithstanding?”

“I’ve heard there’s been some restructuring around the Congress offices, but that’s the only gossip as far as I can tell. Should I have heard anything in particular.”

“What do you think of this?” Theseus says instead.

He pushes forward the crumpled letter. Helene summons it from his desk and carefully works it mostly flat again, so she can read it. Her brow furrows as she gets to the end of the letter. “Who in the name of Morrigan is Pearl White?”

Theseus chuckles grimly, “American Muggle actress. Percival was a fan of her stage work- did some of those silent films in Europe once she quit the stage. Quite the businesswoman now, I hear.”

“And Percival got in touch with her?” Helene asks, eyebrows only slightly raised.

Theseus leans his elbows on his desk. “Pearl White wouldn’t know Percival from a kneazle, which means MACUSA has a problem.”

Oh clever clever Theseus! The scene with Frank was absolutely beautiful by the way. Newt is such a sweetie. Wonderful characterisation here, and I look forwards to more :)

Thanks for reading and commenting! More is coming soonish :)

You go, Theseus! He already knows something is wrong with Percival; what can he do now? Notify Picquery? Without any solid proof he cannot just say "I think the real Percival has been captured".

The scene with thunderbird was so touching ♥ And Newt is brave for deciding to go to the States despite knowing that Percival is there. I'm very curious about how Grindel!Graves will behave around Newt at MACUSA - or maybe he won't say anything about Newt being his fiance, behaving as if he didn't know Newt, and that will make Newt suspicious?

I liked the scene with Mrs Scamander. Of course she is worried about Newt, but Newt is his own person and he is allowed to travel without anyone breathing down his neck, especially after what happened to him during his previous two marriages. Still, I understand that British's law requires him to get married and Mrs Scamander must be worried that Newt is going to face consequences if he doesn't marry Percival in time.

You gave us another amazing part. Thank you for writing it and I'm looking forward the next update!

Yeah, Theseus has a dilemma lol Mostly... he can't do anything. Warn Newt. Brood. That's about it XD

I really want to know more about Parent!Scamanders in the movies. In my head, theirs is a lovely family and mom is just really worried about her younger son who survived being in a war but has been ill-used by everyone who was supposed to take care of him. I hope it's similar in canon.

Thanks for reading and commenting!

oh, yay! Good on Theseus for figuring part of it out! :D I can't wait for Newt to get to New York!

Thank you for reading and commenting! :)

I really like how you expressed the gap between Percival's usual tone with Theseus and Grindelwald's too-neutral attempt at replying. Great update, can't wait for more.

Thank you :)

Prompt Post #1

FILL [8/?]: Newt/other, eventual Gramander; arranged marriage, past abuse, h/c, learning to trust

Re: FILL [8/?]: Newt/other, eventual Gramander; arranged marriage, past abuse, h/c, learning to trus

Re: FILL [8/?]: Newt/other, eventual Gramander; arranged marriage, past abuse, h/c, learning to trus

Re: FILL [8/?]: Newt/other, eventual Gramander; arranged marriage, past abuse, h/c, learning to trus

Re: FILL [8/?]: Newt/other, eventual Gramander; arranged marriage, past abuse, h/c, learning to trus

Re: FILL [8/?]: Newt/other, eventual Gramander; arranged marriage, past abuse, h/c, learning to trus

Re: FILL [8/?]: Newt/other, eventual Gramander; arranged marriage, past abuse, h/c, learning to trus

Re: FILL [8/?]: Newt/other, eventual Gramander; arranged marriage, past abuse, h/c, learning to trus

Re: FILL [8/?]: Newt/other, eventual Gramander; arranged marriage, past abuse, h/c, learning to trus