| Details for The Crowing of Cocks |
| Summary: | Ripley and Lucian are both infatuated with Ria, and finally clash over it. |
| Date: | 1 October, 1937 |
| Location: | Lake Shore, Hogwarts |
| Related: | Does It Go Boom?, Dueling Hearts, among others. |
| Characters |
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Hogwarts Lake Shore, Hogwarts Grounds
This narrow crescent of grainy sand and smooth small beach stones spans east to west between the cliff face to the east and the large fortified stone campus perimeter wall to the west that runs north to south until it runs many yards into the water of the Black Lake itself and further off to the north. The only spot along the shore that isn't given completely to a topography of rocks and roots, the latter of which extend right out into the lake, it's a commonplace sight to see students hopping about on the rocks or skipping stones across the water.
Ripley is standing by the lake as he usually does when he's trying to think. He bends and picks up a stone and skips it out and over the surface of the water as he looks out over the lake.
Lucian has been known to come down to the shore, himself. Today, he's looking for a quiet place to practice some footwork and clear his mind (as the Club Room is currently occupied by the Domestics Club, who are baking a giant blackbird pie…with a real giant blackbird). The moment his eyes lay on Ripley, he pauses, pondering for a moment. Things have been tense lately, ever since Ripley started showing interest in Ria Sykes. But Lucian has never backed down from a confrontation, and if this is going to be one, he won't start now. He continues his course, making for Ripley's general direction.
Ripley keeps looking out to the lake and skipping stones out across the water. As he hears someone coming up from behind he turns his head to look. A bit of a grunt and a look back to the lake. "Lucian." He states in greeting before he skips a rock out over the water. He turns his head and looks Lucian, "I hope your day is going well." He says as a simple pleasantry.
Lucian gives Ripley a Prince Charming smile, the sunlight on his blonde hair only adding to those golden-boy good looks. "Fox. Giving the lake a good stoning? Did it offend you somehow?" Idle banter, but with a cocky smirk. Then again, a cocky smirk isn't unusual on Lucian's face.
Ripley gives a smirk and skips another rock across the surface, "Nah. You are just mad you can't get as many skips as I can." He shrugs, "Not all of us can be as good at skipping a stone. Sorry, mate." He grins a bit and then shoves his hands into his robes. "How are you?"
Lucian almost rises to the bait, his eyes looking for a good skipping stone. But he can recognize the difference between a challenge and a taunt (even if he can't always resist a taunt). But he manages to brush it off, chuckles. "Yeah…not everyone can have a talent for useless time-wasting. I guess I'll learn to live with that."
Ripley gives a grin as he sees those eyes looking for a stone. "Aww. Not gonna take the bait, huh?" He shrugs his shoulders, "Hey. At least I have talent in something in the world. Unlike some others." He throws back at Lucian. "Too bad that I can take you in just about anything."
Lucian grins. Now who's taking the bait? "Funny. I have fond memories of you stumbling around the dueling stage in a panic when you faced me. Though, I do appreciate you showing all the younger duelists what not to do in a duel."
"Panic?" Ripley gives a laugh, "I was laughing hard." He says and grins wide, "See. I teach improvisation. Thinking on your feet. You just get so serious you make wrinkles in your forehead." He taps his forehead and turns to face Lucian, looking him right in the eyes. "So. Yeah. Ria." He finally just says, "I think we just get to the point. You are taking her to the dance because you asked her first. Lucky you. Hope you will let me have a dance."
Lucian's smile broadens. Directness between Slytherins is good. Save the verbal jousting for the lesser minds in other houses. "I'm taking Ria to the dance because she deserves to go with someone worthy of her. Whether you get a dance will be up to her." There is a beat, then he adds. "A dance."
"A dance." Ripley smiles and gives a bit of a nod, "I gotcha. Don't want her liking me better. I see." And then he looks right into the other boy's eyes, "And someone that is worthy of her is also up to her. We agreed on this?" He says, mile dissipating for a bit.
Lucian snorts. "I have no control over Ria's mind. She'll make her own decision, no matter what either of us says. But seriously? Liking you better? You're just setting yourself up for disappointment, Fox. Do yourself a favor, and forget about her."
Ripley looks just as serious as he possibly can, "Nope. Not going to happen." He gives a little shake of his head and shrugs his shoulders, "She's an amazing gal. Why would I give up?"
Lucian sighs, his eyes hardening. "If you have to ask that question, you're not thinking about it hard enough. Better be sure this is what you really want, Fox." With that, he turns to head back toward the castle.
Ripley watches as Lucian walks way, "I have thought about it." He calls after the other boy, "It is, Lucian. If something is that wonderful it is worth the fight."
Lucian spins and walks backward, wearing a predatory grin. "You're right. She's worth the fight. Just remember you said that."
Ripley comes right up and into Lucian's face. "You remember." As he stands there and pokes a finger into the middle of Lucian's chest.
Lucian looks down at where the finger touched him. "Don't be daft, Fox," he says with a warning tone. "You're starting a fight you can't win. If you ever listened in Dueling Club, you know how to recognize a better opponent. So don't make me embarrass you."
Ripley keeps the finger there, "Lucian. There is simply no fight to be had. Give up, man, before you get yourself hurt. You have me in wands, but I have you in physical prowess. If you want to fight, there has to be something that we are equals in. But see, there will be no embarrassment if Ria is the prize. I won't give up." He says, no teasing to his voice, no smile. "Because if something is worth fighting for, getting hurt for, it's also worth not fighting for. It's all her decision, Lucian. Not yours, not mine. But I will damn sure not just back down. We are equals, you and I. So therefore there will be no embarrassment. As soon as you realize that, the better off you will be. We could beat the crap out of each other and it wouldn't change a thing in the scope of the world."
Lucian glares menacingly. "You are anything but my equal, you silver spoon-fed prat. You don't have a clue what a real fight is. But trust me, if you get into it with me, you'll find out. Now take your hand off of me before I take offense."
Ripley grinds his teeth a little as he stays right there. "Oh, I have a clue." He speaks, nice and even toned. "I take offense already. I don't resort to name calling. You do. Seems as if you have something that you find as my downfall. Money doesn't give me anything over you. Too bad you seem to see that differently. I'm sure that Ria sees it like that."
Lucian's eyes darken, and he draws his wand. "You're an idiot. You know that? I never said money gave you anything over me. In fact, just the opposite. But there's no rich daddy to protect you here. Last chance, Fox, because I'm in a good mood."
Ripley stands there and shakes his head, "My daddy never did anything to help me. Put the wand away Lucian before you embarrass yourself." His finger punches Lucian's robe one last time. "But the fact that I have money makes you think that it gives me some advantage. Rich Daddy. Spoon fed prat. Lucian. Listen to yourself."
Lucian doesn't wait for the final finger to land. Whipping his wand up between them in a protective gesture, he shouts, "PROTEGO!" There is a blinding burst of white light as the Shield Charm practically explodes between them. Even Lucian stumbles back at the sheer force of it.
The shield hits and Ripley goes flying back and goes hard. He's head over tea kettle and lands with a quick roll on one side back up and on his feet. His head looks up and his eyes stare right into Lucian's eyes. "Want to try that again?" He says and his teeth show in a feral grin, "You really want to fight this out… Don't you?" He gives a roll with each of his shoulders as if to work out that force that just hit him. "If you want this, I will bring it. Not afraid of you Lucian."
Lucian has dropped into a defensive dueling stance, obviously ready to continue if necessary. "Good. Fear is the enemy. If you're afraid, you've already lost. Of course, if you had any sense, you'd see that you've already lost. You picked a fight with a Prefect who can also kick your arse up and down this shore. Even if you take me down, you lose. Don't be an idiot."
"You want this fight, you throw the first punch. But I will surely finish it." Ripley offers and kicks his feet into the ground to get a good stance.
Lucian doesn't move, just stands at the ready. "You already threw the first punch. I was just defending myself, and that's exactly what I'll tell Ria and Professor Slughorn." He notes the stance. "Good, Fox. Footwork is everything. Without a good stance, you can't hope to win. But I'm starting to take that as a threat. Better be sure this is worth a visit with Pringle."
"Threat? I pointed a finger at you." Ripley laughs loud, "I didn't throw anything. If I threw a punch you'd be on the ground. Funny. You threw at me and I'm still standing. You threatened me, Lucian. You attacked me."
You say, "Liar," Lucian smirks. "It would be a shame if it came to your word against mine. I cast a defensive spell, and an examination of my wand will prove it. You, however, are jealous that I'm taking the girl you like to the dance, and decided to take it out on me. It doesn't look good for you, Fox." He shakes his head, adopting the tone he uses as a mentor in Dueling Club. "Know when you're beaten.""
Ripley blows out a low breath and gives a bit of a growl, "Who is the liar here?" He states. "I will demand a truth serum. Go ahead and say what you just said. There is not a bruise on you." When that tone comes out, Ripley simply smiles, "Learn your place. You are a Prefect. Are you acting like one? No. Just a boy who doesn't know when to stop."
Lucian chuckles. "Not a bruise on me, because I'm better than you, and I have the track record on the dueling stage to prove it. You stepped up to get in my face. I saw your hand coming, and I defended myself. It's not my fault you can't handle a decent Shield Charm."
"But I have not drawn a wand nor attacked you. I got close so you could hear me and my finger only touched your robes." Ripley shakes his head, "I am sorry that you feel like you are so inadequate to throw a punch at me and only hide behind these lies. And as far as I saw, I handled your charm quite well." His tone drops, "Lucian. Have some sense. I can break you. Don't do this."
Lucian takes a moment, sizing Ripley up. Maybe in a fistfight, the other boy would have a slight advantage. But Lucian has his wand ready, range on Ripley, and a Prefect badge if things go badly. "You can't, and you know it. You can twist this in your mind any way you like. But if you insist that you can break me with your fists, you're only backing up my defense. So it's up to you. Make your move, or walk away. You know I won't hex you in the back." If one thing can be said in Lucian's favour, it's his rather archaic notions of honour when it comes to duels.
Ripley looks around him. "You know that people see everything around here, Lucian. Ria is a much better person than you. She lost her badge for practicing with Leander. Now, if she loses her badge for that… What do you think that you will reap?" He keeps his stance, "Some people would be goaded into throwing that first punch, not me. I'd pop you, you'd go down on the ground and scream bloody murder and all would come running and I would end up being the bad guy. See. That's not possible here, Lucian. You can't win with your wit. You can't win with your wand. You can't win with your fists. I have already won because you seem to keep hashing the situation." He points up to windows, "No telling how many professors saw you thrash me with a spell and didn't see me do anything more than touch your robes. Say goodbye to that badge."
Lucian laughs. "Good luck with that, Fox. Just keep talking, but you've got nothing. If anyone saw a thing, they saw you in my face threatening me. I don't have to wait for you to bloody my nose to defend myself. But I really don't have to explain it to you. You're in over your head, and if you know what's good for you, you'll accept it and walk away. Try and take my badge, and you're no longer a Slytherin to me." Translation: You are no longer under my protection. So, maybe Lucian's definition of protection is fluid.
"To you? Really?" Ripley just gives a little shake of his head. "You can't kick me out of the house, Lucian. I will still be here." He lets his stance down and looks to the other boy and shakes his head, "You will still see me, hear my voice, and know what I do." He shrugs and begins to walk to the castle. "You don't even know when to stop looking like an ass, do you?" And with that, he turns his back on the other boy and starts to walk down the shore before he turns back, "Oh yeah. And when I am out on the Quidditch field and making Slytherin look better than you ever did… You will still have to hear these words in the back of your head. I win. Always." Turn, walks away.
Lucian says nothing, but gives the other boy a cocky nod at those words: You will see me, hear my voice, and know what I do. Indeed, he will.