The Hunt for Le Fay: I'll have another fizzy cake, please

[Shalandra]

Shalandra made sure her charges stayed with her as she led them to the public dining area for Mystic Council staff and visitors. The ranking ministers had their own private dining area across the hallway. People like Severus Snape and the vampire Aro got to eat in there when they visited, and sometimes Shalandra wondered if it was because they were a tad grouchy and made people angry.

"And here we are, the commissary," she said as she opened the door for Mr. Dragotti, Mrs. Brown and Dr. Ledwidge Briscoe. Cicero landed on her shoulder as she held the door open. "Yes, my dearest, I will get your snack in a moment, but our guests need to get their refreshments first. Mr. Dragotti and Mrs. Brown, you need not worry about paying. We've made sure your bill will be taken care of later," she said as she motioned toward a long cafeteria-style row of sweets and dessert items. "Across the aisle are beverages. The food and drink items are marked in sections so you get ones appropriate for your species. You would not want to eat the mealworm cake by mistake. Trust me. It is not an acquired taste."

Mrs. Brown stopped in front of a section of foods marked "for humans, mystic and non-mystic" and started to look for the fizzy cake. "Ah, Mr. Dragotti! Here is the cake! Please, take one," she said as she offered him a plate.

[Craig Dragotti]

Mr. Dragotti stayed with Shalandra at all times. He still wasn't very familiar with the area. *That's good about not paying for food. My cash is at Mrs. Brown's place* Craig thought. He took the plate with cake on it. ''Thanks,'' Craig said before he took a bite. He rolled his eyes out of happiness. ''Great cake!''

[Mrs Maureen Brown]

"Does the...I mean, does Cicero there eat cake?" Mrs. Brown asked Shalandra as she looked at the wyvern on her shoulder. "I don't want to give him something that would make him sick."

Mrs. Brown looked at Mr. Dragotti and smiled as he enjoyed his cake. "I'm glad Mr. Blackwell didn't make a bad suggestion about the cake," she added as she took a bite of her own piece. "Oh! It is delicious!"

By now Cicero was turning in circles on Shalandra's shoulder as he watched the others eating. He flew up and landed on the table near Mr. Dragotti and Mrs. Brown. "Oy!" Mrs. Brown shouted as the wyvern chittered and begged for cake. "Sneaky little thing, isn't it, Mr. Dragotti?"

[Craig Dragotti]

A few moments went by as Craig faced the wyvern. ''At least the wyvern seems friendly,'' he muttered. He could not help but frown. ''I wish there was fizzy cake at home, Mrs. Brown. Maybe someone can part with the recipe for fizzy cake?'' He began to smile at the wyvern. ''I would give you some cake, but I don't know if it's good for you.''

Craig took another bite of fizzy cake. Grinning, he turned to Mrs. Brown again. ''This is almost as good as my wedding cake. The key word happens to be almost.''

Craig's smile became a frown after he remembered his wedding. The memory of Isabella Dragotti grinning in her wedding dress remained in his mind. A flashback of the woman he would never embrace another time. Two tears slid down Craig's face. The painful memory disappeared. He wiped away his tears with two gloved fingers.    

[Mrs Maureen Brown]

Mrs. Brown saw Mr. Dragotti getting upset at the mention of his wedding, and she understood completely how he felt. While she would never compare her loss to his, she could tell how much his wife meant to him and how her passing hit him so very hard. She pulled a clean linen handkerchief from her bag and handed it to him.  "She must have been an amazing woman," she said quietly to Mr. Dragotti before looking to see if Cicero was behaving himself and not eating the cake.

Before she took another bite of her own cake, Mrs. Brown wondered to herself about the cake's name. "Excuse me," she said as she looked to one of the commissary chefs, "but why is this called fizzy cake?" As she cut into it with her fork, little bubbles started to rise from the cake itself. "Oh my! Yes, if it is possible, we would like the recipe. That is extraordinary!"

Mrs. Brown smiled at Mr. Dragotti before Cicero seemed to do a little twirl and flew up to catch any stray bubbles. "My oh my! I am not sure Master Jack would want one of these wyverns in his home, but the little creature is very entertaining. Mr. Dragotti, would you like something to drink? I'll go fetch it for you." 

[Craig Dragotti]

''Thanks,'' Mr. Dragotti said as he smiled. He took the handkerchief until he dried his face. He gave it back to Mrs. Brown. ''Isabella Dragotti meant everything to me. We were married for many years. I would do anything at all to embrace her again.''

One of Mr. Dragotti's eyebrows raised after he saw bubbles from the fizzy cake. ''That makes sense about why it's called fizzy cake,'' he muttered. He proceeded to smile at the wyvern. ''I almost wish we could keep a wyvern as a pet.'' He faced Mrs. Brown and grinned. ''Water will be fine. Thanks.''

[Shalandra]

Shalandra quirked an eyebrow as she heard Mr. Dragotti entertain the idea of having a wyvern as a pet. "If you are serious about a companion like Cicero, there is a woman who raises them. She raises dragons as well, but those get much too big. I could put you in touch with her if you think Master Sparrow would welcome a wyvern in his household."

Mrs. Brown had snuck off to fetch Mr. Dragotti his water as Shalandra started going on about a woman who raised wyverns. When she came back to the table, she handed Mr. Dragotti his beverage and then gasped. "Oh! You mean that lovely lady who lives on Avalon? She is very nice, Mr. Dragotti. Master Jack said she raises the dragons for Merlin. I think she raised a couple that are with the X-Men as well, but I'm not sure about that."

"How do you know Mistress Dragonborn?" Shalandra asked Mrs. Brown as more people walked into the commissary. "Has Master Sparrow worked with her?"

"I think he did captain a ship the lady chartered a few years ago," Mrs. Brown said as she smiled at Mr. Dragotti. She seemed to sniffle a bit before looking back at Shalandra and then to Mr. Dragotti once more. "As long as we don't bring home a monkey, Mr. Dragotti, Master Jack should be fine. He absolutely hates monkeys!"

[Leo Sumner]

A tall blonde man in a rumpled trench coat made his way inside the commissary and wandered down the rows of food and drink until he grabbed a mug of ale and a roast beef sandwich. After picking up his items, he walked amongst the tables until he came across Shalandra and her companions.  "Oy! You got the bloody wyvern in here again! He better not eat my food, or I'll roast and eat him!"

Shalandra's eyes grew very dark as she glared at the new arrival. "Leo Sumner of the British intelligence service MI-13, may I introduce you to Mr. Craig Dragotti and Mrs. Maureen Brown. They are here on a tour with Captain Jack Sparrow."

"No. He's here, too? That wanker owes me money!" Leo said as he sat down at the same table as Mr. Dragotti and Mrs. Brown. "Pleased to meet you, and I hope Jackie Boy ain't bested you at cards. Cheat took my money..."

"How many centuries ago was that exactly?" Shalandra asked as she motioned for Cicero to stay far away from Sumner.

"That don't matter. A debt is a debt," Sumner said as he tore into his roast beef sandwich with gusto. "Sorry. Was busy fighting demons in New York. Worked up an appetite."

 

[Craig Dragotti]

Craig's eyes were big for a moment. ''A wyvern as a companion in Jack Sparrow's house? I like Cicero, but a pet wyvern for the rest of my life?'' he muttered. Mr. Dragotti viewed Mrs. Brown before he took the beverage. ''Thanks,'' he said with a grin. He started to laugh after a monkey was mentioned. ''I remember Jack's emotions about monkeys. I guess going to a monkey exhibit at a zoo isn't what Jack would be interested in.''

The sight of a new arrival caused Mr. Dragotti to tilt his head in curiosity. His eyes narrowed in anger as he focused on the other man. ''You will not roast the wyvern. You also won't eat him,'' Mr. Dragotti said. He couldn't believe how protective he was of the wyvern. *Am I eager to protect my ex-button men as well?* he thought. He frowned, since he was suddenly aware of the answer.

A confused expression began to replace Mr. Dragotti's frown. ''Wait a minute. You're aware of Jack?'' he muttered. He glanced at the floor for a moment. ''I don't recall Jack mentioning you, Leo Sumner.'' He took a sip of his beverage.

''I'm serious about the wyvern, Leo.'' Craig scowled at Leo. ''I will protect my companions and wyverns.'' He turned to Cicero for a few seconds. ''I might get a pet wyvern. The key word happens to be might.''  

[Leo Sumner]

Leo looked at Craig and nearly spit out his food. "Yes, I am very aware of Captain Jack Sparrow, scourge of the British fleet, ravager of women and hater of monkeys," he replied as his eyes narrowed, taking in every inch of Dragotti as he took a sip of his ale. "He is also a cheater at games of chance, and I was stupid enough to make a bet with him once a long time ago. I won, but the man owes me money. Or...or something."

"You don't even remember what Master Jack owes you, Mr. Sumner?" Mrs. Brown said with a laugh as she looked at Mr. Dragotti. "No worries on the wyvern business, sir. My lips are sealed. But it is very nice of you to protect all of us and the creature."

"My history with old Sparrow is none of anyone's concern, and I won't roast old Cicero here," Sumner said as he looked around the room. There were a lot of people there on Council business, and that did not sit well with the mage. "What's up with all the visitors, Shal?"

Shalandra growled at Sumner before looking around the room herself. "Beyond the biennial meeting being a few days away, I have no idea why there are so many people here. I am not the social director."

"Oy, she is a piece of work," Sumner said as he looked back at Craig. "So, how do you know Captain Jackie?" 

[Craig Dragotti]

''Everyone knows about Jack hating monkeys?'' Mr. Dragotti muttered. One eyebrow was raised another time. ''Jack cheats?  Then again, he is a pirate.'' Mr. Dragotti began to glance at Mrs. Brown. That was when he smiled at her. ''No problem. I'm protective of companions.''

Craig noticed Sumner again. ''Jack and I were near the X-Men before I departed with him. I moved in with Jack after I abandoned my ex-button men. I couldn't bear to be with my cruel men any longer.''  

[Alrik]

"Did I hear you say X-Men?" a tall, exceedingly pale, blonde haired man said as he walked up to the group. "And what the hell is that thing doing here?" he asked as he glared back at Shalandra and then pointed at Mrs. Brown. "It's bad enough a mutant is here, but I know that woman is not mutant or mystic. Has old man Melkir gone soft in the head yet again?"

"I am not a thing!" Mrs. Brown protested as the wyvern landed in front of her and started to hiss at the newcomer. "Thank you, Cicero. I didn't expect that, but I am grateful for it."

"No, but you are human, and humans are only good for two things, turning and draining, and you are much too old to be turned," the man said as Cicero flew at him, but the wyvern was tossed back by a flick of the man's hand.

"Alrik, I suggest you leave and go to the private dining area," Shalandra said as the vampire flashed his fangs at the group. "Your temper tantrum is not welcome."

"And how do you know I'm human?" Mrs. Brown asked as Alrik came over toward her.

"You stink of human blood, just as your companion here smells like mutant trash," he said as he ran his hand through Mrs. Brown's hair. "And you smell like that twit of a pirate. If he is here, I will have words with Sparrow. No one kills members of my coven and gets away with it."

"Wasn't that back in the 1800s?" Shalandra asked as Alrik hissed at her. "You would hold a grudge for centuries? Seriously?"

 

[Severus Snape]

As the dining area started to clear out, a tall, dark haired man in black robes swept into the room with a very pretty blonde woman at his side. "What in the name of the Goddess are you doing, Alrik? Leave that poor woman alone and go join Aro in search of someone more to your liking!"

"And you are the king of what realm, you whizzened old wizard?" Alrik said as he noticed Cicero winging his way ago. "Shalandra, I will bite that flying rat if you don't call it off!"

"And I will set you on fire if you try, or perhaps our guest would enjoy that pleasure?" Snape said as he looked at Craig Dragotti. "Do not look surprised, sir. Melkir mentioned you to me earlier. He asked my counsel on the X-Men since some of your students go to my school in Scotland." Snape looked at the vampire again and then back to Dragotti. "Feel free to turn this malcontent to ash. He has harmed too many as it is."

[Craig Dragotti]

Mr. Dragotti's eyes became wide after he saw a new arrival. They narrowed in anger after the man called Mrs. Brown a thing. He observed Cicero flying in front of her. *Good boy* he thought. Mr. Dragotti began to scowl at the other man. He placed himself near Cicero's side.

Mr. Dragotti gasped after the wyvern was flicked back. ''Cicero!'' he exclaimed with large eyes. The vampire's fangs never bothered him. Mr. Dragotti was prepared to protect Mrs. Brown and Cicero. He trembled with rage as soon as Mrs. Brown's hair was touched. *Jack killed this vampire's coven?* he thought. He focused on Alrik.

''Touch Mrs. Brown or harm Cicero again, and you will be reunited with your coven.'' Mr. Dragotti noticed Snape. He scowled at Alrik another time. ''You are not going to eat Cicero.'' Mr. Dragotti smiled after he was given permission to burn Alrik. Fire formed on his open palm after his arm stretched. It disappeared in a mere second.

''No. You won't be reunited with your coven. You don't deserve to perish like that. I have the perfect punishment in mind for you if you continue to misbehave. You will suffer by fire at a snail's pace.''      

[Shalandra]

Shalandra was beside herself as Alrik started to stir up trouble. There had been a very good reason she had been asked to watch Mr. Dragotti and Mrs. Brown, and she did not want to go spouting off about it now. It would scare everyone, and she really couldn't have that. Prophecies could be so very tricky.

"Alrik, I suggest you leave before Mr. Dragotti gives you the punishment he sees fit for you. And if you have issues, still, about your coven, perhaps you need to go see General Bloodworth and his friends on the fifteenth floor. The Ministry of Justice folks might have a few things to talk to you about regarding that little mess in St. Petersburg. Andrei Sokolov wants to see you dead for what you did to his family."

The vampire hissed at Dragotti as he started to move back toward the doors. "No wonder Jack likes you, mutant tr..."

"The name calling ends. Now!" Shalandra shouted as Alrik started to move away from the group and headed to another table. "Please accept my apologies for his very insolent behavior. Not all vampires are so brazen or so bigoted. And thank you for defending Cicero."


 

[Craig Dragotti]

''General Bloodworth?'' Craig muttered. He tried to remember if he saw him. He frowned after the vampire hissed at him. He was tempted to roll his eyes, but he had no idea how fast the latter was. Mr. Dragotti wasn't sure if Shalandra was fast enough to protect him. ''I'm aware of the rest of your sentence. Eh. My men called me worse things,'' he said until he shrugged.

Mr. Dragotti saw Shalandra. ''Alrik was impolite, but like I said, my men called me worse things during months. He didn't have to hurt Cicero.'' Mr. Dragotti began to frown for a moment. He smiled at Shalandra. ''No problem about defending Cicero at all. I'm fond of him.''

[Severus Snape]

Snape kept watching Alrik as the vampire, finally, sat at another table and started to sip a red beverage that was likely blood wine. "I wasn't joking about you setting him ablaze," Snape added as he turned to see that the woman who had been with him had run off. "A prospective teacher for my school. If she scares that easily, perhaps she was not the best choice after all."

"I am glad Cicero is growing on you, Mr. Dragotti," Shalandra added as the wyvern landed on her shoulder. "Not everyone finds a wyvern the best of company. And while others may loose their tongues and say all means of trash, that is strongly discouraged here. Now, if you'd like more refreshments before we start the tour again, please feel free, Mr. Dragotti and Mrs. Brown."

"Fizzy cake? You must have been with Blackwell," Snape said to Mr. Dragotti. "He loves fizzy cake. He should buy stock in the bakery that makes it! I hope you are enjoying it."

[Craig Dragotti]

Craig's eyes became wide after Snape gave him one percent consent to burn Alrik. ''I shouldn't be so shocked about killing enemies due to my past as a mob boss.'' His wife's death was the main reason why he ceased his various mob activities. He grinned the minute he saw Shalandra with Cicero.

''I wish I could take Cicero home with me.'' Craig saw additional slices of fizzy cake. ''I also wish I could take fizzy cake slices home.'' He lifted a slice and devoured it. ''Sorry. I'm still hungry,'' he muttered under his breath. He turned to Snape.

''Yes. I was with Blackwell.'' The widower ate the rest of the fizzy cake slice. ''I do enjoy fizzy cake a whole lot. I never thought I would be interested in wyverns, but Cicero helped with my new interest.'' Craig took another slice of cake. He would have savored every bite, but there was the remainder of the tour.

Craig was still able to enjoy the fizzy cake. He took another bite. ''We must have the recipe for fizzy cake,'' he said as he glanced at Mrs. Brown. Mr. Dragotti seemed thoughtful for a second. ''I'm curious about my wife enjoying fizzy cake. She will probably like it,'' he muttered.

Craig had no idea if Isabella would have been fond of Cicero. His wife was sometimes timid during their marriage. She was never fond of the unusual. She always enjoyed gorgeous things such as new dresses or roses. Craig smiled at Cicero. ''If only my beloved wife survived. She might have gotten used to you, Cicero.''

Tears formed in Mr. Dragotti's eyes again. He tried to conceal them from Shalandra and the others. He would have given anything to view Isabella again. Craig never forgot about the possibility of seeing his skeletal wife.

The sight of Cicero caused Craig to smile again. Cicero happened to be a flawless distraction. The wyvern was still very adorable.

Mr. Dragotti finished the slice of fizzy cake. He placed the empty plate on the table. He took a glass and sipped the beverage. After putting the empty glass on the table, Craig faced Mrs. Brown.  

 

[Mrs Maureen Brown]

"I'm sure I can get a recipe for this fizzy cake, Mr. Dragotti," Mrs. Brown said as she looked at a slice again and watched the bubbles float to the ceiling. "Master Jack has all manners of friends who can procure such items as recipes and ingredients. I might need some help, though, in mastering its creation."

"I'm sure I can arrange for the chef here to give you a lesson at another time, Mrs. Brown," Shalandra replied as she looked at how Craig and Cicero were bonding. "Mr. Dragotti, perhaps you would like to take Cicero home with you, or better yet, one of our miniature wyverns that do not grow much bigger than Cicero is now. I will need to chat with your warden, Professor Snape. That jolly fellow who did Santa for us last year."

"Rubeus! Oh. He is away at the moment doing an errand for the MacLeods. I will put him in touch with you once he returns. But, if I might ask, will Captain Sparrow be able to deal with a wyvern?" Snape asked Craig. "I know the man detests monkeys."

"I am sure that Master Jack would not mind such a find creature as Cicero, but we can certainly ask him when he is finished with that meeting," Mrs. Brown said to Mr. Dragotti. "Would Cicero have a twin, as far as dispositions goes, that is?" Mrs. Brown asked as the creature flew over to Mr. Dragotti and back to Shalandra again. "And, how are they house broken?"

"Rubeus would not give anyone a wyvern that was not trained to be civilized," Snape replied as he looked at the wyvern. "In all ways and fashions."

"We would not want the creature ruining your expensive suits, Mr. Dragotti," Mrs. Brown said as she finished her own slice of fizzy cake. "I will buy some before we head out, sir. That is a promise!"
  

[Leo Sumner]

"Oy! Snape, you never got back to me on that teaching spot," Leo grumbled as he finished his sandwich and drink. "And don't give me that mumbo jumbo, only Mal MacLeod can hire people BS," the mage said as he made a nasty face at the wizard.

"Perhaps the X-Men could use someone of your talents?" Snape intoned as he looked at Sumner with his arms crossed yet again. "Didn't you once have a relationship with one of the MacFeorais sisters, Sumner?"

"Don't call a bender in a bar in Madripoor a relationship," Sumner replied as he shot Snape another dirty look. "It was a momentary dalliance, brought to an end by that sodding twit Cormac."

"And you must lose at poker all the time because you can't hide your feelings," Snape replied as Sumner got to his feet and prepared to exit the room. "Did I hit a nerve?"

"You black-robed kill-joy," Sumner muttered as a rumbling could be heard from other parts of the building. "What is Mel doing now?"

"Work is being done on the higher floors," Shalandra explained as Sumner shook his head. "What?"

"Don't feel like a work crew, Blue," Sumner replied as he looked up at the ceiling. "I better go see if the boys upstairs need a hand. Sounds more like a prisoner transfer than gents doing masonry work." He then looked at Mr. Dragotti. "Be careful on this tour, sir. Not everyone here is as nice and sweet as Shalandra. They can get snippy."   

[Craig Dragotti]

''Wonderful!'' Mr. Dragotti exclaimed as he grinned at Mrs. Brown. He looked forward to tasting fizzy cake in their home. He gasped after he heard Shalandra's words about Cicero. ''You're willing to part with Cicero, Shalandra? Are you certain?'' Mr. Dragotti asked. He glanced from Cicero to Shalandra.

Mr. Dragotti frowned while his shoulders slumped. ''I never thought about Jack refusing to let a wyvern into our home. At least a wyvern isn't a monkey.'' The pyrokinetic smiled after the wyvern flew to him for a moment. ''Cicero is quite fond of me. He will enjoy being in my arms and inside our home.''

Mr. Dragotti began to grin at Mrs. Brown. ''I'm certain Cicero won't ruin my suits. Thanks for offering to purchase additional suits.'' He faced Sumner prior to another frown. ''I will be careful.'' Mr. Dragotti glanced at Shalandra another time.

''What does Cicero eat and not eat? Any habits I should be aware of? What else does he enjoy doing? What sorts of things does Cicero loathe? How often does the wyvern eat? My apologies for so many questions.'' 

[Shalandra]

Shalandra looked at Cicero, and he did, indeed, have a rapport with Mr. Dragotti. "Cicero has a sister named Terentia, but she has been sick, so I could not bring her out to visit. She will stay with me, and we can check in on you when she is better. I am sure Cicero will be in fine hands with you, Mr. Dragotti. Now, as for what they eat..."

"Oh, please do not say dead rodents!" Mrs. Brown said as she made a funny face. "Master Gibbs said they had a boatman once who had a snake, and the snake ate dead mice."

"No, Cicero likes chicken and brown rice, and he eats some vegetable and fruits. He should be allowed to hunt as is reasonable, but you might need to take him to a place like the Arda or Avalon to do so safely. He will not eat cats or dogs, so you have no worries there. But he will hunt for rabbits, mice or small birds. He hates rats, and he is not partial to some forms of music. He does like classical music and opera. He does not like electronic dance music."

Shalandra looked up and heard the noise again. "You might be right, Leo. That does not sound normal."

[Craig Dragotti]

One of Mr. Dragotti's eyebrows went up. ''Terentia? I never knew about Cicero's other siblings until now.'' That was when he shrugged at a snail's pace. Mrs. Brown's comment about dead rodents caused him to glance at her. ''I'm not fond of dead rodents either.'' His eyes became wide after he heard additional information about Cicero.

''A wyvern liking vegetables and fruits as well as rice? Mrs. Brown and I can easily obtain fruits, rice, etc. I have no idea where the Arda and Avalon are.'' His eyebrow went up another time. ''I like opera. My mobsters loathed it which was why I always took them to the opera to punish them if they misbehaved.''

Mr. Dragotti heard the noise before he bit his bottom lip. ''I'll protect Mrs. Brown and Cicero if the sound is from something hazardous or deadly.'' There was something about the sound that bothered him. He wasn't quite sure what it was.

[Finola Marlowe]

Finola Marlowe finally, after much running about, found Severus and the group that had assembled around him. "Severus! We need to evacuate the building! Something is..."

Before the blonde muse of William Shakespeare made it to her friend's side, the rafters of the room started to shake, and screams could be heard from the upper floors through the air ducts. Finola stumbled but then got back to her feet just before Mr. Dragotti, Mrs. Brown and the others. "We need to get you two out of here now," she said as she turned back to see if she had been followed. "There are people here who have come to..."

"Fi, slowly, catch your breath," Snape replied as he put his hands on the blonde woman's shoulders. "What is here? Who is here?"

"Those mutant hunter people. The Purifiers. But they brought Templars with them!" Finola sputtered as she looked at everyone.

"Uhm, as in the Knights Templar?" Mrs. Brown asked as she quickly grabbed her bag and started to get to her feet. "Mr. Dragotti, I think you and Cicero and I should start to find a good hiding place..."

"Wankers!" Sumner yelled as he looked behind Finola toward the opposite end of the dining area. A group of men in clerical robes were starting to make their way into the main Council entry area. "What the hell do those buffoons want?"

[Craig Dragotti]

Mr. Dragotti's eyes became wide as he turned his head. He had no idea who the blonde woman was. At least she didn't seem like a threat. *How does she know Severus?* he thought. His eyes settled on Snape as the latter touched the woman's shoulders. They widened another time after Purifiers were mentioned.

Mr. Dragotti turned to face Mrs. Brown and Cicero. *I have to get them to a safe place as soon as possible* he thought. He nodded at Mrs. Brown for a moment. ''My thoughts exactly, Mrs. Brown,'' he said. Mr. Dragotti began to focus on Cicero. ''Remain with us so that you're safe,'' he said to it.