Absit Omen RPG

19 May 2012
3pm, Saturday
Twilfit & Tattings, Diagon Alley

Athena Marrowbone and her girlfriend (of the platonic variety) Wilhemina Gunn were out for an afternoon of shopping to be followed by a jaunt for tea. They'd become acquainted naturally, two professional witches in the wide realm of beasts. Wilhemena was the spokeswitch for the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures and Athena headed up St. Mungo's treatment of creature-related injuries. Athena had patched up plenty of Wilhemena's colleagues, not excluding Athena's current boyfriend Vincent Fournier, who was running the Beasts division these days.

"Bal's so dapper," Wilhemena was saying as she held a shift to her chest to test the color against her skin. "Camera loves him."

Athena flanked the shorter woman, ready with her opinion on the dress.

"I like you in navy," she said. Wilhemna smiled privately, thinking of the navy ensemble her paramour had showed up wearing last month.[1]

"So do I," Wil said, coy with a far away gaze in the mirror. Athena caught it - Wil wasn't subtle.

Athena bit her lip. "Oh, aye? Tell us, who is it this time?"

Wilhemena was a wreck in her dating life, but Athena was no better. They said drama found them, but they chased it.

"No one. Tsk, too plain." Wil set the navy dress aside. She was weak for shine and sparkle.

Athena feigned scandal. "Someone! Someone I know if ye're not telling me. Not Balfour."

"Lord, no!" Wilhemena moved off to look for something else. "I'm not his type, and I'd never - practically married."

Athena sniffed. "Oh, you've done married."

"Have not."

Oh, she had.

"Sol Carstairs."

"You don't know him."

"Fine, don't tell me. Obvious you've gone back to Bill," Athena said heading towards her own racks, baiting her friend who'd never be able to stand being accused of returning to her stuffy, used ex. Wil glared at Athena over her shoulder. After a long pause.

"You don't know him."

The witches continued their shopping, Athena allowing the interrogation to end in favor of worktalk. A young girl werewolf had gone missing last month and found to have run away. The inquiry into werewolf safe house security was well underway and everyone was feeling the scrutiny. At St. Mungo's, vampire bites were up, but deaths due to same had not increased. Athena was dealing with tiny interns.

It wasn't until they were having a coffee down the road at Alohomocha that the topic of Wilhemena's secret lay came up again.

---

5pm, Alohomocha

"Where did you meet him," Athena had asked without preamble, bluntly rolling back in.

Wilhemena turned to look out the window nursing the moment. She sipped her tea and said, "work".

"Then I do know him."

"You don't. He's rarely in. Just on full moons."

Athena was paused a moment. There was nothing strictly wrong about someone in Wil's position dating a werewolf but ...

Wil clocked Athena's expression, inferring its meaning. "Didn't take you to be so judgey. But no, not a werewolf."

Athena thought a moment, trying to assemble the clues her friend couldn't help but provide. Athena knew Wilhemena was just bursting to tell, unable to resist the intrigue, likely fishing for an aghast response. Ever theatrical, this Wilhemena. Athena could rule out the werewolf mentors as they were werewolves themselves, and the Werewolf Capture Unit were always in the building. Their previous conversation then reminded her.

"Safe house," Athena guessed. Wilhemena took a telling sip. The safe house attendants all checked in the Ministry the afternoon of. "Which one?"  Athena had cause to know one or two, but the job was actually very safe.

Wilhemena bit her lip and Athena could see her cheeks had pinked up. 

"How old is he?" Athena prodded when Wilhemena continued to play keep-away with the name.

"Old enough."

"How old is he!" Athena insisted with a scandalized gasp.

"Nineteen."

"Wil! Oh!" Athena's lip curled. "Why?"

"He's cute."

"He's an infant."

"He's not. Don't be crude. Men get to do it, why can't I?" Wilhemena said sitting back, chip lifted. She was getting the exact response she'd been looking for. She liked to imagine Athena was jealous; Athena was too tall for comfort for many men. A nasty thought, but true.

"And we hate them for it. What do you even get out of it?"

"He's adorable. And grateful. He only wants to please me. I get to boss him around. He'll do whatever I ask. I deserve something nice, for once."

"He's a kid. He doesn't know better."

"Really? Really. He doesn't know better? Really?"

"I didn't mean it like that. I'm saying it can't last. You can't expect him to follow you around like a puppy forever."

"I don't. It's just ... fun. I'm allowed a little fun."

Athena knew she'd never convince Wilhemena she was being deeply stupid, but she didn't hide her disapproval. Wilhemena was at times deeply insecure and self-sabotaging. It showed in her choice of relationships, none of them ever on equal footing, never truly good for her. A nasty thought, but true.

"Does he know that?"

Wilhemena shrugged. "Of course he does."

1.	7 Apr 2012 - Sated and Satisfied. Virgil Carstairs had lent Figaro the clothes.

9 April 2012
Monday at 2pm
St. Mungo's Hospital
Misslethorpe's office

Athena and Sandy were taking a bit of time for tea in Sandy's office, tall Sawbones (as some called her) sat long-legged in one of Sandy's comfortable chairs, a hot cuppa in her hands. They were shooting the breeze, colleagues who'd become fair friends.

"How's the sprog? Hogwarts home for the holiday?"

Athena wasn't well acquainted with Sandy's Meredith, but from what Sandy said knew her to be bright enough. Athena had already updated him on her gossip - she was seeing Vincent Fournier (still) and happy about it, and taking occasional work for the Department of Magical Law Enforcement doing a bit of field healing (nothing exciting so far).

In addition, last Friday night had been the full moon, and people on Athena's floor (Creatures Injuries) had been doubling up on shifts to cover the predictable boom in emergency cases, werewolf related. There were always a few mundane dog bites, innocent folk confusing wolfhounds with be-deviled neighbors. They were all just a touch weary, but nothing unusual.

The night of 12 February 2012
Midnight
Home of Athena Marrowbone, London

"Bugger me. Don't move."

Athena Marrowbone got out of bed leaving her guest Vincent Fournier behind. She pulled on a pair of sleeping trousers and a silky robe covered in an oversize skull motif and took up her wand. Someone was knocking on her door in the middle of the night on a Sunday. If it wasn't so late, she'd not have bothered to answer but the hour indicated the possibility of something significant. Normally a Healing emergency came to her via owl or Patronus. The last time someone had banged on her door at this hour it was a drunk ex demanding a weepy audience. Either way, it wasn't a problem that was going to go away on its own.

Athena's house was big and well-decorated like its owner. She made her way through the hallways and down the big staircase, and small lamps on the wall lit themselves along the way. She ran her fingers through her hair as she went, pushing her short blonde curls into place and touching her fingers to the corners of her mouth to tidy up any wayward lipstick. It was a true shame to leave Vincent behind.

When she opened the door she didn't hide a look of irritation but it her expression was quickly washed with surprise.

"Virgil. Waverly?"

Yavin's elfin protege was there on her stoop a head shorter than daughter of Iona and Zora. Athena hadn't seen her in ages, and she was a foot taller and looking a wreck.

Waverly was as surprised as Virgil, and she turned on him.

"What the hell, Virgil," she hissed.

"What are you doing here?" Athena demanded. "It's the middle of the night."

Were they drunk? She'd given Virgil her address at some point as a possible meeting place for an Occlumency lesson, but a midnight visit hadn't been a likely result.

25 December 2011
Morning
The Ministry of Magic morgue


Athena Marrowbone would like to be able to say the choice between a party and working on a holiday would be an easy one, but when the assignment was a post-vampire bite mystery-victim enchanted autopsy the expected tides turned. Start without me, she'd owled, won't be long. He's already dead, poor fellow.

The body of the poor fellow in question - middle aged, fashionably shaved head, well-built, attention paid to his fingernails - was levitating gently above the stone table, and respectfully draped. He was empty of all blood and disrobed of all personals and clues. The question wasn't in how he died. The only purple and pink left in his skin was bruising at the neck around four dry punctures. The question was to his identity. If the victim had anything personally identifying on him, it was gone by the time his death was discovered. No cash, no identification cards. And the piece of the wand that was found with him couldn't be assumed to be his.

"It's harder than you think, Gamp," Athena said walking in a wide arc. Her bright eyes and long wand were trained on their subject, but she glanced back at the head of Beings to make sure she had him.

"Especially with the more cosmopolitan of us. We're all the same at the end, you reckon? Magic or lacking, we all come into the world naked and crying and hope not to leave in the same fashion."

Athena, laughed. "A thought for the coming new year. Sorry, I'm lousy at Christmas."

She didn't seem sorry at all.

1.	25 Dec 2011 - Dry Christmas

4 December 2011
2300 hours
St. Mungo's Hospital
Immediately following It's the Freakiest Show

"Follow me," Athena Marrowbone walked halfway backwards with her wand out to guide the floating gurney she'd insisted on for the boy. A young girl with shaggy blond hair and a petrified look on her face followed behind. And of course, the perplexing Yavin Morgenthau in his pajamas.

The Head of the Department of Mysteries need only to flash his badge to get the expedited treatment and the Head of the Creatures Floor. The reception mediwizard didn't even object to bypassing the intake forms. They were all used to Mysteries' mysteries by now. Morgenthau in his eccentric get-up with a waifish brother and sister in tow barely raised an eyebrow anymore.

The vampire bite was easy enough to see, the puncture wounds looked deep and bruised.

"Must have been a big one," she said with a smile and giving Virgil a pat on the shoulder.

She took them past the Vampire ward to a private room.  There were a few chairs, but Virgil was lifted easily onto the high bed. Whether he could have done it himself or not, Marrowbone just did it herself.

"Hold please." She put a wet pad of gauze in his hand and stuck his hand to his neck. It smelled of alcohol. "What's your name, lad? How much that bugger take out of ye?"

She asked this even as she began preparing a variety of vials and pulled on gloves. She spared a glance to the girl in the corner chair who looked as drained as the boy.

"And who might you be. Little sister? Being brave for your brother. Good girl."

30 December 2011
8pm
St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries
First Floor: Creature-Induced Injuries

The Healer-in-Charge of the floor, Athena Marrowbone, was at the front desk of the floor. It was, and she was a bit, a bulwark against wanderings in and out of an 'Abandon hope all ye who enter here' sort of place. In fact, someone had placed a placard saying as much and Athena had to have it removed. Well, moved behind the desk. There was always hope if Athena had her way, as much as she appreciated the gallows humor. Beyond this desk were wards for those who'd been harmed by Dementors, victims of werewolf attack, and vampire bites. They'd seen Runespoor poisonings, they'd seen dragon burns, and Kneazel scratches.

They also had, over the last several months, harbored a few special guests. A top-secret patient who we shan't even mention in exposition[1] and his keepers, including the Head of the Department of Mysteries Yavin Morgenthau.

And whom should she see rolling by, but that devil himself. She whistled at him, and my Morgana, that sweater. His loud fashion always amused her, especially in juxtaposition to their grim business. She was less finely decorated, in her Healers' robes with the sleeves rolled up. Her short blonde hair, as always, was carefully wild and her eyeliner on pointy point. The lights were  dimmed at this hour, torches directed to flicker to embers but a lamp, under the tall desk lit her face from below.

"Yavin Morgenthau, happy New Year. You look smashing."

1.	But footnotes seems safe enough: Lawrence Musgrave

Wand: 13 in, oak, unicorn tail hair

Physical Description:
Athena stands at a towering 6’2 with pale skin, short blonde hair, and a boisterous smile. She has brown eyes and a sharp nose and chin. She has a solid build, and moves with the grace of an athlete, someone used to her limbs. Taking up space doesn’t bother her, she’s all self-love and personality.

At work, Athena dresses practically in healers' robes with the sleeves rolled up, revealing an eclectic collection of tattoos featuring insects, anatomical reference, and astrological symbols. On her own time, Athena is fashionable and always on trend favoring bold colors and a dark smokey eye - she’s very happy to be seen.


Her rough northern accent is easily plied to make her opinions known, penetrating easily through a disagreement. Now 40, she's not concerned about aging, and is coming to enjoy the privileges that come with experience.

Personality Description:
There are few who delight as much in blood, disfigurement, and gore than Athena Marrowbone - that is, in the context of repair and care. Athena has crafted for herself a purpose to seek out disasters and she does it with verve - she can afford to bypass the shock and sadness and take sometimes disturbing gusto in the fixing of ills, never a hint of squeamishness or hesitation. After twenty years there’s nothing surprises her, and when a mystery or malevolence emerges, her delight and curiosity reign.

Outside of work, Athena is a risk-taker, a hard partier, and has been romantically linked to people ranging from professional Quidditch players to Unspeakables, chefs to homemakers - whoever excites her and for as long as they hold her attention. She’s usually a friendly person, but can be a bully towards people who lack the qualities she values: fortitude, bravery, and drive.

She’s open about her political beliefs, which include loosening of regulations around Healing, abolishing the Werewolf Registry, and complete Ministry transparency. She’ll argue her points with anyone but will set her stances aside in favor of a good time.


History:
Athena is the third of five children raised by single father Helio Marrowbone in a small village outside of Leeds. Helio is a freelance magical builder who has recently founded his own guild in partnership of a few of his old colleagues. Growing up, Athena was always interested in his craft and went with him to work sites from time to time.

Athena showed an early fascination with injury when she splinched herself trying to Apparate on a summer home from school. Even through the agony, Athena insisted on watching every unpleasant step of attaching her arm. She took special interest in simple healing spells and improvised her own poultices from whatever she found in the garden.

The 1970s were a troubling time to grow up, even in rural North Yorkshire. Even though they were well outside of the fray, their isolation meant they were far from help as Voldemort’s servants terrorised the countryside. When Athena was five, the family left the home and went into hiding for three weeks in remotest Scotland; Death Eaters had been spotted in the area and Helio took no chances.

By the time Athena joined her siblings at Hogwarts in 1982, the Dark Lord had been defeated, seemingly for good. She did well in school despite frequent disciplinary write-ups. When Athena began to gain her height, she was a force for the Ravenclaw Quidditch team, and was considered popular.

Following Hogwarts, she took a gap year in the United States where she formed much of her political views. When she returned to England, she began as a Healer’s apprentice. Nothing could faze her, no kind of injury or malady could make her blink, and she was desperately eager to get her hands in as much as possible. Upon completion of the program, she was hired up by St. Mungo’s where she as been for fifteen years, working in various specialities before finding focus on Creature Injuries.

During the Second Wizarding War, Athena had no qualms side-stepping the ethical rules that would get in the way of helping the just and hindering the harmful, and picked up one or few muggle medical techniques. The war ended and everyone buttoned up again, but some things were never quite the same.

Athena worked through the ranks, learned as much as she could, and gained a reputation as a fearless and effective Healer, especially in the gravest of cases. In 2011 she began taking shifts as an on-call field mediwitch for the Ministry of Magic.


Describe your job duties and how you go about them:
As Healer-in-Charge on the Creature Injuries floor, Athena supervises a team of Healers, nurses and Mediwix in caring for those who’ve been maimed, rended, bitten, scratched, lashed, cursed, or otherwise harassed by any magical creature. Or indeed, any mundane creature as well - whatever is nipping your heels.

Healer Marrowbone actively treats patients, teaches others, and coordinates with other Floors. Hers is the floor that most likely deals with Dementor victims and werewolf bites.


Elaborate on your expertise in your field:
Athena has seventeen years’ experience as a Healer at St. Mungo’s. She’s proved her mettle and skill many times over.


Writing Sample:


Sum up your character in one paragraph:
Athena Marrowbone delights in the blood and gore she encounters in her craft as a healer. Her height and big personality tend to polarize how people feel about her, but ultimately her goal is to help people and have a good time.