Professors meeting [professors +Tony]

[Kaliana Justice]

Kaliana walked in to the lounge after announcing that all the professors were needed to attend a meeting this evening about the goings on in the Forest. She sat at the head table and waited for everyone to start showing up, or at least she hoped they were going to show up, if not all, then most.

While she waited she opened the books she had gathered on Spinx and Manticore, both mythological and actual research, and laid them out on the coffee type table. Realizing that even though her, Tabby and apparently Tony, though he hadn't given her a report as yet on what he saw, believed that the creature was some sort of cross breed between the two. Or so they hoped. Though how they were going to either capture, or rid the Forest of, the beast without alerting the ministry to either their plan or the fact that the beast exhisted had as yet to be figured out.

That's what this meeting was for, to try to hash out just how they (mainly she) were going to accomplish this fact in the least noticeable manner, and if her care of magical creatures professor or even gamekeeper wished that they might study the creature if it was deemed safe enough. After all, she didn't want any of her professors eaten or seriously harmed just to find out something unique about the dangerous thing. And the fact that men, or at the least boys, seemed to be especially drawn to the creature because of some woman-like attributes was definitely unique in any stretch of the imagination.

Kali's thoughts continued to drift as she stared at the moving photograph of a very special phoenix that used to reside with in the castle, or more specifically the office that she now called her own. A little unnerved that no one had showed yet, she began to let her thoughts drift to other places, that because of what she hoped to accomplish at this meeting, was strictly verboten. She shook herself out of her 'day dream' just as she heard footsteps in the hall and waited with baited breath that it was one of her professors willing to help with this creature problem.

[Zadiken Anvion]

Zadiken was already there. Not because he was being preemptive, but because he came from the same chambers as Lana. Though, whether or not anything came of his stay there, was not evident on his face, because of his growing concern for the monster wandering the school forest. Lana had explained this to him the night before, and he instantly recognized it as what could possibly an unholy crossbreed between these very different creatures, or an alchemic experiment gone wrong. Either way, this was subject to much study, and much planning. Were they going to subdue it? Were they going to try to eradicate it? It was difficult. Even with the best binding spells, a Manticore has the proper defenses built within it to break them, and a Sphinx's massive intelligence made this creature a force to be reckoned with.

He paced the office, not sure of what to say other than these facts, and judging by Tony's report, they had already gathered this much of the information, so it would be quite useless to even bring it up. What could he say then? He decided to just listen in on the facts presented and do his best to come up with the best solution. Either way, he was going to be piss poor at everything discussed.

Why?

He failed Care of Magical Creatures.

[Tony Dedrian]

Tony slept in. He was having an awful time with that lately, mainly because of pain relieving potions and their damned drowsy side effect. Excuses, excuses.

He continued across the grounds with a slight limp, still recovering from the MantSphinxicore thing's attack. That pissed him off just a little bit more. As lax as he usually was, he just couldn't handle the added stress. His only anti stress was meeting Shiloh. He slowed down a bit and smiled, remembering that night... but more important things had to be addressed. He continued on his way to the Castle, glancing over his shoulder towards the forest, wondering if that monster was waiting, watching...

He shuddered a bit and continued up the steps, walking through the Great Hall and ignoring the breakfasting students, trailing his hand along the wall for the minute amount of support he needed to stay afloat. He wasn't feeling well, that was quite obvious, but he didn't care. He had a report filled out at his hut he intended to summon if he needed it. A simple Accio would do well for him if he desired it enough.

He stood outside of the doors of the office and closed his eyes, placing his hand on the doorhandle and turning it.

[Tabby]

Tabby loped up the stairs, her shaggy hair needed to be trimmed since it was flopping into her eyes. She tossed her head, flipping the hair out of her face. The motion was almost horse-like. Many of the things Tabby did, by now out of habit, lent an air of animalistic grace to the young woman. For once she had no excrement, no excess hair, no hint at all of her usual job with animals clinging to her. Of course, she still had more dog hair on her cloths than human hair on her head. That was just what happened when one had fifteen or more dogs that shared their room. None of them had followed her, they disliked the ‘early’ hour she’d gotten up during. Of course, since they were left in the room she’d been able to leave Firefly in the room as well. She didn’t bother knocking, or being cautious, simply shoving the door inward and loping in.

“Howdy all! Sorry if I’m late. Had to find an outfit that wasn’t hairier than a yeti’s bum.” Tabby was an interesting person in the mornings. She was the reverse of most people, who were happy in the evenings and grumpy in the mornings. Tabby was all too cheerful for about two hours after she woke up, but for about an hour before sunset and any time after she was grouchier than a lion with a thorn in a VERY private area. She found an empty chair and spun it around, sitting backward in it. She leaned on the back of the chair, grinning in an almost inappropriately happy manner.

OOC//
Character: Tabby
Expecting: Open to teachers
Word Count: 271
Plot: Meeting.
Notes: Sorry it's a tad short, muse is recovering.

[Shiloh Alexis Mindel]

Shiloh walked through the hall with a very exaggerated swing to her step, especially since she would again come face to face with the hunk called Tony, and get a very good look at the other new male professor Zadiken. Even though both had been seen hanging awfully close to the headmistress, which grated up her spine ever so slightly, she just knew she could have whichever one she decided she wanted. A self assured smirk was plastered on her face as she opened the door to the professors lounge and looked around, highly flirtatious eyes moving over both of the opposite sex, while she cast a look of cold almost hatred toward the beauty who was her boss. If only... She thought to herself.. If only she could get both of them away from Kaliana she would probably be in either (or both) beds tonight if she chose. Sighing with a slight shrug she sank down across from the one she was most interested in currently which just so happened to be the guy who she'd gotten stuck in his small hut with during one of the many freak blizzards that happened to occur around Hogwarts with unpredictable timing.

She remembered that night with a slight chill, as it was the night that both her and Tony had seen, or rather felt the presence of whatever was slinking around killing unicorns and it hadn't been all that pleasant a run in. The thing had been lurking just on the edge of the forest when he'd opened the door, it's beady goldish yellow eyes daring someone to step out in the open. Wondering exactly what the meeting had been called for, and why the headmistress had to be a part of the festivities she really wanted to know, after all, she didn't look like the creature type anymore than Shiloh herself was.

Putting a hapless smile on, she wondered aloud, " Ok, I'm here, we can start the party now!? Where's the karaoke machine at? Lights, drinks? You were waiting on me......right?"

[Kaliana Justice]

Lana walked over to rest a hip on the table set up in the long room that served as the lounge. She eyed every professor that had shown up, and an admonishing glance was given to the haughty blonde that thought this was some sort of play time. She motions to everyone to sit and waves her wand to provide drinks of all kinds and any snacks that a person magical or not would want. She sighed as she started in on the meeting. " This meeting is serious business, not some playtime. There's been a sphinx crossed with a manticore roaming around the forest, and it seems to be praying mostly on men young and old. Tony here mentioned to Tabby and I that it appeared to have human female characteristics. Possibly that is why men are so drawn to it. So far, excepting Tony, there have been no real dangerous run-ins. It seems to be taunting or trying to lure them deeper into the forest."

She plucked a brownie off of a platter that magically appeared at her thought and nibbled on it. She hadn't eaten that morning nor the night before, because of a new stressful string of events that had nothing to do with the mutant running rampant on her grounds. She eyed Zadiken with a short glance before picking up a glass of slightly sweetened tea to wash down the oober chocolatey morsel. Ahhhhh, chocolate. It was still her down fall. Another guilty look was aimed at the man whom had just waltzed back into her life like he owned it and a shadow crossed her honed features. Lana looked around the room at how what she had said had sat with the others in the room, noting some were stricken with worry and a specific person seemed they could give a flip.

She cleared her throat to gain the attention of the room again, and spoke on harsh tones, " Tony and Tabby will fill you in with information, and experiences they've had that they haven't filled me in on yet. " She sat down and allowed one of the other two to take over to fill in the others with firsthand information. She fully intended to back up anything they said with her force if she had to, yet she hoped she didn't. They needed to come to a resolution on how to deal with this monster, preferably quietly and without alerting the Minister to their plans, since it had been mentioned to her in passing that the reason it could be in the forest had something to do with the new "chambers" or what the ministry believed existed on Hogwarts grounds since the rebuild.

[Zadiken Anvion]

Zadiken hadn't seen the beast himself, but it sounded familiar. Not really because of any specific affiliations, but just... the makeup of the beast. How it was compiled. Brought about... seemingly dumped in the forest. He had to know more. He had leaned his sword in the corner by the door and leaned against the wall, watching as the others came in. His trainee, Tony, followed by Tabby, then Shiloh. Such a small turnout, but then again, this is really in between them and them alone. Tony was attacked by the beast, and only God knows how he managed to survive. He listened to Lana lay down the law, and couldn't help but smirk. So, this was the authoritative Kaliana Justice...
He couldn't help but shake the fact that something was wrong, and he looked at Tony, and could see that that beyond those glazed eyes, he thought the same thing. Concern and worry lined his tired features, until Shiloh walked in, which then he brightened a bit, giving Zadiken a little peace of mind towards the boy. He had a hard hand dealt to him... he needed some happiness. Something to bring his light back. Zadiken closed his eyes and searched within, awaiting the accounts of the witnesses before he would speak himself. What he had to say would most likely be the worst of all the news...

[Tony Dedrian]

Tony had fallen asleep for a moment. He was exhausted as hell, and needed rest. So did he give a damn at this moment? No. He was still in pain. Suddenly, he had heard the stern voice of Kaliana ring out, rousing him awake, and causing him to pay half attention to the headmastermistress as she spoke, realizing after a couple of minutes that he had the floor. He stood, using the table as support. He closed his eyes for a second. Then opened them.

"The... uh... the thing... that thing... gimme a second..." Damn these medicines... he sat back down, and raised his hand for a pardon, closing his eyes. "The goddamn thing had to be at least fourteen feet, head to ass. Stood about eight feet tall. Had a seven foot long tail... it's claws however are more to be feared... almost took my leg off... at least thirteen inches of steel like bone. Could cut through most metal, I'm sure... either way, I do not forsee a way to defeat this thing... unless we kill it." he finished his account and laid his face in his hands. He could have died, for sure... but that would have at least given him passage to see Delilah again...
He shook the thoughts out of his head and refused to go back to that... refused to feel that way again. He gritted his teeth and held tears back. He didn't want to make a scene in front of these people... he couldn't bear to let that pain show.

[Tabby]

Tabby waited patiently, listening to Kali and to Tony. Zadiken put her on edge, so she kept him in the edge of her vision, though his sword wasn’t a bother to her. Finally it was her turn to speak and she sighed.

“First off, I’d like to point out that claws are made of keratin, not bone. It’s the same stuff that makes hair, nails, and birds beaks. Second off, due to the descriptions, the nature of its attacks, and the fact that it seems to desire human flesh I’m going to have to declare this a hybrid, between a manticore and a sphinx.” She took a deep breath, keeping her voice calm and rather authoritative. She was the care of magical creatures teacher, everyone expected her to know what she was talking about and to act like she knew what she was talking about.

“I’m afraid I have to agree with Tony. Due to the nature of the manticore capture would be impossible; they’re too damn spell proof. Even on the outside they’re impossible to damage. The sphinx blood in it gives us a chance at killing it the only way possible though, without risking too many lives or limbs.” Another deep breath, keep talking and remember what you read girl. “The only weak spot on a manticore is the back of the throat, and it’s only weak to silver. The best bet we have of killing this thing is to riddle it until it opens its mouth, either to laugh or to eat whomever is in front of it, and then stab it with a silver blade right at that location. The sphinx blood will ensure that it WANTS to riddle with us… but it won’t be safe. After all, even severed the head of a snake can still bite and even dead this creature could still take off an arm or do other serious damages.” She looked up, meeting Kaliana’s eyes. She never advocated for the killing of a creature, and she hated the feeling it gave her; even though she knew this creature would happily kill every student, staff member, and beast on Hogwarts grounds if it wasn’t disposed of. She hoped Kali understood, and she also hoped she wasn’t going to be the one to kill it. She was too sensitive to death, she never was in the same room as her pets when they passed and she could never end a creatures life, even in a stroke of mercy.

[Shiloh Alexis Mindel]

Shiloh listened intently while both guys talked and started zoning out while the lady who was so into creatures talked. She fought back a yawn and forced herself to at the least look interested. Her mind kept wondering back to either of the males in the room and a sly come hither smile crept across her face as she noticed the younger one (Tony) glance her way and try to cover it up.. But then she noticed a.....tear?... hanging at the corner of his eye and caught herself wondering what exactly tore at him so? It couldn't be because this monster....thing had slashed his leg almost off.. No.. he seemed like the kind of guy to play up his battle scars to catch more ladies into his bed.

Her mind stayed on this topic for a while until it was obvious that Tabby was done and had ended on a personally uncomfortable note, so she played this up.. " It's better that thing be killed than anyone here." she smarted off with a very snotty tone.. The mutual dislike between her and Tabby showing its full and ugly head. She hadn't liked creatures since she'd been mauled by her family feline after her 'father' had killed her mother in cold blood. Though it obviously wasn't every creatures fault that the cat had been influenced by her fathers darkness she had shied away from and a great many times openly despised anything that walked on four legs because of this.

The only reason she'd shown up here is because she knew the hot young guy across from her was the new gamekeeper and she very much had her sights set on him.

[Kaliana Justice]

Lana sat with one hip on the table after pacing the floor when both Tony and Tabby had spoken, worried about the reasoning Zadiken had for not voicing any of his research or worries.. That's what the meeting was for, was it not? He'd told her some of her worries when they'd spoken in her office earlier and she shared some of them. Especially since the Ministry was now obviously sticking their nose into not so subtly. They'd been sending correspondence back and forth to her arguing that there were in fact more secret chambers that needed to be unearthed because of the generally shared worry that there were more dangerous creatures stored with in them.

She shared the notion that they were going to have to kill the sphinx and manticore cross, based on the research she'd done and personal experiences dealing with mythological creatures. And Tabby seemed to be right, the only obvious weakness the thing might have is the one to silver. Even they didn't know that for sure. This worried her almost as much as who she'd have to deem the one to have to attempt this dangerous task. " Seeing as I have not seen this thing up close, I would have to bow to both of your knowledge of the creature. And if you say it is some how a cross of a sphinx and a manticore no matter how improbable that is under natural circumstances I believe you. Though, it makes me wonder... Why would anyone use black magic to do that and just stick it in the middle of the Forest? Is there something there that someone thinks could be found?" she worried aloud.

As she knew of Tabby's uncomfortable feelings with death, and killing any creature whether it needed to be out of mercy or not, she knew that there was no way she could ask Tabby to attempt to rid the thing of it's life... Tabby could make a fatal mistake in a split second she was unsure, or the thing could sense her feelings and use them against her. No... It would have to be someone who could put personal feelings aside, or who was strong enough mentally to know it had to be done. The only ones there she could possibly ask it of would be the gamekeeper or Zadiken... And her heart hurt at the thought of asking the man she'd always loved to put his life on the line for anyone.. Yet again, she really couldn't see herself asking anyone to take that risk, not one of her professors.. Thinking impersonally she placed herself in the category that would allow her to do the unthinkable without thinking and resolved to somehow figure out how to get passed both men, and Tabby who would ring her neck if she even got wind of the thoughts going through her head.

" Tabby, it's obvious to me because of our friendship, I can't ask you to do this, or even be there when this is taken care of.. So don't worry about that.. What we need to figure out is who will attempt the dangerous task. she took a shaky breath as she looked at both men stationed around the table and continued ...Also, it's deadly obvious there is no way Tony could do it with his current wounds. That leaves only Zadiken and myself.." she said the last in a quieter rush, hoping no one had caught her last muttered word.

Lana gave Shiloh a glowering look and let her know how she'd felt about that insensitive comment, " It stands to reason, if there was away to relocate this beast, that's what would be done... No matter the danger to any one of us.. A creature lives and breathes just like you and I, there is no reason to fault them just because they walk on more legs than we do. I would appreciate it if you'd keep the smart comments to yourself, or leave." she let her words carry a sting. Lana knew she wasn't a favorite of the younger woman, and she honestly didn't care as long as the students were taught well and respected. She rubbed her hand between her tense shoulders and sighed again.. She hated any loss of life, creature, human or otherwise if it could be avoided. She then looked to Zadiken and motioned for him to take the floor if he wished.

[Zadiken Anvion]

Zadiken had a grave look on his face. Primarily because he had just put two and two together and came up with twenty six. Twenty six years of research in transmuting living creatures that could carry immunities and strengths that would make them nigh invincible. He knew of this... Aurellis himself shut the program down in 2004, primarily because the madman that started the experimenting took to experimenting on his fellow Wizards and Witches... A brilliant Alchemist, almost as brilliant as Nicholas Flamel... but his apparent fall to insanity led to his imprisonment in Azkaban after Minister Noct shut his program down and closed off the entire wing of the Ministry that involved the research. Alchemic R&D was officially banned from the Ministry, thus causing Zadiken to take his business elsewhere around the world.

Flashbacks aside, it was time for Zadiken to tell everyone what was up.

"This thing... this Chimera... was no accident. Nor is it natural. Living transmutation was attempted by my teacher, a man named Professor Adam Crowley. Of course, I was the one that reported his findings to Minister Noct, who promptly shut down the program because I had found out that Professor Crowley was using human subjects... He was imprisoned... but this creature... is his work. I know it." he silenced himself for reactions, then continued to speak "Basically, all I can recommend is keeping all students out of the forest until I can visit the Ministry myself and find out if they utilized Professor Crowley's research to try and flush out the recent discovery that we've made on these grounds..." He didn't want to mention the chambers. Not yet. Shiloh was the gossipy type, Tabby had enough on her mind, and Tony already knew of the chambers... That will come at a later date.

"Lana, if I may... " he looked a Tony and Tabby. "You two go into the forest... put barriers up and filter out all students. I don't care if you walk up to them while they're sneaking a quickie, drag them out naked if you have to. Professor Crowley's creations were merciless... and won't discriminate by age."

[Tony Dedrian]

Tony sat there and half listened to Zadiken, already guessing what he was going to say.

There goes our jobs. he thought to himself, knowing that though this was a small meeting... there was bound to be assumptions that Zadiken and Tony planted it here. He glanced tiredly over to Shiloh, then Tabby, then finally Kaliana. He didn't know really what to say. He knew that either he was wrong about everyone and they would flip out, or they would believe them in the fact that they did NOT bring this beast along into the Forest...

He sat, a neutral look on his face as he looked up at Zadiken, who looked beyond worried as hell. What could he do? He just sat there and awaited reactions, responses, and probably a boot to the face.

[Tabby]

Tabby nodded in thanks back to Kaliana and kept her death glare to herself. Kali would handle the little snip and if she didn’t well… Tabby would prefer to teach her a lesson in a different manner, one that required privacy. She turned and listened to Zadiken, pursing her lips a little.

“And that just makes me wish we could hold it and study it even more. While a hybrid like this COULD occur in the wild, it would be like finding a wild liger. The chances would be phenomenal. But as a product of alchemy it would have even more unique traits. As for letting the Ministry in, I’m against it. I’d rather feed myself to the thing than let the pox ridden festering Ministry set one of its fat, greasy fingers inside of my home, or into the forest. They did enough damage when they were helping to re-establish the school after the war. The forest hasn’t recovered from that yet.” She took a deep breath, trying to control the beast that was rising inside of her. It was not the time to take her temper out on those around her like some wild creature.

“As for the students, I’ve had a patrol of some of the smartest and most obedient creatures walking the edge of the forest since we found it. No student and precious few teachers would be able to get past them. Besides, most of the girls at this school are too worried about getting dirty to go have a roll in the leaves.” Not that Tabby hadn’t had to drag a few of them out of there and send them to detention in past years. She inhaled deeply again, collecting herself. It was bad enough that Zadiken and Tony worked for the Ministry, after all a man could have only one master, but to let even more of the pompous, self-righteous, introverted bastards in would be more than she could handle. Even if she went to Azkaban she’d fight them. She looked over to Kaliana once again, surely she wouldn’t allow it. They could find a way to do this without the Ministry, couldn’t they? Hogwarts truly was her home, yes she (and her sister) had a house outside of the place, but… home was where the heart was. A house was not a home unless your heart lived there.

[Shiloh Alexis Mindel]

Shiloh sat and listened, though most of it was a bunch of gibberish to her, she didn't know alchemy from a hole in the wall and she let it show. "Alchemy? What does that have to do with anything? Isn't that like..taking a rock and making.. something? Who says it wasn't just a chance meeting of two horny creatures who didn't care what the other looked like?"

She sat with her arms crossed and a vile look aimed at the two other 'women' in the room. She hated being 'put in her place'. She knew better than to push too hard against the headmistress though for fear of being landed on her rear end in the cold looking for a place to stay. And, it seemed she should watch her step with the one calling herself Tabby also, from what she'd gathered the two women were close in not only a professional sense... she had yet to figure out exactly what sense it did apply.

She sneered at Tabby as she sensed hostility between her and the two men in the room, wondering why.... not knowing the whole story behind their recent hiring on. As the Ministry went, she really didn't care one way or the other, though she would be on the street again she hadn't felt welcome here since she'd arrived. Plus, she knew she could make it good on the streets, either magical or muggle with her looks and 'experience'.

"If the Ministry wants to take the school over, what exactly are we going to do about it? I mean.. It's the Ministry?!" She said rather smartly directly at the two women, not knowing Tony and Zadiken were in fact there BECAUSE of the ministry.