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Merry Christmas everyone!

I'm Sirius, one of the two lovely wizards around here. Next month is the big opening of our magic shop, but today I speak on behalf of something, someone else.

See this lovely lady?

[He turns the device until it shows the moving photograph of Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, how she's smiling and waving rather untypically at the camera.]

She currently doesn't have a date for New Year's Eve! It's bad enough to spend Christmas alone or, well, in the company of a drunkenly depressed friend with an odd sense of humour, but how can a gorgeous woman like that be alone for New Year's?

It'd be a crime, I'm sure you agree. She is called Anita, she can probably kick your arse the way she'll kick mine if she catches me for this, she is, as you can see, absolutely gorgeous. Add wit and charm to that and anyone who's not snatched up yet should be going after her!

However, needless to say, there are some requirements. For one, she only wants males. I'm sorry, ladies, I've been trying to convince her! For another, obviously you should be good-looking and charming and witty yourself.

She might go for the bad boys, just a bit, but doesn't everyone?

Come on, blokes, tell me if you're interested and if you meet my approval, I might be able to help set something up.

[OOC: ...marauder is doing marauding things, I suppose. Needless to say, Anita doesn't know he's doing this. That's what makes it fun.]

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Pretty sure I'm already asking too much of you, love.

Am I getting that second punch today or will it happen when I least expect it?

[She smiles a little bit, but it's sadder than any real smile ought to be.]

I don't know. I'm thinking of letting that one go. Not sure I can bring myself to punch you again. Or I'll save it for the next time you piss me off.

If my record is anything to go by, I'm bound to manage that again within the month.

Week, possibly.

Maybe even within the hour.

I would say within the hour is a safe bet. Well.

[She pauses, smirking faintly.]

Maybe two hours. It's been a rough day. I can be a little forgiving. But don't go spreading that around, okay?

My lips are sealed, love.

[He gives her hand a squeeze and lets go, a bit hesitant to keep touching her, all things considered. Not really fair to her, even if it does feel good in a way.]

I'll tell everyone else you beat me up.

[She's reluctant to let him pull away, but it's probably for the best. She knows that. Still, it was nice to have that small bit of comfort, even if only for a few moments. They were both in need of great deal of that.]

My hero. Thank you. Much appreciated. I can't have my flawless reputation as a gun-toting monster tarnished, now. I depend on that.

Heh.

Anita, I don't believe that you depend on anything.

[Not that it keeps him from feeling protective of her, but he definitely thinks she's more than capable of taking care of herself.]

[That definitely earns him a grin.]

Nothing but myself, anyway. I just find that to be far more efficient.

Bloody amazing, something like that.

Don't think I could ever do that.

It's not as great as it sounds. Sure, it sounds heroic and everything, but what it really boils down to is that I don't trust anyone else to have my back but me. It's a lonely feeling, sometimes, but I do always come through for myself. It also means I never have to feel helpless... and that's worth some peace of mind.

I'm glad you think it's admirable, though. I guess some facets of it are, right?

It'd make me feel pretty helpless, I think.

[He pauses for a moment, then continues.]

Actually, I know it does. So, yes, it really is admirable. You're brave, Anita. Really brave.

I've never thought of myself as brave.

[She shakes her head, discouraging the idea.]

Not brave. Just smart enough to know that when I'm afraid of something, I can't let it cripple me. I use it to arm myself. Fear will keep you alert and alive, if you can control it.

I've always just tried to not fear anything. S'pose I haven't, really, for a long time.

Only means that now that some things terrify me, I have no idea what to do about it.

The trick is to accept fear and keep it from controlling you. Fight back. People treat fear like a weakness, but it's not. It means that you recognize you're not invincible. It makes you fight harder to come out on top.

[She almost takes his hand again, but decides against it.]

You don't have to figure out how to handle it alone, though. You have friends here who will stand by you. You've got Remus, and you've got me.

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