Quidditch Windswept

[icarus]

Inspired by this drawing by kiss_me_hard

Quidditch Windswept


He'd come to the window to tell Draco to put on his coat.

The wind scattered autumn leaves and battered the trees, made the windows shudder. It was misty and warm. Lucius didn't need an oracle charm to know a storm was brewing. But outside, the boy, his shirt untucked, spun and spun. The Snitch they'd bought him last Christmas was clutched in his hands as he dove about the green lawn, pale hair flying. He leaped, and rolled on the grass -- and then held it up triumphantly.

Lucius smiled and chuckled, his shoulders relaxed. He sipped his tea, and gave his son his moment in front of all his imaginary Quidditch fans.


ETA: See here for the difference between what a father sees and the truth.

Comments

[lazy-daze.livejournal.com]

That's lovely - made me smile. It goes so well with the picture. <3!

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

This picture is completely original and just... feels so familiar. I really enjoy writing Draco and Lucius, father/son moments. Have you read my beloved First Signs Of Magic: Draco Malfoy (http://www.thedarkarts.org/authorLinks/Icarus)? It kicked me right back into the mood for more Draco-child Gen.

Icarus

[lazy-daze.livejournal.com]

I haven't, actually, but after that pic and drabble it sounds like the kinda thing I'm in the mood for :) so I will.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

*beams*

I don't know how I'm going to get back to writing my war-story after kiss_me_hard's drawing.

But I don't mind at all.

Icarus

[lazy-daze.livejournal.com]

Did my comment go through? *kicks LJ* Anyway, yes - I was in the mood for that after the picture and drabble, and it was lovely :) it's nice, in a way, to think of Lucius as a normal man, who loves his family, rather than thoroughlyevil!Death Eater. And 5yearold!Draco was precious :D

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

This comment did.

Thank you. I went a little against the stream of fanon to portray Lucius as a real human being. I'd guess he's about 25-? 26? in that story. So a very young father, too. When Draco's older, Lucius has perfected his guilt-trip method of parenting (as seen in book 2), but that technique doesn't work so well when they're 5. :)

Icarus

[venivincere]

I don't have an icon to go with this mood.

Ask kiss_me_hard for a scaled-down version of Draco's face from the picture. It's perfect. And so, of course, is the drabble. :-)

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

I think it's the off-center skyline that gets me the most. His face alone just wouldn't do it justice. :)

Icarus

[venivincere]

The second I saw that skyline I thought of every schoolyard I was in when I was little, and more recently in memory my son's soccer field. I do have to ask you -- does that line of trees remind you of Michigan?

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Funnily enough, it does. Sounds like you've been that living children's book, Michigan. The heavy wet grey skies remind, too.

Icarus

[venivincere]

I've lived here most of my life, minus a few years in Boston. That picture speaks of home to me. The clouds, they were like that, today. Puddled and runneled in the sky, washed-out blue behind. No leaves, yet, but the buds are just beginning to get fat.

[switchknife.livejournal.com]

Aww. Lovely fic. :) Few people show either Lucius or Draco like this...

... Interestingly enough, though (and this is probably symptomatic of my personality), I saw Draco's mood as melancholy and yearning rather than exultant. :P There's just... this laxity to the way he holds the Snitch, a distance and tempered sadness to his expression, tempered by resignation, like: 'I can only have this now, it's only mine now because I'm not against Potter...' The Snitch symbolizes everything he can't have.

:)

Okay, I'm weird. The drabble's lovely regardless!

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Exactly.

But Lucius sees what he wants to see. His context for it is as a father. We know the rest, Draco's ongoing defeat by Harry Potter. So this is sort of bittersweet for those who know, and faintly ironic to watch Lucius purring over what he doesn't realise is his son's defeat. Like all parents, he projects his own childhood onto his son and vastly simplifies his son's complex emotions.

We know Draco's longed-for victory can only be pretend. As does Draco.

Icarus

[switchknife.livejournal.com]

Oh wow, that vastly changes things... makes the whole thing so much more complex. Now I'm getting all shivery and achy thinking about it...

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

There's probably something wrong if that didn't come across in the drabble. Oh well. Have to keep that POV.

Icarus

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

I want to finish my thought here...

So it's not really a drabble of that picture, but sort of a frame for it, a picture outside the picture. That's why we're looking through a window, cut off from Draco's experience of the wind, etc.

Icarus

[thistlefinch.livejournal.com]

I think the idea that Lucius is seeing what he wants to makes this so much more...melancholy? I love that you expanded on the picture like by creating layers like that. From my own perspective, knowing what Draco might actually be thinking, and then finding out how Lucius might see the scene makes it just a little more heart-wrenching.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

I am so delighted you stopped by to read it and liked it. I don't pretend to know what you had in mind for Draco's feelings in the picture, so I think that's why I stood outside as an observer. And then Lucius appeared, also watching. With his own ideas.

Icarus

[february-sea.livejournal.com]

Few people show either Lucius or Draco like this...

I agree. I'm all about angsty!Draco, though; it's one of my very favorite ways of writing him.

And as far as this drawing is concerned, oh, I SO agree with you...I've written a ficlet inspired by this piece of artwork, too; it's gone off for a quick beta, but I'll be posting it later. I'd be very interested to know if you agree with my interpretation of kiss_me_hard's drawing. Draco's melancholia is due to a different reason (not just Quidditch, strictly speaking) in my ficlet, but still.

May I annoy you once again, after I post it?

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Oh do, please! This is wonderful that kiss_me_hard's picture has inspired so much creativity. A powerful and unique piece indeed. I look forward to reading it.

Icarus

[february-sea.livejournal.com]

:) You're a love for being so nice. I've posted HERE (http://www.livejournal.com/users/olivia_lupin/109721.html#cutid1), in case you're still interested.

And yes, I agree about kiss_me_hard artwork. Breathtaking, really.

[anjenue.livejournal.com]

That is an absolutely beautiful drabble. I love that sort of dynamic between Draco and Lucius.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I think Lucius is a little tough on Draco, in addition to spoiling the kid rotten, but his way is to set the bar impossibly high for the kid and then guilt trip him if he doesn't live up to his expectations. The Heir, you know. But there are other moments I'm sure where he's just his son and Lucius purrs in pride.

Icarus

[milkthistle.livejournal.com]

Excellent drabble, especially in the complicated context you went into below, with Lucius' perspective so utterly different from that of his son. Also, I love your ability to paint a scene so perfectly, you're very good at descriptive writing.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Ooooh. Thank you. That means a lot to me (especially since I'm writing a story that relies on description a lot).

Icarus

[icarusinwax.livejournal.com]

that actually depressed me. povorino draco. :(

very pretty

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Sweet boy, we all love him so.

Icarus

[sarka.livejournal.com]

I love this drabble. So... *tries to come up with adjectives* *fails*... perfect.

Aaand, since you asked us to drop you a comment, I posted my Percy ficathon entry just now. It's here: Stockholm Syndrome. (http://www.livejournal.com/community/weasleyworship/14450.html)

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I can't think of a more perfect gift than... Percy-fic!

Woot!

Icarus *runs to read* *I have one other I need to announce*

[purple-avocado.livejournal.com]

*wistful smile*

I love it.

[february-sea.livejournal.com]

Gorgeous. I am a big fan of a strong, non-abusive bond existing between Lucius and Draco, and of there being pieces of 'light' even in the darkest soul...and you've given a perfect showcase of one such piece. Thank you.