Fanfiction by Vivien - Harry Potter | Neil Gaiman Universe | Buffy | Multiverse-Milliways | Recommendations
A series of drabbles about the House of Arch and the Openers of the Underside, including Arch, Ingress, Portia, Portico, Door, and others. Crossover with the Sandman-verse with appearances by Death and Delirium.
The Beginning
The founders of the family knew how it was to be tossed aside and disregarded. The patriarch had been cast out of the house of his fathers in a stone city far away. He'd stowed away on a ship on the long, arduous voyage to this cold place. The matriarch had been born in the streets of the village of Londinium by a whore who cared barely enough to raise her.
Outcasts they might be, but each was strong in magic and in the wisdom to use it.
They passed each other in the marketplace and their eyes met. This alone was a strange occurance - it was rare for anyone to look them in the eyes.
Together they found passages below that those above could not see. There was magic here, as well. It was ancient and wild, and it changed all who touched it.
In comfortable caverns their children were born. In the darkness their eyes changed, and their gifts grew.
Others like them, lost and fallen, found the secret places of the Underside. They sought out the family, recognizing them as leaders.
They were Openers. They could open ways and minds. By the Temple and by the Arch, they did so from then on.
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The Tale of Portico and Portia
<i>Author’s Notes: These are not my characters, but the House of Art ritual is partly mine. The ritual, or the answer to the question “how do you get more Openers without marrying your sister?”, was miraielle's idea and was expounded upon at the LJ communities, milliways_bar and house_of_arch.</i>
When Portico and Portia met - it was an arranged meeting set up by both sets of parents - they took to each other right away. They began courting, and a month later, whilst walking together in the floating market, he had joked that when she married him, she wouldn't have to change her name.
"What do you mean?" she'd asked.
"Nothing," he'd said, suddenly uncomfortable. "It was a joke."
"The marriage part or the name part?" said Portia, frowning.
Portico took her hand and kissed it. "I'd not joke about the marriage part." He caught her eyes then, and she ducked her head and smiled.
***
Lord Arch and Lady Egress were pleased for their son, but they worried he'd fallen for this girl too hard. They knew what lay ahead.
"If the Blood will have her, it will be fine," said Egress, who, having married into the House of the Arch, knew of these things. "She's an upstanding girl, and I like her a great deal."
Arch smoothed back a lock of hair from his lady wife's forehead. "I've never forgotten that terrible day, Elizabeth," he whispered.
"I know, love," she replied. "But it's what must be done."
***
Soon after the floating market, their son came to them, grim-faced, and told them he wished to marry Portia. His equally grave parents gave their approval and their blessing and asked Portico if he needed assistance.
"I wish for you both to be there," he said in reply, "as witnesses."
Arch took Portico aside and they talked long into the night, one Lord of the House of Arch to another.
***
Portia came to the House of Arch a few nights later, her eyes swollen from crying. Portico had been acting so strangely, telling her of this ritual in which she must pledge fealty to him and his house, if they were to be married. He said he wanted to marry her, and yet he was serious, so sad, as if to do so was the last thing he wanted.
Her best friend held one hand, and her sister the other - they would be her witnesses.
Portia never could quite recall exactly what had happened that night in the dark, frightening chamber to which they were brought.
Lord Arch read from a book, she was asked five questions of loyalty from the five witnesses present, and then, suddenly, Portico stood before her, mournful and frightened, yet hopeful as he traced a finger along both of their palms, slicing the skin.
He pressed his hands to hers, and she was lost in the dark opalescence of his eyes.
His blood flowed into her, and she felt it change her. She'd been born and bred in the Underside. She knew the House of Arch and those in it were special. Now she understood why.
When Portico gave her the seamless box and gently asked her to open it, she closed her eyes and it Opened under her hand.
Portico kissed her again and again and whispered, "My Lady Portia of the House of Arch - you already have an Opener's name."
There had been a great deal of relieved tears and joyful celebration afterward. Their engagement was announced formally and the wedding plans begun.
Portico and Portia of the House of Arch loved each other dearly till the day they died.
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Happy Birthday, Ingress
Ingress ran into the kitchen at breakneck pace. "I'm four, I'm four!" she yelled.
Arch held out his arms as she ran around the table and caught her, sweeping her up into the air. "You're a noisy little squawk is what you are," he said.
"A noisy little squawk who needs a birthday tickling," said Door, leaping up from her breakfast and joining Arch in torturing their little sister.
Ingress laughed and laughed as Door and Arch tickled her in earnest until Portia called over from the stove, "Now that's enough you two. Let Ingress be."
"Yes, Mum," said Arch, depositing Ingress on the floor with a kiss to the top of her head.
Door took her hand and led her to her chair. "Happy birthday, Ingress." She gave her a kiss, as well, and put a few pancakes on her plate. She winked at Ingress and poured a little extra syrup than usual onto the stack.
When Daddy came to the table, the birthday celebrations would begin and they'd last all day. Ingress grinned and began eating her pancakes in a most sticky fashion.
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The Sound of her Wings
Arch had tried.
He'd tried so hard to stop the two strangers.
<i>How did they get in? How could they</i> possibly<i> have gotten in?</i>
He'd fought them, there by the pool, with whatever he could grab and throw or swing. They'd deflected everything and the short one had never stopped talking. Not even when the dagger plunged into Arch’s chest.
The pain was intense. Arch had never known such a thing. He'd stared in shock at the smiling, mocking man, and then the dagger was thrust again, into his groin this time.
The water had enveloped him. He didn't remember falling.
Arch swam to the side of the pool, pulling himself up and out. He had to warn Father. Mother and Ingress, too, and Door might be back at any moment.
He stood, dripping, and when he turned to rush to the painting- <i>How did they get in?</i>, he saw her. She looked like a Velvet with her pale skin and black dress.
"Get out of my house," Arch yelled, striding toward the painting to his father's study. "I'm not afraid of you!"
He was fifteen, and he was actually <i>very</i> afraid. But the girl smiled, and Arch no longer felt as frightened.
"Good. I hate it when they're afraid of me," she grinned.
Arch was confused and worried for his family, but this girl wouldn't hurt him. He knew that just as he knew his own name. "Look, I have to go. Those men- they tried to- Father, I have to get to Father." He caught a glimpse of a dark shape in the water. It trailed diffuse red bands of... His opalescent eyes grew wide.
"I'm sorry, Arch," said the girl, reaching out her hand. "It's time to go."
"But my family," he gestured to the paintings on the wall feverishly. "I have to tell them."
Death shook her head. "No, Arch, there's only one thing you have to do now."
Arch stood stock still, staring at her. He was dead. He'd been murdered in his own home - the one place in the Underside he counted on as being safe. "I'm- I’m to walk under the Arch, then?"
"I don't know.”
“But I hadn’t- I never got to…” Arch pleaded. “Must I really go?”
The girl nodded her head, a sad smile on her face. “Yeah, you must. Take my hand. Please?"
Arch hesitated one more moment. But then he took her hand.
The poolroom echoed with the sound of wings.
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In the Dark
It was dark, and it was cold. It was always dark and cold here, except for the occasional flash of dull light when the door opened and the Bad Men slid food in to her.
Ingress used to try to run through the door, but they always caught her and put her back inside, slamming the door hard against her tears. She stopped trying a long time ago. These Bad Men weren't the same as the Bad Men who'd taken her away from her mummy, but they were Bad Men nonetheless.
The walls of the dungeon room were too thick for her to Open. She had tried and tried till her head ached and pounded, but she couldn’t make an opening. The door was metal and stone, and there was no lock to touch on the inside.
Ingress was five-years-old. Instead of playing dress up and watering the flowers, she spent her days and nights huddled under the thin blanket she'd found in a corner, hoping the spiders who shared the room wouldn't crawl on her.
She was scared of spiders. Arch always used to kill them for her.
Daddy would come for her soon. Or Arch or Door. Mummy wouldn't. Ingress knew when the blood came out of your body the way it had Mummy's that you died.
She tried not to think of that much.
She tried not to think of anything.
The first weeks she was there, after she'd tried to Open the big door for the angel man, she cried most of the day. Now she slept instead. When she slept she could dream the time away and see her family and her favorite toys and rooms. She dreaded waking up for very long.
One day or night or afternoon, Ingress looked up, blinking, as a glowing light appeared above her head. A lady was there. She had red hair and pretty eyes and she wore a hat with a feather in it.
"hELLo, INgreSS," said the lady. "WoULd yOU liKE To coME PlaY WItH mE?"
Ingress stood up, not quite believing her eyes. Then she threw herself into the lady's arms. It had been so long since anyone had called her by name.
She held onto the lady, crying with relief and happiness, and said, "Yes, please."