A Long Fallen Angel PV Astrea Neptune Closed

Neptune-Chou Family
Cedarwood Castle
London, England 127005

Elena Lenora Crane
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Scotland

Dear Mlle. Crane,

You do not know the full repercussions of to whom you are threatening. Our family is not of one measly tree, but a thicket of very powerful relations. You speak at large in regards to your ability to disintegrate family lines, but there have been eleven centuries of power-acclamation and alliances. It shall not be easy.

I trust that Astrea has not spoken ill about the family, or her promised, and I am under the impression that you have misunderstood her situation. This betrothal is both a renewal of familial ties as well as a tradition passed down for. However, her arranged marriage has made tremendous progress intimately over near four years. More so than generations past, and so has a considerably more successful chance for a triumphant match.

Astrea appears to be outwardly content with her current relationship when questioned, as does her contracted. I have additionally tasked trusted emissary to occasionally observe their actions, to which both are both aware of.

Do address this issue with my heir, and do so promptly. She is due to arrive home soon, and travel to her affianced's residence in quick succession.

Such a shame, for your surname has the prospect of great things for the future. Do not waste this meddling with my successor's business.

All the best,
Lord Byung-Hee Geon Chou.
Head of Family.

§

Byung-Hee,

It's sweet you think that I can be cowed by a family history, it's the way of the world for empires to fall. Crack a history book sometime, you'll be amazed what usually happens when someone pisses of the common person.

Oh I misunderstood, well maybe you don't understand because you're an aristocratic prick with delusions of grandeur but here's something you may not understand.

Arranged marriages, are W R O N G. I know right? This must be a crazy discover for you even though all of the rest of the civilised world figured this out a good two centuries ago! As I said, it must be an absolutely wild and modern notion but I assure you this has been the norm at least since women got the right to vote.

You do know about women being able to vote right?

Outwardly content? You fucking kidding me bruv? That girl has the outward emotional range of a pebble, no doubt your family's influence, I wouldn't show emotion around you either. Also someone not disagreeing with someone when they're eleven could be because they're y'know, eleven. Oddly enough when normal kids are eleven, they trust their parents know what's best.

Luckily I didn't have any so I dodged that curse.

Oh me clear it up? My suggestion to your kid is to set fire to the fucker, burn him and everything else your inbred ass idiotic immoral families like, save the peacocks, those little bird things are great friends.

I'd prefer to be related to anyone other than the Cranes, they're dark wizard megalomaniacs, evil, and they don't believe that life and freedom are the most important things in this whole world. You see, I'm the Lost Crane, the disowned crane, the blue sheep of the whole family.

I wasn't lying when I signed the last one as the angel of alleyways, I've lived in enough of them in my life. I'm a punk born and raised, and I will raze you to the ground if I have to.

You see, idiot, I don't care as much about Astrea's future as I do about freedom, and you're trying to stifle freedom, so now I have to rebalance the chaos.

-Elena Jones

Neptune-Chou Family
Cedarwood Castle
London, England 127005

Elena Lenora Crane
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Scotland

Dear Mlle. Crane,

Power comes in numbers, and you seem to only fly solo. Where does that take you, I wonder?

An arranged marriage is for the family's good. Nothing more, nothing less. There is a duty. Do not bring morality into this matter, for morality does nothing but hinder climbing the power ladder. The actions of the masses have nothing to do with the family. If my heir chooses to interact with her promised far more than previous generations, that is her reasoning.

Arranged marriages are still prevalent. No matter how supposedly 'civilized' you claim the world is, you can not deny that over half of all marriages are arranged. Those marriages often remain together for far longer and have greater success compared to the flimsy excuse of marrying for 'love.' In Astrea's case, it is a consensual arranged marriage. She knew what she got into when she was notified of the match and asked to proceed.

You should know that Astrea is not a mere eleven-year-old. She has the maturity of one far above her age, and she is near wholly independent from the family's watchful eyes. She knows what is happening, she just chooses not to acknowledge it. Shame, for her mind is far more advanced intelligently than she gives credit. There is no explicit negative influence, merely reminders. She knows her place, and where she stands.

There is quite a shame in the reasoning that you have been conditioned by those of troublemaking, for perhaps there could have been a time where you could have been raised properly. Perhaps your 'Lost Crane' title could offer some semblance of reasoning why your attitude is as it is. Do refrain from insults, speaking ill of myself is speaking ill of all four families and my successor.o

As much comfort is offered at the idea that you are not interested in the future of my heir, it can be noted that family business is no business of your own.

Astrea has as much freedom as she desires to obtain, and there is a possibility that the future may hold even more opportunities for success. She just needs to take them. My spouse and I have not formally recited our expectations regularly for quite some time. She merely brings it upon herself to uphold them, even as we do not tell her.

Chaos is needed for peace. That is how the world has functioned, and that is how it shall function. You have no place to speak of righting the balance.

Kind regards,
Lord Byung-Hee Geon Chou.
Head of Family.

§

Byuny, can I call you Byuny? Ah well I don't care much. Although I must say:

My names not Crane you eternal dipstick of fuckery.

For the family's good? Like she owes you fucking anything? Also I will not watch my language, I spit on you and your ancestors you Lord of Dipfuck Kingdom. You can take your geneological history and shove it up your ass, dickhead.

Ah, well, that was cathartic.

You do realise the main locations still using arranged marriages are in the Middle East, so you're telling me you're marrying your thirteen year old daughter to her fourty year old uncle for five thousand dollars and twenty goats? And if she doesn't want to be married or tries to leave the marriage she'll be murdered, likely stoned to death?

No Lord Dipstick, I think not.

"Knows her place." Well WOWEE this is a shiny magnificent piece of garbage you're sending me. "Duty" "Family". Oh I do dream of the day she realises she never owed you anything to start with. You, Lord Dipstick, have made this personal, I now will take your death or downfall over any positive outcome.

Everything that happens in this world is my business, my dear, I'm a citizen aren't I? Your business is my business now, it doesn't matter what you think, only what you do, and what I know you're doing.

Let me ask you a very fair question: What would you do to Astrea if she didn't agree to the marriage?

Oh and don't you dare say you won't answer, you will answer this question. Truthfully, I'll know if you're lying.

E

Neptune-Chou Family
Cedarwood Castle
London, England 127005

Elena Lenora Crane
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Scotland

Dear Mlle. Crane,

You do realize you are collectively shaming my heir as well? She is well aware of what I am and mean to her. She owes me nothing, and I owe her nothing. There is merely expectations and reminders, to which my successor continues to put upon herself far longer than we have specifically reminded to.

It matters not your chosen name, but the power you may possess from that name and those you are surrounded by. You may spit upon the Crane family name, you may spit upon my family name, but you can not deny the capacity of magical and commercial willpower bestowed upon each of the born members. Surrounded by those who can be put into use and those of likeminded thought only strengthens that ability.

Astrea's future spouse is merely two years her senior, and holds a 'second-cousin' familial status in regards to my successor, though specific family relations are often brushed over interchangeably with each corresponding pairing through every house. It is not as extreme as those in the Middle East and remarkably large areas of Asia still practice it, including the family's origin country of Korea. We might be morally questionable, but we do not practice and promote pedophilia. An older man and a younger woman would also have a lower chance of producing an heir as well, so such a pair would have failed the family tremendously.

Believing all happening in the world is under your domain is a dangerous way to live. I recommend you do not barge into higher matters, this chain of letters is already quite risky.

If there were a case where Astrea was to refuse the offer, which we both know shall and have not occurred, there would have naturally been consequences. Painful consequences, granted, but nothing permanent. And nothing she would forget.

Ah, but I am forgetting myself. Why do you, pray tell, trouble yourself with the individual fate of my offspring, if you claim to care more about righting a supposed balance of the world?

Sincerely,
Lord Byung-Hee Geon Chou.
Head of Family.

§

Byung-hee.

I don't care who I disrespect, and Astrea could deal with a little disrespect, she has more than enough from you, and your actions don't reflect on her. Wish I could say the same about how they reflect on you.

The power I possess doesn't come from my name, it comes from me. It comes from the people I choose to associate with, and it comes from the things I've done.

Second cousin? I'm sorry but Incest is not wincest? Have you cracked a genetics book before? I'm guessing not, so here's a crash course.

If you marry someone closely blood related to you, and I'm talking less than 3rd cousins, then you start to get duplicates of genes which cause genetic defects. You idiot.

Risky to who? Because I don't know about you but I have nothing to lose and everything to gain from these letters. I have no family, no friends, and let me tell you right now. You don't get to expell me, because I have more power than you here.

Illegal. Did you know any contract signed under duress is completely illegal? I know right! I found it in a fancy law book from the library dated in copyright to last year. I thought I should do my research, basically if there'd be ominous consequences, then whatever marriage contract she'd ever sign would be under duress, and illegal. Suffice it to say I'd use your letter in evidence when I get it struck out, this would be if you do the stupid thing.

Why do I trouble myself with your daughter? Oh, simple.

I know what if feels like to be coerced by a so-called "Family" into doing things that you don't want to, and I will not let it happen to anyone else. At least I was smart and angry enough to save myself, but your daughter is kinder.

So let it be known I will have to be meaner, and I will be meaner, the article is drafted and ready to be sent, if you do not abide by my terms it will be released.

You have until the first of September to call off the betrothal, after that your reputation will be in tatters, no matter the consequences.

Libertas Et Tempus.

-Elena Liana Leonora Jones

Neptune-Chou Family
Cedarwood Castle
London, England 127005

Elena Lenora Crane
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Scotland

Dear Mlle. Crane,

Even without the fallback of those of loyal vows, the chances you take are still quite interesting. Your surname, the one you seem to despise for whatever reason, is powerful- and with that power inherently carried comes the risk of those just like you- those seeking to bring ruin to ones of such history and power as myself- misunderstanding your intentions and clawing their way back to you.

We are well aware of the possible outcomes of inbreeding, and for this, the family periodically collect possible matches from not only the four main families but also volunteer heirs from business partners from quite a few places in the wizarding world- all to very strict criteria of course. In this case, it merely happened that of the chosen few, Astrea picked her chances with a closer relation than expected.

Kinder. Such a strange word. You should have it known that my successor is not much less questionable as the rest of the family, merely more naive. Her ire is quite the spectacle, she just hasn't unlocked the control over it.

It must be reminded that I never specified if these 'consequences' were just limited to the marriage officially. My heir knew of the consequences of disappointing the family name far before the betrothal was admitted. Both of the future partners in question were asked to continue on the betrothal consensually, and continue to make an effort to interact with each other. If Astrea had an issue developing a relationship, or was uncomfortable proceeding forward, there was an open invitation for complaint. She was given a choice to choose between available candidates once the time had come to pair her up, as well as vice versa, and expresses visible relief at the projected idea of travelling to her future spouse's residence over remaining in the castle.

Nevertheless, your methods are quite clever. Perhaps this outcome should have been predicted, with the mind your namesake has gifted you and the words you have developed. However, I have a few queries to ask of you upon this arrangement.

How do I, and the rest of the family branches in extension, know that you are not going to simply attempt to bring ruin to the family name even after such a match is severed? How am I to know that you shall keep your word?

Regards,
Lord Byung-Hee Geon Chou.
Head of Family.

§

Byung,

It’s interesting, really, how our ideas of loyalty and duty differ. Yours seem to be that to be loyal you must give up everything, even most of your freedom, to a name that in a thousand years will likely be a footnote in history. There are more and more muggleborns and halfbloods each year, in a way I will never need be your downfall because decades or maybe even centuries from now. The world will have changed around your family and leave nothing behind.

Travelling to the boy’s house over remaining in the castle? I would not blame her, a constant reminder of her will being discounted and that she must uphold your name and beliefs would have to feel stifling. And if you meant Hogwarts then simply put the constant reminder that she lives in a cage, although a gilded one, would hurt too.

The mind my namesake has given me isn’t entirely theirs, in fact they often say negotiation is an art, so perhaps I even got it from my mother. From what little I’ve found they say she had a will that could stop the tides in their path.

It is simple, I do not wish to hurt innocents any more than I have to. Once this arrangement has been broken, and Astrea is permanently free to choose whatever she wants for love. I will call off the attack, let me draft up the rules.

1. You, Astrea’s Parents, will not force her into any match.
2. The betrothal shall be called off, she will choose who to marry when the time comes.
3. You are allowed to act as matchmakers between now and her 18th birthday, but only to test the mutual compatibility of a relationship, on basis of personality not blood, and then allow her to make her own decision. Make it very clear you will not force her into anything.
4. You let me pat a peacock and maybe take one home.

We in agreement?
-Elena Liana Jones

Neptune-Chou Family
Cedarwood Castle
London, England 127005

Elena Lenora Crane
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Scotland

Dear Mlle. Crane,

Loyalty is a very exclusive brand of trust, but duty is one followed by many of my own. The family's numbers will no doubt shrink with the influx of the muggle and partly muggle-born, but if the history of the house families is still included within the minds of historians far in the future, then we have succeeded in our mission of making our mark upon the world. It matters not that tales of glory shall be forgotten with the ages- Hogwarts itself shall fall one day to test of time, after all- only that we have been acknowledged and taken to high respect, begrudging or not.

That is one of the many philosophies taught within the manor, one that is passed down countlessly over 11 centuries, and one that is pulled forward to our new generation. Astrea knows the erasure of history well, knows how all who choose to do nothing with their lives shall one day be written off as nothing more than passing memories.

Your rules, though quite simple, are sensible enough for your intent. The betrothal shall take time to call off, though no longer than the 20th of August, and much preparation must be given to officiate the drastic change.

Though the offer of a 'peacock' in exchange is questionable, I shall see what I can do. Expect one upon the beginning of the next Hogwarts year.

Upon the extermination of the contract, both parties involved shall be informed. However, you must know that I can not predict a somewhat positive reaction from my heir and her betrothed with the aftermath, nor can I tell whom Astrea shall choose for her future later in life.

It might not be what you have expected, or perhaps it shall not be what I will.

All the best,
Lord Byung-Hee Geon Chou.
Head of Family.