“Rudolph, we have been over this. It's not lying, this is for science!” Atlas stood at the foot of his bed, tying Rudolph's tie while the skeleton batted at his hands. “And stop it, if your fingers fall off I'm not going to reattach them....”

“WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE!”

“Nope, you'll just have to see Artemis without them. And between you and me you really don't need something else going against you in the fight for her affections.” The tie finished Atlas stepped back to survey his work. Rudolph was wearing one of his more jaunty hats and while Atlas hadn't managed to get him to wear the spats that he had so desperately wanted the other day he had convinced the skeleton that a vest was an excellent idea. “You've nothing to complain about, you get to see Artemis and I get the opportunity to identify a new species.”

It had taken Atlas three days of diligent searching to come up with the ritalin he had been sure he had around somewhere. He had then taken another two days to research the drug, making sure that there was no clear way he could actually do Apollo any harm. It didn't appear that was possible and Atlas had more or less decided that Zippy's warning could be caulked up to plain and simple Sinistra oddity. Artemis was fiercely protective but she was also sane and rational, more so than the majority of people Atlas knew, so long as Apollo wasn't in any danger. He wasn't, all the information stated that, and so he saw no reason to fear any Sinistra violence.

Convincing Rudolph had actually been the hard part. He had been happy enough to come along before he knew the details of the plan not he was rattling all over the place and being down right agitating. Luckily for Atlas the skeletons infatuation with Arty had won out over fear or reason and now (with wonder pill in hand) they were ready to head over to the Sinistra's. Rudolph managed to in one piece, a good omen for the rest of the days proceedings. Atlas pulled open the door and ushered the skeleton in, glancing around, there was some new stock in....and a rather interesting looking hat mounted on a parasol. He side stepped that and approached the desk. Hopeful. “Apollo?” Then quieter. “Artemis?”

“WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE!” Rudolph chirped behind him, loud enough to make his ears ring.

Apollo had woken this morning from his terrifying reoccurring nightmare of being forced into a bland ill-fitting poly-blend suit and calling it high fashion knowing something bad was going to happen today. His lovely sister had shown him no sympathy and had the gal to claim she wished something terrible would happen and even went so far as to suggest that poly-blends deserve another chance. As if the masses would stand for such a thing! It was things like that he fought against for the good of mankind! Without him the great rebellion of uniforms might never have had its moment in Hogwarts history. Granted that rebellion hadn’t gone to well, he had ended up with a year’s worth of detention and Hogwarts still was in slacks and ties, but he had planted the seed and it was up to the next generation of individuals to take back their individuality and overthrow the evil professors that stand between them and free expression!

With such revolutionary thoughts on hand Apollo had decided the shop needed to reflect the more rebellious nature of fashion. With great gusto he had swept the manikin of the day aside, replacing it with a hat to test all limits – an stuffed albino pigeon taking flight from a dust colored top hat covered in patriotic droppings. It would take a strong soul to pull it off but Apollo was confident he could find such a person… the fact that Artemis had complained it was starting to make the backroom smell had played no part in this decision to showcase and eventually sell the hat.

Hat on stand Apollo proceed to undo his sister’s carefully arranged displays – no one wanted to find sunglasses on a rack, they wanted to find them artistically scattered about on places one might wear them – thus a set of sun glasses in his hair, a pair shoved in every other trouser pocket, and occasionally some entwined with the scarves. He had even given the albino pigeon a set that sported the union jack.

With a content sigh Apollo fell back into the glitter bag Wendell had gotten him for his last birthday – it was a transparent bean bag number that held glitter instead beans. Wonderfully comfy and complemented today’s outfit to perfection. Who could say that suit made entirely out of ties was less than genius? So comfy was Apollo that he promptly fell into a god like slumber, with dreams filled of fashions to come.

“Apollo? Artemis?” Apollo gave a sleepy wave, sure that whoever it was could find his sister with ease. He had had a hard day rearranging the shop.

“WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE!”

Apollo flew out of the glitter bag and over to a pair he knew well. “Atlas! Rudolph! Amazing timing! I was just thinking of what we could do with Rudolph’s bones? Have you ever considered carvings? Or gold caps on your teeth? Would give you a rough enough edge to win over Arty!” He exclaimed while giving the skeleton a hug and throwing the pigeon hat onto Atlas’s head.

He had a mirror before the man before either of the two move. “What say you Atlas? Its genius no? Looks wicked with your signature look. I’ve even enchanted it to sing ‘God Save the Queen’”.

There was a distinct and persistent ringing in Atlas's ears, one that blocked out almost everything else in the shop. Thankfully that included whatever muggle tunes the Sinistra's were blaring over the shops speakers that day, maybe he should thank the skeleton rather than continue on with the glare he was currently leveling at him. Neither Sinistra was anywhere to be seen. Atlas lifted a hand to pound at the side of his ear, concerned that maybe Rudolph's sound waves had somehow lodged something in the canal. He was so absorbed with that he almost missed the blur that was Apollo coming at him from the left.

Straightening up quickly Atlas flailed for balance before finding himself face to face with Apollo, good, just the one he was looking for. Atlas had nothing against Artemis, much the opposite as there were plenty of things to admire about the women but Zippy's warning was still ringing in his ears (along with the echo of Rudolph's never changing outburst) and he thought it best if she wasn't paying too much attention to what he was doing here.

Atlas! Rudolph! Amazing timing!

It was truly amazing how jolly and genuinely excited Apollo could be about anything, or anyone really, anytime. Atlas had never really seen himself as someones whose presence could inspire as much joy, and interest and...exclamation points as Apollo exhibited at all times, yet here he was being beemed at while Apollo continued on.

I was just thinking of what we could do with Rudolph's bones? Have you ever considered carvings? Or gold caps on your teeth? Would give you a rough enough edge to win over Arty!

Then he moved in, embracing Rudolph who tried to return the gesture but ending up popping an arm from the socket. Atlas would have tried to get his wand out in time to stop it from falling to the floor but the world had all gone rather black...or at least dark. E brought up a hand and made contact with the brim of what had to be a hat and tipped it back until the glittery and shining world of the Second Hand Shop came back into bright nearly blinding focus....and was that a bean bag composed entirely of glitter? Further observation was prevented when Atlas suddenly found himself starring at, well, himself. Blinking at himself in mild confusion he then looked up to the brim. He should have been startled to find a taxidermy bird nestled at the top of the hat but he supposed his lack of shock at the development just meant he had known Apollo too long.

What say you Atlas? Its genius no? Looks wicked with your signature look. I've even enchanted it to sing 'God Save the Queen'. Atlas wondered what his signature look might be. He didn't really think orange socks and a worn brown trench coat were really the height of fashion.

As if on cue the bird rustled its feathers and began what was actually a very fine rendition. He plucked the hat carefully from his head, holding it up to inspect it further. “It is some fine haberdashery Apollo, your work?”

Rudolph, making use of his still operated arm, snaked out his hand and took up the hat getting it on his head before clacking his jaw open and adjusting it carefully. “Seems that Rudolph has taken a shine to it. More suiting for him....” It was then that Atlas caught sight of what Apollo was wearing, which appeared to be a suit constructed entirely of neck ties. “I don't know about the carvings, Rudolph has expressed some quiet loud and adamant opinions on body modification. Specifically tattos...I have been thinking about bleaching him though. Giving him some shine.”

He never really knew how to begin with Apollo, fashion was always a good go to. “Tie suit? Thats rather innovative, does it double as a security system? In a pinch you could enchant them to take down a burglar. Though I would be careful about what kind you use, there was a Japanese tie enthusiast who know too much about the underwater home of Godzilla, the government silenced him with his own stock.”

“I stopped by so that Rudolph could have a visit with your sister. He's still quiet taken, thinks she'll come around in time.”

Atlas looked so pleased with his work Apollo could almost smell a sale. There was nothing more satisfying in life than passing on some high fashion to those around him. Why maybe he should start a charity! Apollo’s Glitters of Joy – in which he could give all the ugly more unsightly persons out there a bit of a glam makeover free of charge. He could even then be provided with an excuse to tackle Atlas’s wardrobe.

“It is some fine haberdashery Apollo, your work?”

Or maybe fashion designer. He could still help the ugly but also get tickets to exclusive gigs, not that he didn’t already get those but they would look even more exclusive with Apollo Sinisitra, Fashion Designer embossed on them.

“Of course! Its celebrate our wonderful country day through rebellion based patriotism!” He wasn’t all that sure that that string of words properly described his ideals but it was no matter – they sounded rather smart and that was all that mattered.

“Seems that Rudolph has taken a shine to it. More suiting for him....” Apollo already had his mirror in front of the lovable skeleton, who was giving happy wails of his token term while turning his head this way and that.

”… Giving him some shine.”

Apollo nodded in agreement “Just genius, genius I tell you. Rudolph nothing will keep my sister’s eyes off of you with that hat and a future bleach job except maybe a clearance Betsy Johnson handbag – which no living mortal can compete with. Mind you don’t out shine me or it’s a fashion showdown – last body standing wins!”

Atlas said something about Godzilla and death by sock. Apollo gave him a curious look before donning a huge smile. “I’d best start washing my socks if I don’t want Arty to enchant them in kill me in my sleep! Don’t worry she would never do such a terrible thing to anyone not apart of the family… so be careful with what you do Rudolph.”

Rudolph made a curious face for someone only able to communicate with his skeletal features. Maybe he was asking for Apollo’s next biggest trend? He couldn’t be serious, everyone that was anyone knew that he never unveiled his next trend till the birthday of one of his ponies (all of the unsold ones were now in some undisclosed location in Scotland). Rather than interpret the face to mean I don’t want to die again, Apollo just made a face back at the skeleton as Atlas began to talk about something more serious – his sister.

Silly square girl. Logan this, Logan that, Lawful this… she hardly had time for him and his ideas anymore! It was quite distressing. She still hadn’t worn the pink sombrero and poncho set he had suck into her closet .

“I stopped by so that Rudolph could have a visit with your sister. He's still quiet taken, thinks she'll come around in time.”

Apollo gave a happy clap! Just the thing to put his sister in better spirits. “She’s upstairs in the kitchen – you can run along Rudolph and have a private chat. Atlas and I will take our time catching up.” He gave Rudolph a rather large blue-eyed wink and the skeleton hobbled towards the stairs.

One he was out of ear shot Apollo gave Atlas an alarmed look. “Oh! Can he even climb stairs?” He gave the now empty stairs a quick glance. “Love has made him wings! I need some new ones actually – Jasper accidentally set fire to my last ones at this rave.” He gave a sad shrug before giving the man another 100-watt smile.

“What do you want to do while we give the love birds a chance to bond? I’ve got some untested products in the back room if you want to take a look. I promise they will have even you crying Genius!” He asked, feet and body bouncing without anything ever leaving the floor.

Of course! It's to celebrate our wonderful country day through rebellion based patriotism!

Atlas stopped examining the hat long enough to glance in Apollo's direction as his brain played a quick solo game of boggle. Taking the shining Sinistra's words and carefully rearranging them into something that could be graciously assembled into a proper sentence. It didn't always work out so well and, as Atlas tried a few last combinations, this appeared to be one of those times. It wasn't an especially important matter, Apollo had been doing this since they had met at school. It had started with only a few words, and now if the fancy took him Apollo could go on until he ran out of air.

As it was now Apollo had moved on to bigger and better things.

Just genius, genius I tell you. Rudolph nothing will keep my sister's eyes off of you with that hat and a future bleach job except maybe a clearance Betsy Johnson handbag- which no living mortal can compete with. Mind you don't out shine me or it's a fashion showdown – last body standing wins!

Looking back at the skeleton Atlas could immediately see that Rudolph was sizing up the other man. It was rather startling what he could convey without the aid of things most people took for granted, skin, muscle, sinew, eyebrows. Instead Rudolph tilted his head from the mirror and looked down and then back up, tipping his head toward Apollo. Under most circumstances Atlas would have placed his money on Rudolph for the win; as the skeleton was rather fiery and passionate when riled. But if shine was on the line, well, different matter entirely. That, and Apollo had a much for substantial closet than Rudolph and the ability to stand upright for periods upwards of and hour without something falling off.

When Atlas looked back at Apollo he was nearly blinded by the dazzling shine coming off of his teeth. Teeth were not meant to do that, not unless you had hollowed them out and hired an electrician to install some LEDs. Maybe it would prove to be the latest thing Artemis would have to run him to Saint Mungos for. I'd best start washing my socks if I don't want Arty to enchant them to kill me in my sleep! Don't worry she would never do such a terrible thing to anyone not apart of the family...so be careful with what you do Rudolph!

Rudolph, at the mention of his sweet flower of love gazed skywards. No doubt imagining Artemis pacing over the floor boards while Atlas was paying slightly more attention to Apollo's comment concerning Artemis' capacity for harm to members not within the Sinistra family. Maybe the years of near perfect behavior would spare him the majority of her wrath and really it wasn't as if anything bad was going to happen anyway. A tiny chemical pill, a muggle one no less couldn't possibly be anything as terrible as Zippy seemed to imply with his rather ominous warning.

Atlas jumped at the sudden clap head turning sharply in Apollo's direction. ..You can run along Rudolph and have a private chat.. Unlikely considering his woefully limited vocabulary but he seemed determined to try and he hobbled his way quickly up the stairs, disappearing a few moments late. Alone at last, Atlas had thought he might never leave. Oh! Can he even climb stairs? Apollo seemed concerned before noticing Rudolph's successful ascension and turning the smile on full blast once again.

What do you want to do while we give the love birds a chance to bond? I've got some untested products in the back room if you want to take a look. I promise they will have even you crying genius!

“Not sure of thats such a good idea Apollo....wouldn't do to interrupt the bonding session when one of us inevitably requires a trip to Mungos. I wouldn't want her to associate poor Rudolph with a bad experience, he's so emotionally fragile as it is. Actually,” He had prepared for this moment and spent the better part of the previous day and night practicing this. He had successfully managed not to snicker or dry heave, it had only taken three solid hours. All for the name of science... “I had heard that you had a few cake samples from Daphne's that you were toying with for the....” push through, get it over with. “Wedding. I was wondering if you might need any help with the selection process. I suspect Jasper has been less than helpful.

“Not sure of thats such a good idea Apollo....wouldn't do to interrupt the bonding session when one of us inevitably requires a trip to Mungos."

Pish post. Why did everyone always think that he was going to get them into St. Mungos? He had sat down and calculated the averages one day and there was a mere 2 in 3 chance that he would end up with some new and exciting developement that would inevitable get him a date with a nice little healer. Didn't Atlas know that was one of the best ways to pick up dates? Go in and appeal to there tender side.

"I wouldn't want her to associate poor Rudolph with a bad experience, he's so emotionally fragile as it is."

Apollo nodded knowingly. Poor Rudolph. He was such a fragile spirit. He needed to work on always seeing the bright side of life. In fact Apollo was almost positive that a week in his company and he would have Rudolph shouting his trademarked phrase with a positive spin - 'WE ARE NEVER GOING TO DIE!' only Atlas had looked like he was going to choke when he had suggested it at last boys get together. Granted he wasn't quite sure what he had done to bring up the topic. Artemis was always saying he needed to gently bring people to a new topic. Something about them not all running on bursts of glitter.

"Actually I had heard that you had a few cake samples from Daphne's that you were toying with for the....Wedding. I was wondering if you might need any help with the selection process. I suspect Jasper has been less than helpful."

Apollo couldn't help himself, he flung his arms around the other man, while simultaneously hopping about, oblivious to the cloud of glitter that was enveloping him and his captive. "I knew I wasn't the only one who cared! You didn't want Jasper to have an out of fashion wedding cake too! Jasper hadn't wanted to ruin his figure, otherwise he would have been extraordinarily helpful." Apollo shouted into the other's ear.

With this he let go of Atlas and accioded the tray of cakes from their hiding spot. On the gilt antique tea tray lay a cake of every sort, including but not limited to a martini creation on one end and a 20 layer pop tart cake. Daphne had outdone herself this time.

He waved a fork in front of Atlas's obviously stunned expression. "I couldn't help but think of everything Jasper and everything Cal and put it into cake form. Amazing isn't it? Now which one do you want to try fist? I thought models delight might be a bit vulgar for a wedding but it tastes so good - but I wasn't sure if the poptart one was to much Cal and not enough Jasper."

There was a moment of vacuum like silence and then, the oncoming storm that was Apollo Sinistra was upon him. Arms snaked around his waist and Atlas had a moment to make one brief, uncoordinated movement with his hands and shoulders before Apollo's hands locked together midway up his spine and the other man was squeezing the air out of him. For a moment he imagined that this might be the worst of it and gasped in a breath only to find it clotted up with levels of glitter that he would gently have classified as obscene and more harshly called cloying. He wasn't much for physical contact, generally finding it awkward and uncomfortable.

It was his fault really. Brining up cake and Jasper's nuptials in the same breath had been a sure way to end up in the strangely vice like grip of his fellow boys club member, but there had been few other options. Apollo's grip tightened and loosened as the other man leapt up and down (seemingly without ever leaving the ground...maybe he'd finally figured out how to use cherub downs for permanent floating) and Atlas resined himself to a quick cuddle.

I knew I wasn't the only one who cared! You didn't want Jasper to have an out of fashion wedding cake too! Jasper hadn't wanted to ruin his figure, otherwise he would have been extraordinarily helpful.

Flinching back from the high decibel explanation Atlas reached one arm up awkwardly across Apollo's and rubbed at his ear. “The calories would do him some good, he turned the other day and I didn't know where he was for 5 minutes.” He muttered into Apollo's shoulders, completely unsure if the man would hear him above the sound of his outfit.

From his current angle he had an excellent view of the mane of hair residing at the top of Apollo's perfectly adorned head. He had speant a good few months at Hogwarts attempting to figure out the exact secret to Apollo's endless reserves of two of the things Atlas tended to lack, cheer and gusto and had come up with lamentably few workable theories (Jasper had outright laughed when he had presented the solar power in reaction to name ratio idea). Then he had seen an advertisement for a small muggle variety of rabbit referred to as an 'energy button'. The adverts had depicted the pink, drum carrying animal as never stopping, always on the move, and he seemed to spread cheer as he went. From that moment on Atlas had been searching for the battery pack that Apollo no doubt had somewhere on his person. The dome area was Atlas primary target for housing but Apollo didn't let anyone near it.

If he could twist a bit maybe he'd have a better view...and then Apollo was pulling away and summoning a rather comically large tea tray. Battery would have to wait, Atlas took a moment to collect himself and then surveyed the contents of the tea tray. The moment of collection was completely wasted, because as soon as he laid eyes on what appeared to be a finely crafted candy model in various states of undress he was firmly back into his stunned hippogriff expression. It took a few moment before he felt he could look away from that one and survey the rest of the spread.

I couldn't help but think of everything Jasper and everything Cal and put it into cake form. Amazing isn't it? Now which one do you want to try fist? I thought models delight might be a bit vulgar for a wedding but it tastes so good - but I wasn't sure if the poptart one was to much Cal and not enough Jasper.

Blinking over at Apollo, Atlas set both hands firmly in his pockets and stepped up to better inspect the array of confectionery wonders. His left hand closed over the small vial of ground up wonder drug, transfigured that morning to resemble the shimmer powder that he had asked Daphne about the other day. Considerable planning had gone into this endeavor he couldn't allow himself to become too distracted from the task at hand. It was difficult though; the pop tart cake closely resembled a house of cards while he wondered at the correctness of the large four poster bed cake and its sleeping occupants.

The model delight cake was easy to find, that many shoed feet and breasts were difficult for even Atlas to miss. Tentatively taking the fork from Apollo he nudged off one of the legs and nibbled at it. “It is rather good, is that honey and lavender?” Doing his best to ignore the small cat walking sugar sculptures he looked at the pop tart cake, wondering if sampling it would be a good idea or if it would just cause the whole thing to topple down.
“I think Jasper loathes the pop tarts and as you said before they sometimes explode. Wouldn't any mishaps.” His eyes stopped over on cake, its surface was a brilliant pinkish shade and carved furniture readily recognizable as Jasper's living room. There was a mini red faced Cal, or a kind bakers interpretation of Cal, standing at the bottom of the stairs, open mouthed with a towel around his waist while I mini Jasper lounged on the sofa, thankfully fully clothed. “That one is....interesting, though I have to admire Daphne's craftsmanship I think shes taken some artistic liberties where Calixtus is concerned. And,” He couldn't believe this sentence was about to come out of his mouth. For science, for science. .

“I think it could do with a little more shine.” He produced the vial, shifting away from Apollo just slightly just in case another cuddle was forthcoming. “Would you like to do the honors?”

Atlas looked rather enchanted with his creations on second thought and with the way he was eyeing up the model’s delight cake Apollo was rather sure his chaste little friend was suddenly rethinking all those nights of rejecting both his and Jasper’s offers to hook him up with the stunning beauty of his dreams. In fact he rather recalled the man looking far from delighted with some emotion other than happy on his face. But if it wasn’t happy it wasn’t worth any note since Apollo had learned long ago that life was much much more fun when he only allowed the happy things in. Such as he might have missed Carmen’s Lasers of Lust, Maria’s mooning, and Bridget’s blossoming figure. Looks the faint of heart and mind might have interpreted to mean something completely different.

“It is rather good, is that honey and lavender?”

Apollo nodded happily, pleased with himself. “Brilliant yeah? That was my suggestion. I wanted them to taste as authentic as possible and Daphne agreed it was best for the cake and I wanted to make sure Cal got a bite of what Jas was giving up.” Artemis had looked rather disgusted with the whole logic behind models tasting the way they should properly, he however had pushed forth undaunted. It was for the good of the cake and for the good of the marriage. Cal would see how wonderful he was compared to Jas’s former glories and Jas would get one last time to mess around with a model in a spouse approved manner.

While Atlas’s attention was drawn to one of Daphne’s more genius cakes, Apollo corralled the more enthusiastic of the cakes back into his tiny pin. Pinkie Pie the Cake (also referred to as PPtC) always seemed to be throwing herself at forks and he wasn’t all to sure Atlas was alright with the idea. Though the man was looking at the morning after cake rather intently. Apollo found it to be a stunning rendition of how he assumed Cal always ran around, though he wasn’t all too sure of Artemis’s grand idea to have a bit of his (Apollo’s) clothing lying on the couch alongside the prostrate Jasper. Something seemed wrong about the idea but Daphne had decided to all the twins to come to a compromise, hence the taste of models delight with one and Apollo’s discarded clothes with another.

“I think it could do with a little more shine. Would you like to do the honors?”

Shine? Shine! That would make that cake twenty times better. That was what was off about the couch. It was missing some of its signature glimmer dust. Only he had to make sure Atlas was offering satisfactory tasting shine. Didn’t want to off se the taste of the cake to make it more visually appealing. Daphne wouldn’t approve and would loose some of her signature sunshine, which would be akin to killing puppies. It just wasn’t done.

“Of course. Only you don’t mind if I taste it first yeah? Don’t want to make cake taste bad for the sake of some shine.”

Atlas handed over the vial of glimmering powder with an expression Apollo couldn’t quite place, but wasn’t at all bothered by. No he had already stuck his finger in the vial and was curiously licking it off of his finger.

“You know it doesn’t quite have a taste. Maybe I should try a bit more.”
This time a bit more was dumped into his palm before being licked away. There was a slight taste - something familiar yet, yet not. Some parts of him were demanding he go vomit up the stuff instantly while another softly cooing voice told him that he wanted more, that this vial of powder would bring him peace. Apollo paused, giving the now half filled vial a curious look as his thoughts began to take on two voices.

Come my glitter prince finish it all! But… the cake?Remember the fun we had the last time we tasted something similar? Just do it, trust me. I’m your brain. Brain?! I missed you! Give me a hug and what you think about a linen spandex combination…The vial? Right! Let the fun begin!

With a happy little bounce he downed the rest of the shimmer before he realized what he had done. Swallowed his friend’s creative contribution to the cake! “Oh! Atlas! The shimmer… I didn’t mean to – but it was amazing stuff. My brain said hello! Fancy that! Now where did you get it? Could you get me more, and possibly some strawberry bootlaces with a dash of it on top? And quite possibly some more for the c…” Apollo trailed off, suddenly feeling both light and heavy headed. In the course of that sentence the first of the drugs began to slowly enter Apollo’s blood stream. Yet the transformation had yet to fully begin. “Atlas I think I need to sit down.” He mumbled as a noticeably lackluster amount of glitter radiated from his frame.

Sometimes Atlas wondered if Apollo's reactions to certain buzz words (including but not limited to 'glitter', 'sparkle', glitters sad disjointed cousin 'sequin', and any variation on the word 'shiny') were a natural phenomena or might have been painstakingly programmed for a reaction. Not unlike Pavla's dogs. Although Atlas had difficultly coming up with any reason that these particular trigger words would be the ones that the Sinistra's would have chosen for their son. For some time he had bandied about with the thought that there was some sort if sinister apocalyptic plot being planned by the Ministry and Zippy, having worked in the Department of Mysteries and fully aware of the nefarious plans at foot, had known that the only way to stop them when the time came was to fill the world with reflective, multi colored surfaces.

There were, of course, several problems with that plan. The first and most important was that this plan would place Apollo in the role of savorier and while he might be keen on the chance to show himself as the God he commonly professed to be Atlas worried he could become distracted a bit easily. A brightly colored beetle or a ferret with an ascot. For obvious reasons Atlas had had to chuck that theory and had failed to come up with a new one ever since. Instead he was forced to look into Apollo's wide excited eyes and take in the enormous grin and just accept that sometimes you just knew someone who thought that everything on the face of the earth could be improved by being made more bright. For the sake of the experiment at hand though it seemed that it would work out quiet well.

Of course. Only you don't mind if I taste it first yeah? Don't want to make cake taste bad for the sake of some shine.

Doing his best to suppress the small triumphal grin threatening to overtake his features Atlas extended the vial over to Apollo who snatched it up with nimble fingers and inspected it for the span of a few milliseconds before popping his finger first into the vial and then into his mouth. A subtle look of contemplation crossed Apollo's face as he savored the taste. There was a brief moment where Atlas wondered if maybe he had been wrong to add that slight touch of rasberry. But what kind of monster didn't like...

You know it doesn't quite have a taste. Maybe I should try a bit more.

It was at this moment that Atlas was forced to jam his hands into his pockets. This, in order to prevent the overwhelming urge to tent the fingers together and grin like some sort of mad scientist. It would hardly do for Apollo to catch on at this moment in the venture.

An unfamiliar expression crossed over Apollo's features and it took Atlas a moment to place it as what confusion might look like on the other man's face. It was a good sign, an early indication that Zippy had been correct in his information. This was fortunate as Atlas had been diligently searching but had thus far been unable to replace the board. Someone had suggested Harrods...but why on earth would the castle of a biblical king be selling boards capable of bridging contact between one world an another?

Apollo starred down at the vial and Atlas followed suit wondering how much of the power Apollo would have to ingest for full effectiveness. He'd overdosed the vial, believing that Apollo would have placed it on something rather than inhaling the whole thing as if he was at one of Jasper's parties. It shouldn't be too much of a problem though. Apollo downed the rest of the vial.

Oh! Atlas! Apollo looked as if he had just mixed horizontal and vertical stripes or had just slaughtered one of his ponies for glue and gumies. My brain said hello! Fancy that! Now where did you get it? Could you get me more, and possibly some strawberry bootlaces with a dash of it on top? And quite possibly some more for the c.... Suddenly there was silence, a truly disturbing thing where Apollo was involved. If he didn't start talking again soon Artemis might notice and come down, that was not good. Atlas wracked his brain searching for anything that might get Apollo talking again.

Atlas I think I need to sit down. Well he was speaking again but it wasn't Apollo's voice per say. The rabid delivery and some of the flare had been dimmed. Mentally Atlas made some quick calculations trying to determine how quickly such a large does would take effect. At the same time he desperately hoped he hadn't done any real harm to Apollo, the pills were harmles really, surely this was just the transformation in action. Calming himself Atlas searched around for a chair and found one a moment later.

He had to shuffle several rhinestone encrusted spurs and several parasols before he had uncovered a surface that one could actually sit on but he made it eventually. Setting the chair behind Apollo he eased the man down into it, noticing only a marginal amount of glitter floating gently to the floor.

“Your brain spoke to you? What was that like? Are the two of you commonly not in contact? I'm sure you're alright...just too much shimmer. It has an exceptionally high sugar content, coming down is a bit much. You'd have to eat a constant supply of it to stay up, should be sorted in a minute.” Atlas nudged an oddly iridescent beach ball out of the way with one foot before going back to observing Apollo.

There was something wrong, something that didn’t quite feel like him but was completely within him seemed to be stirring things around not unlike a cotton candy machine. He could actually further that sensation as it become more and more apparent that his brain was acting as a cotton candy machine, only instead of spun sugar it was grabbing all his loose thoughts and slowly bringing them all together in some sort of organic structure.

Apollo’s usually radiantly pale face went chalk white. Organic structure? That word had no business being in his head unless it was in reference to a suit. He felt a chair at the back of his legs as Atlas broke the silence.

“Your brain spoke to you? What was that like? Are the two of you commonly not in contact? I'm sure you're alright...just too much shimmer. It has an exceptionally high sugar content, coming down is a bit much. You'd have to eat a constant supply of it to stay up, should be sorted in a minute.”

Apollo blinked in response as not one but two voices clamored to respond. There was his voice as he knew it, the dominate one that seemed to be clinging to its rhinestone encrusted it was slowly being tipped sideways by him. A cross between a gasp and a cackle escaped Apollo’s lips as he mentally began to recognize the feeling that was coming over him. It had happened only twice before and neither time had he been able to explain the presence of the other him. But Apollo’s conscious watched the struggle for control over his mind from the sky as a man that looked exactly like the glitter king made some gestures and blew every last shard of sparkle away from the thrown and brushed away some spare glitter deposits from his crisp black suite.

As all of this was going on in Apollo’s poor little head his body began to react to the regime shift. His posture went from its fashionable ‘s’ curve slouch to ramrod straight, the remainders of glitter that seemed to be forever clustered around him were repelled by some other, stronger, negative force, while most concerning of all the ever present sparkle in his eyes and hint of a smile disappeared.

“ Your curiosity has saved me.” He remarked, eyes drilling into Atlas as Apollo assessed his friend for the first time. Atlas was a satisfactory enough of a wizard for the time. He needed to find her though and convince her that this time he would make a difference in the world. A positive difference if her morals put up a stink again. After all a world run by him would be akin to a utopian society only with less free will. “ And while I would love to discuss some of my finer yet more hidden cognitive functions I feel as though we don’t have time for that.”

Apollo stood and glided over to the base of the stairs where be proceeded to pry the lowest stair loose, revealing a dust bound black journal. “She thought I would never remember.” He chuckled, cradling his ‘lifes’ work in his arms for a moment before flipping it open. “You! Atlas come with me, I need an assistant and you will have to do under the present circumstances. First things first you will have to fetch me my stabilizers and give them to me and only me. No stopping for Artemis. A binding spell will work nicely on her if three stupefies are used before it, she always forgets to block the last spell in that set of four.” With a flick of Apollo’s wand Atlas was holding a prescription for a decade’s supply of Ritalin. “Hurry back with it. I’ll be timing you. Five minutes or your will is forfeit.”

A strange sort of archaic sound tore free from Apollo and it was enough to make Atlas take a careful step backwards. Not sure how close proximity he wanted to have with whatever creature it was that Apollo was slowly morphing into. It was usually Atlas’ problem that his brain seemed to have a disconnect between things that he could do and the things that he should do. Or, more specifically the things that he should not. It was a persistent problem that seemed to rear its head in the oddest circumstances.

There were certain things that should rightfully be considered dangerous, beaming radio signals into space (Atlas was of the opinion that should intelligent live exist in the universe humans would do well to remain hidden), in sighting Shirley into violence, or mentioning yetis (anywhere anytime always). There were other experiments though that should be completely harmless and this was one of them. Disabling Apollo's natural glitter secretions and all matters embodied within shouldn't be making Atlas this uneasy.

He was about to ask if Apollo was alright, and if the answer came back negative there were options on how to proceed, he could attempt a quick stomach pumping spell, or some sort of purging charm, the ultimate plan B was getting Artemis but he sincerely hoped to avoid that scenario and the hexing that would inevitably result.

Apollo suddenly went rigid as if he had just gone through some sort of rapid contained seizure. Stepping closer Atlas peered into his face and watched as Apollo's lips flattened out, eyes going hard. This had not been a good idea.

Your curiosity has saved me.

The voice didn't even sound like Apollo, something had gone horribly wrong. It was still supposed to be Apollo just.....well Atlas wasn't really sure what exactly he had expected from this but certainly not the creature assessing him as if he was decided which of Atlas organs should be removed and sacrificed first. When a smile did return to Bizzaro Apollo's face it was more of rictus grin than anything something akin to the smiles you saw on face figures in the museum of serial killers.

“Apollo I think maybe we should....”

And while I would love to discuss some of my finer yet more hidden cognitive functions I feel as though we don't have time for that.

Why wouldn't they have time? Half of this endevour was a way for Atlas to gain someone to chat to about the finer points of deep thought. But he didn't get the chance to draw attention to that as Bizarro rose from his seat and all but hovered over to the stairs. Atlas lingered behind, unstoppering the vial and sniffing its contents wondering what could have gone wrong and more importantly calculating how long the stuff could be in effect.

You! Atlas come with me, I need an assistant and you will have to do under the present circumstances. First things first you will have to fetch me my stabilizers and give them to me and only me. Stabilizers? Technically that wasn't there actual name and Atlas bristled at being ordered about but there was some instinct in him (very likely his underused survival instinct) that shouted in varying shrill tones for him to leave it for the time being. No stopping for Artemis. A binding spell will work nicely on her if three stupefies are used before it, she always forgets to block the last spell in that set of four.

Apollo flicked his wand and Atlas almost ducked, remember the rare times in school when Apollo had been concentrating during dueling sessions. It hadn't happened all that often but when it had the results had been alternatively painful and shaming. Rather than a hex though a piece of paper materialized in one open hand. Atlas blinked and then looked down to examine it. Hurry back with it. I'll be timing you. Five minutes or your will is forfeit.

Any interpretation of that sentence ended poorly for Atlas and he didn't need to waste time acting for some sort of clarification. Filing away the information on how to subdue Artemis should he need it to defend himself later Atlas spared this strange gremlin one last glance before bounding up the stairs to the Sinistra's home.

“Artemis?” Against his better judgment he removed his wand knowing that the only way this was going to effectively work was if he managed to get the jump on the other twin. He heard the familiar rattle of bones and suspected that wherever Rudolph was Artemis wouldn’t be far behind. This assumption was proven true when Atlas rounded the corner of the hallway and was greeted with Artemis trying to fend him off. “Sorry for this.” The expression she leveled at him right before the stun hit her was positively venomous but entangled as she was with the skeleton she didn’t quite get to her wand.

Mumbling another apology and checking his watch he then examine the piece of paper in his hand. “Accio Ritalin.” There was some resistance and then the bottle popped out of wherever it had been stored and into his hand. Upon examination it didn’t look like anything particularly special to him but he had been wrong before. Remember that he was on a dead line he picked his way back across the room, careful to make sure Artemis hadn’t landed in a position that would cause any kind of muscle aches or cricks. Rudolph shouted at him indignantly. “You should thank me at least now you have a captive audience. Sorry again Artemis.”

He took the steps two at a time on his way down and was shocked to see that Apollo had somehow managed to change his entire outfit during Atlas’ brief absence. “Apollo?” He looked the rather monochromatic suit over the bottle in one fist in his pocket. Atlas also noticed the little bound journal he was holding for the first time. “I think maybe something’s gone a bit wrong here. Maybe I should go and get Artemis. What are you doing exactly?”

Apollo barely registered Atlas’ flight up the stairs, though his mind did make a mental note of the quick work his lackey had performed on his twin when he heard the tale tale thump. He had thought she would have put up more of a fight... yet it was oddly refreshing to have something come easy. The whole ordeal of being set free last time had been greatly hindered by his sister and grandfather. Not this time. No Atlas had been an unexpected variable he hadn't thought to play. Well when he did think of such things it was late at night while his other half dreamed of pink disgusting things that would actually prove to be invaluable if he had an intention of causing some sort of glitter epidemic. Maybe that would be enough to distract his grandfather and Artemis and have them leave him be. Apollo had learned not the rely on family last time his focus had been magically restored to him. The learning curve had been a steep one with a high price of being banished to the hazy mists of glitter dust island but he had had years to plan and experiment. Glitter and fashion only took a minimal amount of power to focus on and communicate, but for some reason his more genus ideas only came through at the most trivial of moments but it was in these moments he was able to test the true extent of his powers.

Apollo had come to the conclusion that he needed to make the world a better place. He needed to start with something small and weak and gradually build up his reserves. Such as at the English Ministry of Magic. He knew Will. It wouldn't be hand to take down the man and with Atlas still in an enchanted wonder lust there would be no need to take full control over his friend till occasion called. Though it truly was a pity that Wendell was dead. He could use that man.
As all these thoughts were floating throughout Apollo's head he had been taking decisive action. Gone went his colors, his gaudy pants, and atrocious cravat, and in their place he had gone with something more official. A quick look in the mirror told him that the effect was going as planned except for one thing, his hair. It needed to change asap else no one was going to take him seriously.

NOT THE HAIR YOU FREAK! PAWS OFF. MINE! DO YOU UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH OF OUR DAY WE SEND ACHIEVING THAT LOOK? BACK OFF OR SO HELP ME WE ARE TELLING ARTY EXACTLY WHERE YOU PLAN ON HIDING THE PILLS! Can't do anything without going through me first What about Carmen? She loves our locks! She'll think we're ugly. She doesn't care a wilt about us and is exhibiting some signs of breeding. Liar face. Now remember touch the scissors orwhen I get back we are going to attempt suicide and hopefully kill off whatever brain cells you reside in. Not if i get my way. Freakin square. Love you too sparkles.

Apollo glared at his reflection which seemed to be looking rather please with himself. Why didn't the other form just leave when he was in control? It would make things twenty times easier. Then his sister's call would have no effect at all. Instead Apollo gave a resigned sigh, put the scissors down and contented himself with combing and greasing back his hair. More acceptable by far.

Which a sigh he opened his journal and began to wait for his minion who had exactly 2 minutes to return to him. The sound of scampering feet caused him to snap his book closed and give the other man an impatient look. Atlas held out the bottle of Ritalin which he quickly took and hid away in his back pocket. He wasn't quite sure how much Atlas had given him but as soon as his mind started to turn towards things other than world unity he was going to have to take one. By his calculations the bottle would last him a good month.

“I think maybe something’s gone a bit wrong here. Maybe I should go and get Artemis. What are you doing exactly?”

Minions weren't supposed to have opinions. A silencing spell would be required before the day was out he could feel it. "Nothing is wrong Atlas. Everything is going according to plan, Artemis won't see it as such though which is precisely why you shouldn't go running to her. In fact I hear her stirring... you throw a rather weak stunner don't you? No matter we can handle her." Apollo paused listening to the sounds he recognized to be those of a rather livid sister. They were an equal match when he was just Apollo, but as super Apollo well there was no telling to be frank.

"Quickly now, how much did you give me Atlas? That will help me determine our next step, which I feel will be a revolutionary one that will make life better for us all." By us you mean me yeah? Indeed. Can we make the world sparkle in fear at least? I would expect nothing less of us. Genius! I know.

Arty had been innocently sitting upstairs reading a book on experimental charms when she heard the tell-tale clatter of Rudolph climbing the stairs. It was surprising to say the least since she was unaware that he could actually climb stairs without falling to pieces. But Rudolph's mobility had been improving by leaps and bounds recently and it seemed that she could no escape him by retreating to the sanctuary of her flat anymore. He tipped his hat towards her with a friendly greeting of "WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE!"

"Hullo Rudolph," She replied looking up from her book. He appearently wasn't too interested in giving up pursuing her even after that last meeting with Logan. She wondered what measures you took to get a restraining order against a skeleton stalker. She knew it was possible to do, after all Moaning Myrtle liked to tell everyone she met about that terrible Olive Hornby who made fun of her glasses. And horrible Hornby had gotten a restraining order against her.

At any rate Rudolph went on talking to her and while she wasn't really paying him any attention she occasionally nodded or said something along the lines of "Mmm," "Uh huh," or "Oh?" all the while still reading her book. Eventually Rudolph took her rapt attention to him as permission to slip his boney arm around her shoulder's. This pulled her out of her instantly out of her book and she turned to him to kindly ask him to respect her personal space bubble.

"Artemis?"

She heard Atlas' voice coming from down the hallway and she internally thanked her lucky stars that someone was coming to rescue from the amorous attentions of Rudolph. She swatted at Rudolph's offending and looked over at Atlas.

"Oh thank Merlin! Atlas get him off would you?"

But Atlas just made this strange sort of face and responded with:

"Sorry for this."

Then without any warning or prompting he shot a stunning spell at her. She was sure the shock and anger that she was feeling was perfectly appearent on her face for the split second before the spell hit her knocking her over. Over the buzzing sort of sound in her ears and Rudolph's outraged "WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE" she heard Atlas mutter another apology before a much more dangerous one.

"Accio Ritalin!"

What was happening? What was he doing? How did even know about that cursed medicine? A rush of panic flooded her system and she struggled against the stunning spell. Not that it helped much since you couldn't really move after having been stunned. However, after a minute or two she felt feeling slowly return to her limbs. She shook her head and then shoved Rudolph off of her and he landed on the floor with a thump. She grabbed her wand off the coffee table and ran towards the front door and down the stairs with a terribly ominous feeling in her stomach.

When she threw open the door to the shop she was greeted by the site of her brother in the most conservative looking outfit she had ever seen him in. His hair was slicked back with copious amounts of grease and he was standing ramrod straight, Atlas was staring on horrified.

Things were bad.

"Atlas Caedmon if you ever try and hex me again it will be the last thing you ever do." She spat glaring at him.

Then she turned to Apollo. He was looking at her in that condesending slightly amused manner that he did whenever he was under the influence of the muggle drug. He could out rationalize her in his hyper-focused state and he viewed her as well as the rest of humanity as inferior beings unable to make their own decisions. However, she as his sister and biological other-half he also saw her as one of his greatest threats.

"Well, Apollo. How does it feel to be in control of your own head again?" She finally asked.

Nothing is wrong Atlas. Everything is going according to plan, Artemis won't see it as such though which is precisely why you shouldn't go running to her.

This was not in fact true a great deal appeared to be wrong. First of all whatever Atlas had done hadn't subdued Apollo it appeared to have killed him. Completely gone were the copious amounts of glitter and the sparkle that Atlas had never been able to place as a natural or a put on effect. The state of Apollo's hair was the final sign that something had gone horribly amiss. It was slicked back, Atlas didn't even know Apollo allowed the substance needed to accomplish such a task into the store. Besides this the look had been prepared in roughly four minutes that he had been gone whereas the real Apollo would have spent hours carefully grooming and preening. Prep time was key, how many times had he been told that. Now this impostor had raked his hands through it and with scarely any time had determined that it was ready.

These were of course just the aesthetic problems with this situation. The other issue was that nagging and persistent overwhelming feeling of foreboding that Atlas felt settling over him like a weighted net. A sound from upstairs indicated that there was a second proper looming on the horizon. Apollo's now sharp and piercing gaze didn't even flick upwards, In fact I hear her stirring... you throw a rather weak stunner don't you? No matter we can handle her.

Atlas almost bristled at Apollo's assessment of his stuns, one more look at the strange creature in front of him and he decided silence was a better option at this juncture. Besides that the instruction had been to stun, not to hurt her, and Apollo would never tolerate someone even considering harming his sister. At least the Apollo that Atlas was familiar with.

Quickly now, how much did you give me Atlas? That will help me determine our next step, which I feel will be a revolutionary one that will make life better for us all..

Frowning Atlas took a moment to consider the circumstances, wondering how long he could stall to give Artemis time to get there. She always knew what was best where Apollo was concerned. He should have asked her in the first place rather than incurring her wrath as he no doubt had. “Three tablets....80 milligrams each? Just what kind of step are we thinking here? I think maybe we should just sit down for awhile, Jasper said that you had a few new ponies in....”

Any further attempts at distraction were interrupted when Artemis, having fully recovered, threw the door open with force sufficient enough force to cause the door to reverberate on its hinges.

Atlas Caedmon if you ever try and hex me again it will be the last thing you ever do.

Rather than arguing the point...and really what would he have said Atlas just nodded dumbly. At least she had just punctuated the words with a pointed finger rather than her wand. Small comfort though, Atlas had a theory that Artemis Sinistra's gaze alone might be powerful enough to laser through a person. Giving him one last withering look Artemis shifted her attention the Anti-Apollo who was smiling smugly at her.

“Three tablets....80 milligrams each? Just what kind of step are we thinking here? I think maybe we should just sit down for awhile, Jasper said that you had a few new ponies in....”

Had the other more vibrant Apollo been in control he would have giving Atlas a huge hug and probably a rather large kiss. However the new and improved Apollo was more than able to contain his glee. Three pills? The most his family had ever tried on him had been two – and that had resulted in one twenty-four hour period of bliss. This time he was guaranteed at least a day and a half. More time than he had ever been gifted with in his life – all thanks to Atlas and probably some nagging doubt that who ever had given him the idea had been lying to him.

It was an amazing gift. One he would not squander. He would not be going back this time. He give Atlas a pleased grin. “ You have done we -" However the shrill shriek of Artemis cut him off. Apollo took the time to brace himself and obseve. She always was such a silly girl.

"Atlas Caedmon if you ever try and hex me again it will be the last thing you ever do." She spat glaring at him.

Her glare turned to him as Atlas made some pacifying noises in the background. If only she knew how using the glare was not necessary to incite fear, and actually had been over used. It no longer incited fear but rather it just made him feel a tad bit amused that she thought she still had such supreme power over him.

She does have supreme power over us. We can’t be like this forever. Who says we can’t? My hair! Our hair doesn’t care what it is doing so long as its making the world a better place. You monster! That’s our life! No sparkles we are destined for something much greater. I don’t see what’s better than great hair…

"Well, Apollo. How does it feel to be in control of your own head again?"

“Brilliant.” He answered without hesitation while doing a quick spell to make his notebook of wonderment and evil plans disappear, all the while ignoring the half of him that still did react to Artemis’s glare of might. “Its amazing what clearing out all the useless clutter does. Now my dear sister I fear I must be off. Atlas follow me.” Apollo made a motion for the frozen man to follow before doing a light binding spell – not anything forceful just enough to make the man move.

He didn’t trust her. And why should he? She hadn’t proven to be a particularly loyal sister when he was on his ‘wonder drug.’ The first experiment had occurred when they were wee children of nine. As a bewildered little girl, she had been terrified by the unnatural monster that had taken over her brother. In that instance Grandpa Zippy had simply removed the Riddlin from the house and refused to give him anymore. He was too young to go out and get more on his own and the disastrous episode eventually ran its course. However, the second experiment had occurred the summer before graduation when he was no longer hindered by his youth and lack of wand. In that instance, Arty had been instrumental in gaining his trust and then subverting his ministry take-over plans and pilfering back the medicine that he had stolen.

It hadn’t been an entirely easy decision for her to play on his trust in her. In some ways she didn’t really want to take away the medicine. She enjoyed seeing her brother work to his full potential. The problem was finding a balance between the cold hard logic of drugged Apollo and the whirlwind of color and glitter that he was in his normal state.

”Brilliant. It’s amazing what clearing out all the useless clutter does. Now my dear sister I fear I must be off. Atlas follow me.””

Subtle though it was she could see his magical signature wrapping around Atlas in a binding spell, as he prepared to head out. If there was one thing she was sure of, it was that she couldn’t let him out of her site. Who knew what sort of trouble he’d get into, and drag an unwilling Atlas along with him.

“Perhaps I’ll join you,” she said innocently pocketing her wand to make herself appear less of a threat. “I get tired of sitting around the shop, and it’s been a while since I’ve had intelligent conversation.”

She shrugged at his disbelieving stare.

“Look Apollo, I know I’ve been less than supportive in the past when you’ve had the medicine. But you couldn’t handle it before, and you kept rushing into things without thinking them through. I sided with our grandfather for your own good. I’m always doing things for your good. Surely you must know that.” She explained as reasonably as she could muster under the current circumstances. She knew somewhere within this strange being was her brother, the one who she took to St. Mungo’s on a bi-weekly basis, and whose ideas she helped realized no matter how ludicrous they were. He couldn’t withstand her innocent ‘but-I’m-your-big-sister’ eyes for very long.

As soon as Atlas informed Apollo of the dosage he had been given a glint came to his eyes. The kind that one might see in a children's animated movie, on the face of a villain, in a close up, right after he had dispatched the hero and tied the heroine to the rail road tracks. Really all that was missing was the cape, which Atlas thought was an odd omission because the Apollo that he knew had never really met a cape that he hadn't wanted to bejewel and turn into that seasons new favorite fashion. With or without the cape the chesire cat grin was enough to convince Atlas that three pills )and hefty ones at that) had been a bad idea.

When Artemis had arrived he'd almost felt comfortable to breath a sigh of relief. Sure once all this was over she was probably going to hex him. Or, he thought with a healthy degree of concern, she might just jinx his weekly supply of baked goods from Daphne's. As he thought about it he could distinctly remember the conversation the two of them had had not a few weeks ago on that very subject. This was why Atlas tended not to assist people, you never new when a brainstorming session about the best way to cause a boil charm to activate after having been baked into a peach cobbler was going to come back and bite you in the ass. Well, now that he considered it further he supposed that would be more of a hemorrhoids jinx than anything else.

Brilliant! The exclamation brought him out of his musing in time to watch the small black notebook Apollo had dug out for under the stairs earlier disappear. That wasn't supposed to happen. Artemis was here, the notebook full of not doubt nefarious musings and a copy of the 'glitter manifesto', should be in her hands and then she would fix Apollo. Now my dear sister I fear I must be off. Atlas follow me.. Or maybe not.

Apollo's long thin fingers flicked forward, beckoning him to follow and Atlas felt his joints tightening. A barely perceptible binding spell. A mixture of flexing muscles which would cease as soon as one moved in the direction that the caster indicated along with a small nagging feeling in the back of your mind that you should heed the suggestions of the caster. It was a complicated spell made more so by the fact that Apollo had done it wandless, and made it subtle enough that Atlas wasn't sure he would have noticed if everything else about his friends behavior hadn't been so off.

“Where are we going?” He inquired, voice somewhere between confusion and concern. If he could stall Apollo long enough maybe Artemis would come to her senses and stop this. Wondering if the binding spell would let him go for his wand, concealed in one of the numerous inside pockets of his coat but then Apollo was glancing at him and he decided to leave off. He wondered if a stomach pumping spell would be enough to remove the medication but decided against it a moment later.

He had very little information on this new Apollo. Normal Apollo was very magically powerful but counter to his school house motto lacked the ambition to make it work to his benefit. Instead he choose to use his supremely powerful magical intellect and skill to figure out new dye lots and make rhinestone braziers. Bizzaro Apollo was a complete wild card. Atlas could be wrong but the black and highly rigid garb, combined with the concern from his sister led him to believe that this Apollo might have slightly more hifalutin plans for his talents.

Perhaps I'll join you. Both Apollo and Atlas turned to look at Artemis, both perplexed. Artemis had never once in the entire history of Atlas knowing her, ever expressed wanting anything to do with any of the Boy's Club's members capers. It was true that this one was a bit different from all the other's that had come before it but her suggestion struck Atlas as an interesting, but not at all unwelcome suggestion. Then, in the face of Apollo's indecision she turned on what looked like some sort of puppy like expression.

“Maybe we should let her come with us?” He hazarded the suggestion. “It couldn't hurt to have another hand along to do...whatever it exactly that we're on our way to doing. What are we on our way to doing by the by....I haven't given the lobsters there weekly shipment of moonshine yet and they can get quiet surly...” The sound of bones clatter and then crashing back from the upstairs and a few moments later Rudolph's head, with a few stray vertebrae trailing behind came clomping down the stairs.

“WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE!” He rolled on the floor like one of those children's wobbling toys in the space next to Artemis' feet.

“Perhaps I’ll join you."

Shock! Gasp! Horror! No! Bad Idea! Bad Arty! You will ruin our master plans... what were the master plans? No matter you will ruin it! Ruin it! Apollo could feel his other half begin to shiver in fear. Bloody nascence that one was. It wasn't as though Artemis could hinder his plans after all. He was merely going to pay a quick visit to Jasper's establishment, pick up a few items he had coherced glitter boy to buy and then hide in Jasper's downstairs closet and then make his way over to the Ministry to have a little talk with the current Minister... fill out a job application or two. After all one couldn't take over all of wizarding London in the course of a day. Goodness no! He wouldn't dare be that presumptuous. He need at least a week like that Muggle God-Wizard-Thingy. Which is why he needed Artemis to not realize Atlas had given him a rather large amount of stabilizers. He couldn't accomplish more than securing a job if the pills went away. No he had to play this cool. No more talk of world take over. That had only gotten him pain and defeat last time.

"I get tired of sitting around the shop, and it’s been a while since I’ve had intelligent conversation.”

Apollo bit back an instinctual no - it was almost as if he hadn't just calmed glitter boy down with talk of her not being a hindrance. As flighty as a handful of glitter on a blustery day.

“Look Apollo, I know I’ve been less than supportive in the past when you’ve had the medicine. But you couldn’t handle it before, and you kept rushing into things without thinking them through. I sided with our grandfather for your own good. I’m always doing things for your good. Surely you must know that.”

Aw look she's making such pretty eyes at us. Shut up. But look at them. Sparkles so help me if you make this any harder than it already is... Come off it Square she wants to help! Sister love! Apollo sighed frustrated with the lot of them - which was apparently enough prompt for Atlas to start rambling with all form of useless question. Why can't she come? She'll be helpful. Where are we going? What are we doing? Do you even have a plan?

And then... “WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE!”

There was only so much our glitter-less Apollo could take. "Enough! Silencio!" Apollo yelled, wand out at the skeleton with unfortunate timing. He turned back to the two wizards in the room, "Anyone else going to join our party? Anyone that you would mind my maiming in any way?"

A skeletal index finger flew over his shoulder. Apollo gave the skeleton a menacing glare. Another finger was popped off. Apollo's wand raised threateningly. The throwing ceased. He focused his attention back to on others.

"Artemis you may come, I won't hesitate to discipline you however. Sparkles may fall for your act but I won't. Now we are going to proceed in an orderly fashion to Jasper's home. Do you both think you can manage? Afterwards should you care to join me we are going to fill out job applications. Wicked fun yeah?" He asked sarcastically. "Nothing nefarious will be happening Arty. You can take that frown off your face and follow if you will. Atlas come along."

With these words Apollo left the shop and strode out purposefully into a world that would not recognize him as the Glitter King but come a week from that very day they would soon treat him like the deity he truly was, even if he had to do it by force. Though he did hope that offering to take a position in the ministry, a quick Imperio on the minister, followed by his easy assent into the minister's cabinet would work. Otherwise plan B - which involved a lot more blood and the 'ultimate' weapon as detailed in his notebook would come into effect.

Failure was not an option.

She could tell that her sweetly beseeching expression was working it’s magic against his will. Her only real worry was that Atlas’ nervous babbling would irritate Apollo into storming out of the shop on his own. He was always so impatient when under the influence of Riddlin. However it was the sudden appearance of Rudolph that finally used the last of Apollo’s patience. He whirled around and spat out a silencing spell that whizzed past Arty and squarely hit Rudolph in the jaw.

"Anyone else going to join our party? Anyone that you would mind my maiming in any way?"

Rudolph, ignoring all common sense, started hurling bones at Apollo. Arty glanced down at the skeleton and tried to wave him off from doing something so hazardous to his tenuous life. However it was the sight of Apollo’s wand trained at him again that made Rudolph reconsider his actions.

"Artemis you may come, I won't hesitate to discipline you however…”

She ground her teeth together tightly to keep herself from letting out an angry retort. Super-genius or not she’d be damned if he’d hex her without suffering himself. She was quick with her wand and while she might not be as practiced as her friend Sofia, Arty had an arsenal of spells to draw upon.

"Nothing nefarious will be happening Arty. You can take that frown off your face and follow if you will. Atlas come along."

Her frown momentarily deepened before she forced it to go away entirely. She’d follow him to make sure he didn’t cause any trouble. While she deeply regretted that Jasper would witness this side of Apollo, it was his intention to visit the ministry that had her most concerned. He had a fixation on taking over the ministry and ruling the wizarding world himself. She could not allow him to visit the ministry or all hell would break loose. Apollo whisked out of the shop leaving a confused Atlas and an irritated Arty in his wake. As they moved to follow after him she grabbed Atlas’ arm and urgently whispered:

“Try not to irritate him in this state but we mustn’t let him get to the ministry. It’s imperative we get the medicine from him. How much has he already taken?”

As was usually the case when both Sinistra twins were present, Atlas was at a loss for where exactly he should be looking. Artemis was usually the safest bet. She was fast, a capable duelist and very often tended to use those talents to soundly punish anyone who tried to involved her brother in the wrong kind of activity. It had been several years since Atlas had been present for Artemis to include him in the ‘wrong crowd’ but, he had a nagging suspicion that giving her brother mind altering drugs and then appearing to go along with his plans that at best involved world domination and at worse involved world immolation, would firmly single him out for execution. All of these reasons seemed to be good indicators that he should keep his eyes firmly set on Artemis, but Apollo wasn’t exactly himself.

When Artemis offered to join them, the thing that Atlas suspected he might have wanted for years, instead of quivering and sending glitter flying in all directions to stick to whatever surfaced it touched and never come off Apollo looked....Taking his eyes off of Artemis Atlas tried to define the expression on Apollo’s face. A muscle Atlas didn’t know the other man twitched in his next, he had heard muggle medications could cause high blood pressure....maybe someone should warn him....

“WE’RE ALL GOING TO DIE!”

Atlas’ head swung to the side, burrowing one ear against his shoulder as Rudolph shrieked. The decibel level the skeleton could reach would have been astounding even for someone who wasn’t dead. In the effort to block any possible forth coming sound Atlas lost any pertinent information he might have been about to impart about vascular health. When he remembered it again Apollo had just finished threatening Rudolph with what he guessed from some crude lip reading, painful dismemberment. Atlas finished rubbing the ringing out of the first ear and had moved on to the second when Apollo turned in his and Artemis’ direction, wand still out. Anyone else going to join our party? Anyone that you mind my maiming in any way?

Well if we’re bringing maiming into it maybe someone should call Carmen and tell her there was a massive Ministry information break down happening at the Sinistras. Atlas winced as Rudolph lobbed a finger at tall dark and decidedly un sparkly, those were so hard to find later. After a brief, tense standoff Apollo aquienced to having Artemis accompany them.

Nothing nefarious will be happening Arty. You can take that frown off your face and follow if you will. Atlas come along. It was the little tugging that tipped him off. Any sort of control spells, even small ones, tended to give someone a little nudge at the base of the spine. If the right amount of care was put into them it was less, just a subtle little feeling of ‘follow along’, ‘do it’, and sometimes ‘jump’. In this case the spell was subtle enough that most people might not have noticed it, but Atlas, who operated at all times on the assumption that someone somewhere was attempting to control his brain or body, felt the little push. There was little to be done for it at the moment and so giving Rudolph a look that clearly communicated, ‘stay here and be quiet’. Atlas followed the two Sinistras outside.

Apollo took point swaggering ahead of the two of them into the rather dreary London daylight. There were a few children, a bird, some old crone who was most likely an illuminati spy selling daiseys and, Artemis’ nails dug into Atlas’ forearm. A moment later Artemis was up on her tip toes, still walking and urgently whispering...something. Atlas bent his neck lower to hear, hunching a bit and keeping his eyes on Apollo. It really wasn’t a very long walk to Jasper’s.

Try not to irritate him in this state but we mustn’t let him get to the ministry. It’s imperative we get the medicine from him. How much as he already taken?

People just kept asking him that today.

“240 miligrams spread over three solid compound table---.” His voice startled out as Arty’s nails clutched at him suddenly. There were many times in the earlier years at Hogwarts where Atlas would have been perfectly happy with this situation, but as it was he would have preferred not to have five pointy digits digging into his skin. “It should be a relatively small dosage for someone his size provided he ate a hearty breakfast this morning.” Again with the nails. “The rest of the bottle contains about 14 pills...not long enough to sustain him forever.”

Apollo hadn’t turned to look at them yet, maybe the years of going to gigs with Jasper had damaged his hearing, a blessing really. Atlas wondered about the worst that could happen if they did let Apollo get to the ministry...maybe he’d shake up the status quo, make a few reforms....Atlas took less than 2 seconds to imagine a world run by either Apollo before glancing back down at Arty. “Have to stop him from getting to the Ministry, agreed. But how exactly do you suppose we could stop him? What are this version of your brothers cabablilitiess exactly? I mean, besides the obvious of being able to hold a coherent thought for more than 47.8 seconds....”