Regulus Black (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
the_noble_black) wrote2011-12-09 08:59 pm
the_noble_black) wrote2011-12-09 08:59 pm
oo1. [Accidental Video]
[The video feed clicks on with a wet, sopping sound. The sound of waterlogged fabric slipping along itself. There's a resounding thud as the figure crashed to the floor. It's hard to see, at first- whirling, obscuring robes, collapsing in on itself, water flung off of fabric and skin and blurring the camera.
Black, waterlogged hair, clinging to soft, pale cheeks. Gray eyes, visible just for a moment, before the boy convulses on his hands and knees, retching, emptying murky water from his mouth, his throat, his lungs. The water tinges pink; blood stains at his lips. He trembles, shakes, screams, and the weight of his wet cloak overpowers him, drags him down into the ground his nails scratching bloody marks into the floor as if he's still drowning. There's only a flash of his left forearm, but the traces of a tattoo should be burned enough into the memory of anyone who cares to recognize it.
But this isn't about Regulus Black being a Death Eater, it's about Regulus Black being dead.
Or- close enough, anyway.
The feed goes black after another long moment]
Black, waterlogged hair, clinging to soft, pale cheeks. Gray eyes, visible just for a moment, before the boy convulses on his hands and knees, retching, emptying murky water from his mouth, his throat, his lungs. The water tinges pink; blood stains at his lips. He trembles, shakes, screams, and the weight of his wet cloak overpowers him, drags him down into the ground his nails scratching bloody marks into the floor as if he's still drowning. There's only a flash of his left forearm, but the traces of a tattoo should be burned enough into the memory of anyone who cares to recognize it.
But this isn't about Regulus Black being a Death Eater, it's about Regulus Black being dead.
Or- close enough, anyway.
The feed goes black after another long moment]
[Offline]
The Dark Lord is not stupid. He will not tip his hand if he does not have to here. Potter and his friends have kept mostly quiet about his future, presumably in an attempt to keep their perceived advantage. [After all, one cannot kill indiscriminately if one has to behave.] However, I do believe your idiot of a brother has recently made himself a more specific target than most.
[Offline]
[He looks at Snape impassively. No emotion, no distress.]
What did that idiot do this time?
[Offline]
Defended your honor, apparently.
[Okay, maybe not quite as grand sounding as that.]
[Offline]
Please. My brother wouldn't defend my life. For all he cares, I have no honor.
[Offline]
There are events that happen here, usually every other week. There was one two months ago that showed how people died. Some were true, some were false. Some were the deaths of those already here... And some showed the deaths of those who were not here.
Your name appeared on a gravestone to me.
[And if it appeared to Snape, then it appeared to Sirius.]
[Offline]
[Regulus looks at him, scrutinizing for a long moment, before turning away.]
Sirius is an idiot who will believe anything he sees.
[Offline]
[Offline]
[Offline]
[Offline]
[That still posed a problem. Regulus considered for a moment- his damned brother with his foolish bravado, trying to defend his name. If Regulus cared at all about leaving a legacy, he wouldn't have lead the world to believe that he was a coward who panicked after he'd gotten too deep.
And as much as he hated Sirius, Regulus still felt the urge to try and make sure his brother didn't get himself tortured and killed.
He sighs.]
...What did you see, Severus? [His death- if anyone else knew the truth, then it was all in vain anyway.]
[Offline]
[Dark eyes drift towards Reg's still somewhat wet hair and the bit of dried blood at the corner of his mouth. There's no need to say what else he saw aside from that.
Or is there any need for him to tell Regulus that he has a very good idea of what was in the cave. The question though is why.]
[Offline]
For what it's worth, Reg has a brilliant poker face. He continues to watch Snape impassively, eyes slightly narrowed.]
And you're sure what you saw was the truth?
no subject
At Regulus's question though, all he does is shrug lightly.]
Does it matter? After all, your truth is what you want it to be.
no subject
[His eyes are dark when he looks up toward Snape. Regulus' reply takes a long moment, and he has to think about it, weigh the consequences, and Snape should recognize the slight hesitance before the resigned determination.]
If the Dark Lord is here, then I serve him faithfully and without fault.
no subject
[The question is asked softly... It's not that dangerous softness that often masks the coiled serpent underneath, but rather the softness that Regulus might remember from when they had both still been in school, talking about the future and 'what if's, when life was not quite so dangerous. It is the softness that grey borders are made of.
But when it seems like the boy is about to answer, Snape cuts across it.]
Though I suppose that doesn't matter. Not here. Not right now. Your Mark was bared for everyone to see, you have no choice unless you wish to openly defy him.
[It's the unsaid, or perhaps the way everything is said, that speaks the loudest.]
no subject
You're right- it doesn't matter. [Coldly.] He is here now. There isn't another option. [He says it lightly, but Snape can garner what he will. Regulus was a cornered pawn, he had nothing to do but to resume his tasks as a Death Eater. There was nothing else he could do, even if he wanted to.]
no subject
no subject
[Who knows? He glances away.]
-don't worry about me. I can handle myself.
no subject
[Sorry, Reg, you are officially in his care now.]
no subject
I meant my conduct. My decisions on how to act from here on out. You're not responsible for me, don't act like you want to be.
no subject
Whether you wish it or not, I am. The years have not affected my memory.
[Meaning he's got your back. Besides, you're younger than him (even more so), and he's already responsible for everyone else (except the Dark Lord) from their world. What's another soul, right?]
no subject
...where are you staying?
no subject