oo1. [Accidental Video]

[the_noble_black]

[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]

Comments

[siriuslymagical.livejournal.com]

I already knew that, so if you were thinking that was new information that would shock me, you're mistaken.

[the-noble-black.livejournal.com]

Don't come see me.

[Quiet. It's not a demand- he's not strong right now. He can't fend off the potion and figure out where he stands with Sirius at the same time, especially not now that he's died for a cause that he's never believed in. Especially not now when the potion is making him remember their fights, their yelling, the anger and rage and all the words he could never take back.

He's almost pleading with his brother, really. Don't come. Not now.]

[siriuslymagical.livejournal.com]

[Sirius runs a hand through his long hair, contemplating his next move.]

You win, for now. I won't come see you yet but you've gotta keep talking to me 'til Snape gets there, 'kay? I don't really care what you want to talk about, how much you hate me, how much mother probably still rants about me, what your favorite tea to drink in the morning is, doesn't really matter. Just pretend your me and don't shut up.

[But if something goes wrong while they're talking before Snape gets there (hell, even after Snape gets there) he's grabbing his bike and flying over there, not really caring about what Regulus wants or not.]

[the-noble-black.livejournal.com]

Yes, alright.

[Quiet. He can agree to that- but all he can think about are his regrets, his guilt. His voice is faint, faraway.]

I'm alright with the rest of the world, but I keep thinking about that bloody tapestry. [A humorless, feeble laugh. It isn't funny.] Mum's going to see my deathdate on it, won't she? I've probably upset her terribly.

[siriuslymagical.livejournal.com]

She'd probably be more upset over the fact that she's run out of heirs for the House of Black.

[He'd say that she'd probably get a heart attack and die from the shock of Regulus' death, but he knows the year that she dies and she clings to life for another few years before finally kicking the bucket.]

[the-noble-black.livejournal.com]

Don't be so cruel. You never gave her a chance.

[He points out meekly but- Sirius was right and he knew it.]

[siriuslymagical.livejournal.com]

She never gave me a chance, so I didn't think she deserved one from me. Bet she threw a party the night I ran away, glad to be rid me once and for all.

[the-noble-black.livejournal.com]

Not a party.

[He coughs, and it rattles through him.]

I was always- such a disappointment.

[siriuslymagical.livejournal.com]

Probably still better than I was. Disappointment from birth, after all. Not that I cared much about Mum or Dad being disappointed with me over anything.

[the-noble-black.livejournal.com]

Of course you don't.

[He makes a soft sound.]

That's the worst thing about you.

[siriuslymagical.livejournal.com]

What was the worst thing? Not being an obedient little boy for Mummy and Daddy? Not mindlessly listening to the garbage that they constantly crammed into our skulls?

[Talking to Regulus usually leads to their conversation turning into this. Even when his brother is half dead, he can still get under Sirius' skin and make him rant like this.]

[the-noble-black.livejournal.com]

Yes, please tell me how much of a terrible person I am while I'm dying, brother dear.

[A knived little smile and he coughs again.]

[siriuslymagical.livejournal.com]

I never said you were a terrible person, Reg. Mother and Father, yes...but I never said that about you.

[Not that he hasn't teased or called his brother awful names in the past. Though, most of the time, he's getting the same thing right back from Regulus.]

[the-noble-black.livejournal.com]

Whatever.

Can I go now?

[siriuslymagical.livejournal.com]

You done talking to your dear older brother so soon? Am I really that boring of a conversation?

[Not that their conversation has been very pleasant.]

[the-noble-black.livejournal.com]

Actually, I think I preferred death.

[siriuslymagical.livejournal.com]

I can assure you, especially in this place, death isn't all that pleasant. And you have to come back from it here too.

[the-noble-black.livejournal.com]

So I've heard.

[Dryly.]

[siriuslymagical.livejournal.com]

So unless you wanna pay the Animus a visit so early on, you might want to avoid that nasty death thing you've got going for you.

[the-noble-black.livejournal.com]

I assure you, it's a work in progress.

[siriuslymagical.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear it. I'd hate for you to die so soon, especially before you and I could have a nice brotherly cup of tea.

[Tea that hopefully isn't poisoned.]

Has Snape showed up yet, or is he still too busy greasing up his hair to come get you?

[the-noble-black.livejournal.com]

Probably greasing.

[A soft snort.]

And the last time we had a nice brotherly anything was before I was old enough to know to loathe you.

[siriuslymagical.livejournal.com]

Nothing unusual then, though it might be another hour until he actually shows up.

That just means we have that much more to catch up on.

[/TROLL]

[the-noble-black.livejournal.com]

I don't plan to.

[The feed is cut. :|]