(no subject)

[alt_regulus]

A quiet evening at home is a lovely, decadent thing. Especially such a rainy one when inside it's snug and warm.

I've been working all week at sorting through the boxes from Aunt Prewett's, but I'm nearly finished. I've set the armour to stand guard beside my breakfast table lest anyone steal my toast of a morning.

Now I think of it, most of the items were actually Uncle's--a rather wicked-looking poignard, for instance, and a silver shaving set. (I've been pondering what might happen if its charms have gone wonky at all.) Best of all, there are a great load of books. Inspired Strategies of Death-dealing Duellists by Esme Meretriste seems the most entertaining of them, but there are some real gems in the lot--ancient, obscure, idiosyncratic and utterly ingenious books of history and spellcraft and theory. There's a bit of philosophy in the mix, a medieval navigational manual, and a set of Senecan tragedies with very fine bindings.

One of the boxes contained an interesting assortment of oddments that must have been left at the end of the divvying up:

item, one ball self-tying twine;
item, one murderous thimble that jabs poison into the wearer's finger;
item, one well-worn pack playing cards missing three of its four jacks;
item, one fruit bowl, unwashed;
item, one flask doxy venom;
item, one absinthe spoon inscribed 'Hotel Churn, Cirencester';
item, one long shoe lace (unless it's really a garrote);
item, one chipped desktop espial globe;
item, one bone or ivory cigarette holder etched with ivy design;
item, one lady's hat, chartreuse with peacock tail.

Oh, yes, and one silver button.

I believe I'll take Salazar's Sapience to bed with me; it's a page-turner so far.

Comments

[alt_pansy]

Sounds like you've got quite a lot of booty, Pirate.

I think you'd look quite funny in the peacock feather hat. Perhaps it would suit the suit, though.

The book does sound interesting. Salazar Slytherin has been quite a topic of discussion around here lately. Does it have anything in there about his Chamber? And what's a Sapience any way?

[alt_regulus]

It is quite a lot of treasure. Really more than I have room for.

Thank you for saying so. I did try it, but it wasn't quite my colour. You may have something there about the armour. I'll ask him in the morning whether he mightn't like to give it a try.

Ah, sapience. It's a rather archaic and pretentious word for wisdom. The early chapters are about things Slytherin's thought to have said, like 'Muggles breed pestilence' and 'A bloodline once debased can never be re-ennobled' and 'Immortal renown to any who will bring me the heart of Gryffindor on a pike!' and 'Bugger these goblins if they can't take a joke' and 'Sssssssssththssssssssssthssssssssssthsssss!'--that sort of thing, interspliced with anecdotes about his life and times.

I will certainly let you know if I find anything at all about this secret Chamber he's meant to have built. So far, alas! there's been no mention of it.

[alt_pansy]

You are quite a jolly Pirate right now, aren't you!

Were you always this irreverent?

It's sort of odd to think that he was an actual person, with thoughts and feelings, and not just an idea. I mean, I know he was a real person and all, but he's been built up as being so grand and magnificent and symbolic, it's hard to imagine him doing everyday sorts of things like eating or going for walks or washing up. I wonder what it would've been like to have a conversation with him. I'd bet he was frightfully serious about everything.

"Socks must always be perfectly matched. If they are not, it is an insult to WIZARDOM. And, furthermore, the colour of one's shoes should never, EVER clash with one's belt. Horrors!"

Do let me know what you find out.

[alt_regulus]

You find me irreverent? Hm. Well, I suppose it depends what you mean by 'irreverent': I've always been quite serious about somethings and rather less impressed with others. Those opinions have not always coincided with others' ideas, though I'd have said that in all important respects I have my priorities in order. A certain brother of mine would disagree with that, of course, and Mother would only grudgingly agree these days. That's why I say it comes down to what you mean when you use the sort of loaded terms that people use when passing judgement.

And so, of course, it depends what you mean by 'clash': I suspect for Slytherin it meant 'red, gold, blue, and yellow are gauche and must never, NEVER be paired with silver, green, or black--most especially the red and the gold.'

Still nothing to report on Salazar's Chamber. Last night's chapter was all about his special affinity for serpents. Of all types and sizes. Apparently he had a special suit of mail made in which the links were made to resemble scales; it reportedly allowed him freedom of movement that was unheard of in armour because the whole thing could move in the same sinuous, smoothly undulating snakes do. I can't imagine why it didn't catch on.

[alt_pansy]

Oooh, I didn't mean it to be all that. Only I thought that it's nice that you aren't so deadly serious about everything. And a lot of people I know wouldn't ever dare to poke the slightest bit of fun at Salazar Slytherin. And if you were the sort of person who would have made jokes like that when you were in school, I think I would have liked the school-aged you very much too. That's all, really.

I suppose I should really know a bit more about words before I start tossing them around.

That mail thing sounds dead wizard. Did they have any moving pictures of it? Although if it had arm-bits, I don't suppose it would work as well as it ought, because we tend to bend our arms at angles rather than undulate them. It would work brilliantly on the Giant Squid, though.

[alt_regulus]

I don't know that you would have thought much of me when I was in school. I went through quite a serious phase starting in sixth year, but then we all did, really. Things seemed very urgent then that are much less so now.

The answer to your question, I should think, depends as much on what sort of person you'd have been if you'd been in school when I was.

And if we're taking all this speculation that far, we may as well wonder, too, what sort of person you'd be today if you'd been in my year and House.

What do you suppose?

[alt_pansy]

They might seem a little less urgent on the outside, but we've got Chambers and Heirs and Carrows to deal with here, thank you very much.

That's a joke.

I see what you mean, though.

I really, honestly don't know what I'd be like today. That could do with some thought. I suppose the easy answer is that I'd be happily planning the St Mungo's Charity Event with Aunt Narcissa, only she wouldn't be my Aunt, of course, she'd be a friend from school. And perhaps I'd even be happily married or engaged to the Right Sort of Person, and naturally, I'd be living in the Right Sort of Place, decorated in the best of taste.

It's probably not the best answer, or even the right one, but making guesses like that can get very, very tricky. Not to mention dangerous. Especially if you write them where other people can see

[alt_regulus]

Of course, you're right, it was unfair of me to put you up to answering that question.

You ought to take your time about that growing older bit. It's far less rewarding than it seems it should be. I mean to say, when I was your age and a bit, I thought I would never, never be grown up enough to make my own decisions and take charge of my own life. And now I see that I had quite an unrealistic picture of what being responsible for oneself amounts to.

So don't let anyone rush you. Least of all me. I've no idea what I was thinking.

[alt_pansy]

It is far easier to see where you've come from and all that once you've already been there, I'd imagine.

[alt_regulus]

The giant squid in armour. Now that's a truly inspired thought. I suppose it would have to have a Never Rust enchantment on.

And I think the benefit of Slytherin's serpentine mail was that it did not require one to move like a toy soldier with pins for his joints. But I take your point. It might be best suited for someone who needed a full and fluid range of movement. Perhaps Slytherin was aiming to outfit an army of Veela.

The next chapter may be quite an interesting one!

[alt_pansy]

Well, maybe if the scaley bit were right around the elbows and shoulders and wrists, all the places you usually twist and bend, it would be more practical than if it was all over, maybe?

I don't think Veela need armour. But they would look brilliant in it. Even shinier than usual. Or, well, if he liked snakes so very much, perhaps he was planning on creating an army of cobras and pythons and such.

[alt_regulus]

Well, I will say that the right serpent can be quite a formidable weapon. They have a way of commanding respect.

[alt_sirius]

If by having your priorities in order, you mean

-Regulus
-Regulus' friends
-Death Eaters
-Other Purebloods

and all others go hang, then I suppose you could say they're in order, yeah. You're right that I wouldn't say it, however.

Would be like Sally Slytherin to get himself in a lather about something like colour. Though you and your acquaintances seemed to favour unremitting black, from the boots to the hair to the lacquer to the eyeliner, wasn't it? Wonder what your hero would have thought of that nonsense. Anyway, are you suggesting he'd take the time from a busy schedule of murder and mayhem to coordinate his robes? Sounds more like that effete Lockhart bloke to me. (For what it's worth, Father did have a smoking jacket with red in the pattern. I think even Mother had at least two blue frocks and even one reddish one. but then you'd know what was in her closet far better than I, wouldn't you? )

... I think the other three Jacks might be found in Uncle Prewett's old things yet. I remember repairing a Snitch with one of the cards, and didn't he once shrink one down to stand in as the portrait in a broken pocketwatch for--oh, I don't know, some game you were playing. Or we were. I've no idea where the third one is. Perhaps a bookmark?

[alt_regulus]

Your list of my priorities leaves out the only One of any importance. If there is any second place to make it properly a 'list', then second place goes to family. Not that you've any concept of that beyond mocking our Parents' sartorial tastes.

Or have you let slip some nostalgic feeling for Uncle's playing cards? I could send them along if they mean something to you.


Oh, all right. I'll give you the fact that the kohl and paling powder look suited others better than it did me.

[alt_sirius]

You know, I considered putting him on the list, but then your lot are supposed to be so cowed you can't even bear to use the name he chose for himself, can you?

As for the cards, no sentimentality whatsoever, brother. Just wouldn't wish you to think you'd been cheated out of any part of the inheritance.

[alt_regulus]

What are you on about? He wills that He be addressed as 'Lord Protector' or 'My Lord', and His will commands.

I suspect the cards were a bonus rather than a proper bequest. I'm as content with 49 cards as with 52. It's a rather dodgy deck, in any case. The backs have a bunch of doxies cavorting on a plant that looks rather a lot like deadly nightshade.

[alt_regulus]

And you know, now I think of it, I nicked the hair dye off you. And the boots, for that matter. At least they were well broken in.

As for the lacquer and eyeliner, I feel certain you and your mate, Potter, got there long before I did. Not to mention the hair spiking and the studded wrist braces. You two were right ghoulish for a month or three.

Didn't really stick with it, though. Which speaks volumes about you. Both of you. Not very steady, really. Not what most girls' parents would call good value.

[alt_sirius]

I know you nicked the boots. You were always a miserable little copycat - and you were always helping yourself to my things. Couldn't have your own sense of style, even then, could you? But the dye? Never. James's hair was already black, you berk. As for me, I had no interest in making my hair look like Snivellus', thanks.

And why do you think I only did it over a summer, hm? We were having a bet on, to see how long it would take you to come running in behind us.

I see nothing's changed. Trying to get a twelve-year-old to build you up, so you can feel better about yourself, are you? Not healthy, Reg. Not in the slightest.

[alt_regulus]

Not a bit bitter, are you?

[alt_narcissa]

Oh, do stop, Reg. It's like tapping one of those wand-started monkeys, you know he will never stop whilst you give him any reason to continue.

[alt_sirius]

Only in the measure of my disappointment, Reg. Only bitter disappointment.

[alt_pansy]

I can see where you got your irreverence from, Pirate. In a non-judgmental way, of course.

[alt_regulus]

You're referring to my so-called sibling there? You can see some family resemblance then?

Truly?

You've met our Mother. Can you trace the line from that generation to this one? No, don't answer that! Really. That way madness lies. And also unpleasantness at tea time.

Much better to say something bracing about my measuring up--or not--to that other bloke.

[alt_pansy]

Well, then. Never in my entire existence have I seen two people that happen to be related be so very, very different.

Oh, that's not bracing enough.

The other bloke is clearly a rabble-rouser and troublemaker, and he most likely eats babies and kittens for brekkie. You, however, do none of those things. At least, not that I know of.

Better?

[alt_regulus]

Ha!

Babies and coddled ducklings, but never kittens. He's allergic.

So I've completely failed in my bid for Rabble-Rouser of the Year? I suppose there's a month yet to plump up my credentials. You really think I haven't a chance?

[alt_pansy]

Well, you're behind in Rioting, and can't hold a candle as far as General Mayhem, I'm afraid. You'll have to work on your form a bit. And you haven't got a wax statue at Blackpool, either. So you've got a lot of work to do.

[alt_regulus]

Oh, well, if you're going to go and bring Blackpool into it, then I suppose I'm right off. But he's been in there for years, so that's not fair to put it in the balance for this year's award, is it?

But I can see the judges are against me. It's always been that way. You'd think I'd be used to it by now.

[alt_pansy]

Well, it's not the sort of award you'd want to bring home to your mum anyways, so I wouldn't fret over it.

Especially your mum.

[alt_narcissa]

Reg, really. Must you confuse the poor child?

From what I hear, you've been at more to keep the peace than to disturb it - as unlike your thrice-horrid brother as possible.

[alt_pansy]

Kohl? Really? Are there any pictures of this hair and boots and eyeliner stage? I'll bet you lot all looked like you were in a band or something. I hope you looked as silly as it sounds, because if you did, that would be worth a good laugh or two.

If I end up visiting Mrs Black over hols, I may ask her if she has any old photo albums I can thumb through to see for myself.

Never mind. I'm not quite that brave.

[alt_regulus]

Well, next time you want a laugh, you could try the library. That one and his mates left school in '77; I was there a year beyond that.

[alt_pansy]

Well, finally, a fun reason to go to the library.

[alt_sally_anne]

I know where the annuals are kept if you want me to show you.

[alt_pansy]

Oooh! Something exciting to do after dinner.

[alt_narcissa]

Oh, I was looking for the shaving set. I thought it might be a nice piece for Draco, once he's a little bit older. Unless you want it for yourself.

Really, I'm not sure what the rest was doing there, though. I suppose you're right and there's always a bit of a muddle at the end of these processes.

[alt_regulus]

You're more than welcome to the shaving set. I'll send it along tomorrow morning. Are we still on for the afternoon in town, by the way?

I wondered about the number of books that arrived here, too, but Lucius will surely speak for himself if he's missing anything he expected in his boxes.

I don't suppose you'd give us a hint about those robes you picked out? The suspense is tormenting me. It has me resorting to all manner of dodgy conversations in order to distract myself.

[alt_lucius]

So I see.

I can't tell you much except that I'm grateful it's not me she's pressing into service.

I'm told not to tell you that it's pin

[alt_narcissa]

Oh, no you don't!

Never fear, Regulus. It's not pink.

[alt_regulus]

Pin-striped, then?

Pinked edges on the lacework?

Pinch-pleated?

Pinned together with a single large nappy pin?


The mind whirls with the possibilities.

[alt_lucius]

I have regained my quill on the promise that I reveal nothing further.

Also, I'm instructed to correct my statement: Narcissa's is not pink, either. (Apparently there is a difference between periwinkle and pink, and at any rate, she says she had rather Splinch herself than wear pink when Dolores Umbridge is likely to be at the gala. In the first case, I neither knew nor cared about the distinction; in the second, I can readily understand her adamant denunciation of the colour. It certainly looks pink to me, but I am assured I am wrong in this assessment.)

[alt_regulus]

Oh, dear.

I seem to find myself leading someone astray or prodding them on for the third time this evening.

I hate to think what trouble I may be in with Narcissa.

[alt_narcissa]

I thought you wanted to be in competition for Rabble-Rouser of the year?

[alt_regulus]

You have me there. I concede.

[alt_narcissa]

None of the above.

I promise you will adore it. No need to put yourself on the rack.

[alt_regulus]

I will prepare myself for feeling adoration, then.

Cousin. You raise teasing to new heights, you know.

[alt_regulus]

On the rack? Off the rack?

No, cousin. I'm bespoke.

[alt_lucius]

By any chance was there a copy of Latham's Concise History of the English Wizard in the lot? I also can't seem to find Ignatius' copy of the Travels of Uppsalom or his unabridged Mortus Malleficorum.

I've no doubt that you'll enjoy Meretriste; it was quite a favourite of mine just after I left school.

[alt_regulus]

I know I saw the Latham. I'll have to look for the other two. If I find them, I'll bring them along with me tomorrow.

You know, as events fell out, when I left school there was little time for light reading of Meretriste's sort and less for duelling after his fashion.

[alt_lucius]

If you want the Latham, by all means, keep it. It was only that Draco drew in cracked the binding on mine when he was very young and I remembered that Ignatius' copy had some additional end papers of some interest.

And no, indeed, none of us had leisure by then for idle manuals of style, though you will find, I think, that if one can get past the usual waffle on technique, the parenthetical commentary is highly amusing.