#regulus & alecto ;; 002

[battle-scvrs]

"I hear you've been put on bed rest...or, I suppose, the Death Eater equivalent," Reg called through the halls of Rabastan's townhouse, trying to locate his friend. "Does the Dark Lord offer maternity leave too?" his voice was tinged with amusement, but there was an undercurrent of curiosity. He wasn't sure how it all worked - not that Regulus was likely to be getting anyone pregnant anytime soon, but seeing his cousin with Nymphadora recently had raised some questions about how children would be raised in service of the Dark Lord. He supposed it wasn't too different to his own very strict upbringing, but he wondered how long the children would get to grow before they had to pledge themselves.

Rounding the corner to the sitting room, Reg set eyes on Alecto and shot her a grin before flopping onto her couch. "I can get Kreacher to knit a lovely little sweater for the kids." @alectocarrowx

[depulsorpg]

PLOT DROP 002

OCTOBER 3RD-9TH.

The weeks following a tragedy can only be described as such: emotional, crippling, & eye-opening. No one can hide behind rose-colored glasses anymore. Not when the shadows have come alive to claim such an innocent soul. And maybe that’s what is most frightening: Xenophilius Lovegood was innocent. He never had a say on the matters of such dark topics. He was neutral. He stuck to only the strange and curious things he found in the world. That is what made him happy. But now, he is gone. And the only question on everyone’s mind has been why. Why? Why? Why? Why? … And Who?

Maybe there is no good answer, though. Maybe things just have to come to an end. Even when it is the last thing on earth anyone wants.

But maybes aren’t good enough for those still alive. The lack of answers to this sudden death has stirred many… reactions. For the more delicate souls: tears have welled up in eyes until they became puffy, red, and irritated. Their answer became hiding beneath the comfort of thick blankets as their tears soaked the bedsheets beneath. “Tears are the best medicine,” they would whimper out as they lost themselves to their mourning. For those less, well, delicate: cigarettes have been used as disguises to hide exuberant smiles and smother the sounds of hideous laughter. They have come to swallow their joy until night falls. In the night, hidden like a kiss shared beneath secret lovers, their unnatural desires and joy come to light. To them death was beautiful. It was meant to be celebrated as much as life.

But, it wasn’t beautiful. It didn’t take your breath away in the right way. It paralyzed. It robbed most of their joy. It gave some the will to finally fight. The truth wasn’t beautiful, but it was galvanizing. It was a call to arms for those who had begun to fall asleep to the war raging right outside their very doors.

Now they demand answers. They demand action out of the Aurors where there has seemed to be very little. For all the students in the castle know, the room of requirement has been scrubbed clean and the body sent to the ministry then the morgue. Answers became vague, professors became secretive, and students became disheartened or frustrated. There’s a killer loose in the halls, after all, and nothing seems to be getting done. And doesn’t there feel like something should be done? Classes carried on. Clubs held meetings. The first quidditch match of the season has been announced. All such normal things… yet nothing felt normal anymore.

We certainly can’t mourn forever. But, this felt almost wrong. And why hasn’t the headmaster made any announcements since last week? Why hasn’t he been seen? Why hasn’t Filch?

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 10TH.

The Quidditch pitch is drained of blue and green. As far as the eye can see, there is only red and gold. Most snakes couldn’t be bothered to watch the badgers fall to the lions, again. Some still went with hopes of seeing Gryffindor’s pride shaken were they to lose. The claws found more joy in the peaceful silence that would overtake the library with many of the students outside today. They knew they could shove their noses in a plethora of books without being disturbed, for once. But there were still a few, too, who preferred a nice day out in the sweltering sun, a light October chill cooling the back of their necks as they pressed in close towards the people around them to catch all they could of the game. It wasn’t the most anticipated game of the season, but it was the first one and, after the last few weeks Hogwarts had, it drew a crowd larger than expected.

Madam Hooch’s voice rings loud, and shrill, in everyone's’ ears.

“Mount your brooms, please.” A pause. Goggles get yanked down from the top of heads to shield eyes from the bitter winds. Legs immediately swing over broomsticks. Then, “Gryffindor. Hufflepuff. I expect a nice, clean game.” She stops, giving a more pointed glare towards the children in red who roll their eyes. “Now… Let’s begin.”

Brooms zip into the air as Hooch releases all four balls from the central circle. The Quaffle being the last as it is thrown into the air personally by Madam Hooch to signal the start of play. The Seekers, Florence and Ted, are quick to narrow their focus solely to the Golden Snitch as the world descends into the usual madness around them.

SCORES: Gryffindor scores 11 times ( Marlene - 4, Theo - 2, James - 3, & Substitute Beater - 2). Hufflepuff scores 6 times ( Ludo - 3, Benjy - 1, Greta - 1, & Daisy - 1). Ted Tonks catches the Golden Snitch by leaping from his broom to win the game.

BLOCKS: Edgar Bones blocks 13 attempts at goal, narrowly missing 3 of those blocks and having 1 really close call where he almost fell from his broom to block the Quaffle. Gideon Prewett blocks 9 attempts at goal, narrowly missing 2 of those blocks.

PENALTIES: None.

INJURIES: Roman Wilkes was missing from play due to being too sick. Marlene has a bruised rib from a Quaffle hit via Greta. Ludo has a sprained wrist from getting his bat stuck momentarily between Theo’s arms & broomstick. Benjy has a broken finger from Theo lobbing a Bludger at him which he blocked with his hand.

FINAL SCORES: Gryffindor with 110. Hufflepuff with 210. Hufflepuff wins! An unexpected upset for the Gryffindors.

The game was the perfect excuse. Nobody would expect a crowd to go to a game featuring Hufflepuff’s team. Most would have written it off, and that’s what they had done. That is exactly why Bellatrix Black, the Dark Lord’s Lieutenant, had called for a Death Eater meeting and Roman Wilkes had feigned sickness for the past two days. All so fifteen could gather, swathed in dark cloaks and glued to the shadows cast from the tall trees of the Forbidden Forest. There wasn’t a worry for the beasts that lurk in the woods or of being caught tonight. They were the most dangerous beasts there, after all, and they wouldn’t hesitate to obliviate the memories of any who wandered too close.

Fifteen formed a spacious circle in a large clearing of the woods. There are few curious glances and other more dangerous smirks; a couple almost buzzing with excitement. None knew why they were there. None except for Bellatrix.

Bellatrix who wore a twisted smile, her hand affectionately landing on Regulus’ shoulder as she gives an appraising look to each and every one of them. She stares down her nose at them. Two who had recently earned her warped approval for taking part in the death of Xenophilius while others had more work to been done. Now. She was done waiting and, apparently, so was their Lord. Letting go of her cousin’s shoulder, she steps into the middle of the circle and kicks at the black sack carelessly tossed there by herself earlier. Something lets out a low moan when she does. It causes another riotous smirk to briefly flash across her lips before she lets her arms spread out wide, palms up to the sky.

“Here we are. All gathered.” She looks at each of them again. Her eyes stop on Damon’s. “The time has come for action. Our Lord has told me of his plans and those plans include Hogwarts.” She snaps her head towards the direction of the castle. “The castle is theirs. He wants it to be his.” She snaps her head back towards Alecto this time, “So it will be his.” She moves towards Snape, her pointed nails curling and practically digging into the back of his neck. “Which means no more wavering sympathies or hesitation to act. You will act,” she turns to look at Walden behind her as her nails still dig, tearing at Severus’ skin. “He wants chaos. He wants distractions. He wants more blood as he makes his move towards the castle. Got it.” It wasn’t a question. It was a demand. Each of them would deliver or there would be severe consequences. The Dark Lord didn’t tolerate disobedience.

Letting go of Snape, she makes her way back towards the black sack and curls her fingers in a motion that signals for Rabastan to join her at her side. He wraps his hand around the opening of the sack as he does. Bellatrix gives one final unpleasant look at the lot. “Let Hogwarts know what devotion looks like. Let them think they know what true terror feels like until the moment our Lord arrives.” With that, she walks deeper into the forest. Rabastan three steps behind as he drags the sack through the dirt and over roots and stones that stir more whimpers of pain.

MIDNIGHT OCTOBER 11TH-30TH.

A Forbidden Forest half the world away grows silent, members disperse to begin the next step. Create fear. Create unrestrained destruction. Now isn’t the time for child’s play, but for boys to become men as they fulfill the Dark Lord’s simple request.

The walls will quake with this one sacred truth: the Dark Lord has let his bloodhounds loose.

OOC INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND UNDER THE CUT.

There’s certainly been much unrest for the students — angry, sad, many emotions yet the castle seems to keep moving on. But will the students? Hufflepuff triumphed over Gryffindor at the Quidditch game surprisingly and in the midst of this game, the Death Eaters have all been given an important task to do. Will the Order simply sit back and let this happen — or will they begin to step up and refuse to let the chaos happen? We’ll have to see.

You will be allowed to create threads (so that means both replying to starters and creating your own) for this plot drop!

Please tag your starters with DEPULSOSTARTER.

The in-game dates for this plot drop are MONDAY, OCTOBER 3RD-SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30TH.

[battle-scvrs]

Reg's shoulders tensed at Alecto's expression, almost curling in on himself to prepare for the agony that he felt was incoming. It wouldn't be the first time someone he liked and trusted had used the cruciatus on him, nor would it be the last. The pain didn't come though, and slowly the tension left his muscles. Nodding at her word of caution, Reg shot her a small grin - one of fondness, not of teasing. "Lesson learned. Don't poke the bear."

"I think if you were to turn me into some sort of other creature that might please my parents more than the person I am currently," he muttered, bitterness seeping into his tone. "I wouldn't mind tea if the elves can prepare a pot."

Her eyes narrow at him when he starts to mimic knitting, tempted to send a wave of pain throughout his body in warning, letting the thought fade when he lifted his hands up in surrender. He was family in a sense and wished to keep the little of the Black's that were left, close. "I am going to let you speak, be wise what you say." Her hand waves to remove the spell.

"I am not in the mood for trying my patience. Let's have a visit that won't have you turned into a vile creature." That was pregnant Alecto being nice. "Did you wish for something to drink?"

[battle-scvrs]

There was a saying that Regulus perhaps should have remembered upon entry to the Lestrange household, and that was 'don't poke the bear'. Upon seeing Alecto's eyes, it was fairly clear to him that his humour and general wit was not welcome here presently, and he shot her a wide grin. It would intimidate him if not for the fact he knew he held a soft spot in her dark heart, and his parents had trained him to be able to take a beating. He mimed as if he was knitting to her, before holding his hands up in surrender. 'Sorry,' he mouthed, trying to school his features to look somewhat sheepish.

Despite being a little shit, Regulus didn't want to truly piss off one of the few people that was still in his corner.

An owl had been sent earlier to warn her of his appearance. She was inclined to send one back refusing his visit, but with being home from Hogwarts for the weekend, and no use of her needed for the cause at the moment, his presence wasn't entirely horrid.

Each word that uttered from his incompetent mouth ignited a fire inside of her, her fingers itching to wring his neck for being so insolent. Eyes narrowed like daggers at the young Black wizard, her wand in a close hand, where she pointed it at him. "Silencio" A single word held him tight lip. Alecto turns to face him. "It appears Regulus Black, you have forgotten your manners and who I am." A coldness to her tone, not unusual for her. "Do not make me regret allowing you over." She warns, taking a deep breath. "If I let you speak, will you behave? I will not hold back from torturing you if you try me."