Who: Lestrange brothers Where: Lestrange grounds When: 4 Jan, 6 am Why: Rodolphus has work to be done!
Rating: G-PG
It was with an odd appreciation of his own fingers that Rodolphus tugged the stiff lapels of his riding coat over -his- frame in -his- home. He'd spent the last ten days uncomfortably in the body of another, allowing himself freedom only when sleeping (not that any freedom was granted with such an allowance). Now, several things of importance had to be done, the least of which was prevent himself from going mad with claustrophobia in both the old woman's house -and- the old woman's body. Riding. He wasn't really very fond of it, but it provided some sort of genteel activity that he might participate in with his brother that didn't involve simply sitting for hours.
A crop (eyed with a stiff sort of smile) and boots, and he was well dressed and apparating just far enough from the stables not to give the horses an unpleasant start.
The smell that had engulfed Rabastan's nose was quite an eclectic mixture of an enticing morning dew and a disturbing stench of manure. Rabastan, looking awake from not getting much sleep the previous night and kneeled down to pet the caged fox that Rodolphus had gotten him for Christmas. His long finger extended into the cage towards the cowering animal, and flicked its nose. "Poor creature..." Rabastan trailed off with a less than sympathetic tone. He stood up and looked to the large door of the stables, waiting for Rodolphus to arrive.
It was only moments later that the firm crunching of icy grass could be heard just down and behind the stables, and long strides brought Rodolphus rapidly up to the stable doors; he surveyed Rabastan, the fox, and the suspicious looking horses. "Nice morning, Rabbit." And nice it was - for rather than an exposing, glaring sunlight, the brothers had been treated to morning rains, fine and thin and delicious. "Awake enough to ride?"
Rabastan's eyebrow cocked at his brothers question. He knew Rodolphus hadn't woken up this early to ride. There was much more at stake. "Brother, I've known you for quite some time now and highly doubt you have called me here to ride." The edge of his mouth showed a smile. He looked out into the air, through the large opening created by the two doors. Rain. "On second thought- absolutely. Let's ride." Rabastan loved the early morning rain and the way it was hit against your skin when riding. Creating just a brief sting, the rain would cool any sense of tension or stress in your body. It was idyllic for a morning wake-up call.
"A ride and some information. Half true." He thudded his way to the back of the stables, where the one horse he trusted to support his weight was fettered. It was a massive Arabian, far too large to be a thoroughbred, but he enjoyed it all the same. Large fingers rubbed over a velvet muzzle, and he slowly set the beast free before leading it to the grounds. "Hurry up, Rabbit.. haven't got all day." The -faintest- of smiles carried itself along with the irritable overtones.
A new show of emotion from his brother, a sort of smile, made Rabastan stand back for a second. This had to be a good sign of something, he thought to himself. Taking out the first horse in the stables, a strong Criollo, Rabastan mounted the beast and rode up along side of Rodolphus. "Don't worry, Dolph, it's 6am. You've already wasted the day." Rabastan smiled, and tapped the side of the horse, causing him to propel forward leaving Rodolphus far behind him. In a fun sense of competition, Rabastan turned around and called out to his brother- "Come on, Rodolphus! We don't have all day!"
Rodolphus's glare followed the brother along, but he refused to be tempted by playfulness; as if completely unaware of being behind, he simply trotted, reigning in the Arabian's competitive spirit and keeping its pace slow. Rabastan would, it seemed, always be the child; but Rodolphus supposed someone had to be. A grim amusement, and he allowed the horse to speed (only slightly) to catch up with the Rabbit in due course. "I assume indoors is treating you well; but if you can bear it, I have several things I need done."
His horse slowed down to a gentle trot. Rabastan looked at his brother and knew it was time for serious discussion. Making sure they were alone and on a smooth path for the horses, Rabastan turned to his brother. "It's good to be outside. I've been going slightly insane indoors, Dolph." He said honestly. "What do you need done?" Rabastan wiped his nose, a steady little drip was being produced. A start of a cold. Rabastan took out a handkerchief from his left breast pocket and wiped his nose. "And why do you need me to do them?" He ended
"I don't need you to do them." Blunt, as he always was and always would be. "But I prefer you not to be trapped indoors. We spent long enough that way. You deserve more." His mouth a grim line at the memory, Rodolphus urged the horse around the swamps that split his lands. "I need you to report to our Lord on Alecto's and my discoveries. Then I need you to do some researching for me." He paused, a glance over. "Does that suit you?"
Rabastan smiled at his brother's new. He felt as if he was always the most intelligent Lestrange, so the news of researching made him quite happy. Rodolphus was right; he had spent too much time indoors and wished to do something productive; something that would have long lasting effects. "What discoveries have been made, brother?" He asked, wiping a small bug from his leg.
"All but nothing." Rodolphus seemed less than pleased at the pronouncement, but it was, unfortunately, the truth. "The woman does nothing but garden, the man stays indoors and broods. If either of them have work they are not going. Almost as if... hiding from something." It was with a smear of realization that this last thought was expressed; perhaps he had been drowning in the normalcy of idleness at their house, but now, removed, he realized it was a bit odd for commoners not be working at all. Regardless, he continued. "The girl came home for winter. Annoying, loud." And then, a darkened smile cut across his features. "The girl is dating the Longbottom boy. I doubt the Dark Lord is interested, but I thought you would find that amusing, eh, Rabbit?"
An audible chuckle was produced from Rabastan at the mention of the name. "The Longbottom boy actually is sane? " He asked in between vicious giggles. Rabastan thought about what his brother had just told him. "What is it that they could be staying indoors for?" He asked. "It sounds like you are convinced they are doing it to stay protected or to remain uninvolved, but from what? " Rabastan loved the sound of the conversation. It seemed like an actual mission. Rabastan smiled at the sense of purpose that laid before him. "So what exactly do you want me to do about all this?" He asked plainly, hoping his brother would provide an interesting and exciting solution.
"Simply report for now, Rabastan. We are not close enough for them to share their secrets. Yet." Dark features were made darker still by the glint of wan sunlight through the trees, casting macabre shadows across field and countenance alike. "The research is for something else. A passing curiosity." Rodolphus dislike reminiscing about his childhood, but something had struck him in what the blonde girl had said over Christmas. "Do you remember Ormand telling us when mother almost fired all the servants?" A glance over, the smile at his lips utterly belied by the coldness that glinted across green eyes. "It was usually a precursor to having to run errands for him. Do you remember that?"
Rabastan remembered into what little of his past he could remember. During Azkaban, his mind raced trying to distinguish which memories in his heard were real, and which were placed there by his loneliness and despair for humanity. He could not remember what Rodolphus was speaking too. "I am unaware,
Rodolphus." He said with a bit of regret in his voice. "Tell." He said simply, sitting on the horse comfortably, watching his brother.
Unsure of whether to feel sorry or not for his brother, Rodolphus simply ran his tongue across chapped lips and reminded himself as best he could of what had triggered his memory. "There was some old woman - Smith - that was all I remembered. Odd name for purebloods. Murdered by a house elf. Mother nearly fired the entire household. Ormand would bring it up any time he needed a favor done and wouldn't ask the staff." Refraining from rude comments about his siblings, Rodolphus paused, coaxed the horse on a little further, and then continued. "At Christmas, on of the girls mentioned that the Boneses were related to the Smiths. Probably some muggle filth but I am still curious. I want you to look up the Smith genealogy."
Rabastan started to get a light inside of his head and a large smiled on his face. "Very well, Rodolphus. I shall do my best. What exactly do you want me to look for? The Smith and Bones relation, or specifics that are more than that?" Rabastan moved along with his horse, speeding up slightly due to his excitement. He wanted to start on his task immediately. It was almost as if purpose had been thrust back into his life, and like a child, he was anxious to start on his work.
"Relations, I suppose. Don't forget to report my earlier findings to the Dark Lord. That takes precedence." Forced to prod the horse to keep up with his excitable younger brother, Rodolphus went silent. "And keep this quiet. I don't need to be exposed because you can't properly hex a few pages of a childish book." There was no irritation intrinsic in that voice, simply the cool caution that characterized him. Rabastan could be eccentric at times and it seemed Rodolphus would have to ensure his own protection against that.
Feeling a bit guilty as to what Rodolphus was referring too, Rabastan lowered his head. "I know, Rodolphus. I promise I will be careful." He didn't sound like a small child apologizing, but a man admitting his mistakes. Rabastan had known what he was to do, and looked forward to it. Riding alongside of his brother was quite the good way to start of the morning, he however had to get started. "You know me, Rodolphus, always the over-achiever. I must get back to the house if I want to start on this. It has been quite fun, though." Rabastan said, turning his horse in the direction of the house. "Care to race back?" He asked playfully, hoping his brother would oblige.
It was rare that Rodolphus succumbed to his brother's whims, but, with a bit of a grin, he kicked the sides of his horse in answer; the Arabian needed no further urging - it shot off across the grassy dampness of the morning and back toward the manor.