dedgulung "vexed italicizing trouble magnet" black (regulus) wrote in blurred_lines, @ 2008-11-18 18:08:00 |
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Entry tags: | ! [1979-11] november, narcissa malfoy (née black), regulus black |
RP Log: Regulus & Narcissa
who → Regulus Black & Narcissa Malfoy.
what → Narcissa has some very exciting news. Unfortunately, Reg's heart is not in it to be sufficiently receptive. :(
when → Tuesday, 18 November 1979; evening, 6:09pm.
where → Malfoy Manor, Wiltshire.
warnings → None.
status → Complete.
Narcissa had realised that it was impossible not to feel slightly more optimistic than before. It was still hurt to think of Lucius surrounded by dementors (and she had no way of confirming that her letter to him had even reached the North Sea), but a baby meant things would improve. A baby. A real, one that would much better than any of Chloris' or Claudette's. Of course, the world was still a horrendously unfair place, but sometimes, a bittersweet joy was the next best thing to actual joy. She had come back to the Manor again today to look at the room that would eventually be the nursery, and of course to meet her cousin. Perhaps it was a bit early to be planning decor, but she needed something to do that did not involve running in the streets and shouting the news. As it was, the empty little room looked the same as before, and Narcissa had moved down to the piano in the parlour to wait for Regulus. Lucius certainly deserved to announce it to the general public, but family was perfectly acceptable. Glancing up from her music to look out the window at the dismal weather, she could not help but smile. Regulus would be happy; she was sure of it. Every bit of Regulus's effort had been required to pull himself away from the vast array of Dark texts to visit his cousin. Already he had postponed a day, and although he wished to claim that he was sick -- that he could not come -- for Cissa, he could not bring himself to turn away her news for long. Others, perhaps, but his more soothing cousin was a different story, tapping into a more genuine than fearful compliancy. The more he had dug into the texts, the more clear his mind seemed to become, weaving together a manner of distance and fixated determination. The sleep forfeited the night before (there were so many books to examine in their library) was beginning to set in as his mind became less sharp and alert, contributing to a weaving of concentration (or lack thereof) rather than integration. Wishing to avoid another splinching (that was absolutely the last thing he needed: getting hurt, drawing attention and questions), he opted to Floo, despite and general preferences otherwise. It would have to do for now, and he absolutely refused to deign to use the Knight Bus. When he arrived in the parlour (standard brush off of soot just as automatic as always), his pressed his lips together, standing paused in front of the fireplace for a moment, rather than stepping out into the middle of the room. He wondered at the occasion. "Hello, Regulus" Narcissa said, letting the song trail off and rising from the piano bench to kiss her cousin's cheek. "Oh dear, you look terribly pale. Have you been unwell as of late? Or studying too much, perhaps?" She had hoped Julianne would be providing distractions from such things, but admittedly, the last few weeks had been awful for everyone. Winter was proving to be almost as dismal as June and July had been. "The elves can bring us food, or tea, if you would like it." "Now, for my news," she continued, gesturing for him to take a seat on one of the chaises and following suit. "It does not sound quite right to blurt it out but I- well, I'm pregnant. I found out on Friday. Seven weeks." A pause. She laughed slightly, covering her mouth with both hands, entirely unaware of how childish it looked. "Regulus, I am going to be having a baby. Is that not the most wonderful thing?" "I am fine," he responded quietly as he settled to sit -- but with the words to follow, he could not help but start a bit, blinking... Pregnant? Cissa was pregnant? A jarring sharpness swept away the emotional disconnect, catching his attention -- his cousin was having a baby. She was pregnant -- excited -- it was good -- it was exciting -- but his mind had been so very much not on babies that bridging the gap left him sitting for a moment with a somewhat dazed expression. "When -- That's -- That is wonderful, Cissa." "Is it not?" Narcissa replied brightly, not paying attention to his expression. More likely than not, everyone had been suspecting that something was wrong with her- but this was proof to the contrary. Nothing was off at all; she was completely and entirely normal. "Due at the beginning of July. Summer seems so awfully far away right now." It would be nice to have the baby when the weather was not this awful and the garden was something lovelier than a mudpit. "Are you sure you are fine, though? You do look pale." Regulus summoned something of a grim smile. "You need not worry. I am still feeling a touch ill, but it is nothing serious. You will have a beautiful summer baby, and I imagine the time will pass quickly, as it always does." His mind fell to this passage of time, then promptly to his research -- to what he may or may not find, to his connections to the Death Eaters, to his complete lack of options otherwise. A terrible fear that, dead or alive, he might not be allowed to meet his new cousin by July clawed at him, but he pushed it away. He needed to be happy --this was happy -- how difficult could it possibly be to act happy? "I hope you feel better soon," Narcissa replied, entirely oblivious to cousin's inner turmoil. It was probably a winter cold; those could be quite troublesome. And the rain in London was simply awful. "Anyway," she continued, reaching out to touch his hand, "I have one more thing -- actually, something I would like to ask of you. I know it in no way makes up for how dreadful everything has been this year... or your birthday party-" she smiled, "But would you be willing to be my baby's godfather? I can think of no person I would rather choose, and I am sure Lucius would agree." Regulus's gaze lifted back up to look at his cousin. There was a little twist in his chest, and once again he carefully kept the thoughts from resurfacing in his mind. Keep focus. "I would like that very much..." "Thank you," she replied softly. "This means so much to me... because, well, I was so afraid that, that I... but it does not matter anymore, though, does it?" She stared into the fireplace. "Bella promised me that they will be home by the New Year. We'll have our family back." A softer but slightly furrowed expression pulled onto his face. Family...Azkaban. What would it take to make it happen? "That will be a comfort." "That is a bit of an understatement, to be honest. I wish things could be as they were before Father was killed, but I suppose the only thing to do is to keep moving on until we have won this. Bella says so, anyway. I want this baby to grow up with aunts and uncles and a godfather... and a father, of course... I am not even sure if I really should be feeling happy or not right now. It is all so confusing." Resting his gaze in the fire, he pressed his lips together and let out a soft huff. How nice it would be to go back to the beginning of the year -- to go back even further, perhaps, to before life became mess...though he wasn't sure what point that would be. The current year reeked of death, but life had never been quite right since Sirius left -- since Sirius befriended Potter -- since Sirius became a Gryffindor -- since Andromeda married a Muggleborn, despite her family's wishes. Going against wishes. That was what made life so bad, was it not? Turning away from traditional ideals, having a change in opinion, a change in heart and conscience. To what extent was one allowed to object before one officially became a traitor? Though he supposed it did not particularly matter -- he could not leave without retribution, and the Dark Lord was not like one to care for family politics. "I wish for it, too," he said quietly after a moment. "You need not feel guilty. You are having a baby, and we could all use a bit of happiness amidst everything going wrong...Lucius will be freed in time." Narcissa nodded slowly. "I do hope so." She was not used to being alone all the time, and had never been one to prefer the company of books to people. She had always had people to lean on- Cygnus and Bellatrix and Lucius, to support her, and make hard decisions, and just be around. Bellatrix was still there, but she had things like revenge to plan, and she seemed so much more fragile in Narcissa's eyes. It was strange that these people were fallible, mortal. "Will you keep this a secret, Reg? I have told our family and Lucius's, of course, but I think he would want to announce it to everyone when he comes home." Nodding very slightly, Regulus responded with a quiet sincerity, "I will. Of course. I would not wish to deprive him of such an honour...I am very happy for you, Cissa." |