Marius Lestrange has his affairs in order. (sang_pur) wrote in blurred_lines, @ 2008-06-26 18:54:00 |
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Entry tags: | ! [1979-06] june, marius lestrange, walden macnair |
Who: Marius and Walden
What: Mission, drinks and a quick discussion
Where: A muggle pub, then a muggle town, and then back to the muggle pub.
When: Backdated, June 5th, two days before Edgar's Party.
Status: Finished Log
Rating: PG13
Marius had been thrilled all day at the prospect of getting a bit of time alone with his mentor. It was no secret that Marius couldn't stand to be around Rabastan for more than five minutes at a time without hoping for his death, so being on a team with him was proving to be tedious. Luckily, he and Rabastan were also five or six years older than most of the new recruits and far more experienced and less likely to screw things up, so thus far they'd had less to prove which also equaled less time forced into each others company.
But tonight was different all together. It would be the first time that he'd done any sort of mission with Walden alone, and he planned on making the most of it. He truly enjoyed the man's company, likely a side-effect of his father and Macnair being friends, but he also knew that should he screw up, that friendship wasn't going to protect him, so he still needed to work to do his best. That should be easy enough; Marius had never been satisfied with failure of any sort.
A figure walked into the pub where Marius was currently waiting and he recognized the man immediately. He stood respectfully and pushed his drink to the center of the table. He hadn't actually been drinking it anyway, but there was no quicker way to attract attention in a country pub than to request water.
"Bonjour," Marius greeted.
Walden loved the country. Perhaps it was because he spent a decent part of his childhood in the fresh air. He liked London as much as the next person but the city never calmed him like the English countryside. Work had been long and arduous and Walden was looking forward to his meeting with Marius. It had been some time since he had been able to meet with his mentees, though they were rapidly approaching a point where they would hardly need his training. Of course he would always be there for them but he was blessed to have two passionate boys under his tutelage.
He'd apparated to a place near the pub and he glanced around cautiously before stepping out onto the road. He hummed a bit as he walked, hands shoved into the pockets of his leather jacket. The walk didn't take long and soon he was tugging on the handle of the heavy door so he could step inside. The older wizard took a quick glance over the patrons and spotted Marius, who was now standing. Walden moved towards the table and then motioned for the other to take his seat once again.
"Evening," he responded. "Have you been waiting long?"
"Not at all," Marius answered. "Or at least I did not consider it waiting. I came early to be certain I was not late," he said. "That and I have had little to keep me occupied recently. I have mastered several spells I always wished to learn before, simply because I have had nothing better to do," he said. His tone wasn't one of complaint, only of conversation, and out of habit he reached for the cup he'd pushed away, only remembering at the last second he'd been meaning not to drink it.
"What will we be doing tonight?" he asked conversationally, pushing the cup away. Honestly, it felt a bit strange being mentored at this point, and even stranger behaving as if drinking was some sort of crime, but it was a fine line between respect and disrespect and the last thing he wanted to do was piss of Walden Macnair. He'd had enough close calls recently as it was, getting in a fight in Muggle London, sneaking out to kill a Muggle Policeman, letting someone from the other side punch him and live to talk about it... He wasn't even sure where all this secret acting out was coming from except deep-seeded boredom. It certainly wasn't a death wish, even if that's the line he was treading if his father found out. But at least he wasn't sleeping around with married women, right? And that was the one rule he'd truly been given.
Realizing he'd let his mind wander for a moment he acted as if he'd merely been looking for the waitress to pay for his drink as he turned to look at Walden again as he awaited an answer.
Walden eyed the full glass for a moment and then turned his gaze back to Marius. " I'm glad to hear you've not been idle. I was the same way with spells, actually. I would tackle spells on my own until I had absolutely mastered them. I believe in a hands on approach, which is why these outings appeal to me." He gave the other wizard an almost smile and then took another quick look around to make sure no one was paying them any mind.
"I thought we'd head out into the wide world of Muggles," he said, almost sarcastically. " We can pick out a few unsuspecting targets and you can show me what you've been working on, if it pertains to dark magic. I had a long day at work and I wouldn't mind directing my frustrations at a Muggle or two." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a few coins, which he dropped onto the tabletop alongside the full glass. " That should take care of that. Let's take our leave, shall we?"
Marius nodded, quite pleased that their training wouldn't merely be pointing his wand at squirrels in the woods to prove he could cast an Imperius. He'd taken his revenge against the Policeman who'd dare touch him, but there had been countless faces in the crowd who had put hands on him that day he'd fought with Lupin, and for that several of them could die as punishment. They were one in the same anyway, all faceless, nameless cattle, who deserved little more than the courtesy of a quick death.
"They would not have been worth studying in my boredom if they were not dark," he said, keeping his voice low as they exited the pub and turned on to the Muggle road. The nearest town was only a short walk from here and Marius followed close next to his mentor as they walked past several Muggles apparently headed for the pub, and down toward the village. They stopped on the outskirts and Marius could see that some sort of small fair seemed to be taking place.
"They make it too easy," he said in a whisper, as they took their place in shadows and two teenage boys came bursting around the corner. It only took two quick spells to have them both roped and silenced.
"This is a spell that was meant to be a humane way to kill large numbers of sick people at once," Marius said. "It was legal when it originated because it was used by the German Ministry of Magic during the plague, but was made illegal across the continent not long after," he explained, before pointing his wand at his captives, both of whom were staring at him in terror.
"Don't worry, it won't hurt," he assured them with a nasty smirk before casting the incantation. Both of their heads drooped immediately, and slowly their bodies began to show signs of suffocation, though the looks of matching stillness remained on their faces. After about a minute, both bodies dropped limply, robbed of life.
"Touche," answered, walking out of the pub just behind Marius. The walk wasn't long but it gave Walden a chance to get himself into the right frame of mind. He watched the flickering lights of the fair and made note of the surrounding areas and all the while Marius chose his victims. The two boys looked panicked and unsure of what they should do. There was a good chance that they had been warned to stay away from dark corners and forest edges but it was apparent that these particular young men considered themselves rebels. So far that pretense had done nothing but get them bound and quieted.
Walden moved himself to get a different perspective of the dynamic duo, listening as Marius spoke of his research. He found himself wondering what the boys were thinking just then. All of Marius's words must sound foreign to their ears, what with the spells and the mention of a magical ministry but there were also words that they could wrap their filthy minds around. Their eyes grew wide at hearing "kill" and "illegal". Perhaps they thought this was all some practical joke that their mates had put upon them. Unfortunately, for them anyhow, that was not the case.
The older wizard watched his mentee with rapt attention and he held his breath as Marius spoke the words. Macnair moved his gaze to the bodies that rested against each other in the dark and then a smile crept across his roundish face. " That was very well done, Marius. I'm very impressed." And he was.
"Merci," Marius responded respectfully. "It seems that although boredom is an unfortunate side effect of being expelled from France, it has been good for my education," he said, a slight smile on his face. "I am looking forward to the time when I am able to use this spell for our cause," he added, stepping over to the bodies of the two boys and leaning down to get a better look at them.
The light was dim, but Marius could see well enough that their faces looked peaceful in death, and only a hint of blue to their faces would have revealed the cause of death. He took off the binding spells, just in case this did end up being investigated, and then he pushed himself back up off the ground and joined his mentor again.
"Would you like to see more or would you prefer a drink?" he asked, hoping for the latter.
Walden stood with his hands tucked behind his back as he watched the other wizard with interest. Soon Marius rose and Walden gave a soft nod to the question. " I think that you deserve a drink and I could certainly use one." He took a quick glance around the wooded area where they stood, making sure no one was lurking, and then he began to walk to a safe Apparating point. He found that he was looking forward to having a few drinks and it didn't phase him that they would be with Marius. He couldn't really imagine sitting down with Rabastan but then he and Marius were both two very different men.
"Do you have a particular pub in mind?" he asked, stopping in a secluded clearing. " I'll leave it up to you, since you're the one of us who has done all the work. Preferably somewhere where we can talk with ease."
Marius nodded. "Unfortunately we must stay within muggle areas because of the ridiculous curfew," he said, rolling his eyes, "but the pub where we began was not so horrible. The muggles there seem to instinctively give me distance," he said, a slight smile on his face. "I think that the less intelligent they are the more they have the instincts of animals which tell them when danger is present. It speaks volumes to why mudbloods are the worst of the sort. Magic has made them confident, though they should still be much afraid."
The walk back to the pub went quickly and the table that Marius had vacated before was still empty, as was much of the rest of the place. The same barmaid was still there though, and she watched as they took seats and brought them drinks before they had bothered to ask.
"She would make a good servant," Marius said, watching her as she returned to the bar. "I think the dislike of house elves is something I have inherited from my father, though I did not understand it when I first returned from France. I have been thinking of moving from the Manor; I am not certain Bellatrix enjoys having me in her home. Do you have an opinion on the matter?" he asked curiously. Though Walden was only meant to be his Death Eater Mentor, he'd found the man to be knowledgable on many subjects, one of which being how to avoid his father's wrath for doing something that Rodolphus might dislike.
Walden took a drink from the glass that had just been served to him and he stole a quick glance about the pub. He looked back to Marius as he spoke and he set his glass down on the table. " The day I moved out on my own is a day I will always remember. I became my own man and I was free to do whatever I wanted. Looking back I wish that I had been financially independent as well, but there's not much I can do about it now. I don't owe him a thing." He gave a shrug and took another drink. " I think you're capable of living on your own and I would not doubt that your father would agree with me."
Walden leaned back in the booth, pulling his glass across the table so it was still within reach. " Do you know what I find interesting? This pub is called the Four Smiths. You would assume it was because the owners are all called Smith or that maybe the establishers were a sort of smith. There are, in fact, no Smiths associated with this pub. I wonder why that is?"
"Finances I do not worry about," Marius said honestly. "Even were my father to cut me from his funds my grandparents had no children beyond my mother and they wish to share with me all they have. I am very fortunate," he said. "The only reason I would not move is that I have spent much time in France away from my father. I do not wish him to think me ungrateful for allowing me to move back with him when I was no longer welcome on the continent," he said, bitterness tinging his voice as the memories of that debacle came into his mind. He was about to say more when several muggle men burst into the pub.
"We've had two murders!" one of them shouted, causing a stir from the entire crowd. Everyone began speaking at once and all rose from their seats. Apparently in tight knit muggle communities everyone was expected to help track down killers? Marius wasn't certain about muggle law at all, but what he was certain of were a few pairs of eyes that looked in the direction of the only strangers in the bar.
"I would think this is perhaps our cue to be leaving?" Marius asked Walden, standing as the rest of the men around him stood as well. At least once it looked like he was planning on helping with the search the muggles who had been eyeing them looked away and began to mill out the door. "This was enjoyable, we should train again soon," he said. "And you should come for dinner some evening. My father spends too much time with his books. He could use society," Marius said with a smirk as he pulled on his cloak and headed for the door.
Walden opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted by the sudden outburst from the men who had come crashing through the door. He gave a nod to the other wizard and he rose to his feet as well. " Dinner would be delightful. I'll speak with Rodolphus and perhaps we can set something up." He watched as the younger man exit the building and he sighed. He grabbed his drink from the table, downed it, and then tugged his leather coat on.
He followed a group of men out of the pub and walked behind them for a few yards before slipping off into the shadows. He wound through the scattered trees on the edge of the road and eventually found himself in the thick of a forest that surrounded the village. He couldn't hear any voices or see any lanterns and so he stopped. Even if they did hear the crack he would be long gone and there would be no trace of him.
He tilted his head to each side, cracking his neck, and then he took another look around. It had been a very good night. Marius had impressed him. Walden had not expected anything less of the boy but it still made him proud to be his mentor. Rodolphus would be proud. He finally cleared his mind, focused on his garden, and then with a crack he was gone and the forest was silent, save the faint echo that was the last of the evidence that he had ever been there.