Violet Slughorn (laodicean) wrote in disorderic, @ 2018-03-11 18:36:00 |
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It hadn’t surprised Dante when Violet asked him to not hurt anyone. He knew they didn’t share the same opinions on everything; that much had been clear when she’d expressed a desire to continue maintaining friendships across political lines. He was willing to allow that -- not that he believed he could really force her hand on anything, or that she’d actually stay if he tried -- and he still was. Not everything could be won over by force, and it was something they could possibly negotiate. Or at least it was something that he thought he could change, in time. It was worth a discussion, at the very least. The prospect of discussing what, exactly, he was willing to do for the Dark Lord and what he wasn’t eager to do but had to was not something he was looking forward to, however. It might have been easier if Violet’s family was more invested in their Cause, too, instead of remaining on the outskirts, but as it was, there was so much that Dante wasn’t sure she truly understood. He was worried, too, about saying something that would change her mind about them. They weren’t married yet. She could leave. She could keep his child from him. He’d meant it when he thought they could be happy, and in the face of that, he didn’t want to lose it. He held back a moment, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. “Thank you,” he started, “for letting me come over.” After her shower, Violet had put on pajamas. Comfort beat out propriety, and if they actually did get married, he was going to see plenty of her wearing casual clothing. The slight curve of her abdomen was visible in the fitted camisole she wore as a shirt, but looser clothing like her drawstring pajama bottoms still hid everything. She nodded in response to his thanks, contemplating leading the way to her living room for a moment before deciding against it. She wanted to have this conversation standing up and looking him directly in the eyes as she both literally and metaphorically took a stand. “I know that you’re not in a position to refuse orders,” she began calmly. “I heard about what happened to Professor Karkaroff when he ran…” She wanted to be tolerant and understanding, but there were limits, even for someone who earnestly tried not to pass down judgement on people. “That’s why I’m only asking you to not harm people outside of direct orders...or self-defense, of course.” Dante steeled himself, holding a breath as he waited and listened. He wanted to give her whatever she asked for, but realistically, he didn’t know if he could. It wouldn’t have bothered him before. Now, his arm itched, like the Dark Lord could tell and was reminding him that He existed. He reached out to take one of her hands, as a way to anchor them. “This is all for… us. You know that, right?” It hadn’t started out that way, not specifically, but now he had more of a reason to fight. “I do this so other people won’t have to. So you and Val can live in a better world, so our child can.” He inhaled deeply. “You’re right, I can’t refuse. He gives us room to fulfill His orders in our own ways.” Dante thought about Layla, and how he didn’t doubt she had taken liberties. “Everything I do is an order. There’s no way around that. I don’t hurt people for fun.” “If I thought you hurt people for fun, there would be no child, and no us.” Simple and to the point. Despite the things he’d done, she didn’t think of him as a monster. Just very misguided and brainwashed. Violet was silent for a moment, gut wrenching at the idea that any of this violence was justified as being for her sake, or for the child’s. Getting angry or accusatory would do nothing to unravel a lifetime of indoctrination. So many opponents of purism failed to grasp that. What she had to do here was listen, and try to understand. If she knew what was going through his mind, she could attack the argument without attacking him. Rather than pulling away, she took a step toward him. “What exactly is it that you’re doing? What is the better world you’re trying to create?” At least she got that much, Dante thought, but a part of him still burned to think that she’d even had to ask. It angered him to think that she’d had to ask him not to, like she thought he went out killing people left and right for no reason. Okay, so the Muggle in York hadn’t been a specific order from the Dark Lord, but Bellatrix had made demands of them, and they all knew that was nearly the same. She wasn’t running, though. That was a good sign. Right? “One safe from outside influences,” he stated, a little confused that she was asking. Wasn’t that obvious? “The previous governments have been too fluid when it comes to our involvement with Muggles. They’ve allowed too much to seep into our world and pollute it. We want to fix that.” For a moment, Violet debated whether or not to bring her personal experiences into this. She didn’t want to say anything that he could use to justify his argument. On the other hand, it would be easier to continue the conversation if she agreed with him on at least a few minor things. “Well,” she began quietly. “We do have one of the weakest Statutes in the world. Before the...very dramatic changes in government, one of my career goals was to strengthen the Statute of Secrecy.” She didn’t hate Muggles, and found many of their scientific advances fascinating to read about, but she was still very wary. She had reasons to be. “When I was five, Everett and I were attacked by a group of nouveau riche Muggle bullies. When I was thirteen, I was hospitalized for a week thanks to a Muggle drunk driver. If it wasn’t for magical Healing, I would have died. When I was sixteen, a pair of Muggles pulled knives on me. I’m well aware of how dangerous they can be.” Ideally, that was what he would have done, too, but he didn’t make the decisions. If the Dark Lord wanted something done, there must have been a reason for it. Dante wished she understood that. “I’m so sorry that happened,” he told her, sounding truly genuine. He knew how to put on an act, but he didn’t with her. They were going to have a lifetime together, hopefully, and he didn’t want to fake that. “It’s terrible. None of that should have ever happened.” Violet moved closer still, until she was close enough to reach up with her free hand and touch his cheek. His mind wouldn’t change overnight. She knew that. Right now, this was just about giving him some things to think about - including proof that people could peacefully and respectfully disagree with each other. “No, it shouldn’t have. That’s true for a lot of terrible things. Layla’s brother, what happened to me, the ball bombing…” She was carefully neutral, taking a ‘both sides’ approach to avoid coming across as accusational, “...but also everything that happened to Gawain Robards. I mean, he worked within the law instead of being a vigilante, and it still happened. His poor mum, losing her husband and son. She must be devastated.” Dante was leaning into the touch a little until she mentioned Robards, and then he tensed. While it was unfortunate to lose such a capable wizard, he didn’t feel bad. Maybe he should have. Robards had been at odds with his family for years. He didn’t doubt Robards suspected his father well before his father’s outing. Dante didn’t feel particularly charitable. “Yes, she must be,” he agreed, because at least that much was true. “What happened to him… is an example of what happens to people who stand in the way, however. He knew that. His idea of the law wasn’t the law anymore, and he refused to comply. This is what happens when you go against Him.” He doubted it was something Violet wanted to hear, but it was the truth. There was no room for opposition. It was difficult to hear, because for all that Violet avoided taking a strong stance on a lot of issues, she was a believer in the system. Or at least in how the system should ideally work. She sighed. “Maybe there’s just something I’m not getting, but I don’t think doing away with democracy and freedom of speech are going to make a better world. You and I can talk and listen to each other...I don’t see why everyone else can’t just do the same.” “He has His reasons.” Dante didn’t know what they all were, but that wasn’t his role. He was there to take orders and to trust that those orders had a purpose. Nothing more. “It’s — okay. I can at least promise I’ll do everything in my power to not hurt anyone if I don’t have to. As long as you understand that I really don’t have any leverage to do what you want me to do.” He thought back to when the Dark Lord first returned, to his own desire to protect his father for both of their mistakes. “We know what happens when we fail. I can’t fail. Not when -” His other hand lifted, not quite touching her stomach, but hovering near. Then he stopped, and lowered it back to his side. “And for all our sakes, you need to be very careful what you talk about and who you talk to. I’ll protect you with my life, but…” After that, there would be nothing left he could do. “I promise I’ll be careful,” Violet conceded easily. She was trying to do her part to help wrest the Ministry out of Death Eater control. How could she be anything but careful? She felt a small pang of guilt for that, given how good he was being to her. “I’m sorry for hurting your feelings earlier, Dante.” Moving the hand that was on his cheek down and around his waist, she leaned her head against his chest and closed the gap between them. “Thank you. For listening, for trying to compromise, and for protecting me.” He probably shouldn’t have promised anything, he thought. His father might not have approved. Their Lord definitely would not have. But in Dante’s mind, it was the only way he could ensure he still had her trust and her faith. If she wasn’t here with him, he couldn’t protect them both. This way, maybe he had a chance. It might be futile, but he could at least say he’d try. There’d once been a day long ago where he never would have imagined considering a compromise like that, where he’d signed up enthusiastically for a chance at the prestige and power that had been offered to him. It was different now. He put his arms around her and held on. He felt a little less bruised than before, but not completely. “Of course. I can’t promise I won’t disappoint you,” he admitted, because he really didn’t think he could get out of his responsibilities, “but I hope you understand why, if I do.” |