lucius malfoy (loucius) wrote in disorderic, @ 2017-11-02 09:06:00 |
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Phineas Jones was, unfortunately, a chatterbox. Normally, Lucius didn't mind — he liked being flattered, after all — but he had better things to do today than to spend another hour with Phineas talking his ear off. What was supposed to be a quick charitable donation was now a nearly-hour long tour of St. Mungo's. Phineas had wanted to show him the new wing, but clearly assumed he had never been here before. "We're looking to add another wing of rehabilitation rooms over here," Phineas chirped. Lucius nodded disinterestedly. "Your generous donation will help enormously to that end! We cannot thank you enough, Mr. Malfoy!" "St. Mungo's is a key institution in our world," he replied, scanning for an exit he could take. "I'm only happy to contribute. You'll speak to the board about what we discussed, yes?" Flustered, Phineas searched for his words. "Mr. Malfoy, of course, I'd love to — it's just that — we can't just, the board would have to… Muggleborns deserve the same sort of care that everyone — oh, Healer Tonks! How lovely it is to see you! Have you met Lucius Malfoy?" The relief on Phineas' face was hard not to notice and Lucius hid a smirk. Of course he knew that there was no way to get St. Mungo's to stop accepting Mudblood patients. Half the fun was to see how people tried to appease him while trying to say no. His attention shifted to the Healer, a recognition tugging at his brain. He had heard the name before; a moment later, he realized it was because of who she had married. Andromeda. His upper lip curled in distaste and he said nothing as Phineas made the introductions. Ted, unfortunately, remembered Lucius Malfoy without trying all that hard. Or at all, really. There was something about explaining the exact medical reasons mud blood physically couldn’t exist to every purist she came across that made them stick in her head. Possibly that was a life choice she should rethink. Several times. “My dear brother-in-law,” she said sweetly. “I was very tragically not invited to his wedding. Broke my heart, truly.” Lucius rolled his eyes, but kept his smile pasted on. Even her voice was irritating. "Yes, well, we only had a limited guest list." He turned to Phineas before he was caught up in more of this. Best to stop the gossip session before it happened. "Healer Jones, would you be kind enough to draw up the last of the paperwork so I can be on my way. I'm afraid I have urgent business at home I need to attend to." Phineas nodded, almost hiding his disappointment that he wouldn't be able to stay and witness more of their conversation. Once he was out of earshot, Lucius turned back to Ted. "We didn't have the space to invite strangers, although I understand how you must want to see what a real wedding looks like." There was something very amusing by the not-look at Lucius’ face. People who spent most of their time trying to craft an impeccable version of themselves to put up for public view had a very special way to arrange their faces. “And what exactly is a ‘real’ wedding?” Ted asked, managing to sound mildly interested. “Do educate me.” The answer was rather obvious, but he hadn't expected a Tonks to know. It was a good thing they weren't really related. He'd hate to have to explain that to someone. "A pureblood wedding," he answered, speaking slowly, as if she was a small child. "It's quite a sight." “That’s just sad,” Ted remarked, pushing her hands loosely into her pockets as she studied him. The urge to turn that hair a nice shade of pink was almost too tempting. “Love should be the main ingredient, really. Preferably to someone you’re not vaguely related to. But sure, bang on about your ‘pure’ wedding all you want. It’s very telling.” Lucius ignored the predictable barbs. In his experience, whenever someone was threatened, they would resort to the familiar insults, and knowing this, he found it hard to care. If it had been the first time, it would be different. But he knew better now. He barrelled on. "I'm sure if you asked the right people, you can get an account of the festivities. No one could stop talking about it for weeks." Ted had to laugh. “Yes,” she said. “I’m sure that’s what they all told you.” "I understand it's difficult," he said, eyes narrowing, "to make friends, so you have no idea what it's like, but there's no need to make yourself feel better with false comforts." He waited a beat. "Although I'm sure that's all you're used to." She couldn’t help it. She rolled her eyes. “You would know everything about false comforts, wouldn’t you? I doubt there’s a single one of your ‘friends’,” complete with air quotes because purebloods never failed to bring the Subtle As a Brick tendencies out in her, “who wouldn’t drop you in a hot second, if you took a step in the wrong direction. Like, you know. Becoming a half decent person. I’m pretty sure that would count.” Despite his best efforts, Lucius couldn't stop the surge of annoyance as he listened to her mockery of him. He disliked being mocked, but when it happened at the hands of a Mudblood, it stung even more. But he refused to let her see his — any — reaction. "I've certainly no worries about my character. Your insecurities are rather obvious, though, I would expect nothing less with your…" he grimaced, "lineage." “My lineage?” Ted raised her eyebrows. She knew what he meant, obviously, but it was so much more fun this way. “Do you have any specific against healers? Being such a ‘generous’ donator to St Mungos I figured that’d be something you were passionate about. Medicine, that is. And since I’m the third or fourth generation to go into medicine in my family… I don’t know. I’m confused.” With a scowl, he clarified, "Of course I have nothing against Healers. Qualified ones, that is." “I think you’ll find that I’m more than qualified,” Ted retorted. “Which is more than you can say for yourself. In any area. Or… what is it you’re working with again? Professionally unemployed, is it?” "Should I choose to work somewhere, I would have my pick of the lot," Lucius said. He was a Malfoy and while Malfoys had no need to work, it wasn't as if he was completely useless. He had excellent NEWTs, knew more people than Ted Tonks, and would have all sorts of employers vying for his attention. "But I'll remind you I'm the one funding the hospital you're working at." “Yes,” Ted deadpanned. “I’m sure you would be an asset to any work place, with your extensive skills in sitting around, paying people to do shit for you.” As far as she was concerned, that was the only thing Lucius Malfoy was good for. “Besides, St Mungos has a lot of donors. You’re just one of them.” Her words hit closer to the mark than Lucius was willing to admit so he brushed them off. Besides, he knew the truth, and work would only get in the way of his work for the Dark Lord. "I'm a very generous patron, though," he corrected. "And my family has a lot of influence here. You should do your best to stay out of my way." “I’m very good at what I do,” Ted retorted. She was almost impressed by how sure she sounded of herself. There was definitely a seed of doubt there, a twinge of worry. You couldn’t hear it, though. She was pretty sure of that. “I’m going to make head of a department sooner or later, and there’s nothing you can do about that. Merits still beats money in some places. This is one of them.” "It's… nice you have some semblance of confidence in yourself. I've heard differently, but as long as you're sure," Lucius said, in his best disaffected drawl. "I'll have to talk to the board and get a sense of their opinions sometime." “It’s cute that you think they’ll give a shit,” Ted said evenly. She wished she could excuse herself with having actual work to do, but she refused to be the first one to back down. Unless there was a code on her floor she was staying right here. “But then again, you’ve always overestimated people’s opinions of yourself.” "I've overestimated nothing," Lucius said, an edge to his voice. "Would you really want to find out firsthand how far my influence extends?" “You’re going to waste your ‘influence’ on teaching me a lesson?” Ted said raising her eyebrows. “Really?” "I wouldn't be wasting it," he corrected, his eyes narrowing at her. "It'd get rid of an unqualified Healer." “Your memory is woefully short. Do I need to remind you what we discussed all of two minutes ago? Are you,” she widened her eye in mock-concern, “losing your memories? That’s a bit early, actually. You should see a qualified Healer about that.” "You're older than me," Lucius said, his lip curling. “So? I’m not the one forgetting things that were said all of five minutes ago.” "So, you've got a better chance of it than I would." She could cling to her delusions about her qualifications all she wanted; it didn't change the real truth. “Yes, I’m sure that you being a couple of years younger than me is going to –” An alarm sounded off in the distance. Someone needed a Healer, and Ted finally had a way out of the ridiculous dilemma of refusing to step down first, yet quickly losing her patience. “Looks like someone needs a qualified Healer,” she said. “But it was lovely, getting to chat with my dear brother-in-law. Let’s do it again some time.” And with that she was off. Finally. |