Who: Zeta and Remusknap What: Zeta greeting Remus, from 1998, back to the compound When: Early Thanksgiving Where: Hospital Warnings: None Status: Complete
Remus took a step backwards, as he looked forward at Zeta, his hand pressing against the nearest surface. He didn't remember experience the wave of memories or sense of displacement the last time he had been in front of Zeta, being welcomed. How long ago was that properly? His mind was trying to catch up with everything, putting the pieces in the proper places, and reminding himself that the memories of when he was younger were actually the...newer memories? At least, when putting them up against the memories of his very first arrival.
His fingers gripped the counter very tightly and he took in a deep breath. He felt queasy from trying to process it all as quick as he could. Eyes lifting, he analyzed Zeta for a moment. "I wasn't here long last, was I?" He finally managed to ask. He didn't have very many memories of that time. Not even days. He didn't have many memories but he did have a sense of fear. Of anger. He had specifically begged to never go away. He remembered that very vividly. And yet they had sent him away, only to bring him back at a younger age, and then toss him away again. For what? Just to bring him back once more? He didn't understand just yet.
How long had passed since then?
"Longer than I would have liked," Zeta said, pursing her lips. It irritated her as much as everyone else that Remus had disappeared and returned younger and unaware of his role in the Compound. Alpha had too much control when it came to the Taken as far as she was concerned, but even he couldn't turn down what she could offer - money, and lots of it. If she had to bribe and scheme to get her way, so be it. Otherwise, how was she supposed to get any consistent research done?
"What can you recall from your time at the Compound, Mr Lupin?"
"I take it you had no part, then, in sending me away in the first place?" He asked as he shifted to lean properly against the counter. His head was spinning with images and moments of time, trying to piece them all together in some linear way, when it wasn't linear at all. It was becoming clearer and clearer as each moment passed but it was straining. Faces were what stood out most. His family, in all their scattered about ages, Teddy, the other Moony's, Fleur, Cici, Sirius...
"Which time?" He said with a bit of sarcasm before reaching back and scratching at his neck.
"We never have any part in sending away Taken, no more than we have any say in who comes," Zeta said, lifting her chin, "Or at least, most of the time we don't." She had bought other people into the project. Alpha had no clue how much gold she had in Gringotts, but Zeta suspected he was getting a pretty fair idea.
"I'm more concerned in the last time you were at the age you were. I want to make sure your memory wasn't... tampered with. That nothing is missing. I didn't pull so many strings to get a less than perfect result."
"Oh, how I have missed that brand of answer," he said with a hint of amusement before his head tilted slightly to the side. "Most of the time?" He preferred to focus on, as his hand slipped down from his neck, unable to quit fidgeting for the current moment.
"You missed me, Zeta?" He asked once she elaborated, his smile now beaming, looking genuinely tickled by the concept. However, she had asked him a question, and he wasn't rude. His hand moved up, finger tips rubbing his temples, as he processed the thoughts.
"My last memory was the beach. Weddings, coconuts, whole shebang," he told her, though he was thinking further back then that. He thought of the faces, and one very specific one in particular. He spread his fingers apart so he could gaze at her, before his hand dropped completely. "How long has it been? Is..."
"Yes. Most of the time," Zeta grinned deviously. She liked giving just a little to tempt. "I'm not sure 'missed' is the right word, but it could be applied to several other of the Taken. They missed you, and I like you at this age. I have enough Remus Lupins in their twenties, and they are not nearly as... what is the word they use? Suave?"
Zeta took out her notebook and jotted down what Remus said. "Good. Do you recall what the younger version of yourself went through while he was here?"
Zeta paused when he trailed off. She had more questions, and thought he might want to run away to Sirius as soon as he knew. "It hasn't been long. A number of days. Everyone is still here that you were close to, and a few new bodies as well. Some are still... displaced, so to speak, but it is as you last remembered it." Zeta closed her eyes and sighed, "though I do think perhaps you will have some catching up to do, particularly in the case of Sirius."
"You missed me," he repeated, giving her just a bit of a smirk, before he sucked in a breath. "Yeah, they made that very clear, didn't they?" He commented. That was one of the more vivid memories. Perhaps because...it was fresher? At least in the sense of the compound as a whole. It was during his youth but it felt more recent then his memories where he was his current age. Many had spoken to how he was missed. It had been humbling to his younger self who didn't understand why. It simply made him, now, appreciate them all more and reaffirm his original view. He never wished to leave.
"Do I recall my days of muggle high school education? It involved a lot of...math," he said with a sense of confusion before shaking his head.
Then he looked up to her, "It was very cruel of a thing to do," he whispered. He didn't specify if he was referring solely to how Sirius' feelings were treated, his own, or both. After a pause hung in the air, he swallowed. "Thank you. For...pulling strings."
"I missed the comfort of a quiet life not plagued by irate Taken," Zeta said, her brows arched but her mouth smiling. She closed her notebook, quite satisfied that the right Remus had returned, and that Alpha hadn't tried to shortchange her.
"Ah yes, your counterpart is quite the brain box," Zeta said. Her smile slipped when he spoke of cruelty.
"It was cruel, I agree. It certainly was not fair. If I could understand the motivation behind the action, I would explain it to you, but his movements are as much a mystery to us as they are to you, a lot of the time." She smiled when he thanked her, and inclined her head, "Don't mention it. Welcome back, Mr Lupin."
"They certainly would be less upset if their loved ones didn't get sent away without warning as often. I know that isn't you, but, the point still remains," he commented, watching as she closed the notebook, still smiling lightly.
"Oh, yes, he certainly is. I half expect him to ship out for a complete encyclopedia collection," he chuckled, though it didn't last.
He was certainly glad that she seemed to agree with him on the subject. He had always rather liked Zeta, having gone through Scientist after Scientist. He didn't particularly wish to change blocks again. He was fond of her. "I do hope Mr. Alpha will take into consideration my wishes next time," he added, though he knew it wouldn't really be more than hot air. Mr. Alpha, it seemed, did what he wanted to do. "I don't wish to leave or lose my memories. You knew that well," he added before smiling lightly, pushing himself off the counter.
He stepped forward, extending his hand to Zeta in greeting, before he said "I'm glad to be back."