InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Doh!"

fleurrebelle (fleurrebelle) wrote in incanesco_rpg,
@ 2011-06-04 00:23:00

Entry tags:

!backdated, !incomplete, isabelle lebreton, regulus black

Who: OPEN!
What/Where: Isa is obsessively reading her cards in the courtyard
When: BACKDATED Sep. 3rd, Free period after lunch
Rating: TDB

Isa was not at all prepared for the way this term started out.

The morning that she left her home to board the train, she noticed things in her tea leaves that she did not want to see and wrote them off as a coincidental reading, not something ordained by Fate. Then, as she got into her mother's car (her mother was very aware of muggle culture and had matriculated years ago), she noticed things were in disarray, an unnatural unbalance. The autumn leaves were not content to settle on the ground, the breeze outside was warm, not cool like the fall. As she walked into King's Cross, she could have seen she saw a black, mangey dog wandering the alley outside: her interpretation of the Grim. Something was not right.

The news hit her on the train. Lily Evans and James Potter had filled her in at the prefecture meeting of what the Prophet was proclaiming the worst massacre yet. Not only that, but it had been a roommate. A friend. Most people were shut out by Isa. Sarah had been someone thrust into her awareness not by choice, so she in turn shared things with Isa that were intensely personal. Hearing of her death made Isa want to burst with the force of a supernova. Keeping her composure was tough. She was supposed to be a leader for the rest of her house. A leader needs no savior. A leader should be a savior.

What made this even more difficult is that she had predicted it. Not exactly it, no, but on the last day of term their fifth year, Sarah jokingly asked for a reading on how her OWLs had gone. The card she read was ominous, but the meaning she translated was manufactured. She lied so that she would not spook what could be a new very close friendship. People often thought Isa was strange and doom-and-gloom-y. She would not let a simple card reading stunt the growth of someone bringing her in and accepting her gift. And besides, she was by no means 100% correct with her readings. It could have been completely off. Tragically, it wasn't.

So now it was the third day of term. She had eased into all of her classes. The effort it took to keep composure was also great for classroom focus. Her NEWT levels would be hard, but she was up to the challenge. Instead of studying on this break, she decided to practice her readings and interpretations. It was a nice cool day. Not too hot like the summer afternoons are, but just perfect. This will get better, she thought, the moon is never New for long...

(Post a new comment)

toujoursreg
2011-06-04 09:16 pm UTC (link)

Regulus was entirely aware of the situation that had occurred the day before their return to Hogwarts. As soon as he had read it in the newspaper prior to leaving for King's Cross, he had instructed Kreacher to take it up to his room once his father had finished with it, in order to him to add it to the rapidly growing collage of clippings that adorned his wall. It was something to be remembered, something that he would recall long after those around him had forgotten. The ascent of the Dark Lord was growing every day and Regulus was utterly fascinated by the promises that had been made to their kind.

The mood surrounding the castle was a bleak one. Even those not especially concerned with what had happened seemed to be feeling the effects of the entire student body pulling the mood down. He couldn't recall how many group of sobbing students he had passed over the last few days but it was rapidly becoming tedious. So in an effort to get away from it, Regulus made his way into one of the courtyards during his afternoon free period. It was a pleasant day and a good one for being outside, and so he settled down on a bench near to Isabelle and removed a textbook from his bag. Cracking it open, one hand moved up to loosen his tie slightly as he began to read. He had noticed his fellow sixth year upon sitting down, though he made no effort to engage her in a conversation. She seemed to be busy with something. Even if she hadn't been, it was rather unlikely that Regulus would have disturbed her anyway.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

fleurrebelle
2011-06-05 05:31 am UTC (link)

The arrival of Regulus was not something that Isa had glazed over. She was perfectly aware of his every move, though she did not move or tilt her head. She had focused on her cards, begging to see something.

She didn't want to see anything bad ever again. She had been rapidly conducting readings on her environment, wanting reassurance in her accuracy but also reassurance that the evil tides had ebbed away for the time being. He thought of Sarah and wondered if her unexpected guest had known her. Likely, she thought he had thought of her as inferior as so much of his family had. Unknowingly, her focus on Regulus shifted the focus of her reading. The cards were not revealing the fate of this courtyard, which she had predicted would be cleansed by rains and a stroke of thunder that would make victim the tree in the left corner, but of Regulus. She had not realized this until she had placed the card atop the staff in the Celtic Cross.

"How did you enjoy the ceremony this afternoon?", she asked, still looking at her cards. The silence between them growing ever larger, she continued.

"Your card today is Le Pape, or the Pope." She didn't know why she was telling him this. Surely it would be a waste of her efforts. But she thought this reading was particularly boding, especially given the mood of the situation. The last time she had witheld information, people were killed.

"Except it is reversed. I do not expect that you should know what this means, so I will do my best to convey the message. Beware first impressions. These trying and, for some, exciting times are times ill advised for signing any binding agreement. The adverts you see promise more than they are accountable for. You will come to a point where you must choose between what is right and what is easy. Do not look to your family for guidance, for they are strewn along both paths. And though the comfortable route seems safest, there also lies the bandit waiting to strike. The unconventional also calls for safety in that less occupy and endager you."

After she had finished, she was both embarrassed and proud. She had not intended to say so much on the matter, but it was as if the words flowed like a great river and she could not stop the flow.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

toujoursreg
2011-06-05 11:51 am UTC (link)

Regulus looked up curiously as he heard Isabelle speak. Since there was nobody else around, she must have been addressing him. Either that or she was talking to herself. Seeing as she had asked a question, he settled on the former. Yet before he could work together a sufficiently curt answer, the Ravenclaw had continued.

Every word was taken into account. Regulus listened closely, his eyes squinting slightly as he concentrated. He would have been a fool to ignore the words of the Seer, especially since he knew for a fact that readings such as this were not something to be taken lightly. He had a vague inclination about what was being said, although he was unsure how to react to such information. As such, once he was sure that the girl had finished, he quietly closed his book and returned it to his bag before standing. There was no point in pretended to read any more, not after that.

Moving over to Isabelle, Regulus set his bag down before sitting near to her. But not too close, naturally. "You saw all of that in one card?" he asked, his tone quiet and curious. Usually he would not have chosen to continue the conversation but his interest had been piqued and he was rather eager to learn more.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

fleurrebelle
2011-06-05 03:45 pm UTC (link)

She was surprised the Slytherin did not retort some rude remark and storm off. That was usually what happened. Especially when she may have made them uncomfortable. As to his further question, she was unsure if this was baiting a trap of genuine interest. Normally, she would go with the former, but in light of recent events she decided that since she had dug her hole she better sit in it. No more avoiding the truth.

"One card, yes, but guided by the cards previous. Your spread all lead up to this point, whose other different meanings interlocked and fell upon this. But, of course, you can take it or (as most do) leave it."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

toujoursreg
2011-06-05 03:57 pm UTC (link)

Regulus wasn't one for storming. He might have simply up and left but it would be as undramatic as possible. Besides, he was now extremely curious and his desire to learn more outweighed any uncomfortable feelings he might have been experiencing.

"Could you tell me more?" Regulus asked, his eyes shifting from the cards to the Ravenclaw's face. "What cards came before the last one to dictate the final reading?" His tone wasn't harsh or demanding. He simply wished to know more.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

fleurrebelle
2011-06-05 04:51 pm UTC (link)

If she was surprised before, she was thoroughly unprepared for this. Not many, let alone a Slytherin, was interested in the mechanics of her divination. Most showed interest in what would happen concerning themselves and run along, frightened of impending doom. She was flattered but still on guard at his request to elaborate further.

"Well, you also had the Seven of Cups at the bottom of your staff, signifying the need to reflect upon choices. Second from the top you had the Ten of Coins, meaning wealth. Its position indicates what your hopes or fears may be. I take it to mean your hopes for a passage of family inheritance on to you. Second from the bottom is the Lighting-Struck Tower. Its position indicates the environment this is happening in. Forgive me, but I take it to mean there has been an unexpected loss or change. A broken relationship. I concluded on what I said before because of the card visible at the center of your cross: the object that stands in your way. The Ace of Coins. The seed of material gain, and unexpected opportunity for physical gain. Your obstacle can be something that sounds good but ends up being...detrimental in the end. Based on all of this, I used also what I know to piece together my advice."

As she continued explaining out loud, it was all becoming clearer. She felt like she may have been trampling on some touchy subjects. She stopped abruptly and waited for a reaction.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

toujoursreg
2011-06-06 12:01 am UTC (link)

Regulus continued to listen closely, his eyes scanning the cards as Isabelle explained each in turn. It didn't take a tarot reading to know about his broken relationship with Sirius, but it was surprising to hear about the family inheritance. And something that sounded good but ended up being harmful in the end? Well, that could have been numerous things. Readings were never as clear as one would have liked them to be, unless you were on the other side of the event and had the gift of retrospect.

Remaining silent for a moment, Regulus nodded and offered the girl an extremely faint smile. "Thank you," he said quietly, "You have given me much to think about." Yet he still did not leave after that. He waited in case Isabelle had anything more to add, not wanting to come across as rude should she not be finished.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

fleurrebelle
2011-06-06 12:21 am UTC (link)

"One thing, though, is very....interesting", she said after a breath of silence. She looked down at the spread one more, collected her cards into the deck, but showed one in particular to Regulus.

"The Empress. She was hidden unseen at the center of your cross. The position represents what is at the heart of the matter. She means a maternal influence, a mother. And this", she shuffled to another card, "The Popess, reversed was at the top of your cross. This means she would represent the best outcome you have without a change of priorities. I take it, here, to mean being led astray from the true path, confusion. The forces of nature unleashed."

Isa was very confident that her reading was accurate, so she pressed him thus to test it. "Does this serve further illumination?

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

toujoursreg
2011-06-13 07:43 pm UTC (link)

It was no secret that Regulus' mother impacted his life significantly. Practically every decision he'd made since birth had been advised by his mother and she definitely had a very big part to play in the sort of boy that Regulus was. That much was true. A change of priorities though? There was a small part of Regulus that understood what Isa was trying to say but his own refusal of change prevented him from taking such warnings on board.

"I think I have heard all that I need to," he replied quietly, offering the cards a slight glare before he bent down to pick his bag back up. Swiftly standing, he offered the Ravenclaw the slightest of smiles as he nodded. "Thank you," he said courteously, edging away from the seat before turning to leave, "Good day to you."

[OOC: I'm so sorry this took me so long to get to! I didn't get a notification for it! D:]

(Reply to this) (Parent)