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Tweak says, "know what you did last summer"

Scorpius Malfoy (scorpius_) wrote in landing_rpg,
@ 2008-08-20 12:00:00

Entry tags:

phoenix malfoy, scorpius malfoy

Who: Scorpius and Phoenix
What: Scorpius needs to chat with his baby brother
Where: Malfoy manor, study
When: Early afternoon
Rating: TBD
Status: Incomplete and closed

Scorpius was certain that Phoenix knew what he wanted to talk to him about. While there had been a few rumors about his younger brother spending time with the blonde Weasley, Draco was not the sort to buy into Hogwarts gossip. It was more often than not completely ridiculous and so far from the truth that it was laughable. However, it was rather impossible to ignore the fact that his brother had escorted Dominique Weasley to the ball, let alone the fact that he had spent the entire evening sidled up next to her.

Scorpius was not the sort to make an ordeal of things, especially not in such a hugely public situation, so he had not confronted Phoenix, but now that they were out of the spotlight, there were things that needed to be discussed. There was a strong history to the Malfoy name. It meant something that most people could only dream of having applied to them, and Scorpius was not about to let his brother forget that.

Despite Phoenix's enthusiasm, Scorpius arrived precisely when he'd asked his brother to meet him, fifteen minutes later. "Phoenix," he greeted..

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phoenixabraxas
2008-08-20 01:50 pm UTC (link)

Arriving earlier in the study- as he had promised- allowed Phoenix ample time to dwell on his thoughts. He knew his older brother; it would take him fifteen minutes to get there, as he had said, and he didn't mind that at all. In fact, he deemed that he might need the time alone before the inevitable talk.

The middle Malfoy took a seat on the chair behind a grand oak deskin front of huge hearth, his legs crossing underneath his lean frame as he sat back. He faced the seat away from the room to stare lightly at the fire, his thoughts immediately occupied. Curiosity filed him as he wondered how things will end up after this confrontation. He had felt his brother's disapproving stare from across the Hall during the Ball. It was only a matter of time until a scolding of sorts would happen. He didn't have high expectations that it will end smoothly, though one can hope that there wouldn't be too much bloodshed.

At the familiar voice that greeted him, he moved the chair back to face the modest study, and his older brother entering the room. "Scorpius." After a curt nod, he stood lightly and moved to one side of the desk, pocketing his hands. "I suppose we can push aside the formalities and get right to whatever it is you've wished to talk to me about." His tone was calm, almost casual as he waited for the other to talk, knowing there wasn't any need to beat around the bush. Especially not with Scorpius.

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scorpius_
2008-08-20 10:35 pm UTC (link)

Scorpius might have been irritated with his brother's bluntness if he didn't have a bit of a point. He had no interest in small talk, and he supposed this conversation was one of those that was best to get over with quickly.

"You escorted Dominique Weasley to the ball," he began calmly, eyeing Phoenix as if searching for some sort of physical change in him. There seemed to be none. "Would you care to explain your reasoning behind such?" He made no mention of his distaste for the entire Weasley clan and their returned distate for the Malfoys. Instead, he waited patiently for his brother's answer, his face in its usual stoic expression, grey eyes not straying from him.

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phoenixabraxas
2008-08-20 11:25 pm UTC (link)

"Yes I did." was his first answer, his tone careful as was his expression. Phoenix was almost tempted to add Oh, you noticed? but something told him sarcasm wasn't the best approach to this particular scenario.

A pause. "Your distaste is most pronounced." he observed out loud, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Must I truly need a reason to take a perfectly decent woman to the Ball, Scorpius?" His tone sent a silent challenge to the other. "Isn't that what we are all after? I don't think I should be condemned for wanting something everyone else does." A flicker of a humorless smile crossed his features, though it perhaps was quick enough for the other to miss. Without averting his eyes from his brother, his fingers then trailed over the wodden desk as he walked around it, taking slow calculated steps, only to stop to lean against its front and cross his arms over his chest. This was something that bothered his brother more than he was making it seem, even though Phoenix believed the other shouldn't be. Scorpius deserved his honesty at the very least though, he thought. "I... enjoy her company." His tone turned soft for that one breif moment, only half aware that he had used the present tense, before it returned to his usual monotone. "Would you, in turn, care to tell me if there is anything wrong with that?"

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scorpius_
2008-08-21 09:17 am UTC (link)

There were times when Scorpius wanted to reach over to his brother and shake him by the shoulders. He had always been the different one in the family, the one who pushed all the boundaries, challenged the Malfoy way of thinking. Scorpius had never been particularly bothered by that fact. After all, he had little responsibility compared to the eldest. His actions, generally speaking, were not nearly as closely watched as Scorpius'. This, though, was bound to attract notice. His father would not be pleased.

"She is a very pretty girl," he answered slowly, hardly managing to keep the disugst out of his voice at the little Weasley being referred to as a woman. "I can understand how her Veela charm would be very... appealing to you." And then came the infamous 'but' in every serious conversation. "However, you know as well as I the distaste their family has for ours and ours for theirs. Their family does not hold the same... values that ours does." He paused for a moment to gather his thoughts. Scorpius was not the sort to ramble on and on without reason. It was something his father had taught him.

"You may have convinced yourself, baby brother, that things will run smoothly despite that feud, but I can assure you blood is much thicker than any silly relationship you think you have with her. She will choose her family over you, and I hate to think of where that will leave you should you turn your back on yours."

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phoenixabraxas
2008-08-21 11:34 am UTC (link)

Phoenix immediately took note of Scorpius' emphasis of the word 'girl' and he was barely able to keep his lips from curling upward. After a deep breath, his expression remained guarded, seemingly passive, though his eyes narrowed further as his brother went on. It wasn't as if Scorpius was babbling nonsense- neither of them were raised to speak without consideration. He saw Scorpius' concern to preserve the image entrusted to them by their Father in his eyes as clearly as he witnessed his reflection gazing breifly at him from one of the corner mirrors. It was the eldest one's job to protect them, to protect him. But in young Phoenix's mind, he still firmly believed that he had done nothing wrong. This stubbornness, he thought, might just prolong this argument for longer than necessary but he wasn't too willing to this end without the other seeing his side.

For a moment, Phoenix was silent and unmoving. Dominique had told him she never used her Veela Powers on anyone, but now that Scorpius had pointed it out to him, he couldn't make up the words that would prove the other wrong about his assumptions. He trusted her word- it was an answer he was sure the other wouldn't accept and probably would just laugh at, so he bit his tongue. "From you words, it is as if you now believed I have suddenly acquired a liking for the Weasley clan. I can assure you that that's not the case." He loosened his arms and propped them back on the table surface to support his weight. "I'm also pleased to inform you that I have yet forgotten about the values that has been imprinted in my mind since birth. Do give me a tad more credit than that, Scorpius." He heaved another sigh, one hand reaching up to massage the bridge of his nose, feeling almost instantly worn out by this exchange- something he had not foreseen. "I know your intentions are noble, dear brother, though I must say this situation truly didn't require such immediate intervention. No one is doing anything wrong. Not her nor I."

When Scorpius had said she would choose her family over him- word that he knew the other had chose to use to hit a spot- he wasn't entirely surprised. He knew she would do such a thing if they were forced into a situation where they had to make a choice; she has to, and so did he. For some reason, he believed that even she believed such a thing. "I know." he said lightly, his gaze retreating to the floor though in his composure told the other that he wasn't near forfeiting. He wondered why there were ultimatums presented now, when he and Dominique had hardly moved what little progress they've made in their relationship forward? It was ridiculous how they're already being forced apart even when they were barely together. Should he be truly surprised?

"Turn my back on my family, Scorpius?" he echoed the other's accusation after a pause, his tone low, incredulous. "Do you believe I would ever do that?" he gazed back at him. It had insulted him that the other would even consider it and he didn't even try to hide it. Just the thought was almost unbearable. Or could it be perhaps that the other was telling him what they would do to him if this went on? "Why does choosing one path automatically mean I turned my back on the other? Why can I not have both without upsetting both parties?"

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scorpius_
2008-08-21 12:05 pm UTC (link)

It was wise of Phoenix not to voice his so-called trust for the young Weasley. Scorpius had been brought up to believe that trust was a foolish word and an even more foolish action. To place your trust in someone was to provide an opportunity for disappointment, and in the Malfoy family, disappointment tended to occur on a horrifically grand scale. "You begin to enjoy the company of one, Phoenix, and suddenly your views become tainted. Her opinions begin to mix with your own," Scorpius answered icily. The thought of his brother mingling with the Weasley clan was enough to make him nauseous.

For a brief instant, Scorpius' composure snapped. His eyes narrowed at his younger brother's proclamation of innocence, fist clenching at his side. But as quickly as his anger had surfaced, it disappeared, and he quickly turned his back to him until he had regained his composure. "You knew the family would not approve and yet you proceeded regardless." His tone was flat, voice unwavering. "You have shown a complete disregard for the opinions of your brother and sister." Slowly, he turned back around to face his brother with a stony gaze. "You are willing to tarnish the Malfoy name because of a ridiculous infatuation, and you have the gall to act surprised at my concern?"

It was a blow to Scorpius, though he would never admit it, to be rejected by his brother. Though they were certainly different people, Scorpius had always felt the only people he could count on in his life were his family. To have one of them, his own brother no less, turning against him was painful, even for the usually unaffected Malfoy heir. "You grew up in our society, Phoenix. You know as well as I that we can never have both. You have a decision to make, and I should like to think it would have been easier than you're making it out to be."

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phoenixabraxas
2008-08-21 01:04 pm UTC (link)

"My views remain as they are." Phoenix tried to reassure his brother, though his eyebrows were now drawn together in a tight knot. "I have only harbored recent opinions of her, but my perception of everything else- especially her clan- has yet altered." He was more than anything being truthful, though he didn't know how he can make the other see that. "You're right about one thing however." he swallowed. "I do enjoy her company."

When the other turned his back on him, Phoenix was honestly taken by surprise as he gazed at his brother's angry, shaking form. He kept his distance however, even though he would like do... something other than just standing there. The urge to offer his apologies rose to his mouth but when the other decided to speak again, his voice as cold as ever, the words died in his lips. It had pained him to be told he was a betrayer, for from the start he had never intented to be one. Perhaps he was selfish for only following his wishes, though he couldn't get himself to admit such. "Tarnish?" he spat the word as if it was an insult. "Scorpius I understand your concern completely. But I took a lady to the Ball" he said slowly. "And already you're giving me such grave accusations. I hardly think that's called for." His own hands balled in fists against the table, and he had to breath through his nose for a moment to keep his composure. "If you can explain to me what I have done wrong, then I would gladly make the decision you're asking of me. I'll even choose the decision that you want to hear." Phoenix's voice was faint, though controlled as he once again locked with his brother's cold glare. "But I know I have not done anything even remotely close to such. As long as that stands, my conscience will remain clear." A sound sigh escaped him, shaking his head. "No one has ever tried. She and I were the only ones that bothered." his tone was softer now, exhaustion reflected in his voice. "That proves that both can coexist, despite this feud. Only no one chooses to see it."

"I do." Phoenix said aftr a moment, nodding, his eyes now averting to the window in the other side of the room. "Though I'd wish to not make it now if you don't mind."

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scorpius_
2008-08-21 01:58 pm UTC (link)

"If you had intended things to stay as innocent as you claim them to be, Phoenix, you would not be fighting so hard for it," he snapped. Scorpius was not an idiot. He saw the way his brother looked at the blonde Weasley at the ball. She may not have had the disgusting red hair the rest of the lot seemed to, but it didn't change who she was, who her family was, who she was loyal to. And she was already dragging Phoenix into it, no matter what Phoenix seemed to think.

His frustration was growing with every ridiculous word that fell from the middle Malfoy's lips. "We don't coexist because the Weasleys are beneath us," he growled, seemingly unaffected by his brother's tired expression. "All of them, even the pretty, blonde ones. The sooner you realize that, the better. This is not some modern Romeo and Juliet fairy tale."

He stared at his brother for a moment as he averted his gaze. "I won't be the one to tell Father," he muttered. "If you don't wish Athena to, you might tell her so. This conversation is finished."

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phoenixabraxas
2008-08-22 12:14 am UTC (link)

"I'm beginning to think I'm not fighting as hard as I should, what with all these accusations thrown at my way." Phoenix told him, though his voice remained neutral, but thoughtful. If he would make the effort, he could so easiy disregard every word that came out of his brother's mouth, and put up a wall of indifference that would make it almost effortless to reduce the elder Malfoy's voice to a mere humm in his ears. Instead, he chose not to; he listened and took this scolding to heart, out of the deep respect he has for his brother. He could feel the slightest hint of remorse aching in his chest after seeing how this had upset his brother, though he dared not let it show.

Phoenix's eyes never left the window as Scopius went on, though he somehow coudn't see the view beyond the glass panes, his bright eyes unfocused. "If you believe I have allowed myself to fall under the delusion that I'm involved in some sappy fairy tale, it would only proove how little you know about me." His voice was still the same tired tone, though his words pained him more than he was making it seem.

It did not surprise him that his brother wanted to end this conversation so soon. In fact, he appreciated the timing. He doubted he could take more of this. "I appreciate that you wouldn't." he said, after a moment. "And I will." After being dismissed, Phoenix inclined his head towards his brother to the slightest of bows and retreated back to the seat behind the fire, intending to waste the afternoon where he was, just until the ache in his chest subsided to a bearable point.

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