InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "And Crackerjacks!"

bellanblack (bellanblack) wrote in the_recruitment,
@ 2012-02-22 02:07:00

Entry tags:

! 02/1977, ! complete, ! thread, char: bellatrix black, char: rodolphus lestrange

Who:Bella and Rodolphus
What:Mudbloods be talkin smack, we can't let them get away with it!
Where:Rodolphus's house
When:Thursday Afternoon
Status:Complete
Rating:PG

She tightened the laces on her corset as she looked at herself in the mirror. Why was she doing this exactly? Her hair had met a brush. She dressed nicely. Making sure to work these... womanly wiles... She pouted some at her reflection as she continued to do up the laces. There really was no point. She could probably roll out of bed and talk to him like that. She was certain he couldn't say no to her. In fact she was sure of it. All the more reason she was bringing him. He was perfect. Everyone else may hesitate... After all... This was a tiny cross against the Dark Lord's whims... Just a tiny one. When she explained herself everything would be sure to work out. Or she could always ask him first...

AH! To much to think on now. First this. And anyway... wasn't it better to ask forgiveness than permission? Wasn't that the saying? Hmmm....

She let out a sigh and checked herself in the mirror. Adjusting her sleeves some, she strode out of her room. She tapped her wand against her cheek as she pondered where the man she was looking for would be. She hadn't told him anything. Her letters and conversations with him were short and irritable at best. She hummed softly pondering a bit. Well... she could always just go to his house. Worked for her!

With a big smile she apparited from her home to Rodolphus's. Well the front door. She didn't want to take the chance that he may have had some protection on it. How fun it would have been to just enter his house and be on one of his tables just waiting for him. His face would have been priceless. Even better he'd have been putty in her hands! Well... even more so...

She ran her hands through her hair a bit hating it's neat state. Enough wasting time. She rapped on the door a few times waiting for him. She smirked a bit wondering what his reaction might be... She twirled her hair around her fingers. This might be fun...His reactions would probably be worth while. And just this once... just this once it wouldn't be so bad to enlist his help. She was, secretly, a fan of his work...

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parentalia
2012-02-23 04:30 pm UTC (link)

The winter months had never been Rodolphus' favorite and were one of the few times of the year he could actually be found at home in the middle of the afternoon. In the summer there was always something to do. The warm weather brought out all sorts of different things, both living creatures and beings, who were so preoccupied with the sunshine and everything that came with it to be as cautious as they ought to be with him on the loose. Or, at least, that was the running commentary in his head. In the winter the exact opposite was true and many times he felt like hibernating himself.

He had yet to become a favorite of the Dark Lord so it wasn't often that he was called upon to help with the furthering of His plans and now, when all plans were on hold, there was even less for him to do. His days were filled with sleep until noon and long evenings at pubs or stalking the random people he'd encountered. Lately, since his trip to Dartford, the latter had been more of a favorite of his than ever before.

Whenever he closed his eyes, like he did right now behind the closed door of his bedroom, he saw little Jody Fenwick on the back of his eyelids pinned to the wall. He'd since imagined all of the other different things he could have done to her and the fun they could have had together. At the moment he was imagining the pictures he could paint with his fingers and her blood. It would have been better if she'd been smiling in the end.

Rodolphus missed the lock of her hair that he'd given away, missed the excited rush it gave him whenever he took it out of the envelope he'd kept in his pocket ever since he'd taken it. He missed wrapping it around his fingers until the ends turned blue and missed the way it tickled when he ran the curled tips over his mouth. It had been necessary to give it away, though. It belonged to her. The trophy of his exploits was for her. The Fenwicks were in honor of her.

The sound of a knock on his front door was an annoying interruption to his gory daydreams and from on top of his bed, Rodolphus sat up. His father was at work, his mother was visiting with her older sister, and Rabastan was most definitely at school which meant he was the only one around to answer the door. "It better be the Dark Lord himself," he muttered as he left the safe haven of his fondest memories in favor of the front stairs, taken two at a time, and the offending front door. Well, he probably shouldn't feel that way. It wasn't the door's fault. He yanked it open.

The Dark Lord it wasn't. Instead, an even less likely figure waited at his stoop.

His shock was apparent, mouth agape with an unspoken greeting dying on the tip of his tongue followed by a brief moment of intense panic before he realized yes, he had put on clean clothes that morning. But that did nothing to explain why she was there. Her most recent return owl had been scathing. Even though he thought it was adorable, her apparent jealousy at the fun he'd been able to have, he also knew it was an attempt to get him to leave her alone which offered no explanation for her presence now. He hadn't opened his journal in a day so any clues there were also a loss. That meant only the Dark Lord. Was he supposed to invite her in? How long had he been standing there saying nothing? Wait a second. His eyes narrowed suspiciously. Had she combed her hair?

She had! And she was dressed up. His shock and confusion begin to melt off of Rodolphus face leaving amusement in its wake. It wasn't that he didn't appreciate the obvious effort she'd gone through on his behalf, but, well, it was a little ridiculous. For him? Hadn't she realized by now that nothing could be more unnecessary? "What have you done to yourself?" He asked with a laugh stringing his words together.

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bellanblack
2012-02-23 05:09 pm UTC (link)

His expression had been worth it! AH! She knew it would be! She just knew it! Bellatrix could feel giggles just waiting to burst out of her. Though his question killed all her amusement almost instantly. In fact. Dare she say it...? She was just a tad bit embarrassed. Was it that obvious that she made herself look decent to come here? It better not appear that way!! If anyone heard about this...

Well. What should she say...? She stared at him for a good long moment, a million excuses flying through her head. The only reasonable one was to lie. Lie. Lie and oh God Bellatrix lie some more. What exactly should this lie be? Well... She was getting to that...

No wait! Better idea. Save lying for later. First turn the tables. Make him feel bad!

"What do you mean, what have I done to myself...?" She pouted a tad bit, continuing to wind her hair around her fingers. "That's the rudest greeting I've ever heard. I came all the way over here and that's how you greet me?" With her free hand she poked him in the chest. "Rude."

Obviously well played. She'd have patted herself on the back if she could. Now if he asked any more Stupid and Unnecessary questions she'd blame her parents or something of the like. She couldn't be rude to Rodolphus though. She could use his assistance... and more importantly she could also use a scapegoat, if this went off poorly in the Dark Lord's eyes. Not that she thought it would. But better safe than sorry!

She clicked her tongue irritably as they stared stupidly at each other on the porch... Well... This has been a lesson well learned. She was never dressing up ever again. For anyone! Ever!

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parentalia
2012-02-23 05:25 pm UTC (link)

Bellatrix could have set him on fire the moment she'd seen him and Rodolphus would still grin the way he did now, from ear to ear, so wide that in a few moments it would definitely begin to hurt his cheeks. There was no help for it. "Oh!" He pouted to match hers, glancing down at his chest as she jabbed him and continued the mockery when he found her in his line of sight again. "How rude of me! Boo! My sincerest apologies." She was perfect though. Twisting her hair around her fingers as she looked at him - a come hither gesture he knew translated into something completely different in her mind. He remembered sitting behind her in class wanting to do the same thing. He usually ended up balling up the corners of his parchment and throwing it at her instead.

He took one last opportunity to look at her, really look at her from head to toe. He imagined the next time he'd see her in such a comely state would be on their wedding day so he needed to commit it to memory while he could because who knew when that would be? Finally, he recanted a step into his foyer and held his arm wide to gesture her in. "Oh please, do come in!"

Once she had crossed the threshold, Rodolphus ushered the door closed casting a sideways glance at her, or more in particular, at her throat. She had mentioned wearing a trophy of her first victim there and he had never noticed it before.

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bellanblack
2012-02-23 06:46 pm UTC (link)

The way he looked at her was... well. Creepy. However. Bellatrix could honestly say there wasn't another soul whom ever looked at her like that. She did like the attention. However concerning and misplaced it was... This respect he seemed to have for her would serve it's purpose now... and perhaps in the years to come. She should probably stop dismissing and use it to her advantage more...

At his offer she stepped inside without hesitation. She had business. So no dilly dallying. Get to the point and get out.

"I'm sure your curious as to why I'm here..." She had her back to him as she inspected his home. She was still a regal Black. She couldn't help but judge others by their home and possessions. It was in her pureblood nature. "I'd like to know if you'd care to join me on a visit to Hogsmeade this weekend? I have... something I need to take care of there. And I think you'd like it. So I'm curious if you'll come with me?" Reel him in with the simple offer first. Or should she have gone with harming Mudbloods first? Right to the point. Shoot... which would have been better? Perhaps she should have gotten some advice from Cissy first...Or! She should have just told him to go with her. No asking. You. Me. We're going to go harm a Mudblood. Or... Ack! Bellatrix could have pulled her hair out at this. Why had this suddenly become so difficult? It was Rodolphus for goodness sake! Just tell him what to do! Why put so much effort into it all? Should she back track and tell him to go?

Damn... Damn... She uncurled her hair from her finger before she actually tore some out and went to chewing on her nails. Perhaps she should just wait for his answer before saying anything else and risk babbling like a fool...

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parentalia
2012-02-23 07:07 pm UTC (link)

There wasn't much to impress with in the Lestrange household. While the family wasn't living in poverty, or even middle class, their home was more functional than extravagant with very little in the way of opulence except for the large gilded frame around the family's crest proclaiming Sic Gorgiamus Allos Subjectatos Nunc. We gladly feast on those who would subdue us. Rodolphus had never been self conscious about his family's status in the Wizarding world and he certainly wasn't embarrassed about his home now. He took the way the Lestranges had a tendency to be over looked as something he could use to his advantage.

Surveying Bellatrix's back, his hand moved according to his heart's will. He pushed the small finger on his right hand up through a currently tamed curl, doing his best to not be noticed. "You want me to take you to Hogsmeade?" He repeated, but could she blame him? She had come to his home unannounced and asked him to go out with her. He was certain it wasn't a date but still an event none the less. "What's in Hogsmeade? Don't tell me! You can't wait to have a sit down at the Hog's Head with a butterbeer? Or maybe Madame Puddifoots?" Alright, he couldn't say that with a straight face and soon began to laugh again.

"I can't imagine that anything you would need to do in Hogsmeade would require me to help you achieve it. What would be my reward?" If he considered it, Rodolphus would probably be able to determine that Bellatrix was up to mischief without too much thought. He was an avid reader of her journal and comments thereafter to the point that he could probably recite whole conversations from memory. He knew anything she would want to do that he would also enjoy would most certainly revolve around violence or mayhem of some sort.

He also knew he'd follow her there even if she hexed him and walked out the door with no further conversation to be had.

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bellanblack
2012-02-23 07:31 pm UTC (link)

She could feel it. He was touching her hair... and while sense told her to let him do as he pleased so he wouldn't say no to her offer, she didn't like it. And that overrode her good sense. She spun around having half a mind to knock his hand away, but controlled herself, just barely. Even so... her hand was not far from her wand...Just in case.

"Yes. Cissy and I will be going..." She stopped herself so she could listen to listen to him prattle off his silly ideas. She wrinkled her nose at the thought that... yes... they might actually have to sit down somewhere and have a drink together. Cissy wanted to spend some time together after all... Ugh... "Yes... as I was saying. Cissy is going to help me find a girl. A mudblood. A silly little mudblood who felt the need to mouth off at me. And to allow such a thing to just skate by does not bode well with me. And while I am well aware that the Dark Lord has warned us all not to act upon feelings. This is different. We'll be acting on the principle of the matter!" She laughed clapping her hands together. "And. Since... you're quite good at what you do. I thought you could assist! As for reward. Well. If me taking you with and letting you bask in my company is not enough. I suppose I could think of something else..."

She smirked a tiny bit reaching towards her neck and unclasping the necklace that she wore. Necklace was a fancy word for what this actually was. It was a chain with a bird's skull on it. The first bird that she killed. It would be a tad bit sad to part with it. But she had others she could always make another, she supposed. "This was the first bird I killed. As I told you. I know what it's like to kill and keep a part of them forever." Her grin stretched a bit. "Since you like having keepsakes so much... to the point where you send me some... you can have one of mine. If you come with and help me harm a silly little mudblood~ What do you say?"

Something of hers that she was willingly giving him. She hoped it was enough... or she might actually have to go on an actual date with him or something. Ugh...

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parentalia
2012-02-23 07:53 pm UTC (link)

Rodolphus actually held his breath when it seemed she might draw her wand on him but sadly, things never came to that. Of course now that he had been on the business end of the Dark Lord's Crucio it was unfortunate that he would spend his life chasing that high. Just the memory of it hurt and in the days after the encounter he had even dreamed about it. He'd never felt so alive. He didn't know how he could both want something and be afraid of it at the same time.

It was Evans, he realized, and felt like a fool for not having come to that conclusion earlier. He remembered the exchange well and it brought a new smile to his face, not unlike the one he'd expressed when reading it the first time. Well, Bellatrix was definitely right about one thing. Lily had it coming. "I suppose Narcissa has to be there," he complained more to himself than to her but it was an objection he could live with. She wasn't so terrible and being nice to her could only help him with her sister.

As Bellatrix removed the necklace, Rodolphus grew uncharacteristically stoic. He sent her those letters unsigned not because he didn't need to but because he didn't want to discuss them in person. He never felt more vulnerable than he did when relating such intimacies to another person and having them brought up now was just as awkward. He had planned on attempting to earn some sort of compensation - a kiss on the cheek or a second evening out with her - but what she was ready to hand over held more value than anything he could have imagined. "I'll go with you," he agreed. "For that necklace. And I'll help you." He had given her a trophy and she was returning a different one to him. So this was why people wrote poetry.

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bellanblack
2012-02-23 08:04 pm UTC (link)

She smiled brightly at his agreement, dark eyes sparking with excitement. "Wonderful!" happy giggles escaping her. She was so excited to have her fun with this mudblood. And she had Rodolphus, who was quite good at harming them. Or so she'd heard. She stepped forward and took his hand, handing over her precious trophy. "This has made my day. So I suppose I owe you my thanks." But she wouldn't actually give them.

Bellatrix stepped back, and made her way to the door. "I look forward to all of this." Another giggle escaped her. "We'll be meeting on Saturday. I'm not sure where yet, though I know you'll have a way of finding me, regardless." She glanced over her shoulder giving him the smallest of smiles. "I'll see you then~ I trust you won't disappoint me, Rodolphus~"

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parentalia
2012-02-23 08:29 pm UTC (link)

The weight of the skull in his hand, barely anything at all, felt hot against his palm. He hadn't been sure she'd give it to him now, if she would insist on payment after the deed was done and then renege at the last minute. But there it remained sitting small and delicate after she had let him go, all eager delight and giggles again. "I think you'll find I'm a trustworthy person in situations such as these." he remarked knowing she would leave now that she had what she wanted but the smell of her in the air would keep him in the foyer until every last bit of her had vanished.

He wasn't sure what the Dark Lord would think about this, if their actions would be considered an error or display of disobedience, if the fact that Bellatrix had been involved would excuse them all, or if he'd end up screaming on the floor of Riddle Manor again. It was a pointless thing to ponder. Even if He had strictly forbade them to do so he'd still follow through if she asked. "Goodbye." Rodolphus glanced up to the door to see her off but Bellatrix was already gone and he had no way of knowing if she'd heard his farewell or not.

Oh well.

"How about you?" He asked the bird's skull, turning it over to press the part that would have rested against Bellatrix's chest against his cheek.

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