IC Contact: Scorched (Lupin's forge)

[lumenrelegandus]

This is Remus Lupin. Please message me here for any questions regarding the Clinic or tutorials at the dojo.

If you have just arrived and know my voice, call me. I'll find you.

Sona si latine loqueris.*

Comments

[voice]

[sonvisage.livejournal.com]

[She has just watched Tonks' broadcast, by the way.]

That woman.

[She is not referring to Tonks.]

[voice]

[lumenrelegandus.livejournal.com]

…Lestrange?

[voice]

[sonvisage.livejournal.com]

Yes.

[...]

I promised you I wouldn't try to kill her. I regret that promise.

Again.

[voice]

[lumenrelegandus.livejournal.com]

If you tried I would go with you.

But I'm now bound by the same promise.

[voice]

[sonvisage.livejournal.com]

You think you'd know? Would you feel it, if I tried?

I won't do it. But I want to. And I think right now, I could. I wouldn't even have to get close. What are a few bars that a few blades can't slip between them?

[...]

Who did you promise?

[She thinks she knows.]

[voice]

[lumenrelegandus.livejournal.com]

Tonks and Shirley.

[his hands start shaking so he sets the forge on— who knows. A high piece of furniture or absolutely nothing.

He thinks they're planning something and want him out of it.

Which on the one hand, he can't abide.

On the other: he has been unable to defeat Lestrange, and Shirley may well be one of the three people in Anatole who could do better, and one of the two not likely to join Bellatrix instead—and only the one who has a personal vested interest, now. Through investment with me. With me.

—Don't be an arse. With Tonks moreso.

And Dora's fight with Lestrange was far from ended: the fight for herself back. If facing her again had to be part of that fight—

It's not worth the risk don't let her can't let it again—

—Shut up, again. It was.

The only thing to do now was make sure… they were probably doing this already, but make sure, that if they each were planning something, at the very least they were planning it together. No more wars… but not a single stand.]

I'm impressed you still feel bound by that promise.

[It shows a greater connection to your own sense of self, sense of honour, than has existed at times. Unless that wasn't true and it was still for his sake. Which, if the very unlikely case, he would not humiliate her for raising.]

As a reward, shall I modify it?

[voice]

[sonvisage.livejournal.com]

[A hum in response to the first statement. The hint of surprise just beneath the ice that's melting slightly. As to what replaces it, it's not clear yet, even to her.]

A reward.

[The quirk of brow suggests interest, and then bleeds into what might actually be offense at the suggestion. Is that how it is? Am I to be given treats for what counts as good (human?) behavior? But it's gone as fast as it comes, and on its heels is the fire of curiosity.]

How?

[Emotions: why such a pain in the ass?]

[voice]

[lumenrelegandus.livejournal.com]

[he hadn't thought of that. He hadn't thought.]

...No, I shouldn't have said... that's foolish. I have no hold over you. I release you from that promise, with the caveat that I still don't think trying to face her alone would be a good idea, even for you. You know I know what you can do. Even if it doesn't result in pain for you, it's as likely as not to be a stalemate. Don't underestimate her.

[closes his eyes. Can't. It's rallying troops. To do what I mustn't. It's wrong. It's wrong.]

If anyone tries...

[wrong]

...I hope they do so together, united, not singly.

[voice]

[sonvisage.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't say that.

[But she won't confirm that you do, in fact, have hold, Remus. She's not giving voice to that, not now. Maybe not ever.]

I don't. But I've faced worse and lived to tell when you belatedly came to dig me out of it.

[There are things she pauses to think of, here. In this small space of silence. It's a road she pulls back from. Mostly. Burned out lights. Flickerflash of fireflies and the glass-crack of broken bulbs. Bloodfire of stones and the stroke of sygils. If I had a stone, I might beg to differ. And yet I---. Best to cut the thought off before it solidifies into intent.]

I won't break my word.