(no subject)

[marcato]

WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, SATURNSCHILD. FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 001.00.653.90 *** SATURNSCHILD has joined 001.00.653.90 <saturnschild> Hello. <saturnschild> I'm listening.

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<TruthSeeker> | after Amanda's post

[pawntakesking]

[It takes him a while to write this. It's... difficult. It's really difficult.]

[Even the Dark Lord never made him feel as betrayed as this. He wants to believe that Aunamee simply didn't know, didn't understand how much it would hurt him, him personally, to relive that agony of uncertainty, that doubt, that horrible knowledge that it would never end. And the memories, as well.]

[But he knows Aunamee did know. Aunamee has been in the cave, pulled him sobbing out of the dark water and those grasping hands. Aunamee has been his confidante, more than anyone else in either of his lives. Aunamee knew how much it would hurt. And either he didn't care, or...]

[When Regulus does eventually open his laptop and begin to type, it's difficult. His hands are shaking, and keeping them solid is a constant effort.]

Tell me that there was a greater purpose to this than a game. Tell me there was a plan.

<saturnschild>

[marcato]

[He had intended to lie. This was a lesson, he planned to say. This was a chance for you to truly understand your limits.

But he doesn't lie. For once in his life, he tells the truth. ]

I'm angry, Regulus. I've been angry for a long time.

You weren't meant to be punished like the rest of them. But sometimes, these things happen.

<TruthSeeker>

[pawntakesking]

I see.

Did it satisfy you? Was it worth it?

<saturnschild>

[marcato]

In a sense.

You're angry with me.

<TruthSeeker>

[pawntakesking]

How astute of you.

Yes. I'm angry with you. More than that, I'm deeply disappointed. I thought you were better than this. I certainly thought you were cleverer than this.

<saturnschild>

[marcato]

You know the sorts of methods I prefer, Regulus. You know that I favor a firmer hand.

What makes this time different?

<TruthSeeker>

[pawntakesking]

That it was foolhardy. That it was pointless. And that you attached it to Her name, when it was clear doing so would turn most of the peninsula against Her cause.



And that you took the thing that would hurt me the most, and did it without hesitation. That makes this different, as well.

<saturnschild>

[marcato]

Most of these foul people don't deserve Her love. She could swaddle them in the finest blankets, and they'd still spit in Her face like the ingrates they are. They deserved a trial by fire, and that's exactly what they received.

Maybe that's why you were there, Regulus. Maybe you deserved it, too.

<TruthSeeker>

[pawntakesking]

I was there because you put me there.

<saturnschild>

[marcato]

No, Regulus. I didn't choose the participants. For all I know, the Fog God placed you in that hellish little town.

Do you think that happened? Do you think She realized what a sad, untrustworthy boy you are?

<TruthSeeker>

[pawntakesking]

[Sad. Untrustworthy. Weak. Gullible. Traitor. Yes, he knows well enough that he's all of them, but it still hurts like hell to hear them from Aunamee. From someone who understands him, who's been kind to him in his way, whose opinion he's had cause to respect.]

[Maybe that's why, a nagging voice whispers at the back of his head. Because he knows you. Like Mother knew you. And Father. And Sirius. Does it really seem that surprising that his patience ran out in the end, just like theirs?]

[And it's almost enough. He almost believes it. Only...]

[Only Voldemort had thought he knew Regulus, too, and had said all the same things, and yet he hadn't known what was coming. Only maybe the only person who ever really knew Regulus was Kreacher, who in the end had chosen Regulus over all the rest of the Family. Only maybe Aunamee is talking total rubbish.]

I think, if She really did choose to put me there, it was to remind me of lessons I was starting to forget. I think if She put me there, it was so I would see you've been playing me this whole time.

I cared about you, Aunamee. I don't have many friends, but I considered you one of them. Maybe She realised I needed better taste.

[marcato]

[There's no response.

Hours later, in a distant room, a human is murdered. He was a young man -- perhaps only twenty of twenty-one -- and he had crisp, dark hair and sad green eyes.

It was almost satisfying. ]