Sirius Black
Order Member
Graduated Gryffindor
Posts: 13
Player: Lyra
Title: Sapper - Order of the Phoenix
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Post by Sirius Black on Jul 19, 2024 19:25:04 GMT
Books. Records. Posters. He supposed he would need his clothes as well. Sirius stood in the center of his bedroom, wand in hand as his belongings swirled around the room and packed themselves into a single duffle like some cartoon madman as Led Zeppelin blasted against the sound proofing enchantments on his walls. If it were up to him, the entire house would be rocking out to Black Dog but his mother had long ago tired of fruitlessly telling him to turn his music down and instead had Kreacher place a muting enchantment around his room. As if that would solve the problem of the renegade Black. They’d been planning this for some time now, he and James. It had all been worked out with Prongs’ folks shortly after their respective returns home from school but the boys had been plotting for much longer than that. It had started with Sirius’ declaration that he wasn’t going to return to Grimmauld Place at all come the end of the term; that he would use the crowd at the Hogsmeade station to slip away undetected and spend the summer in the Shrieking Shack, free to come and go as he pleased without the watchful eyes of his parents or any adult for that matter. He was nearly of age anyway. But logic won out when his mates pointed out that even if he roamed in dog form about the local village, he wasn’t likely to be able to travel from Scotland to England without someone taking notice of him. He was still a year out from obtaining his license to apparate (not that things like licenses had ever stopped him before but he wasn’t proficient from self-teaching as he needed to be and the school lessons wouldn’t come until next year) and the Hogwarts Express only ran during the school year, as far as they could tell. The smart choice then became choosing somewhere closer to his chosen family. Enter the Potters. So here he was back in his childhood bedroom, packing up anything of personal value, only a few hours away from freedom. Toothbrush! He darted to the toilet he shared with his brother to collect his toiletries and a assortment of colognes and hair care products, leaving the door to his bedroom wide open on the off-chance Kreacher’s enchantment had missed a spot and he could terrorize his parents with muggle rock music one last time before leaving them for forever. Arms full, he headed back to his bedroom to toss the sundries into the now bulging duffle bag, but a figure blocked his path and Sirius looked at his baby brother as guilt swept over him. “I can’t stay here anymore, Reg. You know that.”
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Regulus Black
Hogwarts Student
7th Year Slytherin
You know, sometimes I amaze even myself.
Posts: 71
Relationship Status: Engaged: Bronwyn Nott
Player: Sam
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Post by Regulus Black on Jul 20, 2024 23:08:06 GMT
Regulus jumped from his bed and followed the music across the hall with a snicker, sparing a glance down the stairs before catching the doorjamb of his brother's room. He swung into Sirius's room, expecting to find his brother in the midst of readying for a night out, to find... What's he done?Personal effects piled into an overstuffed bag on his bed, folding and shrinking themselves on the way, and Reg slowed his pace in trepidation as he stepped inside. Out of the air, he grabbed a long jacket that he'd last seen on an uncle who favored Sirius far more than him, it was no one's secret; it was heavier than it should have been, pockets filled with - what? Secrets from Alphard's travels, foreign books on defense? He laid it on the back of a chair, plucking items from the air in silence until he felt, more than heard, his brother at the door. Sirius had, at least, the heart to look guilty at being caught. His words snapped Regulus from his stunned silence. "That's it, then?" he bristled and, tossing the items to the ground, slammed the door shut behind Sirius with a quick flash of his wand. His voice raised over the muggle music and he looked up at his brother, failing to tamp down a swiftly rising panic in his chest. What if he actually does it this time? And doesn't come back? "You've decided, just like that?" How were you going to tell me? The relationship Sirius had with their parents was... strained, to say the least. His homecomings were hardly jovial affairs. But it wasn't - it wasn't as if they had him under lock and key, for all their fundamental disagreements. The pressure and expectations they had inherited, they were worthy of them. They were pushed, and because of that intensity, were on their way to greatness. There was no easy way to learn to shoulder the responsibilities of the family - where was Sirius even - You know where. James, Remus, or Peter. His face darkened further. "We're only here a few weeks - and you'll be out with them half the time anyway. You know that." He swallowed against the tightening in his throat, trying to force deeper breaths. He wouldn't get anywhere with anger, no matter how hurt he was that Sirius planned to pack up and leave without even letting him know. Regulus didn't want him gone. Even on the worst days in this house, he would never want him gone. He quieted, as much as he could with the music, to ask, "What is it they've done now? I'll talk them down from whatever it is, you don't have to - " Nothing was decided yet, Sirius would go for a few days with his friends and return, as always. And Regulus could do this, he was well-practiced in pasting together their temporary peace. "Let me talk them down, Sirius."
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Sirius Black
Order Member
Graduated Gryffindor
Posts: 13
Player: Lyra
Title: Sapper - Order of the Phoenix
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Post by Sirius Black on Jul 28, 2024 19:37:19 GMT
Door snapping shut behind him, Sirius too pulled out his wand. “Finite.” The items that had been dancing in mid-air froze suddenly and then fell to the floor with a clatter that was overshadowed by rock music. Sirius managed to catch a glass pipe in his wand hand just before it hit the ground, dropping a comb, toothpaste, and a tin of Sleekeazy’s in the process. Dumping the remaining items in his arms onto the bed as his baby brother berated him for his apparent rashness, Sirius avoided looking at Regulus. There was nothing spontaneous about this. Not really. This had been a long time coming, Reg knew that. The heir to the Black legacy had threatened this outcome several times before in his younger years, but those had not been empty threats. His words were not hollow even if the actions had been delayed. But for all his portrayed bravado, Sirius had not been properly ready until now. Perhaps it was his love for his brother that kept him here, tied him to this family and this house that was not a home… or possibly Sirius had just been scared. He was no longer afraid of what would happen to him after he left, knowing his parents would rage at the perceived betrayal but he could handle that now. He was nearly of age and knew more of how the world worked than most. He was well accomplished in fending for himself, and he had support from his mates to lean on if he ever needed it. Plus, Charlus and Dorea would be there for any of the legal bits if it came to that – the only positive to come out of knowing a copper was their ability to bend the laws in your favor. For all the planning that had been done, little thought had been spared for Regulus’ emotions. The boys were at odds just as often as they were aligned so his little brother’s wellbeing had never not been in consideration. Regulus would default as the family’s heir; he had always been better at soothing his parents anyway. He made the “right” sort of friends and fell in line quickly enough. A good little soldier in the war on free thought. No doubt he would follow his parent’s lead and align himself with these neo-Nazis spreading across Britain. He would make their family proud and the thought disgusted Sirius, but it was what would happen. Regulus would marry whomever their parents demanded, for political advances that no longer held any standing in the world – it was the 70’s for fucks sake, not the 1600’s – and he would continue the family name and uphold the loathsome, ass-backwards ideals of their bigoted mother and father, carrying on this sodding legacy into the next generation. The future had been decided, but in the present Sirius was having difficulty arguing against the emotion in his brother’s voice. “It’s not just a few weeks, Reg.” Sirius stooped to pick up a boot that had fallen when he terminated his packing spell, but not bothering to look for its mate. Instead, he looked pleadingly to his brother. “It’s more than summer holidays. It’s all of it. Everything. They want to control us, man.” That was obvious enough for a blind man to see, and yet Regulus buried his head deep in the proverbial sand and ignored the truths his brother had been proclaiming for years. Shame persisted even as truths were being spoken and Sirius let his brother’s silence fill the space between them for a moment, but it was replaced shortly with exasperation. “Oh, sure, man. Just talk them down from bigotry, man. What’s a spot of blood purity when your youngest calls for common decency, is that it, then? Regulus, you’ve solved the bloody war. Brilliant,” he remarked callously, instantly feeling something twist in his guts. He leveled his emotion as best he could before he continued. “Look. It’s not one thing. Not a new thing. And it’s not going to stop, not while I’m here. They were like this before us, Reg, and they’ll be like it until they die. It’s like Camus said, the only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so bloody free your mere existence is rebellion. I can’t be free here, Reg. Not under their thumb.”
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Regulus Black
Hogwarts Student
7th Year Slytherin
You know, sometimes I amaze even myself.
Posts: 71
Relationship Status: Engaged: Bronwyn Nott
Player: Sam
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Post by Regulus Black on Sept 7, 2024 20:42:50 GMT
Items thudded to the floor as Sirius dropped the spell, and Regulus watched, immobile and in silence, as his brother reacted, choosing what to catch and what to let go of. You can't even look at me? Reg was not unused to his ranting threats about leaving Grimmauld Place, in weathering those storms the same as he weathered their mother's ramblings when she was knee-deep in drink, and their father's scathing assessments when he wasn't. He could echo, assure, soothe, until each ran out of steam. If he could keep hold of himself, not let his hurt, his panic, overtake him - this would be no different. Their family members were pieces of work, the lot of them - but they were right. Old money spoke, power dynamics among their people were set well before their time, and the group that Bellatrix and Rodolphus were already part of? They were working for them, the most powerful among them, to bring about a long-coming eventuality. The die was already cast - it was the way of the world and there was no stopping it, no matter what Sirius (and his mates, undoubtedly) had in mind. There it is.Sirius finally met his eyes, starting on about control, and Reg clamped his teeth together to keep from saying something he'd regret. Sirius never - he'd never wanted to see what listening to them could help him gain, never tried heeding their advice, always knowing better than those who had been there before him. The path their family had already broken in for them - it was so horrendous, really? They didn't have to be as miserable as their parents were, their cousins were proof of that minus Andromeda. And yet - his plea was chewed up and spat back at him. Reg let him rant, as he always did, but was pushed in the way only Sirius could manage - his blood began to boil. Seeing the flashes of anger and regret in his brother's eyes as he went on about rebellion. And, despite his desperation for his brother to stay - pain made one do regrettable things, and Regulus unhooked his jaw. "It's better to burn than to disappear," he quoted with an abrupt, sardonic laugh, crossing his arms as he felt a tremor run them through. "You liked that one too, didn't you? You put too much stake in dead philosophers, mate. Nobody's truly free, and it'd be anarchy if we were."He swallowed, daring himself to hold his brother's gaze as he continued to challenge him. "But you've made up your mind. Weighed everything you're to lose, thought it through. Who you'd face out there, in the bloody war." As hurt and furious as he was, that was the thought that would keep him up from now on. If Sirius followed through with this, and actually got involved with the war one day - he'd stand opposite their family. Didn't he remember what it was like when Andromeda left? How Bella saw red? There would be no forgiveness, from the most docile to the most dangerous of those who shared their blood. But if Sirius was so far gone that even self-preservation held no appeal - what was he to do?
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Sirius Black
Order Member
Graduated Gryffindor
Posts: 13
Player: Lyra
Title: Sapper - Order of the Phoenix
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Post by Sirius Black on Oct 14, 2024 1:13:58 GMT
The philosopher’s words were thrown in his face and Sirius shrugged off the mirthless laughter from an ironic Chaplain. They could have gone rounds over the philosophical underpinnings of novels written decades before they were born, but it would only end the same as it always had. Each would be assured by their own argument, and they would eventually silently agree to disagree. “I’d opt for anarchy over slavery any day,” he retorted, but his brother wasn’t finished, and Sirius shook his head dismissively. “ Do you think any of their lot ever consider who they might run into before murdering people and setting their house to blaze?! Would father or Uncle Cygnus or Bellatrix bother to question an order if someone promised them enough power? Enough gold? That’s the sort of society you want to live in, is it? Nah, mate, not me. I’m not falling in line with that nonsense.” He turned and began stuffing items into his duffle bag, hating that this was what he was leaving his brother to. Regulus was soft and moldable; they would turn him into one of them with ease. It was already happening. While he didn’t outright defend their actions, he made excuses enough for their way of thinking. It was only a matter of time before he joined the war himself and fought alongside wizards and witches who only cared about the supposed purity of his lineage. All they wanted of him was a pawn for their war and another generation of zombies to carry on the battle. “Come with me,” he said suddenly, turning back to his brother with neither hope nor defeat in his face. “You can stay in my room; we’ll take the camping cot from the cellar for now and we’ll get you a proper bed just as soon as we can. The Potters won’t mind. They already know all about dad and mum anyway. They’ll take you in if James asks, and he’ll do it if I ask him to.” It wouldn’t take more than a quick conversation about both he and Reggie could be free of this hell they had grown up in. And maybe then this guilty feeling would subside.
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Regulus Black
Hogwarts Student
7th Year Slytherin
You know, sometimes I amaze even myself.
Posts: 71
Relationship Status: Engaged: Bronwyn Nott
Player: Sam
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Post by Regulus Black on Oct 15, 2024 2:57:22 GMT
This could almost be one of their usual arguments. Almost. Voices and hearts heated, whipping quotes and quips? All fair game in these rooms, endless attempts at one-upmanship and forcing into corners, only to find tricks out of the maze - or finally give up the game upon realizing yet another point they would never see eye-to-eye on. How much had they made themselves laugh off in the moment, only to suffocate by now? The stakes skyrocketed, echoes of old arguments rounding on his ears, and the waiting duffel bag mocked him as Sirius made his choice clear. His arms tensed around himself, and Reg knew shouldn't have taken the bait. He should've kept himself calm, been reasonable, waited out this mood of his brother's. He'd seen it before, and Sirius had come back. To him. He should've placated, he shouldn't have said anything, because now Sirius was on about their family, and there was nothing he could do to get him off of them. The hatred he stored for them was enough to keep him going all day, and Reg sidestepped out of the way as he returned to packing up. And worse? What he said of them was true. And Sirius truly thought he stood a better chance at changing the world, than he did at changing them? What if he did get involved in the war? The others would want nothing more than to. Old retorts dead on his tongue, Reg watched his brother's back in a strangled panic. What if he really doesn't come back this time? Was this how he was leaving, for good? Had he expected Reg to blindly cover for him? Or had he not wanted him to know until it was too late? Like it's not already? He swallowed, he had to muster something - Sirius swung back to him, anger withering, a lifeline extended. Regulus blinked furiously, head shaking before he knew what he was doing, heart clenched in his chest at the earnestness of his brother's offer even though - James would fix everything. The Potters already knew about their home, their lives. They were the "good" sort of pureblood to Sirius, the ones who stood to benefit from what their family sacrificed, without even getting their own hands dirty. James would play nice for Sirius's sake, sure, but he wouldn't want him at his home. Regulus wasn't one of their pack, one of the "marauders," and pretending he belonged there while James ran about with his brother would be worse than witnessing the like at school. Even if they got to bunk together, like they only had on holiday, and he could live in those favorite memories. Even if they traded the camping cot. Besides, he couldn't just - he couldn't just leave. They were his family, and he owed them - he owed them everything he was. You know that's not true.
He'd take you with him. He believes in this enough to risk taking you."They'd come for me." The words were quiet, the boy deflated, as he looked up at his brother. They would come with a vengeance. Taking their fury out on the family that Sirius loved. On Sirius. On himself. He'd be dragged back to Grimmauld Place by the scruff of his neck, his trespass never forgotten, never forgiven. He took a breath, voice strained and bitter as the bile in his throat. "You know they would, and everything would be worse. You're practically of age, nothing they can do if you hold them off til November. Sure you and James have a plan for that though, right?"
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Sirius Black
Order Member
Graduated Gryffindor
Posts: 13
Player: Lyra
Title: Sapper - Order of the Phoenix
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Post by Sirius Black on Nov 1, 2024 3:05:56 GMT
A flash of excitement coursed through him. This could work! He hadn’t planned for it, hadn’t discussed it with his mates or the Potters but he was instantly certain this plan could succeed. They could live with Prong’s parents for a few years until the older boys graduated and if Charlus or Dorea really didn’t want them there after that (absolute absurdity!) then Reggie would just be another flatmate at Casa de Marauders. Regulus didn’t need to grow up cowering to the man just to play the role of foot soldier for a tyrannical would-be ruler. Sirius had always presumed it to be his brother’s future because it was what their parents expected of him. Sirius was the rebellious one, but Regulus was the good son who would do as he was told. Why had Sirius never considered an alternative for Reg before? He felt a cold shutter as he realized that despite his years of revolt, he had actually fallen prey to some of their parents’ brainwashing. He’d been so focused on not believing what they said about his own future, about who he was supposed to be, that he had forgotten to rage against his brother’s expectations as well. How many times had their arguments fallen into huffy silence because Sirius had just assumed it was pointless to try to dissuade his brother from his predestined path. Reggie seemed to shrink as his head shook away any hopes that had begun to spring to life inside of Sirius at this perfect, spontaneous ploy for freedom on his brother’s behalf. A cool draft ran between them, the room suddenly quieter than it had been only moments before. The song had changed over, he realized. How many had played without notice while they bickered over philosophers and war, only to end up with a melodic bluesy slow-burn as the soundtrack behind their family’s vice-like grip on Regulus’ balls. “f*ck ‘em!” Sirius protested. “Seriously, man, don’t let them tell you how your life is gonna end up. All they care about is whether you can fight in their fascist war, or pump some pure bird full of a few little minions to take up the fight on their behalf. If you don’t get out now, they’re just going to own you for the rest of your life; tell you who to marry and where to work. And your kids will end up hating you the same we do them. The same as I do, anyway.” There was an unintended snarl to the last of his words as he felt himself getting heated again. “James’ dad works for the MLE. He knows the legal shite to keep our folks at bay until I’m of age, and I can…I dunno, sodding hell. I can adopt you or something until you’re 17. Who bloody cares?! We can figure it out, Reg. We don’t have to play by their sodding made-up rules, man. Come on, Reggie. It’s now or never, mate.”
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