(no subject)
Crossposted to Cissa's journal.
*has gone out to wait for her arrival in the mansion grounds*
*apparates nearby, looking around* *spots him and rushes over* Where is he?
*grabs her gently by the shoulders, trying to calm her frantic movements* Not so fast, Narcissa. Let us be calm about this.
*jerks away* Where -is- he?
*in a steely tone* You are here to negotiate terms for his release. You will not see him until these terms are discussed. Now, walk with me. *links arms with her and half-drags her further out into the grounds*
*walks with him, but looks up at him* Is he safe?
For now. Sit. *gestures to a nearby bench*
*sits, not taking her eyes off his face* What do you want to talk about?
*soulfully* Oh so many things, my darling Cissy. *counts off on his fingers* One - why you left me for that idiot Mulciber. Two - how you could -dare- to conspire against me in such an ineffective manner. Three - *smirks* What you would be willing to do to ensure the safety of our son.
You want me to answer all of those? In that order?
*shrugs elegantly* It will pass the time. The last is the most important, of course.
Fine. *counts off on fingers as well, mostly just to mock him* One: He is not an idiot, and I love him more than anyone, especially you, could ever understand. Two: Anything was better than just living our lives in fear. And three: *hesitates, then looks down and whispers* I'd do just about anything.
*gives no indication of actually listening, reaching out smoothly as she finishes speaking to wrap a casual hand around her throat* Would you be willing to die, Narcissa?
*pales, but looks him straight in the eyes* If that's what it took.
*softly, tightening his grip* Would you come back to me? Live as my wife once more?
*looks away* No. No, Lucius. I told you before I won't.
*tuts gently, shaking his head* Well well, dear Cissa. That -is- a pity... since those are your choices. Nothing more. *presses yet harder, nails digging into her flesh*
You would kill me, Lucius?
Without a second thought.
A woman you once, supposedly, loved?
A woman who betrayed me.
I did not betray you, Lucius. I found a way out and I took it.
*with slight impatience beginning to show through* This is all irrelevant now. I have given you your options. Which do you choose?
*quietly but firmly* I don't want to die. I don't want to abandon people who need me. But I -won't- return to you.
So be it then. *leans in to kiss her one last time, brutally, winding hands tight into her hair*
*makes a surprised sound in the back of her throat and somewhat returns the kiss, if only instinctively, then whimpers slightly as his hands tighten*
*faintly regretful as he draws back* Such a pity that it should come to this.
*widens eyes* What are you talking about? What are you going to do?
*touches fingertips to her chest, over her heart, and narrows his eyes in sudden, fierce concentration* Do you feel your heartbeat beginning to slow, Cissa-dear? You must describe the sensation... I myself have never felt it.
*doesn't really feel anything for a few moments, then groans* S-stop... stop. Please. I can-can't...
*softly* Perhaps you would prefer something more traditional then. *draws out his wand and rests it lightly against her forehead-- pointblank range and a steady hand*
*breathes heavily for a moment, trying to regain balance* *brings her eyes back up to his, almost defiantly* What are you going to do? Avada Kedavra me?
... Yes, actually. Why? Do you have any more interesting ideas?
*steadily gazes directly at him* Yes. You could give me back my son and let us both go back home.
*smirks at that, without humour* Oh Narcissa. I never had him here in the first place. *watches her expression for a moment before intoning the fatal words with a deft flick of his wand; quiet, yet stonily forceful* Avada Kedavra.
*confusion, shock, disbelief, betrayal, hurt* ... *crumples, dead*
*arranges her in a more aesthetically pleasing manner on the bench and heals the forming bruises on her neck, before walking away without a backwards glance*
[Typist note: Yes, she purposely called Draco "my son", instead of "our son"]
[And now here's Mulciber finding the body:]
*has recovered enough to think, and apparates onto the porch, looking for her*
*is on a bench farther out into the grounds*
*doesn't see her, so moves out onto the grounds, thinking that Lucius is too clever to kill her inside*
*looks around, his wand lit, walking slowly* *knows it's too late, whatever happened, and he'd rather go slow than miss something*
*looks around for probably about a half hour before seeing something glimmer just out of wand-light*
*freezes, his breath catching in his chest*
... *whispers* Cissa...?
*doesn't answer, obviously*
*steps forward so his wand lights her face* *whispers again* ... Cissa...
*looks pretty and peaceful, at least*
My Cissa... *has tears running down his face* *kneels next to her and checks her pulse, then pulls her gently off the bench and into his arms*
*holds her tightly, crying silently into her hair*
My sweet angel... *whimpers and is without words*
*eventually picks her up and walks off with her, still crying and nearly blind with tears*
[And now here's where Dani argues with Mulciber. Because she's really good at doing that.]
[Awwwwwwwwww...]
[[ ... 'Awww'? More like 'OWWWWW'. ]]
[[ He's trying to make me cry. That right there is complete, utter -heartbreak-. ]]
[NO CRYING FROM YOU. And that was a sypathetic "Aw", not a "aw how cute"]
[[ *giggle* ]]
[What's he gonna do now?]
[[ ... Do you -really- want me to answer that? ]]
[...yes?]
[[ ... Probably go curl up and die somewhere. ]]
[HE PROMISED. He at -least- has to find Draco and tell him his mum died]
[[ M: ... ........ I LIED. ]]
[*thwaps* TAKE CARE OF YOUR SON]
[[ M: HE'S NOT MY SON. *wisheshewas* ]]
[YOU'RE ALL HE HAS NOW]
[[ M: HE. HAS. HARRY. HE DOESN'T WANT ME ANYWAY. ]]
[YES HE DOES. HE JUST HASN'T ADMITTED IT TO YOU YET]
[[ M: *just. Glares.* ]]
[At least find him and talk to him before doing -anything-, will you?]
[[ M: Where. Is. Draco. ?! ]]
[I am not in charge of him.]
[[ M: Fuck you. ]]
[[ ... PERIL. ]]
[I can't control him being on mIRC! If I could, I would!]
[[ Look at the comm ]]
[...poor thing]
[[ Make sure you read that note to Ollie carefully... ... Mrph. ]]
[...?]
[[ He may need him to watch Mar for a week or so? ]]
[Yeah. But he also said he's okay.]
[[ ... -That- was a -lie-. ]]
[HEY NO LYING!]
[[ M: Pft. Moron. ]]
[[ .......... ]]
[*smacks* You -promised-! How do you think she'll react if she returns to find you dead?]
[[ M: ... I think she'll see me in Mandos, KTHNX. ]]
[And you think she'll be very happy to see you there?]
[[ M: Do. You. Think. I. -Care-?! ]]
[You SHOULD.]
[[ M: BITE ME. ]]
[No, that's her job. And she -needs- you to stay and care for Draco. You really think he's any match for Lucius?]
[If Lucius finds him and kills him, will you ever be able to forgive yourself?]
[[ M: I'm -obviously- no good against Lucius. Oh, and did I mention that those I love have a tendency to do STUPID THINGS LIKE GO TO HIM?! ]]
[SHE THOUGHT HER SON WAS IN DANGER. You really think she's the type of person to just shrug that off and let him suffer, so long as -she's- safe??? Isn't the fact that she -isn't- like that ONE OF THE REASONS WHY YOU LOVE HER SO MUCH???]
[[ M: IT WAS A TRAP! ]]
[HOW WAS SHE SUPPOSED TO KNOW THAT??]
[[ M: IT'S LUCIUS! IT'S FUCKING OBVIOUS! ]]
[If someone had sent -you- a blood-stained note like that, saying it was HER, what would YOU have done??]
[[ M: Fuck. The. Hell. Off. ]]
[...exactly]
[[ M: *not responding anymore* ]]
[Because you KNOW I'M RIGHT]