181

[impure_tale]

Do you know I never fancied ships in my youth? I had in my delusions, as a prisoner given to an obsession with numbers, once predicted that the letters I was receiving included secret 'signals' that I would be exiled to Barbados the following fortnight. This sent me into such a passion that I wrote probably some of the most unkind letters to my

Comments

STRIKES ARE INVISIBLE

[impure_tale]

a) In what way are they unlivable, and what to you counts as "sufficient"?
b) I will come to this after I have addressed your other points, because I have much to say in this regard.
c) In time. I have read your file completely by now, but I am taking time to make notes and draw some of my own conclusions. Once this has passed I'll be happy to pass along a copy to you.
d) I will not quibble with you on the inherent contradiction I find in tying the words 'common' and 'luxuries' together, but I will conclude on this point by saying that my willingness to provide depends entirely upon what they are and how you behave.

Referring back to your second request, I want to make a few things very clear. The first is that while Monsieur Snape has the best intentions in mind, he is not your barrister, and you will not place him between the two of us at your whim. I am not the crown nor the high court, and you are not here to be tried; this is what comes after.

Next and more importantly, if I am to consider returning your wand and your full magical abilities, there must be some ground rules regarding how I expect that to be handled. First, regardless of the opinions of others on the fact, keeping your wand will be based upon your behavior, and I will take certain precautions to make certain of that before it is ever returned to you. I am very much against providing an Inmate a weapon simply because one especially outspoken minority suggests it is an intrinsic part of who they are.

To be perfectly plain: I agree magic is part of you as a person, and to stifle such a thing would be akin to striking a person blind or deaf. Your senses and your physical and mental abilities are built in your existence; your wand? Is not. Not that wand in particular, at any rate.

I understand that it is used for a wide variety of other purposes, but the capabilities it grants you makes it no different from setting a pistol in your hand. Therefore, if I am to return it to you, then you must be on your best behavior, find an occupation on the ship (if you do not, I will find one for you), and you must specifically never use these "Unforgivable Curses". I would also stress against using magic in altercations with other persons, unless they are similarly armed, but if you must protect yourself, then you must protect yourself -- without excessive force. If a man slaps your face, that does not give you leave to set him on fire. Finally if you use your magic to attack or coerce me, that will be the absolute end of it.

If the above is acceptable to you, then I will speak with the Admiral about the return of your abilities and a wand. Please respond with the clarifications I've requested.

[truemask]

a) They resemble my quarters at Azkaban. If you have read my file, you know what this is. When compared to the rooms of other "inmates", this is soundly unfair.
b) See below.
c) Thank you.
d)

I see you are taking these roles to heart. I will do you the honesty of stating plainly that I do not

Perhaps meeting would be more appropriate. State your preferred location and be there within the hour.

Spam is cool for me.

[impure_tale]

Oh no, that absolutely will not do at all. I will see about reasonable accommodations.

[Because fuck prisons, is the Marquis' way of viewing things]

Since you're feeling brave, my cabin is room four on the third level. Large iron door; you cannot miss it. Be careful; the ship has been a little less than predictable of late.

\ oAo/

[truemask]

[ There is no reply. Only the assumption that Lucius will keep to his own word, within said hour.

And he does, just shy of it by several minutes. Dressed nicely if not excessively, in shades or black and burgundy. If he had only his prison garb at his disposal, his complaining would have been a lot louder. His hands are empty of his cane, otherwise he'd use that to knock against iron door - instead, his knuckles rap smartly against it and he steps back, hands folded behind him.

'The Marquis de Sade' being a common mantra in his thought process, and only starts again now that he's knocked. ]

Spam

[impure_tale]

[Immediately the sound of a dog barking can be heard on the other side. A gentle 'Renate' is heard, and it goes silent, though it's obvious there's an animal on the other side of the door. A moment later, a man opens the door -- the man himself, in fact. He's dressed up, himself, but not as one would expect. He hasn't worn the wig in years, and since being introduced to modern fashion he's most definitely been going sans-culottes.

He smirks.]

Monsieur Malfoy?

Spam

[truemask]

[ Of all creatures, dogs probably bother Lucius less than most. He has two of them, for all that they are more accessories than beloved companions, and appropriately quiet as befits them.

As the door opens, his pale stare is quick to assess, expression impassive over haughty-cut features. When he speaks, it's with tailored diction. ]

Yes. And you, yourself, go by Marquis? [ Eyebrow raise. ]

Spam

[impure_tale]

You are correct.

[He steps back to allow him entry. Renate, a young adult Groenendael, sniffs at the air and leads the way to the sitting room. A fire is lit, and on the table two goblets of wine and a decanter wait.]

Make yourself comfortable.

[Renate lies down before the fireplace.]

Spam

[truemask]

Quite impossible, I'm afraid, given the circumstances.

[ That said, Lucius still steps inside the cabin, taking measure of its dimensions and the things inside of it, dog included, and the fire in the hearth. He makes for the offer of wine, but is polite enough to take a seat first. ]

I noticed from your correspondence that you fancy yourself well informed on magic. Your caveats are sensible enough, but I wanted to reach an accord of my own with you.

Spam

[impure_tale]

And from your quips I notice you fancy yourself well informed of me. [He raises an eyebrow as he takes his seat at his chair and takes up a goblet.] I've been here for some years, now, and have encountered numerous magicians, and I have often enough heard Monsieur Snape's remarks on the rights of witch and wizard Inmates.

Spam

[truemask]

[ Taking up his own drink, Lucius listens with bland interest, eyes hooded and attention directed down the length of his nose. His mouth twitches in the beginnings of something that never fully forms into a smirk of his own.

Too unsettled to do anything but conceal that he is unsettled. ]

I know your name. Of you in person, I could hardly guess.

[ A measured sip of wine goes here. ]

If you know of magic, then you know of your place with regards to it. There is no separation between a wizard and his magic, wands handed to us at age eleven, and thus, I appreciate that you will restore to me what is rightfully mine. I am not a child, after all. But I will be quite clear: I will not brook using it as leverage, and I would have 'best behaviour' clearly defined before I agree to it.

And I certainly do not wish to take up an occupation to earn it.

Spam

[impure_tale]

[The Marquis chuckles as he sits back, rolling the goblet slightly in his hand before taking another taste of the wine.]

First things first, Monsieur Malfoy: That is the last time you will attempt to lecture me about my place with regards to your affairs.

Spam

[truemask]

[ Stare turns steely, a sneer beginning to form, but Lucius otherwise schools his expression into neutrality. ]

Well, I shouldn't like to repeat myself anyway.

Spam

[impure_tale]

A quality we both share. Moving onward, you will not tell me you are entitled to a wand, no questions asked. Your wand was taken from you when you were arrested, was it not? That would suggest to me that your government sees equal justice in withholding magic from its citizens who prove they use it for ill means. I will be no different. If you use your magic to harm or coerce other people on this ship, myself included -- if your wand is used as a weapon, specifically -- then you will have no wand.

Spam

[truemask]

[ Lucius directs his attention away from the Marquis to level glower to some other corner, but he is listening, nursing goblet of wine. By the time it is his turn to speak, he's gotten impulse under control.

Mostly. His voice is still like ice. ]

I can agree to those terms.

Spam

[impure_tale]

'Best behavior' is just as it sounds. Your wand is not a weapon, firstly, and as with all other Inmates aboard this ship, you are expected to hold down an occupation. There are several from which to choose, and believe me when I say that the more you have to distract you, the better off you will be. The object in being here is experience, after all.

Spam

[truemask]

Hm.

Marquis, forgive me if I am incorrect, but I would expect that you were once an inmate yourself. Pray tell, what work did you experience? We are both men of...

[ small, delicate pause ]

...relatively noble bearing. Call me curious as to what work the Barge provides for men such as ourselves.