Closed Post; macnair et lucius; lambs to the slaughter

[herr_malfoy]

Who: Walden Macnair and Lucius Malfoy
Where: The Owlery
What: Macnair made a mistake and Lucius has been ignoring him, but now it's time that things be explained.

Comments

[macnair]

Standing at the foot of the Owlery, Macnair felt the first stab of unease as his eyes adjusted in the gloom and found the back of Lucius Malfoy. Years of friendship had made his brooding stance a simple one to translate, as though Macnair had even needed a translation of Lucius's silence these past few nights. Walden had made a mistake. It was an error that may have cost them everything; not just the torment of the Mudblood, but Lucius's trust, their friendship. Walden was here to correct it.

He crossed the floor to stand by Lucius's side, painfully aware at how the other man had neglected to acknowledge his presence. Walden swallowed, steeled himself against this unfamiliar feeling settling in his stomach: Anxiety.

"I've disappointed you." he stated. The gentle pressure as his own owl found its way to his shoulder was ignored. Macnair only stared straight ahead, waiting for his judgment to come.

[herr_malfoy]

Lucius reached up to scratch at Orion's chin, trying to give as unaffected an air as possible. "Disappointed? I don't know if that's quite the right word, Walden."

He paused to feed his owl another treat, his voice took on an almost friendly tone when he spoke again, "I am beginning to wonder if my faith in you was ill-founded."

He let out a slight laugh, "Imagine if I'd responded to that journal entry before our head girl had? Imagine if we'd made plans in it before she'd stumbled upon it! How did you fail to charm it? Why did you not immediately tear the page from your journal to erase it?"

He turned to face his friend, "And why, Walden, after so thoroughly making a mess of things, did you engage in small talk with her?"

He huffed out a sigh, turning his attention back to Orion. "No, you were right, disappointed is exactly the right word."

[macnair]

Macnair couldn't bear the attack on his loyalty

[herr_malfoy]

Lucius rounded on Walden, his carefully composed mask of cool indifference shattering and his rage bared for his friend to see. Orion let out a loud cry and took off in a frantic beat of wings. "I expect you to be above such incompetence!" he spat, "It's a simple charm, Macnair. Third year Hufflepuffs can do it!"

He forced himself to calm, his nostrils flaring. "Enlighten me, Mr. Macnair. How can this situation be turned to our advantage?"

[macnair]

Macnair resisted the urge to square his shoulders and advance upon the other man. He resisted exacting revenge for the slight that had been spoken against him. He resisted because it was Lucius.

"She seems keen that we become closer acquainted," Macnair snarled, circling him out of nervous energy. "She makes it very clear. She'd have me fuck her if she could. If you could see the things she writes, Lucius, she's like a dog on heat, I've only to say the word and she'll come panting to my aid."

Macnair stopped short in front of him, locking eyes with his friend. "I have power over her, I know it. She could be used."

[herr_malfoy]

Lucius felt as though something heavy weighed on him. He ran a hand over his face, suddenly exhausted. "Forgive my rage. I have not slept this past week, and it has made me irritable."

He took a deep breath, summoning Orion back to his arm and scratching his talons in apology. "I trust you, of course," he said at length, his voice soft, meant for Macnair though his attention was on his owl. "If you say she can be used... I am inclined to believe you."

"Tread lightly," he warned, sharp eyes turning to his friend, "She is associated with the blood traitor, Bones. Some might perceive your interest in her as a weakness."

[macnair]

Macnair frowned. He had considered this himself; public interest in a woman often led to some ill-formed misconception that a man had gone soft. He considered his intentions; he was sure they were entirely dishonourable.

She would not be allowed to get in the way of his plans. She must not weaken his reputation.

"It wouldn't suit her, nor I, nor us if it were made public, so I don't intend to make it so," he murmured. "She is associated with Bones. And Bones is associated with the Mudblood. There is potential for us in that alone." Not to mention her status as Prefect. Macnair reflected on how easily he might be able to operate with the Head Girl on his side.

"You're not sleeping?" he inquired of Lucius. Tension seemed to have melted away from them now, and Macnair found himself breathing a small sigh of relief. It did not suit him, this feeling of unease with his friend.

[herr_malfoy]

Lucius considered her connection to the mudblood, and her status as Head Girl. Perhaps she was just useful enough to make the threat of association worth bearing. "An angle I hadn't considered," he admitted softly. "Well done, Walden."

"Sleep..." he started, his lips curling bitterly. "This lovely tattoo has ensured that sleep stays well away from me."

He checked to be sure no unwelcome eavesdroppers were nearby, then sent Orion away and pulled back his sleeve. The mark wept puss and blood, and had darkened considerably at the edges as though burning into his skin, his skin that had turned bright, infected red. "The prolonged pain is no doubt a means of testing my loyalty. And even if it is not, I cannot very well go to the nurse for a remedy."

[macnair]

Macnair eyed the tattoo with open-faced envy. "Your loyalty will be proven, Lucius. Endure it, the Dark Lord will put us under worse strains before the war is won." Walden's face darkened for a moment as he decided to made a rare admission.

"I've not been selected. It concerns me. How can I prove myself more?" A muscle jumped in Walden's jaw. "I suspect Rodolphus bears the mark, too. How can Lestrange be considered more loyal than I?"

It bothered him more than he was willing to let on. He existed only to serve the Dark Lord; and yet the Dark Lord seemed to have overlooked him somehow. Walden's fists curled in frustration.

[herr_malfoy]

Lucius eyed his friend with a small amount of surprise. It wasn't in Walden's nature to share any kind of feeling.

"Rodolphus," Lucius said, his lips quirking. "Think of how closely connected to the oldest Miss Black is, Walden. It seems only logical that the one she is intended to marry would bear the mark as well."

He scrutinized his friend for a minute, momentarily debating with himself before speaking again. "I have been in contact with certain people. Important people. Your name has been mentioned both by me and to me. Rest assured that they know of your name. I would expect that the holidays will be busy for you."

A subtle hint, but a hint nonetheless, accompanied by a long moment of eye contact. Walden would be contacted over the holidays, of that he could rest assured, and Lucius held little doubt that he would return to school bearing the mark.