Clothes and Confrontations

[menarcissa]

WHO: Your favourite vaguely related team - Narcissa and Rabastan.
WHAT: Narcissa holds Rabastan to his earlier promise to her, and forces him to go shopping wit her.
WHERE: Diagon Alley
WHEN: July 22nd
RATING: PG

Comments

[merabastan]

"I know," he agreed, "it's strange. I feel like everyone's a little jumpy these days. But it's not as though we've been really fighting. Just misunderstandings. Nothing that can't be cleared up." Rabastan smiled and shrugged casually.

"What?" His smile dropped. "Narcissa, I'm serious. If you had had to spend a whole evening listening to her you wouldn't find it so funny. Honestly. I think the Niffler was an improvement on her company. It's not me being picky. I'm just don't hate myself quite enough to subject my wellbeing to her eager stupidity for any longer than is necessary. She'd have be much prettier for me to put up with that." He smiled slightly, amused at her utter persistence. "You can ask Bella if you'd like. I just don't think it's worth a terrible amount of trouble."

He laughed at her reaction. "Well, you might have saved me from getting so worked up. I imagine you would have shut Barty right up, but like I said, you wouldn't have liked the establishment at all, I don't think. Quidditch posters and greasy food and audacious barmaids-- not ideal." Rabastan grimaced and leaned against the shelf she was by. "So," he said with a smile, "Monsieur Malfoy treat you well? Take you someplace nice?"

At her tone regarding Regulus, he made a noncommittal face and shrugged. He could not imagine the boy would be terribly pleased with his cousin's questioning, or chiding, or whatever it would be, but Rabastan was hardly going to interfere in a family affair. "If it'll make you feel better, go ahead."

[menarcissa]

Narcissa hadn't noticed any other jumpy behaviour, but simply nodded distractedly to Rabastan's comment. She smiled in return at him, before glancing back to where the seamstress had wandered off.

"It is worth the trouble! This is important, and you can't keep putting the whole thing off" She said, although her face relaxed some when Rabastan gave the offhand approval for her sister's command. "I will ask her, as soon as we get home."

Narcissa nodded, grinning some at the memory of the fancy restaurant were Lucius had taken her a few nights before. It definitely sounded much better than Rabastan's place, almost the exact opposite in fact - as memory of the charming man who'd greeted them at the door and the conversation to follow floated through her head. She did look back momentarily as something cut through her mind; "What, Barty wasn't being acceptable?" Her lips pursed some in distaste; "Why on earth would he want to wind you up?"

"I will." Narcissa said, already beginning to dictate an owl somewhere in the back of her mind - she wouldn't want to reveal too much, as Regulus would find a way to squirm out of it. Best to seem neutral, and discuss it once they got there.

[merabastan]

Rabastan looked to his side and peered out the window at the various shoppers, listening to Narcissa's counter. "All right," he agreed vaguely. Bellatrix, he guessed, would probably not press the issue like her sister, and it did not hurt any to let Narcissa try to help. It was not as if he would be opposed to dating, if there was someone worth his time.

"Oh, Barty was fine," he dismissed. "All in a friendly manner, you know, just... to see if he could, I guess? I don't know, honestly. Amusement, or something." Rabastan turned his head slightly and gave Narcissa a sidelong glance. "Right. Don't be too hard on Regulus."

Glancing around the store, all Rabastan saw was fabric, and more fabric, some scissors cutting a garment, and a number of mirrors, which reflected the fabric. He was starting to grow weary of shopping, but at the least he could use a change of scenery. "Do you think she'll take much longer? I think we ought to hit a few more shops before heading back, and I could do with having tea in not too long..."