Seventh Betrayal

[queenoftraitors]

I have never heard such wailing and gnashing of teeth over the brief loss of a few simple luxuries. I wonder what you would all do if you found yourselves forever bereft of something of real value.

Private to Severus Snape//Unbreakable
At your leisure.

/Private

[ooc: Action for Snape, network for everyone else.

ETA: Action thread with Snape

Comments

private -- warded

[eduronox]

Mine is always yours, my lady. Do you wish to meet?

private -- warded

[queenoftraitors]

I do. Come to my home, it's easily found -- a place of true winter within in the wood. I will, of course, provide you with something hot to drink. I know not all are as fond of the cold as I.

private -- warded 1/2

[eduronox]

You are a most gracious host. I will join you shortly.

[ action ]

[eduronox]

It's an easy act - subservient, timid and desperate for connection. It's one he played at for years with Voldemort, until hew as secure enough in his station to bend and twist and take the liberties of enjoying his service. His facade is simple and practiced and believable - believable because the best lies are ones with truth woven in.

He thinks he might have gotten on with this woman, had she not murdered Regulus. The thought is fleeting, however, and he approaches the frozen haven of the White Witch, cloak drawn about him. He doesn't mind the cold, but it's better to seem like he needs protecting. Powerful people always want fragile things to hold and toy with breaking.

Severus stands before the entrance, waiting, confident that she'll know he's arrived.

[ action ]

[queenoftraitors]

She does know, the moment he sets foot on the pristine snow that marks the witch's territory. If she had anyone to send, one of her wolves would be meeting him at the doorway leading into the underground fortification. But there is no one, only a small handful of delicate alliances. And so she goes herself.

Jadis greets him with a regal nod, and leads him inward and downward, into an icy chamber that doesn't come close to the forbidding and cavernous sense she wishes for. But it's impressive nonetheless, for no other reason than the thing seems to be an underground palace created entirely of ice.

"How pleasant to meet you in person," she says at last, seating herself on what couldn't possibly be anything but a throne.

[ action ]

[eduronox]

He lowers his read respectfully when she greets him, stepping inside after a moment, careful to keep his body language a certain way: polite, and with reverence mixed with anxiety. It's a cocktail for putting her at ease with him; feeding her ego and lowering himself. (He's counting down to when he ruins her.)

"The pleasure is mine, as is the honor," he says, his voice quiet and clear. He stands before her, at ease, hands folded demurely before him. "Your home is... beautiful, far more than I could have imagined."

[ action ]

[queenoftraitors]

Jadis's conceit is strong enough that she believes it all -- such reverence is only her due, and it's soothing to finally discover someone who appears to understand that.

"So many overlook the beauty in winter. How lovely that you are so much more observant. You would like something hot, I suppose?"

She removes a little crystal flask from the folds of her robe, in anticipation of his agreement.

[ action ]

[eduronox]

He recognizes it. She's not as mad as Voldemort by far, and thus not as paranoid, but it's an ailment common to most spoiled pure blood witches and wizards, so he uses his experience to his advantage.

"People misunderstand it. They see death and chill. It's cleansing."

Because she anticipates it, he does not deny her, and offers her a thankful look, stepping forward to take it.

[ action ]

[queenoftraitors]

"Yes, cleansing." Jadis smiles. "A very appropriate description."

She unstoppers the bottle when he steps forward, a drop of liquid falling to the icy floor, forming into a heavy goblet of steaming cocoa when it hits. The cocoa is what Edmund requested, so long ago, and so she takes the chance that Snape will find it pleasing as well.

And yes, she's showing off, but a judicious demonstration of power can prevent trouble from arising later.

[ action ]

[eduronox]

That was unexpected. He allows himself the proper response of shock and awe, though by now his true self isn't fully experiencing their meeting. He has a way of compartmentalizing his actions; he's on somewhat of an auto-pilot setting, flawless, while he steps back inside himself and watches her, waiting for the right moment.

"...That is a very impressive substance."

[ action ]

[queenoftraitors]

"Magic will often bend more easily to one's will if given a conduit through which to work, I find," she replies dismissively. What Jadis doesn't want is for him to imagine her power comes from outside herself. The wand, the potion, they aid her magic, focus it, but the power belongs to her.

She watches Snape as well, but more blatantly. "What are your goals here, in this city?"

[ action ]

[eduronox]

He pretends to ponder her words, warm cup between his hands. It makes him wonder - the way she speaks, he doesn't think she made that potion. What a pity.

"So far I have none, particularly. I was killed before coming here. I suppose it is... a chance. To do something worthwhile. A life of policy and research... is hardly worth it. Regretful."

[ action ]

[queenoftraitors]

"No goals but to do something worthwhile," Jadis muses, studying him. She wants an army, but she'll settle for a handful of skilled allies. Needs them, because as arrogant as the witch might be, she knows how to make war and how to rule.

"What do you consider worthwhile? Good deeds, the accumulation of wealth, the accomplishment of something no one has succeeded at before you?"

What might he want that she could use to tempt him?

[ action ]

[eduronox]

He looks at her, now. His eyes are black; only the reflection of the brilliant, pure ice shows that it's natural and not some inhuman block of color.

"There is only one thing worthwhile to me," he says, a bit closer than he was before. "And that is magic. True magic. Old magic, that bleeds, that breathes."

[ action ]

[queenoftraitors]

Ah... Jadis nods, leaning forward slightly, caught by his words. A kindred spirit then. Perfect.

"Nothing exists that can match the power of the Old Magic. It creates and destroys and breathes life into death. It brings down kingdoms and builds them up again. I have tasted it and walked through it and bled for it. It has sent me into death and brought me back again. But it demands a price most are too weak to pay."

[ action ]

[eduronox]

"There is no price too great for what we know," he says, his voice barely above a whisper - he knows he can capture people and hold their attention and he lets himself become stronger before her, pulling her in. "There is no suffering worse than failure, a miserable life. That pain, that blood - it is the proof of greatness."

He can speak of magic as one would a lover because it's how he does feel. Lies twisted with truth, making the perfect cover. So perfect that, while she leans to him and he keeps his gaze with hers, there's no spare set of eyes to realize he has his wand in one hand now - a conduit he highly doubts she even realizes he possesses.

"I would give my blood, and more. I would sacrifice my heart, even if I had to cut it out with my own hands... and... you see... I have.A barely-there pause. His raises his head, eyes still locked onto hers, wand pointed at her chest. Before anyone can move or so much as breath, he speaks a word, so powerful an incantation that the wizarding government in his homeworld has outlawed it