Another Fine Web...

[mrs_morsus]

Date: Tuesday, 11 March 2002
Time: 6:30 in the evening
Location: Upper Floor Private Room at the Boar’s Head Inn, Little Cawthorpe (near Muckton)
Characters Involved: Millicent Bulstrode Morsus, Bellatrix Lestrange, Rabastan Lestrange, Augustus Rookwood, Lucius Malfoy, Daphne Greengrass
Rating: PG-13 at least for violent intent, I would imagine

Comments

[toujoursfideles]

Bellatrix smiled her wolfish grin at the paper in hands. It appeared as though she'd be able to make it to the meeting on time after all. She tossed the parchment into the small fire of her bedroom. Clad only in her tiered black bustled skirt and high collared black lace top, a wave of her wand secured the dark green brocaded corset around her torso. She swept her long mane atop her head, securing it with a serpentine pin of silver and emeralds as the heels of her boots clicked down the hall toward the door. Having finally replaced the old house elf, her black traveling cloak was set out upon the table in the entrance hall. It wasn't her Death Eater cloak, a minor disappointment - but now was hardly the time for that

[sacredisprofane]

Augustus had dressed for the occasion in some of his finer fabrics. He really did need to expand his wardrobe, he supposed, but he was never one for flash, especially when it would be seen as simply putting on aires given the company he often kept. He imagined they preferred to have the less financially well-off illustrated clearly. He didn't care. They had flash, but he had networks. They all had their place

[mrs_morsus]

Millicent met each guest with a prompt response of silence and flashing eyes of welcome, taking down the wards to allow them secure entrance and resetting them afterwards. Only once they were completely guarded by the wards and silencing charms did she venture speech of welcome.

“What a welcome surprise, to see you first to arrive instead of missing your most necessary presence.” Millicent nearly gushed as she welcomed the early arrival of Mrs. Lestrange. She had expected the former Dark Lord’s favourite to miss nearly the entire gathering and was most delighted to see circumstances had permitted her to join them at once. Millicent allowed the older, more experienced witch to set the guidelines for their greeting, not wanting to presume on Bellatrix’s good graces

[laural_daphne]

Daphne stood slightly behind Augustus as he knocked on the door. She felt like a child hiding behind their parents at a formal dinner. Brushing her hand at invisible dust on her coat, Daphne felt sort of out of place. Augustus was all spiffed up but she had decided to wear something not so overly formal. It was just a simple outfit that she hoped would downplay her presence amongst the grouping

[mrs_morsus]

Millicent watched and listened attentively to the whirl of conversation around her. This was good. This was excellent. This was exactly what they needed. Daphne, like others after her, must be involved in the process, willingly and persuasively. The time for force was in the far distance, not the immediate future. She took a seat near Daphne, crossed her leather clad legs so her bare ankles showed to advantage and relaxed.

“Your wisdom and insight are formidable, Lucius. An error now, at this delicate time, could be, no, would be fatal. We are no longer trying to overthrow the current government. Our values, traditions and cherished beliefs are the same, but our methods must evolve with the times. We must work within the system

[sacredisprofane]

Augustus had tried to remain quiet, tried to allow the others to show Daphne that she belonged with them, but he wasn't sure it was working well. He certainly didn't trust them. Mentally, he made a check-list of pros and cons to trusting each in attendance. Weighing each quickly if not repeatedly

[toujoursfideles]

The part of Bellatrix's anatomy that simply craved action was starting to get bored. The part of her mind that railed against any criticism of the Dark Lord howled. However, with a glance to the uncomfortable Daphne, the yet unfamiliar Millicent, and the one who seemed to waver in his devotion, Lucius, Bellatrix kept her expression cryptic. Could these three be trusted with the truth of His continued presence - that He may yet return again? Could they even understand? Or would they simply think her mad? She resolved to discuss this with Augustus later, as she could conjure no criticism to his history of loyalty

[vincere_aut_mor]

Lucius listened to them, and found himself agreeing with Augustus. Nothing he had resulted from the Dark Lord's promises. Every scrap of power, respect, his wealth and family, all gathered through his own endeavours or fortune of birth. They had received no remuneration for the terrible things they had done. As a young man his actions had weighed heavily on his conscience, only soothed by his conviction that the Dark Lord held an absolving power. The world would be right, and he would be rewarded