Breathe it in, Breathe it out

“So, I already have two cats – Cookie, and Brownie. My sister just wrote to me saying I should adopt another one and call it Blondie.” Hugo looked up from the letter in his hand and spoke to the nearest person. “Should I do it?” 

Regulus let out a breathy chuckle at the other’s words, shaking his head a bit. “There have to be better baked goods to name it after than a blondie though, right? Like... I don’t know. Biscuit? That’s not great. I’m not sure.”

“Unfortunately so,” Andromeda sighed heavily, before frowning. “If I have children, that is. I’m not sure if that’s an option anymore.” As the other spoke again, Andromeda rolled her eyes. “I don’t believe that for a second. Come on, Reggie, you know I won’t tell a soul.”

“That’s true... Merlin, that sucks.” Regulus said as he shook his head. He couldn’t imagine having to marry someone who couldn’t love him, like she was seemingly going to have to. “No, I can’t, Andy.” He said first, before letting out a bitter chuckle. “Besides, the people who can’t know may not have souls anyway.”

“Well if you want to play that way, then can I keep her?” Cleo joked back, smile only growing as the cat purred under her touch. “See that, she seems to agree with the trade.” The brunette pushed further, still teasing. “That’s better than me, I have to actually set up an alarm clock for lunch, otherwise I’ll go the entire day without eating.”

“No, I think that’s going a bit too far. I know what treats she likes, you know. I still have the power.” Regulus chuckled as the cat started purring under Cleo’s touch, shaking his head. “Being betrayed by my own cat... what a life.” He leaned back on his seat and crossed his arms, shrugging a bit. “That’s not a bad idea. At least when I’m at home, Kreacher comes to tell me when it’s mealtime.”

“You know, I think I can put up with staring at him for the rest of my life,” Mary teased back with a laugh. “Wouldn’t have married him if I couldn’t.” Mary took a sip of her drink, fully turning to face the other. “Thank you, for coming to the ceremony. I know it meant a lot to Sirius, and me.”

“That’s probably a good thing.” Regulus laughed along with her, sipping at his own drink as she started thanking him for coming to the ceremony. “Of course, I wouldn’t have missed it.” He was just glad Sirius told him... he’d never expected to be asked to be best man, but he’d been more than happy to accept.

Andromeda simply smiled back at him, chewing on her lower lip. “Yeah, it doesn’t seem fair, but I suppose we learn from our parents mistakes, right?” She admitted with a sigh, running her hand through her hair. However, at his change in tone, she frowned, brows knitting together. “Don’t take that tone with me, Regulus. What aren’t you telling me?”

Regulus chuckled at her words and nodded. “It’s all we can do, I suppose.” He pointed out softly. As she frowned at him and questioned what he wasn’t telling her, he rolled his eyes, shaking his head. “I’m not not telling you anything, Andy. It’s just been a long few days. You’re right, I’m lucky that there’s no one else.”

Remus frowned. “My family isn’t exactly normal either, maybe not in the same way but,” He sighed, shaking his head. “But you can change that, you know that right? Just because you don’t always agree doesn’t mean you won’t be there for each other when you need it.”

Regulus let his eyes fall down to his cat for a moment, purring on his lap as he pet her... and just shrugged slightly. “I know that.” In theory. “I just need to think about it more... before I tell Sirius.” Which was completely true. “But thanks. I’ll let you get back to your work.” The brunet told him, starting to stand up and lifting his cat so he could carry her back to where his table had been.

“No offense, of course.” She added quickly, though her voice lacked sincerity. She didn’t have anything against him, but her inebriated brain was too focused on her selfish motives to consider anyone else. “Enjoying the party, fiancé?”

“Of course.” Regulus repeated, a breathy chuckle leaving his mouth as he drank the last bit left in his glass. “I am, actually... are you?” He asked, voice mostly just... polite. He’d had a few drinks, this wasn’t the time he should be talking to Kasia about their situation, and he knew it.

|| @finestra-starters​

Laughter left Mary’s lips as she sipped her drink, eyes roaming the festivities around her. Her thumb mindlessly playing with the ring now on her finger, the smile wide on her features. Ever since they’d decided to get married, the smile had never left Mary’s lips and she was the happiest she’d been.

She’d been watching her husband as he talked to someone, smiling fondly. It was only until she vaguely heard someone say something that she turned to see someone standing besides her. “Oh, sorry, I— yeah I have no excuse, I was too busy staring at Sirius.” She admitted with a grin.

Regulus hadn’t said much to Mary before he realized that she wasn’t paying attention. Curious, he turned his head to face what she was looking at, only for his eyes to land on his brother. He let out a laugh under his breath and crossed his arms, deciding that it was worth it just to wait... and thankfully, it didn’t take her too long.

“No, you’re fine.” He told her with a chuckle, clearly amused. “Although, you two will have forever to stare at each other now, so... good luck with that.” He teased, very obviously kidding by the expression on his face.

@finestra-starters

“Nope, that’s mine.” She snatched the bottle of champagne from the ice bucket, smirking at the person it was originally for. “Don’t look at me like that, I’m going through stuff. Of course, I’m not made of stone so if you ask nicely, I’ll be willing to share.”

Regulus was just reaching to pour himself another glass of champagne, when suddenly, someone snatched it from just beside him. “Oh.” He said first, blinking before his eyes flicked up to her, and his expression wavered, though only slightly. As she mentioned going through stuff, however, he let out a dry chuckle, raising his eyebrows.

At his apology her features softened and a shadow of a smile passed her lips before she took another drag from her cigarette. “It’s fine.” She let out a puff, turning her head away in order to avoid blowing the smoke in his face. With her free hand she waved at the free chair next to hers. “Sit down, I could use some company.”

When she smiled, even just for a moment, Regulus knew he was in the clear. He gently scratched behind his cat’s ears as he watched her blow smoke in the other direction, before nodding and obediently sitting in the chair she’d motioned at. “How have you been? I feel like we haven’t spoken in forever.”

“Why?” Remus asked the other, brows furrowing together. “Forgive me for not really knowing, but I don’t exactly have siblings. James, Sirius and Peter are the closest thing I have.”

“Because-” Regulus stopped himself, shaking his head a bit. “Normal siblings are probably different. Our family... isn’t normal,” which was a fact he frequently had to tell himself. “Sirius and I... haven’t always gotten on.” 

“You think far too highly of me, Reggie,” Andromeda teased lightly. “It certainly is. Can’t deny it’s effective, I’m certainly not going to use that on my future children, however.” The girl shook her head, taking a sip. “I don’t know, and perhaps not. Suppose yourself lucky there’s no one else in the equation. It’s not particularly fun when your heart belongs to another.”

“I doubt that.” Reg told her with a small smile. He certainly did not think that he thought too highly of her. Just highly enough. “I’m glad to hear you wouldn’t continue their methods. I wouldn’t either.” He admitted softly. And he could only hope that Kasia wouldn’t want to either, if it came down to that. As Andy mentioned not having else in the equation, he nodded slightly, sipping at his wine again before answering. “I’m lucky in that regard, you’re right.” He said coolly, trying not to show anything on his face.

WARDROBE

“I suppose so,” Remus frowned. “But that doesn’t mean he wouldn’t be there for you if you needed it. You know that right?”

“I know that.” Regulus confirmed, shrugging. “But it’s not that simple.” He wanted to trust Sirius with everything, he really did... but there was always something inside telling him not to do it.

Part of Narcissa wanted to approach her cousin, to wrap him in her warm embrace and tell him things would be alright. But she remembered when she heard about her first betrothal, and the last thing she’d wanted was anyone touching her. It was a part of their lives, these arrangements, but it was a hard thing to deal with when the time came. Hard to come to terms with, even if you’d spent your whole life preparing for it. So, instead, she moved and sat down on the bench nearby, gazing at the flowers instead of her cousin. “You’re a man now, Regulus. They weren’t going to wait forever.” There was a warmth that cut through her usual cold tone, her love for her cousin. She knew her next betrothal would be arranged soon, and perhaps their positions would be reversed. “But I’m glad you two get along. It’s easier that way. My last betrothal, I hardly knew the man.” Sebastian had been a wild ride, especially when she had been seeing Lucius on the side. It was a ride that had ended particularly poorly for Sebastian himself, but that was his own doing. “–We don’t have to talk about it, dove, if it upsets you so much. I just didn’t want to leave you alone.”

Regulus watched her move to one of the benches near him, before his gaze dropped back to the ground. He knew she was just trying to help - and really, he wouldn’t expect anything else from Narcissa. He was closer to her than he was with anyone else in the family... but that just made it harder for him to keep everything from her. You’re a man now, Regulus. The Words echoed in his ears, the same words his parents had uttered as they told him, and he let out a bitter chuckle. “I know they wouldn’t have waited forever.” He told her, letting out a sigh. “But I thought maybe they would tell me before they started looking.” He was usually cordial with his parents. He had a completely different relationship with them than his brother did... and so he’d always assumed that, when the time came, they would give him a heads up. So he didn’t let himself go fall for someone he wasn’t supposed to. Fuck, he realized all of a sudden, how was he going to tell Nieves? “I don’t mind talking about it, I just don’t know what to say. Everything just feels... inevitable. Unstoppable.”

“Yes, I have them occasionally,” Andromeda mused. “Well yes, it’s much easier when we can’t fight it. They want to make sure we have no choice but to accept it.” She sighed, sipping her wine. “It’s manipulative, but it works.” As he said there was nothing to talk about, Andy shot him a look. “Really? You’re supposed to get married to a girl you barely know and there’s nothing you want to talk about?”

“More than just occasionally.” Regulus corrected, leaning back in his seat slightly. “That’s the Black way... corner your children so they have no other options.” His voice was bitter as he spoke, and he lifted the cup to his lips again. He felt his cousin’s eyes on him when he said there was nothing to talk about, but he didn’t turn to look at her yet. “What is there to talk about?” He said first, shrugging. “There’s nothing I can do about it.” Finally, he turned his head, meeting her gaze. “I won’t argue with them. I can’t.”

Sirius wasn’t as gloomy as he usually would be when he was at his house. He knew this would be his last visit and that he never had to come back again. But this time he had certainly decided to do things differently. Well, atleast with his brother. Just as he was about to make his way to the other’s room, he had entered his and Sirius grinned at his question. “When have I ever returned the stuff I borrow?” he said and rummaged through his stuff before getting out his brother’s tie and throwing it at him. “Don’t disappear just yet though, I have something to tell you. But I have to warn you, it’s probably going to freak you out.” 

Regulus rolled his eyes at the other’s question, and he shrugged a little bit. “When you didn’t actually want it.” He joked, catching the tie and quickly glancing over it to make sure it was the right one. He was just turning to leave when his brother stopped him, and he paused slightly, looking back up at him again. Concern was already laced into his features, and already, some colour had started to drain from his face. “What did you do?” He asked, voice quiet, as he closed the door again behind them so no one else would hear.