"So, word going around is that your brother followed your example and ran away from home." Alaric said mildly as he leaned against the door frame, taking a moment to watch the other and see how they reacted. His words likely undersold the situation, Alaric knew about the blasted place on the wall that used to carry Sirius' name and he wondered if Regulus' name was gone as well, both sons of the house of Black eradicated from the family tree.
Alaric could remember the feeling of jealousy he felt upon hearing about Sirius leaving home, being brave enough to defy his family and strike out to do what he wanted, the very thing Alaric craved and was too cowardly to go for. Years later and that sense of longing still hadn't left him, but something about the fact that yet another pureblood child was failing to do what their parents wanted inspired a sort of hopeful feeling in his chest.
Would it be too nosy to ask if Sirius had seen him? Alaric wasn't going interested in ratting out Regulus to his parents, he wasn't snooping for anyone's benefit, but he was curious how Sirius was taking the entire situation as tensions seemed to ramp up, the divide between the different blood groups growing wider with each attack. "I guess this means you're both free." @siriusdisaster
