The Fourth Drink Instinct(Bella)

[brett]

"That's a...interesting theory," Regulus smirked fighting the urge to mock Bella and burst out laughing. Bella seemed to hold some faith in her theory, and Reg supposed it was a nice thought. Really though, a cat? Licking yourself to get clean, getting stuck in trees. At least it would be pretty cushy, get fed and petted and whatnot. Still Reg wasn't much of a cat person. Come to think of it, he wasn't to big on dog's anymore, thanks to his brother Sirius.

"See?" Regulus smirked. Bella had mentioned some of his favorite aspects. The birds he saw soaring over Hogwarts had no obligation except to themselves. Birds were on there own from the day they left the nest and learned to fly. And travel, Regulus loved to travel, so far all his trips were funded by the Black Family wealth, trips to Italy, Eygpt, all over. But it would be so much more satisfying to go where he wanted when he wanted, carried by his own wings. The only downside would be not having magic, but it would have been hard to grip a wand properly with talons anyway.

"Fair enough," Regulus agreed. "Though, Grimmauld Place wasn't the best place to grow up either," he added knowing he was out done, but battling anyway. His home wasn't quite the best childhood environment, but it was certainly far better than an orphanage or psych ward, though it could feel like you were in one of those places at times. Still Reg even had a brother to help him through childhood, of course that had come round to bit him in the arse. "But I'll agree that you win worse childhood...um, congrats," Regulus smiled figuring Bella's child hood had been crappy enough that she deserved some sort of award. "Your plaque is in the mail," he smiled. Right now she would have to settle for Reg's congrats.

[bella]

Bella smirked, “Thank Reg – means a lot. Forgive me, but I haven’t had any time to work on my acceptance speech – mind if I take a rain check?” She rolled her eyes in dry humor, vaguely reflecting on the parts of her youth that she remembered. Most of them naturally weren’t the most appealing, but definitely memorable. Although the best thing she could say was having had Jesse, the old orphanage dog, around for her. He really had been her only friend at the time, having scared off most other children with her oddities. A dog – that’s who she’d grown up with; with the dogs.

“I guess I turned out alright,” she muttered, trying to find a better outlook on the whole thing. “I mean, I could have become some crazy psychotic serial killer bent on getting revenge. Clearly giving other options, being a nerdy Hogwarts student isn’t the worst of them.” Bella had definitely worked hard to get her grades, going along with her ‘if I just become famous’ ploy from her childish wishings. “And you know, you turned out alright considering,” she added thoughtfully, again briefly wondering just where Regulus would end up in ten years time. And more importantly, where she would be.

“You know, I wish I could say I liked life when it was simpler then this, but I can’t say I’ve ever really had anything of a ‘simple’ life. I always seem to get the hardest cards. It’s rather ‘pity-me’ but honestly, sometimes it’s like everyone is living in this little fairy tale world and I’m left to try and make it through the depths of the underworld or something.” She grimaced, tightening her laced fingers. “Oh well. Life is life; you can’t do much about it.”

[brett]

((haha I find your 2nd par. funny because soon Reg will become a psyco serial killer bent on revenge, also in ten years he'll have been dead for 8 years...poor Reg))

"Fine. You know, you should just do what I do and carry around an all-purpose acceptance speech," Regulus smiled half kidding. Sadly, or not so sadly in his opinion, he did practice writing acceptance speeches for various awards including one that would work in surprise situations. Thanking the award giver for the honor, thanking his parents for making him earn their love, his house elf Kreacher for always being around, of course now he would need to add the love of his life Indigo Grace to that list.

"Yea," Regulus sighed. "I guess we've done pretty well for ourselves," he added proudly. Who needs loving parents anyway? Or a big brother to look out for you? Reg had Kreacher, and that was good enough. Bella must have had someone or something looking after her as well. Still as bad as Bella's upbringing had been, and though it was admittedly worse than his own he couldn't help but wonder how things would be different if they had been born into each other's families.

How would Bella have handled being raised as a Black, part of wizarding royalty. Would she have joined Sirius in Rebellion, or try to appease her new parents out of the selfish desire to love and be loved. Would Reg be able to handle the life of an orphan? Knowing your mother didn't want you, unsure if your father even knows you exist? They were all tough questions, thoughts he was sure would be swimming in his head as he lay in bed later that night, before haunting his dreams.

Regulus smiled, "I don't know I mean your family life sucks, but your social life seems to be intact. And now you've got me to trudge through the underworld with," he added smiling. Why Regulus was so nice to Bella he still wasn't sure. She was proof of his inability to piece together a broken family. But there was something more important than that, like him on the outside she seemed to be just another stereotype, but underneath she was so deep. Plus it helped that she was cute. Not really dating cute, they'd been through that, but she was nice to look at. Reg couldn't look at ugly people for some reason, it was like he was afraid that if he looked at them for too long they would make him ugly as well. Yes it was riddiculus, but he was admittedly a vain and arrogant person.

[bella]

OOC: *Laughs* Yeah, I myself was having a sort of ironic reflection as I wrote it – I mean, I love Regulus as much as the next person, but he didn’t exactly turn out to be the best noble peace prize winner or anything. ;]


“I don’t think I could do that,” Bella allowed, smiling slightly. “I mean, anything I write always ends up being a million pages long. I’d look ridiculous trying to carry around a load of papers and I’d never be able to remember the entire thing my memorization. Although, I’m not exactly sure who I have to thank that would ever make it that long: I could list me, myself, and I. And friends I suppose, but family…” She shrugged indifferently, “I think I’ll just wing it instead – seems to have worked this long.”

“I don't know I mean your family life sucks, but your social life seems to be intact. And now you've got me to trudge through the underworld with.” Bella grinned. “Yeah – it sort of falls back into my ‘I want everyone to love me’ fantasy. I couldn’t stand having anyone hate me, so I just try and love everyone to avoid that whole thing. Granted, there are a few minor exceptions…” Danni Valo for one, “…but majority kind of wins favor.” Bella really had no desire to drag anyone into her sunken world, but Regulus was sadly correct – if she ever wanted anyone to get sympathy from someone, it would be him. He was the only one who really knew the entire story with her mother, she hadn’t even told Drew, and beyond that Regulus could relate on some twisted level. Sad, but completely true.

“Do you ever get jealous?” she asked, working hard to keep her tone light but burning with curiosity, “I mean, sometimes I look at people and wonder if they even know how well off they have it. Worst, it seems like they don’t even care. Like they don’t realize there are people like you and me living among them. Just because they got the perfect life it automatically makes everyone else’s life’s perfect too, because they’ve had the grace of knowing you so they’re life just has to be amazing now.” She knew several people like that, who believe Bella should be kissing the ground they walked on – they had no idea of her family life. “Life isn’t fair,” she pouted for a moment, the old saying well over used. It was rather silly of her, but she felt slightly better knowing Regulus could understand her pain because he hadn’t had the best living conditions either. Had Bella been in his position, she was certain she would have no sanity left in her. How on earth he remained whole was beyond her.

[brett]

((To be fair he does still end up sacrificing his life (and saving his house elf's) to destroy 1/7 of the most powerful dark wizard ever))

"Fair enough," Regulus shrugged, he supposed not everyone could be as vain as he was. Hopefully he would get to put the acceptance speech to use soon, perhaps after he was named king of the Yule Ball with Indi as his queen. Sure that was still a few months off, but Reg was rather excited for it. His relationship with Indi wasn't exactly a secret, but he hadn't been telling people and no one had seen them together really, so the ball would really be like there official announcement to the world that they were dating. Reg still couldn't believe it.

"I kinda do the opposite, I try and make people hate me, unless I need something from them," Regulus smirked. He was generally a complete jerk and known for doing cruel things. Funny how when he used magic to pants kids, he was being a jerk picking on innocent kids, but when James and Sirius did the same to Severous it was hilarious. But Regulus didn't mind because he wanted to be disliked more than that he wanted to be feared. It was one of Machiavelli's principles, 'better to be feared than loved.' Still now that he had voiced his philosophy out loud he realized how true it was, that he was only nice to those he desired something from. He was nice to Bella because she could give him friendship, something he was in desperate need of. Even Indi who he cared about so much, he was only nice to her so that he could have someone to love.

"I wouldn't say jealous," Regulus said skeptically. When you were raised to believe you were wizard royalty and superior to everyone else, it was hard to admit being jealous of anyone. "But I do get curious," he said his tone indicating it was basically the same thing, but his pride wouldn't allow him to admit to being jealous. "I just wonder what it would be like if I was born to a different family, if I would be nicer, or I wonder how other people would have handled being born in my place," Regulus said confessing the thoughts that swan through his mind, even now.

"I don't think it was meant to be," Regulus said philosophically as Bella pouted about the unfairness of life. It sucked that he and Bella had crappy childhoods, but it took someone having a crappy childhood for someone to have a pleasant one. It took, feeling sorrow to be able to feel joy. Without one the other could not exist, so in that way life had to be unfair. It had to have downs in order to have ups. Though Reg could have used a few more ups, as he was sure Bella could.

[bella]

OOC: True, true. One of the many reasons I love him. XD


“I don’t hate you,” Bella immediately offered, and then her mind ran in circles again. Why exactly was that? She was positive that mere weeks ago she had hated Regulus with all her might, just because he was a Slytherin. But she knew better now, and she wasn’t so surprised when he said nice things, or even just truthful things. Yet, she was so certain, many other people disliked him – he’d just said he aimed to make people hate him – and here she sat just a few measly feet away. He appeared perfectly harmless. Was he really all that different around her? It made her realize Bella really only knew one part of him; his…darker side, in loose terms, was something that she hadn’t ever known, or in great desire to ever get to know, but all the same… It was an interesting thought, thinking you only knew a small portion of a person.

“You’re not a very good liar,” Bella pointed out, coming back to real life. Clearly he was just a tad bit more curious then he let on. But guys were never good at admitting anything – period. Trying to get him to voice his real opinion on the matter was a lost cause. Bella merely studied him for a moment, and then gave up with a sigh. “I donno, I that’s makes sense,” she agreed, “I mean, what would I be like if I’d grown up a spoiled brat?” She smirked slightly, thinking her present self wouldn’t have liked the brat-ish form all that much. Were she any different, she might not like herself at all. And that was a peculiar thought indeed.

“I don’t think it was meant to be.” She didn’t really want to believe what she already knew was true, and therefore tried to just shove his words out of her mind. But he was right – what would life be if you had a free ride? “Alright,” she revised, “Is it a reasonable request to say I wish life could be just a little easier?” Not so easy it wasn’t even worth being alive, but easier to breathe; easier to think and remain sane. Acting like you had it together was just too hard. Despite herself, Bella had to laugh. “Ugh, I sound like I’m talking to a shrink. I want to be normal, not act like I’m in therapy.” She shook her head, and then smiled apologetically to Regulus. “You know, normally I’m a pretty happy person – sorry you always catch me when I’m not too cheerful.”

[brett]

Regulus smiled "That's because I've been far nicer to you than I usually am...Remember when we met and I snapped at you, because your rat landed on me? Bet you would have a very different opinion of me if I'd asked you then," he reminded her. To begin with they had hated each other, but then they somehow got to the subject of Bella's mother and Regulus saw a broken family that, once he put it back together, would give him hope for his own. Unfortunately Reg had failed to fix either of their families and now they were brought together by that fact.

"Not when I don't try," Regulus commented a smirk played across his face. When he wanted to Reg could be a very convincing liar, but with Bella it was different. She was already being exposed to a very rare side of him that few ever saw, so he really saw no reason to put effort into lying. Of course he shouldn't have to lie at all, but by now that was just part of who he was. "I always wonder what if I'd grown up poor," Regulus laughed. Money and possessions were never things he'd wanted for.

There was plenty of money to be spent on his childhood desires, brooms, toys, any material thing he wanted. In that respect he'd had a wonderful childhood, but what he had always wanted couldn't be bought in stores and therefore his parents couldn't give it to him: unconditional love. Regulus was rewarded with objects and kind words, his parents respect, to a certain extent pride in the fact he hadn't turned out like his brother meaning they weren't failures as parents, but those things did not add up to love.

"Given your past it's a more than reasonable request," Regulus agreed. "But don't hold your breath," he added, tossing in a dose of reality. Then again you never knew. "I'm not sure I'd like as much if you were cheerful, seeing as I'm not exactly Mr. Sunshine myself," Regulus smiled. He actually preferred Bella being generally not cheery. Not that he wished badly for the girl, but he really couldn't stand overly cheery people. On second thought now that he was becoming more cheery with the addition of Indigo into his life he might not mind as much.

[bella]

“Alright, well that’s simply not fair – of course I hated you then.” Bella smirked, and then added “You know, I half expected to watch you rip Mipsy’s head off. I’d never admitted to it then, but I was rather frightened of you. Stupid rat runs off all the time, and more then once people have threatened to squish her right in front of me if I let her touch them again. Not the most pleasant of circumstances…” Once back in her first year, when Mipsy was much smaller then she was even now, one boy had actually gone as far and tugging her as if to rip the poor rat in half. Bella had actually kicked him in the shin to get him to stop, snatching up Mipsy quickly and running away. She never had found out who the boy was; not that it mattered too terribly much.

“Trust me: growing up poor isn’t all it’s caught out to be. I never had a single penny to my name until I came here. Ms. Drivels was my sole funding. I suppose it makes you appreciate it a bit more, you know, ‘value all you have and most importantly family’ and all those things people have tried to tell me.” Bella let out a huff, “Valuing your family isn’t really all that important to me. Not parents anyways.” She rolled her eyes, then continued “But I guess it worked out alright in the end. If you’d call this the end,” she added dryly, again wondering on what exactly she planned on doing with herself after Hogwarts.

Bella raised one brow questioningly, “So if I show up practically bouncing right out of my shoes you’d tell me to get the heck away from you then, would you?” Well, in all honestly, Bella probably would shoo herself away too. She was generally a happy person, but not that happy. “I’ll try and act as mopey as possible then.” Bella crossed her arms and puckered out her bottom lip like a sulking child as evidence. “How’s that?” Her entire charade was blown though, laughing it off. “I promise I won’t um, how’d you put it…? ‘Be a little ball of sunshine’?”

[brett]

"Believe it or not I actually generally like animals, so Mipsy was pretty safe," Regulus noted. He actually tended to care more about animals than people sometime. An he certainly wouldn't want to hurt someone's pet, even if it had disturbed his rest. While Regulus wasn't big on rats (especially when they landed on his shoulder) he was really just upset because he was afraid that his reaction to seeing mipsy's beady little eyes made him look scared when he was just startled. If people thought you were afraid of something, especially something as silly as a rat they wouldn't fear you, which was why Reg had to go all evil on Bella, and according to what Bella just said, it had worked.

Regulus gave a short laugh, "We're far from the end Bella, this is just the beginning" he said before finishing off his glass. The bubbles felt nice in his belly. "And I know I should complain about being born into money, I just kinda wonder if I would still be me if wasn't," Regulus said figuring it would be hard for Bella to take sympathy on him. It wasn't that being rich was necessarily a burden, but it seemed like money was what gave the Blacks a lot of their power and their arrogance. Reg was simply curious how much of his personality was due to his up bringing and how much of it was just the way he was.

"Pretty much," Regulus smiled "and if that didn't work I'd hex you," he added. Why else would he be spending so much time looking up hexes in the library if not to use them on the overly cheery? “How’s that?” "Much better," Regulus laughed. “I promise I won’t um, how’d you put it…? ‘Be a little ball of sunshine’?” "The more miserable you are the better," he smiled.

[bella]

“I guess that’s good – although I promise you won’t get anymore unexpected visits from her,” Bella grinned, suddenly hyper aware that Mipsy was safety locked up in her cage in Bella’s dorm. She would stay there too, until Bella decided to let her have some freedom again. Silly thing had been so persistent in getting out lately she had just decided to cut out the middle man and not let her out at all. Some might view it has animal cruelty, but Bella saw it as tough love – Mipsy had to learn eventually.

“You’re just full of philosophical comments tonight, aren’t you?” she teased, cocking her head. But Regulus did have a point after all – I mean, school was only one of the first major steps in life. Graduation and life thereafter was a whole other chapter, and a rather long one at that. More seriously she added “But I guess in the grand scheme of things we really have only lived a short time. I plan on making it to a solid ninety before I think about my own death.” Bella chuckled under her breath, wondering if she’d really make it that far. Although she’d kept the fears dormant, she did sometimes wonder if she’d die young – if what they said were true about He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, then even right now she was in critical danger.

She lightened up quickly enough, smiling slightly “Hex me will you? Reg, sorry to break it to you, but I know some pretty fancy spells I’m willing to be you’ve never heard of.” Bella tapped her forehead with a smirk, “It’s all right here – it’s amazing what some extra hours of studying will do for you.” It was true – she’d been setting her mind to the endless task of studying upcoming lessons and even things she wasn’t supposed to learn until her seventh year. But that was better then allowing her mother’s death to creep into her mind.

[brett]

"Good," Regulus smiled. At least now he could rest beneath the tree by the lake again without having to worry about being startled out of his relaxed state. In truth though Regulus owed his friendship with Bella to that mischievous little creature. Had Mipsy not been the catalyst for their conversation Bella would still think Reg was a stuck up evil Slytherin...which he was, but not all the time. And Reg would still think she was just another annoyingly happy Hufflepuff.

"I'm having a good night," Regulus smirked. He could get quite philosophical at times. Although there had been sometimes when he was drunk and just thought he was sounding philosophical, which he sometimes was, but it would be unwise to take advice from someone who slurred there words. There was a fine line between speaking in riddles and speaking incoherently. Tonight however Reg had drunken only root beer, so he was safe.

"Anything after fifty'd probably be ok with me," Reg confessed. "I couldn't stand ending up looking like Dumbledore," he added slightly disgusted at the thought of face of the wrinkled old headmaster. His face was worn and tired from his many years and somehow remained kindly. Only the mans sparkling bright blue eyes led Regulus to believe he had ever looked any different than he did at the present. On the other hand though the Black men seemed to age rather well (if they got to age that is). His father Orion was nearing 50 and still a distinguished looking gentleman as was his grandfather Arcturus who would be 80 in a few years time, though age had clearly taken a toll on both. And if he still had Indi by his side and children and grandchildren of his own he may have liked to stay around longer. Sadly what Reg didn't know was that he was only a few years away from death.

"I think you'd be surprised how much time I've spent learning those same spells," Regulus smirked. Once again Bella was trying to stereotype the fact that Slytherins didn't study. Of course he would exactly call reading through books and writing down interesting spells studying per say. Although he had only memorized a fraction of what he had written down and even those he sometimes forgot, but he knew enough to cause some trouble for Bella.

[bella]

“Fifty is note worthy I suppose,” she allowed, although still set in her wishes to grow to a ripe old age. She was almost stubborn about the fact, childishly wanting to outlive her parents. Of course, technically she’d already done that if her father really was dead – but she wanted to surpass there dying age; to prove she could make something of herself without them. She hardly counted a smart Hufflepuff girl as anything to boast about – there were enough of those at Hogwarts as it was.

She would admit to the thought of looking as old as Dumbledore slightly shook her fantasy of sorts. Instinctively a hand rose to her cheek, feeling the unwrinkled skin there. She had a long while before she had to worry about laugh-lines or anything of the sort. All the same… “I’m pretty sure there are potions for that,” Bella laughed, now desperately hoping it was true, “Of course, it’s nothing a spell wouldn’t take care of either… I wonder if perhaps Professor Dumbledore likes showing off his age? I mean, I personally think those older are wiser – he’s been secretly boasting all these years and we never even knew…” Bella smiled, coming up with all sorts of wild conspiracy theories now.

“I think you'd be surprised how much time I've spent learning those same spells.” Just the smiling itching onto his lips was enough to confirm his words. For however spell-bound she considered herself, Regulus would know equally as much; likewise, whatever odd spell she could hurl at him, he could send one just as complex back. It vaguely crossed her mind who would win in a duel, but Bella was willing to admit to herself she was too kind to ever actually suggest it. That of course eliminated when she was infuriated over something, but right now she was quite content – no need for wands flailing.

A small yawn escaped her just then, and for once she considered what time it was. The pub had slowly lost its evening crowd, turning into the late-night goers bent on forgetting their worries with drinks. She glanced at her own empty cup, and the back at Regulus – “You’ve any idea what time it is?” she asked, sad to consider the option of heading back to the school but feeling new-found sleepiness clouding her opinion.

[brett]

"I figure there's not mush to be done after that point except get old and die," Regulus shrugged. He couldn't think of anyone over the age of 50, outside of Hogwarts teachers, and a handful of the Ministry higher ups who still held a job. Then there were a few others like, barman at the Hog's Head, but Reg didn't want to end up with him. It just seemed that after 50 everything was all down hill...if it hadn't been before. You figure a wizard could live to 100 pretty easy (baring outside forces) so 50 is only half your life, but when you compare the first fifty years to the second, which seemed more appealing.

"I suppose," Regulus mused. Bella brought up a good point, it was mainly his appearance that concerned him, so if he could retain a youthful appearance it might be worth sticking around. Of course such treatments would be costly, but it wasn't like he didn't have the money. It would be quite strange to see the day his children looked the same age as him. "I wouldn't put it past the old man," Regulus said clearly showing a distaste for the headmaster. Of course he was no ignorant fool, and respected Dumbledore for the great wizard he was...but that didn't mean he liked him. It was rather hard when you grow up around parents who bad mouth him quite a bit, especially as the Dark Lord gains power.

"My best guess would be...late," Regulus said unable or unwilling to make a guess in terms of hours and minutes. "I'm actually thinking it might be about time to head out...you wanna walk back with me?" Reg asked not really wanting to get rid of Bella, but he had no desire to order another drink and the barman was sure to notice this soon. It wasn't that far of a walk, but far enough that they should have enough time to keep talking.

[bella]

Bella couldn’t help but laugh at his bluntness on the matter – get old and die. Yes, supposedly that was one of the many goals in life. Live a good old life and then, in the end, find a nice place to curl up and die. It was in harsh terms, but completely realistic. Even so, wrinkly or not, Bella was determined to make it to a good solid ninety before considering her own death. She’d decided that long ago and wasn’t about to change that little goal of her anytime soon.

“I wouldn’t put it past the man.” Her smile faltered slightly, forgetting not everyone admired the headmaster quite as much as her self. Contradictory to whatever Regulus might say, that was one Slytherin trait she was going to be biased on – she had yet to meet a snake who actually had nothing against Professor Dumbledore, grudge and or otherwise. She regained composure quickly enough, smirking, “Yes, I’m sure he likes showing off his age. Or I guess his brains more like it…” She could give him that much.

She was correct in thinking they might have possibly stayed out past their allotted time span, “My best guess would be…late.” Of course. “I’m actually thinking it might be about time to head out...you wanna walk back with me?” Bella’s smile lightened a bit and she nodded, hopping down from her stool and pulling her jacket a little closer around her waist – her and cold didn’t mix too well. “Certainly,” she replied, tucking her hands into her pockets; might as well be prepared.


OOC: Ugh, ick! *Squashes short post* X-\

[brett]

((Sorry I've neglected this thread for far too long ))

"Yes, it's his own sneaky way of showing off," Regulus agreed. The headmaster was a great wizard, but he certainly was far less modest than people would like to believe him to be. There were whispers that the Dark Lord feared Dumbledore, but Regulus had a hard time believing this. There was a fine line between fear and respect, one he understood well, but doubted the rest of the dimwitted wizarding community did. Soon though they would all see that they had been wrong. The old man may have accumulated much wisdom over the years, but his power would only dwindle from this point, while the Dark Lords was only just beginning to grow.

"Good," Regulus smiled paying off the tab before getting off the barstool himself. He walked with Bella to the door holding it open for her as they prepared to head out into the October night. Regulus zipped his jacket halfway up before following Bella out. Regulus took in a breath of cool air, stuffing his hands into his pocket as he exhaled. It wasn't unbearably cold, but Reg hands tended to get cold rather quickly, the rest of him however seemed to stay rather warm even when he wasn't wearing a jacket. Perhaps an adaptation from the nights of putting his own jacket around whatever girlfriend he had at the times shoulders. Regulus may have been a cunning snake, but he was also a gentleman.

"So, uh...it's a nice night," Regulus said stuck for conversation. He really had no desire to discuss Dumbledore further, he had already blabbed on long enough about Indi, so their location seemed to be the only thing left for him to comment on. He supposed he could have thanked Bella for keeping him company, but that would require showing gratitude, which he just didn't do.