Blood [Pops] and Chocolate(Mafalda)

[brett]

"Well I don't know about all that. I thought you were rather good...of course I didn't have anything to compare it to," Regulus smiled. Mafalda had done a good enough job insulting herself that it left Regulus with witty comments as his response. The smile felt good, so much better than all that serious stuff, but Mafalda hadn't been joking.

"Look, I don't regret doing," Regulus began his tone once again becoming serious. "I don't regret the fact that I was drunk, or that it didn't mean anything, and I certainly don't regret that it was with you," he smiled. He wasn't quite sure how much of that was true, but it all just sounded so good that he couldn't resist. That was part of what made it so easy for Regulus to lie, he just thought of things that sounded convincing and delivered the words like an academy award winning actor.

"I mean drunk sex in a library is probably more exciting than most of the sex I'll have in the future. And you can't really tell me you cared all that much about the guy you had your first time with either," Regulus added this time he knew he was telling the truth. (The words didn't flow quite as nicely this time.) Also because well he was assuming most of if not all the sex he had in the future would be on a bed or a couch, but then again he had thought his first time would have been in one of those places too.

[britkneeboo]

Mafalda blushed a little when he made the comment that she had been good also. She wasn't blushing because of what he had said, because truth be told Mafalda knew she wasn't bad at it. At least, that was what she assumed from the reactions of the guys she was having sex with. What made her blush was who was telling her this. She knew that she could make refrences to sex to a Slytherin and it would be a compliment, and she also knew that refrences of sex from a Slytherin could usually be taken the same way. Hufflepuff's didn't usually going around telling eachother how good they were at shagging. They usually just complimented the others hair or outfit.

"I'm glad you don't regret it," she said, trying to decide if she was ready to start walking again or if she wanted to stay put. Her feet didn't move. "I would feel awful if you regretted it! What am I saying....I still feel sort of awful, but not as much. And, I'll admit, the Library was sort of an amazing idea. It was so exciting!" she said, trying not to sound too happy about it. But really, what they did in the library was like something out of a movie. Most students only imagined having sex in a place that was so easy to be caught in.

"Sorry," she said, smiling. "I've just never had that much fun doing something that I wasn't supposed to be doing."

[brett]

Regulus noticed the light blush in Mafalda's cheeks following his compliment. He hadn't quite expected that sort of reaction, but it made him smile. Perhaps the other guy or guys she had been with never told her that. After all he supposed he was a bit more open about the subject then others might be. A compliment from Regulus was a rare thing, so you know that if he bothers to compliment you he means it...unless of course he needs something from you, then it's just part of his charm and he'll tell you anything.

It had been rather exciting, and as flashes of the night crossed Regulus mind he smiled. Currently that stood as the second best night of his life. Up until a few nights ago it had been the best, but his night stargazing with Indigo cuddled closely to his side. Sex and love, those were what comprised his two favorite memories. He was actually rather proud that love managed to beat out sex considering how shallow he was, but the more he remembered about the night in the library the closer it got to tying.

"Neither have I, and I practically make a living having fun doing things I'm not supposed to," Regulus smiled glad to share in this sentiment with Mafalda. After all she was a hufflepuff who he couldn't imagine doing what she wasn't supposed to all that often let alone have fun doing it. He on the other hand used mischief as his only source of fun, before Indigo at least.

[britkneeboo]

"Have you told anyone," Mafalda blurted out, before she even knew what she was saying. She hadn't meant to ask that at all, and the thought hadn't even crossed her mind in the two months since it happened, but all of a sudden that was the only thing she wanted to know. She started thinking that it wasn't such a bad thing, being the girl that Regulus Black lost his virginity to, but then she realized if he told the wrong person, like his brother perhaps, that she would never live it down.

"I mean, it's okay if you have. I just was curious. I got to know who to deny it to, and who to brag to," she said, smiling so he knew she was just kidding. Of course only half of it was a joke, the half about denying it was true. As bad as she would feel denying something so serious, she couldn't bare the thought of Sirius telling the entire Hufflepuff house that she had slept with his little brother. Even so, she probably wouldn't honestly be able to lie about it either, if only to spare Regulus' feelings.

"I haven't told anyone," she said, trying to make him not feel as pressured to tell her. "I've been sort of embarressed. Not of you, but of myself. What would my friends think if they knew what I had done after a few mugs of Firewhiskey?"

[brett]

Regulus was a bit thrown off by the question. Not that it was out of the ordinary. After all if he really thought about it he would have realized the subject would have come up soon or later. As it was he was still off piecing together images of the night in question.

Before Regulus had time to answer Mafalda had continued. He let the silence settle for a moment about to speak when she beat him to it again. So she hadn't told anyone, that was probably a good thing. Not that he was ashamed or anything. Like she had said it was just a matter of knowing who to lie to and who already knew the truth.

"I haven't told anyone either," Regulus said finally taking his turn to speak. The question hadn't bothered him so all the explanation hadn't been that necessary, but it was nice to know she was trying to protect his feelings. "So are we just going to keep it a secret?" Regulus asked wondering if Mafalda wanted to tell anyone or preserve her name. Regulus of all people understood the importance of maintaining a reputation, still he wanted a yes or no answer as to whether or not he was allowed to tell people...though he probably wouldn't either way.

[britkneeboo]

Mafalda was much more relieved by his answer, then she thought she would be. It was like a weight was lifted off her shoulders just as quickly as it had been put there. She didn't know why she cared so much, but it was unconsciencly because of her want to keep a good reputation going, just as Regulus was suspecting.

As soon as Regulus asked, Mafalda knew the answer to his question. She didn't want anybody to know. She didn't really think it was anybody else's business anyway, and the only reason they might tell would be to have some sort of control. Blackmail. Once again it lead right back to Mafalda's interpretation of sex only being for control. Anway, neither of them really had a reason to use it against the other, so for the time being she wanted it kept top secret. Besides, secrets were fun. Almost as fun as sex in a library.

"How about we keep it between us for now," she said, nodding to herself. "If that's okay with you. I'm sort of shy about that sort of thing. I can't really imagine all your guy friends asking how I looked naked, and you telling them tall and lanky," she said laughing. She never thought much of her body. She was teased for her height and had just come to accept herself as being just that - tall and lanky.

[brett]

"Well those certainly wouldn't have been the two adjectives I would have used," Regulus smirked. Hmm, two words to describe Mafalda naked probably soft and beautiful, though again probably not the words he would use if discussing it with a bunch of Slytherin guys. Although the only guy he knew who would probably even ask was Kalib in which case Reg would probably just tell him to bugger off anyway.

"But yea, keeping it secrets fine. I understand the whole keeping up a reputation thing...though mines a bad one," Reg smiled. It wasn't a big deal. The only one he even would have considered telling was Indi and right now he was just glad to have an excuse for not telling her, if it did ever come out somehow.

"So uh, how bout those drinks?" Reg asked suddenly aware that they were still in the middle of a Hogsmeade street about a block or so from the pub. What else there was to talk about over drinks Reg wasn't quite sure, maybe something other than the night they had sex? It was strange that both claimed it meant nothing to them yet it was the only thing they could talk about.

[britkneeboo]

If Regulus was hoping to change the subject from the two adjectives he would have used, to keeping it a secret, in hopes that Mafalda wouldn't ask about it - he had failed miserably. Now the girl's curiousity peaked the highest it had been all night. Once again he seemed to stray even further from what he had said first. It was true that they appeared to have forgotten where they were going, just standing out in the middle of the road. Mafalda figured she was composed enough to continue on their way to The Three Broomsticks now. "Oh yea, let's go," she said, and took a few steps to put herself beside him. They both continued to walk, and Mafalda couldn't help but ask...

"So.... what two adjectives might you have used then?" she asked, raising an eyebrow in his direction. She tried to hide the smile that was sneaking onto her face, but it was proving to be quite difficult, especially considering it was obvious that she was in fact smiling. "Just out of curiosity." She couldn't help wanting to know what he thought about her, if it wasn't awkwardly tall. She might have been getting too used to his Slytherin compliments.

[brett]

"What makes you think I'd tell you?" Regulus smirked, "Just out of curiosity." Of course Regulus fully intended to give an answer, for one because they need to pass the time, but also it was a justifiable. The question now was to lie or not to lie. On any other night the answer would be lie hands down. Complimenting a girl he wasn't dating twice in one night? It was unheard of if both compliments were the truth.

Yet, tonight the truth seemed to be all Regulus could tell. "Well," he said now having decided he had held out long enough. "If I was talking to my guy friends...I wouldn't have used any and probably just told them if they wanted to know they'd need to find out for themselves," Regulus smirked at the thought. A bunch of anxious Slytherins ask Mafalda to take her clothes off. "But, say some psycho puts a wand to my head and threatened to kill me if I lied..." That would be a strange situation and there would be many question involved. "I'd say beautiful and soft," Regulus said allowing the words to roll elegantly off his tongue. "Then I'd jab him in the chest and punch him in the face for being a creepy perv," Regulus added after a beat, a smile coming to his face.

Hopefully he had mixed in enough joking for Mafalda to have forgotten the actual two adjectives, but he doubted it. Regulus looked to the road a head, he could now see the sign hanging off the three broomsticks in the distance. As they moved towards there goal Reg continued to cast glances to his side, to look at Mafalda, watch her expression.

[britkneeboo]

It was obvious that Regulus intended to answer Mafalda's question. She was well aware that he was only giving her a hard time, something he did often whether he was joking or not. Still, he was holding her in suspense as she waited anxiously to hear the words he would use.

As he began explaining, Mafalda made a face. She was imagining almost the exact same thing that he was- a group of Slytherin boys asking her to take her clothes off. It was a little amusing to her, but at the same time she really didn't like the idea of being asked to strip by teenage boys. If Regulus kept his word though, and didn't tell anyone, then Mafalda really didn't have much to worry about.

Mafalda smiled when Regulus finished, and nodded- as if to say that she would accept beautiful and soft as her two adjectives. Soft was universal, something you could describe almost any girl as. It was nice to be called soft, but the one that really intrigued her was beautiful. She hadn't thought she could be that ugly, for him to have sex with her in the first place, but it wasn't saying much considering she knew some good looking people who had hooked up with some real dogs after too many drinks. Hearing him say she was beautiful made her smile bigger, because that had meant that he had seen her for how she really looked on the night they drank.

"I guess that'll do," she said, speeding up her walk a little as she saw the pub grow closer and closer. "So let me ask you something. How does it feel to be totally head over heals in love with a soft beautiful Hufflepuff named Mafalda?" she asked, smirking and lowering her voice to a whisper. "Don't worry. I won't tell."

[brett]

Regulus smiled at Mafalda as he watched her own smile widen with the adjectives he had chosen. Soft had been the easiest one, Regulus was yet to meet a girl who's skin wasn't soft, he had just seen much more of Mafalda's skin than he had any other girls. As for beautiful, the word almost seemed like it didn't do her justice. Part of that had to do with the fact that she had been naked, such raw elegance and beauty, nothing had been hidden, it was simply who she was underneath it all. Actually as these thoughts came into Regulus mind he hoped that it had all been real and not some twisted image formed by the alcohol.

Looking at Mafalda now, beneath the streets lights of Hogsmeade, the mental image seemed to fit. Regulus would never tell Mafalda this, but just looking at her now, even with the sweater she was wearing he could see the soft, beautiful, naked form that lay beneath. Regulus imagined it was similar to what x-ray vision would be like. He wondered if Mafalda could see him the same way, or if she'd even want to.

"If it ever happens, I'll let you know," Regulus said with a sly smirk that may have revealed more than he wanted. He was head over heels for a different girl, and it felt better than anything he had ever felt. Yet he wasn't walking around Hogsmeade imagining Indigo naked, now was he? Truth be told Regulus would be afraid to fall in love with Mafalda, especially after she had dismissed their night together as just sex.

[britkneeboo]

"Well aren't you the charming one," she said, rolling her eyes for the third time that night. Looking up at the sign above them, Mafalda stopped just short of the door to The Three Broomsticks. She wanted to take in the quiet air around them one more time before they entered into the loud, smoky environment of the late-night pub. It was definitely a different sight at night than during the day.

Mafalda looked over at Regulus and smirked again, narrowing her eyes at him. "You're picturing me naked aren't you," she said, trying not to laugh. She really had no idea that he basically was doing just that. Mafalda just thought it was the perfect thing to say when somebody zoned out, while staring at her. It usually caused them to either become flustered and confused, or just roll their eyes at her. She wasn't expecting much of a reaction from Regulus either way.

Taking another step up to the door of the pub, Mafalda pushed open the door. The silence between them was quickly filled with the sounds of laughter, and glasses clinking- a sight Mafalda welcomed with a warm smile.

[brett]

"Well I try," Regulus smiled. Typically he was rather charming. As a matter of fact even though he had been insulting Mafalda he thought he had been quite charming in doing so. Reg's charm was really what helped him in most situations. He could charm his way out of detentions, charm other students into doing things for him. In other words it was the key to his wicked ways, and of course the way in which he got girls to fall for him. Though it seemed he still needed to work on Mafalda.

Mafalda's next comment shocked him a bit and he was sure that if he caught his initial expression she would see that he was right. Maybe she would just confuse it for overall shock at the abruptness of the question. "Am I not supposed?" Regulus asked so seriously that he had to be kidding. Hopefully he could successfully play it all off as a joke. Otherwise it could probably make the rest of the night rather awkward.

Following Mafalda in to ruckus of the pub. The bar area seemed to be a bit crowded, but there were still a few open tables scattered around the pub. "There's and open table in the front corner," Regulus pointed out motioning to the small table nestled in the corner. He figured there they could at least hear each other, which may or may not be a good thing.

[britkneeboo]

Regulus' charm was well know throughout the school, but not every student was fooled by it. Mafalda had never really believed it held much sincerity herself, but she didn't mind playing along with it. He seemed like he was in a good enough mood that night, and she found no reason to believe that he was using this 'charm' of his to win her over, so she wasn't bothered by it. Usually she found his 'holier than thou' attitude a little less than convincing.

As she looked around the pub for an open table, Mafalda only smiled at his answer to her absurd question. She didn't detect anything in his voice that might make her think he was serious, and only found it amusing that he had decided to play along. No sooner had he spotted the table that was empty, and pointed it out, had Mafalda started walking in that direction. She pulled out her own seat and sat down, expecting him to sit himself straight across from her. Sliding off her sweater she let it fall, and catch itself, on the back of her chair. The pub was much warmer than outside.

"So, tell me about Indigo. I never took you as the type to date a Gryffindor," she said, musing over the thought. Really Mafalda wasn't that surprised, considering the attitude of the other girl. She could have been a Slytherin and nobody would have known.

[brett]

Following Mafalda to the table Regulus slid into the seat across from her. Yes, this was a good spot, away from the din at the bar which had blended into the mumbling of conversations of nearby tables. The broomsticks was typically crowded so the number of people in the bar wasn't suprisng. Thankfully though it wasn't over crowded. It was perfect actually, not deserted enough where they had to worry about being overheard and not crowded enough for them to have to shout to hear each other.

Regulus was a bit surprised by Mafalda's request, but all the same more than willing to oblige. After all Indigo had become his favorite subject to talk about of late. Actually he was in this very bar last time he did. "I never would have believed it myself if I weren't experiencing it," Regulus confessed. "Of course Indigo's not exactly the typical Gryffindor," he added not sure how much Mafalda knew about his girlfriend.

"I mean she's as shallow and sarcastic as I am," Regulus said smiling brightly, two traits you wouldn't think would be admirable, but that was the way the Blacks rolled. "She is of course, astoundingly beautiful, she's got the most gorgeous brown eyes," Regulus said drifting a bit as he often did when describing Indigo's beauty.

"Naturally she's a pureblood, but other than that I don't know much about her family...oh and she's very ticklish," Regulus smiled remembering a few nights ago when he had found this out. "Being around her is like nothing else in the world...she just, makes me...happy" Reg finished struggling to find words at the end. Happy didn't seem fitting enough, but he had been unable to think of another word to use.