* do i divide & fall apart ?

for lumosfm .

[bxllatrix]

𝑰 say we scrape them from each other, darling, and let them wash off in the rain & when they run into the river, let the water not complain.

i swear that even with the distance, slowly wearing out your name,

        your hands still catch the light the right way and our hearts still beat the same.

                       𝑩𝑬𝑳𝑳𝑨𝑻𝑹𝑰𝑿 𝐋𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐄.

about × musings × development x pinterest

status:  active, open for plotting full name: bellatrix irma lestrange (née black) nicknames:  bella, bells, trix(ie) gender:  cis female, she/her sexuality: into all genders age: thirty patronus: can’t make one, but viper snake in theory.  wand: 12¾ inches long, walnut, dragon heartstring core.  fc: jessica de gouw

𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐘 is the head that wears the crown and Bellatrix Black is one who wears many. Eldest child of Cygnus and Druella Black, Bella spent formative years learning how to be the perfect child. Not quite fit as heir to the name, she was made to be the next best thing— their most prized possession, their bargaining chip. She knew what was meant for her, they all did — the sisters three served one purpose: to marry into high society and dedicate themselves to the cause. Magic was a secondary part of her life, being a pureblood the first. To preserve the latter meant the prosperity of the former. A childhood filled with etiquette lessons and tutors left little room for play. She was happy to pick up the slack, her sisters left to enjoy the less important parts of life. Bonded into three strings of fate, the girls followed the same destiny— but none as serious, none as loyal as Bellatrix Black. The first child, they say, holds the key to the future. Being an heir meant little to Bella: in her heart, she was the ruler of the Black family children. She was the one with the weight on her shoulders and she would make her family proud. Destined for her own form of greatness, Bellatrix found her way into the Department of Mysteries, studying death like her life depended on it — and in some ways, it did. With death comes rebirth, and Bellatrix, though she was ever-devoted to upholding the family values, wanted even more power. To be born again, to live as a separate entity, she could shape a life without being under control. Everything falls into place for Bellatrix Black, no matter who must be run down on the way there. It was her, above all, and then her family after that. A ticking time-bomb, that’s what they say. A viper waiting to strike. A woman with a wicked, black heart.

[alectocarrowx]

where: streets of london late at night who: @bxllatrix

This was what happened when Alecto was left alone to her own devices. Rabastan had gone away for a couple days with Emmeline to Italy, leaving her to uncontained chaos that needed to be released. Restraint teetered, tugging in both directions, emotions that seemed suffocating, and even after the torture she ensued interrogating with him, it was never quenched.

There may have been requests made and she would not wish to break them, yet it didn't hinder her to discover loopholes. The witch sauntered down the dark streets of London with Bellatrix at her side. The two together, death reapers on the prowl, meant only demise would trail behind. "I need a challenge. I thought mudbloods had stronger wills." She huffed, annoyance lanced in her tone. Her words were a lie, mudbloods were like flies, easy to pick off, but she was bored. "At least the last had more resemblance."

[bxllatrix]

Bellatrix listened to her pointed kitten heels tap on the concrete, the sound bringing her serenity as her cushion-charmed feet took them steps closer to their glorious plans. It was shaping up to be a divine evening already, Bella's rage by-proxy simmering deep in her ribcage, spurred by a series of unfortunate encounters over the past week. Where Alecto was picturing one specific witch in their targets, Bella was picturing everyone who had recently pissed her off.

"Please," Bella drawls, followed by a scoff. "They're vermin, little more than rats." She tilts her head, studying a few of the muggles passing them by, their tittering making her cringe. "Less than rats, actually." Crossing her arms, Bella feels her wand stir, safely concealed deep in a robe pocket. The garment was subtle enough to still represent her position as a witch to any of their kind, but still muggle enough to pass as a long jacket.

"Should we find a pub? Perhaps we'd have better luck there, since we're looking for a common floozy." They needed to find someone soon. She was beginning to feel restless, and when she felt restless, her wand mysteriously started to cast hexes on anyone within twenty feet. Save for Alecto, of course — Bellatrix had some class.

[xrodolphusxlestrangex]

“I love it when you call me darling,” Rodolphus chuckled knowing it would drive her mad. Bellatrix was such fun at social events. He knew she played the part well. Better than him definitely. He had a hard time displaying any fake emotions. That was clear at the altar he was sure — though he actually did try for some unknown reason. But trying didn’t mean success. Success for Rodolphus was doing the Dark Lord’s bidding. This frilly wedding was the complete opposite of what he deemed worth his time. Alas, being pureblood he had to be there. He could learn a thing or two from his wife but he didn’t want to. He was perfectly content being unabashedly himself. It was a reminder to others who he actually was and not to get on his bad side.

He leaned in and whispered into Bellatrix’s ear, “That laugh was horrendous. You should practice. Or not. I like you without the laughter.” He stepped back. “I would never deny you foreplay, my dear wife,” he looked her up and down as she bit into the strawberry. “This is more like it,” he commented with a sly smile. Bellatrix may have not cared much about marriage — neither did Rodolphus — but he was lucky in marriage. They say love kills and that’s exactly what they did best together.

“Oh, fantastic event, I must admit,” he rolled his eyes. “But make no mistake. They will be too busy with a child to do anything worthwhile. We’ll still be the best pairing. Always.”

[bxllatrix]

“I only call you darling because what I actually want to say is too vulgar.” She glares at him, not even bothering to hide a smidge of her ire. There was nobody around, and even if there were, she dares them to make any sort of judgement about her marriage. To the public, her and Rodolphus showed a flawlessly united front. It wasn’t much different from their actual lives -- they had a kinship she doubts she’d find with anyone else.

Still, she can’t fucking stand him ninety nine percent of the damned time. No one had to know she'd much rather eat him for dinner than she would cook him a meal. That's what they had house elves for anyway, even if they were ugly, vile creatures. No uglier than a child of Lucius bloody Malfoy would be. Pointy and pale. She only hopes for the bloodlines sake it takes after Narcissa, in both personality and looks.

She flips her hair over her shoulder prettily, her neck suddenly poised to feel his breath as he speaks lowly to her. Her mouth falls open slightly, a flush coating her collarbones. Her body was a murderous, unforgiving traitor. She hated when he had the upper hand. Disturbed, she deflects. "That's good, considering you rarely make me laugh." She bites her lip, watching his sly smile like a piranha smelling blood. "Speaking of foreplay, Dolohov was telling me all about creating the perfect corpse earlier, the incorrigible flirt." She shifts closer to him. "If you take me home, I can demonstrate." She smiles sweetly. "On you, of course."

[pandoraxrosier]

Pandora exhales a breath she didn't realise she was holding. "Oh, good. Thank you." It takes a lot to scare her, but Bellatrix manages it just fine. She always has. Pandora is sure this is a common reaction, although she finds herself wondering if it's completely intentional. The younger girl, for all her oddness and quirks, tends to be one people avoid; she finds some kinship with Bellatrix in that. "Having to ceelebrate your sister leaving to join another family must be difficult. I'm not sure I could do it," she muses, still facing away.

At that, Pandora finally turns to look at Bellatrix, expression contorted into innocent confusion. "No," she replies easily. "You must have him mixed up with someone else. My friend Regulus is possibly the least disgraceful person I know. Nobody in their right mind would ever identify him as such."

[bxllatrix]

Bellatrix shrugs, tone flat. "We've always known this was Narcissa's fate, to be doted on by an unnaturally blond man with a collection of peacocks," she drawls. "That's what we're bred for, isn't it?" She understands all too well what Pandora means. Bellatrix still feels a longing for her true surname, a need to make the family proud, to somehow dominate the patriarchal structure and make it anew. In a perfect world, Bellatrix would be Lady Black, head of the household and her husband would be subservient to her. "It's almost written in prophecy itself."

Well, Bellatrix could understand picking up for your friends, even if they are of the more pointless variety. Maybe. Well, not really, since she wouldn't be caught dead defending someone else's honour. She's more likely to give the complainant more ammunition. Though one thing she didn't like was being called crazy, or having it implied. Her eyes flash with a controlled rage and she lets her mouth turn up into a Cheshire cat-like smile. "Good thing I'm not in my right mind then, hm?"

[r-lestrcnge]

Rabastan could not have cared less for Bellatrix's opinion of him. Had he known her thoughts, he'd have considered them as pointless as her time-wasting. For someone so skilled and revered, she was utterly inefficient at times. This dance around her mood, waiting for her to concede to matters of actual importance, was tedious. But he waited patiently nonetheless. He respected his sister-in-law, both as a Lestrange and as one of the most proficient dark witches in their ranks. He was willing to persist for her expertise.

As the silence passed, he also took a canapé, then reached for a bottle of something sparkling and alcoholic. Turning it indolently, he observed the label then generously filled his own glass before offering it to Bellatrix as she permitted the conversation to continue.

"Good. The most pressing: I am working on a scheme which will require duellists, while I attend to breaking curses and enchantments. May I count on you to join me? I will ask only the most trusted and the most skilled. It will not be easy. I will tell you more when it is almost time." He pushed the bottle back onto the table, not waiting for her response before continuing. "I also require your opinion on two potential recruits."

[bxllatrix]

Bella takes the bottle from him and then places it back down on the table, crossing her arms. She remembers an earlier conversation, remembers her newfound dedication to watching her damn drinks. She trusted Rabastan, of course; only so far as you can trust a man, that is.

"Of course you can, though I dislike not being kept in the loop." She shoots him a mild glare before letting her gaze stroll around the room, mind idly picking out all of the adept duellers she sees. There weren't very many. Bella hated conceding, hated not knowing exactly what was happening, when it was, and where. Often the one leading the charge, Bellatrix found it hard to give up control... Having it was one of the finest points in life.

"Potential recruits?" Bella is intrigued, though she knows anybody he's about to mention is likely both disappointing and uninspiring. She wonders how the Dark Lord managed to do it himself, getting together the most dimwitted array of people on this side of the continent. Unable to stop herself, she gives in to the curiosity. "Who were you thinking?"

[bxllatrix]

— BELLATRIX LESTRANGE. jessica de gouw. the cataclysmic. violent, someone bad or unwanted.

[gxssipwitch]

location : leaky cauldron interaction : open !

the dim, smoky interior of the leaky cauldron buzzes with hushed conversations and the clink of butterbeer mugs. rita sits in a shadowy corner, her quick-quotes quill poised over a piece of parchment. her jeweled eyes glint in the candlelight as her eyes dart from table to table, hungrily seeking out the next juicy tidbit of gossip.

a smirk plays on her lips as she overhears snippets of conversation – whispers of ministry shake-ups, rumors of dark magic resurfacing. her quill scratches furiously, embellishing each morsel of information with her trademark flair for the dramatic.

suddenly, the pub's door swings open, admitting a gust of chilly air and a figure shrouded in a traveling cloak. rita's eyes narrow as she recognizes the newcomer – a potential source, or perhaps her next unwitting subject. she takes a sip of her gillywater, mind spinning.

with a practiced flick of her wrist, rita tucks away her quill and parchment into her handbag. she stands, smoothing her top and plastering on her most beguiling smile. time to work her magic – after all, the truth won't sensationalize itself.

[bxllatrix]

Bellatrix pauses for a moment, looking the woman up and down, her head tilted slightly, eyes narrowed, lips pursed. Rita Skeeter, Bella remembers, at the exact same time she feels a chill go down her spine. Not of fear, of course, but of the nagging feeling she is about to be annoyed to an early grave.

It wasn't often she came into the Leaky, hovel that it was. Bellatrix was an hour early for a pre-planned work meeting. She wanted to come inspect the location before agreeing to sit and eat here, not willing to be poisoned by — gods forbid — greasy pub food. Her eyes leave Skeeters person and flicker about the room, a look of disgust on her face as she takes in the baskets of vinegar-soaked chips. Repulsive.

"Skeeter," she drawls impatiently. "Surprised they let you out of your cage." She hums, hands shoved into her robe pockets due to a rather persistent stickiness in the air. Or maybe that was just how talking to Skeeter felt. "Even more surprised they let rabid animals inside of a food establishment. Poor thing. Where's your lead and collar?"

[zabinixevelyn]

Evelyn suppressed the urge to shiver at the way Bella looked at her, the look like a teasing caress against her skin. Instead her smile grew in response, taking in the sight of the other witch in turn. A laugh slipped past her lips at the comment and she shook her head. "That certainly wouldn't do. There's nothing watered down about you." No, Bellatrix was like fire, burning bright and scorching anything in her path. While others might have found her to be vicious and terrifying, Evelyn rather enjoyed her company. Alike in many ways, Bellatrix's company was preferable to many.

A sigh as Zafar was brought up, her eyes catching sight of him among the milling crowd. "The parents latest matchmaking scheme." She shook her head, lifting her glass to take another drink of champagne. "I thought perhaps they'd give up after two but alas here we are." She was eager to be rid of him already, but all in good time. It was tempting to be close to Bellatrix, drawn in by her dark and alluring presence. It was rare to find the witch not in the presence of another, she wanted to take advantage as long as she could. "Congratulations are hardly necessary, but thank you." A flash of a smile as her eyes returned to Bellatrix. "Your family once again has thrown the event of the year. Still I must admit I'm counting down the minutes til it's considered acceptable to leave."

[bxllatrix]

"True," Bella agrees with a smirk. “They might not stop until there’s an heir." Merlin help Cygnus and Druella Black, for if they ever tried to marry Bellatrix off again, they’d find themselves handing off their fortunes to her sad, widowed self — posthumously. Bella was not against patri/matricide, it was simply the beautiful, thrilling cycle of life. "Pop one out, watch as poor Zafar accidentally ingests some hemlock — nasty stuff, that — and get on with your life."

Threatening someone public wasn't her best work even if it wasn't directly to their face, but Bella was a few wines past caring what other people overheard. She'd deal with the Dark Lord later, if he had anything to say about her upfront behaviour. He'd never complained about it when he benefited from it, that's for sure. If only there was a Lady to report back to. Bella might actually have a bit more respect for the pureblood cause, then.

It's something only Bella could yearn for, a life alone... but she supposes Rodolphus was rather attentive to her needs, as sadistic and depraved as they were. If she had to pick any amongst the pureblooded litter, it'd have to be him. Power seeks power and corruption breeds corruption. They were perfect.

She nods in agreement, a laugh following easily. "As wonderful as the day has been, I can't help but do the same." She gives Evelyn another once-over, a sly smile coming to her lips. "If you're not too busy in the next few weeks... it might be nice to get tea — catch up."

[pandoraxrosier]

Pandora’s not sure she will ever get married. The idea of uniting so intimately with someone else and their family is, quite frankly, terrifying. And what’s more — there’s no way out. No escape. Apart from death, of course, but it’d be a shame if she has to kill her husband one day like her mother had to. But she supposes someone would have to want to marry her first, for this to even be an issue. Thoughts such as this occupy her mind during the reception when she finds herself alone.

She’s scouring the room for signs of her friends to help silence her mind, but her eyes land on Bellatrix instead. Wrong move, it seems. “I — errr, okay,” she says, eyes averting so she’s talking to mid-air as she continues. “But I promise I wasn’t looking at you. Just searching for my friends. I’d really love to keep my arms if that’s okay.”

[bxllatrix]

She watches Pandora curiously, chattering on as if Bella gave a sickle what her thoughts were. She resists the urge to burst into uncontrolled laughter, both fatigue and adrenaline spurring her more unsavoury thoughts. "I'll allow it this once, since I'm feeling celebratory," Bella says, knowing damn well if she truly was feeling celebratory, it'd make her want to break some arms even more. She pities the younger girl, she was weird, and the worst thing you could be in society was different from everybody else.

"Your friends," she drawls, bored and vying for an unimportant conversation, it seemed. "Do you mean my disgraceful little cousin?" She realizes then she needs to be more specific, considering both Black juniors were equally as disgraceful as they were useless. "The one without the mutts following him around."

[xantoninxdolohovx]

"Dignity in death, dignity of remains, the corpse I leave is the last thing I'm worried about, though I guess strangled or smothered would be less painful that only matters if you're aiming for making a death mask or an open casket. I plan for my death to have more action when it's time, though being smothered by a beautiful woman wouldn't be the worst way to die if you're offering. Though I must warn you either would take a while an unfortunate product of strict training." He knew that wasn't the type of hungry he saw in her eyes, but it just made the taunting sweeter. "Don't worry, your drink isn't poisoned, you would have felt it or I would have taken you away to dance and die by now, passed it off as over exertion, the poor dear wasn't used to dancing you see, pushed herself to accept a dance with a friend, like you might try to sell that I was a weak swimmer." He thought a moment going back to the topic of ways to die. "Anything magical or too mundane would likely be simple and make for an ugly and thoroughly lifeless corpse. Only beautiful in its complete destruction. Sometimes it's better to take a stronger subject and make them weak ply their mind or body and watch it wither and shape to what you want then leave them. I wish I could tell you more, but my latest work is only theoretical. Though I will say part of being a good duelist and someone bent on my own survival is not being afraid at the taking of a life. Perhaps an over relishing of destruction is one of the few vices I allow myself a bit of truly pleasant chaos." He allowed a bit of the inner thoughts to peek beyond the mask, but only for a moment.

[bxllatrix]

“I’d want to go out by fire,” she says after a moment of thought. “Uncontrollable, wild. I can’t think of anything more humiliating than being shot down by an Avada.” She wrinkles her nose, disgusted at the mere thought. Any sort of death brought on by another would not be good enough for Bellatrix Lestrange. It would be a weakness – it would embarrass her entire family line, being put down like one would a hunted animal. How distasteful. No, Bella wouldn't be found dead like that, nor would she be caught dead strangling another man. That would be unfaithful to her doting husband.

"It's not the 1800s," she says, rolling her eyes. "Women don't fall over themselves from exertion. She smirks. “I’d give you thirty seconds before my beloved hits you with a slicing hex. Blood red does go so well with wedding white." Bella crosses her legs and arms, forgoing her pureblood etiquette for a bit of comfort. Still, she feels her governess's hex tingling on her fingers like an unmourned ghost. Stubborn, she keeps her arms closed anyway.

She feels a twitch of interest at his words, having dabbled in a lot of mind work herself. It was always intriguing for her, the way other people did it, peeling back the layers of a mind until it is nothing but white light. "I could make room in my drowning schedule for a demonstration, if you'd like to turn your theoretical work into something a bit more practical."

[cinemafrancais-blog]

Branimira Antonova

Procesat, Yakim Yakimov, 1968

[alectocarrowx]

Alecto spent the night with her champagne glass that was filled with sparkling water, the thought of alcohol making her nauseous. "They shall be disappointed." A teasing tone to her voice, taking a sip of her drink. "We must deny their deepest desires." She was certain that was not on their minds, but who knew when it came to the Lestrange brothers.

Had she thought about it? A small snort escaped her parted lips. There was one that lingered on her mind throughout the whole evening, the restraint slowly waning. "I cannot lie to you, so yes, there is one that I would wish to eliminate." Extreme? Some might say, but the moods that hit her like a tsunami wave wished for nothing more to see the demise of Miray. "We do not wish to ruin this for your sister. I am sure we can reframe for one night."

[bxllatrix]

Bella raises her eyebrow at Alecto and pointedly looks at the glass of sparkling water. She highly doubted the woman was denying any of her brother-in-laws deepest desires, but she keeps the thought to herself, playing nice. It wasn't like she was jealous of Alecto — how could she be? Bellatrix was Lady Lestrange now and the eldest daughter in the House of Black. She wasn't jealous of Alecto's condition. Of course not. Was she?

Bella's mood somehow sours even further, the drink tasting like ash in her mouth. She gazes around the room thoughtfully, passing by all of her relations and then some. "So, why haven't you?" It's a fair enough question. If Bellatrix was in Alecto's position, she'd have shoved Selwyn from the top floor balcony and then set the ground aflame, fiendfyre turning the body into plant feed. Healing wasn't something they couldn't learn themselves. It never did well to depend on people to save your life, one should always have the tools to do it onself. "I'm not advocating for murder," She was. "but my social calendar seems to have opened up."

[xrodolphusxlestrangex]

Rodolphus couldn’t wait to get out of the reception. It was bad enough having to get through the wedding. Standing next to Lucius was a chore, not a welcome role. However he said he would take on the role considering Bellatrix was the maid of honor. It only seemed right. A moment of weakness perhaps but he did it nonetheless.

He had lost Bellatrix in the crowd. Not that they were the type of couple who were up each other’s asses but he was wondering where she had wandered off to. Perhaps she could bring some unintended humor and bitchiness to the circumstance they found themselves in.

In searching for her he saw the brunette with a scowl on her face. Perfection. Just what he was hoping for. Not that she would be all sunshine and butterflies anyway. His beautiful wife was even more beautiful when she was looking out for number one — which was always.

Rodolphus walked up to her with his scotch in his hand. “Oh come now. You wouldn’t want to have scotch on your dress. Blood, sure. But scotch?” His lip curled to the side. “I love that you’re having such a beautiful time at this glorious event,” he said with sarcasm dripping from his lips.

[bxllatrix]

"Darling husband," she greets, tone dripping with equal parts sarcasm and faux sweetness. Being at a family wedding meant having to play not only the dutiful older sister but the devoted society wife. She lays a hand on Rodolphus's arm, lets her head fall back and laughs delicately, seeming as brainless as she possibly could. Bellatrix then bats her eyelashes playfully, a cat-like smile on her pouted lips. "You'd deny me a little foreplay on such a historic occasion? How unfair." She picks up a strawberry, popping it between her teeth and biting down gently, letting the juice flow over her fingers.

She hadn't been necessarily avoiding him all day, but she wasn't seeking him out, either. If she managed to make her way slyly to another side of the room on the occasions she saw him trying to catch her eye, that wasn't really her fault, was it? She simply had so many people to attend to. That's how godsdamned dutiful she was. Bellatrix licks the juice from her fingers and hums. Cherries were her favourite, they provided a darker red, but strawberries would suffice... though nothing compared to the rarer red she adored most.

"What a glorious event it is," she parrots. "I'll give it a year before she's raising the next Lord Malfoy, spoiling it rotten, and then we'll be beat out for best pairing."

[zabinixevelyn]

Evelyn had never been a fan of weddings, wrinkling her nose at the thought of romance and the archaic traditions weddings represented. She had only come because it was expected of her, and well because it was her friends getting married and it would have been unacceptable to not be here to support them. She only wished it didn't mean having to come with her fiance, to present themselves tonight officially for their first event together. She was all too happy after the niceties to be able to tear herself away to speak with friends, leaving him to do the same. They would present the appropriately happy engaged couple when necessary. But those who knew her knew she had no interest in marrying again.

Slipping away from a few of her co-workers with a feigned smile and excuse, she made her way over to the bar to grab herself another glass of champagne. Spotting Bellatrix she made her way over, a delighted laugh slipping past her lips at the comment. "Careful Bella, if I didn't know any better I'd think you were flirting with me." She flashed the gorgeous woman beside her a devilish smile, eyes on her even as she took a drink from her flute. "You do look gorgeous this evening." No one else was around, she certainly had no shame in flirting.

[bxllatrix]

Bellatrix Lestrange wasn't in the business of handing over compliments, nor was she with returning them. She always found it an awful ordeal, people telling her something she already knew. She was well versed in social scripts, in the ebb and flow of small talk and body language. Bella lets her eyes speak for her, roaming from Evelyn's legs to her eyes in one long, carnivorous sweep. A challenging smile follows. “Flirting would insinuate a watered down desire.” She was well versed in the art of seduction: broken limbs, stab wounds, hair pulled so tightly around a closed fist it nearly rips out. Bellatrix wanted with a consuming, destructive sort of violence. Like phoenix to fire, Bella burns.

She finds herself comfortable with the company. It was admirable how Evelyn managed to make things work out for her so nicely in the marriage department. “I saw you arrived with some arm candy,” she notes, stepping a tad bit closer. If anyone noticed, she simply didn’t care. She pictures him like a gnat under Evelyn’s finger. Inconsequential. “A congratulations is in order. Delayed as it may be.” She wasn’t sure if she was congratulating Evelyn on the new beau, or the deaths of the old ones. It was suspicious — and alluring.

[r-lestrcnge]

Rabastan's attitude towards the day was also one of indifference, though perhaps his bland apathy was more genuine than Bellatrix's. It would have been incorrect to say that he did not care at all. He was pleased for Lucius and Narcissa, for they were two people he considered friends. He recognised the ceremonial purpose in marriage, and thought it a necessary function to ensure that bloodlines continued and family allegiances remained strong. It was merely convenient that the pair truly desired each other.

Stubbornly, he'd refused to let the day go to personal waste. Since there were so many of their circle in the same place, he'd attended to various Death Eater matters while circulating. Thus, savage topics interspersed greetings and congratulations, and by this point, he felt almost as though he had achieved a something selfishly worthwhile. But he had not yet found a moment to speak with Bellatrix. Finding her loitering beside the refreshments, he wasted no time in joining her and reached across to examine the offerings. He paid no heed to her words, aside from a wryly arching eyebrow and a sly curve to his lips.

"Very well, sister. I will look at you no longer. But that will make it rather difficult to converse." He then pulled a platter towards himself with a lazy tug of his finger, clearly not intending to share, though it did remain between them. "Of course, if you don't want to hear about my work for the cause, I will leave you in peace." It made no difference to him. He would simply seek her when she was in a more preferable mood.

[bxllatrix]

Great, now the spare was talking to her. Bella didn’t really see the point in Rebastan. The Lestranges had one perfectly good heir, why in Salazar’s name would they try for another? Surely they knew second sons were only good as a failsafe if your eldest was stupid enough to keel over. Rodolphus, she knew, was practically unkillable. She’d thought about trying four dozen times at least. Perhaps the Lestranges were trying for a girl to add some purpose to their miserable, testosterone dominated family. She couldn't blame them, the men in her own bloodline were nothing short of disappointing.

"You're creative," she says flatly, not bothering to pay attention to him. "You'll find a way." She takes another treat from his platter. "Or you can close your eyes and picture me instead. I don't care."

She did want to hear about his work, but Bellatrix wasn't going to beg to be filled in. Word would come around eventually, it always did. She was one of the Dark Lord's most trusted, regardless of her distaste for his mania. Still, she shrugs her shoulders lightly, letting a few moments of silence engulf them as she tends to her hunger. It wasn't fulfilling. Rarely anything was. Crossing her arms, she swallows. "You might as well talk. I have a few minutes before I'm scheduled to be somewhere."

[xantoninxdolohovx]

"You have fine hands for drowning. I'm more for poison if I'm disposing of vermin." Antonin looked left as if recalling a specific memory. "A gift of a particularly old scotch or rare tea poisoned to a painfully imperceptible degree. Did you know you can find muggles in the street and they are not very discerning on what they'll drink or eat, it is a bit of a waste of resources, but seeing the realization dawn on their faces, that knowing they were their own doom, leaving them unsure if they should drink more or try to flee in their final moments, nothing quite like it." He took a long look at the glass that she had 'found' before a grin split his face. "Perhaps I'll have to join you at the Thames sometime."

He took a slow sip of his own drink. “I am good at what I do, you may call me the best if it feels more natural. I’m sure the thought of drowning me brought a smile to your lips or as close as you can get when not pursuing your hobby.”

[bxllatrix]

Inferior creatures, of course, but muggles were fascinating. Drinking in the detail like she would fine wine, Bellatrix's eyes are rapt with attention. She's fully tuned into him now, regardless of his typical nonsense. “Anything?” She wasn’t the biggest fan of poison, wanting more to see the effects of her magic — whether it be slow-rolling physical injury, delirium, or on the best occasions, decapitation. “How repulsive. They really are like wild animals, aren’t they.”

She follows his eyes to the glass she’d just drank from and lets out a sharp laugh. She felt perfectly fine. As much as she… trusted her fellow death eater, she’d have to be a bit more careful from now on. Bellatrix was often fully welcoming of her own recklessness, finding her thin escapes from death to be both exhilarating and nice learning opportunities. She wonders if it would feel as good as looks, the siphoning of a life force.

Her smile is hungry. “It’s a thrilling thought. You’d make a handsome corpse, but drowning doesn’t leave the body much dignity. Perhaps something a bit more tame.” She taps her finger against her cheek thoughtfully. “Strangulation? Everyone looks good after that.”

[hcalingherbs]

Truth be told, Emmeline had paid mind to what was going on around her. There was only so much you could soak up before the noise and everything else became too much. Luckily, for the most part, the brunette was quite capable of simply letting it all go. Perhaps that was her true talent; getting to a point where the noise around her was simply filtered out. It was okay that way, for the most part, until the familiar voice of Bellatrix cut through it.

"Creative. I'll give you that. Not sure I was even looking on purpose." The witch let out a sigh, fetching a canapé of her own with a shrug. "Not much of a fan of crowds if I'm honest. Think I've been filtering the noise for a good couple of hours by now. Apologies for staring, despite being entirely accidental." At least she'd very much try to keep things polite. - @bxllatrix

[bxllatrix]

Refusing to let the distaste show on her features, Bella's stare is blank, unyielding. She tilts her head, a question on the tip of her tongue. Swallowing it, she lets out a quiet hm of agreement. Despite Emmeline's established reputation and proximity to her brother in law, here was no amount of loyalty the half blood could pledge to excuse her sorry excuse for a bloodline. Bella watches the others movements like she would a lab newt: observant, purposeful.

Of course the witch didn’t like crowds. Who would, sticking out like a feral crup? How she was allowed to join the circle was beyond her, but Bella wasn’t in the business of questioning her Lord’s decisions, asinine as they were. Typical man to put aside your values when it serves your ego.

"You could've hid in the bathroom, I'm sure nobody would've noticed — or cared." She leans against the table, arms crossed. "Better yet, you could leave, still plenty of time."