regulus-blacked:
*
It wasn’t the first time Regulus had been able to introduce that particular expression to someone’s face. It always seemed to arise in those with ideas on the venom of snakes with little practical understanding of what that venom would mean when such venom was directed at them. “I cannot be the first person to have rebuked you,” Regulus bit, rolling their eyes at the furrow in Xenophilius’ brow. “You look like someone stole your krup, for Merlin’s sake.”
Truth. Now there was an idea. Almost certainly a lie, as such things tended to be before long. It was almost certainly some ploy, some strange attempt to gain his sympathies and lower his guard around this strange wix. It wasn’t going to work, of course, not when Regulus had already caught on to the game, but perhaps it would be interesting to see how it played out. “If it comes down to hope and the loss of an eye,” Regulus remarked, voice cold and harsh, “I would almost certainly prefer the eye. That at least is a concrete reality, which is far more predictable than something as ephemeral as hope.”
It was a strange message. Largely useless.
“I do…” The offer was strange fitting in Regulus’ mouth, even before it was made reality by hitting the air. This was almost certainly a bad idea, but Regulus… Well, REgulus found being around Xenophilius… Not intolerable. “I do speak French. If you… Perhaps were in need of my services translating your publication for African, Canadian, and other European regions, I… Could perhaps be persuaded to ensure more will have heard of it?”
@regulus-blacked
“Not the first, no,” they say, smile turning a little less bright. “And certainly not the most cruel.” Xenophilius had no need to elaborate. In fact, they did not want to. They had heard quite enough about tragedy and being unable to connect to people. How, when push came to shove, they were so odd they were nigh unlovable.
Xeno had heard it all and, yet, still dared to care - about things, wix - because that was who they were. So, yes, Regulus Black may have not been the first to rebuke them, certainly would not be the last to do so, but they were not entirely invulnerable to it.
“Hope is only as unfathomable as the person who imagines it,” Xeno retorts, then waves it away. They were talking in circles, and there was no reason to keep doing so. It was clear, for the time being, that Regulus would not be argued with. Of course, that did not mean Xeno would not try again, merely that they were satisfied, for now.
The offer was not one they expected, when Regulus opened his mouth. Xenophilius snapped their’s shut, perplexed, mulling over the offer in abstract confusion before slowly nodding their head. “Yes,” they finally say, “Yes, I would like that. I would like that very much. It would be quite helpful.” And, then, they grin, and it is warm and calm and, perhaps, this conversation had not been so meandering as they had thought, after all.
