"I won't be a Death Eater." A tapping finger straightened his spoon. "I won't — I can't — bow down to another subjugator, master, whatever. If that's what you want, then I cannot give it to you, I will not bow down to you."
He released a harsh breath, grateful that Marvolo remained silent. "Besides," he began, carefully skirting around the potentially mood-destroying topic. "Mouldy houses, nosy old caretakers and creepy toddlermorts —"
Marvolo blinked, astounded, choked a little, then covered his face and groaned, muttering "Do not remind me."
"—I can handle. But pompous blondes and albino peacocks? Nope. Sorry. You're on your own."
The Dark Lord stared at the imp before him, an amused huff in their bubble of silence
"Really? You would throw away greatness and power at the mere mention of Malfoy's?"
"Well, yes, obviously...It’s called self-preservation."
~Stranger Things Did Happen by SelectiveSilence