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[in_the_cracks]

"What necessities do you live by?" There's just enough edge to Telrim's cool tone to hint at her annoyance. As happens more often than she'll admit to her colleagues, the Controller's using the Sign area for personal reasons. She's leaning against the back of an armchair, arms folded. Sitting is for the weak, perhaps. "What facts of life that can't be changed?"

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[darker_black]

Unlike some in his former circle, Regulus does not believe Muggles are contagious or that you can lose your ability to do magic from getting too close to one. Although, admittedly, he had considered it a slight possibility before Mikoto's occasional lessons on genetics.

This means he doesn't pull away out of concern of 'muggle cooties'. Instead, he just hopes her hand doesn't get too close to where the Dark Mark was. Even though it had faded to invisibility, he knew it was still there. He had several theories on just what that meant.

There's a twitch more of a smile at the mention of Mikoto. "No, she'd never say that. But she might say that if I wasn't here she would have missed out on some interesting experiments in comparative magic."

[in_the_cracks]

Her touch lingers for a minute, almost as if to steady him before she withdraws. "Well, I'm sure that's true as well. But I don't think she's always able to understand how much people mean to her. Never mind admitting it."

There's a fondness in the way she says it, but a sort of regret as well.

[darker_black]

"And much of her focus is on finding a cure for her brother," Regulus reminds, "which is as it should be." With all he'd done for his family, Regulus is no hypocrite that would be upset by Mikoto's devotion to hers... Even if her emotional detachment made him feel like a bug under a glass sometimes.

[in_the_cracks]

"Right. Of course it is. But even with Kuja..." She pauses. "I just worry about her sometimes. She's been through a lot, and it's not over yet. But I think it's good that she has you around."

[darker_black]

There's a twitch of a smile at the mention of it not being over. "When is anything really over? Even when we die, someone picks things up and the world goes on..."

"I'm not sure where things on Gaia are going, not yet. And I've no wish to find myself trapped in another situation without knowing exactly what it is. But I am watching, and I'll help her if I can. I owe her at least that much."

[in_the_cracks]

"I appreciate that. It wouldn't be fair to ask you to throw yourself into the problems of another world, especially not so soon. You both deserve someone looking out for you." She gives him a smile. "And really, don't hesitate to call me if I can make myself useful."

Thank goodness for the meaninglessness of time in the Nexus. Even with the situation back home, she doesn't worry about making that offer.

Besides, if things go very badly, it really won't matter how many diplomatic obligations she breaches.

[darker_black]

"Thank you," Regulus says. It's also suspicious, but he makes sure his easy smile and civil tone conceal that he's thinking that. He's not really sure at all what Natasha really wants, but he's sure there's something. Everyone wants something. "I'm not used to having allies I can trust. Things might have been different if..." He sighs. "But, they weren't, and I tell myself I can't dwell on that... even though that's harder to do than it is to say."

[in_the_cracks]

He hides his suspicions well, and Telrim is quite preoccupied with her own concerns. The Controller doesn't suspect a thing.

Nonetheless she gives him an uncertain look and drops her gaze, because Natasha would be sad about that. "I guess it's hard for me to understand what it must have been like for you. I've never really had family, but there've always been people I could count on. I... was luckier than I realised, I suppose."

[darker_black]

"What still bothers me is thinking of the people I wanted to warn. My parents have to still appear loyal if they're to be safe. And if I told them... If they'd known what I was planning, and that I wouldn't be coming back, they would have done anything to prevent me from leaving the house. I would have found myself body-bound, Imperiused, and stuffed in a closet." He can't help a sad smile at the thought.

"My cousin Narcissa had only recently told us she was expecting. Her husband, Lucius Malfoy, is part of the Dark Lord's inner circle. I'm sure Lucius would be furious at some of the things I've learned. I could have gone to him, but the Dark Lord is a Legilimens. He can read minds. It's safer if there's no treachery for him to discover, and I couldn't put Cissy or the baby at risk. When the Dark Lord dies, Lucius will be lucky to escape Azkaban... though I think he'll have the sense to claim he was under Imperius and use a few bribes in the right places."

"Even Sirius. I even sent him a letter, asking him to meet me. I would have told him everything, since the Dark Lord already wanted him dead. He played so many pranks in school, he and his Marauder friends, I thought he might find something I overlooked. I shouldn't have even hoped my older brother would jump in to rescue me, even if that is what Gryffindors are supposed to be good at."

[in_the_cracks]

She can almost taste the hurt in his words, the betrayal of a desperate, youthful hope.

"Perhaps... perhaps he assumed you were still angry with him. Maybe he was afraid to read what you'd say."

[darker_black]

"Or he still didn't want anything to do with 'slimy snakes'," Regulus says bitterly, thinking of how the Marauders would torment Slytherin students... "We hadn't really been that close since my first year of school. The first day, really. He'd been sorted into Gryffindor, and most in that house hate anyone who's been sorted into Slytherin... And it's usually mutual. I'd like to set that old hat on fire... House rivalries did almost as much damage to my family as the Dark Lord did."

"He'll find out how wrong he was when he inherits, if he lives long enough. My parents publicly disowned him, but not legally... they just named me the heir instead. Even my mother couldn't go that far. She was angry, yelled a lot... even blasted him off the family tapestry. But not that. The last time I was home, his room was still just as he'd left it."

"I hope he survives what's left of the war. He has to. There isn't anyone else left to carry on the name. It's not like I'd count, now, since I'll never be able to return."

[in_the_cracks]

She ducks her head at his first remark: there's nothing in Telrim's view of humans that can refute his suspicion.

"What's the point of the house system, anyway?" she wonders aloud. "From what you've said, you're such a small population, and you're pretty isolated from most people. It doesn't seem like you can afford major divisions."

She pauses, then adds, "Are you sure you can't go back? Even if the Dark Lord is dead?"

[darker_black]

"We can't," Regulus says, agreeing about the divisions. "The tradition dates back to the 10th century, when Hogwarts was founded by four of the greatest wizards and witches of the time. Each had different traits they valued the most in their students, and took to dividing them. Salazar Slytherin valued cunning, believing sharp instincts would help his students survive in a time when the rift between our kind and muggles was turning violent. Rowena Ravenclaw chose those of the highest intelligence, interested in knowledge for its own sake. Godric Gryffindor valued courage and bravery. And Helga Hufflepuff valued loyalty, patience, hard work, and a sense of fair play that resulted in her also accepting any students the other three had rejected. And the sorting continues simply because that's the way it's always been."

The rest gets a sigh. "I'll have no way to know when that happens, and showing up too early would be disastrous. The 'alternate dimensions' business seems to confuse the Dark Mark, so I'd actually have to set foot in my own world to see whether it would reappear or completely break. And the moment I do that..." He shakes his head. "There's a tapestry in my family's home. It's very old, and shows our family tree. It updates itself by magic, and," he goes a bit pale as he forces himself to think about certain details, "once I realized it could be a problem, I asked Mikoto to tell me exactly what sort of condition I arrived in. I... would have been 'dead' enough to fool the tapestry, but not if I return. It would correct itself, literally in a heartbeat." He hopes the use of the phrase will let Natasha piece things together without him having to mention any clinical details of his condition when Mikoto had found him. It disturbs him enough to think about how very close he'd come to death, even if that had been part of the plan. "I can't even wait a certain amount of time and then risk checking, because of the uncertain nature of time here."

[in_the_cracks]

"That's a shame. I've always thought traditions are supposed to be about bringing people together. And all those traits are worth fostering, but splitting them apart doesn't seem healthy. I mean, it's not wise to judge people - kids - on one or two traits at the expense of all the rest." She sighs. "I guess that's how you get Slytherins who aren't supposed to be loyal and- uh, Gryffindors who don't use their heads."

Telrim feigns a mildly disturbed look as she follows his hints, then nods in feigned acceptance of his reasoning. "I see. You'd have to send a scout, if anything."

[darker_black]

Regulus nods. "We're sorted at age eleven, and then we have to live with the stereotypes and inter-house rivalries."

"Gryffindors are a bunch of foolish, near-suicidal Quiddich jocks with a tendency to show their supposed bravery - assuming it doesn't really come in a bottle labeled 'firewhiskey' - by bullying Slytherin students who didn't have the sense to form enough allegiances to have adequate backup. And in any altercation, they'll be the ones forgiven and thought the victims, since the Headmaster favors them, and since Slytherins, of course, cannot be trusted."

"Ravenclaw is the house of arrogant know-it-alls, always with their nose in a book. But at least they and the Hufflepuffs are fairly neutral when it comes to the worst of the rivalry. Hufflepuffs are considered naive, weak, and easy to take advantage of, when they're not simply thought of as the 'rejects' that didn't fit anywhere else. And Slytherin..."

"One doesn't make friends in the house of snakes, only allegiances, as those who seek only to further their own ends can't possibly care about anyone but themselves. If there has been a fight and a Slytherin was involved, they probably started it, since of course we're manipulative and can't be trusted. We're treacherous, traitorous, and often evil, expected to end up in Azkaban unless we have the family connections or money to bribe the authorities to turn a blind eye to what horrible monsters we are." This is said with no small amount of sarcasm.

To the last, he simply says, "If anything. I've made certain I don't know the PIN coordinates for my own world, just to remove the temptation. And the portal that delivered me here closed right afterward."

[in_the_cracks]

As she listens, she widens her eyes, letting her seriousness cover the sharp intent with which she analyses his words. This is how his people think. How they choose to set themselves - and one another - apart. And honestly, she doesn't have to pretend that it's an alien way of thought to her.

"That's a cold way to treat people," she says quietly, disapproval giving an edge to her tone. "And I'm not just talking about the Slytherins. I mean, Muggle children find reasons to pick on each other all the time. But at least the stereotypes aren't official."

Hm. Then again, whoever marked Regulus as cunning wasn't wrong. "I suppose it's probably safest," she agrees quietly. You have no idea how much safer. But it's probably best to change the subject to his current home, lest he be too discomfort. "Anyway, I expect you have plenty of other things to keep you busy. Have you seen any of the Black Mages lately?"

[darker_black]

"Yes, and that's what really matters," Regulus says, in regards to it being safer.

"A few times," he says, when asked about the Mages. "It's not so far a trip, after all. Gaia... is a rather small world."

He makes no comment about any other things he might have to keep him busy.

[in_the_cracks]

"All worlds are small once you've learned to fly." Not that she knows too much about that, of course. "How are they all? I keep meaning to visit."

[darker_black]

He does seem to cheer up when the conversation turns to the Mages, especially at the thought of the little ones.

"Still as friendly as ever, though I think the smaller ones are a little taller now. There may be new hatchlings soon, as well. It seems they lay eggs, though I didn't ask too many questions about that."

"They're curious about some of the experiments, as well, not that I can blame them. The Waltzes have been learning magic in yet another world, so they seem to regard that as a perfectly normal source of new spells."