oops where did this rule 63 version of lucius come from

[serpentessa]

Yes, by all means. Go on and act surprised, if that somehow placates you. You've only been contemplating my existence for weeks now. I'm hardly averse to admitting it, even if you aren't.

If the so-called "regular" version of myself won't suffice - and who could blame you, there - then I have no objection to keeping you company. Only for a little while, mind, that is; and this had best somehow be productive. I'm a very important woman, you see, and don't have time to waste.

Comments

From the deepest, darkest caverns of your mind?

[silkandmirrors]

Why not simply ask, "Don't you know who I am?" and save your breath?

proooooobably

[serpentessa]

Simple, to the point, and effective; I'll give you that. But using twenty words in place of one is at times necessary to drive the point home through a thicker skull.

[silkandmirrors]

Or perhaps you're having a day where orating is simply the natural order of things. It's happened before.

[serpentessa]

Why, Narcissa. Are you accusing me of liking the sound of my own voice?

[silkandmirrors]

If the shoe fits, Lucilla...

[The fabulous shoe, which is a surprise to neither of them. And probably no one else, either.

Her name has the hard Ch and long E sound when Narcissa says it - Lucheella, because that's how she likes to say it.]

[serpentessa]

[Any version of her, male or female, is bound to be some kind of fabulous.]

Hmmph. You're lucky I like you.

[Except she says 'like' with an air of meaningful coyness, so.]

[silkandmirrors]

[The very fabric of reality may tear asunder if this were not so.]

Aren't I, though? [Just as coy, but mischief follows - tainted with years-old shared irritation.] However would I have managed on my own without my husband... me, a mere useless third daughter...

[serpentessa]

Any partner, male or female, would be lucky to have you.

And you're well aware of it, too. There are plenty of ways to 'manage' dealing with those who would fail to see otherwise.

[silkandmirrors]

I excel at hiding behind being underrated. It's a rare person who acknowledges that.

[Head tilt.]

But you know how rare you are... in more ways than one, I think.

[serpentessa]

Do you, now? [A silent 'go on' strongly implied.]

[silkandmirrors]

Mm.

[Initially non-comittal, games are fun.

And of course it is. Luciusilla has ever been one to enjoy the stroking of... oh, let's say ego.]

I could list the obvious reasons, of course. [Left arm, case in point.] So instead I'll simply say that I enjoy your tenacity.

[serpentessa]

Tenacity. A good word. You find a way to say the things that others would on occasion insult in me and use it as a compliment.

[Preening a bit under the attention, both physical and otherwise, head canted to one side. Yes, games are fun.]

But there's no reason is there not to be obvious.

[alphaophiuchi]

Weeks? [ most things are easier to deal with than his father having boobs. This is weird. ]

You..have to admit, a bit of surprise ought to be allowed. Just a bit.

[serpentessa]

Why? I'm far more surprised to hear that there was another world in which some counterpart to me was born male, and yet so much remains unchanged.

...Namely that he made it that far in life. Bully for him.

[alphaophiuchi]

If you're allowed surprise, surely surprise is allowed on the other end of things. [ maybe?

[ ...and sorry, Father, but Draco might be stifling amusement. ] You expected him to fall down the stairs as a young child?

[serpentessa]

Perhaps. [Drawled out a bit sourly. Honestly, Draco, don't you know by now she's afforded things that are oft unacceptable in other people?

Though the query about her male counterpart gets a thin smirk.] Oh no, I expected him to thrive of course. Physically speaking. Just that he wouldn't accomplish, or want to accomplish, very much. Suppose it's good to know that my ambition is indeed as much a product of nature as it is nurture.

i could have sworn i sent this, but i didn't, sob

[alphaophiuchi]

[ he doesn't know what to refer to her as in his mind, so now she's getting the epithet of 'Mother 2' in his mind. But suffice to say, Mother 2 is a bit scary.

[ Of course, so's Father. So there's that. ]

Ah. Yes. Right. [ ahem. ] Well, it'd be a waste, wouldn't it? If he didn't have at least a bit of ambition to go with everything else he'd been born with?

omg hdu gasp

[serpentessa]

[Slowly she gives a smile that doesn't seem entirely...right. Too much teeth, a condescending twist at the lips, too cold in the eyes to seem entirely happy.]

Why yes. It would be a waste, wouldn't it?

It would be a waste if there was, say, an heir to the name of Malfoy that seemed intent to squander entirely everything he had been handed. Content to merely laze about in the lap of luxury, aspiring to nothing higher but everything he had already...simply because he had the supreme fortune to have been born with the right set of acoutrements.

[Not bitter or anything, what.]

soooooob

[alphaophiuchi]

[ ouch. Definitely not a woman he wants to fuck with.

[ Nor talk to for very long, because this? This is intimidating. All he can manage is a faint, tight smile. ]

Yes, quite. It would be positively immoral to even think of it.

/pat pat

[serpentessa]

[Somewhere, his father will be bemused to learn there is a version of him that makes him seem less intimidating by comparison.]

Immoral. I like that. Indeed, you seem to have the right of it, don't you, Draco? To understand what is important in life.

/purrs

[alphaophiuchi]

[ Draco will never knock his father again. ]

I certainly do my best, yes. I have the ability to take my time and to best observe what's important in life, after all. And to figure out how best to contribute, as it were.

/scritches

[serpentessa]

That's all we ask of you.

[Well. Hardly. Or rather that the Malfoy idea of what makes a suitable 'contribution' is rather far and above by everyone else's standards.]

So far you have not been a disappointment. I know you make your mother proud. [Eyes lidded and chin lifted, the better to seem aloof as she continues, stiffly:] And myself as well. Thus far.

=w=

[alphaophiuchi]

I...hope so. [ that's all he wants, really: make his parents proud. Though he knows all he has to do is open his mouth and tell her that he's really nothing to be proud of, for a variety of reasons. That would change it all, and the thinly-veiled ire he can tell is there would be all his to deal with. ]

Thus far?

[ there we have it. ]

[savedbypudding]

Oh god.

[serpentessa]

Black. What do you want?