dangling by a string, rosalie/faith!

KIDS WITH GUNS YOU BETTER RUN Roxanne had just completed packing her trunk for the fourth time. Each time prior to the fourth she had looked in, discovered a more efficient and symmetrical way she could have situated her items, and took them out only to place them back in. It was both humorous and disturbing for one to see just how compulsively she needed her belongings to be organized. One glimpse at her room could tell someone that she needed everything to be just so. The books on her shelves were organized both by size and alphabetically. This had only been accomplished by arranging each shelf from the beginning to end of the alphabet because when she attempted to do the whole shelf that way, the sizes of books were mismatched. She could only manage looking at it for three minutes and twenty seconds before she furiously began rearranging. Her clothes were hung neatly in her closet, first organized by colors in the appropriate order in accordance to their positions in the spectrum of light, and then further categorized by the particular style of each item. One could also take a glimpse inside her closet and realize another one of her peculiarities: hoarding. There were still robes that she'd held onto from the age of four, ones which certainly did not fit or serve any purpose other than to take up space. Each item that came into her possession was linked with a memory, some sort of sentimental value which she had a difficult time disposing of. It was an odd trait for a girl like her, one who constantly chose to live in the future rather than the past, but a fear of forgetting consumed her when she had to get rid of objects, feeling as though getting rid of them would erase the memory from her mind. It was downright irrational when one thought about it and Roxanne was fully aware of this. But merely because she knew her thought pattern was illogical did not mean that she had found a way to control it. The upper shelf of her closet is lined with boxes and boxes, each labeled with a month and year, of the possessions she no longer needed but couldn't find the nerve to throw away. Bending over the trunk, she peered inside and finally was pleased with the organization of her belongings. Nothing would be damaged on the trip to school, which was key, the two sides were symmetrically balanced, and she had managed to utilize the entire space. Beaming, she stood up and walked over to her desk, grabbing her leather-bound notebook that was essential to her being. Everything was in that book. She had gotten her first at the age of five and began writing in it obsessively. Each year, her parents give her another for her birthday, one that is exactly like her first. Flipping through the pages, she saw the numerous lists she had created. They could be as trivial as a wish-list for books she's seen at Flourish & Blotts to as serious as her potential careers with pros and cons listed for each of them. It was sheer luck that she caught sight of a page labeled with August 31st - 2:00 PM. Rosalie will be coming for a visit. How had she completely forgotten the woman was going to come here? She had fretted about it upon first hearing the news, which had been earlier that month, but somehow it had slipped between the cracks and she had forgotten all about it. Scowling at the page, she slammed the book shut and set it on her bed, to ensure she wouldn't forget to bring that with her the following day. A glance at the clock on the wall informed her that she had only an hour to prepare for Rosalie's arrival. After stripping off her clothes, she jumped into the shower. The scalding hot water rolled down her as she began contemplating how the afternoon would unfold. She had known Rosalie for as long as she could remember, and even before that according to her parents, and there was something very unsettling about her demeanor. Roxanne had never been able to put a finger on what the specific reason behind it all was but even the daftest person in the world could look at the woman and see that something was off; that something was unhinged in that head of hers. It wasn't that Roxanne disliked Rose, not in the slightest. She'd known the woman long enough to learn to be comfortable around her, to learn when and what to say, to even learning some of the triggers that might send her off into one of her more formidable moods. While she would have loved to pretend that the afternoon would be spent drinking tea and reminiscing about childhood memories, she had a sinking feeling that would not be the case. Ever since she had turned seventeen, her parents had been dropping subtle hints whenever she began speaking of her potential plans for the future. They would mention the Death Eaters randomly, the upcoming war and how they felt everyone would eventually need to solidly choose a side, and other little tidbits that always seemed to pop up whenever Roxanne mentioned plans after Hogwarts. Rosalie was a Death Eater and someone whom Roxy respected, another strong and intelligent woman. It seemed only appropriate that she would be the one who attempted to break the ice and really talk about the prospect of becoming one of them. A shiver shot through her spine at the thought and she gave an involuntary shudder. Though she held the beliefs of Pureblood Supremacy, and to a good extent at that, fighting was certainly not on her agenda. Physical violence was never to be the first resort to any issue and it seemed to be the only resort for the Death Eaters. They also held the most extreme views of Supremacy while Roxanne herself fell somewhere in between. Stepping out of the shower, she grabbed some clothes and put them on, trying her best to look presentable. She was only able to clear her mind from anxiety for only a moment as she brushed her hair with care. Personally, she would have rather had someone else talk to her about this. She had no desire to become a Death Eater but telling that to Rosalie Yaxley surely wouldn't end well. But her fear of the woman wouldn't change the course of her future, she refused to let someone else have that kind of control. But what happened when a Pureblood turned down the Dark Lord? Were they immediately labeled as a Blood Traitor and marked as an enemy? Surely that couldn't be the case. There were wives and mothers out there who would be barred from joining the ranks, right? Granted, she fit into neither of those categories but she wasn't going to let herself get stressed about it just yet. Maybe she was completely overreacting. Maybe that wasn't why Rosalie was coming over at all. Maybe...just maybe. She headed downstairs to the main room which had a clear view of the front door. Sliding down into one of the leather seats, she picked up the nearest book, which turned out to be a historical account of one of the Goblin Wars, and began reading. The words were blurring together, she found herself reading the same sentence over and over without comprehending what was being said. Her nerves were on fire, her heart rate up, and her mind was ticking through the possibilities and how she could best counteract them. It wasn't long before she heard the front door swing open and footsteps walking into the room she was currently occupying. Looking up, she gave a cordial smile and placed the book where it had been previously, "Hey Rosalie," she greeted. Looking back down where she had placed the book, she noticed it was nearly two centimeters away from where it had been originally, so she moved it slightly to the left. Perfect. "How's it going?" she asked, hiding her nervousness remarkably well considering the situation. word count: 1358. place: the vane household tagged: people, people and people . template: by lewis.@caution2.0 notes:i'm on a rambling kick today. xD

THE CITY LOOKS SO PRETTYDO YA WANNA BURN IT WITH ME?› My body doused in ash ‹Rosalie was tittering with excitement. Today was the day she was going to recruit another follower. It was such a rush knowing that she could help further the cause, that she could help continue the legacy. She hoped the Dark Lord would be proud of her and how could he not? She did everything he requested her to do, she was a Yaxley of course, she did what she was told and she didn’t ask questions. Anyone that ever had and ever would bear the name of Yaxley was a loyal sort. Sure it had taken her a while to settle down, sure it had taken a while to make a decision but really she always knew she wanted to serve the Dark Lord Taming was just one of those things she needed to get out of her system. She came back with a new skill and a killer scar on her back, could she be any cooler? She didn’t think so. Today she was wearing forest green robes, cashmere to be exact. Yes they were expensive and yes they felt excellent against her skin. She felt there was no shame in looking good, especially if you had to money to spend on the things that made her look good. She liked to think that she was good at convincing people to do what she asked of them. Maybe it was just the look she gave them, maybe it was because she was who she was. Maybe it was because she tended to do the convincing with her wand in hand. She didn’t know, all the mattered was that she got results and the results were all that mattered to her. Running her tongue over her bottom row of teeth, Rosalie cleared her throat. Shit, she was bored sitting around here waiting for the right time to leave for the Vane household. Her parents were out doing, Merlin only knows what, and Tippy was doing some cleaning. She didn’t really feel like having any fun with the house elf, that wasn’t interesting to her right now. Standing in her room, she looked at her reflection This was a regular occurance for her, as she thought she was one of the best looking people on this planet. Stroking her cheek with her finger tips she stared endlessly at herself. She was Narcissus staring at his reflection in the pond. She had no issues with drowning in the pool if it meant she could be with herself for eternity. That was ideal. Narrowing her eyes she looked down at a slim, gold watch on her wrist. It was time. Adjusting the neck of her robes around her she turned on her heel and made her way outside of the manor through a side door that lead to a small courtyard. This was where they apparated and dissaparated it was just convenient. With her wand above her head, she murmured the spell and she was gone with a crack. Rosalie appeared just two blocks down from the Vane residence. It wasn’t a long walk and she would have time to gather herself. Apparation was convenient but Merlin did it do a number on her hair. Stowing her wand in the pocket of her robes, she huffed as she ran her hands over hair. She had spent nearly an hour brushing it today, because she had that kind of time. What was she supposed to do? She didn’t have a job and all she had to do was sit around, hunt muggles, blood traitors, mudbloods and the like. Life was hard for someone as perfect as she was. When she was satisfied that her hair was back in its perfectly smoothed state, she walked for the front of the house. She knew Mr. Vane from the inner circle. He was a good servant of the Dark Lord and she could always respect that in a person. This was promising in terms of Roxanne, perhaps the girl wouldn’t need much convincing. Really though, she wouldn’t lead a very long life if she chose to refuse. Rosalie liked Roxanne but if the girl snubbed her, well, she would rue the day she did so. She would rue it! With her lips pursed she came to the front door of the home. This was going to work, Roxanne was going to fall down at her feet and beg her to teach her the ways of the Dark Lord. Rose could make Roxanne her protégé and it would be great, the world would be right. The door was opened and without a word she was lead into a room just off the side. The reception room, she expected as much The place was nice, and insanely clean, she could only assume that it was the work of an exceptionally trained house elf. Those creatures were so delightful to have around for the very reason that they were so incredibly obedient to the witches and wizards they served. With her nose pointed to the sky she came into the room to see Roxanne sitting in one of the leather chairs. Nodding at her greeting she smoothed at her robes. “Roxanne. Things are never better.” Of course. Looking at the other chairs around the room she turned back to Roxanne and gave a bit of an annoyed look. “Well….aren’t you going to ask me to sit?” it was only proper of course. She would have thought the girl was brought up better. made by cupcakesss of Caution 2.0

KIDS WITH GUNS YOU BETTER RUN Roxanne surveyed the woman in front of her. The beauty she possesed was similar to that of a siren. She was phenomenally beautiful with angular features that were perfectly symmetrical, but there was a sense of danger the pertruded past her stunning looks. They called one to her, like a moth to a flame, and then you'd find yourself in her trap withoutu realizing that she had been luring you in all along. Thankfully, Roxanne was not quite as susceptible as most given that she was a completely heterosexual female. The poor blokes didn't stand a chance. When one was born beautiful, it was only natural to use the blessing for one's own will, to manipulate others into doing what they wanted. Everyone did this to some extent, not through beauty necessarily but other qualities such as power, intelligence, bravery, or any other characteristics which demanded some sort of respect. Roxanne frequently employed her sharp tongue and quick mind to make people follow her, to gain control over situations. For a control freak such as herself, she learned at a very young age what she needed to do in order to make sure she was always holding the reins. Which is exactly why she needed to make sure this woman didn't make any decisions for her. Roxanne was many things, even a coward at times, but this would have too large of an impact on her life to let it be a decision made out of fear. What was the worst thing Rosalie could do to her anyways? No, it was probably best not to think about the possibilities. For fuck's sake, could she not just pop a squat on one of the chairs without an invitation? They'd known each other since Roxy had been in diapers, was there really the constant need for such formality? Of course, of course there was. Despite the relative closeness in age and longevity of their relationship, she was to treat her as though she was a formal acquaintance at best whom she must constantly try to impress. This was they way she had been raised, and while they were easy enough manners to pull out when necessary, she found that she didn't use them as much as most would deem necessary. Around her parents' friends, of course she would be on her best behavior but someone so close to her own age? It just didn't come as naturally. She actually had to work at it. She gave a short laugh followed by a bright, artificial smile, "Where are my manners? Please, take a seat." She gestured towards the open chairs, letting her have the one of her choosing if she could manage doing that without permission. "Forgive me, I was distracted by your robes! Those are stunning, there's aboslutely no way you got them from anywhere around here," she commented, the flattery spouting out effortlessly. Though that may be partially due to the fact that her robes were obviously well-made and expensive. "Cashmere?" she asked, though she was already 99.9% certain she was correct. But it was start off on the right foot, which seemed like it was always flattery when it came to Rosalie, especially if things would eventually take a turn for the worse. She mentally began making a list of things she could compliment the woman on, list-making being one of her compulsive habits. Her hair shone as though it had been brushed repeatedly before her arrival, it was apparent that she had been doing some grooming. But that came as no surprise. She'd already complimented the quality of her robes but she had yet comment on how the forest green complimented her skin tone and made her eyes pop. The dainty gold watch on her wrist was yet another token exploiting her wealth and love for beautiful belongings. Yes, she could come up with compliments that sounded genuine enough to please her but she didn't want to be a complete brown-noser. Not only would Rosalie catch on quickly but she wasn't sure she had it in her. If she rejected Rosalie, did it really matter if she'd made a good impression when she'd first arrived at the house? She'd be fucking pissed no matter how many times she told her she was the fairest in the land. She might as well keep some of her dignity in tact. Her eyes flickered to the floor momentarily, a black smudge smaller than a Knut was directly beside her chair. She looked away, trying her best not to be bothered by it, not to give it any attention until Rosalie left.. Liam had been training her for years to try and let things go, not to obsess over every imperfection. She willed herself to look at the woman, but then the twitching in her left pinky started just as she was about to inquire Rosalie about why she had paid a visit that afternoon, and she knew she was a goner. Licking her lips, she held her index finger up, "Excuse me, just one moment." Walking quickly, she headed to the kitchen to get the cleaning supplies. Many asked her why she wouldn't simply call a house elf to do the job for her but they just didn't understand. They didn't clean it in a counterclockwise motion but just hacked away at it, leaving bits and pieces behind which she felt she was the only one that was able to see. They just couldn't do it right. But she could hardly allow herself to be seen on her knees, scrubbing the floor in front of Rosalie. That would not be deemed appropriate for a woman of her standing. She was just going to have to deal with it, possibly changing seats would help if she could position herself to where she couldn't see it directly. Grabbing two small glasses, she poured out some bourbon, just so she had an excuse for going to the kitchen in the first place other than a mental breakdown from a spot on the ground. She walked back into the room with confidence, placing one glass on the table beside Rosalie and then sitting in a different chair, where she would have to turn nearly 70 degrees clockwise to see it. Silently she thanked Liam for making her deal with this sort of thing, though his antics were much worse than a stupid spot on the floor. She looked at Rosalie with a smile, "Figured I might as well really make you feel comfortable." She raised her glass and took a sip. It was disgusting but she did her best not to make a face. "So, Rosalie," she paused, her eyes staring at the beautiful woman, "To what do I owe this pleasure?" Her tone indicated that she was nearly certain about what was going to be discussed but she wasn't about to bring up the conversation matter herself. No chance in Hell. word count: 1154. place: the vane household tagged: faith/rosalie . template: by lewis.@caution2.0 notes:roxanne is a freak.

THE CITY LOOKS SO PRETTYDO YA WANNA BURN IT WITH ME?› My body doused in ash ‹Rosalie could think of numerous other places she would rather be in this moment. For instance, she would adore to be back at her place and staring at herself as was a common occurrence with her. This wasn’t a total bust though, at least this visit had a purpose. She had known Roxanne for the better part of her lifetime and she was a tolerable girl. Rose didn’t feel the need to cut her up into little piece the way she did with mostly everyone else, so that was good. The point was that Rose didn’t really want to spend her time with anyone more than she did with herself. She was pretty much convinced that the world revolved around her. The people that denied this simple fact of life were simply delusional. She could straighten then out eventually. She couldn’t have people being subordinate to her, it simply would not do. Raising her nose in a satisfied fashion at the invitation to sit, she took a spot in one of the finely made chairs. She was used to fine things in opulent rooms of gigantic homes, it was the only acceptable way to live in this disgusting little world. Some people might scoff at following the antiquated ways of etiquette, but Rose believed as she was taught. Manners reflected on the family, they reflected on the name, they reflected on the blood. Someone who acted out of line, was besmirching the name of wizard and that was simply unacceptable, Rosalie would not stand for anything less than perfect when it came to polite society. A long time ago, Rosalie was taught all of this by her parents who were obsessed with being proper and following the rules of polite society. It was the Yaxley way to follow the rules and do everything one was asked. The Yaxleys were never ashamed of their blood status, never questioned, they never wavered. Sure this made them followers, this made them sheep, but that was who they were and they stuck to their name, to their pride to the very last. Of course Roxanne was admiring her robes! They were gorgeous after all. Smoothing her sleeve she smiled smugly. “Of course they are cashmere.” The look said, ‘You had to ask? Really?’ She was just a complete brat wasn’t she? Not that she cared how she came across. Positioning herself on the edge of the seat she sat pole straight, her legs crossed at her ankles. A lady never wanted to look too at ease, too comfortable, people would get the wrong idea. This position let everyone know that they were attentive, ready for anything. Rosalie looked over at her companion in another chair. She was a beautiful girl, with the look of fine breeding. Beautiful parents, beautiful offspring, pure blood. It was a lucky thing most of the families tended to spit out fine looking children. She always cringed when some children came out with snare lips or gigantic ears. Finding a person to marry and have children with wasn’t always about the blood, it was about who could give you the best looking children. Blood status of course was a strong second, there was no sense in marrying someone attractive if they couldn’t boast being completely pure. Rosalie could see a bit of Roxanne’s father in her, she was sure it was the eyes, yes the eyes and those cheekbones. Yes, now she could see it. Her father was a handsome man in his own right but she always admired him more for his loyalty to the Dark Lord more than anything. Furrowing her brow she watched as Roxanne got up and left the room. Even if she politely excused herself, Rose was still a bit put off that she just left the room all of the sudden. Biting down on her tongue out of irritation, she watched the girl exit the room. Immediately she looked around the room. It was a fine place, she knew the Vanes had money, but then again what kind of pureblood family would they be if they didn’t come from money? Only the good witches and wizards were proud enough to keep their fortunes in tact. Old money helped too, money passed down from generation to generation tended to accumulate over time. Spreading her fingers on her right hand, she examined her nails. After taking a quick gander she looked at the others, perfect, as usual. Rosalie looked up with a blank expression when Roxanne came back into the room with two drinks in her hands. Well this was more like it. Taking the glass in hand she nodded stiffly in thanks and took a sip from her glass. She loved that feeling, the feeling of the liquor burning its way down her throat. When Roxanne sat back down and spoke, Rosalie finally let a smile creep onto her features, a satisfied smile. Finally they could get down to business. Holding the glass in one hand she took in a sharp intake of air. “Well, Roxanne. I think it is high time you and I have a discussion regarding the matter of your recruitment into the ranks of the, cause. She figured she would just come out with it, there was no dancing around with this, she wanted to tell her what she expected out of a girl her age and her status. She had to know what she meant, her father was a loyal servant after all, it wouldn’t be the first time hearing of this. made by cupcakesss of Caution 2.0

KIDS WITH GUNS YOU BETTER RUN The look Rosalie gave her when she'd inquired about the material of her robes was condescending. If a peer had given her that look, she would have hexed their nose clean off their face. But Rose was far from a peer, and far from sane, so Roxanne merely nodded her head, allowing the older woman to feel superior because she was more informed about clothing. It mattered little to her. She, like the woman in front of her, also enjoyed finer things. However, she didn't yield the same obsession with them. This may also be due to the fact that Roxanne valued everything she owned, no matter what their monetary worth may be. This trait could be seen by anyone who glanced inside of her room. It was a tendency which Liam always made sure to tease her about but he did that with most of her quirks. The satisfied smile on Rosalie's face made Roxanne recoil on the inside. She didn't let it flicker across her features, no sense of fear would be seen on her face. No sir, not even if it consumed her by the end of it all. Of course that's what she'd ventured to the Vane house to talk about. She had known it but at the same time had found herself gripping onto a small and childish hope that it was about anything else. Seriously, any other topic would have been a more desirable one. If only she hadn't forgotten about this little meeting until an hour before. Then she could have planned out her arguments, made some lists, the usual things she did before dealing with a serious conversation. Alas, she was facing Rosalie empty-handed but she would not allow the small fact to deter her from getting away from the conversation unscathed. That was a daunting prospect, however. Roxanne, while possibly able to fend for herself in the battle of words, was going to be no match for Rosalie if things took a turn for the worst, which she doubted it would. But the idea of a physical confrontation between the two was enough to set her already frazzled nerves on fire once more. The woman was unhinged, a bolt or two missing, and that alone would give her the upper hand on top of everything else. "I had an inkling that was the reason behind your visit," she stated simply, her voice even and tone formal. With her left hand, she straightened out her robes, pressing them against her legs. The friction between her hand and leg felt like a burn against her already hot skin set on fire by the nervous wreck inside of her. A prim and proper smile played on her lips, "I'm assuming that you aren't asking me to dismiss my final year at Hogwarts in lieu of joining the ranks of the cause?" She knew the answer to this, or she was pretty sure. Roxanne would finish her seventh year, she'd be damned if she didn't. There was no way in Hell she had worked this diligently, striving to be at the top of her class, for nothing. Besides, she didn't want to join the Death Eaters, but even if she somehow found herself among their ranks, the war would not last forever. And by the end of it, she would not be considered for any high ranking profession as she hadn't finished her schooling. No, there was simply no way she would allow for that to happen. Her father would stand behind her, she was certain of it. But why was she getting so worked up about it already? Nothing had been said about it, nothing as of yet. Without fully waiting for a response, she added, "I'm not certain that I would be all that beneficial to the cause, not on the battlefield at least." While handy with a wand and intelligent, she lacked the killer instinct. She was unsure that she would ever be able to kill, no matter what the reason. But she felt as though telling Rosalie this would not help her argument, it seemed as though it could easily be fixed, at least in Rose's eyes. Did all Death Eaters have to fight? Or could she be one well out of harm's way? "I'm not quite certain how it all works, if being a Death Eater strictly means that one must engage in battle or if there are other means of aiding the cause," she began. "If the latter is a possibility, then I would be much more open to considering this opportunity." Opportunity? Yeah right. More like death wish. "Perhaps it would be propitious for the cause if there were people positioned at the Ministry, alongside those who would eventually find themselves in physical battle. It seems to me that it would not behoove the cause to have all of its followers constantly risking their lives. Surely there is need for individuals that work behind the scenes and keep things running smoothly on a political front," she reasoned. Hopefully her cowardice wasn't shining through as much as her logic. There was also the chance that she was arguing for nothing, perhaps there already were members like that. But she felt it was best to cover her bases from the get-go rather than wait for another opportune moment. She sat silently, hoping she had managed to do something that worked in her favor and watched the expression on Rosalie's face. Had she helped herself? Or merely dug an even deeper grave? There was no telling with Rosalie, or really with any Death Eater that Roxanne had come into contact with. She wished desperately that she could have a moment to collect her thoughts, to collect herself but knew that this was a lofty dream. She was stuck in this room until the end. Lifting her drink to her lips, she took a sip, feeling the burning sensation travel down her esophagus. word count: 991. place: the vane household tagged: faith/rosalie . template: by lewis.@caution2.0 notes:roxanne is a freak.

THE CITY LOOKS SO PRETTYDO YA WANNA BURN IT WITH ME?› My body doused in ash ‹Rosalie Yaxley was no stranger to being denied something. This didn’t mean she was alright with the idea. This didn’t mean she was ever going to used to the idea of not getting what she wanted. She just was not liking the words that were coming out of good little Roxanne’s pretty mouth. Taking another sip from her drink, Rosalie fought not to drain the entire glass. The nerve of this girl to think that she could just look here in the eyes and talk about what she would assume the Dark Lord would ask of her. She was making stipulations? She didn’t give a dam what this girl wanted to do, she would do what her superiors told her to do. It wasn’t about individuality, it was about the group. Under the Dark Lord, they were all one. Rosalie didn’t want to be polite anymore, she wanted to get out her wand and start yelling curses. She could feel the blood in her veins start to course. She would maintain the pristine, perfect exterior, but inside she was fuming. She was in someone else’s home, she couldn’t just go on a rampage. It was different when she was in her own parlor. She just couldn’t fathom what must be running through Roxanne’s head for her to think that she could speak to her thus, making suggestions about how the show should be ran. Her grip around the glass hardened and she looked at the blonde sitting across from her. In any other instance she wouldn’t mind teaching the bitch a lesson, but that wasn’t the best course of action, she had to be smart about this. If asking nicely wasn’t cutting it than she would have to find another way to convince her to join, perhaps she would have to elicit a little fear out of her. Fear was a powerful tool, but she hadn’t really wanted to use it on dear Roxy, she wanted to play nice, she was an old family friend after all. This was difficult because she respected Vane senior, he was such an outstanding man, she didn’t want to disappoint him by maiming his daughter but she was starting to test her thin patience. She didn’t have a lot of time to spending being nice to people. It was just so much fun to be horrible to everyone around you. Fixing herself with a nonchalant, slightly annoyed expression, she breathed in sharply. “I wouldn’t dream of it.” She spoke with a touch of sarcasm, oh no she couldn’t finish school! The end of the world! Rosalie would’ve given her right tit to join before she graduated. Well that was a lie, she hadn’t really wanted to join that bad when she graduated, she had wanted to get as far from Scotland as possible. Oh yeah. She didn’t want to sit here and listen to ways the cause could be better by putting people here or there. They already functioned in the best way possible, the Dark Lord told them what to do and they did their bidding that was the end of it, there was no compromising, meeting him half way. If you were too weak to handle it, you were dismissed, or better yet, killed. Delicious. Roxanne was a smart girl. Maybe after she graduated she would have a clearer mind on the matter. Right now she seemed that she wanted to keep on the sidelines. This would be a harder sell than she thought. “Roxanne, I might wonder if you would consider your father in this. You wouldn’t want to disappoint him after all.” The thought of disappointing parents was abhorrent to her. She shivered at the thought. She would have to learn that one did come into their ranks spewing orders about what they would be doing, none of them were giving orders, it was the Dark Lord, he was the be all end all. He was to be trusted with decisions because he was the one they served. It was becoming apparent now that she was getting quite put off by this conversation. Her eyes were dark, her head was bent just so that she was looking out from under her brow. She was biting down on her lower, which she always did when she was significantly miffed. “One should always be ready to give their life for the Dark Lord, it is expected. Together we stand, together we fall.” That wasn’t really true either, if one died, that was tough shit. Rosalie would die for the cause. If her death meant the eradication of all unpure blood in the world, she would die a thousand deaths.She wasn’t going to jump out of her seat or anything in fact she was going to remain seated and continue to sip from her glass. It was damn good stuff. Hell, she would even smile for appearances. Because after all this was just a civil conversation between friends yes? made by cupcakesss of Caution 2.0

KIDS WITH GUNS YOU BETTER RUN The lack of expression on Rosalie's face was honestly more concerning than if she had been showing irritation or annoyance. At least then she would have known what was coming and how best to retaliate, or rather, defend herself. The placid look on the woman's face was reminiscent of the old cliche, 'the calm before the storm.' Roxanne knew her well enough to know there was indubitably something brewing beneath the calm exterior, something wicked. There was a small childish hope she harbored that the woman was actually listening, taking into account what she was placing on the table, but that was largely outvoted by the rest of her which knew there were many obstacles she would have to overcome to win this argument, if winning was even a possibility at this point. What would winning be? Would it be having the role which she had suggested, to get out of the whole Death Eater thing altogether, or to simply leave this conversation unscathed? She wasn't even sure what the idea outcome would be. This was a conversation topic she was typically skilled at avoiding, but then again these had been with peers or her parents, whom thankfully didn't press the matter all too much. Apparently they let old family friends do their dirty work. It wasn't all that surprising, really. Why wouldn't they delegate the responsibility to someone who actually struck some kind of fear in their daughter? While her father was a powerful man, he wasn't violent, not towards her, she was his gem; a father's girl straight to the core. Her mother, she had no argument as she hadn't joined the ranks herself and therefore would be a terrible person to use for the task at hand. What, honestly, was the point of getting women to join the ranks? Unless they were batshit crazy like the woman in front of her, or the likes of Bellatrix Black, then what good could they honestly do for the cause? Women were the gentler sex, Roxanne was not ashamed to admit that. It wasn't that she believed she would be overcome by maternal instinct and menstrual hormones on the battlefield, but emotions would certainly be running high - a sensation she was unfamiliar with for the most part. She and Liam had broached the conversation casually in the past but had never really sat down and talked about it seriously. Yes, his opinion and plans were going to be influential in making her own decisions. The two had been tied to one another so intricately and for such a long time that it was impossible for her to see a future that did not have him as a central figure. But to what degree? Did that mean if he joined the cause, it was inevitable that she would soon follow in his footsteps? Would he believe that they should split paths, do different things? The future was not something they often talked about, not in specifics anyways, but often through lofty and pretentious talks of poetry, idealistic futures they saw their favorite characters have, and other such things which didn't really have a firm footstep into their own realistic futures. What would it mean for her friendship with Alexis? If she joined the ranks, that would surely be the end of their relationship with one another. Could she truly sacrifice that? She didn't think she'd be able to, she needed her. Roxanne was astute enough, or perhaps just sarcastic enough, to pick up on the sarcasm in Rosalie's response. This mattered little to her, the tone in which it was said, as long as she got to finish her last year at Hogwarts. In doing so she would be able to be fully educated, be out of the Death Eaters' grasps for another school year, and figure out what the fuck she was going to do once she got out. It was time and that was something she needed. "Perfect," she replied sweetly, taking another sip from her glass. She wanted to down the whole thing right then and there out of nerves but didn't because for one it wasn't very lady-like, and two she didn't need to be stunting her mental processes at this point in the game. She needed to be on her toes. The mention of her father made Roxanne's spine go rigid momentarily. Of course she had thought about her father. Maybe not in this particular argument but overall whenever she had toyed around with the idea. Obviously, it was something he thought might interest or help his daughter out otherwise this conversation would not be happening. But had it been his choice? Or had he been put in a bad situation, much like she was now? "Yes," she began calmly, "I have taken my father into consideration when thinking about this particular subject." She couldn't be completely open with this woman. She couldn't ask if this was her father's decision or someone else had made it for him. "I'm still questioning whether it would be the appropriate avenue for his only daughter. I would have thought my payment for the cause was to produce more Pureblood heirs, more people to carry on our legacy. This has always been what my father has told me was my main duty as a woman. I feel that being pregnant may hinder my abilities with a wand," she added, fighting back a smile successfully. That was all bullshit. Not the part about her dad telling her that or that this was what was expected from a woman of her position, but that she thought this was her one calling, the one reason she was there. She would more than likely have children one day but that would not be her only legacy she left behind. It all seemed to happen in the blink of an eye, but the menacing look that Roxanne was all too familiar with was no present on the woman's face and in her body language. She was pissed and it was all Roxy's fault. She had to stick to her guns now though, she couldn't just retreat. She snorted at her comment, which was not a smart move but it had happened before she could repress it. "Together we fall?" she asked, an eyebrow raised suspiciously. "I don't think that's quite the sentiment I would use but then again, that's just my point of view from the outside," she added, hoping that she hadn't just buried herself in a whole that was conveniently six feet deep. "I find that most intriguing however. Knowing that you lot have that mentality certainly makes the whole prospect all the more tempting," she continued, toying around, acting as though she had actually believed the whole 'together we fall' nonsense. She was playing with fire, that she knew, but for some reason she found herself incapable of stopping. Besides, she had an innocent expression, her tone was sweet and curious, it was only the sarcasm and duality that stirred underneath it all, hidden in-between the lines. word count: 1177. place: the vane household tagged: faith/rosalie. template: by lewis.@caution2.0 notes:i'm on a rambling kick today. xD