(no subject)

[seriousmarauder]

[A weaponless Sirius Black is pacing around the ballroom, clearly distraught, and oblivious to the dangers that lurk there. He seems to be having a rather disjointed conversation with someone, but nobody else is there.]

I'll keep looking, James. I'll find Harry, I promise. He's not gone, he didn't...he's got to be here somewhere. I won't let you down again, I -- Lily? [he goes even paler than usual, as he glances in another direction]

I know it was my fault, Lily, and I'm sorry, please...don't go! Not now, not when I just -- Stupefy! [the spell is out of his mouth before he realises he doesn't have a wand anymore, but it doesn't seem to matter. The Wallmaster he saw is knocked out cold, and Sirius stares at it rather blankly.]

How in the name of Merlin did I manage that?


((ooc: More hallucinations, hooray! Sirius has also discovered his increased wandless magic ability~.))

Comments

[borntostand.livejournal.com]

[Kate, meanwhile, has enough weapons on her for both of them; she's drawn one of her guns with lightning speed before Sirius takes out the Wallmaster with merely a word]

...No idea, but it looks handy. [and then, with a strained smile and a gentle tone] You're seeing them too, huh?

[seriousmarauder]

[hesitantly] Seeing what, exactly?

[borntostand.livejournal.com]

[quietly] People who aren't really there. ...Who haven't been there in a long time.

[seriousmarauder]

I thought they were ghosts, or maybe I was...I don't know. Merlin, I don't know anymore... [he's so tired of not knowing what's real and what isn't, of not knowing his own mind, of being haunted by his past, even though he deserves it -- he's crying, and he doesn't even realise it. He still looks like he just walked out of Azkaban, too, which probably makes it all worse.]

James...

[borntostand.livejournal.com]

[she dealt with grief a lot, as an officer, but she was never the best at it and it's been so long; still, she lowers the gun and steps closer]

[seriousmarauder]

[Sirius sinks to the ground, hiding his face in his hands. Having a complete stranger see him in such an emotional mess is beyond embarrassing, but...it's almost better that way. His voice is hoarse when he speaks again.] They were my best friends. And their deaths...it was my fault. They told me it was my fault...

[borntostand.livejournal.com]

[Kate holsters her guns, and after a moment she kneels down beside him] That seem like the kind of thing they'd say?

[seriousmarauder]

I...I don't think so, but they ought to. It's the truth.

[borntostand.livejournal.com]

What happened?

[seriousmarauder]

[he glances over her shoulder, quietly staring at nothing for a moment] I was their Secret Keeper during the war. Nobody knew where they were hidden except for me...but I switched, at the last minute. Thought it was a perfect bluff, Voldemort would never go for a weakling like Peter, but he was already a spy. A traitor. Nobody else knew, and he got away with framing me for their deaths. For killing thirteen wizards with a single curse, including himself. Went to Azkaban without a trial. It wasn't me, I'm innocent...but it's my fault for making the switch in the first place.

[borntostand.livejournal.com]

[listens quietly, sifting though unfamiliar terms to get to the heart of the story; then, gazing at him intently] So let me get this straight. You trusted someone you had every reasons to - some everyone else did, including your friends. And somehow his betrayal is your fault.

[seriousmarauder]

I...no. Not his betrayal, but... [more firmly] I shouldn't have made the switch, I just as good as killed them myself doing that. Voldemort wouldn't have broken me, I would've died before I betrayed them.

[borntostand.livejournal.com]

[snort] Yeah, and then they'd be blaming themselves for you.

[seriousmarauder]

[he shrugs] If they blamed themselves, I'd have come back and haunted them until they stopped. My death wouldn't have been their fault.

[breathenothing.livejournal.com]

[Naminé only heard the tail-end of that, namely the spell, and recognizes the voice as Sirius'. She runs over quickly. Whatever just happened, it did not sound good...]

Sirius!

[seriousmarauder]

[startled] Naminé? I...you shouldn't be here, it's dangerous. [gestures at the Wallmaster -- which isn't dead, just unconscious. for now.]

[breathenothing.livejournal.com]

[She shies away from the Wallmaster and closer to Sirius, clearly afraid of the thing (as well she should be), but she shakes her head and looks up at him again.]

I... I heard you yelling... are you alright?

[seriousmarauder]

[Sirius wraps an arm around her shoulders protectively, and skillfully avoids her question] You heard me yelling a spell. But it shouldn't have worked, not like that...my magic ought to be weaker. [he's not looking at her when he speaks -- instead, he's staring at someone who isn't there]

[breathenothing.livejournal.com]

[She shivers a little, trying not to look at the frozen Wallmaster again, and takes great comfort in having Sirius' arm around her.]

Maybe you're stronger than you think. People can do amazing things when it really matters, too...

[She follows his gaze, curious as to what he's looking at, but when she sees nothing...]

Is something... there?

[seriousmarauder]

[His grip tightens, just a little bit. Sirius is rather afraid himself] ...You can't see him?

[breathenothing.livejournal.com]

[She looks up at him, then back toward where this "him" should be. She squints a bit, trying to see if she can see anything, but... She shakes her head.]

laaate

[seriousmarauder]

[sighs] It's...my best friend. But he's been dead for years, and now I'm seeing him here. And Lily, too.

Iiiii wouldn't have gotten to it until today anyway o/ 's cool bb

[breathenothing.livejournal.com]

[She shakes her head again.]

Sirius, I... I don't see anyone.

<3

[seriousmarauder]

[he closes his eyes and opens them again, but they're still there] I...we ought to go somewhere else. That crawly thing's going to wake up, I only knocked it out.

[breathenothing.livejournal.com]

[She nods, closing her eyes tightly, and moves to take Sirius's hand.]

Alright. Let's go. Where is safe?

[seriousmarauder]

[frowns, squeezing her hand reassuringly] I'm not sure...maybe the library? We could try there.

[bit_impossible]

[the Doctor, who has a sword tucked away into the folds of his long coat--he has it for emergency purposes only, and anyway, who can see it with that coat of his?--is making another tour of the ballroom for those hands when he comes upon Sirius and stares at the wallmaster he's knocked out]

You know, I thought you said you couldn't do that without a wand! Or did you get lucky, I wonder?

[seriousmarauder]

[is that a sword in your coat, Ten, or are you just happy to see me? ;D Ahhem. Sirius just looks very confused.] I shouldn't be able to, but obviously I can, for some reason. And I don't think I'm very lucky, at the moment. In fact, I'm fairly certain I've lost my mind. [he frowns, as he didn't mean to admit that bit]

[bit_impossible]

Oh, well, I doubt that. For one thing, your brain would've needed to ooze out your nose or ears--maybe even out of your eye sockets--and there isn't a trace of any of that; not that I can see. [leans forward, squinting, then back] Nope, not a thing. [of course, he knows Sirius isn't being literal in that sense] Anyway, why do you think you've lost it?

[seriousmarauder]

[he rolls his eyes, and gestures to...well, a patch of thin air] Because I can see them, and they're talking to me...

[bit_impossible]

[he arches an eyebrow, then walks towards that patch of thin air] You mean they're right here?

[seriousmarauder]

[nods] They're right there, yes. Merlin, I wish they would leave me alone, but at the same time, I don't want them to go...

[bit_impossible]

Sirius, I don't mean to be the one to tell you this, but...I think you're hallucinating. Did you have to make a choice recently?

[seriousmarauder]

No, but -- they're not real? I can't...I'm innocent, Doctor. I'm innocent, please make them understand, I never betrayed them. [his face is in his hands, and his voice is wracked with grief and guilt]

[bit_impossible]

[simply] No, I can't do that for you. I can't see them. But you know you're innocent, Sirius, like you said. Show them how serious you are! [why yes, he means the pun] Face them!

[seriousmarauder]

[he glances up at the pun, allowing himself a wry smile] You're right. I know I'm innocent. But I know it's my fault, too. They don't have to tell me that.

[madamemoiselle.livejournal.com]

{She's been watching the whole scene, and approaches after he stupefies the Wallmaster. Diva has a bundle of ballgowns in her arms, smiling like a true Stepford Wife.}

Ne, that's really easy, Sirius! You don't have to kill them or anything. How lucky~

{But she approaches, leaning close to Sirius} What were you seeing, though? There's no one else here but me, and you know me.

[seriousmarauder]

[frowns] I'm not sure it's lucky, I only knocked the thing out. It's going to wake up soon enough...maybe we ought to go somewhere else before it does. ...And it's...James and Lily. My best friends. But they died...Merlin, don't tell Remus. Please?

[madamemoiselle.livejournal.com]

I won't, I promise!

{She hums lightly as she sets the ballgowns down on the couch, stepping on the Wallmaster and pulling off the fingers one by one, not at all bothered ♥}

That's sad, though, that you lost your friends. Did they die a long time ago?