pulled from his tdm call the wizard cops {OPEN}

[fixating]

ministry of magic

While it may seem like a boring job, Regulus Black's position in the Department of Muggleborn Registration is extremely important. He records each and every Muggleborn Witch and Wizard that joins their society so that they're easier to keep track of; their safety is all-important and knowing who and where they are at all times is the best and most efficient way to make sure they're safe. It's a necessary evil, of course. The young official is well-known for his sharp smile and razor wit and the haughty way he holds himself even while registering eleven year old children into the system and assuring confused Muggle parents that it's for their child's safety and that nothing is going to happen to their child while under the care of the Ministry of Magic so long as every regulation is followed.

He's in his office most often, doing paperwork, smoking on his breaks, or feigning interest when a coworker comes in to speak to him.

If you come into his office for help and not immediately look like Muggle parents with their child, he's going to raise his eyebrows and lean back in his chair. "How can I help you?"

diagon alley

For all the big bad awful Death Eater nonsense behind Regulus Black's demeanor and everything in his life, he's still a teenager barely nudging toward twenty. It means that he's going to spend down time however he pleases, whether it be eating ice cream at Fortescue's or perusing a book shop, many of his hobbies are those of a normal young man. He's not the type to be openly social unless prodded, but he's still willing enough to talk if someone approaches him no matter their blood status - though his attitude will vary depending on what that may be.

Most free days are spent in said book shops, so whether you're going for school texts or for pleasure novels, you're almost bound to run into him. Perhaps literally.

knockturn alley

Regulus is quiet and hard to find in Knockturn Alley but he's there, either in Borgin and Burke's trading in antiquities or elsewhere purchasing potions ingredients of a more sinister nature. It's difficult to tell whether he's meant to be there or not, whether he's trying to run a sting operation for another department, or if this is a personal errand, but whenever he does go, he never leaves empty-handed whether it's with a sack of galleons from selling or new purchases from buying.

It shouldn't matter which, really - and if you're Muggleborn, you probably shouldn't be back here to begin with. It's far too dangerous. He might just have to escort you out. Hell, even if you're a Half-Blood. Point is, it's not safe in general, and if you don't know what you're doing you might get yourself burned, literally or figuratively.

Comments

[fixating]

Regulus has a few older tomes with him when Andromeda bumps into him, startling him out of his thoughts and causing him to extend a hand to her arm to make sure she doesn't stumble even though he's slight enough that it shouldn't be a problem.

Shaking his head, the youngest of the Black family smiles and lofts his eyebrows. "No, it's fine. It's what happens when you're the short one, right? People miss seeing you, you get bumped into in shops..."

He's trying to act normal and it's clear - he misses Andromeda, no matter what either set of parents may say.

[medesthai]

The touch steadies her, mostly, though it is disconcerting to be on the receiving end of that familiar smile. That gives her the courage to raise her own eyebrows at him, a skill all members of the Black familyl know how to wield.

"So you're saying I'm the short one, is that it?"

It's better, at least, that they can joke about their current situation, no matter what their parents and siblings might say about it.

[fixating]

"You're only a couple of centimeters shorter than me." Smiling, teasing, pretending everything is fine - it's true. They're almost the same height and he's only barely taller than her. A finger's width, maybe.

"Makes sense we'd run into each other, then." His voice is softer as he continues, thoughtful. "How have you been? I haven't seen you since you came into the Ministry for me." And his stabbed-through hand.

[medesthai]

Luck of the draw — all members of the Black family tend to be either average in height or taller, though it's no surprise to her that Regulus has managed to catch up to her despite being years younger. He is a grown man now, after all; the catching up that he's had to do, being the youngest of them all, has now turned him into a handsome young man with a purpose in life beyond what Andromeda could have wanted for either of them.

"I've been good," she says, in a light tone. "And I'm always just around the corner, really. How about you? How's your hand now? No other stabbing related injuries in work, I hope."

As expected, her eyes drop down to inspect it. She knows that he's fine, of course. She is good at her job, and the wound wasn't too deep or critical. Blacks are resilient, and Regulus is every bit of a Black as the rest of them.

[fixating]

Regulus sometimes wishes for some kind of purpose other than Ministry Official but there's not much to be done for that - it's his life and it's going to be his life indefinitely.

"No other stabbings," he says with a laugh, lifting his hand to let her examine it properly. It's healed up right well and while there's a small scar there's no other lasting issues - no pain, no stiffness, no loss of motion or grip. "It's perfect. Thank you again."

After a moment's thought and just looking at her with cloudy grey eyes, Regulus jumps into the deep end. "We should spend the afternoon. Tell me about what you've been looking at here. How does that sound?"

[medesthai]

Andromeda hesitates, but she is quick to wrap her hands around his.

"You would get into trouble."

She knows that for a fact. Even if they keep this meeting rather clandestine, there are wagging tongues and eavesdroppers at every corner. By the time Regulus returns home, Walburga Black would have keyed herself up so much in an effort to contain her emotions, a battle she'd undoubtedly lose once she seems the sight of her younger, most prized son. Andromeda's parents would have been more or less indignant over it, but they would have gotten over themselves far quicker; Walburga, not so much.

And even beyond that — they live in an unforgiving society.