Regulus
Prince Regulus wants an escape. His whole life he's been treated as a replacement, useless until the first, his brother Sirius, fails. He wants out. He wants to leave, but there is one thing stopping him:
Sirius
Regulus knows what his parents will do if Sirius becomes their only heir. Now, Walburga and Orion Black have never been the greatest to begin with, coming from a family as corrupt as theirs. After all, the noble and most ancient house of Black has been ruling the kingdom of Slazar for hundreds of generations. This one is no different. Regulus, however, knows that his parents have been among the worst of them. Even in his and Sirius' childhood, they were nothing if not cruel. They'd push everything they thought to be intellectual onto their two heirs and if they were anything less than perfect at such skills, they knew what would happen.
Sirius was always the bravest of the two, the most rebellious, the most often punished. Regulus on the other hand, learned what his brother refused to. Being invisible was never a skill Regulus had difficulty learning. He saw what his parents did to his stupid, but courageous brother, and decided his own path. He'd stay quiet, do as he was told, learn to accept being the heir to the throne, even if that role would never truly be his.
There were two other people in the palace besides Sirius, that Regulus loved. Barty and Pandora.
Barty was the son of a noble his father was very close with. Maybe that was because Crouch Sr. was as horrible, if not more, to his son. Barty was strong, rebellious, not unlike Sirius, but he was Regulus' best friend.
Pandora was the smartest person Regulus has met. Sure, she was kind of weird, but Regulus found it refreshing and somewhat endearing. She'd talk about all the mythical creatures in fairytales like she's met them before, and she had a fascination with crystals and nature. Pandora was like Regulus' little sister. He knew that Pandora had a brother, but he has never met him. He doesn't know much about her family in general anyway. The Rosiers are probably the most secretive family Regulus has ever encountered.
Pandora and Barty are in his bedroom with him, discussing an idea Barty had.
"I'm telling you Reg, your parents would never even notice we snuck out and besides, we'd be back before they even woke up." Barty says, trying to convince them to come to a pub with him tonight. The Leaky Cauldron, if Regulus remembers correctly.
"I think it's a wonderful idea Barty. Maybe we'll even see some witches and vampires there!" Pandora replies, looking off into space.
Regulus however, is still skeptical. Barty shrugs, "Dora if you wanted to see a witch, go talk to Reg's cousin Bellatrix. I swear she's got some sort of magic."
Pandora looks like she's contemplating this when Regulus scoffs. "Bella is not a witch Barty. Sure, she's a bit crazy but that doesn't mean anything. Besides, if she was a witch, my family would've already had her burned at the stake."
"Whatever you say Reg." Barty says. "Besides, i've got Pandora on my side. That makes it two to one so we're going. It'll be fun!"
Regulus groans, "Fine! but if I see even one royal guard there I am bolting back here and never speaking to you again you hear me Crouch?"
"Yeah, yeah, whatever Reggie." Barty replies with a smug grin on his face. Regulus can tell he's excited though.
"Don't call me Reggie!" He yells at Barty, to which the person in question bursts out laughing at. Regulus groans again and flops down on his bed.
He thinks this will be a huge mistake.
Quite the opposite it'll turn out to be.
~•.*~.•*~.•*
While the three are waiting for the right time to leave, Barty suggests that they play a game called one question, one confession.
As Barty explains the game, Regulus begins to get skeptical of what Barty's motives are for playing this game. Each person who plays gets to ask one question, and everyone including the person who asked said question, has to answer truthfully. No limits on what the question can be.
As creator of the game, Barty ends up going first. When Regulus hears his question, he understands Barty's motive and instantly regrets his decision to play.
"What's your type? Describe them"
~.•*~.•*~.•*
Seeing as Barty asked the question, he went first. Oddly, he described someone similar to himself, with the exception of a few differences. Pandora goes next, depicting someone kind and loyal, who shares some interests with her but is also their own person. Then, it's Regulus' turn.
"You gotta answer Reg, it's part of the game." Barty says. Even Pandora, whi somehow found a crystal ball in Regulus' room, sat up, wanting to hear his preference.
"Come on Regulus, even I did it." Pandora says, trying to convince him.
Regulus heaves a long sigh. "Alright, alright." He caves, and Barty and Pandora wait excitedly.
Regulus lets out another sigh before dropping his head in one hand. "I'd probably want someone similar to me, like an introvert, who is nice and won't treat me like i'm their second choice. Happy?"
Pandora looks at him with a sad smile. "Aww Reg that's amazing. You know, we don't think of you as a second option right?" She questions, Barty nodding along with her.
Regulus smiles at them. "I know. I don't think of you guys as second either." Regulus replies, knowing that it's genuine.
After all, their the only good friends he's ever had.
~.•*~.•*~.•*
It's around 10:30pm when Barty decides he's done waiting. Regulus feels like he's made a decision that'll have him dead by ther end of the night and Pandora is just.......well Pandora.
They left his room to get ready at 8pm and now they're back.
"C'mon Reg you promised you'd go with us." Barty whines when Regulus won't leave his room.
"Barty you'll be fine without me. I just don't feel like going."
Although Regulus can't see him, he swears he can hear Barty raise his eyebrow in an 'are you kidding me?' motion.
"You really trust Pandora to be by herself with alcohol only a conversation away?" Barty argues.
Regulus sighs, leaning against his door. "Won't you be there with her?" Is his weak attempt at an excuse.
".....You really trust not only Pandora, but me in a pub with absolutely no supervision Regulus?"
Regulus hesitates, knowing just what exactly Barty is capable of when he's alone, having come back to the whole royal kitchen being covered from head to toe in Molasses. Barty was 7 when he did that. He is currently 18 and hasn't changed one bit.
At this point, Barty knows he's won. "Come on Reg, I'll even buy the first round."
Regulus groans. A common occurrence when you're friends with Barty. He opens his door and looks at the two of them.
"I hate you so much you know that right?"
Barty and Pandora laugh. "Sure man, love ya too." Is Barty's only reply.
~.•*~.•*~.•*
When they get to the pub, it's already full with drunk people. A common occurrence in Salazar but still strange to the trio, seing as they don't leave the palace other then political 'vacations'. Barty heads straight to the bar, eager to talk to the bartender, while Pandora goes to talk to new people. It's safe to say that Regulus is the complete opposite of his friends.
Regulus just stands at the entrance of the pub, not sure of what to do, when Barty finally looks back at him and waves Regulus over. Regulus walks smoothly to the bar, almost like a snake,careful not to bump into anyone. He's already regretting coming when Barty orders him a drink while flirting with the bartender. Evan, Regulus thinks he said his name was.
When his drink arrives, all Regulus does is stare at it. Evan sighs and for the first time, Regulus hears him speak.
"You know the drink isn't poisoned right?"
Regulus just blinks and looks up at Evan, who has a slight smile on his lips.
"Y-yeah I know." Is Regulus' reply, becoming a bit embarrassed.
Evan only smiles wider. "Well then drink up man. You look like you could let loose a little."
At this, Barty laughs. Regulus sends him a glare and Barty just raises his hands in mock surrender, while Evan goes to attend to another customer.
"I'm going to go find Pandora and maybe a pack of cigarettes Reg, see ya later." Barty says, and walks off before Regulus could reply back.
"Asshole" Regulus mumbles under his breath.
Evan comes back over to Regulus, while cleaning a glass.
"You know, you're friends kind of hot. Think I got a chance with him?" He asks, and Regulus justs groans, to which Evan laughs at and walks away again.
Yeah, this is going to be a long night for Regulus.