Video (backdated to Sunday Night)

[king]

[ Arthur's hands are shaking, and therefore, so is the Forge. But it's obvious, even in the dim light, that he's blood-spattered. But underneath the gore sluiced across his face, his jaw is firmed, his breathing slow and deliberate. ]

I'm so sorry. If I'd realized, I never would have —

[ No, he needs to start earlier than that. ]

If — someone who knows Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks could collect their bodies from the ruins...

[ No, that's not the place either. He swallows, hard, guilt shadowing his eyes. ]

[ Filter: Priscilla, Byakuya. ]

I have done — a terrible thing. I'll be stepping down from my position as Vice Commander, of course. And I would like to turn myself in to be judged at Themis.

Someone will have to be assigned to bring in Bellatrix. She fled into the Mist. I honestly thought she was no longer a threat to anybody, but I was wrong.

I've been wrong in a lot of things.

Comments

Audio

[brewglory]

[If it was confusing to Arthur, it was absolutely mystifying to Severus. Tonks, begging to be killed?

Never.

But then, how well did he truly know her?

After a moment of deliberation, he decides to show his hand.]

Lupin sent his Patronus to me. A message, if you will. He said it was "Lestrange".

I had assumed he meant Bellatrix was to blame for all of this - and to be frank, though your recounting of the events is not the clearest I have ever heard...if she were responsible, I can think of any number of ways she might have achieved this based on what I've heard.

I suggest you find her and drag her out of the Mist before you accept any blame in this matter.

Audio

[king]

She killed Nymphadora. But I put my sword through Remus Lupin.

[ A breath; he's touching it, the blood on it. ]

He died in my arms.

[ He wrenches himself out of memory. ]

Commander Kuchiki has said he'll account for Bellatrix. And Merlin swears he'll bring her to justice.

[ Also an idiot. ]

Audio

[brewglory]

Who better, I suppose.

[Besides him, that is. He promised Tonks, after all, that he would deal with Bellatrix.

Perhaps it is time to live up to that promise, if he can find her before Merlin and Byakuya do so. It's not something he'll be announcing to Arthur, of course.]

If Lupin forgave you, he meant his words.

[Small comfort though that may be.]

Audio

[king]

I'm sure he did. He was the best of us.

Audio

[brewglory]

[He isn't certain what more there is to say - and he wants to get out and start looking for Bellatrix, anyhow.

Perhaps he can lure her with a call to her Forge.

Without another word, he disconnects.]