Crimson rivers

13

Regulus doesn't want to admit it, but he's come to reluctantly like Gideon as a person, despite the fact that he's a Hallow. It's much the same as with Pandora and Dorcas. Being forced to spend time with them has shown him that they're more than he ever expected them to be. Not many Hallows are.

"No, not like that," Gideon says with a sigh, reaching out to smack Regulus' hands away from the clasp at his throat. He looks unbothered by the glare Regulus pins on him. He even rolls his eyes. "Oh, stop it, I'm trying to help you. What are you going to do? Attempt to bite me again?"

"Don't tempt me," Regulus mutters.

"Believe it or not, this is a collaborative effort," Gideon tells him, looking amused. "We're all here to make you look your best, so you can survive your best."

"The day we met, you told me I was the nicest doll you'd ever had," Regulus says flatly.

Gideon chuckles. "Yes, well, don't fault me for appreciating potential when I see it. You, my friend, have what one would call timeless, natural beauty." He leans in and lowers his voice to a whisper. "That's a weapon too, if you use it right."

"Well, the goal is to get the Hallows to love me, so...I suppose being pretty can't hurt," Regulus replies with a grimace, a deep sigh escaping him. He can't help the nerves that jumble up under his skin just thinking about the interview.

"Hey," Gideon murmurs, his voice softening as he braces his hands on Regulus' shoulders. "You're going to do fine. And this, what we've given you? It's a tool, Regulus, and you can use it. We're going to be in the crowd, you know. So, if you need a familiar face, look for me, Fabian, and Dorcas."

Really, if Regulus wants anyone to be there, just for reassurance, it's Sirius. He won't be, because he'll be in the back before and after each interview. Still, it's actually sort of nice that Gideon offers. "Thank you."

"Not too tight?" Gideon asks as he gently tugs on the cloak resting over Regulus' shoulders.

"No, it's—it's fine."

"You're comfortable? Don't feel like you're being strangled?"

"No."

Gideon nods and pulls his hands back. "Excellent. Might I say, Regulus, you look downright fetching."

"Yay," Regulus mumbles, and Gideon snorts. "I know that this is basically your livelihood, but it's just not...my thing."

"Yeah, I figured that out on my own," Gideon muses, lips twitching. "You know, Fabian and I... Fashion was one of the things that always really gave us independence. We've expressed ourselves differently since we were children, and this actually gave us a sense of independence that—well, I'd say it really empowered us both. We needed it. Something that kept us separate, but it also brought us together as well. When you're brothers, something like that is sacred."

Something that kept us separate, but it also brought us together as well. When you're brothers, something like that is sacred. Regulus thinks of him and Sirius, and then, rather ridiculously, what passes through Regulus' mind is one word. A name. James.

He swallows thickly and drops his gaze, running his fingers over the cloak that slips down past his fingers. It's dark and soft, only just sweeping along the floor.

"Come on," Gideon says, stepping back, "let's get you to Dorcas so she can explain everything."

Regulus follows him out and isn't surprised to find James and Fabian chatting easily. James is cracking up, laughing at something Fabian is saying, and he looks unfairly good in the outfit designed for him. It's not much different from Regulus' own, except there's no choker around his throat shaped like a crown. Instead his crown has been broken in half and placed on each shoulder, holding his cloak up. It's similar to Regulus', except it's white, and it looks more like a cape for a set of armor than an actual cloak. It drapes mostly from his back, making him look like some form of royalty.