Regulus adjusts his position just so, looking out with practiced disinterest at the hall in front of him. His shoulders pulled back, head high. He doesn't quite fill out his brother's throne. The back just a little too tall, the legs a little too long, the soles of his boots only barely grazing the ground. He acts as though he notices none of this, of course. Acts as though the crown fits.
"You may rise," he says finally, to the man currently kneeling before him.
He's dressed in leathers, a blade and pistol hanging from his hip even though both are technically forbidden in the throne room. Sirius let him take too many liberties.
Regulus eyes him cooly, the man flashing him a grin, like this is all some big joke. Like Sirius isn't missing.
"My advisors tell me you think you know where my brother is?"
"I do."
Regulus waits, arching his brow. After several seconds of silence the man rolls his eyes.
"Your majesty."
Regulus tilts his head to the side, looking him up and down. He knows him, of course, his brother's lowborn drinking buddy. It's a good thing their father isn't alive to see the company the King has been keeping as of late.
"Tell me then," Regulus says finally, hoping his desperation isn't obvious. Tell me where he is. Tell me how to find him. Help me bring him home.
The man before him smiles again. "Why don't you just give me one of your pretty ships and I'll go fetch him myself, shall I?"
Regulus's eyes narrow. "You seem to think we are bargaining. We are not. You will tell me what you know. Now."
The man quirks his brow. "And if I don't?"
"Then I'll have you killed," Regulus says flatly. And he means it. Mostly.
The man's grin only grows, showing off his teeth, two of which, are golden. "Nah, I don't think you will."
"James--"
"Oh so you do know my name."
Regulus grimaces. "Do you think you could show just a little deference? I am your King."
"Prince."
"King until my brother returns. A process you are hindering with your insufferable..." he waves his hand in James's direction. "Insufferableness."
James laughs. "My insufferable insufferableness? Come now my Lord, surely your fancy tutors taught you a few more words than that?"
"Where is my brother!"
His voice rings out through the grand room. Guards and courtiers all turning their heads in his direction. Regulus resents the blush that instantly rushes up his neck. He knows how he sounds. Like a child.
For all his winging about not wanting to be King, Sirius was always far better at this than him. Regulus was meant for a quiet life in a monastery somewhere, transcribing manuscripts, translating philosophical works. Not this. Not politics.
James seems to take pity on him, stepping slightly nearer. "He's okay Regulus," he says quietly.
"How can you know that?" he demands.
"He's Sirius. He's always okay."
And isn't that just the truth.
"Let me go get him back huh?"
Regulus gives him a petulant look before sighing and pinching the bridge of his nose. "I can't just give you a ship James. I barely know you."
"You don't trust me?"
Regulus drops his hand. Delivering him a flat look. "No."
James considers him for a moment, before that old familiar smirk returns to his lips. "Then come with me."
Regulus feels his eyes go wide. "What."
"Then come with me," he nods his head towards the doors. "Come on Regulus," he says, still talking quietly, as though that will stop people from hearing. Someone is always listening in this palace. "Leave the safety of the library for once huh? Come with me. We can get him together."
It's mad. Mad and impossible. He can't. For so many reasons he can't. And yet, somehow, the ridiculous man in front of him is making him think maybe he can.
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my prof just explained on the syllabus that he’s included more points in the class than we needed to pass, so we could skip up like?? 20 small assignments/quizzes/participation!! and still get a very high grade!!
the idea was that we could focus on assignments that played to our strengths - only do the participation stuff if we like to talk out loud - only do the quizzes/readings if we want to do the class remotely - only do online discussions if we like to talk and share opinions but struggle with anxiety in class ect.
and that’s cool enough but then he pulled up DnD character sheets with drawings he’d done of these hypothetical student player classes and how our various accessibility needs could be gamified to ‘max out’ different aspects of the class to get high grades and like!!!!!
hell yeah!!!! let’s treat accessibility in higher education not just as a necessity but as the fun, engaging, and creative aspect of learning that it is!!! I love this!!
EDIT: For proper credit or further questions about his system please find my professor on twitter @/kurtishanlon
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