Alecto and Alex

[Alexander Chevalier]

In the back of Alex's mind, he felt a subtle warning, a hesitation and petition to resist what she was demonstrating. However, that curiosity was so much stronger. His thoughts were somewhat clouded, the gentle pull of her voice calling and compelling him. It all but entirely consumed his focus. She moved his hand in demonstration before whispering the proper incantation. It was some sort of nightmare spell, he could determine that much. He looked to the creature before him, smiling a little in response to her playful taunt.

He inhaled deeply before whispering the same words, moving his hand as instructed, noting the assurance of her own hand over his. The effect was unhurried as it slowly began to seep through him. An unexpected, uplifting feeling settled over his mind, calming and soothing him. He had never felt anything like it. It was soft and sweet, lulling him into a state of unprecedented euphoria.

"Wow," Alex responded only in an amazed whisper.

[Alecto Carrow]

"Wow indeed," Alecto said with a small smile. "Dark magic has a pull of power, of control of peace and lack of vulnerability."

[Alexander Chevalier]

Alex nodded, understanding what she was saying. He reveled in the effect of the spell another moment, somewhat reluctant for it to end before he began to also consider what the opposite side of this cast was. That consideration brought with it a brief window of clarity. He willed himself to lift the curse slowly before feeling the ebbing of that euphoria from within. He had never expected magic could feel so powerful. He simply stood there, reflecting over that sensation before casting a sidelong glance at the woman. "I see what you mean," he managed, still taken with her proximity. She enjoyed the feeling. Who wouldn't? It had been remarkable.

[Alecto Carrow]

"No you don't," Alecto corrected looking over at the boy. "But you're starting to."

[Alexander Chevalier]

Alex nodded. That was true. It was the reluctance on his part, the consideration for any victims of the darker curses. However, he acknowledged that he didn't necessarily want to lose that. With this thought though, he also found he didn't hold it against her for doing so. He had felt the draw of it, the desire not to reemerge from its effects.

He had gained a new insight. She had shared with him a portion of her perspective. In fact, that was even more fulfilling than the actual effects of the curse. He understood her just a bit more. He speculated over how easy it would be to lose yourself within the darker forms of magic, overlooking your victim entirely and completely reveling in it. How many times had she done this?

He pondered that, through falling within its hold, it also had the potential to offer a form of solace, providing a burial of any tragedy or discontent in life. Had something like that happened to her? He really considered Alecto then. Not as someone to be feared or even as an embodied outlet for his fascinated curiosity. He saw her as a person. Simply and remarkably. A person who enjoyed the feelings she derived from these curses and who was so entirely driven by her ideals. It was actually quite a feat, to rise above the mere sensation of dark magic and instead direct it to further ones goals.

Alex turned his head to gaze into her eyes fully, seeing no trace of previously assumed insanity there. Her presence intoxicated him, but it had suddenly become more subtle, less possessing. He really wanted to get to know this person. He offered her a small, completely genuine smile. "Thank you for that."

After all, she hadn't needed to show him this at all. She hadn't needed to share a portion of her feelings with him like that. He really appreciated that she had decided to.

[Alecto Carrow]

Alecto released his hand but did not move from her position directly behind him "If you want to feel more… let me know."

[Alexander Chevalier]

Alex nodded before looking to his wand as he lowered his hand, feeling the cold sort of withdrawal left in the absence of her touch. He deliberated a moment before slowly turning to face her fully, "mind if I ask you something about that?" Probably not, so he simply decided to continue with the question. "Is it always like that? I mean...do you feel that way each time you cast those curses? I imagine there's a different sort of feeling associated with each one of them."

He recalled Caden's description of how it had felt to cast the Cruciatus Curse. It didn't seem nearly as pleasant as the one he had just used.

[Alecto Carrow]

Alecto shrugged "I suppose you can fight it, but for the most part it feels like that." She considered it "Though I have known some to feel guilty about the rush of power, if they feel it was wrong for some reason. Maybe that guilt could cause them to not enjoy the lingering of the feeling or make them feel dirty. Personally, I think if you're that weak you should work on your habits."

As she spoke Alecto moved to sit back down in the chair.

[Alexander Chevalier]

Alex stood silently, thinking over what the woman had said a moment before also turning and then reaching down to grab the book he had abandoned. He absently observed the title before looking to her again, "aren't you at risk of losing yourself to those feelings though?" He moved forward and took a seat on the couch, eyes still observing her. "I mean, when I cast that just now, I could hardly even think clearly."

[Alecto Carrow]

**REBOOT**

Alecto entered the room, giving a cat-like stretch. The Dark Lord had pulled both her and her brother for a bit as things in terms of the war speed up. She had to admit she'd miss being on the front line but then again, having a bit of time to play with her food wasn't bad either.

[Alexander Chevalier]

Alex walked into the room in a somewhat surreal state, thinking it would be a little strange to see the Carrow woman after her absence. He looked to her, watching as she stretched in the way she so often did. He wondered to himself what, exactly, she had been up to, but assumed it had something to with the impending war. The halls of Hogwarts had been quiet, unnervingly quiet while she and her brother had been away. People had started to feel a little more relaxed too. However, he knew better then to let himself discard caution, as he was certain of their return. It had been like a fleeting dream.

But, now that she was here again, he even smiled just a little. A part of him had missed her. It was something he had come to accept for what it was. He enjoyed her company, talking with her and learning from her. It forced him into questioning things, considering different perspectives.

"Welcome back," he said, eyes still set on her.

[Alecto Carrow]

Alecto looked over at the boy with a lazy tilt of her head, a small smile playing upon ruby red lips "Hmm… you seem to have missed me… how strange."

[Alexander Chevalier]

"Yes," Alex replied to her in complete agreement. Strange was an understatement. "It certainly is." After all, who in their right mind would miss danger incarnate? "How have you been?"

[Alecto Carrow]

"Peachy freking keen," Alecto said slipping out of the chair she'd lounged in and looking at the boy "You can come closer -I don't always bite you know…"

[Alexander Chevalier]

Alex's smile widened a bit at the woman's response. She always had such an interesting way of putting things. He stepped forward, bringing himself closer and staring into those exceptional eyes. They were always so stunning. "It all depends on your mood, right?" He then tilted his head, "and what about you? Did you miss being here?"

[Alecto Carrow]

The woman grinned impishly "Not at all."

She moved around him, coming to a halt just behind him and resting her chin on his shoulder "After all… it's much more fun when you're hexing to kill instead of teach… but seeing you is not a wholly unpleasant experience, you amuse me."

[Alexander Chevalier]

Alex watched that smile of hers form, watched as she walked around him and finally felt as she rested her chin on his shoulder. She was so close, so inviting. Off on a killing spree then, eh? He had assumed as much. Still, better out there than here. At least that was where the battle belonged. His mind was more focused on her final statement. Was she serious? He couldn't be entirely sure, but hearing her say as much was thrilling. He didn't really have a reason to doubt her. She didn't seem the exaggerating type, as upfront as she often was.

"I'm flattered," Alex replied honestly. "Your company isn't so very unpleasant either." He glanced back and quirked a brow, "but you probably already knew that, seeing as I so obviously missed you."

He simply stood there, with her leaning against him, unsure of where to proceed from here. He wanted to reach out to her in some way, but was uncertain as to her reaction to such a thing. He never knew what to expect. And so, he merely eased his head slowly down against hers, closing his eyes and exhaling beneath his breath.

[Alecto Carrow]

Her gaze flicked to the boy in her arms… he was what? A 7th year? Technically legal, though he did need his last year of schooling -and oh, so open to her suggestions. As he leaned a bit into her she smirked a bit, before saying aloud.

"You know… if I were my twin, you would be putting yourself in a very compromising position right now… ripe for the picking if you will," Alecto remarked with a light sigh, running a finger along his arm.

[Alexander Chevalier]

Well, that certainly wasn't a very pleasant thought. The image of her twin greeted his mind, that leering stare of his. There was something so undeniably sinister about it. Alex opened his eyes and smirked a little as he turned his aversion to amusement. "I'm not so sure I would put myself in this position, if it were him here. Not so willingly anyway." He glanced down as she ran a finger on his arm, her touch sort of invigorating.

[Alecto Carrow]

A brow rose "But you're willing to put yourself in that position with me? … Why is that?"

[Alexander Chevalier]

Alex glanced away then, considering her question. He had sort of led himself right into that one. Why, indeed. Could he even really describe it? He even felt a little nervous to admit to something like this. She most likely already suspected it. "Well," he began, a little uncomfortably, sighing and resigning himself to continue. He had always been honest with her before, no reason to hold back now.

"While you were away...I came to terms with some things. I wasn't really seeking you out before just for you to educate me on the Dark Arts. I...just liked spending time with you. Getting to know you." All these things had been within his mind for so long, voicing it aloud was a little strange.

He smirked slightly before willing himself to glance back at her again, "I'm..." What was the best word to use here? Fascinated? Intrigued? No, something simpler. "Pretty taken with you. You're the most interesting person I've known."

[Alecto Carrow]

The woman gave a soft laugh and lightly squeezed his shoulders "Ahh pet… you really do have a sense of danger don't you? -Either that or no sense of danger, depending on how you look at it."

Alecto removed herself from near his preference and moved until she was directly in front of him "Hmm… what *shall* I do with you…"

[Alexander Chevalier]

Alex watched as the woman moved around him, that withdrawal of her touch only satiated once she was looking to him fully with those eyes of hers. He titled his head, considering her words. "Well, in my case, I'd say the former is more accurate." His smirk transitioned into a fond sort of smile, "I'm very aware of the danger here." This deadly, captivating individual. "Danger has recently just become so...compelling to me." He was walking himself right into trouble. Completely inviting it, and he wasn't even questioning it.

As to her final statement, he lowered his eyes a little. How could he respond to that? She'd do whatever she was inclined to do, regardless of his input. However, after only a brief pause, he again met her gaze. "I'm certainly curious to know." He again wondered to himself how she would react if he were to reach out to her. Hesitating a little, he deliberated before slowly lifting a hand to her cheek and gently trailing his fingers down her face, her skin every bit as smooth as it looked.

"Everything you do is impossible for me to predict..." he trailed off a moment, again trying to gauge her possible reaction before continuing softly, "Alecto." Addressing her by her name like that was a little exhilarating itself. How could even that small sensation have this much of an effect on him?

[Alecto Carrow]

When the boy addressed her by her first name, both of Alecto's browse rose in surprise at his … boldness? … Stupidity? … Obvious infatuation?

"Hmm… I don't believe I agreed to allow you to call me by my first name… maybe what I should do with you is curse you… literally…" she toyed with her wand between her fingertips. Though to be fair he still amused her, she wasn't like her brother would would have taken things as an open invitation and jumped on the boy, he was still a student- and while she was far from on a traditional moral high ground. She still had a thing for the powerful bad boy type- and so far the only thing Mr. Chevailler possessed was the boy part.

[Alexander Chevalier]

And her reaction to it was bad. Damn. Alex lowered his hand, looking to the wand she was more or less taunting him with. Back to this, huh? "Like I said," he replied, lifting his eyes then. "Impossible to predict." It was always so very fragile with her, he could never be completely at ease. "Perhaps I should've asked you first. Does it bother you? Do you want to curse me for it?" He couldn't tell how serious she was.

"If so, then go ahead," he continued, refusing to let himself revert to being afraid of her again. "If that's what you want to do." There wasn't much he'd be able to do to stop her. He smiled a little, "I have been continuing to practice my defenses in your absence. I doubt I'll be able to completely prevent your curses, but I'd still make an attempt." It wasn't as if he particularly liked this potential outcome though, much less her threats in general.

[Alecto Carrow]

"Really?" Alecto asked her voice vaguely curious before, with a lazy flick, she cast a silent crippling curse at him. If it hit then his legs would give out on him due to excruciating pain.

[Alexander Chevalier]

The woman had predictably taken him up on the offer. Alex saw the flick of her wrist, but she hadn't put much effort into the casting. He supposed that was fortunate. Still, it was undoubtedly powerful and he instinctively lifted his own wand to deflect her curse. He managed it, but barely. There was still a great deal of improvement he would need. The question now was, would she continue firing curses at him? He wouldn't be able to keep blocking everything she sent his way. Hopefully she would be satisfied with just this. Again, he considered that he wouldn't really be able to oppose her for long.

...or could he? He briefly glanced to her wand hand. She wasn't as guarded. There was an opening. She was still close, within reach. Magic and wands aside, there were other ways to prevent this, though it might only serve to piss her off. Still, he wouldn't let himself fear her reaction. It was worth a try. Reaching out, Alex placed a hand firmly over hers, hoping to prevent her from casting for the moment. "Speaking of compromising positions," his hand tightened around his own wand, prepared to defend himself against her if he needed to.