The matter of betrothals (Sirius)

[Cygnus Phineas Black]

As autumn encroached and the chill of the winter to come was hinted at in the grey early mornings and dead of night, fair days would soon become rare days. And today was certainly fair, all blue skies and gentle breeze -- too pleasant, in short, to be spent within. As soon as the morning routine of looking over the minutiae of state (reports to glance over, tasks to be assigned to aides) had been dealt with, Cygnus freed himself from the lords and counsellors that swarmed around him day in and day out, and made for one of the gardens that served as the family's retreats, where the men and women bringing matters of state were most unwelcome.

But even here, said matters of state were what concerned Cygnus now -- one, in particular, that involved a member of his family. Having sent his manservant Ferrand to summon his son to him, Cygnus found that he had several minutes to himself; he lingered down one of the winding paths, white pebbles scrunching quietly underfoot as he walked with no particular direction in mind. That he was pensive would be obvious to anyone who ventured into his presence, for the expression of cool neutrality that served as his public front was now something slightly less than serene. The subject of his son's marriage was one that sat heavily with him, as his views swung from that of a father who wanted nothing but his child's happiness, to that of a lord who wished to secure the best political foothold through the marriage of his heir to an appropriate girl.

There had been one such girl, but that one terrible summer of disease had laid waste to the plans drawn up years ago -- and now Sirius was of age, very eligible, and with no prospects that Cygnus knew of.

[Sirius Pollux Black]

Though Sirius viewed his marriage as a function of the courts, a factor of his need to please his father, there was most definitely a sense of relief upon the plans having fallen through. No woman or man deserved such a hideously painful death -- certainly not one so far up in society as his once wife was -- but the disease offered Sirius a sense of freedom he would have otherwise found stolen far too soon.

The discussion Sirius knew was coming, pushed aside only by his father's need to meet deadlines and deal with other important matters, still managed (somehow) to send a jolt of nervousness into Sirius; seen only his walk. Sirius' sweeping gestures, smooth strides, all accompanied with a smirk were not present now, instead replaced with thinly pursed lips and a look of curiosity.

Upon reaching the garden, Sirius waited a moment or two before interrupting what was so clearly Cygnus' own nervousness. A clearing of his throat, given eventually, came to announce his arrival, Sirius adding quietly only once his father turned to meet his gaze: "Is everything alright?"

[Cygnus Phineas Black]

That Sirius' first impulse was to inquire if everything was all right instead of offering the more traditional "hello" struck Cygnus not as odd, but as a regrettable consequence of the lives they led. Sirius had his schooling and was expected to shadow his father's councillors, if not his father himself, while Cygnus found his time split (often unevenly) between the business of politics and the business of raising a family -- their schedules, therefore, did not often coincide, and more often then not, urgent matters he needed to discuss with Sirius were just that: urgent, a far throw from the more informal relationships most families enjoyed.

And now, was everything all right? Not exactly, considering how much of a headache the issue of his son's eligibility was already giving him. He was, perhaps, slightly nervous, but the anxiety in Sirius' expression caused him to come forward with a nod, touching him briefly on the elbow so as to indicate that he should follow him as he slowly continued down the path.

"It will be soon, I've little doubt," he said; his tone was not so serious as to be grim.

[Sirius Pollux Black]

"Well, with you on top of it father, it is to be expected." Sirius smiled then -- a genuine smile, one he hoped would ease his father's obvious anxiety, if only by a fraction. Following in his footsteps, just as he had in every other matter regarding the state, did he make his own way further down along the path that wrapped their garden.

Each pebble shifted beneath his weight, crunching just as they did for his father. The sound drew Sirius' attention away from all things serious and entirely onto how annoying it was. Clenching his jaw, Sirius paused mid-stride, only lifting his gaze to watch his father progress. Certainly, Sirius had come of age, but he was still just a child -- quick to anger, even quicker to become aggravated.

"Dad, this way." And Sirius motioned off to the side, away from the path and onto the lawn.

[Cygnus Phineas Black]

It took a moment for Cygnus to realize that he was no longer being followed; doubts and possibilities had briefly and yet so thoroughly enveloped his thoughts that the silence where before he'd heard his son's footsteps did not immediately register. It was Sirius' sudden change in tone that caused him to stop mid-step, pausing with his head tilted to the side as he flicked his gaze back to regard his son -- and then, with a single nod, he turned and joined him on the grass.

"Lead on, then," he said, brows raised in mild expectation as he signaled with a vague gesture that Sirius, having steered them off the path's strict, white-pebbled course, should guide them as he would on their stroll.

[Sirius Pollux Black]

And Sirius, closely watching his father out of the corner of his eye as he lead them further from the white-pebble path and instead down the winding one of the lawn, remained silent. It was quite obvious his father was forming some notion or other in his mind, taking precious time in order to properly announce what it was that brought the servant to beckon him down into the garden. Hands found themselves nestled in his pockets as Sirius waited, gaze trailing each blade of grass he ultimately found crunched beneath his feet.

Until the silence could be handled no more: "Father, what is it? Has something happened, someone.. passed?"

[Cygnus Phineas Black]

For someone as accustomed as Cygnus to comfortably maintaining stretches of silence of variable lengths, the quiet he had lapsed into with Sirius was not at all unbearable. It gave him the chance to gather his thoughts -- and while, more often than not, his thoughts tended to veer off into the worries any parent was familiar with, it was better than simply broaching the subject without any preparation whatsoever. If anything, Cygnus would have preferred to stroll for just a while longer without being brought back into the here and now by the sound of his son's expectant, impatient question; he ruefully realized that his own habits were now probably driving Sirius just a little bit mad.

"No." He shook his head, reached out to give the youth a passing pat on the shoulder before continuing onwards across the lawn. "No, nothing like that, thank the gods."

[Sirius Pollux Black]

A sudden sigh of relief was given as Sirius found himself relaxing -- if only slightly, and if only for a moment. Yet still, his father was lapsing into the same silence that stretched between them moments before, indicating the topic of choice was certainly one of both importance and one needing precious time to approach. Neither of which pleased Sirius any great deal.

With pursed lips, Sirius turned and headed across the lawn, again following his father's footsteps. This time, he'd remain silent, give his father all the time in the world. Instead busying himself with his own thoughts, drifting into a bit of a daze as he idly watched the clouds roll past.

[Cygnus Phineas Black]

"Sirius." Cygnus had not lessened his pace, nor altered the tone of his voice to pull his son's attention back to him, but the word fell heavy in the silence that hung between them -- heavy and grimmer than Cygnus intended. "The ladies your age, Sirius -- tell me, what do you think of them?"

[Sirius Pollux Black]

And that, that very topic was exactly what Sirius was hoping to avoid. With lips still pursed, Sirius considered his father's question a moment, mulling it around in his head before breaking the silence with a small disgruntled sort of noise. "What is there to think of them, father? They are.. alright -- I suppose."

[Cygnus Phineas Black]

If the matter hadn't been one of marriage in the interest of securing all of their futures, Sirius' reluctant answer would have been amusing and Cygnus would have laughed good-naturedly at his son's obvious discomfort. But this was more complicated than simply showing interest in his son's romantic exploits; such was the price of their rank. "Is there one that is..." He paused before, with a small attempt at a smile, continued: "One that is especially all right?"

[Sirius Pollux Black]

"No," the answer was abruptly given as Sirius' hands found their way back into the depths of his pocket where he allowed them to linger, shifting his weight from one foot to another and again averted his gaze. This was awkward enough already, and Sirius dreaded where the conversation was headed. "Does it matter, dad? They're all the same, in due respect."

[Cygnus Phineas Black]

"It does matter." The word unfortunately hung unspoken, for it was unfortunate that matters of the heart had less to do with heart and more to do with the state. His smile had been short-lived; the shadow of a concerned frown replaced it as Cygnus stopped, putting his hand out to touch Sirius lightly on the arm in order to indicate that he should pause too.

"Sirius, you know where I'm going with this. It's unfortunate that the girl originally meant for you was taken by the pestilence, and even more unfortunate that an arranged marriage is something you will need to go through with, as is your duty -- but it does not all have to be so unpleasant. It's why I'm asking if there is anyone appropriate who has caught your attention."

[Sirius Pollux Black]

Sirius found relief in his father's grasp, and leaned into it if only for a moment. Yes -- the conversation headed exactly in the direction Sirius knew it would, and his father was never one to take to distraction. The topic of choice then would unfortunately continue until Sirius offered the answer in which he knew his father was seeking -- an answer Sirius knew would displease him. "No, father, I'll be honest. I haven't taken a liking to any one in particular." I've barely paid them any attention at all.

[Cygnus Phineas Black]

Cygnus knew his son well enough to understand that Sirius did not speak in jest; he was not, he knew, claiming disinterest in order to prevent the potential embarrassment the young were prone to experiencing when asked to give details of their romantic lives -- and to a parent, no less. Knowing, however, that Sirius was in earnest about his indifference to any one particular person of the opposite gender didn't exactly appease Cygnus either.

"It falls on you to continue our lineage." This was less of a reminder to Sirius than a reminder to himself, for the same words had, at one time in his life, been a mantra to him, and perhaps, as they had then, they would soothe his disquiet now. He gave Sirius' shoulder a slight, gentle squeeze. "Do you understand?"