choose your fate (happy ever after is about perspective)
There are few things as nauseating as the smell of rotting flesh.
Pansy wrinkles her nose. Beside her, Draco looks equally disillusioned and faintly green as he glances around the prison camp, murmuring in disgust to himself.
"Vile animals," Draco manages and Pansy half-turns her head to glance at him.
"Don't insult animals, honey. At least they have an important purpose in this world, unlike these mudbloods." Pansy pretends to smirk as Draco attempts a quiet laugh, swallowing down his fear.
They're all scared, every person standing here, but they all deal with it differently. Pansy immerses herself in her ever-intensifying jokes, while Draco continues the primal Malfoy tradition of wallowing in terror and getting people killed because of it. The rest of candidates look around in a mix of greed, anxiety and rapture. Pansy doesn't blame them — if she was that weak, she'd be scared too.
"Attention, newbies," a voice yells and Pansy glares when she realizes it's Adrian Pucey. Pansy still remembers him from school — a popular bully. A absolutely violent asshole. Pansy remembers that too. It's hard to forget. "The Dark Lord has put me in charge of observing you all before lessons begin. Remember, it is an honour to be here as a future Death Eater."
"Debatable," Draco whispers, his mouth so close to her ears that it gives her the shivers. Draco is always too much and never enough — opinions too much, feelings too much, actions never enough. He is broken and absolution all at once and Pansy loves him more then she has ever loved her blood family. He is her best friend, her soulmate, the reason she is here —- the reason she would give up her perfect world and toss herself head over heels into espionage and treachery. For Draco, everything is possible and forgivable.
"Focus, dragon," she hisses back as Adrian Pucey walks by them, observing the soldiers. A vicious hatred goes through her at the sight of him — Pansy cannot ever forget his cruelty, the way he intimidated and broke everyone naive enough to get in his path. As he passes them, Pansy bats her eyelashes and he nods at her, smug and slimy. The moment he looks away, Pansy sticks her leg out and watches him crumble to the ground.
"Who did that?" Adrian bellows from the ground, mud and vicious and Pansy makes her eyes go wide in faked shock. Let him enjoy the feeling of hitting your lowest point. Let him feel the shame of being absolutely humiliated.
"This war has made you vicious," Draco says quietly, observing her. Pansy snickers and lets her shoulder bump against his in silent camaraderie — she's always been vicious but this war tends to bring out the worst in people. Draco knows that more than most.
"Touche, sweetie," Pansy says, watching as Adrian brushes off his clothes and barks out orders. In mere minutes, they will be inducted into the Death Eater rankings — the lowest circle, of course, but still honourable. Still worthy and respectable, if you believe in dark magic and murder being honourable. Pansy doesn't — not anymore — and she knows Draco doesn't either. That is the thing about war — it brings out the worst traits and darkness hearts, but it also shows the morality and love still leftover. The darkest nights always reveal the brightest of stars.
Around them, the future inductions talk between themselves, joyful and ready. Pansy feels as if she can almost predict Draco's words before he even opens his mouth.
"Pans, you know why we're here? Like, really here?" He asks anxiously, squeezing her hand.
"Because you feel guilty and scared and you will dedicate your entire life to helping the rebellion even when it destroys you," Pansy says with a fond smile. Tears threaten to fall out of her eyes but she stands firm and tall. "That's why you're here, at least. I am here because you need encouragement and faith. I'm here we have been best friends since we were eleven and I fancied myself in love with you, prat."
Draco lets out a huff at her words. "Right. I knew that. But seriously, Pans, you didn't promise to be a spy. For Merlin's sake, you could even run away right now. We'd figure out a way, I promise. I don't want you to sacrifice your chance at a better life for me; the Death Eaters are lifelong and you know it. You don't deserve to work at this prison camp."
"Are your trying to get rid of me, Malfoy? Because you're failing and honestly, your saving thing can just like…. Stop. Thanks." Pansy grinns wildly at him until he flinches and glares back. ""I don't handle rejection well. Funny, considering all the practice I've had, huh? But still, nice try."
"You're a reckless, foolish wanker of a women, Parkinson," Draco retorts but it's half-hearted at best and they both know it.
"Love you too, Malfoy," Pansy whispers back, kissing his temple and messing up his hair in a practiced motion. Draco smoothed it down thoughtlessly.
"Love you too," Draco echoes, tired and fond, and they continue to wait together, holding on.
...
Written for:
Creativity month: Voldemort wins!au
Astronomy Assignment - Task Three: Write about a character entering into a lifelong service
Character Appreciation: Write about a bully
Disney Challenge: Giving up something important to you - Write about someone sacrificing something precious to them
Book Club: Cliff Ackerly - (trait) popular, (word) bully,(action) tripping someone
Showtime: Cell Block Tango - (action) Murder
Days of the month: International Ask a Question Day - Write a what if
Count Your Buttons: (song) "Dying to Live" by Scott Stapp, (au) camp, (dialogue) "Right. I knew that," (character) Pansy Parkinson, (word) encouragement,
Lyric Alley: Do you know the line that I'd walk for you?
TV Show of The Month: Xander Harris: (character) Adrian Pucey, (action) running, (dialogue) "I don't handle rejection well. Funny, considering all the practice I've had, huh?"
Sophie's Shelf: greed, rapture, swallow, immerse, primal, intense
Liza's Loves: Antibug - Write about someone being disillusioned against their idol
Caffeine Awareness: Black Coffee - Write about a bitter person
Scavenger Hunt: Write about a member of the Black family (not Sirius or Regulus)
Crafty Cooking Corner: Banana - Restriction: No Gryffindors, Trope: Don't go into the forest
Library Lovers: A Darker Shade of Magic - V.E. Schwab
(plot point) write about something making a come back
(setting) London
(plot point) feeling like you don't belong
Lent Challenge: Only Slytherins
Saint Patrick's Day: The snakes of Ireland - write about a Death Eater