o1 video | day 415

[trepidations]

[ There are some people in the world who really shouldn't be given any sort of technology or utensil without first receiving some hands-on instruction. Well, even more than is standard upon arrival. Peter Pettigrew, unfortunately, is one of them. The video jolts and even falls to the floor before it rights itself, but upside down. ]

Hn. Owls really would just be easier.

[ It rattles again, and really, wearing a bracelet should not be so difficult. ][ A sigh. ]

Merlin, this is -- well. I... I was just wondering if maybe anyone played chess? I... I don't know.

Something to do, maybe? Besides... well, this thing.

[ He gestures to the bracelet, which only serves to make the video fuzzy and flicker out. Sorry, he's never been very good at introductions, and certainly no good at making many friends. ]

Comments

video;

[freewoman]

They use owls where you're from? [She's heard of crows from the Southerners, but that's news.]

video;

[trepidations]

O-oh.

Yes, owls. I mean, to send letters. Maybe it's not as fast as this, though.

[ He makes a face, still fidgeting with the bracelet. ]

They're not that odd really. Owls, I mean.

video;

[dilectio]

[ for all the nerves and confusion she feels over having Peter Pettigrew here in the city, there is still a very big part of her that just sees him as the mousy ( ha ha ) boy from back home, has the opinions and view of him that she had from before she arrived here, before she knew of the future. she's not ready to just let that go yet, not when maybe she can- do something. to help, or fix things, or figure out what the hell lead to the future she refuses to think about anymore- ]

Oi, um. Peter. [ Peter, darling. she doesn't often give Peter pet names, but when she's trying to make it very clear that she's not teasing him, she does call him "darling" or just "Wormy" right off, but. it's obvious she hesitates this time, deciding not to include it ] You've got it on backwards, I'm afraid. The bracelet? Flip it round on your wrist, and the camera will right itself.

video;

[trepidations]

[ That is a voice he knows. It makes him pause, and he looks to the screen, blushing in that awkward and embarrassed way that he does when he's told he's done something wrong. ]

Ah.

[ He adjusts the bracelet, of course, and looks to the little screen. ]

Lily.

[ He smiles, and he really shouldn't be happy to see her, because if Barty Crouch was right, well, then she knew. She knew what he was. But there's not a strange wall, that looming fearful pressure in his chest this time, not like he had with James. ]

Er. Thanks. It's just... I don't see why we have to -- I mean, I do, but. You know.

[ A small huff. She looks different, younger even, and it's such a strange feeling. ]

voice;

[palebee]

[ If an upside-down, blurred image is anything out of the ordinary, he shows no sign of acknowledgement. For all his easy enthusiasm, Peter might be conducting a purposeful art project. ]

I've a friend or two here who play -- though I believe that you'll find it a deal different from the wizarding sort. Popular, nonetheless, apparently even some gods are fond. I daresay they're a bit busy for a match at the moment, however.

Alice Liddell might be one to inquire with upon that count. Are you very fond of games, Mr. Pettigrew?

voice;

[trepidations]

[ Well. Maybe he should know this guy? There's something about him that almost feels familiar. But he knows his name, and that voice -- there's something about it. ]

Ah -- thanks, I think but --

Do I know you?

[ Maybe it's the fact that he can't see him, or perhaps the simple fact that timelines and things seem to go a bit strange here. ]

[video]

[allpurposescarf]

Well, I do know how to play chess. But it might be better to not try it over these, I think.

video;

[trepidations]

O-oh.

Well, yeah -- I mean, I've never really had one of these before. It's strange, this muggle device. I mean.

[ He flushes, letting out a puff of air. ]

I can play chess though, I can.

voice;

[standsonhigh]

If you actually have a chess board and know how to play yourself, I'd be happy to have a game. I'll even go easy on you.

voice;

[trepidations]

Well. I don't have a board but... hm.

[ Easy on him? Well, it wouldn't be difficult. Peter isn't the best of chess players, but he finds it entertaining. ]

I could make one -- or find one. I -- er. Didn't think about that.

[wasthemaster]

Of all the things you could inquire about, you're looking for someone to play chess with? [Draco hasn't exactly checked out who he's speaking to yet...]

best response, i laughed so hard.

[trepidations]

[ Well. Good thing is? Peter has no idea who he is talking to either, but he already feels a little threatened. ]

It's better than, well, not asking anything at all. I suppose we have to be entertained somehow.

[ He lets out a little huff, though he fidgets with the device again. ]

And chess is -- at least wizarding chess -- is very... er, it just fills time.

video; dumps stuff on you sorry

[doggedly]

[The last time he'd seen Peter Pettigrew was at an Order meeting. It was nearing the end of summer. Half the Order was out on missions, and Sirius had said something to Peter--something stupid and ill-thought out, he couldn't remember exactly what, but Peter had laughed anyways, the way that he always laughed, and then the meeting had ended and they'd all gone separate ways.

Seeing him now is a little like being punched in the chest. It's the same Peter from that Order meeting, who is the same Peter who'd sat next to Sirius in the Great Hall in first year and then had quickly stood up and switched sides to sit next to James instead. The same Peter who had helped Sirius drag a bag full of dungbombs down into the dungeons in third year, who had stood watch in fourth year when Sirius and James were rigging up the Sticky Corridor prank--and then there was the Marauders Map, and all those full moon nights, Peter darting ahead of them, transforming first so he could get the knot on the Willow and lead the way in to the Shrieking Shack--

And by all accounts, the same Peter Pettigrew that sells out James and Lily. Peter Pettigrew, who betrays them all, who passes information to Voldemort and gets James killed. Since finding out about the future, Sirius has done his best to think as little as possible about it, but here, with Peter in front of him, he can think of nothing else. His stupid face and his nervous smile. How long has he been passing information to Voldemort? When he can't sleep, that's one of the questions that plagues Sirius. A year? Half a year? At that Order meeting, when he'd jabbed his elbow into Peter's side and muttered his stupid joke--had he gone home from that and rang up Voldemort to whisper a few more secrets to him?

Merlin. Sirius goes on staring at Peter's message for a very long time, his fingers tight on his device, his knuckles so white they look like candlewax. And then, all at once, almost savagely, he flips into a reply.]

Where are you.

[More furious than friendly. Peter's seen him like this. They're friends, they go way back. He'll remember first year Sirius, brittle and sneering and smiling only a little. He'll remember his temper. He'll know, what this glare means, and if he's a traitor now, if he's been selling his secrets, then he'll have to work it out: Sirius knows.]

omg my heart

[trepidations]

[ For a moment, when Peter hears the voice he isn't sure what to think. Instantly, he feels a small jump of excitement, because it's a voice he knows, but it's the tone, it's the smile that doesn't quite reach Sirius' eyes that frightens him and he blinks. ]

Padfoot?

[ Because any thought of changing, any thought of turning his whole life around here is different, somehow, under the scrutiny of Sirius. James had been cautious, but welcoming but this -- this was something he forgot about, locked away into the horrid experiences that had been First Year, before he had Friends. ]

I'm... I'm in my room.

[ He's afraid, and it likely shows too much in his expression, but he had always feared them in some way. Merlin, they knew. That Barty fellow was right, after all. And what could he say? That he's only just joined, that he felt afraid and unsure and desperate to try and save them? That maybe being in league with some of those horrid people would somehow spare his friends?

He doesn't know how wrong he is, not yet. Peter, still blissfully unaware of the horrible things that Voldemort will ask him to do, thinks perhaps they only think he is a Death Eater, that he's trying to play from both hands. It makes his heart beat a little faster, and no doubt Sirius has seen this face before. A scared, weak young man, without a direction.

He manages to right the video and looks into it -- he's never felt farther away from his friends in all of this life. And they were all he had, right? ]

[Video]

[comeonthensexy]

[ Raises hands! ]

I play chess!

ah hi!

[trepidations]

[ Well. This fellow looks interesting. ]

Oh, good! If I can... well, if I can get a chess set then we can play. I mean, I'm not very good at it, but... I can try at least.

video.

[livedtwice]

[The name itself doesn't match the face. That's a statement that works for both Harry and Peter. Peter looks younger. No longer is he the stout and nervous individual. Oh, he's still nervous, his mannerisms make it clear that he's the same coward as ever. But he is much younger. He hasn't spent years hiding out as Ron's rat.

But he will.

It's inevitable.

And Peter is right around that age, right around that time. Harry can tell as much.]

Chess. Really, Peter? [The question is strained, awkward, as if he's mustering up the right words.] I'm not certain that's what you'll be wanting to be doing soon.

video;

[trepidations]

[ It's strange, really, hearing his name from an unfamiliar voice. He blinks, wide eyed and curious, at the video screen. ]

Oh. Er. I know you?

[ He is familiar somehow, this boy on the screen, and he tries to place it. He can't put his finger on it yet, really, but he is honestly innocent in his response, wide eyed and confused. ]

Why? Is... should we not do things like that here?

[emulation]

How bored do you have to be to wanna play chess?

[trepidations]

Chess isn't so bad. I like it -- I mean, my friends liked it so we just played a lot.

I guess... I don't know many other games, really.

[Video]

[dragonspeak]

["Merlin" he says... he figures he needs to stop whipping his head 'round every time someone says his name on the network now.]

I'm going to take a guess--you're from the same world as Harry, Hermione, James, Sirius, and Remus.

video;

[trepidations]

Ah. I'm not... well, I'm not sure about a Harry or Hermione. But yes, James, Sirius and Remus! They're my-- friends.

[ He isn't so sure whether they are his friends though, not after talking with James and seeing that strange hesitancy. It makes him shift nervously, but isn't he always just that? Nervous? ]

You know them!

video;

[adjunct]

[Neville is 100% sure he has done something wrong with his own bracelet to make the video go upside-down, and he discreetly tries to fix it before completely giving up and trying for a smile, hoping Peter doesn't notice.]

I don't know, these are quite a bit faster than Owls, aren't they? And they peck a bit less.

video;

[trepidations]

[ Well Neville, you might actually be more similar to Peter than you think! Somehow, when things go wrong, he always thinks they're his fault. ]

Pecking. Right. I forgot about that. And they don't smell, I guess.

[ But this guy knows about owls! He shouldn't smile, but he is starting to, even as he growls in frustration at the bracelet, trying to fix it. ]

Owls aren't as complicated as these things.

Video

[miss_merryweather]

I've been meaning to learn how to play, would you be willing to teach me?

[ She isn't entirely sure of what to do with herself in this place either. ]

Also, pardon me for asking but... owls would be easier than what?

video

[trepidations]

[ He looks up at the video and smiles sheepishly. ] I mean, I can. I'm not that good but... but I can at least teach you. You'd probably win a lot.

[ A shrug. ]

O-oh. Owls would be easier than this. Thing. I mean, communicating and -- yeah.

video.

[brainiest]

[ Hermione is just.

Staring.

Merlin. Her expression hardens a little, lips pursed. ]

I play chess.

video.

[trepidations]

[ Why do people stare at him so much? he can guess, but it's even more strange when it's people he doesn't know. ]

O-oh. Well. Maybe we can play? I mean -- er. I'm Peter. Maybe I should have said that first.

[ A tiny, sheepish smile. It's definitely a hint of what he might have been back in school. ]