[ regulus notices that something is off, something is wrong. he was perceptive enough to figure out that voldemort had a horcrux from the tiniest clues, so it doesn't take much to make him realize that alfred is hurting in some way. but he doesn't know how to approach it so he doesn't ask, just tries to continue on like nothing is bothering him.
it's difficult, though.
tonight he's had another nightmare and it's bad enough that he wakes up shaking and sweaty, hair plastered to his forehead. he pushes it out of the way and sighs, sitting on the edge of his bed for a long moment before finally getting up. he'll go get some water and maybe read to try and force himself to relax. it might help to make him tired enough to sleep dreamlessly--or so he hopes.
he pads down the hall quietly, not wanting to wake alfred if he's asleep.
but he passes the living area and even though it's dark, he notices. alfred isn't asleep, he's in here, and regulus is about to leave him in peace when he smells the alcohol. it's not wine, that's for sure, and it's not dinnertime, either. he tenses, unsure what to do, and pauses in the doorway to just... watch, a moment, frowning.
when he speaks he sounds sleepy, and a little wary, and a little unsure. it makes him sound a bit younger than he is already. ]
Alfred? It's late. What are you doing up?
[ what are you supposed to do when your contract is broken? it's not even one of regulus' rules: alfred put that one in himself. more than being angry or even upset, he's just worried. ]
no subject
it's difficult, though.
tonight he's had another nightmare and it's bad enough that he wakes up shaking and sweaty, hair plastered to his forehead. he pushes it out of the way and sighs, sitting on the edge of his bed for a long moment before finally getting up. he'll go get some water and maybe read to try and force himself to relax. it might help to make him tired enough to sleep dreamlessly--or so he hopes.
he pads down the hall quietly, not wanting to wake alfred if he's asleep.
but he passes the living area and even though it's dark, he notices. alfred isn't asleep, he's in here, and regulus is about to leave him in peace when he smells the alcohol. it's not wine, that's for sure, and it's not dinnertime, either. he tenses, unsure what to do, and pauses in the doorway to just... watch, a moment, frowning.
when he speaks he sounds sleepy, and a little wary, and a little unsure. it makes him sound a bit younger than he is already. ]
Alfred? It's late. What are you doing up?
[ what are you supposed to do when your contract is broken? it's not even one of regulus' rules: alfred put that one in himself. more than being angry or even upset, he's just worried. ]