"Why don't we all go out for drinks or something so we can relax and talk?" Regulus suggested, glancing from Gellert to the three Lestranges. "We can brainstorm the situation."
Gellert nodded, gaze resting thoughtfully on their former prisoner as Rabastan opened the door to his cell.
"Want to come along, Mate," Rabastan asked, and Alec shrugged, before nodding.
"Why the hell not?" He hesitated, glancing down at his prison uniform. "Mind stopping off at my place first so I can change? Hopefully my things are still in order. I assume the Ministry has my wand?"
"Oh, surely," Bellatrix said. "Why don't you let my dear cousin Regi Apparate you home to get more clothes, then to the Ministry to collect your wand. We'll meet you..." She glanced at Gellert and Blaise with arched brows. "Where do you wish to imbibe, gentlemen?"
"How about The Alchemist's in Knockturn?" Zabini suggested lazily. "They also serve a nice meat and cheese platter."
Blaise turned to Regulus with a frown of concern. "Are you alright being roped into this, or would you like Gellert and I to take care of it?"
"Regi can just look into Alec's head and get his address to Apparate him home. It's more efficient to have him attending to it," Bellatrix said impatiently. Regulus had slept all bloody day while everyone else worked, so he could bloody well be useful.
"It's alright," Regulus assured Blaise. "It isn't as if I can actually drink, so do feel free to get started without me. I only suggested we go out because a bar felt like a good place to brainstorm, and I supposed everyone else could use a drink."
"Very well then, If you're quite sure, thank you," Blaise told him, giving him a grateful smile. "We promise not to start the important talk until you arrive."
"Of course," Bellatrix agreed, smiling at her cousin to soften the fact she'd sent him off to help a strange bloke that no one knew but still had to deal with.
"We'll join you all soon," Regulus said. Turning to the former prisoner, he began asking for his address as the rest walked away.
Once off the island, they Apparated to The Alchemist's in Knockturn. The place was dim with an impression of cozy confidentiality that any Dark wizard could appreciate. Alchemical symbols were carved onto the walls, and all drinks were served in goblets of fake gold, styled like the holy grail. It was quite busy, but there was one large empty table in the back that provided everyone enough room to settle down comfortably.
A goblin girl with her hair in pigtails and a neon sweater hurried over to take their order. The owner of the establishment made his own brews as well as having some imported from interesting faraway places, so drinking at The Alchemist's was always an experience. To Bellatrix's surprise, everyone ordered some variety of fire whisky. She and Rod ordered creamy vanilla, Rabastan opted for black cherry, and Gellert and Zabini chose buttercream. Bellatrix had taken Blaise and Gellert for wine men, and when she said so, Gellert nodded, flashing a grin. "Yes, but it's been a long day."
"Too bloody long...not to mention frustrating," Blaise drawled his agreement.
They sat in silence, each taking in the room as best as he or she could. Bellatrix thought it was amusing how each of them had natural tendencies that led them to scrutinize their surroundings for information or danger. It made her feel that she, Rod, and Rabastan fit in with Grindelwald nicely. Then that thought annoyed her...because why did they need to fit in with Grindelwald or anyone else? Especially after all they'd gone through, practically breaking themselves for a mad soulless man who had, when it came down to it, truly valued nothing, not even his own soul!
Because he was Grindelwald! The one they'd really wanted, the one every Dark wizard had really wanted when following Voldemort initially! Rodolphus's family had often bragged that Grindelwald particularly wanted the Lestranges in his corner. Now, though, when it came to the three of them, he hardly seemed to care that they'd gladly kill Muggles for him or fight for wizarding rights. He may be free of Nurmengard and young again, but Bellatrix believed he may have lost that initial fire of youth. He seemingly had no interest in picking up where he'd left off.
She also didn't quite know what to make of his personality. He seemed a bit too playful and nearly careless at times, yet with that dangerous edge which caused you to look again. Also Regi liked him quite a lot, and Bella trusted his judgment. Still, the fact that she was tempted to do it again, to follow anyone, even Grindelwald who had all of his soul, was as disappointing as it was tempting. The goblin girl returned with their drinks, luckily breaking into Bella's thoughts.
"Bottoms up, motherfuckers," Rabastan growled, tossing back half of his glass.
Grindelwald and Zabini sipped at theirs. Rodolphus took a deep swallow as did Bellatrix, both opting for the middle ground...just to see what it felt like.
It was always interesting for Bella to see her and Rod doing the same things nearly at the same time. The thought made her smile, and she reached to cover his hand with hers on the table. He turned his dark eyes to her, taking her in with open appreciation and a fierce pride that made her stomach clench in anticipation of the night to come when they were alone.
"I wish Black would hurry his ass," Rabastan complained.
"Could be that our boy Alec is the one dragging ass," Rodolphus defended Regulus lightly. "He's the one needing clothes and a bloody wand, after all," he pointed out, smirking in mild amusement at his baby brother.
"We can order something to eat while we wait," Grindelwald said. "I'm glad to spend a bit of time unwinding before mentally returning to work. Regulus won't be eating, so we won't be leaving him out of anything."
Bellatrix nodded, realizing that she was starved, or perhaps the drink was making her hungry. That often happened with strong drinks. When next the goblin girl was near their table, Grindelwald smiled and waved her over. "We'd like two of your platters, please." The girl nodded and hurried off.
"So what do we talk about while saving the productive topics until Regulus is here," Bellatrix asked. Raising her glass, she took another swallow, peering over the rim at Grindelwald.
"How about my stunning good looks?" the blond quipped.
Bellatrix made a face. "No one cares."
"Untrue," Gellert protested. "Blaise..."
"Excuse me," Bellatrix interrupted quickly. "What I meant is that none of the three of us give two shits!"
"Too right," Rabastan agreed, polishing off the contents of his glass.
Gellert laughed, pleased to have gotten a reaction.
Thankfully the goblin returned at that moment with two laden platters floating ahead of her. They were made of gleaming silver and piled high with thinly sliced meat, cheese, bread, olives, fruit, and even chocolate.
Rabastan grinned in approval. "Suitably posh and mildly odd. I love!"
"Agreed," Rodolphus said, adding his own verbal stamp of approval.
"What happened to the stuffed pears," Blaise asked the goblin waitress.
"We ran out so you got extra of everything else," she replied apologetically.
"Fair enough," Zabini conceded.
The Lestranges had their platter, and Blaise and Gellert the other. Gellert set a third of it aside, presumably for Alec.
"You trust this Alec bloke," Bellatrix asked and Grindelwald shrugged.
"Why not, we know he was speaking the truth. We'll just keep him on as Shadow Ops, and have him working against HER."
"You don't think he'll be more willing to turn on us after we accidentally put him away and got him just a little tortured?"
Grindelwald chuckled appreciatively. "Paranoid! I like it. Seriously, though...we will make it worth his while, give him a promotion and some inside information. Of course, it'll be up to the three of you to make it up to him for that bit of torture."
"Hey, that isn't how it works!" Rabastan squawked. "We never make up for torturing anyone! And besides, we believed we were well within our rights."
"This is a case of you play, you pay," Blaise drawled. "At present we need all the allies we can get. Just ask him what he'd like in recompense. I doubt it'll be your first born or anything."
Rabastan heaved a sigh, waving the waitress over again. "I need three more refills, please."
By the time Regulus and Alec joined them, they were nearly finished with dinner, and Rabastan was four drinks in. Bellatrix and Rodolphus were nursing their second, while Blaise and Gellert were almost finished with their first. Alec wore ocean blue robes, and his short dark hair was neatly combed. He no longer had the harried look of a prisoner. The right clothing did do wonders for that. It took Bellatrix a moment to notice that Kreacher stood just behind Regulus. The room was dimly lit, after all.
"Where were you earlier," she asked the elf with an annoyed frown. "You're always together, after all."
In truth she'd entirely forgotten to wonder about that previously, so much was going on. So much was always going on of late. They'd really needed this unwinding session before the brainstorming that was about to commence, she realized with a slight sigh.
"Kreacher was talking with Kereston," the elf explained. "She works such long hours, he does not get to see her as often as he would like."
It was Kreacher's close friendship with the new little Minister that had gotten the Lestranges where they were today, so Bellatrix wasn't going to complain about that. Regulus was always more focused when Kreacher was present, but the elf was here now.
"We saved you something to eat," Gellert told Alec, pushing the platter toward him.
"Thank you. That was very thoughtful," Alec replied, his tone one of polite reservation. "While I did get locked up and tortured for a crime I did not commit, at least, not without being ordered to do so by the very Ministry who put me away for it, I was released and treated fairly when I spoke up. That's more than would've happened with the old Ministry, so if you've all been shitting yourselves, we're square as far as I'm concerned."
Bellatrix wondered if Regulus had done some vamp mind trick on Alec and planned to ask her cousin later, so she could give him kudos for being extra careful if he had.
"What about the torture? Don't I owe you my right nut or something so you don't go following Delphini for revenge," Rabastan asked cautiously.
Alec barked a laugh and shook his head. "I'm not following anyone claiming a connection to Voldemort. Just buy me a glass or two of whatever you're having, and we're good."
Rabastan sighed in relief. "Right… Thanks!"