Customs.

[Chavdar Zhefarovich]

Considering that Kalif was at the school currently, and too pissed off to have taken two others to have their marks of the family perched on them, Chavdar had to do it himself. First, he had to bring Rosaline to the Manor by means of apparating, then had to go get Alphonse. Chavdar didn't appreciate Alphonse much because of his sister, but there were no more complaints from Nataliia so Chavdar was a little mutual on the guy. Chavdar led the way down the hallway, but stopped before the entrance to the Patriarch's room so they too could receive the same torture from Asparuh. Chavdar warned the two, "Just so you two know, I won't be in there. It is an ancient tradition, and only the Head and Patriarch can be in there. I will have to stand out here. Asparuh is not in a good mood, as he um, killed off many members of the family recently so be sure to remember to kneel down in front of him. Failure do so might be a bit...bad. Rosaline, you can request to be put to sleep while going through this, or have a numbing spell. Most people don't know that." Chavdar winked and he cast a sly smirk to Alphonse. He doubted that Alphonse would be willing to have either done to him.

 

[Asparuh Zhefarovich III]

It was time once again to have someone receive the symbol of the family. Why Kalif didn't bring the two in was not any of Asparuh's concern. As long as the traditions were held, and things went by smoothly. The same utensils were set out accordingly across a table, and Asparuh held the knife in his hand so he could calculate where to put the mark itself. Asparuh was not in a pleasant mood, having to hunt down and kill off the remainder of half-bloods and blood traitors from the family that descended from Vladislav. Asparuh had not decided whether or not to kill off his brother and that whelp he managed to impregnate. Vladislav's grandchildren, however, were in the care of Rayna. Asparuh was prepared for this, and he turned to the entrance to where the two would be coming in. After that, Asparuh would be blocking the entrance for this ancient and painful ceremony. Asparuh just wanted this done and over with, before he would return to his family business.

 

[Alphonse Snow]

Although Alphonse was not in the best of moods today, a few days Nicolette decided to completely vanish off into nowhere and not bother to tell anyone where the hell she had gone and when she would be back. As the political advisor and family's healer she was needed quite a bit, and her absence was making the whole family testy. On top of that both Theodore and Alyssa decided that they were old enough to try and live outside of the manor and pretend that they were adults when they were barely about to be sixteen year olds. As Chavdar spoke, Alphonse kept quiet but made sure his icy blue eyes remained on his form, getting the tattoo was something he took pride in but at the same time didn't think was all that much of a big deal because from what he had heard before, other people have gotten it and were still living.

"Mmhm." He answered to Chavdar coldly, he didn't have an issue with the man personally but there was just too much on his mind for him to really register anything much right now. Stepping inside the room with Asparuh he kneeled to the man like he knew he was supposed to do before he did anything else in his presence. Standing up to his full hight he crossed his arms and waited patiently for something to happen. He didn't really need to say or do anything much because he wasn't in the mood nor was he sure Asparuh was ever in the mood to be social. 'I wonder which members he killed off and why?' He wouldn't ask but it was still a question he brain refused to ignore.

 

[Rosaline Mckay]

Rosaline wasn't too fond of Alphonse and that poor Nataliia had to handle him and his children along with Joseph's so as she was lead through the manor she ignored the man's presence all together and as they stopped before a room she assumed Asparuh was in, she listened to her love in silence, smirking once as he winked to her. The red head kissed Chavdar's cheek before turning away and entered the room behind Alphonse. When he had stood up and stepped out of the way, she kneeled before him although she didn't like the thought of doing it, she had never done it before.

As she stood up, Rosaline flashed Asparuh a prideful smile, knowing full well that it wouldn't be returned but she was here for her husband. Her gaze moved from the Patriach and she looked at the knife he was holding and winced mentally, her expression not faltering for she did not fear it herself she only feared it for her daughter and son as they would get it soon enough.

 

[Asparuh Zhefarovich III]

A barrier was placed, and Asparuh nodded slowly and slightly. It was good that they learned the tradition. It would have to be done every time they were in his presence, as well as bowing in front of the Head of the Zhefarovich family. Using the knife as a pointer, he narrowed his eyes at Alphonse, "You first." Asparuh wanted to hurry up and get this done. He didn't feel like torturing today, as he simply wanted to kill instead. Plus, he had to find out where in the world Vladislav was located before he would shut off his branch on the family tree, and pretend he never existed. Asparuh would have to strap down Alphonse, mark him twice, then burn the tattoo through the skin, muscle, and possibly the bone of the shoulder-blade. They were lucky. They didn't have to receive it all over their back.

 

[Alphonse Snow]

Alphonse wasn't phased that he had a knife pointed at him, reminded him of his younger days when he often got in trouble with his father and grandfather. "Alright." Was his only answer before he glanced at Rosaline then stepped forward, Asparuh made him nervous of course but he had been on better terms with the family lately so it's not like he had any reason to be extremely fearful of getting this done, either way it was required of him and he knew this.

Laying down on the table Alphonse readied himself to get that mark that would brand him and mark him as part of this family forever, and he was pretty sure it would be there for life even if he someday didn't want it to be there anymore. Alphonse had also made the decision not to get numbed or knocked out either, he was a Death Eater and he needed to be able to handle pain like a real man.

 

[Asparuh Zhefarovich III]

Asparuh strapped Alphonse's arms, legs, and back down with the straps on the table. Using the knife, he sliced the shirt over in the back, to reveal Alphonse's back. Standing on the left side, he calculated the measurements in his mind. Taking the knife, Asparuh smirked just a bit, as he pressed the knife into the skin. Asparuh sliced deeper than he did with Nicolette and Cecily. It was mainly because of the muscle mass. He went to the other part, before he sliced once more. Asparuh put the knife to the side, taking his wand and he uttered, "Alphonse, don't move. Don't whimper or even scream. Utter one sound, moved, one thing will get messed up, and your body will have to be disposed of and labeled as a failure." Asparuh had the wand to heat up to high temperatures, before he pressed it to the skin and started the mark. Skin burned and melted, as the mark started to form. It went through the muscle, and blood poured. Within twenty minutes, the tattoo was complete, and Asparuh ordered, "Now go." With a wave of his hand, the shirt was fixed, and the blood remained. It would be highly painful for months, but the worst was over. Black eyes landed on Rosaline. Her turn was now.

 

[Alphonse Snow]

This probably had to one of the most painful moments he'd had in a long time and it was almost refreshing his memory of the troubling ways he had as a younger boy. And as much as he wanted to hiss or flinch in pain he knew better than to do so because it could mess everything up and upset Asparuh even more than he already seemed to be. But the whole thing didn't take long though, just under a half an hour. So the moment Alphonse was finished and unstrapped he lifted himself up and immediately noted how his muscles stung when he tensed them, he was also pretty sure that it had bleed and that the blood was still there. 'I'll have to clean that off when I get home.' He didn't want anyone in the family to worry so he'd have to do it quick.

Without another word he glanced at Rosaline, almost sympathetically because he knew it was going to hurt for her as well and sat down in the couch that was in the room. He would have to wait for her to be finished so Chavdar could apparate him out of the manor.

 

[Rosaline Mckay]

Rosaline watched, preparing herself mentally, as Asparuh graced Alphonse with the crest. She had gone through child birth, could this really be worse? She doubted it would so as Asparuh silently indicated it was her turn and Alphonse got out of her way she, very willingly, moved over to the table and layed down flat on her stomach, waiting for Asparuh to do the deed. She would not allow herself to feel the pain, a simple act of mind defeating matter.

 

[Asparuh Zhefarovich III]

With a white cloth, Asparuh cleaned off the bloody knife and the crusted skin that gathered on his wand. Watching Rosaline get on the table, he strapped her down, warned her, "Don't move an inch." Asparuh grabbed the back of her shirt, and used the knife to slice into it. Asparuh knew that this would be excruciatingly painful. It was not nearly as bad as the mark when it was to cover the entire back, but it was still like melting the body part. Asparuh made the two slices to mark where he was supposed to the put the mark, before he put the knife down, and made the wand hot. Starting the mark, Asparuh allowed the wand to burn through the skin, down into the muscle. Blood burned and skin sizzled against the end of the wand as Asparuh did his art work. It took about fifteen minutes to finish. He fixed the shirt, and he unstrapped Rosaline. He cleaned of the blood, tissue, and skin off of his wand before he said, "You are finished. Now, go." Asparuh waved his wand and the barrier vanished. That was it.

 

[Rosaline Mckay]

Rosaline, although had felt calm moments ago, felt her stomach twist as she was strapped onto the table. She closed the lids of her blue eyes and braced herself for what was to come, each second reminding herself not to move, that she was doing this for her love and if she did she would not get to see her family again. As searing pain went all through her body, Rosaline thought she was going to black out from the pain. She smell of burning flesh disturbed her to absolutely no end and brought her to wonder how many times Asparuh had done this, how many mistakes had been made and how he had learnt this skill.

When it was over Rosaline let out a deep breath and wiped her watery eyes and stood up, looking straight at Asparuh. "Thank you, Asparuh," she said shakily before she bowed her head politely, giving him the most respect that she could bring herself to offer before she stepped out to see Chavdar. "That was horrible, Chav. How did you last getting it done to your whole back?" she asked rhetorically as she fought through the pain of having the thin cloth resting over the burned shoulder.

 

[Chavdar Zhefarovich]

Chavdar glanced up as the barrier had dropped. He was leaning against the wall and he sighed as knew that after this, Rosaline has probably survived one of the worst experiences of her life. However, it would be better in the end. Leaning off the wall, he was confronted by Rosaline. Chavdar placed a hand on her waist and he murmured, "You would be surprised how numbing it will get after a bit. Hadan and a few others received theirs already, but I am proud of you. You will have to stay out of the sunlight for a bit, or at least keep it covered." Chavdar glanced into the room and motioned for Alphonse to come so Chavdar could take them back home. Chavdar remembered Arnost telling him about the whole tattoo thing, Rayna highly enjoyed it, and was screaming in an inappropriate manner which in turn freaked out Asparuh Zhefarovich II, her grandfather. Chavdar was just glad it was done and over with. Rosaline was officially in the family, under the protection of the entire Zhefarovich family.