InsaneJournal

Who: Cosmo and Mena Mulciber and William Rosier
What: A vow and an initiation.
When: 27 June, evening.
Where: Mulciber Park, Yorkshire
Warnings: Discussion of Death Eaterly deeds



Dinner had gone well and now it was time for Mena and Cosmo to retreat to the library with their guest for drinks and a more serious discussion than what they'd had at the table. Cosmo had learned from the search the Aurors had done after his father's murder that there were some things that it was better to discuss without the house elves present. The chairs were arranged around the fireplace so that all three of them could speak freely, and Cosmo poured the drinks while Mena and William settled in their heavy wing chairs. Not that a fire was needed in late June, but it was the ritual that was important.

He brought the glasses to his wife (first, always) and his guest, and then Cosmo poured a brandy for himself. "You can speak freely here, Will; you're among friends. Friends of your father's. I understand that you've spoken with Narcissa Malfoy recently about various matters. And with Fletcher Rowle as well."

Will took his glass with a polite smile and nod of thank you. Inside he was less calmly serene as his practiced exterior. He was fully aware of what a big step this was, of how important this induction was for himself, his family, and fixing their name. But he couldn't help but feel a bit of giddy pride that he'd get to follow in his father's footsteps, continue on a mission that the man hadn't been alive to see to completion. It felt right and it felt like something he'd been waiting for for ages.

"Thank you, I have. They were both, understandably, cautious about saying too much but were clear enough about the opportunities presented here. I'll admit I rather hoped to be given such an opportunity too." No point in pussyfooting around that, he did want this. Sure he'd had to pretend that his father's history was a black mark, but not for one moment was he ever actually ashamed of what his father and grandfather had been a part of. They had been right in picking their cause, and the Rosiers had been important to that cause once. Will wanted to make that true again.

Mena sipped her wine, shrewd expression obscured by the glass poised momentarily before her lips. Will was charming and intelligent, and their cause could surely do with more charming and intelligent.

But more was needed, too.

“Hope is a curious word,” she said lightly, the corners of her mouth softening to a slight, curious smile. “What exactly do you hope for, Will?”

"It's not a word I use often, that's true, but as much as I'm a firm believer in making things happen for yourself, there are certain opportunities that have an element that is rather...out of your own hands. For that I suppose one has to put some hope in, as much as I would like it to be otherwise," Will responded, his tone equally light with a slight shrug to it though it was clear enough from this and his years working for them that he was someone who wasn't as light as the image he put on. Still, he was speaking with more freedom than he had before.

"What I hope for though is a rather big question, ma'am." There was some amusement in his smile there. "I suppose I think in steps, but to start I'd like things at least back to what they once were, when we were coming into our rightful place at the start of the war. There has been too much of a swing in the wrong direction since then, and I don't believe a world where proper names have to tolerate those far beneath them thinking themselves equals or betters is a state in which we should be happy to live in."

"But of course there's little point if we're just progressing back to a stage we've already recently reached, obviously I hope we move further than that and set things up in an intelligent way such that changes outlast us. In my head I always understood that as the goal, lasting change." Will stopped and took a drink from his glass, a somewhat apologetic smile on after. "I apologize though if that was a bit of a long answer. Some things are difficult to make concise."

Cosmo nodded over the edge of his glass, a slight smile turning up the corners of his mouth as he did so. "A well-spoken, or well-written, answer implies some thought put into the matter, Will. As a member of the younger generation, it will be in your hands to hold society to a good course when people like Mena and I are no longer in a position to foster the necessary changes ourselves.

"Where do you see yourself in five years? In ten years? If it's not at the Prophet, we won't be offended." Cosmo glanced at his wife, the smile growing full and fond as his gaze rested on Mena. "I didn't start out there, and neither did Mena. We all find our places for the cause, but they may not be where we originally envision ourselves."

Will gave a gracious nod as a thank you for the compliment and took another drink as Cosmo posed his next question. He expected plenty of questions of course, he'd be disappointed if he wasn't thoroughly vetted before being inducted into such things. This showed that they were taking things, and his potential membership, seriously indeed. The question had him pause for a moment, since of course this wasn't the sort of thing he'd revealed to his employers before, though he was open about having found a potential job within the ministry recently.

"The Prophet has certainly afforded me opportunities and made me develop skills I doubt I would have found in any other job, and I'm very grateful for that. But I admit my goal has always been more within the Ministry itself. I had the scores, but when I graduated there weren't nearly as many spots as now and...while my name is an asset in applying to some things, it's unfortunately considered a negative to others." He'd been well aware of who owned the Prophet when he first applied for a job there, it had been a calculated move on his part and one he certainly didn't regret.

"As I've mentioned, sir, I did manage to get an interview for a position in the Department of Magical Accidents. The interviews went more than well, so if I'm rejected it won't be on that basis. But assuming I get that...five years I'd say management position at the very least. Ten though...by then I'd expect to head a subdepartment, or at least be the second and vital enough to it that I can use that to negotiate a promotion or a transfer to a department I'd prefer such as International Cooperation. But...if I'm looking farther down the line, which I always think people should at least do even if it changes with time...Wizengamot would be ideal. There's power for change in there."

Power for change. Mena’s smile reached her eyes. The boy did know how to impress.

“And there’s the right-minded ambition that makes you such an ideal candidate,” Mena pronounced, reaching the heart of the matter. She glanced at Cosmo, as sure of his confidence in the young man as she was in her own.

Cosmo nodded at his wife. As with many things, they were of one mind on this matter. "It's why I put your name forward as a potential recruit, Will. You've always done me good service, and worked toward keeping the right sort of tone in the news. Positioning you in the Ministry and ultimately in the Wizengamot will, I think, further that cause we all share." He tapped the inside of his left wrist: no subtlety given or needed now. "There is no more Dark Lord, but there are still those who weed out the unworthy."

Which brought him to another subject that he and Will had never discussed in any depth. "What is your opinion of Lady Noir, and the work she's done?"

Will smiled, a genuine one, at hearing all that. "Thank you," he said, aiming it at both of them. "I'm honoured it was you that put my name forward sir." It certainly meant more that it was an old friend of his father's, but even more that it was his boss and his work ethic and efforts had been noticed and appreciated.

The next question was one he was expecting, but it was also the one he was least sure what was expected. Will had no particularly personal connections with the remaining DEs and thus could only go off news and his impressions to whether Lady Noir and the Death Eaters were working together. The DMLE and public seemed to have that impression but...Will didn't think it was the case for a list of reasons. Still...he couldn't be certain. He certainly didn't think Lady Noir would go about recruitment like this but perhaps it was a test so he had to be a little cautious and not too negative with his answer, though he was still banking on his impression that the DEs were not backing Lady Noir.

"To be honest sir, I find her...difficult to understand. I'm not privy to what her intentions or reasons for her...work are, so I can only speak as someone looking on from the outside. But her actions seem rather...haphazard. If there is a method or larger purpose to them then I seem to be missing something that would make them clear to me."

This was as good of an answer as Cosmo could have hoped for. "She intimidates and makes noise, and that can have its use. In the old days, terror was one our regular tools. We've reduced our reliance on that tactic because we saw where it got us. Which is not to say there's never any such fun to be had--" and Cosmo did not look at Mena, because she enjoyed it less than he did "--but there's no point in putting on masks and robes and slaughtering, and leaving clues for the DMLE, as incompetent as they may be, when there's other work to be done. Work of the sort you've mentioned." He glanced at Mena to let her offer the next question. She was quite as good at this sort of thing as he was, and Cosmo knew she could ferret out information when he might reach a dead end, or think of things and approaches he might otherwise neglect.

Mena had little patience for Lady Noir’s methods, not least of which were those her husband expertly dodged mentioning in great detail. Terror had its uses, true, but the time for play had passed.

“That work is also rarely done alone,” she said warmly, eyes catching Cosmo’s briefly. “We are in concert with those who share our ideals, but we are also bound to further those ideals in a more… traditional… setting.”

She paused, smirking. Here was a conversation she’d suffered from her own mother, and a course she’d presumed never to pursue until Cosmo’s relentless attentions. It amused her to parrot the matronly language she’d scoffed at as a young woman, and to think that there were pleasures to be had in the home more than simply fulfilling the duties of one’s blood.

“Have you given any thought to marriage?”

Will's shoulders seemed to relax slightly at the confirmation that they didn't think much of Lady Noir either. Good, he'd bet correctly. He had issues with her methods, terror he felt was too early in the game and it endangered those of them who's names were more publicly connected to the Dark Lord's regime. The Rosiers obviously, but also Mr. Mulciber. But he didn't care to get into his opinions on Lady Noir any more, there were more things to move on to.

...Though he had to admit, marriage wasn't exactly a question he'd expected thrown his way. It was interesting though, and told him that Narcissa Malfoy played her cards close to her chest indeed if Mr and Mrs. Mulciber were unaware of the Cambina Corruption Conspiracy. Still, Will smiled at Mrs. Mulciber and took it all in stride. "Naturally of course, especially because of my position." Being the Rosier heir meant there had never been any question about his duty to marry one day. "Though I admit I have been putting my mother and others off the topic and hoped to continue doing so for a couple of years to give me time to better myself and therefore my prospects in the process. It seems more appropriate to go into the process when I had more to offer."

He paused to take a sip of his drink before continuing. "Of course that was before Mrs. Malfoy presented the opportunity to try and bring Miss Bulstrode to our side, or at the very least use her as an in into the DMLE. Given that any information from inside the DMLE is often vital but hard to get for us..." Will let that dangle and figured the older couple could figure out well enough what he was working on with Narcissa there. Best they knew, in his opinion.

Mena’s brows arched with interest.

“You’re unlikely to need to marry the girl to get information,” she considered shrewdly. A conversation was clearly wanted with Narcissa, and soon. “Though she’d make a suitable match, if she were open to persuasion. Do you find her receptive?”

Unable to keep a touch of amusement from her voice, she caught Cosmo’s eyes again, sure he would not have missed her double entendre.

Cosmo's expression was the picture of innocence as he glanced at Mena briefly before turning his attention to Will.

Will chuckled slightly. "No ma'am, if I needed to marry for information I would've had far fewer DMLE articles for the paper." They both knew he didn't do much coverage of crime or the DMLE, but the odd time he did and came in with exclusive information, it was accurate information. Clearly he had methods of getting information from her that worked.

"She'd be a beneficial match." Suitable was something else entirely, but in his position beneficial won out. "Mr. Bulstrode and Mrs. Malfoy both seem to believe in the long term she can be persuaded, and there are points that can be worked with certainly, but it's a long con. Currently Miss Bulstrode is bluffing with a claim to be looking for a husband, likely to get closer to her father's side and politics for...leads. I say bluffing of course but I believe she'll go through with it, she's quite committed." Clearly they hadn't been very informed on this, and he imagined that after this conversation that they would speak to Mrs. Malfoy for details and her part of the plan, but that was up to them and not in his hands.

It was no surprise that Cosmo hadn't been privy to the details of this plan, as subverting an Auror necessarily was kept secret to the participants. "On the one hand, marrying an Auror and gaining her confidence is quite a coup. On the other, it places you at a very high risk. Bringing you more closely into the circle could put you in a position that would make it easy to slip. Are you certain you're ready for that just now?"

"While ambition is always important, I believe in not overstretching past one's abilities. I wouldn't have agreed did I not think I was ready or that I wouldn't receive appropriate backup and assistance in the endeavor," Will responded, his voice measured and confident, but not overconfident. He didn't go into anything without having thought things through. "The concern about slipping is understandable sir, but I have every reason to want us to be successful, and every reason to want Miss Bulstrode's own plan to fail." Not to mention nothing to gain from her success. Besides, undermining the DMLE was a rather personal mission given how his father and grandfather died.

"Of course, I understand that if at any time it's deemed that the mission has no more chance at success or she becomes too great a risk then it will be halted." Whatever form that may take, he wasn't going into this imagining he wasn't putting Bina in the crosshairs here. But that didn't change anything for him.

Expression again shielded in part by her glass, Mena merely watched Will as he elaborated on his relationship with the witch, his eyes, his hands, alert for tension or some tell regarding the depth of his involvement. He provided her with little to go on, to his credit.

And, ultimately, to their cause.

“It seems you have everything figured out,” she said, tone confident as she rose to flank Cosmo, resting a hand lightly on his shoulder. She was ready, if he was, to do what must be done.

"I believe the time has come, yes--if you're ready, Will, to take the next step in committing yourself to the cause." Mena had the right of it, Cosmo knew, as always. It was time.

Will smiled, a small and serene one but genuine. This wasn't just any step to him, it was the step. "I am ever ready sir."