InsaneJournal

It had become part of their new normal, lazy evenings together, both of them having slightly more free time in their schedules at the moment. They would have dinner out so they could be seen together and then come back to one of their flats for some time together. Tonight was just another one of those nights. Dinner with the Bulstrodes, great sex, and now the two of them curled on the couch, with Bina in a silk dressing gown. Both of them going through their journals while the wireless played in the background. It was... nice, especially after her weekend away.

Once she'd caught up, Bina set her journal aside and turned to look at will. "Can I ask you something?"

It was nice, relaxing really, and Will was oddly fond of these nights. He'd find things to do if he'd had the night to himself, it wasn't a question of needing something to fill his evenings, but he liked her company. Sure he couldn't do certain things on journals while she was there, but he'd do it at home.

"Go ahead," Will said lightly, still looking at his journal for a moment before he closed it and gave her a teasing smile and kiss. "But you know I never promise anything when it comes to answers."

Bina smiled against the kiss. "I'm well aware of your policies by now, dear," Bina said with a knowing smile. She ran a hand over her hair, making sure the curls fell on both sides of her head like William liked. "Some of my aunts were asking me at tea whether we've set a date yet - for the engagement that is. I told them that we're enjoying the courtship but I am curious what sort of time frame we're looking at."

Ah, this question was one he'd expected would come up eventually. "Doge aunts I take it?" Will leaned down to kiss the hair covering her vine tattoos, she was right he really did prefer it this way. "Hmm, the engagement date is the flexible one I think. Wedding I imagine spring, or summer I suppose, whatever suits you. I really don't have a preference there but if your family wants a big to do then they might push us to move it to summer to give them more time." He knew she wanted this to move faster than he did, a fact he found odd if anything given her old views on marriage. He hadn't expected her to be so..rushed.

"But I'd rather we get all practical matters sorted out before an official engagement, that way we can do those things without the scrutiny and engagement invites and it'll go smoother."

"Bulstrodes actually," Bina explained, mildly surprised at his answer, especially if he meant the coming spring or summer. She had half expected him to want a year or two engagement. Bina didn't care what time of year they got married - she knew that most of the wedding would be planned my aunts and the like and it would be just another event. They would make sure all the stops were pulled out and that the Bulstrodes were shown in the best possible light with no doubt as to their societal status.

"Oh, and what practical issues are those? Was something amiss with the documents the solicitor drafted?"

Truth was that his original plan involved a year of engagement, but Bina seemed to be in a rush for various reasons and he couldn't see himself keeping a hold of her and putting her off for that long. The shortened engagement could be excused by society he imagined, for her age no doubt. Not that he'd tell her that.

"Really? Well you have too many aunts, you can't blame me for getting that wrong," Will rolled his eyes. The Doges were the ones he had to be careful with, especially since her mother didn't think much of him, so he always assumed by default that they were the ones who might cause him problems. "Nothing amiss with the documents, though I need to send you mine and I think my solicitor wanted to discuss a minor point or two from yours though I can't recall which specifically right now. No it's not the legal things, it's...setting ourselves up so this goes smoothly."

Will leaned forward, just slightly not to displace her from her spot curled up against him, to put his journal on the coffee table. "When we're engaged there will be greater scrutiny, people will be looking at us more, for weak points too." He paused here. "Which means we might need to make some changes. Some of which we've already started, we are even more discreet with our dalliances and I certainly go out partying less than I used to. Essentially cutting things that will hold us back." Will gave her a look to see if she at least agreed so far.

Bina raised an eyebrow, curious what these 'minor points' were but ignoring it for now. She shifted so she was facing will, and studied him. She had stopped the pub crawls and long nights of clubbing and random sex at clubs, which was frustrating but a necessary sacrifice to reclaim her status as Lady Bulstrode. "Of course, but I thought we'd sorted all that."

"Most of it, yes." How to bring this up was the issue. "Do you remember when we talked about if either of us had an issue with any of the other's...side pieces?"

"Yes.." Bina said, dragging out the word as she studied the man in front of her. She looked relax, but she was suddenly on alert, wondering just what the issue was. Was Will jealous of Lyra? Unlikely but possible. Bole? Perhaps. She could see that. Well, she would miss the sex, but she could give him up if necessary.

Will bit the inside of his cheek, looking like he'd have rather not brought this up but he thought it was necessary. How much of that was an act was perhaps the question, but he did feel like this needed to be addressed and he couldn't have done it before. "Corner. He's...an issue."

"Corner?" Bina sounded incredulous. "How so?"

Will raised an eyebrow at Bina, inwardly a little baffled this was a surprise to her. "Bina, he was a student you...took up with before he graduated. Surely you can see that's a scandal waiting to happen?"

"He was legal," Bina explained. "And nothing happened at Hogwarts. Besides, he wouldn't say a word. We could make him swear an unbreakable vow if you'd like. He's not going to cause any trouble."

Will sighed and shook his head slightly. "I know he was legal but put it this way, if your aunts heard of it...do you think that detail would make the whole thing okay in their eyes? It's something that can be used against you, against us, and I'd rather it not." The second part of what she'd said he wasn't going to address, not yet at least. Mostly because he thought it ridiculous she could trust this kid enough not to say anything. That was only half the issue anyway.

"If my aunts heard about almost anything I do, nothing would make it okay. Sleeping with women and men? Sometimes together? Most of my bedroom and clubbing habits have been met with disapproval. And taking up with Corner is one of the tamer ones, but it's one that's secret. Unlike things that happened at bars and clubs. Half of wizarding Britain under 35 has enough proof of my bad character as it were. Not to mention the spread in playwizard. But you were aware of this when you agreed to this deal. As I recall, you were present at some of my more exhibitionist clubbing adventures. Why is Corner more of an issue than any of that? And what are you proposing? Offing the boy?"

"Yes, and most of those things you've stopped or reduced considerably. Not to mention you don't keep as many regular friends with benefits anymore. So the most they can claim is that they once had you in your wilder days. That's it. Corner though is recent, he was in school, and the issue is also you still have him on the roster. Even if it was a one off thing, it's more of a problem than shagging some stranger in a club. " It honestly felt ridiculous to him that he had to even explain this. " The longer you keep him on, the more likely it is that someone connects you two in that way or that he gets attached and who knows what he'll do then."

But at her question about what he was proposing, Will gave her the most deadpan look possible. Really, that he would propose killing someone to an auror's face. If Corner was being offed he'd organize it himself, there would be no Bina in the picture. "Don't be ridiculous. I'm saying he has the potential to be a significant scandal as long as you keep him on, and it makes him a liability. I'd take the unbreakable vow if he was willing, though people don't do that much nowadays and I'd be surprised if he was willing. But with or without that...it might be best to think about cutting things off gently with him. Claim an impending engagement as the reason, that's more than reasonable and it's something he'd probably take. But Bina...I don't want him to become a problem for us, it's better to handle the issue earlier than later."

"And if I end things with him, why would he keep silent?" Bina asked, keeping her face expressionless. "I think he'd be open to taking an unbreakable vow. He already knows I'm getting married and offered to end it if that's how things needed to be, but was pleasantly surprised when I told him it would be an open marriage. Apparently I was unaware of the conditional aspects though."

Will sighed and rested his chin in his hand, pursing his lips as he listened. Inside he was frustrated and more than just annoyed. The kid had given her an out, an easy amicable out and she'd refused it. How could she not see how he could be a problem, how did she not see that sleeping with a student and then continuing it could be a problem? Salazar. "If you keep things on with him he has no obligation to keep silent either. He's a teenage boy sleeping with a very attractive older woman that I'm sure none of his mates think he or they have a chance in hell with. Those kids talk, maybe he's already told them without naming names, I don't know and I can't trust that he hasn't. But even if he says nothing, keeping him on increases the chances of someone finding out about him. You're discreet but do you trust that he is? He's, what, seventeen? You can't trust..."

He sighed again, and leaned back, shaking his head and willing himself not to let any anger seep in, not to shut down and go entirely cold, it wouldn't get him anywhere. "It's not conditions Bina, you said if either of us had an issue we'd tell the other and we'd give reasons, that's what I'm doing. You said..." He looked over, giving her a searching look, like now he was reconsidering how to take her old words. "That we come first. That no dalliance was worth ruining this for. Is that still true? Or is Corner..." An exception. A weakness. Reason enough to risk things. Was she fonder of this boy than he'd thought?

"It's still true" Bina didn't say that to her, will and Michael were close in age. She didn't understand Will's problem with him but then there were a few things they still didn't see eye to eye on. She sat motionless, but thoughtful, considering what to say and what to do. "I don't agree that he'd ruin this. But what do you propose?"

Will didn't say anything for a long moment, just looking at her like he wasn't sure he believed those words. He hadn't necessarily believed them the first time really but this was as good a test as any about what she'd be willing to do. If Corner was that important to her, he had to consider where her priorities lied. "Essentially what I said before, find a way to amicably end things. I know you already turned down the best opportunity you had there but that doesn't mean that's that." If the kid came forward at least if Bina had already removed herself from him it was easier to say he was lying and it was a one off thing. As long as things were cut off they could at least be claimed to be past mistakes and indiscretions, she already had a significant past to deal with. The issue was that if it was still going on that would go against the 'turned a new leaf' thing the marriage was trying to demonstrate.

"Immediately or by the engagement?" She asked, as though she were asking if he wanted Merlot or Cabernet with dinner.

He wasn't sure what to make of her tone, if she'd just say she'd do it rather than actually doing it. Part of Will expected that really but he answered as if he thought she would actually follow through. "Before the engagement." Because he wasn’t sure if he’d make it official if she didn’t.

"I can work with that," Bina answered honestly, reaching for her whiskey and taking a sip. "I assume you're not planning to propose before Christmas?"

He gave her a long look at that answer, unsure if he could take it at face value. "...So you'll do it?" Why did he not trust that? It felt too easy given her initial resistance to the suggestion. Will picked up his own drink and took a sip too. "We'll see."

Bina shrugged. "I don't think he's a risk and I think you're being irrational about this versus some other things, but I do believe we come first. Which means if it's an issue for you then it needs to be addressed. Simple." Her tone was matter of fact. Part of her wished it could be resolved in a different way, but that was another thing altogether. "That was the agreement. But if I am breaking things off with him, then I want him to take an unbreakable vow that he won't talk about it. Because if I drop him, he has no reason not to go to the press or whatever."

Will sipped thoughtfully, raising an eyebrow at her. "If you want him to take a vow, that's up to you and on you. But if you really thought he wasn't a risk then you wouldn't need it," he pointed out. It was more important things were cut off, that way nobody else could find out at least. The boy talking was an issue she'd have to handle. If she didn't want him dealing with that, that is.

"So it's the sex and not him talking that bothers you?" She asked, raising an eyebrow. He wasn't making much sense to her, but then he didn't know Michael like she did. "So, how long do I have? A few weeks? A few months?"

"Him talking is a potential issue, but so is someone finding out. And how they find out if he doesn't tell them is if you keep him on your roster and give them opportunity to. He might slip up, he might talk, both are problems. But in either case if people find out and you two are still a thing...we can't play it off as some old reformed wild days or a lie on his part," Will explained as he put his glass back down. "Weeks."

Bina saw the situation differently, but she knew how stubborn Will could be. She simply smiled and took another sip of her scotch. "Then I guess I'll just have to ensure he doesn't talk and there's nothing for people to find out about, won't I?" she said, not particularly pleased with the turn of events, but she'd process it later. His answer earned an arched eyebrow. "Indeed? I wasn't aware you were that close to proposing."

The smile did nothing to reassure him, this was making it clear in his head how much he didn't trust her. But he smiled back as if everything was alright. "No, I just think with something like this the sooner it's done, the better." Because as far as he was concerned, it needed to be done and 'before the engagement' didn't meant the day before.

"I see," she said in a tone that implied she understood more than what Will was saying. It was idiotic in her mind, this obsession with Corner. Really, there were other shags who were more dangerous to them in her opinion. And she wasn't surprised that open didn't actually mean open. "What? Do you want proof that it's over before you consider proposing?" she asked, somewhat coolly.

He didn't know who these shags who would be more dangerous to them were, but Corner was a scandal. Maybe the kid himself wouldn't do anything with the information, and if he was anything like Bina thought he was then fine, maybe he wouldn't. But someone else might was the bigger issue, and he couldn't understand how she didn't see that shagging a student was a problem. "Are you offering proof?" He asked, raising an eyebrow at her.

"Somehow I doubt you'll be satisfied with my word alone, though I'm not sure what sort of proof I could give you," she said as sipped her scotch. If he didn't believe her, they had other problems.

"I'm not sure either, that's why I'm curious about you offering it," he shrugged and took his glass again.

"So what's to stop me from just saying it's over?" she challenged, one eyebrow arching at him.

"Nothing," Will said simply, taking a sip of his drink with a shrug. "It just says where your priorities lie is all."

"And how would you know one way or another?" Bina said as she got to her feet to go over to the cupboard and pour herself another scotch. The whole thing was ridiculous and she adjusted her dressing gown so it covered more before taking a sip and then topping off her glass again. She knew Michael would understand, but that wasn't the issue here.

Will shrugged again, thinking this line of questioning was silly. "You wouldn't know if I knew one way or the other I suppose. So you could say anything." And hope he never found out. Though if they were to be married he didn't see how she would manage that for too long. It was interesting though, they'd said not to hide dalliances from one another and here she was sounding like she was very much prepared to do that. Or preparing to do that. Problematic.

Bina turned to face him, watching him from her position by the liquor cabinet. "But do you trust me not to lie to you? Will you believe me?" she asked.

Will gave her another long look, tilting his head at her as he considered the question and how to answer it. "A few minutes ago, yes, though your last questions have me doubting now. But I hope you decide not to and realize there's no benefit to it," he sighed and looked back to his drink. If she lied about it, it'd say more than enough for him, he'd probably let her keep the boy on if she decided to lie and hide Corner, but she'd lose Will in the process. How much to invest in her was the question and Will was starting to see Corner more as a test of that than anything.

Bina took a long sip of scotch, draining half her glass in one go and then refilled it before focusing her attention on corner. "If you won't trust me - or can't or whatever - then there's no point in this, Rosier, and we might as well call off this whole arrangement now. Because not trusting each other - that's going to sabotage us more than anyone I sleep with."

Will leaned back against the couch letting his head fall back as he looked up at the ceiling and listened. The trust question was always a stupid one to him yet people continued to harp on it so he had to deal. Turn his head to her he raised an eyebrow. "I said I did, but all this talk of 'how would you know though' would have even the most trusting people doubt is all I'm saying. If you say you cut it off, then you've cut it off. I'll take it, and if it's not true then I was wrong about you and it'll come out. Simple enough." Will shrugged again and took a drink, it was a partially honest answer and certainly sincere enough, though it disturbed him that this was such an issue to her.

And yet for some reason she didn't think it would be that simple or that he actually trusted her. If he did wouldn't he let her handle this how she thought best? She sipped her scotch for a moment without saying anything.

She set her unfinished scotch on the sideboard and finally spoke. "I'm going to bed."

Will didn't move from his spot on the couch but he looked over at her, staring for a while and then nodded in acknowledgement. "And you want me gone." It wasn't accusing or judgemental, just a statement.

"Stay or go, it makes no difference to me," Bina said with a shrug. "But I'm not sharing my bed tonight."

Will gave her a humourless smile. Even if she hadn't said the second part it was clear enough. In his book when someone said it made no difference, it was as good as saying they wanted you gone. "Gone then, got it." He finished his drink before getting to his feet. "Have a good night, Bina."

Bina simply nodded absently and headed down the hall, turning into her training room instead of the bedroom where soon loud crashes could be heard through the closed door.

As Will left he could hear the crashes and he shook his head. His own emotions would resurface once he got home, he rather not let them slip here. Give her a few days to cool off and he'd consider coming to check on her.