InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Gawsh."

• wildling kera ryan • (foxtrotter) wrote in valesco,
@ 2017-11-18 01:15:00

Entry tags:

adian rosenberg, eleanor podmore, group, hestia jones, jake bexley, kingsley shacklebolt, larkin whitby, louis bonaccord, sturgis podmore

Redrobe Task Force HQ

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NELLIE

protegos
2017-11-18 07:51 pm UTC (link)

So, his wife was a big damn hero.

Sturgis had always known that, of course, but tonight Nellie had proved it beyond a doubt. It had all happened so quickly, and thankfully he had been home with Luke when the aurors had knocked on his door. Initially stunned by panic, Sturgis then swiftly dropped their son off at his mother's (their regular babysitter too, seemed to be having a bit of a night) and raced to Mungo's.

She'd be alright, she would be fine, though he would really rather see and hear that from Nellie herself than some charts or another healer whose word he could only half accept. Sturgis had pulled the lone chair in the room over to her bed and pressed it as close as he could, and now he was doing his best not to nod off by flipping through the early morning edition of the Prophet with one hand, his other gripping Nellie's.

"A tree-lighting, already?" Sturgis murmured with a shake of his head. "We've got more than a month until Christmas..."

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destinesias
2017-11-19 12:21 am UTC (link)

Oh, she had a massive headache, right in the back of her head. It pounded in strength as she came to, and she couldn't focus enough to figure out why. Had she... she hadn't gone and---?

Nellie's eyes flew open all of the sudden, her mind catching up to what she last remembered. That witch, she had attacked her and demanded she let her into Jake Bexley's hospital room. When Nellie refused, the witch failed to take her wand and then pretended to---

She was in Mungo's. Sturgis was here. Sturgis was here? Was he reading the paper?

"Hi?" Nellie let out, momentarily finding Sturgis' presence curious. When she tried to sit up, she realized their hands were interlocked. That eased her somehow, and she leaned back to rest on her pillows. Her eyes bounced across Sturgis' face.

"Hi," Nellie settled on, still just a little out of sorts. What had happened? Was Jake alright? She knew Kera Ryan had been guarding the corridor, but... Nellie tried to sit up again, her free hand reaching for Sturgis. He wouldn't be here like this if everything wasn't alright, wouldn't he?

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protegos
2017-11-19 07:08 pm UTC (link)

"Oy, hi," Sturgis let out, the paper and premature Christmas trees forgotten. His other hand went to wrap around the hand of Nellie's he already had a tight grip on and he brought her knuckles to his lips. "Stay down, love, you had a bit of a knock in the head."

Sturgis was crouched out of his seat now, motioning for Nellie to lie back against the pillows. It wasn't lost on him how very calm he was behaving at the notion and sight of his wife in a hospital bed. He couldn't explain why he felt more proud of her than worried; maybe this sort of injury, caused by throwing yourself into the face of danger, made sense to him. Sturgis released one of his hands from the tight grip on Nellie's to fix some of out of place hair of hers.

"They got the woman who did this," he said, his brow furrowing. Sturgis knew that the first thing that came to mind when he awoke from an unwanted unconsciousness (and he had many examples of this) was a need for the results of the encounter. His eyes bounced around Nellie's face to get a good read of how he was feeling. "The aurors are fine. There's some serious shit going down, but---they're fine."

His hand rested on her cheek and he smiled, feeling relief at the sight of her awake flooding over him. "You're fine too. You're a big damn hero, you know."

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destinesias
2017-11-19 07:36 pm UTC (link)

She relaxed back, the concern and confusion on her face lessening. Nellie let out a breath she hadn't realized she had been holding and nodded.

The witch had been stopped, she hadn't gotten to Jake. Nellie still didn't know the exact details behind why his recovery had to be so secretive, but after the appearance of that dead fox in the ward, this must have been... something serious going on made sense. Her brow furrowed just a little as she hoped wherever he was now, whoever was monitoring his recovery, reminded him to do his daily strengthening exercises. They had taken his file with him, hadn't they? She'd put in a few notes concerning her intended next steps for---

Nellie blushed, Sturgis' words hitting her on delay. She reached to cup her hand over his, her lips pressing together in a funny way. She didn't know how to accept his praise, but she wouldn't deny it warmed her gut and her chest. She smiled as she spoke, staring back at Sturgis.

"No, no, that's not... I didn't do..." She reached for him, her hand nuzzling around the back of his neck. Her fingers laced into his hair and she pulled him close.

"Come here," she sighed, intent on a much-desired kiss.

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protegos
2017-11-20 02:13 am UTC (link)

Sturgis promptly and happily provided his wife's request. He probably kissed her a little too soundly for someone with a head injury, but he was never one to really know how to behave in the hospital. Nellie was alright, she was safe, she was the epitome of bravery, so she deserved to get kissed for however long she wanted.

After a long while he pressed his forehead to hers. They had many stories to share from within these hospital walls, and thankfully this one had turned out alright. Good, even. No one was in dire danger (at least for long), no one was on the brink of no return, it...was a relief, it gave Sturgis the sense that they could literally make it through anything and come out on the other end of it okay.

Bumps and bruises and all.

"I love you," he said, kissing Nellie again. "Do you want me to get you anything? A set of hit-wizard robes, perhaps...?"

Sturgis grinned against her lips. She would look rather nice in them, he was sure.

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ELSEWHERE

picaro
2017-11-18 10:26 pm UTC (link)

Was he in someone's house? Where was Louis?

His holding cell looked like a neglected guest room. The window was fake, the wardrobe shocked him when he tried to open it, and unappetizing grandma food appeared on the small writing desk in the corner of the room at random times. When his "breakfast" (grey, soupy oatmeal) appeared, Adian swiped the meal tray and the chair from the desk to drag it to the door.

"HEY!"

Adian rammed his hand flat against the door, glaring as he jumped on top of the chair to peak out the little door window. He couldn't see anything but a wall with dusted wallpaper, just like before. He banged his palm harder on the door.

"YOU CAN'T KEEP ME IN HERE FOREVER! I'M A---"

Adian paused, wondering how smart it was to bellow he was a hit-wizard. Did they already know that, because they were Seers? Would they move him, treat him differently if he made them aware of that fact? His brow furrowed and he rammed his fist with more speed.

"I'M A HIT-WIZARD! YOU KNOW WHAT THE MINISTRY DOES TO PEOPLE WHO KIDNAP HIT-WIZARDS?"

He rattled his meal tray, hitting it against the wall to cause more noise. But nothing happened; no one showed up, no one reacted to his hollering. Adian screamed a few more things, mostly about his squad, this awful food, and wanting to know where he was. His throat began to feel hoarse as he demanded to see Louis, so Adian took to bashing the meal tray against the wall some more. Mid a particularly hearty throw, the fake window behind him began to glow.

Adian spun around, jumping from the chair to approach it. He stared, watching as the window glass rippled like water until---

A toy ball popped out and rolled to his feet. Adian stared for a few seconds, noting that its red color reminded him of a child's quaffle he had when he was young. But that was the extent of his attachment, as without another thought, Adian bent down and launched the toy ball back at the window. When it didn't bounce back and went right through the window, breaking the illusion charm, he shot forward.

Glass littered the floor, but Adian paid that little attention. His focus was on the broken window, what he saw through it, and the question that begged to be answered; would he be able to go through too?

The answer was no, it seemed the wards to keep humans inside was still intact. But he could now see a hall of windows, a hall of holding cells, and two redrobes staring back at him on the other side. When Adian catapulted his food tray at the closest one, they scattered. He brandished his middle finger at the one he hit, pressing it as hard as he could against the wards.

"I HAVE STUFF TO HIT YOU WITH TOO!" Adian bellowed, pressing his whole face to the wards as he spotted two redrobes stationed a few windows down. When they did not move, did not flinch like his apparent guards did, it occurred; he wasn't the only one being held here.

Adian backed up from the window and moved toward the desk. Would the ward be able to withstand the pressure of a desk toppling through it? He should find out.

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ELSEWHERE AS WELL

bougeotte
2017-11-19 03:12 am UTC (link)

The seer’s nails rapped against the table.

“You can’t possibly stay silent forever.”

Louis lifted his gaze from the teacup in front of him to catch Delphina’s eye, and his lips curled into a smirk. Oh, she thought she knew him well, did she?

Not seeming to appreciate his minimal response, Delphina let out a light huff and a few candles around the room went out. The room was in the same layout as the one in her home, but the amount of trinkets and gaudy decorations were much less. It seemed like she had not spent as much time here, but enough to try and make it feel like home. Louis did what he could to gather whatever information about the location they’d been brought to, but save for a few dark hallways…

The crystal ball on the table between them was not the one from the earlier reading; this one glittered and sparkled like the night sky, and floated above the wood of the table. Delphina rose her hand and waved it over the ball,

“Need I remind you what brought you here?”

In the glass appeared appeared Adian, in a dark room, looking about as if trying to find a way out with his bashing of a tray. Louis watched his friend in continued contemplative silence, feeling Delphina’s hard gaze upon him.

His brow furrowed and with his chin he gestured at the crystal ball. How did he even know that was actually Adian, and not some illusion to keep Louis from acting out? Why did she even care what he did?

“What, you don’t believe what you See?” Delphina pulled out her wand (it was interesting to see that she could not do all magic with the wave of her hand) and summoned a small toy ball. She placed it in front of Louis and with tap of her wand, it disappeared; a moment later, it appeared in the crystal ball’s vision and Louis watched with great curiosity as Adian took in this new object.

He watched with great amusement as Adian chucked it back to wherever it came from, and his smirk grew as it seemed his friend had figured something out. Delphina’s hand waved over the crystal ball to make the images disappear and she let out yet another huff.

“You better get over yourself,” she said, looking irritated (at him? Adian? Herself?), “you’re going to be here a long while.”

Louis shook his head.

“It’s your destiny, Louis,” Delphina snipped. “It’s been in motion for years and finally, things are falling into--”

“Years?”

“Ah, so you do speak.”

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bougeotte
2017-11-19 03:13 am UTC (link)

Louis leaned forward, elbows pressing to the table. He did not acknowledge Delphina’s look of triumph, no, he was stuck on her words. “What do you mean by ‘years’?”

“Oh, you don’t think that cuff was dropped by your flat accidently, do you?”

For honestly the first time since they’d arrived here, Louis felt his face pale and his heart speed up its pace. Delphina’s irritation faded from her features and she waved her hand over the crystal ball again. This time, it was not Adian who appeared, but Louis himself in---

“I saw your face in the Prophet after your little adventure with the Prince,” Delphina explained. Louis’ eyes were glued to the image, his eyes scanning every detail of the newspaper article that was scrolling by, “and it brought on a powerful vision. You, my boy, are meant to be by my side when my ambitions come to fruition.”

“I don’t know what you Saw,” Louis drawled, “but I will never help you.”

“You don’t have much of a choice, do you?”

“They’re going to find us, Adian’s going to get---”

“And what about your sister?” Delphina remarked, causing Louis to press his lips together. “And your new nephew? Your parents? What about Nicola and those lovely twins of hers---”

“Why do you even want me!” Louis snapped, hands going up in frustration. “I’m not anything special!”

Delphina, instead of her usual comeback remark, sat back as if he’d startled her. Louis felt the hair on the back of his neck begin to rise. She watched him curiously and then tilted her head.

“You have a bit of Sight, my dear.”

“Bullshit.”

“That cuff? Ancient magic doesn’t get confused, but with all that mess in there,” she pointed a bony finger at his head, “things were hidden. You’re only just finding out your true abilities. With a little guidance…”

“I’m not helping you--”

“You are, or else,” Delphina interrupted, now standing.

She waved her wand and the table disappeared and so did the chair underneath him. Louis dropped to the ground and he pushed himself back as the crystal ball began to grow larger and brighter, showing images of himself from the past two years. With Adian, with Therese, with Jack, and Kera, and Joaquín, and Nicola...

His breaths were short and shallow as his eyes jumped about. This didn’t make any sense, he didn’t have a bit of Sight, he would’ve known---Louis couldn’t believe---Sage Yates’ voice bounced around in his head and it didn’t---there was no...Everything, they’d been watching everything he did because of some---vision of---

Louis pushed himself to his feet and with a rage he didn’t know he possessed, reached forward and swiped his hand hard to the side. The crystal ball went flying across the room and shattered, the glass showering them and the ground.

After the tinkling of glass silenced, all that was left was Louis’ heaving breaths. After a moment, Delphina let out a laugh.

“That’s my boy.”

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thebriny
2017-11-19 10:51 pm UTC (link)

So much was happening at once, Hestia hadn't realized she put her jumper on backwards until much later (earlier?) in the morning. She frowned, twisting as she toyed pulling it around the right way. But with Alex asleep in her lap, and Bobo biting her ear to stop fidgeting, Hestia quickly gave up.

She'd gone this long with it like this, had already talked to Joaquín and Kera about everything she knew concerning Delphina Mopsus, so what did it really matter now? Hestia frowned, docking her head back against the wall to watch the hustle and bustle before her. She had never been privy to the inner workings of a base of operations before (that's what Kera had called it), and if she wasn't so tired or concerned for Alex's safety, Hestia would've been deadly curious about what was really going on.

Something had happened with the Redrobes. Something had happened with Delphina, too, if Joaquín and Kera's interest in her exchange with her and Louis Bonaccord was any indication of something. Maybe even Louis, for Hestia was certain she had heard Nicola Scarpin screaming something about 'finding him! somewhere out of sight. Hestia didn't know, but she hoped that wasn't the case; she did not wish anyone to be in the clutches of that group of people.

When she realized someone was making their way over towards her and Alex, Hestia straightened. Her brow furrowed at the sight of his limp; what had happened to Jake? She hesitated before gently nudging Alex's shoulder to rouse him. Maybe the arrangements to be relocated to a safe place had finally been made? Just in case Jake was bringing over different news, Hestia did not yet dissolve the silencing bubble around Alex's head (he would've never gotten back to sleep with all this noise).

"Hi, Jake," Hestia let out, her mouth curling to produce a faint smile. Even in times like this, it was always comforting to see a familiar face.

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auroared
2017-11-21 12:40 am UTC (link)

Jake nodded and pressed a smile toward Hestia, settling down across from her. He looked quickly down at the groggy boy who was unmistakably Chambers’ son, and took in a breath. Everything seemed to have escalated at a rate that he could not have imagined. They’d gone from taking on this threat as a very specific set of individuals, determined to make Kera, Kingsley, and his lives miserable. Instead the Department of Mysteries had hung a, well, mysterious cloud over things that Jake didn’t particularly want to comprehend.

But, it was Kera’s case and they had placed a bullseye on her back. Chambers too, and apparently Bonaccord? Jake felt poorly that Adian had gotten involved with this mess, but when you ran in these sort of circles...

"They're getting ready to move you to somewhere more comfortable," Jake said with an affirmative nod to Hestia. He had been put in charge of the home base, as they were calling it, which right now meant keeping those out in the field updated with any new information, and those in the quarters from losing their minds. Funny, that, and it was why Jake was starting with Hestia and Alex rather than some of the other temporary visitors.

"But things are under control." Jake assured.

Sitting up now, Alex was now shaking his head within the bubble, popping it after a bit and giving his hair a quick run through with his hands.

"You're an auror?" the boy asked. Jake looked at Hestia first before nodding. Alex hummed and then patted down his robes. "I need my crayons. Do you have parchment? I had a dream, I've got some stuff to show you."

"Er---" Jake looked about and with a quick whip of his wand summoned over a few rolls he'd left on a nearby counter to take orders for food. Guess he was going to be taking orders from an eight year old, instead. "Is this enough?"

Alex examined the length and width of the parchment before nodding and dropping to the floor to begin his drawing.

"Does...he do this a lot?" Jake muttered to Hestia.

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thebriny
2017-11-21 02:27 am UTC (link)

Oh! Hestia blinked, surprised by Alex's sudden movements. He had a dream he wanted to show Jake? It took her a few seconds, but eventually, Hestia moved. She relocated Bobo from her shoulder to the bench, slipping the thin strap from her small bag over her head to open the flap. She may have gotten her jumper on wrong, but she had summoned a few things to stow away for Alex, herself, and Joaquín before rushing out the house. She rummaged a little before pulling out and handing Alex his magical crayons (the pictures you drew came to life!).

She took a deep breath and looked around quickly.

"He's... very creative!" Hestia tried to explain to Jake, watching as Bobo hopped down to the floor to join Alex. He patrolled the edge of Alex's parchment, randomly attacking the figures and shapes that moved near him. The owl ruffled his feathers, twisted to glare at Jake, and then proceeded to leap after a crayon that had begun to roll away.

Hestia frowned when she realized Alex was creating a very particular and familiar color... along with some very dark scenes. And was that...? Quietly, as to not attract any attention, she waved her wand to enact a casual mumbling charm over the three of them. For Alex's protection! She trusted Jake, but if Alex was doing what she thought he may be doing... Hestia looked at Jake again, her gaze lingering for a beat too long before she redirected all her attention back to Alex.

"Alex, this is..." Hestia began, resisting the urge to join Alex on the floor. She stayed seated to appear as if everything was normal. "You've drawn a lot! What is it you want to tell Auror Bexley?"

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auroared
2017-11-22 03:49 am UTC (link)

Jake was already beginning to put Alex's animated story together and he was finding he'd wished the kid had stayed asleep.

"This is my dad, he's real mad." Alex shook his head as if he felt poorly for those his father was going to run into. "Auror Ryan's there too, but they're not together." The two figures were on a look of appearing in the corner of the parchment but running along different edges

"They got separated?" Jake asked, hoping that it was an intentional separation and recalling quickly that Kera had said that Alex was of high priority and had been targeted before. The boy seemed so sure of his dreams and his recollections, it could mean that these weren't just a child's fancy. Jake slid off his chair and down to the floor to sit beside Alex, to coax more of the story and to get a better look at all the details. He'd have to take this in for evidence, or...what would you call...? The boy smoothed out his parchment as it had begun to curl up at the ends.

"And who's this?"

"I dunno, but he seems like fun, he keeps throwing stuff."

"Adian."

"You know his name?"

Jake pressed a small smile and nodded; it wouldn't be anyone else, would it? His hand reached out to point out one of two figures wearing different shades of red robes. Jake felt a tugging at his gut, but looked to Alex for answers. "And him?"

Alex sat back on his heels and frowned. "That's my friend Louis. He's in trouble, he's upset."

Squiggly lines were vibrating around the drawing of Louis, and the exaggerated frown clearly indicated discomfort. Not good, not good. Jake looked up at Hestia for a quick beat before turning back to the parchment.

"Is that one of the bad guys?" Jake asked, pointing to another figure in red that was edging along the side of the parchment, pushing into a corner. He had the strange feeling...

"No, that's you!" Alex said excitedly, holding the parchment up for Jake to get a better look, even though he didn't want one. "See the hair? And your leg?"

Yes, he saw the great big slashes running up and down his leg. Was Alex seeing the near future? The far future? The..the...Jake shook his head and put a hand to the boy's shoulder.

"You did a really good job, Alex," he said, earning a grin from the boy. "I want to take this picture to show some of the other aurors, is that okay?"

"Okay! Make sure you show them Hestia and Bobo, okay? They're important."

"I'll be sure to," Jake said, looking up at Hestia again, his face betraying his upbeat tone of voice. The owl returned with the crayon it had been chasing and tapped it against Jake's shoe. Was it time to get moving?

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thebriny
2017-11-22 05:32 am UTC (link)

Thinly-veiled panic appeared on Hestia's face. Alex had a dream about the future, she was sure. And while that was good, that was also... not good. He didn't seem to completely realize what he had drawn, (nor should he, because he was a child), but if the wrong person realized the full extent of Alex's abilities... even here... while Joaquín or Kera were not present...

Hestia watched as Alex bunched up his parchment and handed it over to Jake. She stood up and put out a hand to help Jake from the floor. Her eyes bounced back and forth between him to Alex, and when Alex became distracted with drawing something new, she spoke to Jake in a low tone.

"You can't show that to anyone before you show it to Joaquín and Kera," she said, surprising herself at how firm she sounded. Her brow knit as she did not know how comfortable she felt telling Jake what to do. But he must be thinking... he didn't know what no one was to know about Alex's... abilities.

"Alex is..." Hestia tried to explain, but she found herself unsure how to state what Alex was without saying it outright. Usually, this was when she would excuse some of Alex's seemingly odd behavior by simply being an eccentric or energic eight-year-old. But... considering the situation and where they were...

"Joaquín needs to know first." Hestia decided on, and for good measure, carefully covered the exposed parts of Alex's drawing by folding it over itself. Jake would understand, wouldn't he?

"I know what's here is important, but... but Alex needs to be protected too."

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auroared
2017-11-24 04:24 am UTC (link)

Jake tried to keep the burn of something that felt like shame from coloring his features too much as Hestia helped him to his feet. He hadn't asked, it seemed like something she would innately do, but it---he couldn't keep the self-conscious questions from pounding in his skull.

"Alex is under the best protection the Ministry can provide," Jake stated, folding the parchment and putting it into a side pocket of his robes. That was enough for now, he believed and he bit his tongue to keep his flowing thoughts from leaving his mouth. Jake looked down at the boy to help. "Being that he's a minor I wouldn't be allowed to involve him without parental consent regardless of what I wished to do."

Truth be told, he didn't appreciate Hestia's bit of ordering and pressure; he knew how to do his job and his job was to protect the innocent. Alex would be taken care of, and he knew how to do it. If anything, those working on the case would become even more alert to the severity of the entire ordeal as there was now a child involved. The Department of Mysteries refused to provide a lot of intel, but they could not stop the aurors from figuring things out themselves.

Perhaps this whole mess could've been solved faster if the D.O.M. didn't have such sticks up their arses.

"Pack up your things, you'll be leaving to the safe location shortly," Jake said, patting Alex on the head a few times before nodding at Hestia. While the images Alex drew may not provide strategic clues, it could help those on the field get their heads into the proper frame, and that needed to be settled as soon as possible.

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thebriny
2017-11-24 09:54 pm UTC (link)

But even within the Ministry, anyone would still be able to--- If Joaquín and Kera weren't here and something happened, it would be easy for someone to take---

When she realized she had offended, perhaps even insulted or deprecated unintentionally, Jake, Hestia froze. Her hands laced together as she felt the anxiety in her chest build, and her face twisted in discomfort as guilt and fear consumed her. She didn't know how else to explain his stiff and reserved response, and she didn't want Jake to think her ungrateful for everything he was doing. That wasn't it, it was just--- Alex, other people--- she didn't know what Jake was or wasn't aware of, she---

"I didn't mean---!" Hestia tried to explain, but she cut herself off when she heard how strangled and emotional her voice had turned. Jake probably wasn't too keen on talking to her now either, so she quickly nodded and turned away. She dropped to the floor to help Alex pick up his things (she had nothing but the clothes on her back and what was already in her bag), swallowing the tears forming in her eyes as fast as she could.

Everything--- would be fine. Joaquín would be fine, nothing--- would happen to Alex. She wasn't--- she wasn't ever going to see those witches and wizards in redrobes again, they weren't---

Though he clearly did not appreciate being handled, Hestia stuffed Bobo into her bag. She did not rush Alex, but rushed herself, keeping her gaze down until it was time to leave.

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redfrosts
2017-11-20 03:37 am UTC (link)

When Kingsley asked Larkin to help with an emergency case, she hadn't thought it meant doing research and security. Divination research and security, no less, which wasn't very... exciting. Or even logical most of the time; it wasn't like other wards and charms.

But what was an auror consultant to do? She had dabbled in this kind of thing before, Greece was littered with anti-Eye wards (to protect secrets) and she of all people knew how to fortify a command central from unwanted visitors. Anti-apparation wards, anti-location charms, disillusionment spells, anti-object passage... even anti-animal wards. After checking the no-passable-object ward worked by slinging her Protection from the Third Eye book forward, she transformed into a tiger.

Larkin flopped to the ground with a huff. Because she was bored (and because she certainly could not let Kingsley be aware of that), Larkin swatted one lazy paw forward. It bounced off the invisible blockade like it was meant to, and she let out a great exhale in disinterested victory. To ensure ward strength, she batted at the wards again. Because she continued to lay on the ground, she was unaware of approaching footsteps.

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suddenbolt
2017-11-25 06:02 pm UTC (link)

The Ministry bunker in the headquarters for those who needed extra security was, in all respects, nice. A basic kitchen, sitting room, and bedroom. Nothing more than a run of the mill hotel would provide with none of the frivolities. The only thing that Kingsley found to be above average was the bathroom; it was well lit with perfect water pressure, so it could cause a person to get lost in the usual calmness of a shower. Kingsley often thought best while in the shower, as he was sure that other people did, and it was especially important when working on a case such as this.

Kingsley and Kera had been working on practically the same case for weeks without knowing it. The men Rami had been fighting against for what felt like ages were the ones behind the torture of Kera, Jake, and himself. Though, really, a bloody Roddy Pontner had only been something of an inconvenience. Kingsley did not appreciate being a pawn, and now knowing that he was only 'targeted' to keep Kera off their trail brought on an extra kind of irritation.

He stepped out of the bathroom, towel wrapped around his waist; Kingsley was glad he had a tight hold on the knot as he had faltered at the sight of a tiger lying at the foot of the bed. As many times as he had seen Larkin transform into her animagus, it did not lessen the surprise of such a majestic (and dangerous) creature appearing when you didn't expect it.

He moved slowly to sit on the end of the bed, and now that he was over his slight shock, reached out his foot and caught her slowly wagging tail against the floor. Hopefully he would not be mauled.

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