Office of Evander Bole [Cult Plot]
 

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Credit to Demented Death Eater

The office had been stripped, wall to wall, ceiling to floor, and before furniture had been brought in, or any decorating had occurred, a lattice of security charms has been applied around the room, crossing over, intertwining and creating an almost unimaginable net. It would be nearly impossible to overhear anything discussed in this office.

A fireplace was installed at one wall, with a few direct links which worked only after a certain password spell is uttered, the spell changing at least every week. Some of the direct floo links included, the Atrium, a floo hidden behind a portrait in the security office at Gringotts Wizarding Bank and an old and barely used floo on level ten. There were a multitude of others, each activated by a certain password along with floo powder of course. It was impossible to use this floo without those passwords, or you'd simply return to your origination point. For MLE employees there are direct floos provided for much the same purpose, and therefore nobody is permitted to use the office floo without permission.

The office, once it was reassembled to be an office, was decked out in mahogany. There were large wall to wall shelves, a large bulletin board and filing units, and a fairly big table with six chairs around it was pushed to one side. The focal point of the room was the large desk and leather chair, both more than big enough to fit one Evander Bole, his long legs and muscular frame. The desk seemed to be stacked with an ever-changing pile of paper work. In and out.

There were several portraits in the room which Evander had acquired at a cost, former Magical Law Enforcement Department Heads, Aurors, and Hit Wizards. Even a former Supreme High Mugwump. They were added security themselves, and good for advice on occassion. You were never truly alone in this room, though strangely there were small curtains around each of them, so that Evander could, if the situation called for it, ensure that the painted individuals contained in the frames, would not be able to see whatever it was Evander did not wish for them to see.

In front of the mahogany desk were three comfortable looking chairs, bringing the grand total of chairs in the room up to ten including Evander's seat behind the desk, though the room would be cramped with more than ten in it.

Not always here, Evander is often out and about, visiting with his employees when the silence in the office gets too much, or when the paperwork is just a touch too overwhelming. When he isn't present the office is usually locked, though if you know the password of the hour, you can get in.

Photographs, newspaper cuttings, maps and scraps of notes were pinned on a bulletin wall, a spare holster went in the desk draw along with some pre-paid owl postage stamps, a container of floo powder and several little boxes which contained portkeys. A few other interesting trinkets found their way into the drawers too and then they were sealed under lock and key and a coded runic combination which Evander worked into the warding and sealing spells.

His coffee mug took pride of place on his desk.

While you don't strictly have to knock before entering, you might find yourself on the wrong end of a wand if you don't.

You are here.

OOC: Please read the thread description before posting here! This isn't strictly a public thread, but anyone is welcome to have their character knock on the door, assuming they come through the reception first. Evander might not be in though, so it might be better to make an appointment!

The office can be used, with permission from the Department head, for division meetings if the conference room is in use, or if a smaller, more intimate setting is required.

Already?

Maybe it was Damien.

No the door would have opened for the D-Man.

He stood up and went over to it and slowly pulled it open. Wow. It... it had been a long time since he'd stood looking down at Izzy. He cleared his throat.

"Come in." He stepped back so she could come past him.

Isobel kind of blinked when he opened the door. She hadn't been mistaken. It was him. She'd thought he was dead....but that was after she'd gone through nearly 5 years worrying whether his was okay. And now...he just popped up as a department head. Yeah. You're a right idiot Evander Bole.

But right now.....she needed to clear all of this from her mind. Otherwise she was really not going to get the job. So she offered Evander a smile, and stepped into his office. Yup...she was trying to keep this professional.

...

Right. So no explosion. No murder. This was a good start.

"Take a seat." He suggested. The problem now was... he didn't know whether he should act like he had no idea who she... no that was ridiculous.

"It's been a while." He added quieter, and then folded his tall frame into his own chair. "I see you've been working with the ITF." Ahem. Funny that he'd just been talking to Damien about THAT particular group.

Isobel had no idea how this was really going to go. It wasn't every day that your ex-boyfriend was going to interview. When he suggested she sat down, she sat down, resting one leg over the other. She did have to admit it was kind of hard to be in the same room as him, and not hit him. She had been pretty angry when he'd just disappeared.

"I think a bit more than a while Van." She spoke just as quiet as he had. A while suggested it had been a few weeks, months maybe. But they hadn't seen each other for a long time. Mmm. "It was a very good experiance." It was right, but she wanted a change now. Hence why she was here.

Possibly he owed some sort of belated explanation but Evander was trying to keep his mind on the point of this... which was an interview and NOT a reunion.

"Well I know you're more than qualified to start with us." He answered. Well he knew intimately what she specialised in, to the point where he barely needed to look at her transcripts to fill in the gaps.

"Any particular reason you chose the British Ministry? With your qualifications and experience with the ITF, you could go anywhere." Did she know Tate? Hmm. A question for another time.

Part of Isobel was kind of glad when he didn't really press any deeper into their past. It was tricky, and complicated, and she had tried to block that part of her life out of her memory now. So she really didn't want to be thinking about it right now, maybe after the interview, but not right now.

She did have a smug smile on her face when he mentioned her being more than qualified. Well. Of course. And she knew her knew what she specialised in. Maybe some part of already knowing each other was quite an advantage, minus making it really awkward in a sense.

"I know I could've gone anywhere." She'd been approached by a couple of law departments before she'd came back home. "London's home...." She shrugged, smiling at him. "I'd been abroad 10 years...I wanted to come home." And she knew she could get an auror position here, so...why not?

"Why not?" He echoed. "We certainly need strong aurors on our team here." He'd been busy trying to rebuild the whole department, not an easy task with all the security checks, the interference from Borr and D'Isigny, as well as the events in the Wizarding World that needed complete attention.

"Your timing is perfect really. We have positions available, but I'm sure you know, with your experience, that I'd do my best to find a place for you regardless." With her experience. Nothing to do with... you know, the past.

"If you want the job... its yours."

Isobel couldn't help but let a small, more personal smile appear on her face as he spoke. He would've tried his best to find her a place. That was definetly something that was very nice to hear. Although she had a feeling that it was her experiance that would've got her a place....she was very experianced in law enforcement now.

The job was hers if she wanted? Well....She was hardly going to say no now. Not after coming all this way, and having this rather awkward interview. Isobel nodded at Evander. "I do want it."

"Well you better get started." He suggested, smiling slightly. "Assuming you're ready?"
...

"Isobel..." Hrggghmmblah. Van cleared his throat, speaking in a completely different tone from the whole department head conducting interview thing, "...I wouldn't want things to be difficult. Perhaps we should find some time to... talk."

And she could slap him and they could all move on with their lives?

"Of course" An auror was always ready right? And she was ready to get her new employed life off to a start....

Oh. Evander wanted to talk about that? "Oh..." She paused for a second frowning. She knew it would be good to talk about that, but she also knew it was going to bring some painful memories back into the forefront of her mine. "Talk about when you left with no explanation, and I worried about you for nearly 10 years?" She eyed him carefully. "Yeah...talking would be good."

"I didn't worry about you." Van answered thoughtfully. "I knew you were safe." Which had been why he hadn't told her in the first place.

It was strange looking at her. Like he was seeing her with two sets of eyes. Young Van, idealistic and somewhat infatuated, and the Evander of today, jaded, a little wistful, and a lot wiser.

"Perhaps when we're not on the clock." He added in a brisk tone and stood up. "If you come with me, I'll show you to your desks, and introduce you to your team."

He hadn't worried about her? Well yeah. That totally made her feel so much better. "At least I know you're safe now." She added quietly, looking away from him.

Mmm. And then it seemed that Evander had gone back into department head mode, which was probably a good thing really. "Okay." She nodded, really having to force herself to smile again, as she stood up.

"... as safe as any of us can be." Van wasn't much convinced about the 'safety' factor of the Ministry right then, considering who was in charge.

Van did the opposite. He stopped himself from smiling, though usually he smiled a fair amount, it just didn't feel right to do it right then. He went over to the door and opened it, standing aside so she could head out first.

"Well...yes." But at least he wasn't dead or anything. Isobel had thought that he had been for a long time. So part of her heart was glad that he wasn't dead. But a lot of things had changed between them, and she knew their friendship could never be the same.

This felt a bit awkward again. And Isobel kind of hoped that the awkwardness would get better over time. Turning around, she followed him over to the door, and walking out.

Right. Time to visit the bull pen and see what his employees were up to. Auror-side first of course, since he had to get Isobel started and meeting her team.

... Yeah. And he hoped she didn't say anything about their past. Damien would give him hell.

Evander closed the door behind them and locked it with several complicated charms.

Stepping away from the office, Isobel turned around, and watched him lock his office. Oh yup. You could tell he was in law enforcement...with all those charms he'd put on that. Nobody would be getting into that office without him being there.

Mmm. It was weird that she felt a little nervous about going to go see who she'd worked with. She'd worked with her last collegues for like 10 years, so she'd known them. But now she was going into the unknown....it was going to be interesting

With Borr's latest memo clutched in his hand, Evander Bole stormed into his own office and sat at his desk, teeth grinding.

He read over the memo again.



Right. Well that was nonsense. Order of MERLIN for CIRCE's SAKE! Had to be part of the perk package that D'Isigny lured the man in with.

He pulled his desk drawer open and tugged out some parchment and a quill. He scribbled out a response.


He broke the nib of the quill on the last letter from pressing too hard.

Grumbling to himself he replaced it, then screwed up the note and vanished it before starting another one.



No. That wouldn't cut it either. Van erased the last part.



Satisfied, Van folded the parchment and placed it in an envelope, then he stood up and headed out of his office once more, locking and warding it behind him.

Luke Dubois was nervous, He'd arrived early for his first day as the new CMEC Counterfeit Magic Identification Specialist. He'd remembered that he was supposed to report to Evander's office when he got there so he knocked and waited patiently. He was ready to begin his work day. He stood in at-ease position and waited for the door to open.

Van came up the corridor and stopped a short distance away, eyeing the unfamiliar man waiting at his office door. The department head approached in complete silence and when he was close enough, he deliberately scuffed his foot against the carpet so that.... well, it had to be the new CMIS, didn't it? Evander cleared his throat.

... it was going to be a busy day, wasn't it? Evander turned slightly at the greeting and after a searching look offered his hand.

"Evander Bole. And you are?"

Firmly grasping the hand that was offered to him, Blaise gave his signature smile.

"Blaise Carlisle, Mr. Bole," he said, nodding his head once. "Your new Event Security Liaison Officer."

"Right." Van shook briefly and then let go. "Welcome to the British Ministry. I recall, from your file, you're more than suited to the job, and have plenty of experience in event security to bring to the table." Van liked that. "We reward hard workers and strong experience around here."

And where was Gabriel?

Evander tried to think if the Security head was supposed to be off anywhere, but... no he should be around.

"Gabriel Vartann, your head of security, shouldn't be far away. One moment."

Van drew his wand, careful to be non-threatening because... well... if these two were anything like himself or the vets of MLE, they'd have a healthy dose of paranoia so being careful and non-threatening was kind of a good plan. He flicked off a patronus, a mountain lion, to find Gabriel.

"Come in and sit down while you wait.." Van went on and unlocked and unbarred and uncursed his office door, giving it a cursory glance as it swung open.

He glanced at the other man, who he was assuming based on the file he had and the description within it, was Mr Luke Dubois.

"Come on in. Its Dubois isn't it?" Van'd shoot off a patronus to Dorian too if the man confirmed himself.

Blaise nodded his head as Bole spoke to him about being qualified for the job. Sweeeeet. He was pretty stoked for this.

"Thank you," he said in response to the welcome and the statement about being qualified. "I look forward to working in this area." He wasn't lying - he was seriously excited about it.

After watching him draw out his wand, his left arm twitched. He kept his wand in a wrist holster up near his bicep so he could still roll up his sleeves a little without it being noticed. It was instinct - you never know what would happen. But he didn't move enough so as to let it come down. It was his boss, he wasn't going to do anything to him.

He watched the patronus dance off down the hall, and followed his boss into the room and sit down, waiting for this Gabriel fellow.

I'm assuming the door closed again. xD
 

Luke lifted his head at the sound of someone approaching, he spun around and placed his hand on his wand sticking out of his thigh holster. He didn't draw he just watched the man with careful steely eyes. He looked the man in the eye. "I'm looking for Evander Bole." He said in his soft, military trained voice. He observed the man before him. Whomever he was he had training and knew what he was doing. He watched the man approaching and waited for him to speak, his hand still on his wand in his holster.

"I'm Bole." Van grinned. It was usual for him to do so and really, this unexpected encounter was cheering him up. Look how paranoid the new staff were. That was all to the good and Evander was mentally congratulating himself on his selections. Made a nice change from being irritated by Ryan. Not that that had been Ryan's fault exactly, not when the Borr situation already had him worked up. "Evander Bole. Call me Evander. Take a seat." He gestured to the available chairs.



"Ah. That will be Gabe now." Van flicked his empty hand and the door opened once more.

"Gabriel. I've got a new man here for you, your new Event Security Liasion, I trust you read the files?"

As the door swung open Gabriel stepped inside with a smile, and was immediately greeted by his boss' voice. The files? New man? "I have indeed, Evander. They landed on my desk a couple of hours ago." Nodding at Van, Gabe moved forward and offered his hand to the man that matched the description in that file. "And if this is the new Event Liaison, you must be Blaise Carlisle. Gabriel Vartann. Welcome to the Ministry."

"Yes, I'm Luke Dubois." He spoke in that careful, soft voice of his. That was something his military training had taught him. One only raises their voice to bark out an order or to express extreme anger. He relaxed a bit as the man asked him to come in by name. It was clear he had been expected and that was a very good thing. He hated it when he made an appointment somewhere and showed up only to find that no one was expecting him.

Luke nodded when He found out that this was indeed his new supervisor. He'd not met the man as his hiring process had gone on via OWL just after graduation from SMU. He liked this man already he could tell they would get along. He sat down as asked Right ankle propped over left knee for easier wand access. He made himself quite comfortable for him which to an outsider meant Stiff as a board.

Dacs made her way to Evander's office to talk to him about the ongoing investigation. Something wasn't sitting well with her. She it would be a good idea to talk to the head man and see what he had to say.

Reaching his office door, she knocked on it firmly and waited for him to respond. She rarely ever had a situation where she felt compelled to talk to her boss about how to handle her work. But this time was a bit ticklish and she thought this was one way to cover all bases before she acted.

Blaise stood up as soon as the door had opened. He studied the man who walked in who seemed to be a decent fellow to work for. That made things easier for Blaise. He didn't really need a stuffy boss - that would take the fun part out of work. Well, if there was one.

Blaise took his hand in a firm grip, and nodded his head. "Pleased to meet you Mr. Vartann. And thank you, it's an honor to work here."

Exams are done! YAY sorry for the delay <3
 

Good. Internal Memo systems were working as they should then. Of all the things he'd needed to get back in order when he'd taken over the department, the communication system was the biggest. Still kinks, but at least now files weren't getting lost in mid air.

He waited for the two men to shake hands and then cleared his throat.

"Gabe, perhaps a tour and an orientation of sorts is in order for Blaise here?" There was still plenty of space in Evander's office, but everyone there had different reasons after all.

"Let me know if you need anything. I'll come by to check on things when I get the chance."






"Good to meet you Luke. Welcome to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement for the British Ministry of Magic. Your file and application interested me greatly. Was there anything particular that drew you to us?"



It was lucky that Evander's office was spacious. Van opened the door and decided to prop it open since it was clearly going to be one of those days where people were going to be coming and going.

"Dacs. How are things?" He gestured for the MLES Deputy Chief to come on in. And as for the other one there...

"Can I help?"

Merlin. He needed a secretary or something.

Wow. If the office of his department head was so crowded at the early morning hour, then Enrique didn't even want to think how hard he must be working. He looked in sympathy for a moment, before explaining "I'm the new employee, Enrique Brandon, señor."

Dacs poked her head in as the office looked a little busy, "I wanna take my team into the field. I know the aurors went already but I'd feel better going out there myself." she responded quickly and straight to the point.

"I love Justice and I want to help the wizarding world. I've also been following the ministry's caseload about the Cultists and I'm intrigued. I would love to try some new techniques on some of the old evidence and see if I can't help you solve these disappearances... He became quiet again then said, "I also wanted to be close to my family and my Daughter and her mother live here in London."

Blaise looked back over at Bole, and nodded his head.

"I think that would help me out around here," he said. "I have a general idea, I just need to get more in tune with the surroundings."

A tour would be fine, but he wasn't so much looking forward to the orientation part. He figured it would be long and boring, involving too much reading and not enough action. Blah. But, whatever would get him started, he would take.

"After you, sir," he said to Gabe.

On a separate occasion as everyone else...
 

I just moved into a new flat <3 yayy.
 

"Enrique Brandon. Ah of course, the newest Legislator. You came highly recommended." And it was interesting to Evander that both the current Legislators were transfers from other departments. It was a good thing as it meant they had a broader understanding of the wizarding world at large.

"There is no point my keeping you, as you're familiar enough with how the British Ministry works. If you head out this door," Van pointed to a second door from his office, "Down the corridor, and past the evidence room, you'll be in the main work area that the Wizengamot employees share with a few other divisions. Of course you lot also have free run of level ten - you can get there via the direct floos, but if you go to the main work area first and look for Laurie Henderson, she'll set you up and get you oriented." She was his new boss, or at least, the boss between Enrique and Evander himself.

"Unless you had any questions for me?"

ooc: Cinn-o-bun plays Laurie, she'll post when she sees you post in there :P


Dacs.

Evander considered and nodded. "Perhaps you could take your team out to check the locations of the last few incidents. Third Hand Book Exchange and Scribbulus Ever-Changing Inks." She knew that, but to be specific. "See if there's anything odd going on. Have your new people prepare a report." It'd be good practice.

...

Well at least Evander could say he was good at hiring those who were against the cult.

"Just a word on that, best to keep your tongue on cult-related issues where you can. Here on level 2 we're cult free, but the other departments, and the ministers office itself, well..." The cult had infiltrated and was in control of the Ministry of Magic. Still.

"Your help and your skills are greatly appreciated. Would you prefer I send for your division head, or would you like to head down to the work area yourself? Alternatively, if you don't mind waiting," Van gestured around at the rather full office, "I can take you myself."

"There's a map on the main noticeboard, in the corridor outside." He gestured to the second door, the one that most of them had not come in through, "And each part of level 2 has a map up somewhere." He'd have more trouble finding his way around the rest of the ministry. Level 2 was sorted.

He watched the Security peeps head to the door and turned his attention to another arrival.


"Ben."

Someone looked a little stressed.

Just sayin'.

"Take a seat."

Dacs who was just by the door, nodded once and slipped back out as quickly and as quietly as she came. It was her specialty to be unnoticed. She left to prepare her new people as Evander called them for field investigation.

Luke listened to what his boss had to say and nodded succinctly. "I can understand that and I'm known for keeping my tongue when it comes to things like that." He stood and offered his hand to his boss. "it was nice to meet you Evander, If you'll direct me to where to go I would like to get acclimated to the office a bit..."

Efficient, that one. Van nodded appreciatively and turned his attention back to Luke.



"Good." That was all he asked.

"And you, Luke. Down the corridor, and past the evidence room, grab a desk in the CMEC area, Dorian will find you soon enough."

"thank you Evander." He smiled and left the office.

Congrats on the new flat! :D
 

Ben walked in and closed the door behind him... Didn't exactly want anyone to listen in. He took a look at Evander and knew exactly what he was thinking... Well, maybe not everything, but... "Yeah, I know I look stressed. I am." He let out a laugh, half-nervously, and took a seat. Before beginning, he took off his charmed bottled glasses that kept out unfriendly eyes and rubbed them.

"Basically, Ben began trying to keep the tone half lighthearted, "It's been tough... running the whole MMAO single handedly, well, most of the time." Every once in a while he had help, but all the boring stuff and hard thinking work was him. "I've obviously been handling it, Barely, "But, It's been rough... And it's stressful," And boring. VERY boring. Ben had to get to the point. "What I'm trying to say is, is it possible for my Office... Me... To get some of the more bigger cases? Like the Aurors and the MLES have been getting. These small, simple cases are easy, but getting flooded with them makes it very stressful and difficult. If I can pass the some of the smaller cases on to someone else," Hoping there will be someone else, "I can focus my skills on something more substantial than cat-food that makes cats twice as big." Ben hoped he didn't sound like he was whining. I hope I don't sound like I'm whining. "I hope I don't sound like I'm whining."

Oliva walked up to the door of Mr Bole she was clutching the parchment with her acceptence letter to the Ministry, she took a deep breath and let it out again her eyes closed as she knocked loudly three times on the door. Olivia stood there and hoped she would settle into the job quickly.

Enrique smiled, bowing a little with modesty. Hearing it from his new boss himself was very pleasing.

Following his point, he nodded his head to indicate he was following. Then, looking at him again, he listened intently and got up to his feet at last when he was finished.

"No, Mr. Bole. Thank you," he said, reaching out to shake his hand. Then he turned and left the room to the working area.

A sudden flash of pale-violet appears in the office, and upon looking up, one can see that an interdepartmental memo in the form of a folded paper airplane has made its way in.

Once caught and unfolded, the memo inside will read:

Minister Berty Borr has called a mandatory meeting with the Senior Undersecretary and all Ministry Department Heads. The meeting will commence immediately in Courtroom 10 on the tenth level of the Ministry of Magic. Please be on time and bring with you all ideas and responses to the recent memo regarding the rejuvenating of our spirits and the oxygenating of our halls.

*cracks up at Ben* TWO timelines here. Ben + then the rest.
 

...

"You sound like you're whining." Evander confirmed after listening to all that.

"You know, you can't simply wait to be handed a case anymore, Ben." Evander said. "I pass on what I can, when I get wind of it, when the other divisions come across Muggle Artefact Misuse, but the funny thing about illegal activities is that they don't tend to report themselves." Van summoned a file and looked through it. "My records show that the last inspection in Wizarding shops was eight months ago, for permitting and the like, to ensure that muggle-type items being sold with charms and such are legit. Perhaps it is time to arrange another inspection, starting in Diagon Alley." Evander didn't mention Knockturn. "Naturally an inventory of items available needs to be made for our records." Van placed the file flat on the desk in front of him and slid it across to Ben.

"Also I think it may be a good idea to touch base with the Portkey Office," Evander managed to keep the distaste from his voice. Transportation had gone downhill with a known cultist leading them, but perhaps.... perhaps a legitimate visit like this one might be a good cover to find out more. "I know you were a detective, so perhaps you might undertake that yourself. You're aware of the cult. You must have noticed... certain departments received monetary bonuses for the last quarter?" It may not have been common knowledge, but it was pretty clear who was being rewarded and why. "Transportation is one of these departments. Perhaps you could... keep your ear to the ground?" And the unspoken request was to report back to Evander if he discovered anything.

"I'm aware your division is short staffed at the moment, but I don't wish to saddle you with ineffectual types. If you need more manpower, speak with Ryan, Gabe or Damien, they may have a body or two to spare. Dorian will have his hands full soon enough, and as soon as I get the chance I shall have you and he in here for a quick meeting, since what is brewing may just involved both of your divisions." And was a completely different issue to what the Aurors and MLES offices were looking into.

Exhausting, it was.

------------------------------------





Polite, that one. Evander approved.

Hmm?

Van opened the door.

"Come in." He recognized the woman from the picture on her file. "Olivia Black isn't it? You'll need to report to Ryan Chambers. Down the corridor, and past the evidence room. I'm not sure that he's in right now, but that is where your desk is, so you should settle in and wait for him."

ooc: Lara_the_Firelady is your division head :) But go play in that thread and get to know a few others. They're epic, I promise. I'm sending Olivia on because of this next post here will mean Evander has to leave.


Van shook Enrique's hand and watched him go.



Van looked up to see an interdepartmental memo and frowned. Those weren't ever fun, not lately at least.

He summoned the thing and opened it.

His frown deepened into a glower.

... immediately?


IMMEDIATELY?

Be on time?

Be on time IMMEDIATELY???

The nerve of that... Evander swore profusely, creatively and alarmingly, worse than a sailor.

And in HIS courtrooms?

Van stood up and ushered Olivia, the new employee, out of his office, pointing out the direction she needed to go in again.

"DAMIEN?! GABRIEL?!" Van sent a rather incensed Mountain Lion Patronus stalking off to summon the Head Auror and Head of Security. "MEET ME AT THE DIRECT FLOOS RIGHT AWAY!"

Evander stalked off to the floos, locking his office behind him.

Achievement Unlocked: "Sounding like your whining."
 

"I know I sound like I'm whining." Benjamin shrugged. Yeah, I know.

He figured all that about complaining was coming, but it had to be said. He needed to get it out. And without anyone to moan to he could only go to Evander, and, well, he got reprimanded for it. Inner sigh, can't win.

And then the file came. Great. He asked for action and got inspection. It's paperwork without the paperwork. He picked it up and looked up at Evander. He didn't have to even look to tell he was thinking Diagon Alley. Riiight... Hate that place...

Portkey Office? Ben thought to himself, "Muggle Item Research," stuck out in his head as he said it out loud. He was thinking about it, trying to think about why he would go up there.... until...

"Um... ARE a Detective." Benjamin got his badge and license, and he brought it into the wizarding world.... He was proud of that title.

And then the cult was brought up. Thaaat was the other thing he wanting to talk about. Something they could hardly bring up around the ministry, and at all for that matter. Ben knew juuuust enough about the cult to know that they were veeeeeeeery secretive and veeery powerful. Ben had an underlying suspicion, no, he knew Evander knew way more about the cult than he was sharing. "You know I've been doing research about the "cult" for a year and a half now," Not so much recently, "I could say I know them inside and out... But I know that's not true," there must be way more about them. "Yeah, I'll stay close to Transportation. I'm there tomorrow about some floo thing, I'll make another stop while I'm there."

"Alright," Ben said. He knew Dorian wasn't a huge fan of the Detective, but oh well. They've worked together before. They're not that bad together.

There was one more thing he had to add. "Evander," he began, "I want to let you know. If you need anything from me," Law Enforcement or not, "I'll do anything I can." Benjamin admired Evander and what he had been through. He didn't want to be just an employee, he hoped to be called his friend.

*catching up timelines, kicking Ben out lol*
 

"There is a way." To know more about the cult, but Van wasn't entirely sure Ben was up to it. Not because he wasn't a good detective, but because he was precisely the type of person that the cult could win over.

"I'll keep that in mind." He would. Ben was the kind of man that could be relied on, even though he was.... a little odd sometimes. "I have a few things to take care of, so if you wouldn't mind..."

He stood up and led the way out. He locked the door behind the both of them. "We'll speak again in a little while."

While he had been under the impression that getting into the fireplace had been a task and a half, getting out proved to be much more interesting. Backwards, an inch too tall and thanks to his shoulder-package a foot too wide, it took a good deal of shuffling and ducking and leaning to pull out of the smokey stone structure and stumble into the open space.

And the wonderful thing about it all? He still hadn't managed to catch his breath. So, it was with a wordless expression that Sabel turned his eyes to the waiting Auror, not sure exactly what came next.

Damien tried to hold in the chuckle as the much smaller man hefted his charge out of the fireplace. Heh. "We will be taking them to the holding cells. Good job, son. Really," he said with a smile before heading through the door and heading to the holding cells.

While he appreciated Damien's praise, the look he gave the older man was one seriously lacking in pride or approval. It was probably a good thing he had no air in his lungs to voice the questions that were battering against his mind one after the other. They would have to wait, as would his personal opinions and emotions that were steadily catching up to him.

For now it was duty, and keeping that one word tightly clasped in his mind, he followed Damien out of the office.

Did he?

Van gestured her inside giving Cade the side eye. Since when had she been in charge of mail runs?

Since when had owls been permitted inside the ministry again anyway?


"Come in then. Where's the bloody thing? Did you get rid of it?"

"Alright." If there was an owl still lost in the ministry they wouldn't hear the end of it. The poo was an issue, you know? Yes.

He took the letter, eyed Cade's scarpering and then opened it as she continued to chatter.



Evander's reaction was to swear.

Loudly, profusely and creatively.

And at length.

Emily had been right behind Sabel. She was on high alert, wand in hand.

What the heck was going on?

Peering around Sabel, nudging him gentley to get out of her way-- because she was eager. She found that there was nothing... out of the ordinary. There was Van and ... Cade? That woman she'd met on her first day. Her wand arm dropped to her side. Well this wasn't all that exciting. Though something had to have happened for Van to react that way. She eyed the letter he was holding.

What was it about?

Well nothing seemed out of order... aside from the swearing, Van seemed to be fine, and what with Damien here, she and Sabel weren't needed.

May as well do something useful... and interesting.
With a silent nod of the head, Emily vacated the area, heading back to her desk. She had things to do.

Smart thing to do, leaving. That Emily Browne was shaping up to be a good rookie, even if she'd been idiotic enough to poke her head in in the first place.
Evander didn't have anything to smash unfortunately, but Sabel looked like he might be obliging, since the boy was just standing there Gryffindoring in his direction.

"You! GET OUT of here before I repaint the walls with your insides." Really. In what world was it a smart idea for a rookie to burst into his office without any sort of knocking or invitation. No world, that's what.

When Damien showed up he screwed the damned thing up and threw the letter his way, not at him exactly, but in a way that made it obvious that the damned thing was the source of his ire.

It was lucky Damien was there probably, and Caedwyn for that matter. Van was a liiiiittle better at retaining his cool around a lady...

"I'm done with that man. With all of them. Done. Recard first. Easiest to access." The department head spoke flatly, and began pacing, his hands alternately curling into fists and then relaxing as if with great effort on his part.

... except that when you looked at him, all he needed would be to turn green and there'd be a definite element of 'hulk smash' going on.

Benjamin didn't even process the owl in the MMAO until Caedwyn left. Ben went sprinting after her. Everything in his paranoid life as a treasonous employee lead him to believe that the letter could have been rigged to kill the person who opened it, but as the Detective almost slid into Evander's office, in seemed that there was no killing charm attached, but an anger one.

Ben almost laughed... Evander looked like The Incredible Hulk. "Um... Evander.... What did the letter say?" Ben wanted to lean over and pick up the crumpled letter which he noticed was at Damien's feet, but he wanted to make sure it was okay.

Van just gestured at Damien.

Ben could read the damned thing after Damien was done with it.

It said something that Hulk!Evander wasn't bothered by the Detective's presence. He turned to glare at Sabel again.

Good.

Good.

Sabel's approval rating went up a notch.

Grunt.

Van gestured between Damien and Ben. "Show him."

He turned and eyed Cade and then flicked his wand out, not at her, at a seemingly innocuous book on the shelves.

The book squeaked and then repeated back verbatim;

"I assume your office is soundproof, sir, but you might want to run a general sweep for listening spells or devices before you strike into your general plans for taking people down. Some might consider that treason and wouldn't hesitate to tell tales."

"Oh there are plenty of those in here, Caedwyn." Plenty. He eyed her. If level 2 wasn't secure, did she truly think that D'Isigny wouldn't have made a move on him yet?

"If you want to tell tales though, by all means." He gestured at the door and then eyed her again. Unless she had something else to say?

Taking the letter from Damien he just shot him a look. Hmph. I'm the mastermind behind the coup, why shouldn't I- oh. Damn. Well, good! A smile appeared on Benjamin's face as he looked between the people in the room. This is EXACTLY what was supposed to happen.

"Why are you all, upset? This is a good thing." Explanation time. "Let the Cult think they have us all figured out. Meanwhile, we're 10 steps ahead of them." That's what Ben said from the beginning. The man handed the letter back to Evander.

Did he honestly suggest that she was threatening to throw a hissy and stomp off to the Minister of Magic? It was as if his words about trust were an effusive blanket that extended to everyone aside from here, which normally would bother the people-pleasing side of her. No time for people pleasing today.

"Sir, I might not be willing to jump feet first into this fight without understanding everything that's at stake, but you can trust that I won't betray your confidences. You said at the staff meeting that you put your faith in your department, but in my opinion, that means everyone is contributing toward the common enemy and that one person's word of caution carries as much weight as another's gusto. My experience dictates that you trust those you can, but that you never take for granted that allegiances change." Not that hers had, but if he continued to suggest it, she wouldn't try to change his mind.

Ben got a withering look for that. For one thing, the cult had never had Evander figured out, that was why they were so irked at him in general, because despite everything, they hadn't known who he was when he'd first run into them in his undercover days. For another thing,

"It is never a good thing to have your family threatened. Ever. " However, Ben was right about one thing. The next step in Evander's plan, he'd not shared with anyone. The cultists wouldn't know because there was nobody that D'Isigny or Gevrik -wherever that man was -could suck the knowledge out of.

Despite what they all seemed to think, Van never showed his whole hand.

He took the letter and avoided looking at it.


"No. You never do, but its sure as hell a quick way of finding out who runs off to tell momma when they hear something they don't like." Van held the letter out, for Cade to take and read if she wished to.

Still, the man was getting hold of himself once more. Van straightened.

He ignored Damien in the way that people do when they're entirely comfortable with their presence. Completely aware of, and yet unconcerned by him. Trusty part of the furniture, the D-Man was.

"Actually... I meant the letter specifically..." Ben said trying to make a recovery. "But, uh, no. This whole situation. Generally not a good thing." And the understatement of the century goes to the New Yorker, BENJAMIN CLARK AMSTEN!

Right.

Van nodded and actually cracked a smile. These people were going a long way towards calming him down. It was nice actually, to be able to rely on people.

He cleared his throat.

"You have some new employees due to come in soon. Most of them aren't due to begin work until December, but they'll be popping through the office and if they want to work, feel free to work 'em. The files are on your desk." It wasn't quite a dismissal, it was Van trying to get himself back on track.


He nodded in agreement but gave her a look. "Hogwarts has hardly proved itself to be a bastion of safety and defence, the cult has penetrated it in the past after all. Might be worth looking into other alternatives." He had a few, if she wanted to know.

Privately he wasn't sure that D'Isigny was fooled as he had been in the past, but he did agree with setting a date and creating a timeline.


"Tell as few people as possible. Increase patrols on the alley, see if Dacs has a few patrollers spare if you have nobody, or put your YATI on it. You have a new one, by the way."

Nod.

"So you see why it can't stay this way. Until the threat is gone, it will always be there."

He stretched and straightened to his full height.

"And as long as they think we're preoccupied by this apparition license business, we have a window. Gevrik isn't here, which can only mean D'Isigny doesn't think he needs him here right now." He grinned. "And, lets not forget that activity level 5 provide us with a bit of cover too."

That stupid old biddy and her strike. He made a mental note to send at least one person up there to keep an eye on old Gina. Evander wasn't under any illusions that the woman would be safe.

He tucked the letter away.

Back to business.

"I'm not relying on Hogwarts to keep her safe. I'm relying on Casey. It isn't a perfect plan, and I'll keep an open mind for a better idea, but I'm tempted to go with someone I know would protect Carrigan with his life," Cade mused once Van fell silent again.

"I blend in pretty well, and my job gives me an excuse to go almost anywhere. Consider how you might use me." And now... was she dismissed?

"Always." It was a given, and Lilyan expected it now. And the D-Man could be a buttmonkey sometimes. It was testament to his improved mood that Van didn't chuck something after him or throw a friendly hex at Damien's retreating back.

Well what? He was a Slytherin, Van didn't mind employing dirty tactics when needed.



On Casey? She meant Tate, yes? The man who seemed to think telling the students 'Don't Die' every few years was enough to keep them safe? The man who had a chip on his shoulder about Aurors to the point where he had the knack of leaving it to the last possible second to call in help from MLE?

The man who actually allowed Gevrik an office right there in the school and still employed at least one professor with suspected ties to the cult of the questionable, yet business savvy variety?

"You do what you feel you have to do." Van was entirely dismissive of Gaellen Tate and any security measures that he supposedly employed.

"Noted." Paaaaaause. "Thank you for bringing the note."

Touchy.

Just a bit.


That was one of the few employees Van wasn't 100 percent on loyalty. Not that he suspected her to be involved in the cult, just that this, all this, was just a job to her. Where possible he tried to hire people who couldn't see themselves doing anything else, and while Evander now understood something about choosing people first... his work would always be a priority. Always.

Once Cade had left, Van did too, locking and warding his office behind him.

"Better cold food than dead fiancé, now wouldn't you say?" Van answered and opened the door, his wand remaining in his hand until he'd checked that his office had remained untouched.

He left his door open and sat in his desk chair, patting his knee for Lily to join him.

"The few times I haven't thought someone was going to kill me, they tried." Van answered. "Why do you ask?"

He went back to eating. Lily was an AMAZING cook.

He ate another few mouthfuls and switched to eating with just his fork, so he could wrap his other arm around her tighter.

"The feeling is mutual."

They would use her against him, he knew. Waiting for that to happen was a nightmare. He wasn't willing to wait any more. It was time for action now.

"Say it as much as you like, dear Lily." Evander grinned at her and ate another forkful of food.

Oh.

Until she asked that.

"Ah... I haven't got around to it yet."

"You'll redeem me in their eyes you know. My mother never really forgave me for choosing this career path. Or quidditch before that." She STILL worried and fussed over him, not that he saw her often. His father was proud of course, but not affectionate exactly. And his brother was... Roscoe.

He kissed his Lily.

"She'll want me to retire or something. Settle down and choose a not so dangerous career." Please. He wasn't old enough to retire. He was just getting started.

Get back. Get there safely. Jaxton's eyes looked around his own flat hypocritically as if every shadow in the large living room was out to get him. Oh yes, he was a little screwed over now - but it wasn't something that couldn't be fixed. So he was a little more cautious and a lot more wary... that wasn't something that was new to an Auror... not at all.

Throwing a handfull of floo powder into his grate, he shouted out his destination at the Ministry, and stepped into the green smoking flames. He counted the amount of grates, and flung himself out at the appropriate time.

He didn't really expect Vander to recognise him. Not like this; not today. His normally suave and sophisticated suit and carefully trimmed goatee were replaced with scuffed and mud-splattered jeans, a rough, stained white t-shirt and a full beard. Even his hair needed a cut. Yes, Jaxton Tanner wasn't the same man he had been.

"Van..." He coughed, as he picked his tall, frame off of the floor from where he had landed in a messy heap. He gulped, and raised his cautious eyes to look at his Department Head. He didn't say anything, instead looking at him and... the woman in his lap. Could he talk in front of her? Was it safe? Was she to be trusted? He didn't know the answer to any of those questions, so instead he stayed quiet until Evander said something first.