𝐒𝐘𝐂𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐄 & 𝐒𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐓

inspired by   …   the likes of  patrick bateman  ( american psycho ) ,   lucious lyon  ( empire ) ,   light yagami  ( death note ) ,   '  i don’t need friends .  they disappoint me .   [ poses ]  ’   ( you can stop at five or six stores ) .

𝙻𝙾𝙲𝙰𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽:  unspecified  . 𝙰𝚅𝙰𝙸𝙻𝙰𝙱𝙸𝙻𝙸𝚃𝚈:  for  bartemius  crouch  jr  ,  @crchjr​  .

“  now  —  tell  me  again  why  you  haven’t  taken  the  mark  yet  ,  barty  ?  ”

“   it  hasn’t  been   offered  ,   ”   barty  turns  to  alecto ,   an  incredulous  lift  to  his  brow .    “   not  all  of  us  come  from  sacred  families  offering  equal  support  in  the  war .   ”

location .    rosa  lee  teabag  shop tagged .   @kiarapatilx​

“   here .   my  treat ,  ”    barty  sets   a  smaller  cup    down  with  his  own  on  their  table .   it  was  a  newer  flavour  of  overpriced  knotgrass  herbal  prompted  on  the  display  by  the  counter .   he   is   the  one  to  have  asked  for  breakfast ,   he  would  argue   (  if  questioned  )  .   more  than  anything ,   he  simply  needed  an  obliviator’s . . .   input .   unfortunately .   but  he’ll  get  there .   in  the  mean  time ,   he  takes  the  seat  across  from  kiara  and  settles  in .      “   enjoying  the  summer  weather  so  far  ?   ”

“i believe my mother works with your father, though it’s possible i’m mistaken. it’s odd we haven’t met before.” it was odd she thought but perhaps her mother had not made the crouches a priority, until now, for a reason. “marlene, yes.” 

“   if  i  am  remembering  right   —   yes  they  do ,   ”      it  was  ,   actually ,   the  only  reason  he  could  place  her ,   really .   but  that  doesn’t  matter  much .   he  steps  around  to  extend  a  hand  on  his  way  out  once  he  catches  her  name .     “   pleasure ,    marlene .   see  you  around .   ”

for a moment or so, all regulus did was stare at where barty had grabbed his arm before jerking out of the other man’s grip. they weren’t really sure what they were meant to say to that … eventually, after what sort of felt like an eternity to regulus but couldn’t have truly been more than ten seconds, they spoke: “obliviate’s not that hard of a spell, crouch.”

“  are  you  sure  the  hat  wasn’t   meant  to  stack  you    with  your  brother ?  ”     barty  turns  to  regulus  with  narrowed  eyes ,  twisting  back  into  the  location  they’d  meant  to  be   sneaking   around  once  he’d  deemed  it  clear .    “    no  ,    it’s  not  that  hard  of  a  spell .   but  it’s  an   obvious   one .   the  first  thing  most  look  for  if  they  suspect  tampering .  ”     barty  shakes  his  head ,   waving  him  to  follow .     “    just  get  in .    let  me  know  if  you  see  anything  strange .  ”

the   smile   that   passes   her   features   then   is   one   made   just   for   him   ,      a   thing   that   played   nice   but   showed   a   little   more   edge   in   the   eyes   .         ❝      well   i’m   not   quite   there   yet   i’m   afraid   ,      still   know   my   way   home   at   the   very   least   .      and   what   time   i   get   in   at   too      ❞         all   politeness   as   she   poked   back   ,      getting   to   the   stop   of   the   stairs   now   keys   out   once   more   as   she   let   herself   in   ,      holding   the   door   open   for   her   twin   to   follow   her   in   .      things   had   always   never   been   quite   right   between   the   eldest   two   of   the   crouch   clan   ,      though   alice   could   never   really   put   her   finger   on   just   where   the   fault   lay   ,      but   she   never   stopped   trying   .         ❝      or   if   you   ever   need   a   safe   refuge   at   all   .   i’m   assuming   that   she-demon   mum   set   you   up   with   has   a   set   for   your   place   ?      my   sofa   is   always   open   if   you   need   an   escape      ❞         now   she   was   being   just   plain   underhanded   but   she   said   it   all   the   very   image   of   civility   .         ❝      i   don’t   set   out   to   disappoint      ❞

“    might  have  a  few  years   on  you  still ,   then ,  ”        barty  gives  her  a  flat  smile  at  that .    it  grows  into  something  much  more   humoured   at  the  quick  jibe .       “   she - demon .   is  that  a  new  one ?   ”      he  asks ,    squinting .      “   you  give  her  too  little  credit .   if  i’m  the  one  escaping ,   you  wouldn’t  think  to  check  with  friends  and  family   first ?    although  i’d  certainly  put   you   on  guard  if  i  needed  her  kept  out .   mum   definitely  wouldn’t  let  me  lay  low ,   if  memory  serves  right .  ”        barty  gives  a  snort  at  that ,   toying  with  the  nearest  decorative  piece  on  display  by  alice’s  door .    to  call  their  parent’s  relationship   healthy   would  be  beyond  reach ,   but  he’d  be  a  liar  to  say  there  aren’t  a  few  parallels  between  ellie  and  his  mother  between  it .   he  would ,  however ,   very  much  argue  that  he’s   not   his  father .   alice  can  hold  that  title  much  more  proudly   —   and  it  would  certainly  explain  parts  of  the  quick  disdain  she’d  felt  towards  his  partner .   a  fundamental  clash  ingrained  in  them  from  the  start .

❝      i’m   hardly   their   owl   ,      am   i   ?      i’m   france’s   owl   .      and   france   thinks   leur   petite   chouette   gets   an   office   all   her   own   ,   you   should   visit   one   day   …      the   door   locks      ❞         all   back   in   kensington   ,      back   at   the   french   embassy   .      he’d   been   there   before   ,      of   course   ,      but   a   tour   of   the   working   side   of   the   building   had   hardly   been   in   order   any   of   the   countless   times   they’d   been   by   her   room   there   .         ❝      what   would   you   have   me   do   ?      fly   away   errand   uncomplete   ?      ❞         it   would   hardly   be   the   first   time   for   her   ,      an   entirely   false   look   of   innocence   painted   across   her   face   as   her   gaze   upward   was   directed   by   his   touch   .      no   childish   —   or   any   other   motivated   —   attempts   to   bite   at   his   hand   today   .         ❝   is   it   really   me   making   you   wait   ?      ❞

“   a  lock  would  be   safer ,   wouldn’t  it  ?  ”     barty  returns  her  answer  with  the  upward  tilt  of  his  mouth .    he  would  like  to  see  ellie’s   actual   workspace  one  day ;   beyond  the  basics .   it’s  simply  a  little   lower   on  any  list  of  priorities he   (  they  )   might  have .     “   i  never  said  you  wouldn’t  get  to  finish  your  little  errand .   ”     he  counters ,    coming  in  closer  over  her  figure .   there’s  no  real  use  making  his  point ,   he  knows  it  by  the  very  look  she’s  giving  him .   he’s  never  seen  it  to   mean   anything  close  to  what  she   portrays .     “    did  they  give  you a  time  limit  on  it ?   ”    he  gives  a  chuckle  at  her  final  question ,   free  hand  moving  off  the  armrest  it’d  been  resting  on  for  balance .    he  holds  one  down  over  her  thigh  to  speak  on  his  answer :   “   only  for  the   affirmative .  ”    and  he  takes  that  much  to   mean  it ,   closing  the  final  looming  distance  he’d  made  to  meet  her  lips .

for barty crouch jr @crchjr​

❝ bartemius , are you even listening to me , you little toerag ? i said let’s try this one more time . just cast the freaking spell. i can take it . ❞

“   bella ,   we’ve   both   read  the  literature  on  the  curse .     give  some  pass  so  it  wears  off  first ,  ”   barty  sighs ,   pointedly  putting  his  wand  back  in  his  robes .

❝      what   are   you   old   enough   for   the   sands   of   time   to   already   be   racing   by   you   ?      now   where   does   that   put   me   ?      ❞         a   little   laugh   at   the   point   she   would   never   ,      ever   drop   :      that   she   was   the   older   of   the   pair   .         ❝      you   can   always   get   a   key   if   you   like   ?      mum   and   dad   have   one   .      just   let   yourself   in   and   sort   a   cup   of   tea   while   you   wait      ❞      its   all   said   over   her   shoulder   at   him   as   she   begins   her   trudge   up   the   stairs   .         ❝      oh   it’s   all   focused   on   the   cases   right   now   ,   really   chucked   me   in   the   deep   end   and   all   that   but   we   both   know   i’m   a   very   good   swimmer      ❞

the  comment  isn’t  lost  on  barty ,   and  he  turns  his      sister’s  way  with  narrowed  eyes .     “   in  the  same  spot  but   worse ,    i’d  imagine .    almost  senile ,   ”   he  baits ,    simpering  all  the  while .    he’s  following  alice  across  her  home ,   but  slows  his  steps  at  the  offer .   he  makes  not  to  look  too  eager ,   but  he  knows  she  has  involvement  in  the  order  at  this  point .   it  isn't  lost  on  him  that  a  key  would  be   stupidly   advantageous ,    but  equally  suspect  to   him  just  as  well ,   as  opposed  to  if  he’d  be  able  to  retrieve  one  from  his  parents .   so  he  gives  no  more  than  a  shrug  at  it .   no  use   trying   to   force   her  hand  over  it .     “   doubt  i’d  use  it  much ,   but  i  suppose  it’d   help   to  have  a  key  if  i’m  stuck  waiting  again .   ”    he  says .    he  chuckles  a  bit  at  the   pat - on - the - back   alice  gives  herself  just  as  well .   “  i’m  sure  you’ll  keep  doing  fine .  ”

“don’t let me stand in your way then. your barty though, right?” she was curious about him, as she was about most purebloods she didn’t know very well. but she also didn’t want to keep him from an errand. 

barty  begins  to  make    for  the  street  again   with  a  nod  when  she  answers  him ,    turning  at  the  question .   “   bartemius  junior ,   that  i  am .  ”    he  says .   “  and   mckinnon ,   i  suppose ?   ”

❝      isn’t   even   the   right   building   for   it   mon   amour,      i’m   not   exactly   employed   by   your   ministry   now   am   i   ?      just   delivering   the   mail   and   waiting   for   a   response   so   ❞         she   waves   about   the   place   with   her   free   arm   .         ❝      here   i   am   .      and   here   you   are   now   too      ❞         the   usual   height   difference   between   them   made   all   the   more   absurd   by   fact   she   was   sitting   and   he   was   standing   and   the   was   she   had   to   crane   her   neck   to   look   up   at   him   .         ❝      that   was   in   the   plans   for   after   this   all      ❞

“   so  their   little  owl   doesn’t  even   get  her  own   posts ?  ”    he  asks .    the  question  is  only   half   rhetorical ;   he  knows  it  to  be  the  case  for  most  admins  within  the  ministry ,   but  it  isn't  like  he  necessarily   pays  it  enough  mind  to  confirm .   it  doesn’t  really   matter  to  him  what  the   other   administration  members  have  set  up .      “   after   this ,   hm ?  ”      barty  leans  over  the  chair ,   eyes  flicking  up  around  them  a  moment  before  turning  to  focus  on  ellie .    he  brings  a  hand  around  to  her  jaw ,   cradling  it  idly .      “   is  that  a   no ,   then  ?   or  are  you  going  to  make  me   wait ?  ”

“oh?” she glances at the shop and back at him. “did you break it?” she was only curious, but it was none of her business in the end. she’d always been curious about wand lore but she actually knew very little about it, despite three books on the subject on her bookcase at home. “there’s no other place you could take it?”

barty  nods  solemnly  in  answer    to  her  question ,     not  caring  to  say  any  further .   he  couldn’t  risk  any  background  checks  on  his  spells .    didn’t  want  to  delve  into  the   hows   if  he  could  avoid  it .   “  ah ,    there  are .   but  i  know  this  place  takes  walk - ins .   i’m  not  as  sure  about  the  others ,    and  would  have  to  make  my  way  around  them  now ,  ”    he  claims  instead .

❝      i’m   a   busy   little   owl   then   ,      aren’t   i   ?      had   to   fly   all   the   way   back   across   the   channel   last   week   .   maybe   my   wings   are   just   tired❞         she   says   it   all   curled   up   in   her   stolen   chair   ,      trusted   to   deliver   the   message   but   not   to   be   in   the   room   when   the   matter   was   discussed.      ❝   your   diplomats   ?   some   of   them   yes,   some   you   send   away   :      whoever’s   desk   this   is   is   off   to   lunch   or   something❞  

“  poor  thing , ”    barty  gives  a  laugh .    he  shakes  his  head ,   brow  coming  up  in  question  after  the  theatrics  of  ellie’s  answer .   “  so  this  is  not  even  your  desk  then ,  is  it ?  ”   he  says ,   coming  around  idly  to  the  back  of  the  chair  she  sits  in .    a  hand  moves  to  steady  over  her  shoulder ,   lest  his  comment  make  her   move  out  of  it .   he  kneads  it  gently ,   leaning  forward  to  address  her  again .   “  speaking  of   lunches .    have  you  had   yours   yet ?  ”

“smart man.” she smiled at barty, she had no reason not to like him, she just didn’t know him very well. “what makes it so important you get in there anyway?”

“  i  would  not  say   important    so  much  as  preferable ,  ”   bart  says ,   coming  around  down  the  stairs  of  the  building .   “  i  was  only  looking  to  get  my  wand looked  at  before heading  back .   so  much  for  that  plan .   "

❝      well   you   thought   wrong   didn’t   you   ?   don’t   you   remember   how   crazy   the   hours   can   be   when   you’re   in   the   field   ?      ❞         maybe   it   came   out   a   little   snippier   than   she   had   intended   but   it   had   been   a   long   day   and   merlin   she   was   too   tired   for   this   now   .         ❝      i’m   hardly   going   to   turn   my   own   brother   away   now   ,am   i   ?   ahh   that’s   always   the   way   of   it   ,      i’ve   been   meaning   to   stop   in   to   see   mum   for   the   last   three   weeks.      i   only   see   dad   as   often   as   i   do   because   of   the   office      ❞

“  maybe  it  has  just   been  so  long ,  ”    barty  drawls ,   giving  a  snort .   “  no ,   i  simply  mean  i  felt  like  i’d   buffered   enough .    i’ll  know  to  double  my  estimate  next  time .  ”    he  comes  around  behind  alice ,  ready  to  follow  her  in .   “   i’ve  certainly  more  time  now  that  i’m  on  desk  work .   it  felt  more  appropriate  to  work  around  your  schedule  than  force  your  hand  and  all .  ”    he  gives  a   shrug .   “   focused  on  any  new  cases  yet ?   or  are  our  hands  still  heavy  in  hogwarts  business now  that  we  have  the  hols  starting ?  ”

“ so it would seem. ” she repeats, a shrug of her shoulders. she supposes she’s had worse dinner companions, and it probably serves to spend more time with her baby sisters beau, so - “ sure. why not. i’ve got nothing better to do. ”

“   there’s  an  enthusiastic  response   if  i’ve  ever  heard  one , ”   barty  kids ,   coming  around  to  nudge  them  in  the  right  direction  before  he  gets  to  walking .    “   we  can  come  back  at  a  later  time ,   either  way .   how  have  you  been ,   then ?  ”

“ i suppose you do have a point. however, it is also essential for a business to treat their employees right. otherwise, they would never have anyone apply for a job here, “ the red head pointed out with a nod. 

“  shiftwork exists  for  a  reason ,   no ?  ”    barty  asks  in  turn .    he  has  the  time ,   might  as  well  fill  it  with  something  as  mindless  as  scheduling  logistics .   “  or  at  least  offset  it ,   i’d  argue .   make  it  about  two  hours  before  or  after  the  rush .  ”