* OF PRIVILEGE.

her words did not set his mind at ease and he doubted they ever would. he knew he was innocent, though her very presence feared him to think otherwise. tricking his own mind into a sense of guilt for which he had no reason. darkened hues rose to meet her own, a shaky breath escaping dry lips. ‘ alright… but, how can i help you understand? ‘ he paused momentarily before adding, ‘ i know as much about his passing as you do. ‘ without further ado he amended a sentence onto his previous words, ‘ my condolences, i failed to express them before. i have no place in the circle of mourning that much i have always known. ‘ and he was right, whether there had been a vigil or not, he had no place to attend– so he might as well utter those words to the young avery sister at that very point in time. 

❛   𝐘𝐎𝐔   𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐃   𝐌𝐄.   ❜   the   smile   on   her   face   is   thin   and   vaguely   impatient.   cassandra   is   using   the   same   tone   she   uses   on   her   brothers   (   the   one   she   uses   when   she   thinks   they’re   too   dim   -   witted   to   comprehend   her   ).   ❛   i   want   to   understand   what   began   the   fight   ,   ❜   she   clarifies.   while   she’d   heard   ,   of   course   ,   she   wanted   to   confirm.   it   was   something   to   do   with   her   stupid   idiot   of   a   brother.   the   breathing   one   ,   that   is.   ❛   why’d   you   throw   that   first   punch   ?   help   me   understand   that   please.   ❜

he’s never been much good at hoping. all too often has alphard fallen into some awful spiral of worst-case-scenarios rather than thinking of the brighter side, the silver lining, any possible outcome beyond something horrible that he can’t avoid. people have been calling him a pessimist for as long as he can remember. brow furrows at her in thought, “you, too? i thought you might - get a pass, with your job.”

❛   𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇   𝐌𝐄𝐀𝐍𝐒   𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇   ,   ❜   atlas   shrugs   easily.   while   this   was   a   sunday   morning   lost   ,   each   interrogation   brought   them   a   piece   of   the   puzzle.   before   long   ,   they’d   find   the   last   piece.   ❛   this   way   it’ll   be   properly   documented   and   we’ll   be   able   to   look   back   when   —   if   the   case   goes   cold.   ❜   the   woman   moderates   herself.   she’d   just   given   a   spiel   about   having   hope   ,   after   all.   ❛   it’s   easier   to   read   transcripts   than   to   owl   a   new   witness   seven   years   too   late.   ❜

the notion that he’d ever like travers more than atlas almost startled a laugh out of charles,  and his lips curled up slightly at the corners.  “ that’d be the day.  and nah,  i got nothing.  sokolov is not being forthcoming. ”  his expression goes back to its previous dourness at the very thought.  it is incomprehensible to charles,  though he’s sure certain people at macusa worked the same way,  and were of the belief that things should always work the same way,  no exceptions,  that the head auror is being allowed to investigate a sea of his friends and colleages and superiors.  this case will never be solved,  if it was someone at the party who committed the murder.  hell,  there’s a distant possibility it was sokolov himself that did it.  could’ve used polyjuice to secure an alibi,  if he had help.  anyone could’ve.  it is at times like these that he almost misses the simplicity of muggle crime  –  sure,  it was horrific,  but at least you’d know you weren’t chasing smoke and mirrors.  he nodded at the file in she’d been perusing.  “ that related to the smith case?  ”

𝐀𝐓𝐋𝐀𝐒   𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐊𝐒   𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊   𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐎   𝐇𝐄𝐑   𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐈𝐑   𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇   𝐀   𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐖𝐍.   ❛   that’s   too   bad.   ❜   still   ,   the   gears   turn   in   her   head.   maybe   she’ll   bring   sokolov   a   coffee   after   lunch   ,   see   if   that’ll   butter   him   up   enough   to   get   a   look   at   them.   or   ...   maybe   it   would   be   more   effective   if   she   annoyed   him   into   assigning   her   bitch   work.   if   she   bugged   him   enough   ,   he   might   have   her   alphabetize   the   files   or   something.   there’s   a   brightness   in   her   eyes   as   she   sits   up   quickly.   ❛   let   me   talk   to   him   ,   ❜   atlas   says   with   her   signature   grin.   her   face   falls   immediately   as   he   points   out   the   file.   cadmus’   case   ,   as   dour   as   it   was   ,   might’ve   distracted   her   from   hepzibah’s.   she   gives   a   hollow   chuckle.   ❛   it’s   hokey’s   confession.   i   just   ...   ❜   she   gives   a   shrug.   ❛   i   don’t   know   ...   it   feels   like   a   hollow   victory.   i   didn’t   think   it   would   end   up   that   way.   ❜

his approach needed some work, it was easier to catch bees with honey after all and she appreciated respect and flattery alike, she was no one’s secretary after all. his lack of expression is further offputting but she plucks a quill from her desk despite it. “i might’ve gathered that much.” she said, face pinching, lips terse. she takes the folder and checks it over before putting down her sharp and loopy signature, a contrast that held true to her personality, ragged corners with smooth edges. “if that’s all, i’d appreciate you vacating the area, your attitude makes everyone work slower.”

𝐃𝐑𝐘𝐋𝐘   ,   𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐄𝐔   𝐑𝐄𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐊𝐒   ,   ❛   your   professionalism   shines   through   ,   parkinson.   truly.   ❜   he   really   ,   really   hated   witches.   the   purebloods   were   bad   ,   but   when   they   were   pretty   too   ?   merlin   ,   not   even   their   mansions   were   big   enough   to   house   their   egos.   with   the   exception   of   tati   ,   they   were   all   so   insufferable.   padme   makes   his   skin   crawl   ,   but   rather   than   let   her   under   his   skin   ,   he   flashes   her   a   sardonic   grin   ,   ❛   if   mine   slows   everyone   down   ,   what’s   yours   do   ?   make   everyone   stop   ?   ❜

“yes,” he agrees with a suppressed shudder. there are things you aren’t meant to speak of - perhaps the way the air is thick with discontent is one of them. alphard hopes it’s not; not talking about something will only make it worse, surely - he can know that and still bite his tongue in situations when he feels he ought to speak. maybe that makes him a hypocrite. “ - maybe. i don’t know. it feels like things will only get worse.”

𝐓𝐇𝐄   𝐌𝐎𝐎𝐃   𝐈𝐒   𝐒𝐔𝐃𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐋𝐘   𝐓𝐎𝐎   𝐒𝐎𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑   𝐅𝐎𝐑   𝐀𝐓𝐋𝐀𝐒'   𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆.   ❛   prepare   for   the   worst   ,   but   hope   for   the   best   ,   ❜   she   says   ,   offering   him   a   grim   smile.   that’s   why   they’d   called   in   anyone   who’d   been   in   attendance   that   night.   hope   they   catch   the   murderer   ,   get   ready   to   frame   the   nearest   scapegoat   if   not.   despite   starting   as   an   field   auror   later   than   nearly   everyone   she   knew   ,   she’d   been   in   the   department   long   enough   to .  see   it   happen.   ❛   anyway   ,   ❜   atlas   checks   her   watch.   ❛   it’s   about   time   for   me   to   go   in.   ❜

“ yeah,  i’ve been visiting. ”  one moment,  everything feels entirely normal.  cassandra seems a bit off,  and nico can’t figure out why.  it takes him a minute to remember,  and then every molecule of the scene feels fragmented and tense,  and like they’ve been converted to static.  “ i could go for a walk.  if you want company. ”  he can’t imagine she’ll want his company,  but can’t see harm in offering it.

❛   𝐍𝐎    ,   ❜   𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐑𝐀   𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐖𝐍𝐒   ,   giving   a   dismissive   wave   of   her   hand.   ❛   you   wish   to   fly   ,   and   i’ll   simply   weigh   you   down.   don’t   stop   on   my   account.   ❜   she   was   being   dramatic   ,   but   cassandra   deserved   her   moment.   everything   alexei   and   cadmus   had   done   was   a   theatre   piece   in   itself.   ❛   unless   ,   of   course   ,   you   truly   like   to   join   me   ?   in   which   i’d   like   to   scream   into   the   wind.   ❜

❛    it’s    fine    .    i    was    just    .    .    .    ❜

keeping    herself    busy    has    been    a    struggle    ,    but    she’d    spent    the    day    in    the    kitchen    ,    making    pastries    and    muffins    as    a    distraction    .    when    the    elves    had    finally    began    punishing    themselves    for    letting    her    do    ‘    their    job    ‘    she’d    finally    left    .    the    ghost    of    a    smile    finds    itself    on    penelope’s    features    ,    eyes    empty    .    she    lifts    up    the    tray    in    her    hands    slightly    ,    revealing    the    foods    on    top    .    ❛    i    learned    some    new    recipes    in    france    and    .    .    .    well    ,    i    thought    you    might    be    hungry    .    ❜

𝐂𝐀𝐃𝐌𝐔𝐒   𝐖𝐀𝐒   𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐃   ,   their   father   was   quiet   ,   their   mother   was   grief   -   stricken   ,   alexei   was   a   crybaby   ,   and   penelope   was   apparently   in   denial.   ❛   penny   ,   what   have   we   said   about   leaving   that   to   the   elves   ?   ❜   her   tone   is   stern   ,   watching   her   sister   with   a   glare   to   rival   their   father’s.   while   she   wants   to   play   the   bad   guy   and   ask   the   elves   to   make   her   a   fresh   batch   of   cookies   ,   because   she   plays   the   part   of   the   ‘   understanding   big   sister   ,   ’   her   glare   softens   before   giving   way   to   a   gentle   smile.   ❛   i’ll   take   the   blueberry   muffin.   ❜

@entitledtm​ / cassandra & caractacus. 

dark hues widened as caractacus watched a young blonde make her way over towards him. things weren’t looking in his favour, after all he had been caught brawling with cadmus the evening of the event. and had a bruise around his right temple to prove it– there were few that hadn’t seen the punches flying between the two men. as a result, eyes were drawn towards him quickly, questioning his innocence in the whole ordeal. his natural instinct was to turn and run, but he knew he could not escape the avery clan no matter how hard he tried. and so, he remained, attempting to keep a safe distance from cassandra. ‘ uhm… ok– i didn’t do it. i fought with him– but i swear to you i didn’t do it. ‘ 

𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐑𝐀   𝐅𝐄𝐄𝐋𝐒   𝐀   𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐄   𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐒𝐄   𝐎𝐅   𝐒𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐒𝐅𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍   seeing   caractacus   burke   across   diagon   ,   bruises   and   all   ,   reduced   to   a   mouse   in   a   trap.   she’d   not   set   out   for   a   fight   (   that   was   cadmus’   specialty   ,   after   all   ,   not   hers      )   ,   but   a   confrontation   could   be   fun.   ❛   mister   burke   ,   ❜   cassandra   coos   ,   taking   an   assertive   step   forward.   her   tone   is   a   touch   too   saccharine   for   a   conversation   with   her   brother’s   potential   murderer   ,   but   she   aims   to   be   undeniably   kind   to   him   in   order   to   discomfort   him.   ❛   i   believe   you.   my   brother   ,   though   i   love   him   ,   committed   many   wrongs   against   many   people.   ❜   most   of   them   against   alexei   ,   though.   if   anyone   had   a   motive   ...   ❛   bottom   line   is   ,   i   don’t   blame   you.   i   simply   want   to   ...   understand.   ❜

 "   IT’S ALRIGHT, TO STARE, YOU KNOW?  i don’t mind people admiring, if that is in fact what you’re doing.  “   she smiled gracefully, tucking her hair behind her ear, her movements graceful, limbs lithe. her eyelashes fluttered as she raised honeyed hues to meet the others.   “  something i can help you with though? “ 

𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓   ,   𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐄𝐔   𝐇𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐃   𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐒.   ❛   i’ll   get   out   of   your   ‘do   in   a   minute.   we’ve   all   got   places   to   be   tonight.   i   just   need   the   signature   of   the   auror   on   file   to   tie   this   one   up.   ❜   his   face   is   deadpan   as   her   watches   her   spectacle   ,   taking   reluctant   step   forward   as   he   offers   her   a   manila   folder.         ❛   it’s   you.   ❜

he wonders if it would have been better to keep his mouth shut - to not spread this worries that bloom out-of-control inside of him to those around him. causing worry and the possibility of panic is the last thing alphard wants; what he wants is to slip out of london and head somewhere remote - somewhere quiet - somewhere he doesn’t need to worry about this chaos and the way tension fills the air so thick he can taste it. “you feel it, too?” trepidation lingers in his voice, but alphard pushes ahead. “i feel like i’m going mad the more i think about it.”

❛   𝐈   ...   ❜   𝐒𝐇𝐄   𝐆𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐒   𝐀   𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐋𝐄𝐃   𝐒𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃.   ❛   it’s   just   ...   something   in   the   air.   ❜   like   ,   the   anticipation   of   something   is   about   to   happen.   ❛   all   we   can   hope   for   is   that   they   catch   whoever   did   it.   maybe   that   will   stop   it.   ❜   even   as   atlas   says   it   ,   she   feels   like   her   response   is   incorrect.   because   this   feeling   existed   before   cadmus   was   murdered.   she   felt   it   the   very   moment   she   read   hepzibah’s   file.   ❛   maybe.   ❜

“right.” that guy died. it seems like too succinct a way to sum it up, but she’s right. alphard had planned on going to the party for a few hours, getting his fill of drinks, and flooing back home before anyone was able to really engage him in anything. as it is - he grits his teeth a bit and nods at the question. there’s something tired lingering around his eyes; it has been there since they were kids, since alphard was fourteen or fifteen and began to feel the itching urge to flee everything he’d known. “i have. it’s not - i’m sure it’s…beautiful, under different circumstance. the ministry, i mean. as it was, the questions were - i don’t know. it’s all a lot to come back to.”

𝐒𝐇𝐄   𝐇𝐀𝐃𝐍'𝐓   𝐌𝐄𝐀𝐍𝐓   𝐓𝐎   𝐔𝐏𝐒𝐄𝐓   𝐇𝐈𝐌   ,   but   she   had   forgotten   than   alphard   was   easy   to   upset.   in   a   bad   ,   and   possibly   misguided   attempt   to   change   the   conversation   ,   themis   gives   a   snort.   ❛   well   ,   what   makes   a   beautiful   building   ,   anyway   ?   ❜   if   she   could   ,   themis   would   go   live   in   a   grass   hut.   ❛   i   don’t   know   anything   about   architecture.   all   buildings   just   look   the   same.   ❜

THEMIS & IRENE @entitledtm​

irene enters the bookstore just five minutes before closing, but she’s not here to buy books ; she’s always been far more a fan of muggle literature. she simply wants to pay a visit to her favorite book clerk.  “ i got off work early, so i thought i’d stop by, see if you wanted to grab a bite, ” irene says in lieu of a greeting, absentmindedly picking up a book off the main display. “ honestly, i’m surprised they let me write the article in the daily prophet about the murder. maybe no one else wanted to touch it, considering how it happened and all. ”

𝐓𝐇𝐄   𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐊𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆   𝐎𝐅   𝐓𝐇𝐄   𝐁𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐒   𝐏𝐔𝐋𝐋𝐒   𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐌𝐈𝐒'   𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍   from   her   current   task   of   wiping   down   the   counters.   with   only   a   couple   of   minutes   before   she   locks   up   ,   themis   nearly   quicks   them   out   ,   but   ,   only   because   it’s   irene   ,   she   doesn’t.   she   gives   an   amenable   nod   for   dinner.   ❛   they   saw   your   talent   ,   ❜   themis   corrects   sternly   ,   shoving   the   rag   into   a   drawer.   ❛   even   purebloods   can’t   deny   that   talent   sells.   you   know   ,   surface   and   the   prophet   are   neck   and   neck   in   sales   today   ?   people   want   to   heart   what   muggleborns   want   to   say.   ❜

❛   𝐑𝐈𝐃𝐃𝐋𝐄   𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐒   𝐇𝐈𝐒   𝐑𝐄𝐆𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐒   ,   —   ❜   she   writes   into   her   notebook   —   ❛   but   he   will   not   be   attending   the   funeral.   ❜   cassandra   lowers   the   pen   with   a   severe   frown   ,   jaw   tightening.   how   hard   was   it   to   take   a   portkey   from   wherever   the   hell   he   was   ?   penny   managed   to   return   from   france   after   receiving   the   news   —   for   all   they   knew   ,   tom   was   hiding   away   in   ireland.   merlin   ,   the   company   their   brother   kept.   the   second   eldest   gives   a   heavy   sigh   as   she   rises   from   the   desk.   cass   nearly   jumps   out   of   her   skin   as   avery   blue   eyes   meet   her   sister’s.

“ i won’t, ”  he said,  confused as to how he was making things harder.  that had been their parents doing,  not his.  “ i don’t know.  not very well,  i suppose,  but who can blame her?  i feel rotten to the core,  and i didn’t even really see the body. ”  hugo sighed,  and,  hit with a wave of resignation,  sat down.  he invited her to do the same.  “ i’ve heard alexei avery isn’t so terrible.  a decent man,  whether he’s capable of magic or not.  you’ll be alright.  and if you aren’t,  well…  you can tell me,  if you want.  i’ll help as much as i can. ”

the trouble was he hadn’t meant he wouldn’t make things harder  ––  he hadn’t been thinking clearly,  hadn’t really been parsing his own words,  but now he saw that they were going to be hard regardless of what hugo said or did.  he was of half a mind to try turning the tables,  to make their parents suffer a lack of control for once.  but eva would never go along with it.  she wanted stability,  and hugo could no longer give it to her,  not in the way he’d promised.  he decided to try anyway,  and if she didn’t like it,  she could go with alexei,  and learn to be happy with him.  “ i promise i won’t breathe another word of this if you are in any way not amenable, ”  he began,  “ but…  i don’t think i can listen to my parents anymore,  after this.  i doubt i can trust them.  the same goes for yours.  they’re playing with our lives.  i––  i’ll understand if you think this is a mad idea,  i swear it,  but haven’t you ever wanted to just…  to leave?  and to make your own way in the world? ”

𝐇𝐄𝐑   𝐁𝐑𝐎𝐖   𝐅𝐔𝐑𝐑𝐎𝐖𝐒   𝐈𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐋𝐘   ,   sharply   meeting   his   eyes.   ❛   i   don’t   want   to   talk   about   alexei.   ❜   she   doesn’t   even   want   to   think   about   him.   they   were   children   ,   and   she   grew   up   ,   but   he   didn’t.   at   least   ,   not   in   her   eyes.   he   was   cemented   as   a   childhood   friend   she   outgrew.   they   were   children   last   she   thought   about   marrying   him.   before   she’d   met   hugo   ,   to   marry   a   friend   as   dear   as   alexei   would’ve   been   a   blessing.   now   ,   the   thought   repulsed   her.   once   you   knew   love   ,   how   could   you   accept   anything   else   ?

her   gaze   softens   ,   the   sharpness   replaced   with   hesitation.   she   sits.      ❛   . . .   do   you   mean   to   run   away   ?   ❜   merlin   ,   eva   was   too   fragile   for   that.   she   had   very   few   talents   ,   even   fewer   prospects   outside   being   a   professional   layabout.   ❛   i   never   imagined   it.   ❜   growing   up   ,   it   was   a   full   house   between   her   siblings   ,   their   father   ,   and   his   latest   flavour   of   the   month.   at   school   ,   eva   had   surrounded   herself   with   the   perfect   melange   of   purebloods.   even   now   ,   she   was   neck   deep   in   pureblood   society.   ❛   i   couldn’t   imagine   being   . . .   alone   ,   ❜   she   admits   ,   her   voice   smaller   than   before.   the   prospect   is   terrifying.   to   leave   would   be   to   ruin   everything   she   had   inherited   ,   everything   she   had   built.   but   . . .   with   hugo   at   her   side   ?   she   could   bear   it.   as   quiet   as   a   breath   ,   eva   whispers   ,   ❛   where   would   we   go   ?   ❜

there was a crunch that mimicked gravel underfoot,  and nico stopped short of mounting his broom,  hand going into the pocket that held his wand,  before he caught sight of a familiar face.  “ warn me next time you’re wandering up like that,  will you? ”  friendliness hid disappointment;  he’d been looking forward to flying.  then again,  there was no reason he couldn’t,  was there?  “ fancy a bit of exploring? ”  he asked.  “ i don’t have an extra broom here,  but i could go get one. ”  the greengrass estate wasn’t too far away,  and there was always apparition.

❛   𝐒𝐎𝐑𝐑𝐘.   𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑   𝐌𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑   𝐒𝐀𝐈𝐃   𝐘𝐎𝐔   𝐖𝐄𝐑𝐄   𝐎𝐔𝐓   𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄.   ❜   cassandra   holds   up   both   hands   —   open   palmed   and   sans   wand.   the   exhaustion   is   evident   in   her   voice   as   tired   eyes   bore   into   her   old   housemate.   she   thinks   about   the   proposition   for   a   moment   before   shaking   her   head.   ❛   don’t   bother.   i’ll   get   out   of   your   hair   in   a   mo   —   i   simply   needed   to   get   out   of   the   house.   i   thought   a   walk   might   take   my   mind   off   planning   and   all   that.   ❜

“it’s not just me,” he’s speaking before thinking about it - merlin, seems being alone in ancient tombs in peru for the last handful of months has robbed him of what few social graces he had. alphard’s always been a loner, and being further isolated on the job hasn’t helped matters. “it just feels like - something’s brewing.” it has been, since the riot. he’d read about it in the papers and had received a few owls that mentioned the mess, mostly in derisive tones about one party or the other. it’s all a snarl. first the riot and now the murder of a pureblood in the manner a muggle might kill someone. alphard hasn’t decided what he thinks happened, though the more conspiratorial side of his mind wonders if this wasn’t - planned. if the manner of the killing wasn’t picked to make people think one sort of person might have done it; to fan the flames of dissent. “i ought to be. was in the main hall nearly the whole night,” that tight smile he offered remains fixed in place.

𝐓𝐇𝐄   𝐀𝐃𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍   𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐒   𝐀   𝐒𝐔𝐃𝐃𝐄𝐍   𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐋𝐋   up   her   spine   ,   leaving   her   with   nothing   but   that   strange   feeling   in   her   stomach.   it   does.   it   does   feel   something   is   brewing   ,   that   any   moment   now   ,   the   pot   will   boil   over   and   everything   will   go   to   shit.   ❛   huh   ,   ❜   atlas   finally   says   ,   ❛   that’s   what   that   feeling   is.   ❜   she   feels   as   if   her   ‘   third   -   eye   ’   has   been   pried   open.   everything   seems   just   a   bit   different   by   that   one   truth.   merlin   ,   her   interrogation   is   going   to   be   all   over   the   place.   ❛   well   ,   i’m   sure   they’ll   be   someone   who   saw   you.   ❜   she   gives   a   shrug   as   she   attempts   a   smile.   it   feels   just   as   hollow   as   his.   ❛   hopefully   ,   at   least.   ❜

winter didn’t come as swiftly in london as charles had come to expect growing up.  he didn’t think he’d ever get used to the gentler cold.  he couldn’t go so far as to call it a luxury,  but it was nice not to be knee deep in snow come october,  and now they were into november,  and still he hadn’t needed to bring out his winter coat.  the juxtaposition between the street and the warmth of his office had him shedding layers,  draping his coat over his chair.  he nodded to atlas,  who had already arrived,  and sat down heavily,  not looking forward to the conversation he was about to attempt.  “ that party, ”  he began,  and then cast muffliato on his door,  in the name of safekeeping his opinion.  “ that was so out of line.  and i’m not talking about the whole department looking incompetent.  couldn’t care less about that.  after i bumped into travers i thought something was off,  but…  shit. ”  he realized he sounded a little broken up about the whole thing,  and reigned in his tone  ––  if he wanted to get his point across,  there were better things to do than get emotional.  “ i know we’re not on the case,  but i wanna read all those witness statements.  a few pairs of eyes are better than one,  ain’t they? ”   /   closed   for   @entitledtm·

𝐃𝐄𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐓𝐄   𝐓𝐇𝐄   𝐖𝐄𝐈𝐑𝐃   𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐄   𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐘   𝐖𝐀𝐋𝐊   ,   atlas   finds   herself   more   comfortable   in   the   chair   adjacent   to   charles’   than   at   her   own   desk.   she’s   already   curled   up   in   it   ,   hair   falling   over   her   face   while   she   re   -   reads   the   file   they’d   gotten   prior   to   the  party.   at   charles’   entrance   ,   she   looks   up   with   a   faint   smile.   the   gala’s   taken   it’s   toll   on   everyone   ,   clearly.   for   atlas   ,   all   these   crimes   were   hitting   uncomfortably   close   to   home.   first   hepzibah   ,   then   cadmus   ?   ❛   i   thought   i   saw   the   two   of   you   talking   ,   ❜   atlas   hums   ,   attempting   to   lighten   the   mood.   everyone   she   knows   has   been   shaken   up   by   the   murder   ,   obviously   charles   is   too.   it’s   a   scary   time   to   be   a   pureblood.   ❛   i’m   afraid   you’ll   like   her   more   than   me   soon.   ❜   she   shifts   in   her   seat   ,   scooting   closer   to   the   edge   of   the   chair   at   the   mention   of   witness    statements.   ❛   you   really   know   your   way   into   a   woman’s   heart   ,   ❜   atlas   remarks   ,   teasing.   ❛   do   you   have   them   with   you   ?   i   truly   can’t   imagine   that   you   were   able   to   pry   them   out   of   sokolov’s   hands.   ❜