#frederick.

"Your Grace, I've brought you tea."  He called out loudly through the door.

Frederick: *walking down the hallways of court, he’s on his way to speak with Joffrey when he finds himself in front of his sister instead, wondering briefly how it was that she always managed to appear out of nowhere* Sister, now’s not the time. Marietta: *smiles* Nonsense. There’s always time for family *she takes his arm and then motions to a sitting room* Come, there’s a couple of things I wish to speak to you about. Frederick: *rolls his eyes as he’s basically pulled along by his sister to the room, turning to look at her as she closes the door and then awaits her with raised eyebrows* Well? Marietta: *takes a piece of parchment out of her dress and then unrolls it before passing it to him, her expression dire* Read it. Frederick: *taking the parchment, he passes a hand over his mouth, frowning, his eyes narrowed* Marietta: *breathless* Tell me you didn’t know about this. Frederick: *snaps* Of course not! *huffs and shakes his head, taking a step closer to her* Where did you find this? Marietta: Never mind that, I have my ways. Frederick: *snorts* Okay. *purses his lips together* …have you shown father? Marietta: He would never believe it. Least of all from me *tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, clearing her throat afterwards* If this is true- Frederick: If. That’s a very big ‘if’ Marietta. *warningly* Marietta: Nevertheless, this is alarming. Ariadne and I are already doing as much as we can in our positions- Frederick: *snaps* You trust that halfblood with this?! Marietta: *snaps right back* I trusted her before you! You’d do well to remember that. And if you ever say anything against her again- Frederick: *waves her off* That’s not the point! This is a delicate matter, the less people that know, the better. Marietta: Well, we need your help. *eyes still narrowed* Frederick: *rolls up the parchment and hands it back to her* I’ll see what I can do. Marietta: *hides it again and then nods* I’m not quite finished. Frederick: You have even more news? *exhales* Marietta: No, not exactly. Just a question- where were you last night? Frederick: *simply* Speaking with Lord Dominic regarding some matters…*eyebrows raised* Why? Marietta: Because, when the fire started…and Damocles, the knights and some lords were leaving, it looked like a few lords were coming in. Frederick: *shrugs* Hardly cause to worry. Marietta: Unless the murders from yesterday aren’t Mitchell’s fault at all. Frederick: *rolls his eyes and grits his teeth* Really Etta? Really? I know you’ve always been fond of the man but he’s a murderer! Marietta: Innocent until proven guilty, Frederick. I know you as well as some lords would rather that be the opposite, but the law of this land- Frederick: I piss on any law that gives a muggleborn murderer even the slightest chance of walking away free for his heinous crimes. Marietta: So you piss on justice then? Bravo, Frederick. Really. You might as well just pull out your cock right now and start aiming at everybody. Frederick: Eloquent as always, sister- Marietta: You’ve always hated Mitchell, you’re blinded, but I’ve had seven years of dealing with hard cold facts, dealing with ministry officials, with lies and deceit- and I don’t believe Mitchell is responsible. Frederick: So who is? *eyebrow rises*…what are you implying? Marietta: That a handful of Lords arrived at court minutes before Damocles and the knights left, that a few of the same are ill today and won’t come out of their chambers, that it’s a bit too convenient to have found letters- Frederick: *eyebrows rise* You think this was all part of some elaborate scheme? Marietta: I don’t discount anything. That’s why I’m good at my job. Frederick: *snorts and then crosses his arms in front of his chest* Etta, still your tongue. You’re going to get yourself in a world full of trouble if you start accusing lords on a mere whim. Marietta: I’m not accusing anyone. I merely asked where you were last night. Frederick: …*eyes narrow* Do you believe me capable of all that you just listed above? Marietta: I believe that I would do anything to further my cause, and that’s exactly what I’m doing right now. I believe you would do the same *eyebrows rise* Except your cause happens to be the exact opposite. Frederick: That’s rich, Etta. Thank you for your vote of confidence. Marietta: Ariadne- Frederick: Yes, please, give me more of her unfailing wisdom. Ariadne: *walks in with her eyebrows raised, lips quirked slightly before closing the door behind her as well, locking it* Keep your voices down, you’re lucky I was keeping watch. Frederick: *wryly* I should have expected you’d be close behind. Ariadne: Mmh, but you didn’t. *smirks slightly and then shrugs her shoulders, turning to Etta* You deviated. Marietta: *sniffs, pursing her lips and glaring at her brother* I was only concerned for my little brother. Frederick: *coldly* Thank you for your concern, sister, but I assure you, I’m quite alright. Ariadne: We’re expected elsewhere, Marietta. Frederick: *turns to look at Ariadne* You don’t order her anywhere, Hardy. Marietta: *snaps* Frederick- Ariadne: No, I don’t presume to order anyone about. *tilts her head* Isn’t that your duty? Frederick: *corrects* M’lord. Ariadne: *lips flick in annoyance before she repeats distastefully* M’lord. I was merely offering reminder. Frederick: Which is not in your place to offer in the first place, nor speak when your superiors are in the middle of a conversation- Marietta: Frederick Chaucer Brackner, so help me- Ariadne: *lips flick into a pleasant smile* Permission to speak, m’lord? Frederick: *eyebrows rise* Granted. Ariadne: Were you meeting with Lord Dominic before, or after I was finished conversing with him? *challenging* Frederick: *purses his lips together, eyes narrowed* I do not know, when were you speaking with him? Ariadne: *grins* Oh, I would say right until the fire, then he had to leave. Frederick: *simply* Before, then. Marietta: *bites on her bottom lip for a moment* So where were you? Frederick: Business which doesn’t concern you, any *gaze flicks to Ariadne* of you. Ariadne: Hmm, I see. Well, I’m saddened that you would so quickly assume a man’s guilty. Frederick: *mocking* Saddened, are you? Ariadne: Oh, devastated. *eyebrows rise* Frederick: I wasn’t aware you were so acquainted with the man, as well. Ariadne: *lips twitch* I don’t believe I’ve said anything to insinuate I am. Frederick: Yet you are, nonetheless? Ariadne: Yes. Frederick: *grits his teeth together* And the other two men now believed to have helped him? Ariadne: Briefly. Frederick: *snorts* Any other muggleborns you know of we should worry about? Ariadne: I wouldn’t know, m’lord. *eyes narrow* What would you define as worrying? *tilts her head* The mere fact that they’re all muggleborn- Frederick: I would- Marietta: *huffing* Stop. Frederick: *ignoring his sister* So I should assume you also believe his innocence? Ariadne: *pretends to be flattered* M’lord wants my opinion? My, this is a nice change. Marietta: I said enough, both of you! *glares at them both* Ariadne: *simply* Yes. Mitchell is capable of many things; willful murder of his friends, never. *shrugs before she says idly* Willful murder of his enemies, however? *lips twitch* That’s an entirely different issue. Frederick: *eyes narrowed* Something we have in common, then. Ariadne: Something everybody in this room has in common…m’lord. *eyebrows rise and then she turns to the door again* I’ll be waiting by the foyer, Marietta. Marietta: *nods, watching her leave and then turning back to Frederick with a glare on her face* Frederick- Frederick: Don’t start sister. That was me behaving. The next time she speaks to me like that, she might not be so lucky. *moves past her, going to the door himself* Marietta: *repeats* Where were you, Frederick? Frederick: *scoffs* I was off plotting the doom and destruction of all muggleborns in the world. *turns to look back at her* Is that what you wanted to hear? *eyebrows rise before he simply opens the door and walks out, slamming it shut behind him*