The (un)Happy Hour (Open)

[Curse Kameren]

"What is going on here."

Curse closed his eyes when he heard Arianna's voice. She saved him here. He couldn't speak, couldn't give this man more evidence against him. Curse's hands were tied with this; he couldn't help Echo when this man was threatening his son. One of the other men grabbed him by the shoulder, pulling him back. He let it happen. He was powerless.

"Daksmer. You leave them out of this. That man, Kameren, he didn't do anything. We're just having an incidental chat over a drink. Look at me Daksmer, you reeking piece of wormgut."

"Why? Actually think you might make some friends here?" He laughed scornfully. "You know that will never happen. So long as you're alive and free, you'll always be a danger to others."

Curse didn't know what to do when Echo attacked Daksmer. They could kill her for that, or at least lock her away. The world didn't have any protection for cursed witches and wizards; locking her away could mean the same as killing her. He broke away from the men holding him again, trying to catch Echo as she fell. He was pulled back by one of the aurors, this time being pulled by the neck. He lashed out without thinking about it, his hand glowing white as he swung in the direction of the man. His involuntary magic overpowered the other auror's shield, throwing him back a few feet into the table. Before he knew what happened, another auror had his hands bound behind his back.

"And you, Kameren, better play nice."

Don't say anything. He stayed quiet, his lips closed. He had just hit another auror, a Law Enforcement officer. He couldn't dig his hole any deeper than this. He looked around for Reckony; the barkeep had disappeared. His eyes fell on Arianna, and another pang of guilt went through him. How did these things happen? He had just come here to visit a friend, enjoy a butterbeer and a chat. Now, here he was. Now what?

[Arianna Blackthorn]

This whole thing was a rotten mess and if she wasn't careful it could turn into a bloody battle field. Everyone seemed on edge, wands out. Really, was it necessary? Then Arianna glanced at Echo and she seemed heartbroken by her cool, detached words. Arianna felt for her, but to save her she had to distance herself. She had to seem to be the cool scientist or the man would never give Echo to her.

"Why? Actually think you might make some friends here?" He laughed scornfully. "You know that will never happen. So long as you're alive and free, you'll always be a danger to others."

"So are impermanent, rash hitwizards who disregard proper protocol for their own personal glory and revenge. " Arianna bit out in a chilly, rather imperious voice. She stood tall, looking at the man with a look of regal disdain. Inside she was quaking. She did not like to pull rank on people but this man irritated her. So, she pretended to be the lofty aloof Unspeakable form the Department of Mysteries.

I said...leave. Them. ALONE." With the unnatural strength in her right hand, she jerked her arm free of the guard's grasp and punched Daksmer in the face.

Arianna tisked the fallen Daksmer. "If she isn't properly detained it could be alot worse when her control slips and the demon takes control." She nearly winced when Echo crumpled to the floor stunned.

"You should know to stay out of this, woman. You have no authority to take my prisoner. Do you know what she did to me?" He indicated a scar along his cheekbone and neck. "She's evaded capture several times, and is a wanted fugitive. That...creature...is to be locked up."

Arianna stared at him, eye narrowed. "It is true she is a danger but she contains a clue to the demons plaguing us. "

the man was dense as he was arrogant. It sickened Arianna. The fool. He would doom the entire world for his own personal gain.

"Unless you can show me some authorization, Miss, you better get out of here."

"I am the head Researcher for the Runes and Demon section of the Department of Mysteries I do not need authorization when it comes to the likes of her. She will be under my observation and you will hand her over whether here or there I do not care, but I will secure her for travel. Wouldn't want another scar to mare that handsome face now would we? One is devastating enough. " She pointed out as she stepped past him wand out. Without waiting for permission she began to cast rune protection and containment spells around Echo.

"Do not disturb me or this entire place will explode." She muttered just in case some man was sent to detain her. Rune magic was violtal as it was powerful and being interrupted when performing complex spells as she was doing could very well destroy them all. Finished, she stepped back, her knees wobbly.

"Her magic is contained for now."

[Alex Kameren]

"And you, Kameren, better play nice."

Xaviera had come in with the second wave of aurors, her wand at the ready. They were here to arrest a powerful dark witch, a danger to the community who had been running around free for too long, endangering the populous as she evaded capture. Xav’s grasp on the situation had tilted and whirled greatly out of control when she saw the true situation.

Curse Kameren. She hadn’t seen him in months, but that wasn’t what held her focus. After all, he could get himself in and out of situations just fine, and he was known for sometimes picking up the wrong cause to go to war for. She was one of the aurors who gave him a sympathetic, I’m-sorry-but-this-is-necessary-its-my-job look. And then things started happening.

"You'll what?" Daksmer replied, smiling twistedly. He was glad to get a crack at a Kameren as well. "You may be out of the Mental Ward, Kameren, but you're far from free of them. Attacking on officer? Resisting an arrest? Aiding a fugitive? All I have to do is say the word and you'll be back in that hospital, and that little bastard you keep in the castle will never see his daddy again."

Xav clutched her wand tightly, having a hard time restraining herself. How dare he! Dirty little ferret, what was he doing leading this anyhow? He wasn’t an auror! She felt a large hand on her shoulder, and she turned to see Theodore’s junior, a man a few years her senior. He shook his head, giving her a cautionary look. She blinked, then looked around. Where was Theodore? She knew Alex wasn’t there-- though had not gotten much more reason out of sleazel weasel other than he was ‘on another case’.

You should know to stay out of this, woman. You have no authority to take my prisoner. Do you know what she did to me?" He indicated a scar along his cheekbone and neck. "She's evaded capture several times, and is a wanted fugitive. That...creature...is to be locked up."


"Where did that barkeeper go. He's a witness, we may need to question him."

“Why are we here, Daksmer?” Xaviera slipped bast Barne’s restraining hand. She was the most junior of all present, but she spoke her mind. She noticed that the majority of the aurors were those more impressionable, with a few hitwizards and aurors who seemed more Daksmer’s type throughout the crowd. She pointed her wand at a hitwizard who seemed intent on throwing a few more curses at the hapless woman and Curse both.

Seeing she had their attention, she took a bold stance, distracting from the other woman’s workings. “Surely you don’t need so many guards for one lone woman?” She asked innocently, then continued in a more stinging tone. “Or are they to keep your pretty face intact?”

[Echo Ashaelyr]

"Why are we here?" Daksmer shook his head at the auror. "I briefed everyone. This thing," he pointed to Echo. "Is infected with demon blood. She's wanted by the Ministry. And she's a danger to us all. End of story. Are you finished Miss Blackthorn," he said scathingly as the woman stood up.

"You can debate this all you want and swing around your precious titles, but without it in parchment, in my hand, I'm taking the prisoner to the Ministry. You can try and do something there, but you'll need a lot of weight." He smiled unpleasantly.

Two hitwizards hauled Echo to her feet. The poison was starting to wear off, and she planted her feet firmly, lifting her chin proudly as she glared at Daksmer.

"You call me a creature, but look at yourself. How many times did they deny your auror application?"

He clenched a fist, but restrained himself, looking around at the people who had come forward in defense of the demon hunter. If he hung around too much longer, he may lose the leverage that he had.

Signaling to the ministry officials to begin clearing out of the pub, Daksmer delivered a final warning to the others. "You won't see this woman again, and you'd better stay out of this. It's Ministry business, and you're lucky I don't detain all of you for consorting with the dark arts."

Daksmer pulled off Echo's sword and swordbelt, throwing it to the ground in contempt. The old, weathered weapon clanged dully against the floorboards.

He waved his hand and a parchment appeared. Holding it out to Xaviera, he ordered her to remain behind. "Give this writ of warning to the barkeeper, wherever he ran off to. The Ministry will send an official to ask him some questions." He didn't recognize the auror woman, but assumed she was just another lackey. "Deliver it to him in person."

Within minutes the team was assembled outside. Echo cast one last desperate look at the pub. For a brief moment, things had seemed brighter this morning. But now, she felt a heavy weight on her heart. She had endangered others and gotten them mixed up with the Ministry. Echo hoped they would forgive her, but knew she wouldn't get a chance to ask them in person again.

The next instant her guard spun on his heel, taking her with him, away from hope, and towards a future in shadow.

[[Exit Echo. Feel free to continue things in the pub, but for Echo's side of things, I'll continue in the Ministry.]]

[Reckony Pike]

Reckony thundered down the stairs, out-of-breath and damp from the mist-laden dusk. He began barking out orders to his staff to lock the establishment down: customers were to leave, their tabs covered by the house, but those with any inkling of helping Echo were welcome to stay behind. Servers locked the shutters and lit the lanterns, bolting the doors shut once the last of the clientele had left.

"I followed them along the roofs as far as the apothecary. They've taken the Floo from the transportation bureau. Echo doesn't have a chance of escaping, not with the lynch mob they have escorting her. I'm assuming it didn't go well with Arianna?"

Reckony ducked beneath the counter and hauled up the keg that served Echo her potion. He carefully sealed the container and labelled it toxic; he garnered that Curse would want a sampling for investigation.

"You're welcome to use the bar as a theatre if you want to stage an offensive strike. I'll remained closed for as long as it takes. There are people in this village who will help us; you only need give me word. We'll have the benefit of tight lips and decoys. Curse, I've taken care of your son."

Reckony looked around the assembled group, taking a breath and noticing, with some trepidation, that he had shared his offerings in front of a Ministry official. She was young but that meant nothing anymore.

To Xav-

"Hello, who are you?"

[Curse Kameren]

The binds around Curse's hands vanished as soon as they were gone. His mind took off as soon as he was freed, moving at a million miles per hour. He couldn't touch Daksmer, that much was obvious, but that didn't mean he couldn't help her. He was a seasoned auror, a leader of his department. He still had strong connections at the Ministry, stronger than Daksmer. He at least had the power to buy them some time. He moved slowly across the bar, picking up Echo's sword and getting it out of the way of the exiting patrons.

"You're welcome to use the bar as a theatre if you want to stage an offensive strike. I'll remained closed for as long as it takes. There are people in this village who will help us; you only need give me word. We'll have the benefit of tight lips and decoys. Curse, I've taken care of your son."

Curse tried to smile reassuringly, leaning Echo's sword against the bar. Of everything going through his head, he was most worried about his son. Should he contact him? Could he? He wasn't sure if he should; if Daksmer decided to ruin Curse's custody anyways, it would be tougher for them to find him if Curse wasn't with him. He sat at the bar, numb with panic. He wanted to help, he truly did. Hell, he was sure most of the people in this room expected him to. He couldn't hurt Max though, couldn't get him taken away. Losing Max would kill him.

"Who has him, Reck?" Curse couldn't hold back the fear on his face as he looked at him. What he wanted most was to go find his son right now, but it would be safer for both of them for him to stay away. Max wouldn't forgive him for this, but he at least had to send him something to let him know he was okay. A silver-white orb pulsed from his hand, a silvery owl shooting through the wall, towards wherever Reckony's contact had taken his son. Even with Pike's help, Curse couldn't shake his worry.

"Ari," Curse snapped himself out of his worry, shifting into auror-mode as he turned to his ex, "can you get Echo into your department on your own? I have a contact for you, if not. Mort Caulfield's an old friend, he'll help you if you ask." Mort knew about Curse's relationship with Arianna up to their engagement, but beyond that he didn't know anything else. For the meantime, he'd keep it that way. Mort would help Arianna without question if she was Curse's wife; if he knew the whole story, it would be an argument with the old man that they didn't have time for. He met Arianna's eyes; he needed her on his side, backing him up. He was afraid, despite his outward auror's appearance, and he knew she could see it. He needed her behind him; he didn't want to have to rely on her like he used to, but his son was on the line. He was afraid to keep going. He kept his voice low, not wanting to betray his vulnerability to the rest of the room. "You need to stall the Ministry with her. I can't help you. They're threatening Max."

"Xav --" He turned to his ex-junior, the authoritative tone of the ex-Head Auror coming into his voice. "When you get back to the office, get other aurors and hitwizards on this. Something's off. Was Tynan notified about this? He's supposed to sign off, which means there's supposed to be more Seniors present than there were. Magical Creatures should have been here, or a Crisis Control Team. This is not how half-demons are handled--" He paused when he realized he'd just called Echo a half-demon, frowning at himself. He was talking like a Head again. "Whatever Daksmer's up to, this isn't how the Ministry runs. If you can slow him up on protocol, hopefully Arianna can get Echo out before he hurts her."

He turned to Reckony, opened his mouth before he realized he didn't have anything to say to him, then closed it again. "Thankyou," He said simply, nodding at the man. He reached into his pocket for his carton of cigarettes, pulling one out and fumbling with it in his fingers. "I need a smoke." He crossed out into the open air.

Curse popped the cigarette into his mouth, shakily lighting it. This was why he didn't try to re-enter the Ministry after he got out of the hospital. This fear for his family, his son's safety. Now it was happening, and he didn't know what to do. He couldn't keep calm with this, it was too personal. He wanted to help Echo, to do what was right. He had too much on the line though, and he wasn't sure how far he could push Daksmer and his associates at the Ministry. He couldn't lose his son, that much he knew.

His green eyes followed as his silver patronus shot across the sky, stopping in front of him. "Who has him?" He asked it, blowing smoke into the sky.

"Bowre. Lucy."

Curse nodded, and the silver owl faded away. Theo would keep his son safe, and Lucy would comfort him. It didn't make Curse feel any more comfortable in the situation though, as he nervously flicked the ashes of his cigarette onto the ground. Should he go forward and help Echo, at the risk of being locked up himself? Or was he supposed to deny what he thought was right?

[Arianna Blackthorn]

This was an utter mess. How had this happened? This was not at all protocol for detaining someone will demon blood. Merlin, she'd practically wrote the handbook, well not really, but she had edited the section on the use of runes for containment purposes. This bloke was a bloody idiot and he'd get his entire team killed if he wasn't careful. Arianna tried to block out all the interference in the room as she worked. Distractions would weaken her spells. She barely registered the second wave of aurors or the fact that one of them had objected to something.

With a flick of her wrist she was finished. Arianna had barely risen to her feet when Daksmer snapped at her.

« Reply #18 on May 24, 2011, 12:03pm » Quote
"Why are we here?" Daksmer shook his head at the auror. "I briefed everyone. This thing," he pointed to Echo. "Is infected with demon blood. She's wanted by the Ministry. And she's a danger to us all. End of story. Are you finished Miss Blackthorn,"

"For now. You have just enough time to get her to the Ministry. Anywhere farther and I'm afraid the spells will wear off and the affliction can spread to your team." It wasn't entirely the truth but if she hadn't said anything of the sort she was sure the little vile creep would take Echo to some faraway place and torture her.

"You can debate this all you want and swing around your precious titles, but without it in parchment, in my hand, I'm taking the prisoner to the Ministry. You can try and do something there, but you'll need a lot of weight." He smiled unpleasantly.

One slim eyebrow raised mockingly on Arianna's face. Her expression practically screamed 'oh-really?' She will have Echo in her department, she was slightly surprised that she hadn't had the authorization already. Her boss was dreaming of such an opportunity for several years now. Surely, this was a job for the Mysteries Department. Who else would have the proper equipment, skills, or knowledge to probe something so chaotic? While Echo had shown amazing control over the darkness in side of her it did slip.

Then Echo had to wake up and insult the man.

"You call me a creature, but look at yourself. How many times did they deny your auror application?"

Bold, but not smart. Dasmer or what ever his name was held the trump cards currently and needing him further would be vastly entertaining and personally satisfying but it would endanger Echo even more and quite possibly everyone in the room. Obviously, the man had people who pull the strings in his pocket.

His response was a bit more mature than Arianna would have expected. He seemed to be on the verge of a perpetual temper tantrum.

"You won't see this woman again, and you'd better stay out of this. It's Ministry business, and you're lucky I don't detain all of you for consorting with the dark arts."

Arianna held in the urge to laugh in his face. She'd like to see him try and detain all of them! They'd be out in less than twelve hours and Arianna knew a lawyer who'd be more than happy to incite lawsuits on their behalf on Daskmer and his office. His superiors would not be happy with that at all.

Before they all stormed out in their childish glory, Daskmer singled out a pretty little auror to give Reck a piece of paper. A writ of warning. How lovely. Was the man an utter fool? That paper could be very damaging evidence against him if they ever did decide to pursue a court case.With a dramatic flourish the hitwizard and his goons were gone. Only one lone official remained. Arianna watched the young witch, wondering if she was truly a lackey or not. Someone had come forward and objected to something but she had been engrossed in her spells to notice who it was. Could it have been this one? Then why leave her behind? Her thoughts were interrupted by the return of the barkeep.

"I followed them along the roofs as far as the apothecary. They've taken the Floo from the transportation bureau. Echo doesn't have a chance of escaping, not with the lynch mob they have escorting her. I'm assuming it didn't go well with Arianna?"

Arianna stepped forward as if saying that she was still present, although she probably should return to work soon, but not before she knew what the next course of action was. It was an unlawful detainment she was sure.

"You're welcome to use the bar as a theatre if you want to stage an offensive strike. I'll remained closed for as long as it takes. There are people in this village who will help us; you only need give me word. We'll have the benefit of tight lips and decoys. Curse, I've taken care of your son."

Max! It was the first time she had thought of the boy since she had arrived. Where was he? Arianna's gaze flew to Curse's. He looked pale and more than a bit worse for ware and frustrated. Despite his smile, she could see his fear.


"Who has him, Reck?"

A very good question and Ari wanted answer. She was about to also demand the whereabouts of her nephew when Curse said her name. Quickly, she turned to him, fighting against the urge to pull him into her arms.

"Ari," Curse snapped himself out of his worry, shifting into auror-mode as he turned to his ex, "can you get Echo into your department on your own? I have a contact for you, if not. Mort Caulfield's an old friend, he'll help you if you ask."

"I'll contact him, the more leverage the better. I think someone else is pulling the strings. This nab and grab didn't follow any of the protocol. She should have been in y department or at least the Mysteries. Not some prison cell."

"Xav --" He turned to his ex-junior, the authoritative tone of the ex-Head Auror coming into his voice. "When you get back to the office, get other aurors and hitwizards on this. Something's off. Was Tynan notified about this? He's supposed to sign off, which means there's supposed to be more Seniors present than there were. Magical Creatures should have been here, or a Crisis Control Team. This is not how half-demons are handled--" He paused when he realized he'd just called Echo a half-demon, frowning at himself. He was talking like a Head again. "Whatever Daksmer's up to, this isn't how the Ministry runs. If you can slow him up on protocol, hopefully Arianna can get Echo out before he hurts her."


Xav? Was that young woman the little girl Curse had started training to be an auror. She'd only seen Xav once or twice before she had left. Certainly, she had grown. There was something thrilling about watching Curse Kameren go into hyper vigilant auror mode. It wasn't until that moment that she realized that she missed this bossy in control, superior side of him. Not all the time to be sure, but just a smudge.

"I need a smoke."

Then he was gone. Arianna stood there in the middle of the room watching the barkeep and Xav.

"I've got to return to the ministry and see to her transfer. Gooday." She mumbled as she hurried after Curse. Was he alright? He seemed a bit shaken up by all of this. What had happened before she had arrived? Arianna found him outside, smoking.

"You alright?" She asked softly as she approached.

[Alex Kameren]

"You call me a creature, but look at yourself. How many times did they deny your auror application?"

“Exactly eight times.” Xav offered sweetly, smiling at Daksmer. “After that we just started inventing new ways to transfigure unwanted correspondence… junk mail, if you will.” His darkening look was reward enough for her, it perhaps wasn’t the best time to needle him, but she didn’t have much personal experience with the man. Just inherited distrust and disgust from her mentors.

“The auror department doesn’t need trash.” She observed as he went into a rage, culminating in storming out, prisoner in tow. She traded looks with Barne before he was hustled out the door by the crowd.

"Give this writ of warning to the barkeeper, wherever he ran off to. The Ministry will send an official to ask him some questions." He didn't recognize the auror woman, but assumed she was just another lackey. "Deliver it to him in person."

“Yes sir.” She said it with a straight face, her actual sarcasm hid expertly. He was going to leave her here. Good. She needed to talk to Kameren. She took the paper, waiting until he was out the door before transfiguring it into a shot glass.

"Hello, who are you?"

“Junior Auror Hex’et.” She handed him the shot glass. “This is a writ of warning. I suggest you be closed for lunch next Wednesday at ten o’clock. Take lunch somewhere else. I hear London has a beautiful little tea shop.”


"Xav --" He turned to his ex-junior, the authoritative tone of the ex-Head Auror coming into his voice. "When you get back to the office, get other aurors and hitwizards on this. Something's off. Was Tynan notified about this? He's supposed to sign off, which means there's supposed to be more Seniors present than there were. Magical Creatures should have been here, or a Crisis Control Team. This is not how half-demons are handled--" He paused when he realized he'd just called Echo a half-demon, frowning at himself. He was talking like a Head again. "Whatever Daksmer's up to, this isn't how the Ministry runs. If you can slow him up on protocol, hopefully Arianna can get Echo out before he hurts her."

“We were just rounded up and told there was a demon-cursed here.” Xav shook her head, from the briefing, she’d expected someone much less... human. But that woman had been still mostly human. It left the young woman with a bad taste in her mouth. “I didn’t notice until Barne came to me, about the seniors.” she made a face “Alex and Theodore should have been here, or Freeman, Doyle and Fisher. They’re our most active operatives in the field, at least two of them should have been here.” She fingered her wand before waving it around the room, cleaning up as she spoke. “I’ll speak to Tynan. We’ll slow him down.”

“I’m sorry for the destruction to your pub.” She told Reckony, there was so much else she regretted tonight, but that was all she could say. “Keep me updated, Curse.” She spun on her heel, disapparating with a crack.

[Curse Kameren]

The smoke wasn't doing anything for his anxiety, Curse realized quickly. Being left to himself outside was probably worse for him; he needed to be working, talking and thinking. When he had a goal to reach or he was needed to lead, his sight didn't falter. When he was alone, his mind consumed him. What was he supposed to do about Max? He knew this decision would rear its ugly head eventually, but he still wasn't quite prepared for it. He ran a hand through his hair, unsure what to do. Who could he ask about this? None of his friends had kids, they didn't know what it was like to make decisions like this.

"You alright?"

Curse's head swung over at the sound of the voice, though he already knew who it was. He had that feeling, the awareness of when Arianna Blackthorn was near. He looked her over, frowning slightly. He figured she'd picked up on his worried look. "Don't know yet," He responded, flicking the cigarette butt away. He knew she didn't like his smoking. "Before you showed up, Daksmer threatened to get me locked up again. And unlike this bullshit with Echo, that's something he actually can get done." He glared into the ground, crossing his arms. "If I get prosecuted, I can lose Max. If I get locked up, I will lose him. I can't push Daksmer, I can't get involved, but I also can't just let this happen."

Curse put a hand to his head, sighing tiredly. "I don't know what to do. Even if I stay out of it, Daksmer could press charges..."