I’m Impatient, And I’m… Stubborn. And, Uh… I Stole An Abba-Zaba Bar From The Grocery Store In

@mrlenexmc

FATE: THE WINX SAGA | 1.03, “Heavy Mortal Hopes”

mrlenexmc​:

*

Marlene had to laugh, “If he doesn’t knock this shit off we’re going to have to step it up a notch to get him to cut it out.  Maybe we should get him some chaps and see if he has any shame.”  She thought about that for a moment and then dry heaved dramatically, “On second thought, he would probably try to wear them every day, so maybe not.”  The last thing they needed was to see Moody try to wear chaps over his kilt.  She’d have to gauge her own eyes out, probably.

“Honestly, it’s probably the most excitement this stuffy old party will have, they should be thanking you.”  It was a little difficult not to hold some disdain for big Pureblood events after being subjected to them when she was younger.  Her family now had a reputation for being ‘blood traitors’, but it hadn’t always been like that.

“Yeah, he’s been gone for ages now, hasn’t he?  What’s up with that?”  Marlene would probably have to punch herself if she blew Alice’s cover, but there was nothing wrong with a short conversation before she slipped back into the crowd.  It was nice to get to talk to her.  “Yeah”, Marlene sighed, crossing her arms.  They had all known the dangers, but it certainly felt more real being surrounded by people they both knew and suspected were death eaters.  It was an absolutely mental plan, which was why she’d been in favour of it, but she still worried for her friends.  “You can leave at any point, you know.”  She pointed out, not unkindly, “Nobody will judge you if you feel like it’s too risky, you’ve got a little one to think of too.”

...

Alice laughed, nodding in agreement with Marlene’s sentiment. These parties, however lavish and grand, were nothing short of dull. Alice had hated them as a child; though her parents didn’t attend many of the parties all that often, they were careful not to burn too many bridges with the rest of the Rosiers, so she had been subjected to her fair share of boring parties. Luckily for her, Marlene had often been there to liven them up, so it felt full circle that she was here tonight, even if she wasn’t really supposed to be. 

Alice shrugged. “He tries to get back at least once every couple of weeks, but it’s usually only for a few hours. I guess it’s taking longer than expected.” She couldn’t really say more, not even to Marlene, because it was Auror business and not anything to do with the Order, so she gave an apologetic smile for her vague response. “Moody promised he’d be back in time for the birth, though, so fingers crossed I don’t go too early.” 

Alice’s smile softened at Marlene’s words. “Thanks, Mar, but I’ll be okay. I have the perfect alibi since I was actually invited. I would have come even if we hadn’t come up with this insane plan.” She shook her head, making it clear that she hadn’t been one of the ones on board with this. It seemed more risky than it was worth. “Being able to be here and help if someone gets into trouble is far less anxiety-provoking than sitting at home wondering what’s going on.” 

*mom voice* absolutely fucking not

vancexemme​:

alamoody​:

The way that she responded told him well enough that she understood he was saying all the words for himself rather than her. Mentally preparing for it, so that he could keep the same neutral dissipation he attempts to give everyone. People didn’t like when they saw you react, they’d lived through it, they didn’t need your involuntary input on the matter.  He gave a swift curt nod, she had nothing else to say and she was ready to start this. Alastor had given a swift knock, knowing that Mary would soon let them in, and really that was all considering she’d arranged to give them the flat while they’d do things. Kind of her, but also something completely to her benefit. Mary did not need to hear what they would and he was sure Emmeline wouldn’t want to.

The pair walked into the flat, and Emmeline was already set in the living room ready for the day’s events. He was grateful she’d moved out of her room, she’d have all the reason to stay in there, but he wasn’t sure sitting on her bed would be very professional. “ Alright, Emmeline, Alice, and I are here to get the events of your capture down, from the very night of it to the end where I saw you in the mansion. Please don’t leave out any detail, I know there is always an urge to do so, but it’s for the best that we know it all. If you need to take a break or skip over a question feel free to tell us and we will do our best to accommodate.” His voice was stern, very professional as he took a seat across her. It was a bit cold, to go into it all like this, but he needed to give himself no room to break. Alice would be able to provide a more gentle approach, that was the main reason he’d ask for her here as well as for support for him.  Plus Emmeline had seen how he was at work before, this man would be familiar enough to her.

@vancexemme​

Knowing the debrief was coming didn’t make it much easier to prepare for. She was both grateful that Mary wouldn’t be there and nervous to be alone during it. In the end, however, her wish to keep the gritty details from Mary’s vivid imagination won out and sat in one of the plush armchairs, making it clear where Moody and Alice would sit on the couch across from her. Whiskers had nudged his way into her lap, purring and pushing the top of his head against her chin before settling in a mass of fur in the cradle her crossed legs created. 

When Moody and Alice came in and joined her, she could feel the unease crackle from both people and not for the first time she glanced at Alice with some concern. The last thing she wanted was to upset her when she was so pregnant. She didn’t know a lot about babies or having them but she knew one of the rules was don’t upset a pregnant woman. Still, Moody got into it straight away, using his business voice she’d grown accustomed to mocking while she tossed a quaffle at his recruits’ heads. 

Emmeline waited for Mary to kiss her temple and go before she set her shoulders and looked at the two of them. “As you know, I attended the party under disguise with the rest of the Order. After an hour with Mary and Marlene, I checked in with you,” She nodded to Moody, “And spoke briefly with Daisy Hookum. She was having trouble with her underskirt and another guest pointed her upstairs toward a loo to fix it in private. I watched her go upstairs and after about forty minutes I noticed she hadn’t returned. I went upstairs to check on her and found her body in a guest room, where William Mulciber also was. We fought and Freya Rosier arrived, stunned and then tied me up. They argued the benefits of just killing me before fetching Bellatrix Lestrange.” She paused there, letting herself take a breath, looking away from both of them to pet Whiskers for a moment, willing her voice to remain steady and calm. 

That was the easiest part of the story and her hands were shaking. She would ease all three of them into it.

@alicelxngbottom​

...

Alice was used to Moody, so she knew by the nod he gave her all that a normal person (someone who knew how to emote) would have been able to say: that he was grateful she was here, that he was glad to have the support, that this was going to be a difficult conversation. All things he didn’t want to verbalize, especially in this situation. Alice understood, and her nod in response told him everything she held back from saying: that she was here for him, that she knew he was too close to Emmeline to not be affected by this, that she would be strong for all of them. Alice was probably one of the more empathetic of Moody’s Aurors, but she was also fairly good at being able to hold herself together and compartmentalize her emotions until she was in a place to deal with them.

Entering the flat, Alice gave a reassuring smile to Mary as she said goodbye to Emmeline and left, grateful that Mary wouldn’t have to hear any of this. It wasn’t that Mary was fragile by any means, but rather that no one should have to hear a detailed account of the torture their partner had to undergo. If this were Frank, Alice was fairly certain she would want only the important details, too. 

Alice sat down next to Alastor on the couch, nodding in agreement with what he said, allowing Emmeline to start at her own pace. She felt a pang of guilt to find out that not one but two of her cousins were involved in what Emmeline had undergone. Never had Alice felt more ashamed of her maiden name, or more grateful that her parents had been different. If they hadn’t been, would she have been there alongside Bellatrix and Freya? No, she couldn’t think that. If anything, she would have been like Regulus. 

Alice turned her attention back to Emmeline, her well trained eye catching the unsteadiness of her hands. As the younger woman paused, Alice leaned forward, a sympathetic expression on her face. “I know that this is going to be hard to relive, but in my experience, it can be a healing process.”

@alamoody​

S2E21 Operation Fake Date