let's fuck it up

moses graves | auror cadet points: 275

[pretty-dead-dog]

[holymosesgraves]

daniellobo‌:

The kid may have been acting like a little shit earlier, but Daniel does believe him now. Their doesn’t seem to be an rehearsal in the tears, or the story he slowly but surely lays out for them. He was damn stupid to let himself get involved in this mess, but that’s all he was, just some scared naive kid, too caught up in trying to play adult to realize how deep he’d gotten into this thing before it was too late. He was definitely going to face some jail time for this, but nothing compared to what the wixes who started this would if he and Mo could catch them. 

“Um they there was one older guy who did most of the talkin’, and then he had a couple other people with him, but they always changed around. He said they were with some organization, he called ‘em the ‘Children of Morrgana’. I ain’t never heard of them before, but he said they were gonna make sure that none of us good folks got caught up in the mess that’ll be goin’ on.” 

Daniel looks briefly to Mo at the mention of the gang. He hadn’t told her much about his and Cal’s run-in with them, but it looked like he was going to have to now, especially if Cal gets brought in on this too. 

“Do you know the older man’s name?” he asks, although deep down he had a feeling just who it might be. There was only one name mentioned during the Quintana case, and none of the wixes he and Cal fought at the warehouse that night were one of them. 

“Yeah, uh he called himself Ludo. Like I said he was older, and really thin too, and he had this cross tattooed on his neck, right below his ear.” 

And there he was again, Ludo. His experience with the goings on of gang politics tells him he wasn’t the head of the snake, no not with how much leg work he’d put in in the last couple weeks. He is someone close to the top though, close enough that he seems to always go around with a few underlings and had no reservations spreading his name around. He’d managed to slip through his and Cal’s fingers on the last case, but just maybe this case can be their redemption. The second chance to make right what they couldn’t the last time they ran into the wix. 

“Did Ludo ever give you a way to contact him? Or met with you in any specific place?” 

“Um, yes and no. When he first found me it was while I was walkin’ home, he just popped out of nowhere, and then explained who he was- who his people were. After that we met up at a local diner a couple times, that’s it.” 

“And you can’t think of anything else?” he asks, hoping to get something a bit more concrete as far as Ludo’s current whereabouts. “Anything that could help us track him down?” 

“Not really…. Oh, wait!”, Jamie exclaims, perking up a bit at whatever he’d suddenly remembered, “I do remember he always carried this matchbook on him. It was for some strip club, that’s why I remembered it. Called ‘The Siren’s Song’ or somethin’ like that. Does that help?” 

“Let’s hope so,” he nods, and quickly scribbles down the name of the club in the notebook he kept in his coat pocket. “I’ll let the local division know how much you helped us, they’ll probably stop in some time later today to bring you in for aiding in the robbery, but we won’t arrest you for the counterfeit charges. You did a good thing today, kid, alright? I know you didn’t mean for those girls to get hurt, and with your information we’ll make sure that no one else does either.” 

Moses just listens as Danny takes over the questioning a little. She’s more than happy to let him lead this part. She primed the kid to get to this point. Now Danny could keep him talking with a bit of fear instilled in him. She doesn’t recognize the name that the kid gives, but Danny seems to. And he is a part of the Children of Morgana... It seems like Chief Snow will get his collar after all. As long as they can find “Ludo.” 

She makes a face at the thought of a strip club -- Siren’s Song is familiar, but only from hearing it on the tongues of over criminals and the like. She’s not looking forward to going there, if the case leads to that. And the idea she has is leading in that direction... As Danny wraps up, Moses pats her hand over the boy’s shoulder. “Thanks, Jamie. You were a big help. And if you ever think you or your mom is in danger or something, come to the aurors instead of any shady characters instead, okay?” The kid doesn’t look up but gives a soft “Okay” and a nod.

Once they’re out on the street again, Moses sighs out heavily. “Well, that sure was something.” Good thing they got the kid to talk -- he gave them quite the lead. “Do you think it’s worth it to try a little undercover work? Try and meet Ludo at the Siren’s Song and catch him out for some counterfeit goods?” They can bring him in for some questioning based on what Jamie told them alone, but that likely wouldn’t get far. “Or should we just wait and see what Cal can tell us about those wands?”

She’s a little hot for action, raring to go now that they have a solid lead, an idea of who’s doing this. After meeting Hixson, she wants justice for them as much as for the Ricamoras.

[holymosesgraves]

wintersyaoranmonroe‌:

Even easier than expected. At this rate, maybe they’d fix this whole thing without even having to deal with anything too difficult. His eyes flicker to the spot on the file that she taps, the name and address of the No-Maj who had given the testimony on the sighting, even as the Obliviator goes on. Everything they need, right there, just handed to them like it was nothing.

Maybe if it hadn’t been so simple, he would’ve said something about the No-Maj comment, letting them both know that his parents are No-Majs and likely knew more than both of them combined, but there’s no need for that fundamental differences fight now, when there’s work to do. Instead, he shakes his head, and rolls his eyes, but stays silent as they both continue.

So Solkin thought it was a big deal; of course, he did. Winter has a strong suspicion that the reason this got brought all the way up to them in the first place is because of the wandmaker, and not necessarily because of any real danger that had been perceived by experts or non-experts. Either way, they have what they need, so he nods as well, and offers Horton a smile, too, before turning and leading the way out of the office and back towards the elevator. As soon as they’re out of earshot, he looks over as Moses with a wide grin. “That was easier than expected. And sounds to me like we’re right about the beast. What do you say we check this No-Maj out and get it all cleared up nice and tidy?” he asks, same grin on his lips.

Moses stops just sort of doing a little dance of joy once they’re out of the office. “I’d say we were right on the money,” she agrees with a nod. With a bit of luck they might be able to wrap this whole thing up by sundown. If they can get a proper testimony from the NoMaj, really see what they saw, then they can know for certain that whatever this creature is means no harm. Maybe they can even identify it and relocate it. Make sure there’s no more trouble and that nothing hurts the creature itself.

She tilts the address toward Winter one more time, makes sure he gets a good look at it, and then Apparates herself. When she lands, it’s before a tidy little house with a wrap-around porch. Not too big, but with plenty of land all around it. That seems to be par for course when it comes to Michigan, though. Once Winter arrives, Moses gives him a sheepish sort of look. “So, the only problem is, I don’t really know the spell to counter Obliviation. Do you?” That’s the problem, sometimes, with running in half-baked. There could be larger snags in the plan...

It isn’t a total waste if Winter comes up empty-handed on that front, though. They have the full testimony in the newly-received file, after all. It would just be colored by the NoMaj’s fear and confusion, likely. The memory itself would be more objective.

[holymosesgraves]

callistasole‌:

     “Hey, it’s okay. I’d be more worried if you weren’t this upset, Mo– that’s… that’s a terrible thing to have to witness, to have to be there for.” To feel responsible for, he thought, but didn’t say: he knew that’s how he would have felt, were it him, responsible for what had happened because he hadn’t been able to stop it. But he knew, looking from the outside, that there was nothing Moses could have done, that it was in no way her fault. 

Her first question – you are okay? – took him by surprise, for a moment. It seemed to trivial, what he’d gone through, compared to what she was feeling, what she’d been through. Sure, it had been harrowing to make his way through the rubble of the chaos the dragon had caused, but he’d gotten Culpepper, gotten out, and stayed away from the worst of it, doing what he could to help out anyone who had gotten injured.

     “I’m okay, I promise. Honestly, a shower and something hot to drink did wonders. I– Of course you can stay. You should take a shower, too, I can make some tea or something…”

She shakes her head a little, only hoping to rid herself of the memory of it all. Still it prints on the back of her eyelids every time she so much as blinks. He was barely more than a child, the suspect, and then Henshawe, with his last words and his unending gaze... A terrible thing. Moses knows, eventually, she’ll move on from it. She’ll deal with it and be fine. She knows that. But right then, in that moment, it feels all-consuming. 

At least Cal is okay, though. She nods into his chest, a little relief finding its way into her at that. A shower. A hot drink... It does sound nice. The shower at the very least, to wash all of the night’s smoke and blood and secrets off of her. And something to drink, to rid her mouth of the lingering taste of her vomit. “Tea would be good,” she agrees, a little shakily. “Especially if you have some bourbon to put in it.”  She’s not quite at the level of, say, Fitz, but everything always seems a little easier with some liquor in you. Especially a smooth shot of bourbon.

Sighing, Moses wipes away the last of the tears caught in her eyelashes. Though she agreed to and wants that shower and the tea, she doesn’t move. Just snuggles in a little closer to the warmth and solidity of Cal. “Thank you,” she says on a breath, closing her eyes. “I dunno what I would have done without you, Cal. Thank you.”

[holymosesgraves]

bethlehemramsey‌:

daniellobo‌:

He doesn’t say anything at first, his mind still reeling from everything Hattori had said. He’d always thought something felt off about all of this, from the way Hattori suddenly appeared out of no where to enter the race, to his vary alleged involvement in the Rappaport Party. There is still something about all of it though that leaves a sour taste in his mouth though, Hattori’s reason for running was to help take down a group that manipulated things to their favor from the shadows. Yet that is exactly what he claims to be doing himself. 

Beth’s question pulls him out of his own thoughts as he looks up to hear Hattori’s response. 

“I will be the first to admit we made some mistakes in how we approached this, we’d hoped we could shield you all from it, to take on the burden ourselves, to allow you all to carry on with your own duties. We’d thought it’d be enough, but clearly we had underestimated them,” leaning up he folds his arm over the patio table between them, looking at each auror for a moment before speaking again, “The only thing I can ask of you is to continue what you’re already doing, to stop violence before it spreads, and prevent another innocent life from being taken. I have no knowledge of Sky’s whereabouts, but they are in danger should they fall into the wrong hands.” 

He pauses for a moment before he speaks again, his gaze flickering over to his home behind them. Daniel doesn’t think it’s the house itself he’s thinking of though, but rather the witch within it, and it’s then when he begins to realize the full gravity of this meeting. Whatever plan Hattori and the other higher-ups had concocted wasn’t going to be one the older wizard was planning to come back from. When he looks back at them, there is a sadness to his gaze, one much deeper than that he showed when they mentioned Henshawe. “As for my part, I will continue the current path I’m on now for as long as I’m able to. Whoever this is has gotten bolder, the Gala is evidence of that. They will be even more so when it comes to disposing of me, which will make them easier to track. Underestimating our enemy wasn’t our only mistake, it was underestimating you all. You are the future of this department, and it is only with all of us working together will we be able to save it and this community.” 

So then, Daniel thinks to himself, this meeting wasn’t just one to ask them for their help, it was to warn them of the battle ahead. One where they may have to fight without several of their generals. 

Having nothing else to ask of Hattori, Daniel looks back at his two partners, looking to see if they had anything else to ask of the former chief, before they began their search for Sky.

There are a hundred things she should ask: why he’d trusted them with this information, what he expected them to be able to do to save Sky while they were up against some nameless, faceless, seemingly omnipotent group of people desperate enough to use measures like these. Even how he could expect them to trust him, when they’d been lied to again and again, how they were meant to believe he was telling them the truth.

Instead, there’s something else on her mind.

Something selfish, maybe; a lingering through she can’t shake, a concern that she knows won’t matter to anyone else sitting here – especially to Lobo and Graves. She may trust Lobo, somewhat, or at least know that he feels the same way she does about some important things, but even their sojourn to DC hasn’t allowed her to shake her initial reservations about Moses Graves. And she knows her priorities are far different than either of theirs.

But she’s spent the past month and a half in this department for one reason, everything she’s done towards one solitary goal. And she needs to know whether or not the entire effort’s been for nothing.

     “Sir,” she says, because she can’t stop thinking of the question, and knows she won’t really be able to focus on the case until she knows for sure – it’s a sneaking suspicion, but the kind she feels deep in the pit of her stomach, an uncomfortable and hollow ache. “This… group of people. Do they have anything to do with why my– why the Department for the Protection of No-Maj Born Wix was shut down?”

Once they’re given a direction, a directive, Moses feels better. Sky. Find them, protect them. Maybe easier said than done, but a simple enough mission statement. Another child... The Ricamora twins flash before Moses’s eyes and her resolve thickens. She won’t let even more children get wrapped up in this fight between old men and high seats. Too often, she knew, the higher families of the wixen world paid no mind to the actual people of their community. Moses wouldn’t let that be the case in this situation.

She’s more than ready to go at Danny’s prompting look. Hattori may have only good intentions and she doesn’t want to see him dead, of course, but, well... Their plan was still government espionage. If it went through, Moses could only foresee even more turmoil. Real riots and exposure and, a sick pit in her stomach, more death.

But, Beth stops them on their heels. Moses turns a little, curious what their colleague is curious about. She knew of Beth’s department, that she had come to this squad after it had been shut down. But she wouldn’t have put two and two together. It did make sense, though... Once more, her mind flashed to Dawn and Aurora, their hidden bloodline. So much trouble... She brings a hand to her forehead, rubbing at her temples. She wasn’t built for this sort of deceit. 

[holymosesgraves]

bethlehemramsey‌:

daniellobo‌:

He will be the first to admit he had no real game plan walking into this conversation. Given how many unknowns there still were swirling around Henshawe’s death, as well as the exact reason why Hattori saw to call them in so urgently, his plan had been to let Hattori dictate where the questions did and did not go at first. That is until he hears Moses speak out from behind him, vocalizing the very question that no doubt was on all three of their minds. 

Hattori’s reaction is almost immediate, his gaze dropping down to the coffee cup he’d been holding in his hand. “Yes, I thought he might,” he nods, before looking back up at Moses, “I can’t say for certain what he was going to say about me, but I’m fairly certain it’s about what I’ve called all three of you here for today.” 

Leaning back in the patio chair, the former chief lets out a quiet sigh before he continues. In the five years Daniel had spent in his squad he’d never quite seen him like this before. What happened to Henshawe had visibly shaken him, but there was something more lying under the surface, something he couldn’t quite pin down, even now as the man’s gaze moves down to meet his. 

“There is a group of people within MACUSA… they don’t go by any name in particular, if they did that’d only confirm their very existence. I had heard rumors about them when I first became chief, of wixes working in the shadows, manipulating certain events and elections to their favor, usually by way of imperio- like I dare say what happened to that poor young wix at the Gala- Simon. Henshawe was a victim of their manipulations- just as you nearly were Sergeant Lobo.” 

Hattori pauses then, and nods his head in the direction of Daniel’s chest, the area where the tendrils of his jinx scar fanned out towards his heart that was now beating rapidly against his ribcage. He would be lying if he said he hadn’t considered the violence that’d been inflicted upon him and his fellow aurors could have stemmed from the very institution they were trying to protect. The idea found its way into his head whenever his thoughts would grow dark enough, before he could chase them away with the bottom of a bottle. He tries to ask him why, why had this group, whoever the hell they were decided he and his partners on that case needed to be taken out, but he can’t find the words. Hattori answers him anyway, at least somewhat.

 “I don’t know much of your case, but I am certain it’s them, which is why I offered to take you into my squad when I did. I’m afraid that’s as much as I can help you on that endeavor though, this particular snake has many heads, all of them leading into different directions and departments. I can help you cut down the one that took out Henshawe, but beyond that I am just as in the dark as you are.” 

“And what of this head?” Daniel asks, his voice much shakier than its usual gruff tone. 

“This particular person has a heavy grasp on the election, I still don’t know who it is yet, but whoever they are they have been manipulating things in a way to favor McDonough. You two,” Hattori pauses to look between Beth and Moses,”have unknowingly already come across some of their handy work, in the case of our poor Miss Potter.” 

“I’m sorry, sir, but I don’t understand,” Daniel cuts in, “but if this group is wanting a Rappaport candidate to win, why throw your own name into the race? Why Henshawe’s too? I don’t remember either of you having any anti-halfblood political leanings.” 

“Now, you’re thinking like an auror again.” Hattori smiles faintly as he looks over at him. “But you’re right, I didn’t, and still don’t. My purpose for running isn’t to reestablish Rappaport’s Law- but to abolish it. Crane, and some of us other high ranking aurors had come up with a plan, to have one of us run against McDonough in the hopes it’d split up the party. I was closest to retirement so I was given the job to do it. But unfortunately, the very monster we’re fighting found out our plan, and Henshawe payed the ultimate price.” 

It made more sense than it should have – she’d been as surprised as anyone to hear that Hattori or Henshawe was a part of the Rappaport party, remembered making some comment to that effect while talking with Lobo at the gala, just before the chaos had broken out, though the memory of everything that had happened that night prior to the attack seemed fuzzy, now, and far away, like it had happened another lifetime ago. It was almost a relief, to hear that the two former aurors she’d spent so much of the last few weeks despising were, in fact, on her side after all, that the very people her colleagues looked up to weren’t bigots, but trying to do the right thing.

And it made sense, too, when Hattori brought up the Abigail Potter case: something hadn’t felt right, a confession out of the blue, the case left entirely unresolved at a crucial moment. Of course there had been interference, but she hadn’t imagined that the depths to which that went were quite what Hattori was telling them. 

Still, it didn’t sit right. It felt too clean, too easy an explanation: the good guys are the good guys, after all, and there is a mysterious and unknowable force at play, controlling people to manipulate the government. Still, she didn’t have a choice but to believe it – especially with a case to solve, a kid dead because someone used an Unforgivable Curse to force him to kill himself. 

     “And what are we supposed to do? If you couldn’t do anything to stop them, how can we?”

Moses feels her stomach drop sickly at the mention of Simon. He had been under Imperio. She wondered as much, especially after learning the wix’s history and the last of criminality in it. He was just a child really and they had used him for some shadow plan to take over the government... And yes, Moses was a supporter of the Rappaport law, thought both NoMajs and wixen were better off without any interaction. But this is something else entirely. And if wixen were going to do this sort of thing to each other...

She doesn’t want Rappoport abolished. And she doesn’t quite agree with Hattori’s underhanded plot, but a secret sect of the government working to control things isn’t something she’s in favor of either. Especially not when-- Flashes of green. Henshawe’s slack mouth. Simon must have a family, a mother and father... And she and Beth had them in their sights, or close to, when it came to Abigail Potter and that case. 

She feels herself go a little weak and takes a tighter hold on Danny’s chair to keep herself steady. She wants Cal and his steady chest. She wants her Uncle Percy and his deft mind. She wants her mother. But no, she’s an auror. This is her job, what she trained for. She might be more explosions and wand duels than espionage and underground movements, but dammit if she’s going to let this slip by.

[holymosesgraves]

callistasole‌:

     “Moses, it’s okay,” he said, still quiet, one hand moving from her back to cup her face, to trace his thumb across her cheek and push away at the tears that had accumulated there, taking a moment to look her firmly in the eye, to make sure she knew that he was there, and he wasn’t going anywhere.

But shit, it even took him by surprise, to hear her explain what had gotten her so upset, what she’d seen at the gala after she and Ramsey and Lobo had run off in pursuit of the suspect. He’d heard mention of what had happened to Henshawe, before leaving, but as for the rest… he couldn’t imagine what it had been like.

     “That’s awful,” he said, holding her close once again. There wasn’t much else he could say, not really – not when his mind was already working overtime trying to process it himself. Whoever they’d been, whatever their reason had been for summoning that dragon, causing all of that chaos… he couldn’t imagine that even that meant they deserved to die, and at their own hand at that. “I can’t imagine…”

His eyes bore into hers for a moment she appreciated the connection more than she could articulate. Letting her eyes fall closed after a moment, she just reveled in Cal’s touch. Moses was a fairly tactile person and touch was the easiest way to soothe her. Cal knew that, and he likely knew that the easy, familiar feel of his hand over her skin was working. When he tugged her closer still, back against the safety of his broad chest, Moses just let out a shuddering breath.

“It was really bad,” she said childishly. “I don’t... I didn’t want to be so upset by it. But I couldn’t help it.” Danny and Beth too had obviously been affected, but she was the only one who seemed to just...shut down. Wrapping her arms tighter around his shoulders, she all but clings to Cal. “But I’m glad you’re okay.” And then, pulling back a little to find his eyes. “You are okay, right?”

One of her hands slides from his shoulder to cup his face, a thumb stroking along his jaw. Any of them could have been lost that night, really. All of them right in the thick of everything and any of them could have been another victim claimed... “Can... Can I stay here tonight? Please?” she asked. Cal had disappeared early on with Salem, Moses had noted, and they would likely have to reevaluate just what their relationship was. But now, tonight, Moses just needs to be close to her best friend. Cal is the most important person in her life -- second only, maybe, to Uncle Percy. And after the night she had, they both had, she just wanted to curl close to him and block out the rest of the world.

[holymosesgraves]

bethlehemramsey‌:

     “We should see the No-Maj,” she said, as soon as she and Moses wee out of earshot of the medical examiner. If Abigail thought what they were thinking – that this was a crime of passion, at the hands of the man Millicent Holmes had been seeing – she would have skipped the crime scene and gone straight there, in case he was dangerous, or in case he decided to run. If they were lucky, he’d still be there, or might have left a sign of where he, or Abigal, had gone. 

It took longer than she would have liked to track the man down, but she finally managed to get an address from the local auror office and she and Moses rushed there. Once there, in the hallway of a small apartment building outside the apartment number they’d been given, and looking for a Benjamin Hammoud, she knocked on the door, one hand on her concealed wand just in case, half expecting that there would be no answer – that he’d already fled, that they’d have to break in.

But to her surprise, the door opened, and a nervous-looking man stepped out, looking expectantly at the two of them for a moment. She opened her mouth to introduce herself– to come up with an alias on the spot, claim she was a detective. But he seemed to see her split-second hesitation and nodded in understanding.

     “Y’all are aurors, right?” he said, without missing a beat, his wide eyes darting between the two of them. He had a guilty look about him – but maybe a part of that was just Beth’s surprise at his complete rejection of their cover, the fact that he knew who they were. “Magic detectives? Millie mentioned some might be by. I thought that woman, Potter, would be it, but I can’t say I’m surprised to see more of you.”

He let out a shallow sigh and then stepped to the side, letting them into the small apartment. Cramped, filled with bookshelves and shelving units, half a dozen plants hanging by the window, the kitchen table cluttered. She moved inside, gestured for Moses to follow her, but kept her guard up, her hand on the wand in her holster just in case. Something didn’t feel right, not entirely. 

     “She told you about aurors? About magic?” Beth started, but then, thinking of his words, she realized there was something even less expected about his reply than the fact that he knew what aurors were – a sign which indicated that maybe he and Millicent Holmes had been a little closer than just seeing each other. “What do you mean, she said some of us might be by? Before she died?”

He nodded, and she could see him wringing the hem of his shirt through this hands. Between that, the general twitchiness to him, and the haunted look in his eye, they all struck her as signs that he was guilty, that he’d been the one to kill her, but something about the way they fit together, that didn’t feel like the entire pictures.

     “She thought someone was after her. That’s why she was in the hotel, instead of home; she was real paranoid, the last few weeks. Kept saying someone was following her, that she was gonna disappear or get killed. Said she wanted to prepare me, in case it happened… She even gave me a note, to give to the aurors.”

     “Can we see it?”

      “Don’t have it anymore,” he said, shaking his head, an apologetic frown crossing his face. “I gave it to the other one. Potter. She took it with her and left in a hurry, but I don’t know why. I hadn’t read it, Millie had sealed it up and everything.”

Moses was a little surprised when the NoMaj immediately identified them as aurors. It seemed that their victim had shared a lot more than she was supposed to with him... But she logged away the fact that “Millie” had thought aurors would be coming by before she was killed. That made it seem like there was something more to all this -- unless the man was lying, of course.

Beth latched onto that fact as well, asking him about it and Moses trained hald her attention on the man and half of it on their surroundings. There was a sense in the pit of her stomach that made her stay alert. Something was odd about this one. She couldn’t help the frustrated sigh when he revealed that Abby had the note. And of course she hadn’t logged that in or anything helpful.

“She never said why she was worried?” Moses prompted, stepping up. “Why she thought someone might be following her?” Maybe it wasn’t the NoMaj at all. Maybe Millicent herself had gotten into something bad.

Benjamin shook his head. He tried to speak but a ragged gasp cut him off and he reached up to cover his eyes. “I didn’t...” After a minute, a steadying breath, he looked up. His eyes were red, but dry. “I tried to ask her but she was so scared... She kept saying it was high up. Something about... About the government? There was a name she used, but I don’t remember...”

“MACUSA?” Moses supplied, that sinking feeling in her stomach opening to a chasm.

Benjamin just nodded miserably. “Yeah, that was it.”

Moses shared a glance with Beth, worry written clear over her face. Maybe it was just the paranoid ramblings of an unstable witch but... Well, Millicent had ended up killed. And Abby was missing...

“You never noticed anything though, Mr. Hammoud?” she asked. Her mind was racing a head, hoping she could get a moment to cast a detection spell on the apartment. “No one following Millie? Or even yourself?”

The man looked up suddenly, concerned. “No, I-- I didn’t. Should I be worried? About that?”

Moses frowned in thought. He had survived this long... “I don’t think so, no. But we’ll be in touch, in case something should come up.” Her worry was growing and she wanted to get out of the apartment and onto the next thing. If this involved something within MACUSA, the sooner it was wrapped up the better. And the sooner they could find Abby...

[holymosesgraves]

bethlehemramsey‌:

daniellobo‌:

location: martin hattori residence

time: 10am

status: closed to @bethlehemramsey​, @holymosesgraves​

He’s barely made it into the office when the case file lands on his desk, with Henshawe’s name typed neatly at the top, and the usual note from Snow attached. It’s been barely a day and a half since he, Ramsey, and Graves found Henshawe, but the division has managed to gather up enough evidence already for them to hit the ground running on this thing, although apparently before they get too far they’ll need to make a stop at Hattori’s place. Gathering up his things he flags down the other two aurors the moment he sees them, they began this journey together, so it seemed only fitting they all three try to end it as such.

Snow provides a portkey in the form of a small carved eagle to Hattori’s apartment, clearly wanting to keep the location secure given the weekend they all had had. He gives no further instructions after that, simply reiterating what his note had said, before sending them all three off. 

Hattori’s house is exactly what he’d expected a chief’s to be, not overly grand, but nicer than any house he could afford with his salary. As they walk towards the front steps to the brick Victorian they are met with a woman, who Daniel recognizes almost immediately as Hattori’s wife, having met her in passing on a handful of occasions when he was part of the Pacific Squad.

“You must be the aurors, Marty said would be coming,” she smiles faintly as she goes to shake each of their hands. There is a small spark of recognition that flashes in her eyes when she looks to him, but doesn’t mention it before moving on to the two others. “I’m Arlene, his wife. Marty is out back in the vegetable garden, he’s been expecting you. You can just follow the sidewalk around to the backyard.” 

Hattori’s house shouldn’t surprise her; none of this should. The secrecy of the whole case, the grandeur of the former chief’s house. If she weren’t still so stunned by the necessity of it all, it would be exactly what she expected: MACUSA wanted to keep its dirty laundry well out of view of prying eyes, especially when it involved someone as well-paid and high-up as Hattori – who, from the looks of his home, had earned more per year than it took to pay her entire department to operate.

But she wasn’t here to hold grudges. There was work to be done, and so she nodded respectfully as she shook Arlene’s hand, and then followed alongside Graves and Lobo as they followed her directions and made their way around the sidewalk to the back of the house, where Hattori himself was standing, clearly waiting for them to arrive, near a small patio set with well-kept garden furniture.

He gestured to the four chairs in front of him as he greeted them, and Beth noted that he looked tired– not just tired, exhausted, like one might expect him to look after losing a good friend, but also like whatever he had to tell them was weighing greatly on his mind.

     “Thank you all for coming,” he said, with a nod, and then, “Please, have a seat.”

When Danny comes to her with a shadow on his face, Moses immediately knows that it’s about Henshawe. About what happened and the case to follow. A part of her, a small part, wants to back out. Just pass it over to Beth and Danny, let them handle the whole thing. She would happily help out with regards to what happened that night but actually investigating... The larger part of her (what Moses hopes is the truer part) won’t allow that, though, and before she knows it, she’s taking hold of the carved eagle Portkey.

She holds herself small once at Hattori’s house. Suddenly, in a way like never before, Moses is aware of her rank and how low it is. She keeps herself behind Danny and Beth, happy to let them do the talking -- if any were needed. They’re ushered through the house and then out the back, to a garden. Moses recognizes that her two partners are taking the house, the decor in, but it’s nothing Moses hasn’t seen. She doesn’t sit at the offer, choosing instead to keep herself behind Danny still, hands gripping at the back of his chair.

She tries, desperately, not to think of the young wix. Simon. His name was Simon and he had killed himself. Swallowed in a burst of green while Henshawe drained his last minutes just a few feet away... “Sir,” she says quietly, not even really meaning to, “Mr. Henshawe’s last words were about you.” Her eyes dart up and she tries to pretend that she had any control over her mouth.

[realfootage]

[holymosesgraves]

callistasole‌:

He pulled her into a hug, wrapping his arms around her instinctively as she leaned into him, using one hand to shut the door behind them both and get her into the apartment without her having to move. He could feel the shake of her breath against his skin, the wet brush of her eyelashes as he smoothed a hand over her hair.

     “Hey, hey, it’s okay,” he said, his voice a soft, soothing murmur against her hair. He didn’t know if it was okay, didn’t know what she’d been through that night or what she was upset about, but it was the best thing he knew to do in the moment – to give her something solid and simple to hold onto, a strong, warm arm around her and a gentle sound to keep her thoughts at bay while she got it all out. He’d never seen Moses this upset before, not over anything in all the time he’d known her. 

He’d ask, in a minute, he knew, once her breathing slowed to normal, once she seemed like she might be able to answer. But first she needed to let it out, needed somewhere safe to do it. He ran a hand up and down her back, keeping her close. She smelled like smoke, still – they all did, after the chaos caused by the fiendfyre beast. He had, before he’d showered to get the scent of it out, not the calming, natural scent of a bonfire but a sickly kind of smoke, dark and bitter and acrid. 

As usually, Cal could tell what she needed and was happy to let her have it. Moses let herself sink entirely against Cal, burying her face into his chest and wrapping her arms and legs both around him. Like a child clinging to their favorite stuffed animal. With his hand on her back and his voice in her ear, she was able to let go the last little bit. She folded into sobs, her mind replaying the self-aimed Avada Kedavra, Henshawe’s eyes staring up, blank, the smell of smoke and death.

Cal didn’t smell like that, though. He must have showered -- Moses could smell the soap he used, the hint of something sweat. Breathing deep, she found herself calming a little against him. Her grip went less frantic and, soon enough, the tears stalled. Piecemeal, she pulled away from him -- but kept close still. After she rubbed at her eyes, she murmured, “I’m sorry. For falling apart all over you.” Cal was her best friend, yes, and likely the only person she’s been vulnerable around but that display was still a little more than he’d encountered with her before.

Sighing a little, she dropped her shoulders and set her head against his shoulder once more. This time, more like a dance partner or just an embrace than a child hiding. “They killed themself. The wix who summoned the dragon -- an Avada Kedavra right there in front of us. And then Henshawe... When we got to him there was nothing to be done.” A hiccuping sob worked its way from Moses’s throat, but she held it back. “It was just awful, Cal. To see...”

[theaurorfileshq]

– The Mysterious Death of Rodger Henshawe

CASE LEVEL: Three

POINTS REQUIRED: Three Hundred

OVERVIEW:

On the evening of Saturday, April 29th, the 52nd Annual President’s Gala was held at a remote estate in upstate New York. Up until the Vice President’s speeches, the event had gone largely as expected, with no forewarning of what was to come. After a giant dragon made of what has been determined to be fiendfyre, burst through the stage, Vice Presidential candidate Rodger Henshawe disappeared from the stage. Twenty minutes later, a trio of aurors from MACUSA’s Eastern Squad would discover him bleeding out in a small walkway located between the exterior of the estate, and the neighboring carriage house. 

 Simon Hedges, a nineteen year old wix, was seen near the stage shortly after Henshawe’s disappearance, and was quickly chased on foot where he would lead aurors to Henshawe, before ultimately claiming his own life. After further examination, Henshawe appeared to have been attacked shortly after his disappearance, meaning Hedges could not have possibly committed this crime alone. It is MACUSA’s belief at this time that Hedges had an accomplice, one who lead Henshawe and attacked him in the alley, while Hedges produced the fiendfyre beast before fleeing on foot. 

PERSONS OF INTEREST:

Simon Hedges: A nineteen year old wix who served as a waiter during the night of the Gala. According to his family, Simon had no ties to any of the local criminal organizations or anti-rappaport groups. A check of Simon’s own criminal background seems to corroborate this, with his only charge being that of a petty theft when he was fifteen. 

Mallory Stiverson: A twenty-two year old witch, who served as one of the five bartenders the night of the Gala. Mallory is the last employee to have witnessed Simon before he was seen on stage. According to her, Simon seemed perfectly fine the last she saw him, and was just about to serve drinks to a table of what he referred to as “VIPs”. 

Sky Torres: Simon’s roommate, and fellow waiter at the Gala. Sky has not been seen since the Gala, nor have they made any attempts to contact their other friends and relatives. Crews are still trying to clear the rubble of the what is now left of the estate, but have yet to find Sky’s remains. Sky is now considered a major person of interest in this investigation. 

CHIEF’S NOTES:

You all know what’s at stake here, and don’t need me telling you that the eye’s of the community are now on you to find out who has done this. Chief Hattori has requested that the three of you meet him at his home immediately to discuss this case. At this point in time every local division in New York has their eyes peeled for any sign of Torres. I’ll let you know as soon as I hear anything about their whereabouts. 

-Allen Snow

CASE STATUS: TAKEN

| RPG HOME | PLOT | WANTED CONNECTIONS | OPEN CASES |

[holymosesgraves]

daniellobo‌:

As planned, Daniel hangs back quietly as Mo introduces them to both the kid and his mother- kid being the key word here. He seemed far too young to get wrapped up in whatever business the Children of Morgana were entangled in, but then again, that only made him an easy target for the group. But if their suspicions were right, and Jamie was the one responsible for bringing the gang into the shop, then that lead to another question- why? Was Jamie a bloodpurist, just like the gang, or was his motives more monetary? His appearance would suggest the latter, but it was too soon to say for certain. 

“Why you actin’ like I know somethin’?” the kid asks, clearly offended by the suggestion. There is a slight panic in his tone though that seems to hint that the suggestion is a well founded one. Leaning up, Daniel crosses his arms over the table, his lips hardening into a firm line as he looks the kid over for a moment.

“Well, if we don’t find anything on your boss, then maybe we’ll do a bit more digging,” he replies flatly, “see whose prints are all over the counterfeit’s boxes, maybe even ‘discover’ a bit more evidence in the shop we had ‘overlooked’ before. I don’t have the patience to have this thing drawled out for Merlin knows how long, and if I need to pin it on someone just for the sake of wrapping it up, I will.” 

Jamie’s mouth falls open at the suggestion, truly not expecting the threat he’d been given. Daniel of course had no plans to follow through with it, but that wasn’t the reason why he’d done it. “Y-you can’t do that”, Jamie stammers in response, shaking his head. “I have rights, you can’t arrest me unless you have the evidence.” 

Daniel lets out a chuckle, before shaking his head. “Kid, you have no clue what we can and can’t do. So now, are you gonna tell us the truth? Or am I gonna have to make up the story myself? And trust me, you really won’t like my story.”

Looking around nervously, Jamie’s gaze first goes to Mo, and then towards the closed door his mother had vanished behind, clearly looking for some kind of guidance out of this situation, until finally he let’s out a sigh, his shoulders slumping. 

“Fine,” he shakes his head, “but if I tell you, you’ll like grant me some kind of immunity or something right? Or whatever they call it on those cop radio shows- a plea deal?” 

The only person that can grant the kid a plea bargain, is the local division’s district attorney, but he wasn’t going to let that slip. Instead he walks around the question. “Your charges won’t be as heavy if you tell us who you work for.” 

Moses keeps a straight face as Daniel sets into an effective act, scaring the kid. Sure, it wasn’t the most ethically sound method, but it was the most likely to get results. She knew that much. When Jamie looked to her, either for help or to judge a bluff, Moses gave him no leeway. Just raised an eyebrow and nodded her head, indicating that he better do as Danny says.

Once Danny tells him he might get a break, the kid looks back to Moses again. This time, she leans in a little and reaches a hand to rest on his. Rather than flinching away, he seems to relax into the slight comfort. “C’mon, Jamie. You know what the right thing to do is. Don’t let Hixson suffer...”

Jamie’s eyes drop at that. When he speaks, his voice is quiet and miserable. He sounds so very young, as well. “I didn’t know it was gonna get so messed up... They just said it would...help. That things were gonna get dangerous again and if I wanted to keep my mom and me safe I should do what they said.” Looking up, he had a fierce light to his eyes suddenly. “My dad walked out so it’s my job to protect us. I’m not gonna let nothing happen to my mom.” As the fire dies, he gives a shrug.

“They said all I had to do was leave the back-door open for ‘em a couple nights in a row. That they’d pay me and remember me and my mom when things started getting bad. That we’d be kept safe.” His head is down, face hidden, but judging by the sniffles, Moses can tell that Jamie has started to cry. “I didn’t mean for nothing to happen to JR. They’ve always been real nice to me and Mom. I didn’t... I didn’t even know what they were gonna do. I didn’t...” He scrubs at his eyes and looks from Danny to Moses. “I didn’t know they were gonna hurt anyone. I promise.”

Moses gives him a sad but soothing smile. “I know, Jamie. I believe you.” She does, but she would have said so even if she didn’t, to keep him talking. “Did they ever give you a name? Or tell you who they all were?” If not, this would be a lot harder. But maybe he could remember what they looked like...

[holymosesgraves]

wintersyaoranmonroe‌:

Even if she doesn’t seem particularly thrilled to be talking about it, there’s no denying the badges, and he’s glad to see she doesn’t try to talk them out of it, just getting up and going to get the file.

As she looks through it, he shoots Moses a bit of a satisfied smile; this was going to be even easier than expected it seemed. “I’m sure you have,” he nods. “When you say it didn’t seem like a big deal, though, in what way do you mean? Magical beast sightings aren’t rare, of course, but, then we’re here, so someone thinks it’s a big enough deal.”

“That was all it was, though. Here, take a look yourself,” she says, turning back around and passing the file to Winter. He opens it, stepping closer to Moses so they can both look at it at the same time. “The No-Maj saw the creature, and was terrified, mentioned feeling dread, but that was it. There were no injuries, or memories other than that to be erased. There was no need to make such a big deal of it. Send in a few magical creature experts and leave it at that, I say.”

She’s right, Winter can see that easily, there’s so little in the testimony that could be considered truly alarming, that again he’s inclined to think this creature is just one who was disturbed, and would be completely peaceful if left the fuck alone.

“It says here that the witness believed it was trying to possess them, though. That’s concerning, to say the least,” he raises an eyebrow.

Moses tries not to pump her fist when Horton hands over the file. She’s half-listening as Winter speaks to the Obliviator, more focused on the documents in hand. There in black-and-white is the NoMaj’s name and address: Casey Duran. Without a word, she taps the address on the paper to make sure that Winter gets a look at it too.

At Winter’s question the Obliviator looks as if she’s trying hard not to roll her eyes. “Right they said they felt that way. But... Well, if you read the rest of the testimony, you’ll see. She was all about God’s punishment this and the devil’s offspring that. I think it just made the most sense to her that whatever it was wanted to possess her. Besides, NoMaj’s generally don’t have much of an idea of what they’re talking about.”

Moses has to snort a laugh at that and nod her agreement. “So, in your opinion, this beast isn’t much of a worry?”

Horton looks uncomfortable, shifting a little and then shrugging. “I mean. If you ask me, yeah. But I’m not a Magical Creatures expert,” she adds. “And my bosses sure thought it was a big deal. Or, at least, that Solkin is a big deal. They wanted it all cleaned up, you know.”

Moses nods, passing a sympathetic look to the woman. “We certainly know how that goes.” Looking over to Winter, she closes the file and nods to show that she doesn’t have anything more here. Besides, they got what they came for -- the NoMaj’s name and address. “Well, I think we’ve got all we need from you. But you’ve been a great help, Officer Horton. Thank you for that.” Lifting the documents, she gives them a little wave. “And for this. If we hand any follow-up questions, we’ll let you know.”

[holymosesgraves]

bethlehemramsey‌:

     “That sounds good to me.”

     location: District of Columbia MACUSA headquarters      time: early afternoon

Abigail’s liaison, they found as soon as they’d apparated to DC and gone through the security checks necessary to get into the auror offices there, was out in the field on another case. The administrative assistant at the office – a disinterested looking witch in her early twenties who was hurriedly addressing a large stack of envelopes while she spoke – informed them of as much when Beth explained that they were following up on Abigail’s work to check out a few pieces of evidence that didn’t quite line up.

     “I can let him know y’all are here, when he checks in,” she offered. “But past that, I wouldn’t be sure where to find him.”

     “That’s alright,” Beth said. “We’ll talk to him when he gets back, and get started in the meantime. You wouldn’t happen to know where Abigail went after she got here? The first place she would’ve gone?”

     “She stopped by the medical examiner’s office, I know– and then I think the ME said she was headed to talk to the no-maj boy, the one the victim had been seeing. She didn’t swing by after that, so I dunno if she found something there or if she moved on to the crime scene, but that’s about all I can give you two. Sorry I can’t be of more help.” The woman didn’t look particularly sorry, her gaze still focused on the stack of envelops she was addressing, or occasionally on the owl perched on her desk, pecking at a small pile of treats she’d left for him there. 

Beth glanced over at Moses – that was something, at least: Abigail apparently didn’t see the need to check in here either, not just with the Eastern Squad. That, or whatever had driven her out of town had happened somewhere between point A and point B, between seeing the no-maj involved and coming back for more information. At least the information gave them somewhere to start. 

Moses grins to herself at the obvious uninterest of the secretary. She had her own to-do list, it seemed, and wasn’t going to let the out of town aurors interrupt that, even if they had national MACUSA badges on them. Still, though, they got a bit of a lead from her -- at least they knew where to go. Medical examiner and then the NoMaj. She gave a little shrug to Beth and nodded.

“Guess we better follow her path, hmm?” she said as they headed off. “And hopefully he can give us more whenever he gets in.” It was all they had, after all. With the help of a few signs and one friendly clerk, they found their way to the morgue and the medical examiner, a short wix with hair even curlier than Moses’s. They’re slightly more helpful than the administrative assistant -- or at least want to be more helpful.

“Following up?” she asks but without much suspicion. “That’s smart, though I gotta say your colleague seemed pretty competent.” Their glasses slip a little down their nose but they just let them and for some reason Moses immediately likes them. “Well, I’ll just tell ya what I told her, then? I’m not one for speculation, but seems like a crime of passion. There were eleven separate lacerations on her, all made by a standard sort of knife -- no weapon was recovered in evidence -- and all more or less in the chest and stomach area. What killed her was the bleeding out, of course: there were two slices to her aorta that would have made it pretty quick.”

Moses wrinkles her nose, looking over the autopsy file that the medical examiner passes over. Once she’s had her look, she gives it to Beth. “Probably a NoMaj then, don’t you think?”

The wix shrugs. “Like I said, I’m not one to speculate. But there wasn’t any magic -- no curse or jinx or anything. But--” they hold up a finger, mouth screwing up in a sort of distaste. “Well. She was pregnant. Not more than two months, I’d say. And no way of knowing whether she, or her killer, knew that...” Another pause for a sigh. “Your friend, though, the other auror, she seemed to think it was a NoMaj’s doing.”

Moses looked to Beth pointedly, eyebrows up. A pureblood witch pregnant, likely with a NoMaj’s baby? Seemed like more than a coincidence. “That’s certainly something,” she says softly. Would someone kill just because the baby would be a Half-blood? It’s hard to tell -- things are more and more fraught when it comes to Rapapport. But then again, it seemed as if it was probably a NoMaj who did the murder... It could have possibly been a wix who wanted it to seem like a NoMaj did the deed, but stabbing someone eleven times? With all that blood... That would take quite a bit of anger not to just fire off a Killing Curse or something like that.

Passing a tight smile to the medical examiner, Moses nodded. “Thank you, for your help.”

[holymosesgraves]

callistasole‌:

She nods, listening carefully to Moses’ advice – she should have known that it would help, should have expected the warm wave of calm taking root in her chest and soothing the nerves in her stomach. Moses’ advice was, as always, exactly what she needed to calm down. It was what had drawn her to Moses in the first place, when they’d first become friends: she was so reasonable, so easily able to quell whatever worries Cal had and make her see where she was turning something into a bigger deal than it was.

     “You’re right,” she says, unable to help the smile crossing her face at the words, the laugh bubbling up from her chest. “Of course you’re right. You’re always right.” She takes Moses hand, across the table, turning her own hand up to lace their fingers together. 

Moses feels better when she sees the smile spread across Cal’s face. Her laughter was the first thing that had drawn her to Cal. There was something so open, so purely happy, about the woman’s laughter. She was glad to hear it now, to know that she was feeling better about her predicament. “I am always right,” she agrees, grinning back. “About time you realized that, honey.”

Letting out a satisfied sigh, Moses waves a hand and sends the spoiled dishes into Cal’s sink. With a smirk, she rises and looks to Cal. “I had better get going, but how about you send me off with a proper goodbye?” she prompts, walking backward toward Cal’s bedroom.

[holymosesgraves]

callistasole‌:

     location: Cal’s apartment      time: late at night, after the President’s Gala           ( @holymosesgraves )

He’d returned home to his apartment exhausted, after the Gala; he and Fawn had managed to get a number of bystanders to safety, had found a mediwix to set Culpepper’s leg and make sure there wasn’t anything else wrong with them – as soon as the dragon was gone and Snow came around to check in on the rest of the aurors, as soon as he’d been given the okay to head home and get some rest, he’d taken it.

As it was, he was just getting ready to collapse into bed: he’d had a cup of hot cider to drink, as soon as he’d gotten back, just to settle his nerves enough to fall asleep, had put on his pajamas and settled down on the couch with a book he was only miming the actions of reading, too tired to take any of it in. The knock at the door, though, set his heart to racing again, the last burst of adrenaline in his system, and so he set the mug and the book down on the coffee table and moved to open the door as quickly as he could, already preemptively worried about what or who he might find there.

He wasn’t expecting Moses, when he opened it, but all it took was one look at her to know why she’d come.

     “Moses?” he said, already moving to put a hand on her shoulder to let her inside. He hadn’t seen her, after everything at the Gala, but from the looks of it, she’d had a tougher evening than he had.

She wasn’t the best auror, Moses knew that. There was a laundry list of flaws that kept her from the running. But she was far from the worst as well -- she did her job and did it well. For the first time, after the Gala, Moses felt like she hadn’t done her job. Two deaths on their watch and she hadn’t even been able to do anything afterward. Even at the end of...everything, she was still shaken and sodden through with fear, anxiety, horror.

So she went to one of the only places where she knew she wouldn’t have to perform or try in anyway. Cal never needed her to be anything than who she wasn’t, didn’t expect her to feel anything other than what she was feeling at that moment. She could fall apart without him looking at her any differently. And she knew if there was anyone who could make her feel safe it was Cal. That’s what she needed at that moment.

With the case of what had happened on the horizon, Moses needed to be clear-headed. Which meant she had to purge the emotional response from her as soon as possible. 

The time between the knock and the door opening, Moses was lost to the memory of lightning green and blood-whistled last words. Cal put an arm over her at the first moment and she leaned into him instantly. His strong, solid form helped almost immediately. “I... I didn’t want to go to my family’s but I couldn’t be alone,” she explained loosely. Her eyes were red and after a moment of looking into his concerned face, she dove against his chest. “It happened so fast,” she said against his bare skin raggedly.