Private message to Rachel Lamont

[alt_bill]

I saw you go into Mulciber's office, and then I heard--

Look, which would be most helpful to you at this point? Tactful privacy, or lemons?

I can even offer both, if you like. I can leave the lemons just outside your door, if you're back in your own office now.

Comments

[alt_rachel]

I need

somethng to

water

[alt_bill]

On my way, with lemons and water.

[alt_bill]

Also bringing along a potion that should help.

[alt_rachel]

Thanks.

For the water, for dispelling the hex, for the potion which worked a lot better than the lemons.

It also took care of the shaking, which has been particularly helpful today.

[alt_bill]

Glad I could help. I'm going to keep a phial of that potion on hand at all times. I assume you'll do the same, now that you know he won't hesitate to use that curse, even on you.

What a bastard.

I've been mulling over what he did. Whatever his plan was, he certainly didn't think it out very well. No matter what spell he put on you, I can't believe he assumed you would either abandon a cup of tea laced with veritaserum or drink it yourself. Does he think his spells are that good? Or that you're that stupid?

[alt_rachel]

I think he thinks I'm young, and easily manipulated.

What I don't understand is what he wanted to do with it. Cadmus Mulciber is an Auror; I would think he could lay hands on veritaserum. So maybe Corax was planning to give it to his brother? But it's really not a particularly reliable way to get information out of people, which is why we don't often use it in interrogations... Anyway. I think Corax was hoping for something he could use against me.

[alt_rachel]

I mean, I think he wanted to be able to try blackmailing me, either with information he got with the veritaserum OR with the information that I'd left it behind in his office, because I'd have been in real trouble for that, even if it isn't the world's most reliable magical tool.

Or maybe he wanted to use it on someone to get information he wouldn't have to share with Cadmus? I don't know.

[alt_rachel]

Anyway, keeping some of that potion around is a good idea even though I really hope I don't need it.

[alt_bill]

Well, I trust he's been disabused of the notion that you're easily manipulated. Although I certainly hope it doesn't mean he'll escalate things for you in other ways.

What he wanted to do with it--yeah. That's a good question, and it certainly gives one pause. I'm not going to be particularly eager to accept any friendly invitations from him to go out for lunch or for drinks after work. Not that I have anything to hide, but he seems to enjoy violating boundaries, and I'd rather not offer him the sport.

So you think he wants you as a tame Auror in his pocket or something? For information? His brother's in that department anyway. Unless he's on the outs with his brother, or doesn't think he can control him, or he just likes multiple sources?

[alt_bill]

Have you heard anything about that being a method he likes--blackmail?

Merlin. I was planning on keeping my nose clean around him anyway, but this just gives me extra incentive.

[alt_rachel]

Maybe there's something in Protectorate Affairs he doesn't want me looking at too closely?

Because yes, if he just wants an Auror on his side, his brother's an Auror. So who knows.

[alt_rachel]

I run into blackmailers pretty regularly in my investigations so it's possible I just see them behind every tree. I don't actually know if he's got the subtlety to blackmail anyone.

[alt_bill]

He's hardly been here long enough to be protecting anything. At least not yet.

Honestly, he doesn't even know anything about Protectorate Affairs. I wonder why they put someone into the job who has so little familiarity with what the Division is supposed to do.

[alt_rachel]

Yeah, you wouldn't think so, but maybe his private-sector business had dealings with part of PA?

Or maybe it's all just a power play.