Down To Business [Ana]

[Bianca Alia Rivera]

24 December 2025 

Bianca had mixed feelings about this party – but she would attend anyway, because it was as much a work event as a social one. She couldn’t help but admire the venue as she entered, eyes sweeping over the lavishly decorated room. The walls were lined with magnificent works of art, and the whole room had an elevated look to it. But her admiration ended there, because the party was packed with people. Magical, non-magical, VIPs, nobodies. There were signs of some of the security measures that had been put in place, but nonetheless it was exactly the sort of event that would be highly tempting for a criminal.

That was the true reason she was there. Because she didn’t trust that there wouldn’t be any attempted security breaches, and ultimately this was what she lived for. Bianca had selected a nice dress, the sort of thing that would blend in, but still something she could easily move in should the need arise. She’d avoided the servers since she entered, since she never drank on the job – she needed to stay focused, because letting down one’s guard for even a moment could result in danger. She remained alert so that the civilians around her could relax. Her gaze slowly traveled the length of the room as she navigated through the crowd, searching for signs of anything unusual. Eventually she came across a coworker, Anastasia Karkaroff. Bianca knew relatively little about purebloods compared to most of magical society, but it didn’t much matter to her where someone came from. Ana was as dedicated as Bianca to her work – that was all that mattered. Bianca crossed her arms as she reached the other Interpol worker. “Quiet evening so far?”

anastasia marie karkaroff

[anastasia marie karkaroff]

template by punki of adoxography

so very lonely in the crowd

they all talk so loud, can't stand the sound

December 24, 2025
Bianca Alia Rivera

Ana made her way through the crowd having just left Cas to whatever he planned to do next at the party. There were obligatory smiles, greetings and small talk as she complimented dresses and outfits and schmoozing, she had been trained to do. It was important to maintain one’s social and professional network, after all despite how it killed her soul a little bit. Finally, she was able to pull away and grabbed another champagne flute from a nearby waiter while she enjoyed the quiet moment to herself. Maybe she could find her brother again, but he was most likely socializing as well and while she did have some Ministry friends she wasn’t eager to return to large lot of them that included people she wanted little to do with. There was a bit of noise coming from a corner of Curse Breakers, or so she assumed as her brother had been there earlier, but she looked back when a voice addressed her.

At first she wondered who was bothering her but seeing who it was she relaxed, it was another Ministry employee but at least one she got along with. Bianca was someone who’s work ethic she could respect and their methods for achieving their goals tended to align which Ana found to be rare in her field. ”You act as if you expect something to happen.” True, they had been asked to keep an eye out considering the concentration of people here and the high-profile names. She was well dressed and looked very beautiful, Ana noted. Their friendship also served the purpose of adding to the list of muggle-born individuals she respected and befriended as if each one was a jab at her mother and her pure-blood ideologies. ”You should relax, act natural. You look like a posted sentry.” Civilians picked up on these cue’s rather easily and no need to alarm them when there was nothing going on.

[Bianca Alia Rivera]

24 December 2025

One of the perks of being Muggleborn, Bianca supposed, was that she was only here for herself. Her personal life came with plenty of baggage, but her family had never pushed any expectations on Bianca that she couldn’t deliver, and they had nothing at all to do with the magical world. It meant Bianca was an independent operator, that the only interests she served were her own. And the Ministry, she supposed, although following their restrictive code was less interesting to her than the good she could do on her own and with Heliopath. At any rate, she couldn’t even begin to guess the sort of personal pressures Ana might be feeling at a party like this – or any other reason that might contribute to how tightly she was clutching her flute of champagne. Bianca only really cared about devotion – to the job, to the people they were obliged to protect, and to ensuring that justice would be served. As far as she was concerned, Ana checked off the categories well enough. She certainly seemed committed to their work, and she was always as eager as Bianca to discuss case files and get the job done.

Bianca raised an eyebrow at Ana as she commented that she acted as if expecting something to happen. “And you don’t? Something usually does,” she responded reservedly, taking her gaze off the crowd so she could eye Ana. Bianca looked down as if to analyze her appearance when Ana continued that she needed to act natural before looking back at the other woman incredulously. “This is my natural,” she responded stiffly, although she forced herself to uncross her arms (she could at least acknowledge that that was standoff-ish). She sighed at herself, then rolled her eyes slightly. “I’m not sure I would inspire more confidence if it appears that I’m seeing double of everything,” she said as her eyes lingered on Ana’s drink. She didn’t smile much anymore, so she gave a short exhale as the only sign of her amusement.

anastasia marie karkaroff

[anastasia marie karkaroff]

template by punki of adoxography

so very lonely in the crowd

they all talk so loud, can't stand the sound

December 24, 2025
Bianca Alia Rivera

It was always interesting to observe how different people reacted to certain events. What had happened this past year and even the last had shaken them all up, Ana included but at the same time she wanted to remain vigilant in her composure and continue her work. The law was important, so was structure even if she walked that thin line carefully to bend the rules on occasion. Even her involvement on Ouroboros was technically illegal and pure vigilantism in the Ministry’s eyes. Part of that, however, in her eyes was to be calm—people tend to frighten easily if they see someone from Law Enforcement all riled up. ”I didn’t say I didn’t. But you know how people get when they see us acting like something will happen.” Maybe it also just her own background, act like a proper lady but keep your eye open regardless. Then again, she was vigilant if only because of her dueling ability.

Bianca managed to uncross her arms at least, Ana was a bit amused. Sometimes she forgot that not all wizards handled themselves as she or her brother might, he was much the same in terms of observing and smiling to hide one’s true intention. Ana glanced back at the other woman when she commented on seeing double, a quip like that from someone else might have earned them some harsher quip back from herself but she proceeded to sip more of the liquid with a manner of pure defiance. ”That would be a problem if I was seeing double after two glasses, wouldn’t it?” Her tone was sarcastic, she drank when it was appropriate to do so—socially and on her own time but it would take more than that to take her down.

Besides, it was considered strange if you didn’t drink at Pureblood society events so really it was a force of habit, and her mother had made sure that her daughter would never make a fool of herself for not being able to hold her liquor. ”Trust me. This champagne is basically water.” On that note, it wasn’t that it was bad quality. This family could afford the best of the best, but she’d certainly had better, at least per her opinion. ”So, get any inmates trying to crash the party yet?” Most people probably wouldn’t ever categorize Ana as a comedian but usually those people got out of her way when she walked down a hallway. Bianca had never been one of those people, it wasn’t a relationship of fear but one of respect.

[Bianca Alia Rivera]

24 December 2025

Bianca eyed Ana speculatively. She’d never put much thought into how the wizarding world must look to those who had grown up in it. In truth, Bianca had her skillset, advantages she had worked hard to develop and master, and she focused her whole world around them. Magical ones, like Occlumency or Legilimency, but mostly the qualities a good law enforcement officer should be. Observant, persistent, thoughtful. Bianca found her strengths and stayed there. The inner dynamics of the magical world were still mostly unknown to her. If she needed to know something, then she put everything she had into learning about it and pretending to understand until she did. But if it wasn’t directly relevant…well, then why would she care?

But there were clearly two approaches at work here – the Muggleborn who preferred to be up-front about her thoughts, and the pureblood who had been trained to hide them. Ana reminded Bianca how people could act when they thought something was wrong – a valid point in the event of a mass panic, at least. Bianca rolled her shoulders slightly in response. “I disagree. People may panic if it seems we are. But if we act clear-headed and show ourselves to be in control of the situation, then it shows the crowd they can put their trust in us.” It seemed clear enough to her. If there were clearly Ministry employees who were hard at work and surveilling the area for trouble, it showed that everything was well-in-hand. Bianca didn’t appreciate policies that hid things unnecessarily from the public – it assumed they were idiots, or that they didn’t need to know what was happening. Bianca disagreed on both counts. An informed, vigilant public should be a key complement to law enforcement.

Ana quipped that it would be hard to see double after only two glasses. Bianca made a point of looking Ana up and down before looking away. “Little thing like you? Two glasses might be enough.” In reality, Bianca was only an inch taller than Ana, although that was the joke – but it could be hard to tell when Bianca was joking, if only because she rarely changed her tone or facial expression for it. And really, most people didn’t know her well enough to feel comfortable teasing. Usually only those who had known her before the incident, and she could hardly see Leo suddenly finding his self-confidence in order to make a joke. “Maybe something non-alcoholic,” Bianca conceded – it would help her blend into the crowd, since most people had a drink in their hands. She stopped one server, and afterwards another, staring inquisitively at the drinks until the second answered that he had a tray of apple cider. Bianca took one, sipped it once, and then let it dangle loosely in her hand.

She rolled her eyes as Ana asked if any inmates had tried to crash the party. Her first instinct was to provide a serious answer, so she gravely noted, “It’s likely some will try to take advantage of the event to cause chaos elsewhere. Diagon or Horizont, maybe.” Then she blinked as she realized that had also been one of Ana’s jokes. So she paused for a moment, then continued, “But of course, that’s not counting all the criminals in this room currently. Let’s see…Yaxleys, Selwyns, Karkaroffs…” she trailed off and shot Ana a meaningful look. It was the closest she’d ever come to commenting on politics – which was all ridiculous, in Bianca’s opinion, and as a result she usually never even bothered to learn last names. She couldn’t verbalize how little she cared about things that weren’t her direct concern -- like which families had bad seeds.

anastasia marie karkaroff

[anastasia marie karkaroff]

template by punki of adoxography

so very lonely in the crowd

they all talk so loud, can't stand the sound

December 24, 2025
Bianca Alia Rivera

Ana might not have known Bianca for very long, or rather at times, a few years didn't seem like a lot of time for someone who valued trust and time above all else. It was why she principally trusted Cas above all others. The fact that he was her older brother was a small factor in the grand scheme of things. Habits were hard to break, especially when they had been forced upon her--Ana was not someone who changed easily. Sometimes she wondered if she had not only inherited the same iron will that Cas also possessed but had also apparently added the will that her next eldest brother was supposed to him. Maybe she had two spines where he had none. Bianca was someone she thought had a forceful will, but one needed to hold back at times. It was all about appearances. Otherwise, you didn't have control.

She could appreciate and understand Bianca's point, even if she didn't entirely agree. A difference of style was all, but she could appreciate a different style from her own if it was effective. This many years in the Ministry taught her that flexibility was important, especially when working so hard to build a specific image. "Doesn't mean you can't relax a bit." She added. There was a point where she might have been that tense many years ago, and she remembered the headaches that would accompany that. "It is possible to keep an eye on things and not look like a sentinel." Ana always kept an eye out, and especially with pureblood families present. She knew where other Ministry employees were and where even her brother was. The noise in the corner indicated the Curse Breakers and others were scattered around.

Ana didn't respond verbally but rather with a look. Was she really challenging her? She may have been rather small, but she'd never let that stop her. "If only I had the luxury of only needing two." She spoke off-handedly. It wasn't uncommon for girls in her position to have their first glass of nine at a very young age and taught to drink, pretend to drink, and not appear drunk and sloppy. She typically stuck to wine though entertained whiskey if only out of habit to maintain a specific tolerance. Two glasses of champagne was not going to bother her. Ana shot Bianca another look when she brought up her name. "You mean the purebloods?" Ana was used to the comments and the looks and whispers, though Bianca wasn't usually one of them. It wasn't a surprise or a far cry to note that these pureblood names were linked with criminal activity, whether it was now or in the past.

[Bianca Alia Rivera]

24 December 2025

It was now the second time Ana had referred to her as being a sentinel or a sentry, and Bianca rolled her eyes slightly but let the argument die. It ultimately came down to a difference of opinion, ones that had taken a lifetime to form. Ana had clearly been raised in a world of politics, where everybody wore a mask and used other people to get ahead. In a world like that, Bianca could see why sincerity or honesty could be considered a vulnerability. It left you open to being eaten alive by the wolves. Bianca might have been tempted to continue the argument with almost anybody else, but she knew a victory was unlikely when your opponent was Ana Karkaroff. The other woman was like a storm in a bottle, and a small tap would be enough to unleash the hurricane. There were more important things to fight for.

At any rate, it wasn’t enough to convince Bianca to change her behavior, so she only shrugged slightly and sipped her glass as she scanned the crowd. She sensed an opportunity to change the subject as she studied Ana’s reaction to her name-dropping. People were ultimately very predictable, and Ana’s dark look and darker comment didn’t disappoint. Bianca had her baggage, there was no doubt about that, but it was still her own. She didn’t carry the weight of other people’s expectations on her, and she certainly didn’t change her life or habits to accommodate what other people thought of her.

“Oh, are they purebloods? I was referring to the crime of wearing that dragon-skin jacket.” Bianca shook her head at a Yaxley standing a few feet away from them, wearing one of the most garish outfits she’d seen at the ball tonight. Bianca shot Ana an amused look, hiding the small quirk of her lips by taking a small sip from her drink. When she finished, she observed, “I might be stiff, but you’re easily defensive. You think everybody will always assume the worst of you.” It was one of those small details she had noticed about her coworker after years of opportunity to observe her. Ministry employees who only referred to Ana by her family name got a scathing treatment in return, but so did the ones who didn’t. She clearly had something to prove – or more accurately, something she felt she had to live down. It showed. “You can pretend you don’t care, but it shows anyway when you bite my head off for a joke.”

anastasia marie karkaroff

[anastasia marie karkaroff]

so very lonely in the crowd

they all talk so loud,
can't stand the sound

December 24, 2025
Bianca Alia Rivera

Their individual styles were not all that different if you really looked at them. They were sharp, though their words often blunt and to the point. Ana figured she might have been more like Bianca had she not been put through years of training to socialize in the Pureblood community and find a man to breed more Pureblood children with. Thankfully, that had not been her fate, and thus far, nothing had been easy or handed to her, which only gave her a sense of pride in where she stood now. People could say what they wanted about her name, but she had no doubt who she was. In her world, behavior so strongly and defensively was a weakness in itself. Just as someone weak-willed had no backbone, those with too rigid a spine tended to fall hard when they did. Ana didn't share those thoughts. It was hardly polite party conversation.

Ana didn't push the issue. She found it a bit humorous when wizards or witches from muggle backgrounds passed judgment on specific families. Though, she couldn't blame them. The pureblood nonsense really was just that, nonsense. From a practical standpoint, it didn't make sense to limit one's network based on blood status, and why bother with a path that was hardly making you friends. She glanced over at one of the Yaxley's, she recognized them, of course, just as she did all the Pureblood families, but for once, she had to agree with her colleague. " I don't say this often, but you are right about that being a crime." It was a ridiculous jacket, but so was that particular Yaxley's general personality and belief. She paused a moment before looking back at Bianca and after processing her words.

Defensive? It was an amusing observation if only because Ana felt Bianca still appeared as a well dressed posted sentry. It didn't stop a smirk from appearing on her face. "That’s because people always will.” It was her way of navigating the world. ”The only thing I care about is proving them wrong, which is its own satisfaction.” There was nothing like a victory, especially one you could shove into the face whomever doubted you in the first place.

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[Bianca Alia Rivera]

24 December 2025

The Yaxley in question was too engrossed in his conversation to hear the snide comments being made about him only a few feet away, so Bianca eyed him critically as she sipped her drink. She didn’t know the man – had never met him before in her life – but there was still so much to read about him from his appearance. A garish outfit that probably cost more than she made in a month. Signs of overindulgence and an overly decadent lifestyle in the slight strain of his clothes and beads of sweat collecting on his forehead. An expression of pure arrogance and contempt as he regarded the mix of magical and non-magical guests. Bianca wrinkled her nose slightly in disgust and turned away. She didn’t envy the life Ana had come from. “It’s a shame not all crimes are illegal,” Bianca observed in a low tone, voice lined with disapproval as she stared at the man. She didn’t elaborate further.

Ana was undoubtedly much nicer to look at than a man who so clearly thought himself better than most of the people here, so Bianca shifted enough that she could turn her back on the Yaxley and push him out of her mind completely. She tilted her head thoughtfully at Ana’s comment. That’s because people always will. “Have I?” she asked unabashedly. It was a straightforward question, maybe uncomfortably so for most people who wouldn’t want to answer. In reality, she didn’t care what Ana’s response was, only that it was honest. But Ana made Bianca feel, in comparison, like the most optimistic and hopeful person on earth. The two women were cut from the same cloth, but Ana’s background was undeniably darker, more cynical. She had much less faith in people.

Bianca’s eyes were drawn to do another quick scan of the room, checking the perimeter for any unusual movements. Nothing jumped out right away, which was a good sign. In fieldwork, you had to trust your instincts. Immediately identify any sudden movements or things that didn’t belong. If you didn’t see anything, it didn’t always mean nothing was there. But it did suggest you could stand down. Bianca sighed slightly before rolling her shoulders to remove the slightest bit of tension. “Maybe someday, someone will prove you wrong,” Bianca suggested, her tone devoid of any emotion. She wasn’t sure she completely believed in her own words, but she thought she’d push back and see what happened. Sometimes people could surprise you – but most of the time, they behaved exactly as you might expect them to.

anastasia marie karkaroff

[anastasia marie karkaroff]

so very lonely in the crowd

they all talk so loud,
can't stand the sound

December 24, 2025
Bianca Alia Rivera

Although there were no physical differences between witches and wizards who were muggle-born, half-blood, or pureblood, it was about the presence. In the case of this particular Yaxley, Ana could have told you that he was a pureblood without having to know who he was exactly. The way he flaunted his ghastly outfit, an expensive magical brand—the type only worn to prove you could afford it. His occasional side-eye and sneer toward someone that was not a pureblood. It was effortless to spot in this crowd, but then again, she’d been trained to watch people and read them her whole life for possible motive and intention. It certainly helped with her day job, though it had been intended to find a proper suitor worthy of marrying into the Karkaroff family. Much to her mother’s dismay, she was still unmarried at the age of twenty-five and without the usual two heirs by this point.

”Well, no witch with any good sense would approach a man in that ensemble. And certainly not the pureblooded on he’s most certainly looking for.” Ana spoke casually. Over time it seemed that more and more members of pureblood society were willing to accept progressive views. Ana herself did not subscribe to the notions that she was better than someone like her colleague Bianca solely based on her lineage. Ana knew she was better because of her own merit, which was an entirely different way of thinking. Unfortunately, some were unwilling to have an open mind, but she supposed that if someone like Yaxley was single his entire life, it might be best for all.

Ana looked away from the man and back at Bianca when she asked her a question. She paused a moment to consider her answer. ”Not yet.” She answered. So far, she’d been pleasantly surprised to find another no-nonsense individual in the Ministry who seemed to also see the same idiocy in specific individuals. Not that Ana needed the validation of her opinions. Having more than the minimal amount of faith in others was energy she didn’t want to waste unless proven that she should. ”Many have tried.” Ana responded, sipping the rest of the champagne in her glass and placing it on the tray of a waiter that walked by. ”But I don’t make it a habit of being wrong.” Her whole life just seemed to be Ana versus the world, versus the Karkaroff reputation, and versus her own self-doubt. But she’s made it this far on her own merit and by sheer force of will. She’d fight tooth and nail before letting anyone take that away from her.

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[Bianca Alia Rivera]

24 December 2025

As a Muggleborn, Bianca had the curious trait of having been born without any natural assumptions or knowledge of the wizarding world. It meant she could take a fresh look at the system, see what worked and what didn't. There were some elements that were incredibly well-thought-out – as much as Bianca hated St. Mungo’s, she could recognize exactly how far wizards had come in the field of Healing – but there were others that defied common sense and practicality. And with every detail Bianca learned about pureblood society, she could only be equally appalled and impressed that such a flawed, outdated system had been able to survive so long. The Muggle world was by no means a utopia, but they had mostly escaped such a medieval way of thinking. In that sense, the wizarding world was far, far behind when it came to ‘pure’ or ‘noble.’

Sometimes it almost felt like she and Ana could have been the same person, if they hadn’t been born into such different worlds. Bianca regarded her coworker with a thoughtful gaze. In many ways, she could appear to be a much lighter person than Bianca. She could smile and make small talk during social encounters, and she blended in well with the rest of the room with her sparkling drink and sophisticated dress. But none of it appeared to be anything more than a wall meant to hide her true self away from people – a different, more nice-looking wall than the steely one Bianca put up, but a wall nonetheless. And she doubted that there had been many situations where Ana had ever been truly happy – not more than she could count on her hands, at least. Ana had answered that Bianca hadn’t proven her wrong, but the ‘yet’ hung heavily in the air. “I’ve found plenty of reasons to judge people,” Bianca finally began to respond, “but family background isn’t one of them. I saw enough of it in Castelobruxo.” Her first year at school had been difficult – 11 years old was incredibly young to be introduced to wizard prejudices about her parents. Still, she had had a knack in those days for making friends and some facts of life were true for wizards and Muggles alike – jocks always seemed to be more popular.

“Have they?” she asked in response to Ana’s assertion that ‘many have tried’, unable to fully fight back a smile so hiding it instead by taking another sip of her drink. She couldn’t imagine what those conversations must look like, but then again – that wasn’t the sort of relationship that existed between the two. They didn’t meet up after work for gossip or to discuss their personal lives. No, they had a good professional relationship, mostly due to their similar working styles and their mutual annoyance for the same incompetent coworkers. It wasn’t a stretch to think a temporary partnership could exist, but then again…they were very similar people. That wasn’t always the best thing. Bianca only shrugged slightly, polishing off the rest of her drink. “I don’t see how far in the Ministry you can get as long as you only view others as rivals. Sometimes we advance faster together.” It was a delicate balance between working independently – something Bianca understood, as she most certainly worked best alone – and finding others to complement your own skillset. It was a matter of wanting to make a bigger impact, not needing others for your own survival. Bianca’s gaze caught on a few familiar figures, and she resisted the urge to make a face. “I see the Prophet is finally here. Time to fade into the crowd,” Bianca murmured. Not that she ever expected a moment of peace from a reporter, but as an agent for the Recapture Unit near the anniversary of the Azkaban breakout…they had been annoyingly persistent lately. She nodded at Ana – it had been a brief conversation, but as usual she was one of the few people Bianca could speak to without wanting to end it early with an Unforgivable Curse. She smoothly dodged a few people, although made a point of accidentally knocking shoulders hard with the Yaxley on her way to find another drink.

anastasia marie karkaroff
[End post Bianca!]