casualty | ares

[ares edward lestrange]

━ wasted on sunday, erase you on monday ━

ARES WATCHED WITH SLIGHT CONCERN as Diana lifted the glass and gulped away, yet as she began talking once more the Lestrange's features softened and his actions of cleaning the bar continued. "The paper.." He muttered, knowing he needed to read it more often, but with two giggly kids in the morning and seemingly a family to cook for - the time to even read the paper disappeared.

"Maybe they're trying to keep it under wraps. Not exactly reveal why he's been locked up just to avoid additional questions.." Ares had seen it before - of course with muggle situations. Everything governmental wise had always been corrupt, no matter what. "But I guess..its safe to say..none of this is exactly over yet..is it?"

| diana eoina bainbridge |

[diana eoina bainbridge]

LONG NIGHTS TO QUIET MY MIND

WITH EMPTY CONVERSATIONS

October 26, 2026
ares edward lestrange

Ares had a point. Diana had no idea how things like this were handled or even supposed to be handled. She supposed there was a way to ask James or Albus casually about it. But would they even be involved in something so high profile? Plus, while they’d grown up together in the same neighborhood, Diana was hardly close to the boys. Maybe she could get Dustin to ask. As she drank a bit more, Diana shook those thoughts. The less she thought about it, the less anxiety she felt, and spiraling would not help her. This dark hole that had been her home for years still existed. At least she could see more faces above willing to lend a hand.

Diana paused before answering. Chills ran up her spine to replace the words she could not speak. It hadn’t even been half a year since she entered another Vow. Her mind often created scenarios of what Ondina was capable of, like how Elaine would hold it over her head. And poor Renard was dragged into it all. ”No.” She answered softly, staring at her half-empty glass, defeated. ”No, it's not.” Diana paused again as another thought came to mind. ”He worked in the Ministry. There’s no doubt a scandal now.” The paper had mentioned he was or had been the Head of the Department of Mysteries. Somehow that seemed fitting.

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[ares edward lestrange]

━ wasted on sunday, erase you on monday ━

WATCHING WITH CONCERN, ARES BEGAN to ponder what she was even thinking about. With something so complex as the situation before them, where could someone even begin? Ares had a few friends within the ministry, a benefit to being a man with a very 'important' name, but no one would be discreet enough to ask the questions that needed answering without a purpose behind it. All they could do was simply wait.

"Hm." Ares began before reaching out for another glass to wipe down. "So be it I guess..no point in..overly stressing about it." The Lestrange knew that if the day for him to give up would come, he would be ready to accept it, no matter the consequences, context, or even where he would be. "We'll just have to keep an eye on the papers and..take one day at a time."

| diana eoina bainbridge |

[diana eoina bainbridge]

LONG NIGHTS TO QUIET MY MIND

WITH EMPTY CONVERSATIONS

October 26, 2026
ares edward lestrange

The higher her pulse rose, the more Diana fought back the sensation of her eyes beginning to well up. Despite all her exhaustion, she always had the energy to shove that down. Anxiety and defeat had been her constant companion when she’d pulled away from her family for those few years, like some temporary replacement for her twin. Now those feelings wanted their place of importance back in Diana’s life. Fortunately, she had her family once again. Even bumping into Ares wasn’t so bad. In fact, it helped in a way. She felt a little less crazy about her thoughts about Elaine and everything.

Diana nodded in agreement, there wasn’t anything to do, and frankly, she didn’t want to know who else shared their circumstances. At least Ares seemed like a decent enough guy. Then again, when Ondina was her only comparison…well, he might as well have been a saint. ”Do you ever…” She paused, biting the inside of her lip while her eyes trained on her nearly empty glass. ”…regret it?” Diana only regretted her timing and not fighting hard enough in that duel with Elaine for her freedom.

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[ares edward lestrange]

━ wasted on sunday, erase you on monday ━

USING MAGIC TO PUT THE clean glass away, Ares used his wandless magic to cycle through another cleaning of the other glasses around the bar. Merlin, some patrons were just messy. But putting his attention on Diana, he smiled small as she nodded. There was truly nothing for them to do except sit around like ducks, waiting for their mother. Keeping his hands busy with some extra random jobs behind the line, Ares paused during her sentence, putting the cloth down to think about it.

"No." He admitted, fairly quickly. He enjoyed the chaos that it brought, some kind of insane stability that had fallen within his family dynamic. The last time something like that had occurred was during his sisters torture, something he recalled taking part in. He liked being on the front lines, used whenever they needed someone crazy enough. Above all, it had brought him and Sutton closer. In some odd sorts. But there were...regrets for the actions they took, especially with Hogwarts.

"I can't lie. I enjoyed it..the chaos, the action, being there on the frontlines..but..I just didn't agree with certain actions." Nor did he ever dare to speak out about them. It was better for him to keep his mouth shut and pretend everything was fine.

| diana eoina bainbridge |

[diana eoina bainbridge]

LONG NIGHTS TO QUIET MY MIND

WITH EMPTY CONVERSATIONS

October 26, 2026
ares edward lestrange

Diana wasn’t sure what she expected to hear. Regret felt like such a common theme in her life. What she would give for a time turner to return to that night. But there was something…comforting about his honesty. Or maybe Diana had been surrounded by this life for so long that any sign of authenticity felt warm. All Diana could do was nod and return to her drink. It wasn’t for her to judge, not when she had a hand in some of those actions. The lives of many, or her own life and those of her family. That was always the cost hanging over her head.

With a deep sigh, Diana felt her shoulders slump slightly. It was exhausting existing on high alert like this all the time. ”Its over now.” She stated the obvious, but it felt less like some maladaptive daydream when she did. Diana stared at the small amount liquid left in her glass before looking back to the bartender. ”I know it's… awkward running into me.” She began quietly. ”But it's nice not to be alone—about this.” Despite all that Cara and Penelope knew, Diana couldn’t discuss it with them. Plus, it risked awkward questions from them. And the thought of that Vow with Ondina still made her stomach turn.

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[ares edward lestrange]

━ wasted on sunday, erase you on monday ━

GIVEN THE COMPLEXITIES OF THE Purifiers, he truthfully didn't know the ins and outs regarding the members and areas that were beyond his knowledge. Despite being tasked with physical tasks or 'hard labour', Ares still didn't mix business with 'friendliness'. It kept it strictly professional, secretive, just like how he had been instructed to.

Diana was a different case though, the guilt was eating at her in a way it had ate at him at one point. But again, the Lestrange didn't know what she was going through, and vice versa. "The paper.." He mumbled, trying to recall if he had seen an article or two regarding it. Ares wasn't a big reader - even when it came to the news, but given his employment, there were always thrown bits of newspaper here and there, for the early patrons that wanted a quiet morning and a pint to accompany them.

"In this line of..what it is we do, we have to..kind of have hope. So being optimistic is your only choice." He added, trying to reassure her. He had been through it, the stage she was currently at, and one always needed a helping hand to move on from it. "Definitely not, especially if they're trying to question him down to the tiniest thing he might of done..You're in the clear for now..Don't worry about it."

| diana eoina bainbridge |

[diana eoina bainbridge]

LONG NIGHTS TO QUIET MY MIND

WITH EMPTY CONVERSATIONS

October 26, 2026
ares edward lestrange

Over time Diana realized how the Purifiers could have one leader but still exist in a decentralized way. It only worried her because capturing such a target as Asher Burke almost felt hopeless. What good would it do if he only knew some of the story? The thought sent a chill down Diana’s spine. She still saw that frigid stare in a bad dream and would wake up with the same headache. Every time Burke had rifled through her mind Diana was left with an intense headache.

She nodded. It was one of those things to take one day at a time. There wasn’t much else to be done. It didn’t stop the dwelling or lingering thoughts, but knowing she wasn’t alone was nice. ”Thanks.” She muttered. ”For talking with me.” Ares didn’t have an obligation to do so. He could have kicked her out or completely ignored her presence. It wasn’t as if Diana could have called him out as a Purifier without outing herself. Not that she ever would. ”I should go…I’ll see you around.” Diana finished the remainder of the glass, reaching into her pocket for coins and offering him a light smile.

[ wrap up? ]

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[ares edward lestrange]

━ wasted on sunday, erase you on monday ━

WATCHING AS DIANA SOMEWHAT PROCESSED everything, he couldn't fathom how much was running through her mind in that moment. In a panicked state, anything could frighten you, even the most outlandish of things that had the thinnest chance of happening. He knew he had to stay optimistic though, to be the one to keep both their heads above the water, just to stabilise her anyway.

Smiling small as she began to nod, thanking him for talking with her, Ares reached out, collecting her empty glass and the coins. "You're welcome. And hey..you're welcome here anytime. Patron or not." Lifting his hand to wave goodbye as she headed on out, the Lestrange then continued his final wipe downs. Though, as if the timing couldn't be anymore perfect, a drunken patron dropped his glass, shards of glass scattered across the floor. "I have got to find a new job.."

| diana eoina bainbridge |

the end!