Play Along (Elaine, Finley)

[Deleted]

Mar. 4, 2025

Jess loved being an investigative reporter. It was strange, because she never saw herself as the kind of person who would want to investigate anything, but there was a sort of thrill that came from being out in the field, solving mysteries and figuring things out. At least, that was how she saw it. She'd just finished her time shadowing with Mary, one of the best investigative reporters in the field. This was supposed to be her first job and, remarkably, her manager decided to let her come up with her own subject. 

It took Jess ages to think of something that she might actually be able to investigate. Actually, she got the idea when she went through her desk and found and old note from Isolde. What ever happened to the woman? Jess saw her everywhere for a while, was actually super confused when one day Isolde knew her and the next she didn't. In fact, she'd outright scared Jess by the end, but Jess hadn't seen or heard from her in ages. 

She looked into the records at the ministry, loving how being an investigative reporter gave her access to things. Not everything, but Isolde wasn't major news. They had much bigger things to worry about with all the prisoners who escaped Azkaban. Isolde was pronounced missing, but it looked like they were trying to keep that quiet as they searched for her. Jess looked through her attendance records. Isolde never missed a day of work ... until once when she missed a whole weak. After that, her attendance was weird. She came in late, left early, some days she called in sick at the last minute. It was weird. Especially since that was right when she was busy planning the Triwizard Tournament. A sick feeling developed in Jess' stomach as a thought occurred to her. What if Elaine somehow got access to Isolde? What if she'd been controlling the woman or something? That would explain how she knew when to attack the Durmstrang ship and Beauxbatons carriage. 

She started looking through other records at the ministry, trying to find if there was anyone else who had a similar pattern, but didn't see anyone at the ministry. So Jess explanded her search. She looked at the auror records, but nothing. Then she decided to check the hospital. It seemed that there was nothing there either that would support her theory, until she saw something about a nurse. Shannon. She had a similar pattern of behavior, missing quite a few days in a row and then semi-spotty attendance at work ever since. She didn't seem to miss days like Isolde did, but she did come late sometimes, or leave a little early. The thing that caught Jess' attendance was the unexplained time missing. She'd said it was dragon pox, but that sounded suspicious to Jess. Add to that the fact that when Jess looked at notes from both women, they seemed to have contact with one another after Shannon's mysterious dragon pox. Were they working together with Elaine? It was weird that after that time, both women had meetings with one another, each mentioning the other randomly on their schedules and such.

Jess started following her, discreetly, of course. She didn't want Shannon to know what she was doing, especially if the woman worked for Elaine. She didn't seem to do anything suspicious, but something was off about her. Jess didn't know what it was, but she was fairly certain that the woman was part of this. The problem was, Jess needed proof. 

Tonight, she stood in an alley outside of St. Mungos, waiting for Shannon to leave. Her shift just ended and Jess was going to follow her tonight, see what she was up to. Jess hid herself well in the alley, enough so that when they woman unexpectedly turned into the same alley where Jess was hiding and walked past, she didn't see her. Jess bit her lip, watching closely as Shannon stopped and waited. Was she waiting for someone? Jess watched, remaining frozen where she was. She had no intention of giving herself away, especially if Shannon was involved with who she thought she was. 

Elaine Lyra Dupree
@finley

[Elaine Lyra Dupree]

Elaine had hidden herself in the upstairs room overlooking the alley where Shannon was to meet with Finley that evening. She had a suspicion that someone was onto Shannon, and her true allegiances, and Finley was to help discover if this was true. The meet was innocent enough; Shannon was to give Fin a vial of the Draught of the Living Death, which if he chose to do so, would end his mothers’ suffering. She had offered to assist many times, but Fin had always wanted to deal with it in his own way. In Elaine’s opinion, his mother had made him suffer through quite enough, and she wanted him to have an easy escape plan, if he had the strength to do what needed to be done.

Huddled in a chair in her Invisibility Cloak, Elaine’s eyes scanned the surroundings. It was five minutes before Fin was due to arrive, and she saw the dark hooded figure that was Shannon make her way down the alleyway. She glanced around, and Elaine wondered if she was being followed. Straining, Elaine thought she saw a figure out at the corner of the street, but it was too far to make out any defining features. Slightly irritated, she sat back; if the person followed Shannon into the alleyway, she would have a clear shot at them, if necessary. All she could do now was wait and see what transpired.

@finley u next
@jessavette

[Deleted]

Finley wasn't sure why Elaine had asked him to meet with Shannon tonight, but he never questioned Elaine. She just gave him assignments when needed, and he accepted that. Still, since his trip to Ireland with Jess, things were changing. He didn't want to lie to her anymore, and he knew that she could not accept his relationship with Elaine. He also knew, as he'd always known, that the things Elaine wanted for the world that weren't for the best. Still, he was finding it impossible to leave her.

He turned the corner, inside Shannon ahead near an alleyway. He gave her a raise from down the street, and took his time walking toward her. He didn't speak on arrival, not really being one for pleasantries in this line of business.

Elaine Lyra Dupree
@jessavette

[Deleted]

Shannon wasn't really trying to be sneaky (at least it didn't seem like it to Jess) as she walked down the alleyway. Jess was definitely trying to be more so. She didn't want to spook Shannon or whoever the woman was meeting. The important thing now was to find a place that was close enough she'd be able to hear and see what was going on without being caught. If she got caught and Shannon was really working for the person Jess thought she was ... well Jess would be in a lot of trouble then.

The woman slowed after walking down the alley a way and Jess sneaked until she was hiding behind a dumpster. Not the best when it came to seeing what she wanted to, but Jess should be able to hear just fine. Jess would stay here until she was sure that Shannon and the person she met with was gone. Now she was playing the waiting game. 

It was about five minutes later when footsteps approached down the alley. This person walked with purpose, and Jess felt a chill go up her spine. The footsteps stopped and she waited to see what would happen next. She really wanted to glance around the edge of the dumpster and see who was with Shannon, but chances were she wouldn't know the person and that doing so would compromise her position, so Jess forced herself to stay where she was, waiting for something to happen. 

Elaine Lyra Dupree  (hehe I'm assuming you're gonna npc Shannon)
@finley

[Elaine Lyra Dupree]

Elaine watched as Finley approached Shannon, a slightly bemused look on his face. Clutching the Extendable Ear Shannon had purchased for her, she marveled at the work those blood traitors had done before lowering it down and putting it to her own ear to better hear the conversation. “Greetings to you, Finley O’Neill,” Shannons’ quiet, mouselike voice was crystal clear through the invention. “My mistress has a present for you,” she went on, glancing around before slipping a crystal clear vial of liquid into Finley’s palm. “She says the time to play nice is over, the woman has been your bane since you were a child. Be done with her, and it will be painless.” She folded Finley’s fingers over the vial and put a finger to her lips. “Our little secret,” she breathed. She put the hood of her cloak back up and turned on her heel, disappearing from the alley.

Satisfied, Elaine snuck the Extendable Ear back up into the room without anyone noticing. She stood, getting ready to leave before she saw movement from behind a dumpster near the alley. She narrowed her eyes; only one guess as to who would be nosy enough to follow Fin on this meeting. If Jessavette confronted him, if Finley confessed who he was working for...well, that would be something Elaine would have to deal with. Personally.

@finley
@jessavette

[Deleted]

Shannon greeted him and he didn't say anything. He had his hand inside his bag at his shoulder, clasped around his invisibility cloak in case he needed to put it on and make a run for it for whatever reason. Not that he didn't trust Elaine but... Shannon wasn't Elaine, even if she was doing her bidding. When Shannon said there was a present, Finley lifted his hand to accept it. He looked down at the vial, listening to the words; ”She says the time to play nice is over, the woman has been your bane since you were a child. Be done with her, and it will be painless,” as she folded his fingers over the pale he felt the blood drain from his face. He felt cold. He looked up at her, ”Our little secret.” It was like he was looking into Elaines face for a second. Then, Shannon just left him there all alone. He took a few steps forward as if to follow her, but stopped.

He swallowed hard, hand clenching around the vial. That's when he made the mistake of saying this one word out loud, ”Elaine...” he shook his head, swallowing again. It was like a rock was lodged at the base of his neck. He closed his eyes tightly, and lifted the vial up. Was it poison?

@jessavette
Elaine Lyra Dupree
(up to you kierra if she talks to him now or if it's in a different place)

[Deleted]

Jess listened carefully, holding her breath as she waited for one of the two people to speak. Shannon started the conversation, greeting ... no. Jess' heart dropped, her jaw fell open and she closed her eyes. It couldn't possibly be her Fin standing in the alley with Shannon. What in the world would he be doing meeting here with her? Why would he be meeting with someone who -Jess suspected- was affiliated with Elaine Dupree? 

Somehow, Jess continued to listen to the woman, despite the fact that her mind was reeling now, half in denial and the other half horror. She spoke about her mistress having a present for Fin, about not playing nice anymore and ... being done with someone? And it would be painless. Was she talking about killing someone? The pieces started clicking together in Jess' mind at a rapid pace. There was only one person (woman) Jess knew of who Fin struggled with since he was a child. His mother? She lifted a hand to cover her mouth, hardly believing what she just heard. She desperately wanted to see if Fin accepted what the woman offered to him, but she couldn't move. She couldn't bear to actually confirm her suspicions that it really was her boyfriend in the alley. Shannon spoke about it being a secret and Jess' eyes filled with shocked tears. What in the world was happening. She heard a soft whooshing sound and assumed the woman left, but Jess still couldn't move.

Jess heard a few heavy footsteps and hoped that was Fin leaving. She didn't want to see him right now. She didn't know what she'd say or do, she was in too much shock. However, the footsteps stopped quite suddenly and that's when she heard his voice, saying the last thing she'd ever wanted to hear from him. Fin said Elaine's name. His voice was quiet, but unmistakable and Jess felt everything she knew crumbling around her. She staggered to her feet, accidentally banging into the dumpster and making a loud noise. That didn't matter. She apparated away instantly, appearing in a random muggle park she'd gone to when she was a child.

It was late enough that the park was empty, which Jess was grateful for. She staggered over to a swing and sat down, her legs pumping in a familiar, consistent motion as she soared higher and higher, her thoughts flying along with her. She couldn't make sense of any of this. There was only one thing that was certain: Fin wasn't who he said he was.

Early the next morning Jess wandered into her apartment, her eyes red and exhausted. She moved over to her desk, writing two owls. One was to her boss, telling him she was sick and wouldn't be able to make it in to work today. The other was to Fin, asking if he was busy or if he wanted to do something at her place the next evening. Maybe that would give her enough time to sort through her feelings since she wouldn't be going to work, but then again, maybe it wouldn't. Either way, she needed to see him. As soon as possible. 

Elaine Lyra Dupree
@finley
(Jess out! Hehe you guys can do ending posts if you want? Or whatever)