Calling All Angels (Ouroboros; OPEN)

[Casimir Elias Karkaroff]

They had entered an area that Parvati was much better-equipped to handle than Cas, and he was willing to defer to her judgment on the matter. He didn’t pay much attention to the logistical issues of Ouroboros – recruitment, coordinating member activities – they were certainly important, but not his strengths and not within the realm of his interest. He was a good agent, he knew that. He could work effectively in his circles and nobody was a more talented expert on magical artifacts. But he worked best alone, and he hadn’t formed close relationships with many other members of Ouroboros.

So he only nodded slightly at Parvati’s observations on the other squad leaders, and of course Hermione Granger’s availabilities. It was inconvenient, but the advantages they gained from the membership of the Minister of Magic far outweighed the inconveniences. “You know best about this,” Cas supplied. It wasn’t a compliment, not directly (that wasn’t exactly his style), but a factual observation that awarded credit where credit was due. From an operational point-of-view, he could understand how important it was to gather Ouroboros together and get back on the same page. Logistically, he trusted Parvati to be able to arrange it more skillfully. So, to that end – “I trust your judgment on how to arrange an organization-wide meeting.” He didn’t trust her completely, not yet, but the use of the t-word in any capacity was a good sign. Cas was a passive person, he knew that, but it was time to become more active. The transition would be a challenge, but it was one he needed to take.

He thought back to their earlier conversation. “I can continue working on Lúthien,” Cas finally said, his reluctance apparent in his tone. Unfortunately, that assignment could not be given to just anybody, and it was really only him or Titus that could take such a job. And Cas would prefer not to inflict such a dangerous task on his friend. “It might be an opportunity to learn more about the Azkaban break-out, if I can pry the information out of her.” There were very few things in life that Cas found frightening, as working in such a dangerous profession had toughened him against the usual disturbing topics. But thinking about Azkaban, and his father…yes, that terrified him. He’d hate to ever have to confront a boggart. Cas re-focused on Parvati. “But membership issues are better left to you.”

parvati patil macmillan

[parvati patil macmillan]

Cas gave something of a nod to her. Handling the rest of the membership was more her forté, not least of which because she could reach out to more people without its seeming suspect than could he. It wasn't that Cas himself wasn't to be trusted, but Parvati knew just as well as he did that his position meant that he had to watch his back even more than the rest of them. “You know best about this,” he stated.

He soon followed up with another comment. “I can continue working on Lúthien,” Cas added, though he sounded uncommitted to the idea still. He appeared to be trying to look for positives from the prospect, however. “It might be an opportunity to learn more about the Azkaban break-out, if I can pry the information out of her." If he could do it, it would help them immensely.

“But membership issues are better left to you.”

"I don't want you to put yourself in danger for this," Parvati said of his mentioning that he would continue working on Lúthien. "Not unless it's fully your choice." She didn't want him to act on anything just because he felt that it was what she wanted him to do. "Meanwhile," she continued, not wanting to dwell on the subjects of Lúthien or the Dark Arts any more than was necessary just between the two of them, "I'll contact Ginny and Teddy, and we can go from there, then?"

Casimir Elias Karkaroff
OOC: Do you want to finish this one up?

[Casimir Elias Karkaroff]

I don’t want you to put yourself in danger for this. It was a nice sentiment, the kind of thing Cas hadn’t ever really heard growing up. Pureblood society, at least the one he’d grown up in, was centered around your utility. How to best serve your family and the community. Things like emotions, empathy, want…they were inconsequential in the context of the greater needs of the pureblood elite. Cas had spent too much of his life (decades really) oscillating between the value of these lessons and shaking them off for something brighter. He was still ultimately undecided, but was in far too deep to start second-guessing his choices now.

He gave Parvati a faint smile, likely the first time he’d ever genuinely smiled in front of her. “It’s a little late for that now. But we do our best work in the face of danger.” A brief glance at his watch (which wasn’t really just a watch but did have the handy additional ability to tell time) told him he was on the edge of being gone too long from his storefront. He nodded idly at Parvati’s last comment about Ginny and Teddy as he set about packing his ledgers, re-applying their usual protective enchantments and slipping them back into the seemingly-empty briefcase. “Sooner rather than later,” he suggested with a frown as he stood from his chair fluidly. “Elaine’s death is good news, but the Purifiers are still a threat. And now they might be desperate.” It was hardly an optimistic end to their conversation, but Cas could be something of a gloomy person. Realistic, he would have called it. He nodded at Parvati, ended with a firm, “Until next time,” and turned to leave Safe Harbor and return to the darkness (and relative safety) of Knockturn Alley.

parvati patil macmillan
[End thread!]