Ministry Christmas Party (All Ministry Invited)

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With a small laugh Blaise retorted, "It would serve you little use were you not." Of course Blaise knew Dacro had meant he would cherish the gift, but Blaise was in a bit of a light hearted mood. It was hard not to relax some and joke with his friend, they might have been two men in powerful positions but that didn't mean they never had moments such as these. Placing the cuff links back in their box carefully Blaise found himself another drink and raised it with Draco, "To a bright future." But to just what future were they toasting, did their views align together? Blaise was doubtful of this. Draco had softened over the years, accepted people into his life that Blaise would have never imagined. Even going so far as to gracing his son with his blessing in the pursuit to marry the likes of a Weasley, Granger's daughter no less. A boy raised beside his own sons bringing about the end of the pureness of Malfoy blood. It was a shame. Still, Blaise had always had a knack for keeping some of his more extreme views to himself.

Blaise mulled over his thoughts as he took a long sip of his drink. Moving the glass from his lips Blaise intended to ask Draco about his son, he was curious after all as the boy was like family to him. Somewhat disappointing family, but family none the less. "Do tell me Draco how -" But before he could finish his question Draco's Undersecretary showed up. He found himself raising an eyebrow at the fellow as he blabbered on about filthy birds. Blaise had no idea what sort of business anyone would with ravens or the like that would be of any importance or worthy of mention, perhaps if he was more aware of the their unwelcome eavesdroppers he might have understood better. The smile faded from his face as his lips drew into a line. Being a man who was hardly impressed with others he had never given much thought to Emil.

"Mister Zephyrinus." His words were spoke with a cool tone before sipping his drink again his eyes looking the other man over while he silently made his judgement on him. Emil was a strange man, and Blaise did not have a fondness for strange. He didn't even care to dignify the man with his thoughts on if he was 'stressed'. After all what sort of man found themselves in positions of power but unable to cope with the stress it could bring? Pleasantry or not Blaise felt Emil could have thought of something far less ridiculous to question.

words: 442
tag: @dracomalfoy @emilfelipe @others
ooc:

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Draco sipped his drink after the toast with his best friend and listened as Blaise was about to say something when his Senior Undersecretary and friend Emil showed up. He could sense Blaise's somewhat dislike towards Emil, and decided he would about any stronger tension by doing a good deal of the talking.

"Don't worry, Emil," smiled Draco, amused by the thought of the man's dog going after some raven. "This is a party. Attendance is optional to begin with, which is a good thing considering if everyone in the Ministry was here, this place would be overflowing."

Draco then finished his champagne and placed the glass on the table behind him.

"I'm actually glad you're here, Emil," he said. "I was discussing maintaining moral with the public with Blaise, and I think we should come up with a clever campaign to begin the New Year, something to show the dark forces that we will move on regarding of whatever they're hatching. Do either or you gentlemen have any ideas?"

@blaise @emilfelipe

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The mongoose sat by her feathered friend under the table and listened away. She knew it was wrong for them to use their abilities to eavesdrop on the Minister, but it was Christmas and time for a little fun, so why not? And it wasn't like Cav was going to broadcast what she learned everywhere. With all the dark forces sneaking about, that would be an insane thing to do. Nevertheless, it was fun to listen in.

And what she heard was interesting... a new campaign for the new year? What was it going to be? Who would it affect? What would it do about the Dark Lady? When Draco asked the others for their ideas, she moved a bit closer. Unfortunately she has missed the part where Emil made the raven reference. If so, she might have decided to give up on the idea of eavesdropping. But she didn't, and she she listened on.

@cainedge

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He looked on at the confusion registering on the gentlemen's faces; unsure of what they would compose out of the diversion, but Emil decided to leave it as it was. He knew Cain would uphold a particular reason for his actions, regardless of whether Emil understood it at the moment; and Emil would regard his decision if he chose to remain listening in silence. There was no time to extricate the eccentricity of the situation if the Minister wished to command a new movement for the new year.

"I believe it's time to increase our protection over the public, as extensively as the Ministry can afford..." Emil patiently expressed, "News of this witch had spread great influence and imminent terror upon the entire wizarding population even throughout the continent, which might aggravate in a matter of months, or even days, lest we agree to resolve this predicament. Furthermore, an uneasy calmness had been ensuing following the Headmistress' rescue..." Escalating chaos within the public was one of the things which should be avoided; and Emil was fervently convinced that while the Ministry searched for any loopholes within the Dark Army to be ambushed, its defenses could be improved to ease the public tension in this regard.

"Even though it is well understood, Minister, that there are only so many Aurors and Hit-Wizards to be stationed at the moment; to win what is glorious and excellent requires great care and much labor," he said. "What do you reckon, dear Draco?"

@dracomalfoy

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Blaise listened as Emil rambled on about his ideas. So foolish. This was hardly the place to talk of such matters. History had shown that governments were easily infiltrated with spies, even their own had been taken over when the Dark Lord rose to power. If Draco wished to prevent that then discussing business matters in such in open setting was hardly the way to do so. When Emil finally came to a close Blaise looked down into the glass held firmly in his hand before speaking.

"Tell me, Mister Zephyrinus," Blaise drew his words out slowly, his eyes lingering on the drink in his glass, "do you think this Dark Lady will be spreading her forces thin when she makes her next move, or do you think she will make an attack with a great force?" Blaise did not await a response and went on to make his point. "Divide forces do not win wars Mister Zephyrinus, they lose them. It is reckless and irresponsible to divide up the forces we have in hopes of of gaining the upper hand, they would like lambs to the slaughter and that blood would be on the ministry's hands." Blaise didn't dress his words up with fancy linguistics, he rarely did. Why waste breath on saying what needed to be said. Looking up from his drink Blaise looked to Draco "Never the less Draco, I am not sure this is the best time or place to make any further suggestions - moral has never been my strong suit anyways. I trust your council of advisers will come forth with plenty of fresh campaign ideas for the new year though."

Briefly Blaise's dark slanted eyes looked to Emil, unsure of how trustworthy the man was. How freely he suggested strategies in walls that were far from secure. If Draco continued to get council from men so foolish Blaise found himself concerned for just how long his reign as minister would continue to last. Maybe he and Draco saw the world different these days, but in the end Blaise always found himself looking out for his friend. "Besides, Pansy and Astoria will have our heads if they hear once again we have spoiled a party by talking work."

words: 373
tag: @dracomalfoy @emilfelipe @others
ooc: blaise doesn't play nicely with others....

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Draco sighed at Emil's suggestion about increased protection.

"What the Muggles call... Martial Law," he said. "I hope it won't come to that. I do want the public to feel protected, but certainly not uneasy. Martial Law might unhinge the public as much as knowing the Order of the Phoenix has become involved. However, perhaps we can encourage the drive to employ more Aurors. We tried that during the Adder Society incident and it worked quite well in taking them down." However, Draco knew well that the Adder Society's threat was quite mild and nowhere near as far reaching compared to the Dark Lady's. But the fact was that the happening did add a number of Aurors to the roster.

Perhaps Blaise was right. Perhaps now wasn't the time or place, but Draco had become a tad impatient in jumping to action as of late.

"Very well," he said. "And yes, Pansy, Astoria, and Daphne too would no doubt spill their wrath upon us... and Theodore would have a bloody good laugh over it."

@blaise @emilfelipe

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Cav was a bit disappointed that Draco decided to cease talking about campaign idea, and uneasy with Emil speaking of increasing protection in the wizarding community. Would it get so bad that it could come to that? Her little Mongoose stomach was becoming uneasy. And it was probably a good idea to end this little spy game. Looking about, she found the clearest path possible to escape. She didn't want to scare anyone and cause chaos. Boy, would that be a great deal to explain later.

Finally, she found an "escape route" and scurried over, hoping her feathered friend would follow. Once in a hidden spot, she changed back.

"Woo, that wasn't the best idea," she said. "Oh Merlin, I need some more punch." She would await Cain first to see if he was alright. If he wasn't, she would do what she could to help him, even if it meant changing again.

@cainedge

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(Guessing the party's about wrapped up, so will close for Cav here.)

Cav felt really stupid. She couldn't believe she came up with such a ridiculous idea. What if someone saw them? What if those conversing knew they were there, but wanted to wait until the party was over to discipline them...

What if Cav's job was in danger? Being an Auror was her dream. What if she cost Cain his job?

"Golly... golly... golly... golly," she muttered to herself before looking at Cain. "Yes, it was a silly idea. If we were that bored, we should have just left and went and saw what was happening at the Leaky Cauldron. I hope we aren't in for it, especially you, Cain. You're the best darn Hit Wizard we have after all!"

Maybe Cav was wrong about that, maybe she was right. But she was bias. Cain was one of her best friends after all.

@cainedge