The Long Walk To...

[Maeve Connolly]

#100
Open to DMLE employee(s), ideally without much authority.

Maeve had expected the summons, but she had expected them yesterday. Fortunately, a domestic disturbance in Wales had called her away before it could be issued, and the woman who had turned her husband, his mother, and their donkey into peacocks had kept her quite busy for the remainder of the day. There could be no prolonging matters, though—the note on her desk had said to go see Mr. Sterling before lunch, and the appointed hour was looming ever closer.

When her plan for a public display had fallen apart, Maeve had still been unwilling to let the matter of female duelists go, instead taking to the paper to have her voice heard. It was a controversial position but, more importantly, technically an illegal one—not necessarily the best choice for a woman literally paid to uphold the law.

To say her mother had not been thrilled would be a gross understatement. In fact, Maeve had never seen her mother so unladylike as when Caitriona had elected, at dinner the night before, to throw a plate at her head. It was almost rather impressive (though it would have hurt had her aim not been terribad).

The path from the aurors’ pen to the Head Auror’s office necessitated crossing the departmental hallway, a river of fate as she stood before it now, one not accommodating enough to dash her upon the rocks before she crossed it to the gallows on the other side. With a dramatically deep breath, the redhead stepped into the hallway…

…and into a co-worker.

“Umph,” she let out as face collided with [arm/shoulder/torso—pick your poison!], her height preventing her from being much more than a nuisance to whomever she had collided with. A step back and then a sheepish, “Sorry.”

  

[Justus Pilliwickle]

Justus generally engaged in conversation about one of two things: work or politics. He didn't care for other kinds of small talk and was always itching to express his opinion on the hot topic of the day. It just so happened that the issue on everyone's lips was the piece that had recently been published on the front page of the Prophet.  It was another piece about women's place in dueling (a debate Justus thought was foolish because of course women deserved to have equal standing in that enterprise), but this one interested him more because of who had been responsible for it and what they'd said. 

Justus was generally aware of Maeve Connolly because they worked in the same department, but he hadn't yet had cause to have a full on talk with her. Now he had a reason to approach her and was planning on doing so. In fact, he'd left his desk to do just that when someone ran into his shoulder. 

"Speak of the devil," he murmured when he saw who it was. "No need to apologize, Connolly. I was just setting out to find you, actually. That article in the paper was an interesting read." He couldn't stop his face from splitting into a grin. "Brilliant as far as I'm concerned." Not all of his coworkers shared his sentiments, but he didn't give a damn about their archaic opinions. The Ministry needed more people - more women - like Connolly and he wasn't going to be shy about saying so.

  

[Theseus Greengrass]

Theseus was usually not one to pay much attention to the daily prophet, simply because the stories often seemed fabricated to some degree. He liked to know what was going on and to obtain the real and truthful story from the one in question. Unfortunately for him, the articles generally revolved around people he really could care less about. Of course, there were some, like a missing debutante or two, that he became upset over, but anything else regarding social events and the like were often tossed to the side.

Despite his reservations, he listened in on a conversation earlier in the morning between two female co-workers. They mentioned a Miss Connolly, of all things, and her announcement that she had been the founder of an all female dueling ring. Theseus made sure he had not been seen by the pair before he gasped. He quickly made his way around the corner where he transitioned into a steady walk, headed towards the correct department where he could hopefully retrieve the entirety of the story from Maeve herself. He couldn't say he was exactly close to the Auror, but they had enough interactions to be relatively friendly towards one another, unless Kayte thinks otherwise and Maeve secretly despised him.

Upon his approach, he noticed the fiery locks that were easily recognizable as Miss Connolly's. He was relieved that his hunt was quite short as she most likely was surrounded with certain gossip and odd stares or forms of punishment for her rather loud and public statement. His relief was short lived when he noticed another man had already taken her attention - a man who had been involved within the ministry for a few years now. Theseus knew only his name as he wasn't a familiar face in the obliviator's daily life, however figured he had also sought out Maeve for the same reason.

Without much thought, he placed himself beyond the passageway where the two stood and listened in, hearing only the tail end of what Mr. Pilliwickle had said. He seemed to be supportive of her actions despite the ramifications which put Theseus at ease. He had not been extremely confident in confrontation, but knowing now that there was extra support, his decision to approach was made certain. He coughed into his hand to announce his presence and awaited their reaction before he engaged.

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   Maeve Connolly

[Maeve Connolly]

Merlin help her he wanted to talk about that. Maeve, under different circumstances, would have been thrilled to have her ego stroked on a matter that she felt quite passionate about, but she wore her nerves like a scarf right now—a scarf twisting tighter and tighter upon her neck, very much at risk of shifting to a noose, depending on what Sterling had to say. Still, she could not help but be at least a little pleased to have it mentioned.

But only a little.

“Oh, thank you,” Maeve replied rather awkwardly before coming in, more confidently with, “I genuinely feel that Skeeter is an absolute idiot who wouldn’t understand the nuances of dueling if they hexed him in the arse—you’ll pardon my language, of course.”

Maeve was a witch who leaned a bit too far towards vulgarity for her mother’s comfort, but always made a (very lacklustre) show of pretending she cared. The Daily Prophet had included the phrase “Merlin’s hairy beard” in her story, when she had very much said “testicles” instead.

“What is it, Greengrass?” the redhead asked, having brightened up a bit. “Come to sing my praises as well?”

Cockiness was now at odds with her nerves. She was rather famous now, after all.

  

[Theseus Greengrass]

SORRY IF THIS IS NOT ADHERING TO STANDARD POSTING ORDER but I figured since she was addressing Theseus it only seemed fitting for him to approach now >.>

Theseus was amused by the Auror's audacious words and moved toward the couple in a laggard manner after he was addressed. "Is this a bad time for you? I only suspect that, given your location, you were about to see Mr. Sterling... about your article I presume?" For some odd reason, a smile slithered its way upon his face as if he were happy to see this outcome, which is the exact opposite response he wanted to convey to the red head. It wouldn't go away. His mouth began quivering in an attempt to relinquish the inappropriate gesture which led his hand to cover it before the situation took a turn for the worse.

"I have to say, despite what anyone may proclaim -" he glanced over to Mr. Pilliwickle, "- the courage and bravery you displayed, while others remained silent, surmounts any punishment you may receive." Theseus was rather pleased with himself that he was able to get that out. While he wasn't entirely in any position to comment on someone's ambition, considering his tactic to remain silent during the Ministry's gathering regarding the Pennyworth project, he felt the need to acknowledge any signs of progress and give those praise who contributed to it. After all, more harm was going to be issued to the poor over the following weeks compared to any harm a woman may cause via dueling in the next century - whether to herself or others.

  

[Justus Pilliwickle]

He agreed with Connolly's stance on Skeeter and had felt the same way himself for a long while. He'd never had cause to express that particular sentiment before and so he'd refrained from causing needless conflict. However, now that Skeeter had properly put his foot in it, Justus was more than happy to say what was on his mind.

"You'd be justified in feeling that way." He easily waved off the language she used. He'd heard much worse before. All things considered, he felt Connolly was actually letting Skeeter off easily. The man's stance was absolutely ludicrous, so much so that Justus couldn't believe he'd actually been given a forum with which to express himself. "He's alarmingly out of touch, to say the very least."

Greengrass said his piece and Justus found himself nodding along. "Surely you'll only be given a slap on the wrist, though." Connolly had as much right to speak her mind and tell her story as anyone else, regardless of legal technicalities.

  

[Maeve Connolly]

She stiffened slightly at the mention of Sterling from not one but both wizards. Praise was all well and good—and provided her a convenient delay—but Maeve would rather not be reminded of what awaited her as soon as she arrived in her superior’s office. A slap on the wrist was certainly what she hoped for, but in truth, the auror did not know what to expect—she had broken the law, and publically, too!

Maeve let out her breath, though, and the easy smile returned to her face.

“You know, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen Skeeter duel himself,” the redhead laughed. “And yet, I would think a housewife the only one he’d be likely to beat—though even my mother, I would wager, could give the louse a run for his money!”

#KayteSucks2k16
@'Theseus Greengrass' & @'Justus Pilliwickle'/@'Souri Avninder'