Absit Omen RPG
Role-Play Boards => London => Muggle London => Topic started by: Cepheus Gamp on August 18, 2019, 01:18:43 PM
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Christmas morning
Conditions: 9℃ / 48℉ but feels cooler. Cloudy, before dawn.
Plot Chapter: Stick Your Neck Out
6:20am
Cyril Lancaster wished his St Mungo’s colleagues a merry Christmas before tipping his hat and leaving the hospital. It was early Christmas morning, and Cyril had plans to catch up with his Squib neighbour, for an early morning dog walk in Kensington Gardens. A friendly healer clocking off the same hour obliged the squib a side-along lift.
His bristly moustache tickled his neighbour’s cheek and they walked arm in arm in the dark of the morning. Kensington Gardens was beautifully quiet, due to the hour and also the day. Even the traffic seemed absent from the road around the park. Cyril lit one of his roll ups and puffed it into the cold morning.
Their conversation moved from plans to Cyril’s observations of patients arriving at the hospital without magic. It was as if wards were full of squibs, he mused. The witches and wizards around them were so used to waving their wands, they were aghast at the slow routes through life which their squib brothers and sisters were forced to take. At least Muggles didn’t know what they missed out on, his neighbour reasoned.
The quiet was punctuated by the chirrup of the few wintering birds. Chattering blackbirds, laughing wood pigeons. As their route took them into the newly restored Italian gardens, bubbling water from the fountains and their footsteps on the stone promenade joined birdsong and distant traffic.
Then, up ahead, their usually placid animal companion barked, her golden tail low but her body tense. She was squared up to the small ornamental building in the Italian Gardens (https://goo.gl/maps/KG8cKwHUJKwDmygcA). She ignored the recall of her owner, and barked again, looking back at them in the inky early morning light. Something was amiss.
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6:55am
There was less than an hour before the sun would raise its head enough to call it dawn. Kensington Gardens had closed just after four on Christmas eve, and the gates reopened to Muggles at six that morning. The paths around were dotted with eager joggers, dog walkers and figures heading into work even on Christmas day. Like the unfortunate group here in the Italian Gardens, the world still went on despite festivities. Death hadn’t even set aside its scythe.
Within the shelter of the arches of the building the magical cordon surrounded, a Muggle was propped on the bench, rigid from death and cold. The squibs who had discovered it had seen the puncture wounds on the neck, and the first healers here had confirmed it. Death by exsanguination, some point in the early hours. Matching cause of death to the two bodies back in March (https://absitomen.com/index.php?topic=18659).
The Head of Being Division couldn’t say he was enjoying his Christmas present so far. The investigations of the two Muggles back in March had been inconclusive despite following up the lead of Matty Amherst with Level 2. It had at least solved the mystery of Amherst’s disappearance while on assignment from Level 5. The only consolation had been that no further bodies had turned up across London, minus pints of blood.
“A lot more public, this one.” Cepheus remarked to himself, jotting down notes. Level 2 were here again, of course, and the squibs were waiting nearby, not yet released, but talking amongst themselves with a very patient Labrador by their feet. It had been Cyril Lancaster’s quick thinking and observations that had prevented this scene falling into Muggle hands like the last time. It had been luck he was a St Mungo’s caretaker even if it was his misfortune to chance upon it on Christmas morning.
“We’ll try to get you both on your way as soon as we can,” he assured them both politely, and turned back to consult with colleagues.
Mugglebody’s identity, gender etc all open, as is Cyril’s female neighbour (though perhaps of similar age given his fondness). Aurors, have at it. The link to the scene is street view.
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A dead body on Christmas morning wasn't the sort of thing you were supposed to get excited about but for Briar it was a sure fire way to keep herself busy. Not to mention the perfect excuse not to be with her father. Berkeley had finally persuaded the Cavanaugh kids to spend the holidays with their Dad, despite the fact that none of them lived with him. Briar would be perfectly content if she never saw Kevin Cavanaugh again.
She stood back as the body was examined. She was mostly there to observe and handle any crowd control if needed. She was still in her first year of Auror training. She likely shouldn't have even been there but she'd argue it was great for experience. She'd never learn anything if she only got to see the safe and easy cases.
Her face seemed to be set in a permanent scowl. This wasn't the first time something like this had happened. There was a similar attack on muggles months prior. She hadn't been involved then but she had heard that they had been looking into a former Ministry Staff turned Vampire. Briar had tried to remember the former Hufflepuff. The only thing she had been able to recall about him was his public proposal to his girlfriend in the Great Hall. He didn't seem like a murderer at the time but then again he had been human then.
Vampires were dangerous and no amount of sensitivity training they were forced to take, would change that. They weren't like werewolves where it could be argued they were human ninety percent of the time (which Briar thought was Bollocks) they were Beasts a hundred percent of the time and this particular Beast seemed to take a liking to the taste of Muggles. This was bad no matter which way you spun it.
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Athena Marrowbone was the top healer at St. Mungo's for what fell under the category "creature-induced injuries". That meant when vampires bit, her people got the call. And when the call came in on this most blessed of mornings, St. Sawbones was merciful and took the case herself. She was still awake anyway. She stood by the body, still dressed for a party her long white coat and gold heels out of place between the limestone arches.
She straightened up when Cephus Gamp came back around.
"He's a great fella, what, seventeen stone? There's actually two sets of bites, one very light and one proper go of it that was used to drain. Like our batty-boy needed two tries to get it right. There's plenty of bruising, and the knuckles are skinned up. Poor bloke put up a fight."
Athena turned to the small Auror trainee with a name tag.
"Are you all we're getting from MLE this morning, Cavanaugh? Ever worked a vampire bite before?"
She handed her the handle-end of a nicely carved broken wand.
"This was under him. Looks like cherry to me."
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When Solomon Carstairs, all those months ago, had asked to be notified of further vampire activity, he hadn't expected to receive an urgent owl about it on Christmas morning. In fact, he'd forgotten all about it when nothing else came of the vampire attacks.
The Ministry owl had all but tapped a tune against their bedroom windowpane and startled his wife awake, though she had quickly recovered from the shock. Some things you had to get used to when you were married to an auror.
Luckily, the Carstairs household did not rise early for Christmas celebrations. They generally woke in time for brunch and presents - the benefit of no young children impatient to unwrap gifts. If this took any longer than a couple of hours, well, Sol was happy to miss another one of his son's alarmingly elaborate stories about being dumped by his latest girlfriend.
He arrived at the scene of the crime in a heavy navy coat, hands in pockets and a wool hat sat somewhat askew on his head. A trainee was manning the investigation so far; dawn was here and there was no real danger in sight. Solomon recognised Gamp but not the tall Healer speaking to him.
The witch in question was holding out a broken wand handle.
"Whose is that?" he asked, by way of greeting, approaching them. "Good morning. Gamp, very punctual I see. Is this another muggle attack or -" Sol nodded at Athena's hand, "- do we have ourselves a situation in the wizarding community?"
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“Two sets?” Cepheus repeated, and jotted down, and a struggle.
He peered back at the muggle in the gloom and wondered how strong he might have been. Most people would struggle for all their life was worth if presented with someone biting the life out of their neck. Vampires were stronger than the average muggle, even the little ones.
“This was under him. Looks like cherry to me.” Marrowbone handed a broken wand to the trainee auror with them.
“Not a Muggle then?” Cepheus pondered, pausing in his notes.
“Whose is that?” Solomon Carstairs was a somewhat welcome addition to the little investigation party, but Cepheus was surprised to see the big-wig there.
“Morning sir,” the Being Division Head nodded, “and we’re about to establish.” Cepheus suggested, and nodded to Briar encouragingly to examine the wand. They’d not be able to exam the Prior Incantato if it was broken, but perhaps they could search the body’s pockets for suggestions of wizarding lifestyle.
“Have you met Healer Marrowbone?” He asked politely, gesturing to the tower of a witch who was still dressed for festivities. “Athena, Head of Magical Law Enforcement, Solomon Carstairs.” He, Briar and Athena had already done introductions before they’d delved into the scene.
“We’ve got Cyril Lancaster and his neighbour with us still, they were the ones to discover the body - Cyril works at St Mungo’s.” Cepheus gave a subtle thumbs up to Carstairs with respect to the statute.
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"Are you all we're getting from MLE this morning, Cavanaugh? Ever worked a vampire bite before?"
Briar shrugged, "It is Christmas Morning." She added simply. She had no idea if any other Aurors would be joining them. She wasn't sure she would be able to head this all up herself but she wasn't about to let any of those with her know that. She didn't need to let doubt, or any other emotion for that matter, be seen. Her sister was well known for being emotionally detached when she was on a case. Briar supposed she could, for now, follow in those footsteps. After all she'd rather have those in the Ministry thinking she was more like Berkeley than her disgraced father.
She took the wand from the much taller woman, "shame it's broken. We won't know if he tried to defend himself." She moved closer to the body and started to prod around, looking for the other half of the wand when Solomon Carstairs of all people showed up.
"Whose is that?"
She turned to Gamp and Carstairs, still bent over the body, "Hard to say. If he was a wizard, where's the other half of his wand?" She frowned slightly, "If he wasn't . . ." She thought back to Marrowbone's question about whether she had worked on a Vampire case before. Admittedly she hadn't, she hadn't even answered the question. Instead of looking unsure of herself Briar opted for thinking out loud as she got a closer look at the bites, "It's possible the wand came from our Vamp. He wouldn't have been able to use it but maybe a keepsake of a previous life."
She looked down to the man's hands, "no lacerations or contusions on the knuckles. He wasn't a brawler." She stood up and handed off the wand, "wand could still be his. I suppose an ID would be needed to know for sure." She stopped herself from asking if anyone present recognized their body.
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"Right then, Carstairs," Athena greeted the head of the MLE. "Got the brass up, haven't we. Must be serious, but then why not, poor chap."
Then she had to agree with Cavanaugh. "Can't know for sure until we get him back to the coroner's. Haven't searched the body yet. Might have some change on him, or a phone."
Wasn't a sure-fire guarantee (muggleborns existed). Only way was identification from someone he knew, or there was a sort of scrying they could do. Either way, wasn't the Healer's job to search the ill-fated fellow.
"I'd like to have a good look at him sooner or later, as it is," she said, snapping off her gloves.
"We sometimes see the hesitation bites from new vampires," Athena suggested. She'd seen plenty of bites.
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Solomon nodded at Healer Marrowbone as they were introduced, taking her in for a moment. Vampire crime scene - so, Creature Injuries, which explained why she wasn't a familiar face already. He knew just about every Healer on Spell Damage, given how many aurors and Hit Wizards landed on their arse.
"Pleasure," he greeted the witch. "Afraid it's only me if our red robed friends are otherwise preoccupied."
Cavanaugh stated her preliminary report, backed up by Athena. They both seemed rather confident and frank about it. "We sometimes see the hesitation bites from new vampires," the latter remarked. Solomon stepped past them into the cover of the ornamental building, eyes dropping to the large body. He knelt to look him in the dace.
"The ones in March," he glanced up over his shoulder at the division head. "Vaillancourt mentioned, didn't he, it was probably a new vampire? If so, they've gotten damn neater about it."
If not deadlier. A wizard. Wizarding society was a small place. They would find this fellow's identity if he was British, no doubt about it, but a traveller would be harder to identify. Sol stood and dusted his knees off as he returned to the trio. There wasn't much else to do; not like the fanged monsters were about to stroll about in broad daylight anyway.Gamp had this well in hand.
Solomon rather regretted brushing off his concern about the missing blood[1] in February and was inclined to trust him now.
"I'll arrange for the transfer of body. Cavanaugh," he gestured at the trainee. "You're to stay until the area is clear for muggle access again. Report to Gamp on scene, then back to two."
He smiled at Marrowbone, giving his hand to shake. "Do come by the department later, we could use another pair of eyes."
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“Hard to say. If he was a wizard, where’s the other half of his wand?” Trainee Auror Cavanaugh was bent over the body, searching. “It’s possible the wand came from our Vamp. He wouldn’t have been able to use it, but maybe a keepsake of a previous life.”
“Or she.” Cepheus added, quietly, Penny’s diversity trainings in action.
“… wand could still be his…” the auror was inspecting the hands of the corpse.
“Can’t know for sure until we get him back to the coroner’s. Haven’t searched the body yet. Might have some change on him, or a phone.” Healer Marrowbone agreed. “I’d like to have a good look at him sooner or later, as it is.”
“Think you might get to look at it today?” Cepheus asked, quill poised by his notes.
There was a slow procession of people examining the body. Marrowbone, Cavanaugh and now Carstairs. Cepheus didn’t feel the draw. Gamps and large amounts of blood were no longer meant to mix.
“The ones in March, Vaillancourt mentioned didn’t he, it was probably a new vampire?” Cepheus nodded in response. “If so, they’ve gotten damn neater about it.” Great. Cepheus felt oh-so-reassured. His grim expression suggested similar.
“If it’s the same one.” He agreed. “I anticipate there’s comparisons which can be made,” he gestured to Healer Marrowbone. Teeth in humans were unique, so he hazarded a guess that they were similar for vampires.
As the most senior person on scene, Solomon Carstairs took charge of ordering them all about. Taking charge of moving the body, posting Cavanaugh there until it was gone.
“I’ll take the formal statements.” He nodded to the trainee auror. “Keep a good hold on the boundary, last thing we need is it slipping on Christmas morning.”
The park was relatively quiet still, but it was an unusual day. They had managed to avoid the need for the Muggle-worthy Excuse Committee with the good luck of the two squibs who had found the body. There was the smallest glimmer of hope he’d make it to the family’s home in Godric’s Hollow where his sister had now set up home. One insane parent locked in hospital, the other dead. Happy happy Christmas Gamps. Ariadne and Andie would just have to enjoy the day without him. Perhaps Adrestia and some of the other cousins might drop by or extend an invitation in his absence.
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Briar followed the orders Carstairs had set forth for her, watching the edges of their crime scene. She absorbed what was being said around her while she kept an eye out. Thankfully it was early and there was very little if any activity around. Being Christmas morning, where most were still in bed or beginning to enjoy a holiday brunch with family certainly helped.
She was undisturbed as the body was examined to the fullest extent the location allowed before being moved to it's next location. Gamp busied himself with formal interviews of the squibs that had found him and it wasn't much longer before everything began to wrap up. There wasn't much more they could gleam from the sight of the attack and they'd have to wait for the full report on the body. Hopefully it wouldn't take long for the man to be identified and they could move towards finding the Vampire that had done this.
Then again, even being just a trainee, Briar knew that nothing was ever that straightforward.