“…Going to be difficult enough to ask questions in covens without your team making jokes about stakes.” Ceph said seriously and Ed couldn’t help but grin. He had a really good one about how much Tristan Vaillancourt being a pain in the neck… He guessed he wouldn’t be using that one around the Vampire Cuddle Group’s president. It was no wonder these two hadn’t been close at school, Pratt spoke his mind, Gamp cuddled fangy monsters.

“Does he even drink?” Ed asked, eyebrows raised as he took a gulp of his own beverage. He’d need to be quick with this one, Ceph could buy him another soon to make up for the waste of his time today.

“I would love to go for a drink with Mr Vaillancourt,” he decided to offer, a smile betraying his real intentions. “And I know what we can eat while he’s with us. Does he like stake sandwiches?”

It was clear that the diversity training had not made one tiny bit of difference.

“Does he even drink?” Ed asked, genuinely, to Nadine’s perception.
“Us, Pratt, he likes to drink us,” she muttered, and then gave Ceph a glance, “Or nothing we’d like to drink.” Something laced with blood. She’d seen it, read inference to it. Today had been enough of a refresher to remind her of an unfortunate restaurant visit in her earlier days as an auror a few years ago.

“… stake sandwiches.”

Nadine chortled, adjusting her hair gently with one hand. Cepheus gave a very flat, unamused look at Ed, as if he’d heard it a hundred times before. Nadine doubted it would get old for her and Ed though. Not after today.

If Penelope Pickler decided to report a crime, Auror Pinn might find herself correcting her terminology in return. Well, while being perfectly professional.

“Does your new sniffer dog have a scent of the trail?” Nadine asked her former brother-in-law. “He had enough of a look at the scene, wouldn’t be much of a consultant without some answers.”
“He is pursuing some leads.”
“Oh! He’s an auror now too!” Nadine poked.
“Amongst vampires,” Cepheus continued, speaking over her in the polite but firm manner that she was very familiar with. His big brother had done it more than once when they were married, but not ever as politely. “More likely to get an answer than if you go asking questions. Opportunity to establish if one of them has gone rogue or whatever.”

Nadine gave it serious thought for one rare moment. It would be right that Cepheus would view this as a troubled vampire who had lost their way, become desperate and snacked on two full muggles. He always did try to see the best in everyone, including bloodthirsty criminals.
“Warning them off, more like.” She muttered and looked to Pratt. 

Cepheus and Edward had never been close at school. They’d always been worlds apart and still were. Ceph happened to be a being hugger, a lover of all things downtrodden and in need of a hero while Ed bent rules to save actual real human witch and wizard lives. Ceph’s work with werewolves was certainly appreciated by the Head Auror but that was about it. Vampires could certainly do one as far as he was concerned.

“Oh! He’s an auror now too!” 
“Amongst vampires,”

Ed had chosen the wrong time to take a sip of his drink because he nearly ended up choking on it at Gamp’s response. The liquid would have nearly been spat over the pair he shared the table had he not put his hand over his mouth.

It took a moment to school his expression and stare at his old-school mate.

“Come now, Nads, let’s be fair,” Ed finally spoke. “As Positively Perfect Penelope Pickler proclaims, all beings have feelings. Every vampire can beat desire. They clearly can help it if the need consumes them. We’re safe as mice in a snake pit. The snakes are vegetarian.” With that final statement and push back, Ed drained his glass and stood.

“For the sake of our friendship and interdepartmental relations, don’t put me through that shit again, Ceph.”

With that, the Head Auror was gone.