outfit

Inviting one's self to the Ministry was much easier than it seemed. One simply had to pick up the receiver, dial M-A-G-I-C, and disappear below the foggy London streets. When the young woman emerged in the reception room, she leaned carefully over the counter, bright blue eyes intent on capturing the full attention of the woman behind the glass and desk. Shame it was a woman. She'd always had more luck with men. The women, though, were more guarded. Aware of one's hidden desires, one's reasons for being in places. Or at least aware of the less promising reasons...

This one was lanky, awkward, with ginger hair twisted tight above a pair of cat-eye spectacles. Her obscenely red lipstick made way for a tiger's bared teeth, a smile which was nothing short of unwelcoming.

"How might I help you?"

"Could you buzz Auror Pratt in Law Enforcement?" Charlotte ask, her voice sticky sweet with venom. The woman was no doubt sizing her up, disapproving of the dark attire, the loose hair. It was not office-friendly, at least not in cut or textile. Leather over an A-lined dress, like a proper girl gone wayward. And to match her purse was a very mismatched, clunky picnic basket. Where on earth was there to picnic anywhere near such a place? They were smack-dab in the heart of the business and administration district.

"Please," she added as afterthought, sounding anything but sincere. Or perhaps just overly sincere. "Tell him it's family." She winked, and leaned away from the reception area, straightening her back, rounding her shoulders, and picking up a quill to fill out the proper forms. The woman hadn't told her to do it, but she knew where all the dotted lines were, and she also knew that grumpy, romanceless secretaries loathed helping pretty women.

After signing herself in, and handing over her wand with an air of pleasantness, she took a seat in the empty waiting room, and waited for her family member to emerge from beyond the security door.

It was the end of a very long and stressful month. It was a Sunday. Ed was in the doghouse for coming into work on a Sunday. Ed was very grumpy for being in the doghouse for coming into work on a Sunday. Unfortunately, due to the recent influx of paperwork and cases, the poor auror had been forced to come in this morning in order to get every report handed into the woman he affectionately called the dragon lady in order to avoid trouble.

The auror was behaving a lot more now. He was working his hardest to see every case through to its bitter end as quickly as possible and having to put up with an infuriating female that was quite obviously not getting any extracurricular fun as a partner. She was getting less infuriating as he got used to her. But her rude insistence of beautifully crafted notes and reports only left the auror staying later each night to lessen his immense work load.

Ed squinted down at the piece of parchment, frowning. A search warrant application. Teeth bit down on the top of the quill as he pondered his use of words before a small paper airplane hit him squarely in the middle of his concentration creased forehead. “Bugger.” He grumbled, unfolding the parchment and frowning deeper.

A family member? Who the hell could that be? Ed wasted little time in pushing himself up from his desk, hauling his auror robes on over his white shirt and trousers and leaving the cubicle, ignoring the cast away tie hanging over the back of his chair. This had to be important. His family knew not to visit him at work. Especially Quincy and the kids. His parent’s wouldn’t come either and Dan was still locked away in the ward for the bonkers in St Mungo’s

While travelling through the office and out into the small corridor, Edward’s mind ran at lightening speed trying to figure out who it may be.

He didn’t have to wonder for long. The man pushed through another set of double doors and glanced at the woman at the desk. “A family member?” He looked up from her, green eyes darting around the room before they fell on a face disturbingly similar to his wife’s.

“Charlotte?” He frowned, eyes searching her up and down before he could stop them. She looked very attractive, as always. “This really ‘ent the time, luv’.”

Charlotte sprang up, dress swishing appropriately as she abandoned the basket to greet Eddie. Kissing a cheek, she lingered a second too long, and then pulled back to give him a proper up-and-down. Quincy really had no idea how good she had it, did she? Even if she was getting up there in years and popping them out like a dog in heat, and even if she wasn’t the ripe old age of... darling little Lotte (nor as leisurely monied), she was lucky.

Perhaps Felix could be trained to be so faithful...

Not that Charlotte doubted Felix. She adored him very much, in fact. And adored the fact that he adored her. It almost scared her to be so sincerely enamored with someone, especially someone she’d spent years evading, competing with, or bantering with to rile up a response.

But there was still something about Eddie.

Predatory smile swishing into a pout, Charlotte tilted her head. “But I’ve brought you lunch, love,” she insisted, emphasizing the word he’s used, but putting her own spin on it. “And we haven’t spoken in ages, Eddie! What kind of cousins don’t speak? Bad ones!” Or Quincy and Charlotte. “Anyway, I’m really here because I wanted to run an idea by you-- a fundraiser for the Auror Corp...”

Uh-huh.

It wasn’t the only idea she wanted to run by him.

“You need a coffee break, at least.” She drew her wand, summoned the basket, and extracted a warm, fragrant thermos, giving it a light, tempting shake.

Sometimes it really wasn’t fair when Edward was forced to be around Charlotte. The young woman looked like a younger, overdressed (of underdressed) version of his wife, Quincy. It felt like he was 6 again and was being given an everlasting popcorn flavoured lollipop but being told he couldn’t open it. It was unfair to the highest degree. Of course with Quincy he couldn’t put in a request for sisters together, but when these cousins looked so damn similar, he’d one far away day thought that he may have in fact been in with a chance. Unfortunately for the male auror, his head had been very much in the clouds fo that one. Imagination would simply have to suffice there.

Receiving a kiss on the cheek from the friendly younger lady really didn’t help matters. Nevertheless, Ed still greeted her the usual polite way, wrapping an arm lightly around her and kissing her cheek back. She lingered, he pulled back, trying to focus on something else. Perhaps the fact he had paperwork to get on with.

Lunch? Edward’s bright eyes scanned down to the watch sat comfortably on his wrist as his stomach began to grumble, an unsubtle reminder the auror hadn’t eaten yet that day. “Oh right? Aren’t you thoughtful but I...” Both a reply to the lunch delivery and a fundraising prospect. But Ed had so much work to do and he was working on a Sunday! What would Quincy had to say if he told her Charlotte had visited but she wasn’t allowed? How bad was that? But it was always difficult to ignore a groaning stomach.

Oh she obviously knew how to woo a tired auror. Coffee did it every time. A small smirk found its way onto the man’s lips and he nodded. “Five minutes. Otherwise this trip would’ve bin’ a waste o-yer time.” The auror stepped forward carefully, his eyebrows raised. “Only a dash of milk?”

Coffee and biscuits in hand Dolly made her way through the Ministry toward Eddie’s little hidey hole. Her steps echoed against the halls, trench coat swishing about her knees. Dar hair framed her features, bags falling just above her baby blue eyes. She was all set to work her magic on the ginger at the front desk when she spotted Eddie and Charlotte. A rueful smile twisted on her pearly lips as she swished past Ginger and headed for the troublesome duo. She kept her voice light as she sidled up to Ed, hand resting against the small of his back as she kissed his cheek, “Well aren’t you a sight for sore eyes Lotte. I didn’t know anyone would be…joining us this evening. I was planning on having you all to myself”.

Being utterly wicked was a St. James thing, for the women in particular. With slithering half truths and their collective competitive streak if they weren’t constantly bickering with one another they might have taken over the world ages ago. Offering Edward the steaming cup of coffee in her hand, bottom lip protruding, a little “I wouldn’t have wasted my time getting your favorite double shot with extra whipped cream if I’d known Lotte was going to try and get you to drink that swill - I mean her famous blend,” Dolly giggled a little, resting her chin on Eddie’s shoulder.

Her voice was low against his ear, breath tickling against his neck as she whispered, “I have a surprise for you, but I don’t think it’s fit for little pinchers with big hair bows. It would completely scandalize her.. Though Mr. Ginger might like to watch,” even for Dolly this was stretching it. Technically Eddie wasn’t anyone’s husband - and as far as she could remember [which some days was as far as she could crawl after a pitcher of dirty Martinis] she didn’t have any rules about ex-husbands, even if they were sort of family…and looked as pretty without a shirt on as Edward did. “I’ll give you a hint, you’ve seen me in it before - but never in a place you’d want anyone to know you’d been spending time”.

---

wearing
narg. so short, sorry >< will be less lame next go.

He caved. Charlotte was pleased, to say the least. Not that, on any normal planet, she thought she should be turned down by such a man. Even a married one. (She generally didn’t go after those, but Quincy’s husband was quite the exception). Besides, this was only a bit of harmless chatter... a touch of flirting. She had her own relationship to maintain!

“You’re never a waste of my time...” And then, for the receptionists’ sake, Charlotte placed a hand on his upper back. “You’re family,” she reiterated, offering him the tiniest of winks and a glassy smile.

“If you wanted more milk, I could have--”

What was this? A third party to interrupt her delight at Eddie’s disappointed, childish expression? Now, now, this wouldn’t do...

But there she was, Miss Dolly St. James in all her bustiered glory. Charlotte let out a loud, breathy sigh-- mouth closed, pouted in disappointment not unlike Eddie’s when he’d learned of her particularly strong brand of coffee.

“I’m sorry, love, swill?” She quirked a brow, leaning a little more toward Eddie, a hand ever-so-nonchalantly tracing from his back, up to his shoulder, and finally down to his bicep. “Someone’s been taking to the sauce a little too often,” she murmured loudly, amused but subtly vicious.

With Dolly taking residence on Eddie’s other side, Charlotte decided if one couldn’t beat them, they’d have to join. If Dolores wanted to play devil, Charlotte could fall nicely into the role of angel. Who wouldn’t buy it? Even if she wasn’t the one with whipped cream at her disposal...

She looked round Eddie’s backside, offering her distant cousin a smile of sorts. “You do look like your travels have done you some good,” she conceded. “Where will you be going next?” Her gripped tightened on Eddie’s arm, the other taking root on his shoulder, near his neck. “Won’t you join us a spell? I mean, if you can handle my pinchiness.” She echoed Dolly’s word back to her, none too acidly.

Charlotte began to tug Eddie through the door, taking the security checks into her own measure. She’d barely crossed the threshold before she paused. “But wait a moment--” Looking down at her dress, it suddenly wasn’t a dress. By some unknown magic, she decided to match Miss Dolly’s idea of appropriate attire. “That’s better.”

Family...didn’t Ed know it. Because Charlotte was family she was regularly around, at dinner, staying over, spending time with her cousin, Ed’s wife. And because she was always around, poor Eddie was hit everytime his eyes fell on her for a bit too long. Surely he was allowed to admire but not touch! Quincy should know he’d never touch. Not in reality anyway. And she didn’t need to know about his little daydreams of his wife, Charlotte and Dolly turning up in his cubicle to do all sorts of naughty things to him and each other. Ed was a man, these were the types of things men thought about when their wife had such gorgeous young cousins.

And here Charlotte was, placing a hand on his upper back as she offered him more milk. Ed didn’t actually like having lots of milk in his coffee. She’d got it right the first time. But the way she offered it, that smooth voice, the soft, flirtatious expression on her features left Ed without any words to reject the offer.

And the words most definitely left the station that was Ed’s mouth as the second cousin approached. Before the auror knew it, he had a small, very attractive woman on either side and the newest recruit was kissing his cheek. Oh this was...he didn’t know what to say. Instead the speechless man simply stared between the two, using ever ounce of self restraint he had to keep a straight expression.

Double shot with extra whipped cream? Ed no longer tried to hide his interest as his eyes lit up. He looked like he’d just discovered his birthday. And this was one without any sick joke about a visit to Stevenson from Radley. This was real. Two beautiful ladies and two exquisitely brewed coffees. But they were fighting over whose he drank. No, no this wouldn’t do.

“I...” It really was difficult getting one’s words out when it seemed somewhat like one’s daydreams were about to become reality. “I can drink both, lasses.” Ed’s voice was quieter than usual as his head quickly moved between the two doting women. “I like...coffee.”

Ed tensed. Dolly’s chin made soft contact with his robed shoulder. Her breath tickled his ear and the man focused so damn hard on concentrating. Wow, the floor had certainly been polished well this morning.  Absolutely exquis- A surprise? ‘Focus focus focus, floor, floor’s grand, well scrubbed up....focus’ But it wasn’t working. A chill ran down Ed’s spine as she whispered in his ear. Especially at the mention of what he’d seen before. Signature. ‘Oh shittin’ slug puss she saw me...’ But that didn’t matter. She was in his office wearing...oh boy this was going to be an interesting paperwork catch up day.

Oh boy oh boy oh boy the other cousin’s hand was wandering. Not exactly where his subconscious wanted it to wander but it was definitely exploring it quite a seductive manner. Auror Pratt was helpless to stop it right now.

Okay...security had gone through the window and Ed was being pulled helplessly through the doors to the main auror office. The man at the doors hadn’t even batted an eyelid but this didn’t distract Ed. His mind was now fully focused on the girls pulling him through to somewhere slightly more private. There wasn’t really anyone in today. It was a Sunday, even aurors occasionally respected that.

Before they made it fully through the doors, Charlotte stopped, causing Ed to stumble slightly. He most definitely wasn’t in his right mind right then. He followed her eyes down, watching the dress being magically replaced by something a little more...wow and his jaw relaxed, mouth dropping open as his eyes widened.  “That’s erm...” He nodded, most definitely not believing his luck. Should he be watching for someone that had set this big joke up!?

“You really oughtn’t tall about your mother that way,” Dolly quipped when Charlotte implied someone had a drinking problem. Her smile was sweet and eyelashes a flutter as he looked over to her cousin, “Oh little Lottie, I’ve grown quite used to your special brand of pinchiness. I even enjoy it on occasion,” she gave the other woman a wink, languishing on Eddie’s arm as they moved through the main doors. Taking over a room and behaving badly was something she was quite used to though she decided to play nice with her cousin on this particular occasion. She wasn’t exactly sure why. It wasn’t exactly in her nature to share the spotlight. Still, she let Charlotte take the lead, ushering Eddie where she wanted.

When they arrived at his cubicle she nudged him into his chair and quick as you please he was handcuffed to the arm. Giving a giggle she stood next to her petite cousin, expression delightfully mischievous, “He really must get better at hiding his lusty side don’t you think? I thought his eyeballs were going to fall out of his head”. Dropping her trench coat she gave a little turn, looking over her shoulder at Eddie, “I thought you might like an up close and personal look, since you were hiding in that dark little corner with a bottle of firewhiskey the other night,” she giggled a little hips moving from side to side as she sashayed behind his chair, draping her arms around his neck, lips close to his ear, “You are a sneaky bastard, but not sneaky enough”.

Shifting her blue eyes up to Charlotte, she gave a low whistle of appreciation, all St. James women were beautiful but she had a sinking suspicion that none but Lotte took the tools of seduction quite so seriously. The nighty was absolutely devilish and her cousin wore it well. From an objective point of view Dolly could appreciate that. Giggling against Eddie’s ear she let her fingers trail down his chest, “Look at you Pratt. You’re all but salivating over her. Naughty, naughty, naughty. What would Radley think? Two scantily clad twenty-something lounging about your cubicle,” she gave another laugh, turning her eyes to Charlotte again, “Poor bastard would die of jealousy”.

“Save it, Dolly. We’re grownups now. Aren’t mother jokes a little passé for a successful writer?”

Still, there was something humorous to their cousinly banter. That woman versus woman nonsense that never seemed to get quite old. It was like oxygen for a hellcat. Hellkitten. Charlotte fancied herself a kitten.

Ed said just enough to let them know he was alive. Charlotte smirked, enjoying the sound of the word coffee as it left his lips, one of the few audible strings of syllables forming intelligible English. From there on out, it was stares, comical and otherwise, and half-uttered comments about a choice in clothing. Or lack thereof. Charlotte was pleased.

Hell, she was even warming up to Dolly’s presence, the idea of sharing.

“Yes... any more nervous, and he’ll ruin the fun...” Her eyes trailed over Eddie’s, glittering, and then glided downward. “Prematurely.”

Turning to Dolly, she tilted her head, offering a playful smile. “The other night?” Her eyes flitted from her similarly complexioned cousin, to Eddie, and back again. “Do elaborate.”

She gave the basket on her wrist a slight rock, a sing-songy swing of sorts. “Let’s go somewhere a little more... private. We can all catch up. And you can tell me all about this shadowy encounter. Over coffee.” Of course.