ease your mind 

Like a bridge over troubled water

if you need a friend I'm sailing right behind

The team from the ICW was infuriating him. Lucius could not have been more irritated. The American woman was arrogant and the urge to raise his wand to her was becoming increasingly difficult to resist every time she opened her mouth. He had to get out of the office. He had to calm and decompress. And he had to learn more about the threat. He'd written an owl to Anička Nott, requesting an audience with her. He hadn't wanted to meet at the Manor or Ministry, though. He and Narcissa would debut the new mansion in time, until then no guests beyond their son and her sister were really welcome on the property. He wanted the glamour of the grand reveal. 

And obviously, the Ministry was out of the question. He needed out of there. He'd, also, heard Tierney Treasures had gotten a very rare magical artifact. Lucius wanted to lay his hands on it--but the chatter had been nothing but lies and gossip. He was disappointed at that. He hoped the discussion he meant to share with Lady Nott would be more fruitful than his shopping expedition had been. 

He wanted for her silently staring out off the edge of the bridge. People milled by, but none paid much mind to him. It was common enough to just stand and enjoy the scenery. His mind turned over all the things that he been able to learn in the last few days. Lucius had been aware the ICW was coming before they had announced it or had arrived. He still had friends and sources outside the borders. But there were others who had better sources and better friends. Lady Nott's family in Prague was clearly aware of something more than he was considering the presence of Czech guards at the Minister's side now. 

Did he need to procure protection? What risk were they aware of that he was ignorant to? Could this just be a precaution? The visit from Andromeda to see Narcissa had brought insights into the situation she was facing outside of the Ministry, but not within it. He was not invested in the private life of his sister-in-law. He did not care for Rodolphus, but he was not much more of a fan of Rabastan. Let Andromeda cavort with whichever Lestrange she wished. It meant nothing to him. 

What he needed to know was what could be expected from the new influx of players and authority into Great Britain. He needed to know if there was a legitimate risk of imprisonment. He needed to know why they had brought an army. Was this just to stand against Rodolphus and the Death Eaters? Was it just in case there was public backlash from some action the ICW mandated? He could have perhaps gone to Andromeda or Rabastan with his inquiries, but he did not wish to engage them. Not when he could engage the witch that had to be truly responsible for the influx of Czech soldiers: the Czech princess.

But would Anička accept his invitation? It was unconventional to request her company in such a locale. The answer to that question was presented as he caught sight of the petite witch approaching. She was flanked by men he thought could possibly be double her size. Something about that amused him, because Lucius was a firm believer that out of anyone on this bridge: that little witch was the most dangerous. "Thank you for joining me, Lady Nott." He greeted, giving a bow of his head to show the Princess respect. Lucius was a gentleman. He offered her his arm. "Would you care to walk with me? I appreciate you indulging the less than traditional location for a conversation. The Ministry is quite overpopulated these days. I was quite in the mood for some fresh air." The sly smile he gave her made it easy to discern his feelings on the influx of ICW personnel. He was less motivated than some, though, to accept help from the outside. He knew the country needed it. But he was less impacted than those had contracted the epidemic. He and  Anička were alike in that, though he expected she cared more than he did about her children having lost magic. He believed, to some degree, that Draco deserved it--and had perhaps even brought it on himself with his muggle loving ways. The same sentiment was held for his own wife. He believed she deserved punishment--and was happy fate had struck against her. 

@anicka • 751  • outfit

MADE BY VEL OF GS + ADOX 2.0

EASE YOUR MIND

LIKE A BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER

IF YOU NEED A FRIEND I'M SAILING RIGHT BEHIND

Josef’s phone call had changed everything. And phone calls from Prague often had that affect, but this time was different. This time it hadn’t been about them, not in the way that it had always been before. This was bigger than them. This was bigger than all of them, bigger than their monarchy, bigger than England. This was something that they couldn’t have seen coming, even Ella hadn’t seen this coming, and Ella seemed to know everything. Well, almost everything. Anička had a feeling her daughter was about to be blindsided at dinner this evening. She and Josef has discussed it at length over the weekend, and this seemed like the logical conclusion.

It had been years since Anička had put country first, but it was time for that again now. The world was far too fragile to leave it to anyone else, and they had been without a Delegate for two years. Since Otec had died, all representation had been through her. Now that would be official. At least for the rest of the year. Then their daughter would be taking on that responsibility. Seven months at her side, and then she would be on her own, and Anička had faith in her.

Of all of the changes in their family, this one that made the most logical sense for the future. They were here in England for the foreseeable future, Ella might as well learn. And it would mean giving up healing, but as angry as she was ready for Ella to be at her, at them both, she thought this was better. Her training was nearly complete. She could go back to being a healer if things turned out differently, but they all knew that they wouldn’t. This was Josef’s choice as much as it was Ella’s life. And Anička knew how powerful the decision of a king could be.

It was time to stop pretending. It was time to stop acting like they belonged here. All of them. But Ella especially. It was time to grow up. It was time to be Royal again. And Anička had taken that role on with ease. Stepped back into shoes that she hadn’t worn in years. Not here anyway, she had been the Lady Mountbatten, now she was Lady Nott. But neither of those people were being completely honest. Personas carefully crafted to exist here with little to no second glances.

That had changed last week. Freedoms were gone. Luxuries that she had known for years had been let go of. Now there were guards, and schedules, and as soon as the borders opened, she had no doubt that assignments were coming. For the both of them. Perhaps for her other children as well, though those would be lesser. There would be patronages to manage. There would be choices to make, and she knew that she would make them. Duty over all. It was time to live those words again. And it was time to teach Ella what they meant.

Meetings like this one were a part of that. Two weeks ago, Lucius Malfoy wouldn’t have thought twice about asking her to meet. Now it was a meeting that she took in an instant. Out of the Ministry, away from prying eyes. But still a meeting that she took. The magazine would be secure in Catherine Yaxley and Thea’s hands. Together they could handle that, and as disheartening as it was for her to consider giving it up, she knew that she was going to have to. Ownership would remain with her, but she was going to have to start thinking about a new editor.

Her role had shifted, and it had been a subtle shift. One that people were only going to see if they knew what they were looking at, but her persona had changed once again. Lady Nott, yes, she always would be. She had added Malcolm’s name to the end of her own, and to England that was who she would be, but she was so much more. It was time to remind them of that again. Tomorrow. Josef’s announcement would hit Andromeda’s desk tomorrow, and Anička would move her office to the Ministry. It was time to be a princess again.

Catching sight of the tall man that she had come here to meet, the princess raised one hand to halt the two men that were flanking her. There were more, she knew there were. On each end of the bridge. One stayed with the car… Why they had insisted on a car she didn’t know, but she hadn’t ridden in it. Kamil and Vlasta both stopped when she raised her hand, and she turned over her shoulder to the elder of the two, “Následuj, ale na dálku.”

When his eyes narrowed, she shook her head, “Lord Malfoy mi míč neříká, Kamil.” Her words were steady, and he didn’t move with her as she stepped forward to greet the Lord that she had come to see. They would not disobey her, and Anička was certain that she could handle herself. Lucius Malfoy had not asked her to a bridge in the middle of Cork to kidnap her.

As she reached the man’s side she smiled in acknowledgement of his show of respect, and tipped her own chin, just slightly. “Thank you for the invitation.” It was always interesting to see who was getting up to what in this adopted country of hers, and Anička was pleased for the company this afternoon, no matter what it was he ended up wanting to talk about. She took his arm when he offered it, though their height difference, even in her heels, made them quite the amusing looking pair. “I understand that sentiment. Fresh air does every well. And the sounds of life on the water are always a lovely background.” One that effectively drowned out a good portion of listening ears, which she was sure was part of the reason for such a public, and open air, space.

---

“Následuj, ale na dálku.” - Follow, at a distance.
“Lord Malfoy mi míč neříká, Kamil.” - Lord Malfoy means me no harm, Kamil.

@ lord malfoy • 1002 • anička's outfit

MADE BY VEL OF GS + ADOX 2.0

ease your mind 

Like a bridge over troubled water

if you need a friend I'm sailing right behind

Lucius believed women could be capable. He knew they could be powerful. His wife, for instance, was unmatched in deceit. No matter what happened he could never truly trust her, not completely. She had effortlessly deceived Voldemort. She could easily lie to him if she wished. Their marriage was not completely devoid of trust, though. He could be trusted, after all. And whatever misdeeds she had been guilty of during her time in Scotland, the woman was making amends now. She accepted each strike of penance levied against her with grace. And at least whatever affair she had surely been guilty of, she had hidden well. The discretion was appreciated. Despite the fortune he had spent attempting to expose her and all the time he had invested, he had found nothing. No trace of who she had taken to her bed could be found. It was disappointing really, because if the man could be found, then Lucius could make an example of him. It was a dream of his to take revenge against those who had acted out the Dark Lord's commands and taken his wife, particularly Rodolphus Lestrange. Lucius held out hope that some day the opportunity to kill the man would become available to him-- and he would not hesitate. 

Lucius was a man eager to pursue opportunity. No matter how his ambition had burned him and brought harm on his family, it still was the foundation of his character. He would never be satisfied. He would always want more. And presently, he was keen for allies-- trustworthy and powerful allies, particularly those still possessing magic. Lucius was no seer. He had no idea what the future held, but surely change was upon them again. He would not let himself be pushed down to the bottom again. 

So, he was here-- with Anička. He appreciated that she seemed to be fully cognizant of why he had asked for the meeting here. He paused to find a place to initiate the conversation, the true meat of it. They could meander through small talk, but that seemed disrespectful of both of them. Their time was valuable. It would be best to be brief and reasonably direct. "Our new friends have many goals for their time here." The man made the viewed reference to the ICW. "I expect a number of policies to change, to undo some of what your cousin put into place." Lucius was referring to the muggleborn registration. "While Almeida might be born of an old family, a great number of those who have come with him are decidedly not." A flair of frustration and annoyance showed on his face for the briefest of moments as he thought of the insolent American who insisted on antagonizing him constantly. "It strikes me as a statement, particularly when considered alongside the policies the Confederation are keen to support." The ICW was known for supporting the supposed rights of the impure and creatures alike. Lucius was decidedly not, of course, but he was also unwilling to sink for any policy or tradition. His own survival was most important to the man. 

@ Her Royal Highness • 520 • outfit

MADE BY VEL OF GS + ADOX 2.0