Marriage is Murder

"You don't really want to know what they think of wizards," Michael said. "That's just scary. By the way, Kate, I know you entirely too well, I bet we could come up with that old film if you want. I believe it might be worth the 'cultural experience' of it."

"What film?" Escobar asked.

"Its a more, well,...artistic look at vampires," Michael said carefully. Marcus looked at him, frowning. "Some rather artistic dancing, as I recall."
Marcus immediately recalled the old bad movie and rowned.

"Dancing? I like dancing," Escobar said. Marcus could tell a good prank when he saw one.

"I think I might be able to dig that up for you on the muggle internet if you want," Marcus said.

"Oh, lets," Kate said.

"Why do I think this is not going to be as fine a work as you're all telling me it is?" Escobar frowned.

"Would we lie to you?" Marcus asked, starting to search for the movie on the computer while the current movie was finishing.

"Yes, I think you would," Escobar said, frowning suspiciously.

Marcus dredged up the old disco satire on vampires and started it. It was the first Robert could remember having laughed in a long time, even if he couldn't make a sound. It made them all laugh.

Escobar sat and dryly watched the muggle version of laughing at vampires. "That's just pitiful," he finally said. "You do know paybacks will be forthcoming."

"Oh, bring it if you can," Marcus teased.

"You forget that I have almost 600 years of practice on you," Escobar said.

"And it does not mean you're better," Marcus said. Kate and Robert merely looked at each other. Neither Marcus or Escobar had any clue that the master of pranking in the house was Robert. Brian didn't say a word. He merely tried to keep a grin off his face. Marcus and Escobar had a lot to learn. Given the right motivation, Robert would put both Marcus and Escobar in their place with pranks, and he wasn't going to tip either of them off to the fact that no matter how good they thought they were, Robert was just plain better.

"I have no intention of watching this any longer," Escobar said. "I don't know that I can stomach it any more." He got up and left them to go out and take a night flight over the estate to check on the safety and security of the grounds.

"He'll be back," Kate said.

"You think?" Brian asked.

"Oh certainly. He's too curious about this century. He's been isolated and a bit remote in Brazil," Michael said. "And he's more than a little curious about muggles."

"And he won't go more than a very short distance from Khaat. He's the reason she's here," Marcus said. "Although, he might not watch any more of this movie."

"We could do this more often, you know," Brian said. "So long as we don't get caught."

Robert hurled a throw pillow at him. After all, who was going to get into the estate, in the first place. And as long as he was Minister, no one was going to be truly able to say a word about something that Robert knew full well most wizards were doing anyway.

"You do realize we've been watching movies all night?" Brian asked. "We're due to welcome our new house elves in an hour. I suggest when the movie is over that we go and make ourselves presentable."

"For house elves?" Michael frowned.

"We should at least shower and shave," Brian said.

"I will shower," Kate said. "I refuse to shave."

"You're spending too much time around Robert," Brian said. "He's rubbing off. I hope Brant remembers to go and get them in an hour. Do I need to check on him, do you think?"

"No," Michael said. "Angus knows they're coming, and elves are always prompt. If they're late, Angus will just automatically blame Brant."

"I think, if you'll all excuse me, I'll take Khaat to bed," Brian said. He woke her very gently and picked her up and apparated her upstairs. Marcus decided to stay until they were done watching movies to help restore the billiards room enchantment to the space.

"What movies?" Marcus asked, packing up the computer and the movies. "I was told this is a billiards room."

"I think we need to go get showered and cleaned up for the day," Kate said to Robert. He nodded.

"Shall I have coffee trays delivered up to you all?" Marcus asked Robert. Robert nodded. "Yes, Sir. Two coffee trays coming up."

"Make that one coffee tray and one tea tray," Kate said. "Robert prefers tea. Khaat is the coffee addict."

"Ah, yes. We'll make sure its correct," Marcus said.

Angus was just arriving in from some tasks out in the barn when he saw Jess already at work in the kitchen. "Its nice to have a hand. I'll start on Khaat's coffee tray while you do that."

"Would one of you also send a tea tray up to Kate and Robert while they shower and dress?" Marcus asked, coming up into the kitchen.