The Interim Queen Arrives

So, here she was.

This manor was much nicer than death, she had to say, even if it did bear the same name. It was intriguing that her options had been to accept death or reign in it - what did they think she was going to choose, even if she was not really ruling. A ruler with debt was similar to a serf. But serfs had been known to usurp their oppressors on more than one occasion. And how many got to do so with a crown on their head.

She really wasn't that much of a threat. She was too lazy to be - there wasn't considerable pay off in hostile takeover. Once one blew through the money, the people lining down the block for a ride on hot stuff, and the power high dwindled, it became a bore. Besides, dealing with assassination attempts were such a chore. And those were part of the job.

She strolled up to Death Manor, her Dark Mark bestowed by Sofie Elkin ensuring her access. She had performed the deed on her newly enslaved manservant Evan, who followed behind her, holding her small carpet bag. Her heels clicked against the cobblestone and her hair bounced atop her blouse. An airy expression took over her face, making her look perfectly at peace with her situation. As she was. She couldn't remember the last time she had worried about something.

Not caring about dying did that to a person.

"Marley, who''s this Pierson?"

She glanced at him as she approached the door, realizing just how misinformed the man was. They had only been in London a few hours, after all, and she had secured him as her shadow only right before leaving. "Wow, I forget how ignorant you are, Evvy." She smiled widely, tilting her head. "We're meeting with my boss - technically he's my boss, but not many people are going to do that. He's only my boss because he paid my boss. And she was never really my boss - it's all a bit complex, isn't it?"

The confused expression on his face satisfied her and she stopped at the door. Evan reached out to knock but she tilted bit her lip and blinked - the door popped open. Pulling out her wandless magic. She couldn't help but surprise the impressionable twenty year old. She liked when he looked at her like she was a goddess.

She stepped inside, paying Evan no mind, as he struggled to get the door closed. She stepped inside - this was not Pierson's home, but he had said he could meet her here. Evan finally closed the door and looked about, taking in the castle. With a deep breath, he said, "Right. Shall I go find Pierson?" He had barely flinched to go and track down Marley's new contract-keeper when she took things into her own hands.

"Yoo-hoo! I'm here!"

(I'm gonna apply for the wandless magic soon - it's saved on my comp. just need to get a stinkin' RP sample first.))

(ooc: I think we might've actually taken that off the list? Not sure. I wasn't involved in that. But it'd be worth taking another look.)

Bentley was quite possibly going to get yelled at once he got home. If anyone wasn't going to like it, it would be his flatmate/fiancé, who knew full well that Ben wouldn't get into the same sort of trouble as before, but probably wouldn't appreciate the similarities. After all, Baldric had not joined the Order in any capacity, but Ben had, and it was all quite strange to think about. Any way you sliced it, Ben was probably going to have some explaining to do once people found out that he had paid Marley to work for him. Or, he suppose he could call it working with him. Except Ben really had paid to get her on his side, so he figured he was allowed to call it that.

As it were, Marley was meant to meet with Ben in one of the rooms of the manor so that they could discuss things and start working her back into the minds of the other Death Eaters. Their ranks were slipping, and while Bentley was secretly pleased to hear it, he had to act as though it frustrated him all the same. Otherwise, what cover did he have really? Not enough to stay safe, that was for sure.

When her voice met his ears, Ben looked up from his copy of the Prophet, which he had been scowling at - and this time not even for show. The article had come out, finally, and he had no choice but to start work on it. Although, he reminded himself, he wasn't alone in this because Marley had arrived. So he stood to walk downstairs and meet her, feeling only slightly surprised to see that she had someone with her.

The first thing that passed through Ben's mind when he looked at her, though, was that Clarence would certainly not approve. It probably should have made him nervous, given that his father was vastly more powerful than Bentley cared to admit - the Montgomery name wasn't exactly one that people cheered for in the Wizarding World. Screamed, maybe. But not cheered. Instead, however, it just made his smirk expand across his face.

Holding an arm out to her, Ben lifted one eyebrow teasingly and offered a greeting: "Miss Harris." He looked towards her... friend or whatever, adding, "Hello," with a vague head nod. Looking back to Marley, he gestured up the stairs. "I think it's time we figured out how this is going to work."

He approached and she was pleased to find that he was attractive. It didn't change anything. Just made the whole thing much more enjoyable. A nice view made every situation that much more pleasant.

She had taken him a bit by surprise, what with her own introduction and her manservant. It was something that Marley had always subconsciously done, try to keep people guessing. It was helpful in her line of work but she did it, truthfully, because it was the only way she knew how.

He reached out a hand for her and she picked up his fingertips, bringing them to her lips. She pressed a kiss against his hand, before dropping it, giving him a sugary sweet smile. "Hello, darling. So nice to meet you." He addressed Evan and she smiled wider. "That's just Evan. He's my slave." As though to demonstrate, she suddenly dropped the expression. "Evan - go get me some tea. I feel faint."

He immediately hurried off, and she smiled back at Bentley. "That'll buy us some time - he's slow." She said these last two words as though they were a big secret. "Shall we sit someplace?"