[And that's...well, that's most of it, isn't it? Evy glances over the questions he asked. Anything else she can think of won't do anything for his investigations. I was so stupid with smoke that I wasn't even frightened at the time and It was pointless. All of it--pointless and on beyond.]
This is all after the fact, but a gentleman called John Gilbert was interested in investigating the fire. If you haven't been in contact with him, you might consider saying hello.
[His own reply takes several hours, not because he had to think on the situation (he is, naturally), but because he fell asleep for once in his life. He can't tell her that, though. Let her think he's writing it all down in a notebook, though he'd told her he had that pesky little ability to remember every damn thing in the world. She must be upset. It might cross her mind. Surely it's better to leave it unsaid than come across as uncaring or doing this out of obligation, not because he actually wants to do it.]
I don't believe you would, no. This is for information's sake. Not everyone knows you. Evidence speaks louder than than "take my word for it." [I can't pretend I don't know you, he doesn't believe her reaction will be to nod along and realize she did it. That was a terrible time for him. He's not putting anyone else through that. Keeping his personal connection to her out of it is his goal, but yes, he's going to be biased in more ways than one. He simply doesn't realize it yet.] You can't help what people message you with. I don't think less of you for it. It happens. It can be upsetting, but it doesn't mean you gave anyone reason to do it. Some people have no manners.
The smell of plastic is good to know. [It can be several things, and smelling burning plastic for too long means nothing good. How she died? If he could get to the scene on his own, he might be able to figure it out. Difficult without a body to stare at, and potentially obscene in its very morbid nature, but it's his job. Is it, Will? Asking is off the table.] I'll talk to this John Gilbert and the others I know with similar backgrounds. If anyone else asks these exact same things, like I said, direct them to me. I'll take care of it.
I can talk to Professor Snape, too, if you would like.
No more questions as of right now. Do you have any questions about anything, or anything you'd like to say?
[It doesn't have to be about this. Will would talk to Snape, has no fear of him. He wouldn't chew him out, make threats, none of that. It was a heated night, for lack of anything better to call it. He went up to bat for Abigail Hobbs, and it turned out he was wrong all along. He'll go up to bat for Evelyn if someone comes barging in and refuses to listen to anything other than she must have done it with her fire magic. He'll speak up, find it vulgar, just the same as he'd done before.
This time, though, he's not wrong. She's good people. He's sure of it.]
[Every time she thinks back on what she's written, she gets a crawling feeling in her stomach--and then she goes and throws herself into something else. Her room is now remarkably tidy, her cat has been brushed within an inch of his life, and all her books are alphabetized by subject.
Finally, finally, he replies, and she's quicker to answer this time. It matters more than she'd like to admit, the fact that none of what he says is accusatory or dismissive.]
I don't think speaking with Professor Snape will be necessary. If he still has doubts about my role in the fire, I'll set him straight.
[And it won't be kindly. Luckily, he seems to have realized quite how daft his questions were the night it happened; she hasn't yet heard from him since.]
Please will you keep me aware of whatever you find out? Aside from that, I don't think there's anything else that needs to be said.
[Of course it has to be about this--at least, that's what she assumes. He's been speaking to her as a witness, and so her thoughts are pointed in that direction.]
[He has a mental image of Snape getting a thorough tongue-lashing if he steps out of line again, and it brings a little smile to his face. It's good to see she's still got spirit, even after death.]
Once we get to work on it, I won't be able to tell you details until it's over. This isn't because I want to withhold information from you or downplay what happened in it, your role, that you have a stake in the outcome. It's just the process of things. When we get everything straightened out and have a solid answer, I will let you know myself before I tell anyone else. Good for you?
[All right, mostly her brother. But the point remains--if they're to be on first-name basis, and she isn't calling him William, then...]
There is one thing, and it's rather silly, so if you're too busy, I entirely understand, but...I believe I was promised one of those cheeseburgers of yours, at one point.
[Inviting yourself to dinner is rude! But wanting to have some company is kind of an excuse, right? She hopes so. Otherwise, oops.]
[Oh, has he earned a nickname? A friend—granted, Will's not used to friendship and the few people he had who tried to claim it don't think so highly of him at this point (or too highly, in one's case), so even the word is strange to see. He actually stares at it like it's a piece of evidence he somehow has absolutely no experience with, and it a way? It rather is.]
Evy, then. I'm still Will. [It rhymes! No titles have followed him here, especially not Special Investigator.] It's not silly at all. You were promised a cheeseburger, I remember that. With bacon, if you want. You mentioned turnips, too.
So at what point would you like to get together for that?
[Feeding the masses, stealing their dogs. This wasn't his design, but he's not going to complain.]
[Still Will! Probably the best rhyme he could hope for at this point. He is contemplative.]
Considering that I'm asking myself over immediately after being questioned about my own death, I think there's a certain level of absurdity worth acknowledging. [And also, it's still kind of rude of her, but he doesn't seem to mind. He hasn't said anything, anyway.] Whatever evening is best for you should be fine. I haven't got much going on outside of my classes right now.
[It's not so rude, not when she's asking. Will has dropped in on people with absolutely no warning before because of needing company or to vent; he wouldn't be able to talk on it even if it was rude.]
How about tomorrow? Give me time to get everything together that I'll need to make it as perfect as possible.
[He's not such a baker, really, but there's plenty of places to ask and get things and yes. He will make oven-made smore-like desserts come hell or high water.]
[Her first thought is, oh, no, I'll be too full from tea with Dr. McCoy, and that's the moment when she realizes that she's managed to schedule two social engagements at nearly the same time.
Oops.
Luckily, since Evy has never heard the term "situation comedy" in her life, she doesn't think to try and meet both gentlemen, possibly in the same location while wearing cunning disguises.]
Now that I've invited myself over for dinner, I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask to reschedule. I'm so sorry--I only just remembered that I've already promised to have tea with someone else tomorrow afternoon. Would the day after be all right?
[It's understandable for someone who's recently died in a fire and come back to have their mind a little jumbled. He's not upset by it, not going to ask who it is she's having tea with. If she feels safe with them, hopefully she is. There's no need for him to get into her business.]
You don't need to apologize. [He's not offended she didn't refuse to snuggle because he's out of his mind. There's no harm done.] Tea is better for you than bacon cheeseburgers. The day after is perfectly all right, yes.
end
This is all after the fact, but a gentleman called John Gilbert was interested in investigating the fire. If you haven't been in contact with him, you might consider saying hello.
Please tell me if you have more questions.
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I don't believe you would, no. This is for information's sake. Not everyone knows you. Evidence speaks louder than than "take my word for it." [I can't pretend I don't know you, he doesn't believe her reaction will be to nod along and realize she did it. That was a terrible time for him. He's not putting anyone else through that. Keeping his personal connection to her out of it is his goal, but yes, he's going to be biased in more ways than one. He simply doesn't realize it yet.] You can't help what people message you with. I don't think less of you for it. It happens. It can be upsetting, but it doesn't mean you gave anyone reason to do it. Some people have no manners.
The smell of plastic is good to know. [It can be several things, and smelling burning plastic for too long means nothing good. How she died? If he could get to the scene on his own, he might be able to figure it out. Difficult without a body to stare at, and potentially obscene in its very morbid nature, but it's his job. Is it, Will? Asking is off the table.] I'll talk to this John Gilbert and the others I know with similar backgrounds. If anyone else asks these exact same things, like I said, direct them to me. I'll take care of it.
I can talk to Professor Snape, too, if you would like.
No more questions as of right now. Do you have any questions about anything, or anything you'd like to say?
[It doesn't have to be about this. Will would talk to Snape, has no fear of him. He wouldn't chew him out, make threats, none of that. It was a heated night, for lack of anything better to call it. He went up to bat for Abigail Hobbs, and it turned out he was wrong all along. He'll go up to bat for Evelyn if someone comes barging in and refuses to listen to anything other than she must have done it with her fire magic. He'll speak up, find it vulgar, just the same as he'd done before.
This time, though, he's not wrong. She's good people. He's sure of it.]
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Finally, finally, he replies, and she's quicker to answer this time. It matters more than she'd like to admit, the fact that none of what he says is accusatory or dismissive.]
I don't think speaking with Professor Snape will be necessary. If he still has doubts about my role in the fire, I'll set him straight.
[And it won't be kindly. Luckily, he seems to have realized quite how daft his questions were the night it happened; she hasn't yet heard from him since.]
Please will you keep me aware of whatever you find out? Aside from that, I don't think there's anything else that needs to be said.
[Of course it has to be about this--at least, that's what she assumes. He's been speaking to her as a witness, and so her thoughts are pointed in that direction.]
no subject
Once we get to work on it, I won't be able to tell you details until it's over. This isn't because I want to withhold information from you or downplay what happened in it, your role, that you have a stake in the outcome. It's just the process of things. When we get everything straightened out and have a solid answer, I will let you know myself before I tell anyone else. Good for you?
[Procedures can be such a pain sometimes.]
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I understand.
Thank you, Will.
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You're welcome, Evelyn. You need anything I can help you with, just let me know.
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[All right, mostly her brother. But the point remains--if they're to be on first-name basis, and she isn't calling him William, then...]
There is one thing, and it's rather silly, so if you're too busy, I entirely understand, but...I believe I was promised one of those cheeseburgers of yours, at one point.
[Inviting yourself to dinner is rude! But wanting to have some company is kind of an excuse, right? She hopes so. Otherwise, oops.]
no subject
Evy, then. I'm still Will. [It rhymes! No titles have followed him here, especially not Special Investigator.] It's not silly at all. You were promised a cheeseburger, I remember that. With bacon, if you want. You mentioned turnips, too.
So at what point would you like to get together for that?
[Feeding the masses, stealing their dogs. This wasn't his design, but he's not going to complain.]
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Considering that I'm asking myself over immediately after being questioned about my own death, I think there's a certain level of absurdity worth acknowledging. [And also, it's still kind of rude of her, but he doesn't seem to mind. He hasn't said anything, anyway.] Whatever evening is best for you should be fine. I haven't got much going on outside of my classes right now.
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How about tomorrow? Give me time to get everything together that I'll need to make it as perfect as possible.
[...]
And something like smores, too, if you want.
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'Something like smores'? Dare I ask?
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Don't ask. I'll surprise you.
[He's not such a baker, really, but there's plenty of places to ask and get things and yes. He will make oven-made smore-like desserts come hell or high water.]
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Oops.
Luckily, since Evy has never heard the term "situation comedy" in her life, she doesn't think to try and meet both gentlemen, possibly in the same location while wearing cunning disguises.]
Now that I've invited myself over for dinner, I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask to reschedule. I'm so sorry--I only just remembered that I've already promised to have tea with someone else tomorrow afternoon. Would the day after be all right?
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You don't need to apologize. [He's not offended she didn't refuse to snuggle because he's out of his mind. There's no harm done.] Tea is better for you than bacon cheeseburgers. The day after is perfectly all right, yes.
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[NOTHING WILL RUIN THIS]