Investigation solo

Dear Demetrius,

Wow, aren't you a bold one when we aren't face-to-face. I always figured Val was whispering in your ear about what a git I am. Those two think I don't care about anything, but they're just pissed that I don't fit into their pretty picture. Don't go insulting me after I covered for you at the drop of a hat! You honestly remind me so much of Val that it pisses me off a bit. Here's some more advice, don't grow up to be an insufferable know-it-all. You know, you are still pretty young, and you didn't grow up with Val and Mari. Like, I know they were basically raising you, but things are different when you're little. People treat you differently, with kid gloves. Now that you're older, the gloves are coming off. Wake up, little man.

This relationship is probably the best thing that's ever happened to me, and I might even be starting a family of my own one of these days. It's that serious! Do you think even a small part of me wants to emulate our family's history? Father is happy living in his own little world while Mum spends all her time telling everyone what an amazing family we are. Then look at us kids, all raising each other like either of them might lift a finger to help. Instead they're always just playing games, and none of them will even pay a lick of notice unless you want to play too. For fuck's sake, you're already a part of it. Little Fabius may as well be the Nanny's kid. Maybe for a while I just didn't give a shit anymore, but now I have something to give a shit about.

If you want me to 'convince' you, let me just say this: both of them would throw you under the bus if it would save their skin. That's how we were taught to act, that what we were taught to value. They will treat you nice up until the second you're their enemy, then suddenly the threats come out. Want to test it? Go ahead and tell them you are going to tell me everything, see what they do. Do you honestly think they're going to smile and say they trust you to do the right thing? You might be surprised just how far they are willing to go to save face.

And hey, it's not like any of us asked to be born into this family. You have to play with the cards you're given, not pout about an ideal set of cards you could have had. It's not like it's your fault that our mother commodifies us. I am only one man, but just admit that you know I'm right. Why do you want to protect them from their own mistakes? That is, I have no idea what it is you're running from, but it looks to me like Val has been extra quiet lately. He barely shows up to events, he started smoking all the time. I've learned to notice when he is hiding something, and it is pretty obvious that you are in on it.

Unlike them, I'm not going to putter around while you hem and haw for three years. I'm not asking you to be on my side, I'm telling mine is the only side to be on. You need to let me in on this or you're going down with them. The only happy ending is the one where the people who did the wrong thing face justice, is there anything wrong in believing that?

Regards,

Darius Holmwood

OOC: Delivered by family owl Aster during breakfast on September 25th, 2022.

Dear Darius,

Wonderful, thank you for another horrid letter, I hate it. What I hate even more is how right you are. Why do you have to say it in a way that makes me want to punch your face? I'm not trying to be insufferable. If anything it is somewhat refreshing to just be insulted directly, there are so many worse things in the world than a pig headed brother, so how about we both just drop the petty frustration.

I think I will do as you suggested. I will write to Mari and see what happens. No matter what I decide, would you agree to meet with me in person? I don't know how safe it is to speak about any details, especially with Aster delivering your messages. I will, say, meet you at Madame Puddifoot's in Hogsmeade. There is the fall ball on October 8th that I'm attending, I would like to do it after that if possible, and before my next Quidditch match on the 14th. If you're going to be playing games and making threats yourself, I'd like to get it over with sooner rather than later. I hate the heartless way you talk about our family, but I suppose you have your reasons for feeling that way.

Regards,

OOC: Delivered by an owlery owl after classes on September 29th, 2022.
Plain text for ease of moderation:

Reducio

Dear Darius,


Wonderful, thank you for another horrid letter, I hate it. What I hate even more is how right you are. Why do you have to say it in a way that makes me want to punch your face? I'm not trying to be insufferable. If anything it is somewhat refreshing to just be insulted directly, there are so many worse things in the world than a pig headed brother, so how about we both just drop the petty frustration.

I think I will do as you suggested. I will write to Mari and see what happens. No matter what I decide, would you agree to meet with me in person? I don't know how safe it is to speak about any details, especially with Aster delivering your messages. I will, say, meet you at Madame Puddifoot's in Hogsmeade. There is the fall ball on October 8th that I'm attending, I would like to do it after that if possible, and before my next Quidditch match on the 14th. If you're going to be playing games and making threats yourself, I'd like to get it over with sooner rather than later. I hate the heartless way you talk about our family, but I suppose you have your reasons for feeling that way.

Regards,
Flash

Dear Marius,

Sorry to interrupt your busy schedule with a letter out of the blue. I have had a lot to think about since this last summer. I don't know if you are already aware, but Darius has been writing me. He has started to put pressure on me to explain what I know about Valerius. I haven't said anything to him yet, but he is adamant. I am starting to think it may be best to be honest, and accept whatever might come. That is doing things 'rightly,' isn't it? I have made an appointment to meet with and talk to him. I wanted to keep you in the loop since it is obvious that you are very invested with what I do with this information.

You know, I also want to protect Val. I love him very dearly and it pains me to even think about putting him in a position to suffer. Still, if it is really all his fault as you say, isn't it just as strange to shield him from the natural repercussions of his actions? Well, I am still undecided, but I was hoping there would be a way we could all be civil about this.

With love,

OOC: Delivered by an owlery owl after classes on September 29th, 2022.
Plain text for ease of moderation:

Reducio

Dear Marius,

Sorry to interrupt your busy schedule with a letter out of the blue. I have had a lot to think about since this last summer. I don't know if you are already aware, but Darius has been writing me. He has started to put pressure on me to explain what I know about Valerius. I haven't said anything to him yet, but he is adamant. I am starting to think it may be best to be honest, and accept whatever might come. That is doing things 'rightly,' isn't it? I have made an appointment to meet with and talk to him. I wanted to keep you in the loop since it is obvious that you are very invested with what I do with this information.

You know, I also want to protect Val. I love him very dearly and it pains me to even think about putting him in a position to suffer. Still, if it is really all his fault as you say, isn't it just as strange to shield him from the natural repercussions of his actions? Well, I am still undecided, but I was hoping there would be a way we could all be civil about this.

With love,
Flash

Dear Deme,

I'm glad to hear from you, it is so much better than complete silence. I missed you after you went to school, you have grown so mature so quickly that it hurts my heart. I am genuinely sorry that you have been mixed up in this. Val feels the same way, he is distraught. Mum has been different ever since then. Talk with Darius if you like, but I know you will find that he has nothing to give you. I will tell you now, and you can feel free to tell Darius this yourself, but he has been dangerously close to being cut off from the family completely. This new girlfriend of his was apparently a penniless mechanic, and he has taken out a loan using our family name for leverage to buy themselves this house they're moving into. I say this only to protect your feelings, as Mum thinks he is only doing this in an attempt to wrest out control of the family finances from me. You know how he likes his expensive toys. Inevitably if he keeps pushing this, he'll be cut off. He may be trying to use you for sympathy, as a means of covering up his needless spending.

Of course I will not do anything of the sort to you, but don't get dragged into one of his hurricanes. He talks loud and proud, but impatience and greed are not righteous goals with sturdy foundations. I know you are a good boy, and I know you wouldn't hurt us for no reason. Let us take care of this and focus on your learning career. I am curious what path you will chose in your life, and I know you will give it adequate thought. Honestly, sometimes I think you have a little bit of the best of all three of us. You make me proud every time I hear what you've been getting up to. I hope that young lady you visited is doing well, I hope you know you can talk to me about girls if there is anything you are curious about. I am far more invested in your life than you give me credit for.

With love,
Marius

OOC: Delivered by family owl Zoro on September 30th, 2022.
Plain text for ease of moderation:

Reducio

Dear Deme,

I'm glad to hear from you, it is so much better than complete silence. I missed you after you went to school, you have grown so mature so quickly that it hurts my heart. I am genuinely sorry that you have been mixed up in this. Val feels the same way, he is distraught. Mum has been different ever since then. Talk with Darius if you like, but I know you will find that he has nothing to give you. I will tell you now, and you can feel free to tell Darius this yourself, but he has been dangerously close to being cut off from the family completely. This new girlfriend of his was apparently a penniless mechanic, and he has taken out a loan using our family name for leverage to buy themselves this house they're moving into. I say this only to protect your feelings, as Mum thinks he is only doing this in an attempt to wrest out control of the family finances from me. You know how he likes his expensive toys. Inevitably if he keeps pushing this, he'll be cut off. He may be trying to use you for sympathy, as a means of covering up his needless spending.

Of course I will not do anything of the sort to you, but don't get dragged into one of his hurricanes. He talks loud and proud, but impatience and greed are not righteous goals with sturdy foundations. I know you are a good boy, and I know you wouldn't hurt us for no reason. Let us take care of this and focus on your learning career. I am curious what path you will chose in your life, and I know you will give it adequate thought. Honestly, sometimes I think you have a little bit of the best of all three of us. You make me proud every time I hear what you've been getting up to. I hope that young lady you visited is doing well, I hope you know you can talk to me about girls if there is anything you are curious about. I am far more invested in your life than you give me credit for.

With love,
Marius