Alyxandria Rye
 
Sixth Year[M:10]
Each time that I tell myself I think I've had enough I'm gonna show you that a woman can be tough.
Posts: 154
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Post by Alyxandria Rye on Sept 22, 2016 0:25:29 GMT -5
Before Alyx knew it they were in front of the office. She sighed. Evelyn was great at distracting her, and honestly she was glad to have her friend come with her. Initially she hadn't decided to seek her parents out today, but on a whim she confided in Evelyn and that made it real. It gave Alyx the confidence she needed, or the distraction she needed, to get to the agency.
"Well...here goes nothing." she glanced at Evelyn before taking a deep breath and pushing the door open.
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Post by Bellatrix Black on Sept 23, 2016 23:47:28 GMT -5
It so happened that at that very moment Bellatrix was walking by, headed to the orphanage up the road. She was tasked with evaluating the parent-less children and determining if any of them could be used for the Dark Lord's nefarious deeds. It was not uncommon for some orphans to run away, trying to make it on their own or simply escape the system only to wind up back where they started after failing at making their way. Likewise, it was not uncommon for some children to be used as pawns by the Death Eaters to gain access to the more "unreachable" witches and wizards, with the orphanage's director never suspecting anything more than a runaway child. It was always good publicity if a Ministry official could be seen taking in a beggar child for a meal. They'd make headlines as the "honest politician" or one of the "common folk," and always just in time for elections or to minimize the impact of a scandal. And in their grab for an extra few moments in the spotlight, the orphan could plant listening devices, hexed trinkets, or other such useful items in the politician's home, with the promise of a few extra sickles in their pocket for not being caught.
But it was not one of the orphans at the home that caught Bella's eye. It was the young brunette that had just walked into a detective agency across the road. Bellatrix recognized her instantly as the obnoxious Gryffindor that had engaged her during the Death Eater's attack on Hogsmeade. This little twit had managed to catch Bella off-guard, bounding her in ropes and forcing her to allow Caleb to free her. As if the situation hadn't been horrible enough, having to rely on someone for help, but Caleb continued to mention how he "saved" her, several times after the attack. It was such a mystery and a shame how Caleb had suddenly disappeared...
Making the decision that the orphanage could wait, Bellatrix watched the two girls go into the detective agency, and then crossed the street where she could peer into the window and observe the events inside.
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Alyxandria Rye
Sixth Year[M:10]
Each time that I tell myself I think I've had enough I'm gonna show you that a woman can be tough.
Posts: 154
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Post by Alyxandria Rye on Sept 23, 2016 23:56:26 GMT -5
"Hello?" she asked stepping inside. "Is anyone here?" she cast a glance at Evelyn, if the girl hadn't been there she might have turned around and walked right out.
She swallowed nervously, though she was trying to maintain a brave face and an air of nonchalance.
"Maybe no one's here." she said to Evelyn ready to bolt.
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Evelyn Turner
Sixth Year[M:10]
My friends call me "Evie"
Posts: 209
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Post by Evelyn Turner on Sept 24, 2016 0:05:19 GMT -5
The hairs on the back of Evelyn's neck prickled. She was nervous for her friend. Following Alyx into the building, Evelyn shut the door behind them with a loud thud. She jumped and looked at the door, as if she had hurt it, then turned back to Alyx making an "oops" face. The room seemed to be empty except for desk, a lamp, and a set of chairs that Evelyn assumed were meant to be a waiting area. A door to a side room was half shut, but through the small crack between the door and the frame Evelyn could see a counter and a tea kettle.
"Don't be silly. The door was unlocked." Evelyn gave a reassuring smile, then moved to the desk where a call bell was sitting. She tapped it twice, the room filling with a metallic ringing.
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Alyxandria Rye
Sixth Year[M:10]
Each time that I tell myself I think I've had enough I'm gonna show you that a woman can be tough.
Posts: 154
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Post by Alyxandria Rye on Sept 24, 2016 0:14:14 GMT -5
"I know." she sighed. "I'm just...I don't know if I'm really ready to look Evie." she looked away from her friend.
She was too nervous to acknowledge the feeling like she was being watched.
"Maybe I should leave things be."
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Evelyn Turner
Sixth Year[M:10]
My friends call me "Evie"
Posts: 209
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Post by Evelyn Turner on Sept 24, 2016 0:26:42 GMT -5
"You're just nervous," she assured. "It's understandable, but you know you want to find your parents. A detective can help. And what if they've been looking for you, too!" Evelyn was ever the cheerleader when it came to potentially happy endings. "At least talk to the guy before giving up."
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Post by Bellatrix Black on Sept 24, 2016 0:45:04 GMT -5
So the Gryffindor was an orphan, too. How ironic that one the day she was sent to look for orphans to exploit, she'd come across one that she wanted to hurt. Bella's eyes narrowed and a smile appeared on the edge of her lips. Her mind raced as she began plotting this girl's despair. It would be all too easy to gain information from her vantage point, and Bellatrix listened intently for any useful details.
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Alyxandria Rye
Sixth Year[M:10]
Each time that I tell myself I think I've had enough I'm gonna show you that a woman can be tough.
Posts: 154
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Post by Alyxandria Rye on Sept 24, 2016 0:45:16 GMT -5
" No, I'm not giving up." but her tone was less than enthusiastic, " I need to know why they gave me up. I don't know how hard they could be looking, but maybe you're right, maybe they are looking for me. " she said though she didn't believe it.
"We'll see."
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Post by Ricki Crawford on Sept 24, 2016 15:19:31 GMT -5
It was a slow day, and Ricki was occupying herself by sorting some of the old files in the back room, while Milo was off on a short job. One of these days, they'd really have to get a receptionist, so someone could take customer information while they went out on jobs. But for now, Ricki was minding the office, although maybe not as well as she should have been.
In fact, when she heard the little bell ding, it startled her so much that she dropped all of her folders, spilling the contents all over the floor. Well, that was going to be a mess to clean up later...
She sighed, then stood up, leaving the mess on the floor. It would have to wait until later, if there really was a client. Of course, it could have just been the mail...
She paused to check her appearance in the little mirror by the door, then moved through the hallway to the front office. There she saw two girls, in the middle of a conversation. The brunette looked nervous.
"Hi, can I help you with something?" she asked, moving over to front of the desk to stand in front of the girls.
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Alyxandria Rye
Sixth Year[M:10]
Each time that I tell myself I think I've had enough I'm gonna show you that a woman can be tough.
Posts: 154
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Post by Alyxandria Rye on Sept 24, 2016 15:32:59 GMT -5
Ricki Crawford was a stunning woman, if Alyx hadn't been intimidated by her quest, then standing in front of Ricki might have completely cowed her. She looked at Evelyn resignation and determination warring within her as she approached the desk.
"I'd like to ...well that is...I need help...um..." she bit her lip and clenched her fists, "I want to find my parents."
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Post by Ricki Crawford on Sept 24, 2016 15:59:10 GMT -5
Ricki's smile softened as she understood the reason for the girl's nervousness. Sadly, they got a lot of these kinds of cases. She still liked them better than the cheating spouse cases, however. After all, with cases like this they had a chance to reunite a family, while the other type of case ripped families apart.
"OK. Well, we can help. We've had a lot of these kinds of cases, and we have a pretty good success rate. If your parents are out there, we'll find them for you." She held out her hand for a handshake. "I'm Ricki Crawford. My partner, Milo Chevalier, is out on a case right now, but should be back within an hour or so. I can get you started. Why don't you tell me your name and anything you know about your parents?"
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Alyxandria Rye
Sixth Year[M:10]
Each time that I tell myself I think I've had enough I'm gonna show you that a woman can be tough.
Posts: 154
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Post by Alyxandria Rye on Sept 24, 2016 16:12:03 GMT -5
Ricki's confidence gave Alyx hope, enough that Alyx shook the woman's hand letting go of her naturally reserved nature.
"My name's Alyx, I-" she cut herself off, yes she had decided that she wanted to find her parents, but she didn't really think of the logistics of such an endeavor, mainly how she would pay for it.
"I don't have much. I mean...how much would it cost?" she asked with more courage than she felt.
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Post by Ricki Crawford on Sept 24, 2016 21:27:17 GMT -5
Ricki sat down behind the desk, picking up a quill and parchment to write down a few details. But before she could write anything down, the girl--Alyx--hesitated on the cost.
She set her quill down and smiled again. "We can work that out later, and I'm sure we can come up with something fair. Normally we charge by the hour, but if we don't manage to find anything, I wouldn't want to charge you at all, and we don't want to take what little you have. But we can work something out. Don't worry about that now... let's just focus on the case and we'll see whether or not we can help you."
In truth, Ricki wouldn't have even minded doing the case for free. The dreaded "cheating spouse" cases were their real bread-and-butter. In most cases, their clients were willing to spend quite a lot of money to catch their spouses in the act. And since she had just been thinking about how they needed a receptionist, maybe the girl would even be willing to work off the price. But she didn't want to mention that until she had a better idea of just what she was dealing with.
"Now, Alyx--how do you spell that? What is your full name, and tell me a little about your background."
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Alyxandria Rye
Sixth Year[M:10]
Each time that I tell myself I think I've had enough I'm gonna show you that a woman can be tough.
Posts: 154
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Post by Alyxandria Rye on Sept 24, 2016 23:09:54 GMT -5
"A-L-Y-X-A-N-D-R-I-A Rye, R-Y-E. But Rye is just where I was left. It's a City in New York." Alyx said before she could stop herself.
"I don't...I mean I'd rather work the price out first." she said gently.
It wouldn't have been the first time someone had said "later" and stuck Alyx with an insurmountable bill. She had worked that off for three summers doing practical slave labor for slave wages. She had learned her lesson.
She saw behind Ricki the stacks of paper, and thought of having to wait for Ricki to show. Alyx was observant, the fact that Ricki was older, and asking questions meant that she probably wasn't a receptionist, maybe they could use one.
"I could work, answer phones, filing paperwork. I'm a real hard worker." she said chewing on her inner lip.
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Evelyn Turner
Sixth Year[M:10]
My friends call me "Evie"
Posts: 209
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Post by Evelyn Turner on Sept 25, 2016 13:25:11 GMT -5
Evelyn hung back, so as to let Alyx have the opportunity to handle the situation. While Alyx and the detective spoke, Evelyn looked around the room. She had never been to a private investigator's office before. It was all very intriguing. There were the usual items that she'd seen in muggle TV shows; filing cabinets with the edges of papers poking out, forgotten coffee mugs with rings beneath them, and even a magnifying glass on the desk which Evelyn thought must just be for fun. Who uses a magnifying glass?! But then there were other devices that she didn't recognize, magical detective instruments she assumed.
The conversation had progressed to payment, but Alyx, as usual, seemed to be handling herself. Evelyn looked out the window. She thought she saw something rush past the lower edge of the glass, something dark. But at that moment Alyx began bartering her skills in exchange for help in finding her parents, and Evelyn felt she needed to provide her support vocally. "That's true. She's a very hard worker," she interjected, looking to Ricki.
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Alyxandria Rye
Sixth Year[M:10]
Each time that I tell myself I think I've had enough I'm gonna show you that a woman can be tough.
Posts: 154
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Post by Alyxandria Rye on Sept 25, 2016 13:35:28 GMT -5
She smiled at her friend and said a silent, "Thank you." for her support. She was really grateful Evie had come with her.
She turned back to Ricki, hope and fear mingled together in her eyes.
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Post by Bellatrix Black on Sept 25, 2016 15:05:44 GMT -5
This was perfect. From her spot below the window, Bellatrix was able to gain access to all of the information she would need to ruin this girl's life. She only had to discover the truth before the detectives shared anything with this pathetic, whimpering orphan girl. So intently was Bella in watching the girl's hesitance and fear, that she was nearly spotted by the redhead, who was idiotically looking around and not paying attention to her friend. Bella ducked quickly below the view of the window, trying hard to make out what was being said inside.
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Post by Ricki Crawford on Sept 25, 2016 15:42:09 GMT -5
Ricki was writing down the girl's information and she felt a sort of prickly feeling on the back of her neck, and it almost gave her pause. It had nothing to do with the girls, not really... it almost felt like they were being watched. She even glanced at the front door, but didn't see anything. Her detective instincts were on overload at the moment, because there was something telling her she had to take this case. Maybe it was because it seemed like such an interesting coincidence that she had been thinking about getting a receptionist, and now one seemed to have been presented to her.
But even as suspicious as Ricki tended to be, she trusted both of the girls. There was nothing odd or insincere in either of their mannerisms, and she was certain that they were telling the truth.
"It's funny, because I was literally thinking about how we need a receptionist," she said with a smile. "When a case requires both me and my partner, or if we both have cases, we have to close up the office, which means we could miss potential cases. I think we can call it a deal, Alyx. Obviously we'll still have to work around your school schedule--you're, what... 16? But we do need the help, so I'm sure my partner would have no problem with you working for us in place of payment."
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Alyxandria Rye
Sixth Year[M:10]
Each time that I tell myself I think I've had enough I'm gonna show you that a woman can be tough.
Posts: 154
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Post by Alyxandria Rye on Sept 25, 2016 15:57:03 GMT -5
"Really?!" Alyx asked with a whoosh of relieved breath. Her features lit up, things were coming together almost too easily. She wanted this so badly she didn't stop to question it as she normally might have.
"Yes I'm 16, I'm at the school. Not very far at all. I can be by every day after classes if I can get a note for Dumbledore, and then weekends too. But I learn really fast. I can get twice the amount of work done in half the time honest!" she said quickly before Ricki could change her mind.
It was almost heartbreaking how readily Alyx sold her skills, as if she had been bartering for acceptance her whole life - because she had.
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Post by Ricki Crawford on Sept 25, 2016 21:55:36 GMT -5
It was both heartwarming and heartbreaking to see how happy this poor girl was. Ricki was glad she had been able to make a deal to help her, but now she just hoped she could follow through and find Alyx's family. Missing parents cases were challenging, to say the least. Often, in cases like this, the kids were truly orphans, alone in the world with parents who had long since left it. But it wasn't unusual for an unwed mother to give up a child that she couldn't care for, either, and although that was sad, it was at least understandable. And it would mean that the parents--or at least the mother--could be located.
"I have every confidence that you'll do a great job. I'm sure you're better at filing than I am, at the very least! I will contact Headmaster Dumbledore and make certain that your work won't interfere with your classes, and we can get you started this weekend, how does that sound?"
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