And so this is Christmas

[notquitefacist.livejournal.com]

*Remarkably, the simple concept of maintaining a façade has remained almost universally successful as a way to convince others that everything is merry and bright, even in the darkest of times. Tonight, in one of London's grandest Wizarding hotels, everything certainly looks the part. Enormous deep green wreaths decorate the walls, elves circulate the room dressed as very small porters carrying trays above their heads, and soft dots of snow swirl down from gilded ceilings only to fade away before reaching the guests, their delicate passage not at all deterred when passing by the great chandeliers holding hundreds of candles each that wash the Ministry's finest in gleaming candlelight. Even Bernadette looks rosy and almost healthy in their glow, and his son would too if he would hold still long enough for anyone to tell. For once, however, Barty is not the person he is least pleased to see enjoying the fruits of his position.

Though he keeps a weather eye on his son, that prize belongs to the members of the aristocracy tonight - those with enough money to hold great influence and enough arrogance to presume that makes them neighbouring forces in the political world Crouch Sr. has dedicated his life to controlling. Their presence here among the men and women who have done more than donate and bribe to achieve their power, himself being at the top of this list, occupies a great deal of his obsession tonight. He, like all those with authoritarian blood running in their veins, is a hypocrite, and believes that this façade of righteousness should be his alone to exercise. After all the fear the attack on the ICW had fuelled, tonight is to remind those present and the public at large that no government in it's right mind would celebrate after disaster unless it truly had the upper hand and had utmost security even when threatened.

Christmas to him is the public relations opportunity of the year, and he will spend it in plain view of all, watching the moves of everyone in the room who he knows have some hand in trying to destroy him. They may be protected, wrapped in various different ways in this world of reputation and power, but he will see them all with their defences stripped as his grow stronger. Crouch Sr. celebrates this cheering thought of the season with a drink.*

Comments

[consumptivewife.livejournal.com]

Oh, well, he's a great man but he wasn't always the Minister. Barty and I met in school.

[beetlebitch.livejournal.com]

Simply precious.

*Rita of course knows all of this already, however a little rehash is necessary to start the flow of conversation.*

Hogwarts sweethearts, the public's always loved them.

[consumptivewife.livejournal.com]

There don't seem to be as many these days as there were then, do there. Whole new generation out on their own.

[beetlebitch.livejournal.com]

*This is derailing away from where Rita would very much like to go. She decides it's time to reel back the fish.*

Mhm.

Speaking of being out and about, what brings you to this shadowy corner?

[consumptivewife.livejournal.com]

Oh just... having a bit of a sitdown. Feet pay a price for holiday shoes.

[beetlebitch.livejournal.com]

*Peering down at Bernadette's footwear, Rita nearly raises her eyebrows in distaste. She'd hardly call those heels.*

Oh, I know. Exhausting things, really. I don't know why I bother with them.

[consumptivewife.livejournal.com]

Oh it's worth it, just nice to get off them here and there.

My sisters in law are both in the journalism business. Have you ever worked with them?

[beetlebitch.livejournal.com]

*She looks genuinely surprised. Here she was thinking she'd escaped recognition.*

Can't say I have. We work in very different streams.

[consumptivewife.livejournal.com]

That's a shame, they're wonderful people. I think they're why your name sounded familiar.

[beetlebitch.livejournal.com]

Talked about me, have they? I trust they said good things.

[consumptivewife.livejournal.com]

I couldn't say, but they're not the type to say otherwise without reason and I'm sure they wouldn't have any of that for anyone here. There are so many journalists but so few seem to come out of their woodwork long enough to enjoy the holidays.