The Day the Earth Stood Still... contd from Full Moon Rising

[Moko Craven]

Moko Craven arrived at the hospital exhausted from a full days work and the hours after where she had been called to the site of an atrocious werewolf attack. It was the first such case she had been given and now she was in charge of it, the only other person she wanted working with her on this was Gaston but an Unspeakable had also been issued to her, for what purpose she did not know. To this person a young woman about her own age, she had given the broken wand after being practically ordered to hand it over to her. All Moko could retrieve from it was the last spell cast and she saw no further purpose for it. Now as she returned to the hospital the morning after the grotesque events with barely three hours rest, Moko wondered if the owner of the wand could be traced. If it was a special wand surely it could but if it was any old shop bought one then that was different again, yet surely Ollivanders assistants might have an idea of who the wand had been sold too. The old man himself been long gone, it still seemed like a good port of call.

She had left a note by Gaston's pillow with nothing but a love heart and a kiss, she had gotten in much too late to want to disturb his sleep and had to leave much too early to even wish him a good morning. The file on the case she had left the night before on his desk and with it a brief note stating the hospital was where she would be the following morning. With a wave of her hand she dismissed the receptionist at the desk, flashing her ministry badge before walking up the stairs. Up and up she went until at last she came to the ward where all the crazy people were placed. Within lay the man cursed brutally the night before, he had not spoken since but simply lay motionless as if the very life had been zapped out of him. Every now and then the only movement made was a slight twitch of one eye as if this was the only reassurance he could give that he was still alive inside.

A waste Moko thought to herself gazing down at him, he looked like a handsome man and then she gasped. Why hadn't she seen it the night before? Possibly as he had been smeared in the other man's blood. She knew him! She was staring down at Maximus Strauss, a Beauxbatons alumni. Her heart thudded loudly, was the other then... could the man shredded to bits have been his brother Alexius? Moko's mouth hung open in angry despair. She had been all set to feel pity but now because she personally knew both victims, she felt horrendous anger wash through her. They would be avenged and she would see to it!

 

[Corinne Kolpeck]

Corinne was tired once again from another gruelling day and night on the job, it seemed like her life was one endless run of helping others but not herself. The ministry had brought in two men the night before. One a dismembered body that was now in the morgue being checked through magically for any clues but so far other than a werewolf attack, they had nothing else. The other was a young man who had undergone severe torture by the cruciatus curse. The man was in a severe state of shock the sight of which she had only ever seen once before back in England when she had trained to be a healer.

She walked onto the ward expecting to see a young woman from the ministry as the receptionist had prewarned her and as Corinne approached her she wished now that the receptionist had taken the time to tell her it was Moko. She took up the man's file knowing the young woman who was her father's guardian would want to remain professional.

"There's been no improvement I'm afraid, nor any disimprovement either" she informed her, they had deduced from a letter in the man's pocket that his name was Max but other than that they had nothing else. Unclipping the letter from the file she passed it to who seemed at that moment as if she were in need of a healer too.
"Are you alright? Moko? "

 

[Gaston Dubois]

Life had been going good for the young Ministry Official. He was loving his job and was starting to get a good name for himself as he found himself getting less and less paperwork and more field work; it was all so exciting and he never regretted going into work right after Graduation instead of travelling like he was going too. Not only was his work life going great but so was his love life and home life; both of which were merged as one. The time he and Moko had spent apart was some of the worst months for Gaston but when they met again and happened to be working at the same place everything seemed to fall into place, from moving in together to rebuilding their relationship, only this time it was stronger and so much more deeper. He loved Moko will all his heart and knowing the feelings were returned he couldn’t happier. Yep, it was save to say that Gaston Dubois had the best life.

Stirring awake the next morning he woke with a shock to see that Moko wasn’t there. He checked the clock and saw that it was still early and neither were needed in work for some time yet. Reading her note he smiled softly at the simplicity of it but it meant a lot to him. Work had been busy as of late and with Moko landing a big case he knew they would be on a more professional basis for some time until the case was solved. Getting ready he headed into work and saw a case file sitting on his desk. Reading over it he was horrified at the details of it all, he was trained to not let any of this effect him but it was still bad to see some of it. Knowing Moko had brought Gaston on to this case as well he wasted no more time and apparated to where Moko was. Walking through the hospital a bit he soon found where she was. Walking up to her he noticed that she was very still and he frowned his eyebrows for a moment. Walking up to her he saw what, or rather who she was looking at. His eyes widened as he saw an old friend and classmate lying on the bed in front of them. Knowing Moko was close to Max as well he knew she was taking this bad, just by the look on her face. Slowing bringing his hand up to hers he held it lightly, “Moko...” he spoke softly, slightly worried about how she was going to react.

 

[Moko Craven]

Moko continued to look upon the strange still face of the young man, willing herself not to cry. Willing herself not to scream in agony at the injustice of it all. The last she had heard from Max he was steadily dating a girl from New Zealand and was madly in love, he had also purchased a vineyard for himself. She brooded that he had all of life ahead of him and in a fleeting moment that had been taken from him. She heard the words of the healer but disregarded them, her body felt strained but this was no time to fall apart. She had been through plenty at the Triwizard Tournament but nothing at all like this.

A hand touched her own and instantly knowing who it was, she allowed her own fingers to curl about his. A deep sigh raked through her but she refused to do more. If she was to break down now she may as well quit her job and she couldn't do that. She was a Craven and very proud to be the last in that proud line. She was not going to quit a job she had been destined for, had trained for since a child. Her pale face though haggered with exhaustion still managed to look beautiful as she looked up at Gaston.
"There was another body, ripped to shreds too. I'm sure it was his younger brother" turning to the healer then she demanded for the blood work on the other man. Only then seeing that it was Corinne. Had the events of the past several hours shocked her nerves completely? Shaking her head she began to make a list, she would have to owl the ministry in France to get any records on the men or to simply go to their home which they would of had too anyhow in order to inform their kin of what had happened.

How could she stay sane standing over Max like this? Her free hand rubbed her temples, trying to decide on what the best course of action would be.
"We have to pay a call to any werewolves in the area" she said finally, "rule whatever of the vermin out so we can narrow down our search."

 

[Corinne Kolpeck]

Corinne could understand why Moko was becoming irrational, why she wasn't paying her too much mind. She turned to the young man and could only determine from how they held hands that this must be Gaston. Herself and Samson had not met him yet and they would certainly want too but now was not the time to discuss those frivolous matters. She handed the letter instead to him before regarding Moko again.

"I'll bring a vial of calming draught Moko, you'll need it. Don't argue" with that Corinne walked away and out of the ward. She went directly to the medicine store and took the necessary bottle out and measured a dose to give the young woman now clearly on edge but desperately trying to keep it together. There was just one other stop she had to make on her way back and that was into her father. If Moko was too distraught to listen to her, then surely he could make her see sense. She knocked upon his door and entered at his command to do so. Placing the vial on his desk she told him what had occured, though he already knew most of the details from the night before. He did not know of his wards behaviour now and her need not just to have Gaston on hand but Samson as well. The young woman may appear strong to the outside world but to those who knew her best, she was extremely sensitive and unquestionably vulnerable when it came to death and family. She closed the door behind her after being reassured that her father was indeed going to head up to Moko and then she turned to head back to her own ward.

Later she would have to write up a report on Max and by then at least she hoped to have his full name and more particulars garnished to her from the ministry.

 

[Gaston Dubois]

Gaston squeezed Moko’s hand lightly as she curled her fingers around his own. He remained quiet for a few moments as he looked down at the body of Max. Gaston didn’t know the man well but they had been classmates for their whole time at Beauxbatons and for that reason Gaston felt it was necessary to feel some amount of remorse and sadness as he saw him lying there. Of course he felt an amount of anger towards the person who had done this to Max. He knew the man well enough to know that he was a good person and never done anything to anyone that would upset them, so what made someone do this to him? There was no question in the young mans mind that this was the job of a werewolf, although as far as Gaston knew all werewolves registered with the Ministry had access to a monthly Wolfsbane potion so how could they loose control of themselves so easily to allow this to happen. Of course he knew there were many possibilities that could have lead to this; it was just a matter of finding out which it was. Tearing his eyes off Max as Moko began to speak he looked down to her. His dark eyes widened when he heard what she had to say, he had never even thought of Alexius but he didn’t imagine him to be with him at that point in time. Shaking his head he said, “We can’t be sure yet Moko, it is best not to jump to conclusions.” he spoke softly as he didn’t want to aggravate Moko with his words anymore than she was for it wouldn’t do either of them any good if they fought on their first case together without a leader.

Gaston didn’t say anything when Moko demanded for the blood work on the other man as he knew that she wasn’t going to rest until this case was solved. Taking the work from the other woman Gaston gave her a small nod of thanks as he looked down at it. Of course Gaston didn’t know who the Healer was for if he knew that this was Corinne; the daughter of Moko guardian – Samson, he would have reprimanded her for her attitude towards the woman. At the most he figured the two knew each other by the way the Healer spoke to Moko and used her first name but he remained quiet about it because now wasn’t the time or place. As Moko spoke Gaston nodded in agreement. It was the next step in his mind as well. “You’re the boss.” he said with a small smirk, hoping to ease her up a bit because it wouldn’t do any good if they were both tense.

 

[Moko Craven]

She merely nodded her head as Corinne spoke about a vial, that didn't bother her in the slightest. Let her get what she felt was needed, Moko knew with an inborn certainty that all she required was time and quiet and of course to have some semblance of organisation regarding this case but that wasn't likely to happen. Her first case and it had to be an old friend, their first case... she glanced at Gaston and instantly wanted to melt into his arms. To feel save but knew that was a stupid idea. She was a ministry official now and had a job to do. She could not falter now, could not show any weakness of character.

Stiffening herself as she stood there Moko heard him speak and felt herself bristle. Don't jump to conclusions? He was right of course, she couldn't just assume that Alexius had been with him, it could very easily have been any man. The brothers had constantly fought one another after all, they weren't exactly friends. She inhaled deeply and nodded her head slowly. She had to remain calm here and think logically.
"You're the boss" he quipped and though he smirked at her as if hoping to ease the tension it had the opposite effect on her that he had so obviously wanted. She was before him in an instant with her arms about him, burying her head into his shoulder. No one else was there to witness her moment of weakness but she was only human. She allowed a sob to tear from her, her body shaking from exhaustion and anger.

"Why did I have to be the boss on this one?" she muttered standing back and wiping her eyes clean.

 

[Gaston Dubois]

Gaston stood in silence beside Moko as he looked down at the body on the bed. He wondered if their boss would take them off the case if he knew about the emotional attachment to the victim at all, surely there was cases like that all the time throughout the Ministry. It just so happened to be that their first case happened to be that of one that involved someone they knew. For Moko it was worse than it was for Gaston. Sure Gaston had gone to school for seven years with Maximus but like the rest of his classmates Gaston didn’t find it easy to bond with any of them, but for Moko, she knew him and was friends with him and she was clearly more beat up about it than Gaston was. As he looked down at Moko he say how she composed herself as she looked at the body of her friend probably running any endless amount of outcomes, scenarios to do with the case. It was one of the many things that he admired about her, it showed that no matter how hard this case would be for her she was the perfect person to lead it and it was because of the emotional attachment that would be that extra driving force that would mean she would put 110% into the case at all times until it was solved and not rest until then and only then.

When Moko embraced him he return the gesture easily and allowed her to sob without a word as she needed to get it out of her system and he knew this. Kissing the top of her head softly he soothed her gently as she continued to cry. While he admired how strong she could be at times of hardship he loved that she allowed herself to be open around him and not be afraid to show her emotions. It showed that she was relaxed around him and that she loved him in return and as long as he knew that he knew that everything would be alright. When she was done and stood Gaston took her hands softly, “Because you are the woman for this case. You are going to do far better than any of our superiors and you are going to give Maximus and his family the justice they deserve and do you and you’re family proud...finally bring the Craven name to the New Zealand Ministry.” he reminded her. This wasn’t going to be easy for any of them but she was going to do well.