October 3, 1997

Elihu,

Audrey did an excellent job! Chip off the old block! Per the reports from the recordkeeper, Audrey put Sallow's ass on a plate for crossing war council decorum – can't think of any politician today who deserves a public dressing down more. I'm generally a bit impressed with my offspring, but I never expected that from Audrey. Always thought her a bit too sedate for politics, but she's got that dog in her if she's motivated.

While the vote was not in our favor for intervention, it doesn't mean it can't happen under other avenues – the vote itself was too close to fully close the door to international response. If something big happens, like the jailing of an American citizen without due process or an assault on our Embassy to try and arrest dual nationals or our own officials – this is not a recommendation, Weathers! – we would not need a vote to intervene for our own justice. It would piss off the International Confederation of Wizards – they would be willing to bring me in for trial, but as to their ability, I have my doubts.

Also, you're capable of a better excuse for not going with her that spell-sickness and public embarrassment. I expect better from such a politically creative mind – you have this job partially because your reports on British antics are both amusing and informative. If you need to come up with excuses to avoid things, then please do better.

Warm Regards,

Jack Graves


Oo0Oo0


October 5, 1997

President Graves,

I am writing this report today to record our early efforts to offer shelter to displaced Americans and their British spouses. We have been able to supply room and board to the first to arrive and are continuing to refurbish offices into sleeping spaces for fleeing families.

To accomplish this, we've been to parts of the MACUSA Embassy that have not been touched since the Blitz looking for furniture ("The conjured furniture only last for so long." – Advanced Conjuration for Simpletons – page 13, Chapter One: Introduction), a lesson we relearned in full when a child's bed disappeared at two in the morning. Kid was fine. Anyway, a bunch of us went down to the deepest, darkest parts of this building in a desperate bid to find this furniture that we apparently had records of from fifty years ago – we had a list of supposed items, mostly couches and dining tables, apparently, we were putting on the ritz while the British were putting on a stiff upper lip.

Though, perhaps some of this furniture was from the Roaring Twenties – that's what my secretary Beth did when she realized how many rats were living in the cushions. I wanted to keep some as pets and Auror Barebone threatened to leave me there to become London's first Rat Czar.

Can you put in a good word for me to become the next Rat Czar of New York City? I feel this experience has given me all of the work experience I'll need for the post.

Regards,

Elihu


Oo0Oo0


October 11, 1997

Dear Valencia,

I miss you.

I know our work keeps us busy and our conversations continue strictly through letters, but there are many days where that does not feel like enough. There is no feeling of you hand in mine, no sign of the physical warmth you bring to every room, and I do miss the sensation of butterflies I get when I see your name on my visitor list for the day. Trading barbs over current affairs through letters lacks so much of the immediate punch and banter that we both so enjoy.

You can come here to join the refugees, at least we would be close again and perhaps my worries and the inherent loneliness of my position would abate. I would say nothing if you kept publishing, that's not my business as an embassy representative or on a personal level – I am the last person to try and stop you from doing anything because trying to do so is like trying to stop a hurricane. Really. That is no exaggeration at all.

I don't know when my admiration of your strength and conviction turned to love, Ask me a hundred times and I'll find a different answer. This last year has made me think about the future I want if we make it out of this mess. I want a life with you at the end of it. I want to see your face first thing in the morning, the morning light blending with your gorgeous red hair strewn across the pillow while you have confined me to a mere eighth of the bed I own! I think about that morning in my flat a little too often and the night that led to that where showed me all the trust in the world.

Also, in case no one has told you, you have very cold feet – like making love to an icicle. Frankly my asking you to stay permanently should have more weight with that tidbit of personal knowledge.

Val, I beg you be careful. These crusades have value in a world that has turned on its head, but I beg you not to throw your life away in the process. I think losing you would break me in a way I'm not ready to contemplate. My reasoning is not solely one of selfishness, loving a martyr is a lonely practice and maybe I have no desire to share you that way.

Please stay safe. The Embassy doors, and my own, are always open to you – the secretaries miss your stories.

All my love,

Elihu


Oo0Oo0


October 13, 1997

Dear Elihu,

Claiming that I have feet like icicles is a libel. I demand compensation – as to the form that compensation takes, I am open to negotiation within the bounds offered by the law as it stands written and previous verbal agreements made while discussing our opinions on your bedside reading. I maintain that Sylvia Plath is a giant of poetic genius, but Ariel is terrible to wind down with before bed, my offer of another tortured woman writer from my own collection still stands, Virginia Woolf in particular. I do admit to being surprised to not find a copy of To Kill a Mockingbird in your possession, I thought it was mandatory reading for those who studied law?

In any case, I believe we will have more time in the future to exchange books of all sorts... and I relish the idea of introducing you to happier writers – you are shockingly maudlin in your reading habits for a man of such lively wit and taste for troublemaking.

When you get around to securing a long-term future arrangement that you seem so committed too, my expectations for the event include a nice meal, a ring and no mention of my toes. I will never wear socks to bed for you – that's far too kinky.

Love,

Valencia


Oo0Oo0


October 22, 1997

President Graves,

I am writing this letter to inform you that the refugee situation here is going very well. Most of the Americans have come to stay with us and are asking for us to invoke our Citizen Soldier Proclamation Protocol - Jack, these people want to fight and from what they've been telling us, I don't think it's unwarranted.

I would also like to inform you how our tax money is now being used abroad. We have been supplying food to our refugees and dispersing the rest to people in the wider magical community, people whom we are sure would turn to aid us should we require boots on the ground. There is also sabotage being done in what areas we can, several Americans are singing like birds about the beliefs of their employers, about the names of missing British nationals and purchasing scrap to be used in our duelling lessons here at the embassy. These lessons are not formal, or sanctioned by MACUSA, it's all just simple exercise to keep people sane while they stay here.

Frankly Jack, as much grief as Americans give each other, we seem to culturally maintain that we are the only ones allowed to make each other miserable. There is something in this state connected brotherhood that makes this country great. I'll have to get that on a hat for the next Populi candidate – Americans are an inherently simple sort of people and I understand the No-Maj baseball caps have been in fashion for quite some time. I see a business opportunity!

Sincerely,

Elihu


Oo0Oo0


November 3, 1997

Jack,

Your daughter has managed to send me one of the craziest bits of gossip I've heard in an age. Brace yourself, have a glass of whiskey, or finish your bagel (How is Mordecai? I miss his bagels; you know his wife makes that cream cheese from scratch, right?). I'm giving you a chance to finish your breakfast before you finish reading and I recommend you take it.

They're doing experiments on the Seeds.

Human experimentation regarding the origin of magic. What makes a 'magical child'? The Researchers doing this work seemed more interested in the women. Make of that what you will.

I've included the known details in my official report attached, along with some degree of speculation if we judge the annals of history and honestly – I feel a bit sick.

I'm going to lay down and try not to think too hard about what I had to write down for the future to peruse.

-Elihu


Oo0Oo0


November 6, 1997

What the fuck did I just read?


Oo0Oo0


November 10, 1997

Jack,

Have I mentioned how much I like Audrey? She's a delightful person and no one ever suspects her of being as adept at social politics as she actually is. In the last year and a half, she's navigated her way into accessing the upper echelons of purist society in Britain – and I'm afraid it's finally bit her in the ass.

Per what she had told me, there was a wedding involving an American national from that WandWay cult you've gotten so chummy with. Reportedly, several of their children are dual nationals, born over the border with Canada so they're travelling to Britain to marry the local blood purists on their Canadian passports! They're building alliances of money and hate, and - You'll love this! - a lot of these British Purists don't have money, they have bloodlines and no money to support their ancestral homes! They think WandWay has money! WandWay, in turn, thinks that these inbred twits have money and can offer connections for their cult and the individual families who are lucky enough to secure such a beneficial arrangement.

WandWay is bringing their daughters here to marry and believe they are lying their way into pureblood power and prominence!

I heard all of this straight from your daughter and it is truly a masterclass in manipulation. Audrey had played these people like absolute fools and set them up for generational failure! It's an excellent bit of long-term justice.

I am concerned that Audrey is really playing with fire here and has made herself a bit of a marriage target as well, as far as I know Jack, they don't know you are related, but frankly, I do worry she'll have to play an idiot purist along to hold her cover. Audrey is the type to fuss over the political implications of dating while being in such close proximity to all of your political business, I'm afraid she'll give up on the conventional means of happiness and just become some political puppeteer on an international scale.

The world is not ready for that!

Warm Regards,

Elihu


Oo0Oo0


November 13, 1997

Representative Weathers,

First of all, please refrain from mentioning my daughter's ass in any capacity – literal or figurative.

Second, I'll see what I can do to curb those arrangements my dual US – Canadian citizens so enjoy. I'm due for a chat with their Minister of Magic anyway. Also, I'm not 'chummy' with WandWay, they merely offer political funding and need to be watched.

Third, I try not to think of what my daughter likes in the opposite sex.

-President Graves


Oo0Oo0


Author's Note: The boys are back and we're getting a glimpse at political and social life at the embassy for the retreating Americans.

Next update will be when One for Sorrow is finished – 10 chapters of this fic in total is the final number.