One Way or Another, I’m Gonna Get You [Closed-Reg]

[Delaney James]

It had been a boring week to say the least. Those happened sometimes. Truthfully, more often then not. It would always feel like the team was on a hot streak. Anonymous tip after tip that some wanted criminal was spotted here or there. Stavros would select two or three of them to go investigate. Half the time they were bullshit. They’d follow up on the lead and the suspect in question would have been long gone or not even there at all. The other half, they’d get exactly what they needed. Stumbling upon the witch or wizard in question exactly where they had been led. Some sort of chase, or in particularly stressful times, spells being shot back and forth for a good while before the team of hit wizards and witches nabbed their target and extradited them back to Austria to face the Wizengamot for sentencing. They were Delaney’s favorite weeks as she appreciated anytime she was out of the office. Also, the weeks she tended to be in the best moods as she didn’t have to stick around the sexist pigs she called her co-workers or pass the time by filling out mundane paperwork so the team had reason for getting their paychecks.

It had not been one of those busy weeks. It had turned out to be exactly as Delaney hated. Stuck in a small three-sided cubicle, going through ink bottle after ink bottle writing out warrants for Stavros to sign or going over arrest reports that she, or the team, had haphazardly put together during the rush after recent arrests. The number of reports that had to be fixed were surprising. Some had to have been rewritten all together. Of course the ones that had to be weren’t hers. Delaney wasn’t perfect, but her accidents tended to be small edits instead of having to write the damn thing altogether. Stavros was a stickler for all the i’s being dotted and t’s crossed. Although he hated going over the reports as much as they hated fixing them, he expected complete organization should someone ever come calling for a file on a case. She couldn’t blame him for that. It would have made him look just as bad his team. Stavros was a nice man, but he took his position seriously and he expected nothing from the best from those who worked under him. Honestly, the entire Ministry should have expected it.

Helping the government’s approval rating was what had brought Delaney to the country in the first place almost three years ago now. She had only been out of her certification program for almost a year; a two year program developed to train witches and wizards to be Hits. Although they weren’t Aurors, but the work tended to bring those to gravitate towards the field, they were responsible for acquiring wanted magical criminals who had escaped bail, fled the country or were simply wanted for questioning. Some of the suspects had dark connections, but it wasn’t their job to intervene in high-risk situations. That was an entirely different program. Delaney had always been content at where she was. She had no interest in fighting a war between good vs evil. Although she naturally gravitated towards the good side, she wasn’t ready to be part of that battle. Plus, she had personally not been affected by it so she didn’t see the point in injecting herself in a place that didn’t concern her.

Fortunately, she had come to Austria at a time when the country had endured their most recent war. The government was the laughing stock of the magical world. The citizens didn’t trust the Ministry. The Ministry had done nothing to save the countless lives that had already been lost to Darren Morgan and his DeathEaters. Every time they tried to be one step ahead, they always wound up being fifteen steps back. Delaney’s department had been hated almost as much as the Ministers at the time. Since then, under the leadership of Stavros, things were coming back around. Her boss had been directly involved in several of the battles and upon his promotion, made it a point to put the department back in the spotlight as it should have been. When the job had opened up, Delaney had been working at the American Ministry. She excelled back home. She had been one of the most respected Hit Witches even at a young age. Things were good over there. Yet they were stagnant. Delaney craved more adventure. She yearned to travel and be exposed to new things she had never before. So she naturally had to apply. Went to Austria for the interview with Stavros and his old advisor Rutherford, took an aptitude test and passed with flying colors. The rest was history.

Delaney had nothing but her two cats when she moved here. The Ministry paid for her small apartment at a starter complex called Brixton Courts for the first six months. Her salary was meager. A fully furnished living space took her almost the first year of being here. She had been too prideful to ask her parents for financial help even though they would have provided it without question. It was the first time being on her own in twenty three years and by damn she was going to prove something to them, to herself. Delaney had certain grown up quite a lot since then. She had really been able to come into her own person as an adult and a woman. She had learned how to stick up for herself, how to recognize injustice and how to not let her standards sink to those around her. It wasn’t easy being a woman in the male-dominated field. She was under a microscope daily. People tested her constantly yet she always prevailed. Although irritating, Delaney welcomed it. She welcomed the daily challenges and the belittling remarks. She needed all the ammunition she could get to prove the assholes wrong around her. She was just as capable of taking down a wanted criminal as the wizard next to her who worked out five times a week and jogged two miles every morning.

This week had done nothing to cast Delaney in a non-stereotypical role. Her paperwork had been edited, submitted for approval and then filed. She was the first to finish every afternoon. Was the only one to hear comments about how that sort of thing came natural to her as her gender had been in a secretarial role since the beginning of time. It had been nauseating. By the time Friday had rolled around, she had made it a point to finish all of her assignments faster than usual so she could enjoy her weekend away from these assholes and buy a bottle of wine that wash her sorrows away with by the end of the night. Upon approval from Stavros, Delaney had managed to squeeze out two hours earlier then expected. She ignored the jokes as she gathered her things from her cubicle. These prats had already annoyed her enough this week. She wasn’t going to give them anymore fuel for their fires. She knew they were only going to kept spouting out as she left and that was fine with her. As soon as she had finished, she grabbed her bag and turned on her heel, heading directly for the elevators and pushing the button down to the lobby once she arrived.

Fortunately, the elevator took no time in arriving and Delaney quickly hopped in and pushed the lobby button. Her fingers then slid to the right, pressing the door close button repeatedly until the they did just that. She held on to a looped rope hanging on from the ceiling as the elevator went every which way. Luck was certainly in her favor as there were no stops between then and her destination. Fate was really looking out for her. Almost lost her balance as the elevator finally stopped. A frown perched on her lips as the doors open and she hastily walked out. The lobby was still as busy as ever. Since Delaney was leaving so early it was no surprise. She had a heads up on practically all other departments even for a Friday. It would provide no obstacles as she left the building and headed down Alzubra Alley to her favorite little wine store. She didn’t visit often as she wasn’t a big drinker so she truly cherished the few minutes she would spend in the small store as she acted like she was going to try a new bottle of something, but ultimately settle on her favorite merlot.

The streets were quiet as Delaney walked the ten minutes to the store. Once the storefront came to view, she smiled, picking up the pace just enough to get there a bit faster. Within a few seconds, she had approached the door and opened it, enjoying the sound of the small bell above her ringing. ”Welcome!” The familiar voice sounded from the back of the store. ”Please let me know if I can provide any assistance.” That was it. Moving towards the right corner of the store, Delaney began her search of the perfect treat to go along with her chocolates for the night.

[Regulus Reinbach]

Long, thin fingers slide gently around a smooth, curve of green glass. A firm, but gentle grasp, plucked the oblong cylinder delicately from the wooden wine rack it had called home. The purplish liquid inside sloshed up the narrow neck in protest, before it's twin captors of cork and gravity forced it to settle back down into its emerald prison. A pair of piercing, impatient eyes scanned not the bottle, but a note inscribed into a small piece of paper pasted to its side: ...centuries old vineyard...rich color...notes of...ABV - 13.5%. Regulus Reinbach pursed his lips and tilted his head in consideration. Not bad he thought, returning his eyes briefly to the label to check the vintage. It was an acceptable option. He enchanted the bottle to float alongside the other two selections he's deemed acceptable and freed his hands to continue idly perusing the small shop. Regulus never had acquired the proper palate for wine, or so he had been told. His wife had curated a rather impressive wine cellar back in Italy with near priceless vintages, that Reg had been all but banned from. (He was allowed a single glass when they had the type of company that required a bottle old enough that the dust only enhanced its authenticity.) It wasn't that he didn't like wine, he had become rather fond of the stuff, he just couldn't tell the difference between a 5 galleon* bottle and a 50 galleon* bottle. Maybe it was the fruit-forward sweetness of wine that tricked his taste buds. He'd spent years numbing them with all varieties of scotch and he certainly knew how to tell the difference between a cheap and expensive bottle there.

The light chime of the door tickled Reg's ear as he continued his lazy sojourn through the small shop, but his head instinctively snapped back to the checkout counter upon hearing the shopkeeper's voice greeting his new guest. Regulus sneered in annoyance at the interruption to his thoughts but drifted quickly back to neutral. After all who could stay made when surrounded by so much alcohol. Having missed out on getting a good look at the girl who had entered Regulus allowed himself to drift in her direction, his three floating bottles trailing behind. She was pretty, Regulus quickly noticed. Blond. Nice jawline, a bit pale for his taste. Had he seen her before? If he had, he couldn't place her. He saw so many faces, not all of them friendly, and Reg's drinking habits had a way of curbing certain memories anyway. Still, no harm in a little friendly flirtation.

"Looking for anything in particular?" Regulus asked in a voice, smooth as silk. He was slumming it a bit today, wearing a white button-down with the top two buttons undone, tucked into a pair of dark jeans and black loafers. In his estimation, Reg could easily be mistaken for an employee, at least long enough to draw out a response and then the game would begin. Perhaps it was callous to think of playing with others' emotions as a game, but it was one Regulus rather enjoyed and it wasn't as though his own emotions weren't at stake as well...He'd learned that the hard way. "I'm happy to make a recommendation if you need one" he added with an heir of confidence. Between the secondhand knowledge he'd absorbed and his natural flair for salesmanship, Regulus was confident he could fake his way through playing sommelier.



*According to HP Wiki 1 Galleon is worth rough $7...which I never realized, so I added this footnote

[Delaney James]

And so the search began. Delaney’s favorite merlot was on the second shelf, fourth from the left in a dark bottle. Her eyes instantly went to the shelf, running her top lip over the bottom as she thought to herself. She really should try something different this time, but she had such an affinity for the varietal. They tended not to be the driest but her tastebuds preferred it. She had read once that the grapes were often used in red blends to soften the dryness of other varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignons. Delaney wasn’t a fan of the pucker that acidic tannins tended to cause. The tended to be too overwhelming for her palate; finding that the other flavors of fruit or floral just didn’t come through as they were intended. Yet every wine treated every individual different. Sometimes wine even tasted different when paired with the right meal. Honestly, Delaney had never ventured further into experimentation. Wine was always an after work treat that paired well with the chocolates her mother would send from the local chocolatier back home. She had also never attended a formal occasion requiring it besides a birthday but that didn’t really count as the time to play instead of get drunk.

Sighing, she pushed a strand of hair back behind her ear that had fallen out of place. Forcing her eyes to move downward, she began inspecting the next row of merlots. All of these appeared to be from France. Delaney had heard the country produced the best grapes but didn’t really have an opinion to base it off of. She really needed to learn how to appreciate wine more she supposed. It was a few minutes into her search when she could sense a shadow out of the corner of her eye. She made no move to inspect it. This was shop after all and there were others doing the exact same thing she was. Though those people were probably much more experienced then her in selection. "Looking for anything in particular?" The voice didn’t sound familiar. It certainly wasn’t the shopkeeper who had greeted Delaney prior. More than likely just another associate. “No, just browsing,” she responded politely, keeping her eyes on the rack in front of her.

Usually, after a sales associate got the vibe that she didn’t want to be bothered, they left. Not this one. "I'm happy to make a recommendation if you need one.” At this Delaney smiled, praying her facial expression would remain neutral. The man was only doing his job even if she had made it clear she didn’t require assistance. “That’s kind of you,” she started, her teal eyes turning to look at the stranger, “but I…” She trailed off. The corners of her lips tugged down into a frown. The suave voice belonged to a face that she instantly recognized. “Regulus Reinbach.” Turning her body completely to face his, her tongue clicked in disapproval as she folded her arms to her chest. Reinbach’s mugshot was plastered all over the cubicles and Most Wanted board of the Magical Law Enforcement. He had been brought in countless times for a variety of crimes. Bribery, smuggling valuable artifacts, blackmailing public officials, just to name a few. He was the very irritable thorn in the side of her boss Stavros and the man had frequently had tantrums whenever Regulus was released due to insufficient evidence. Although there were criminals she deemed far more dangerous, there was no other that caused her boss as much distress as this one did.

Delaney had arrested him once. He had been brought in to the Ministry so many times she doubted he would remember. It had been a few years ago and she had been part of a three man team who had been sent to extract him from some manor he had held himself in on the outskirts of town. Regulus hadn’t come quietly, but eventually with persistence, the team had been successful. She remembered how she had been surprised that he looked so young. Also, surprised he had been as attractive as he still was a couple of years later. Had a very mysterious aura about him. “Haven’t you been banned from Alzubra yet?” Leaning her head to the side briefly, Delaney saw that there were three floating wine bottles behind him. “You are planning on paying for those correct? I’m sure Stavros would love to tell the importance of paying for items instead of shoplifting face to face.”

[Regulus Reinbach]

You need to look up for this to work Regulus thought crossly as the apparently unwitting, would-be object of his affection, continued to stare into the wall. Honestly, what was the point in even being attractive if people refused to look at you? Had Regulus actually been an associate he dare say he would be offended the young woman hadn't even graced him with a glance. Then again, he also probably would have taken the hint to get lost. Instead, Regulus brushed off the cold shoulder and went for a recommendation. If she failed to turn his direction this time Regulus might just have to 'accidentally' knock a bottle or two off the shelf. Childish? Extremely. But few sounds draw attention like that of shattered glass. Fortunately, it seemed, that wouldn't be necessary. Unfortunately, this fellow customer was not the attractive stranger he'd taken her for.

“Regulus Reinbach.”

Regulus' heart stopped and his expression froze in a split second of panic. "At your service," he said, cracking a crooked smile, tipping an imaginary cap and lowering himself into a half bow. Reg hoped the showy display would buy him time to try and place the girl's face. It was possible, that she just knew him by reputation, but the clicking of her tongue and crossed arms hinted at something more...personal. Had they had a romantic tryst and he'd forgotten to call? Perhaps the wife or daughter or sister of one of his associates...his enemies? Whatever the case, Regulus Reinbach suddenly found himself sympathizing with any fish who took a bite of the wrong worm.

“Haven’t you been banned from Alzubra yet?”

So much venom for such a forgettable face. Regulus must have done a number on her or her husband/brother/father. "Banned?" Regulus repeated in mock offense. "You don't think I'm that dangerous, do you?" he smirked. Sure, in his younger days he'd been kicked out of every bar and club in Alzurba. Drawn his wand on more than one shopkeeper. But he was a businessman now, he had money to invest, and people to do his dirty work for him. Alzurba was small-time, but connections were important. Regulus maintained a few investments in local shops, made sure he had respected members of the community who could attest to his generosity when he had brushes with the law. It seemed the primary difference between a bribe and an investment was the number of conversations you had with the person you were paying to say nice things about you.

“You are planning on paying for those correct? I’m sure Stavros would love to tell the importance of paying for items instead of shoplifting face to face.”

Huh, so that's who she was. On of Stavros' sad little minions. "Much as I'm sure you'd enjoy chasing me down a dark ally and frisking me in the shadows," Regulus' smirked raising his left eyebrow as he considered the innuendo. "I'm not quite so desperate just yet," he finished cooly. Regulus began to make a move passed her, but stopped. "Let Stavros know: from now on, I want all my tails to be as pretty as you," he smirked, sliding past her, bottles in tow. Reg hadn't considered that she could be actually tailing him, he just though the might enjoy watching her squirm. It wouldn't be the first time Stavros had sent goons to watch him run errands...and it would explain why she was so set on avoiding his gaze...but no, Stavros was too by the book to send a single tail, especially a woman.

"I didn't catch your name," he said suddenly, stating the realization out loud. That was the thing about Magical Law Enforcement: They loved to tell you their job so they could break into your home, but you rarely got a name before wands were drawn. Maybe putting a name to the young woman's face would keep Regulus from making this same mistake another few months down the line.

[Delaney James]

It would have been surprising to Delaney if Regulus had remembered her. He, himself, would have just been another face in the crowd had his mug not been plastered all over the floor at work. That sly smirk and wink in several of them. He hadn’t given a damn about being captured as if he knew he would be released only days later. That’s how it happened every time. Everyone in the department was always left baffled and scratching their heads as Reinbach was bailed out time and time again. Couldn’t imagine how much money he had wasted in legal fees. For some of the charges he had against him, Delaney was even more confused as to how he could obtain a lawyer able to get him off with only as much as a slap on the wrist. She had never done much research into the man. It’d be safe to assume he had money. Wealth was a cop out in her opinion. If one wanted to do the crime, then one should do the time. Plain and simple.

”Much as I'm sure you'd enjoy chasing me down a dark ally and frisking me in the shadows-“ Delaney righted herself and rolled her eyes. ”I’m not quite so desperate just yet.” She did nothing to stifle the laughter at his comment. Merlin he was just like every pretty boy with a few galleons to spare. So much ego. She often wondered if the arrogance covered for a vast array of insecurities; having to spew some false self-esteem in hopes that one day the words would simply register and make the inner pain go away. There were times that Delaney had her own times of self-doubt, but they were far and few in-between. They just made her work that much harder to prove to herself that she was capable of overcoming the temporary obstacle. Being challenged was what would continue to allow her to progress in her field and stop worrying so much about what the sexist pigs in her office thought as well as the day-to-day ones she encountered in every day life.

Delaney was grateful when Regulus appeared to be making movement to leave her alone. “Let Stavros know: from now on, I want all my tails to be as pretty as you.” Chuckling, she shook her head and turned to face him. He was awfully close to her. That was probably very much on purpose. “That sounds like I need to tell him to keep them as far away from you as possible.” Their interaction had appeared to come to an end at that point. Reinbach’s three floating wine bottles trailed behind him and passed her slowly. Sighing, she turned back to the wine shelf and returned her gaze to the spot she had left previously. Delaney would make sure she took an extra bit of time to avoid another encounter with him at the register. However, knowing that he was in here now, it probably wouldn’t hurt to keep an eye on him to make sure no mischievous shenanigans were afoot. She rather liked this little shop.

Placing her hands on her hips, Delaney began to tap her foot mindlessly as she finished the row, eyes moving down towards the next one. "I didn't catch your name.” He was back? She turned her head towards him, confusion spreading across her features. She hadn’t heard him creep up again. “That’s because I didn’t throw it,” she responded, flatly. “I don’t deem that pertinent information.” Although Delaney didn’t have ties in Austria, that didn’t mean one couldn’t find out about her if they cared to try. Her privacy was another thing entirely.

[Regulus Reinbach]

Regulus started to smile, but it quickly faded as he realized Delaney was not laughing with him but, rather pointedly, at him. The failure nibbled at his pride. Regulus realized spontaneous flirtations were a numbers game, but the rejection still stung in the moment. Who was this girl anyway? Just some wannabe do-gooder with no imagination and poor taste in men. Regulus should just let her get back to her boring life. Back to the utter fantasy that Regulus Reinbach was the big bad boogeyman and once he was locked up the world's true goodness could shine through. But it wasn't Regulus ruining a perfect world, it was a cruel world corrupting him into serving its natural order. Soon enough, another Dark Lord would pop up and Stavros would have a new monster to chase on his never-ending quest to maintain the status quo.

“That sounds like I need to tell him to keep them as far away from you as possible.”

Regulus flashed a sly smirk. Maybe she wasn't quite so dull as she seemed. "Just as well," he shrugged, it was a win either way from his perspective. "But I imagine they'd be more comfortable around than some of your co-workers," Regulus mused. Even if he didn't have sources inside the ministry, Regulus had been apprehended enough times to know there were at least a few officers with more testosterone than brain cells. Regulus was at least charming, and he paid better than the ministry. Too bad, Reg doubted there were many pretty girls willing to put up with Stavros' righteous nonsense while getting oggled by goons.

Regulus brought his bottles to the checkout counter and handed the shopkeeper some coins, declining the change. He had half expected the girl to get bored the minute he walked away and come over to help the shop keeper count out his coins to make sure he was paying full price. But she didn't, she stayed staring at the wall, determined to ignore Regulus' presence. If she had just shot him a glance, maybe he would have just walked out the door. Regulus pulled a few more coins from his robes handed it to the cashier and gestured to the girl. The shopkeeper's confused expression melted into understanding and he nodded. Regulus knew if he had outright offered to buy the girl her wine she'd decline her money, but hopefully with the sale already made she could convince her self it was the work of some nameless good samaritan. Speaking of nameless, he still didn't have her name.

“That’s because I didn’t throw it,”

Regulus stifled a laugh. It would have been funnier if she would just loosen up a little.

“I don’t deem that pertinent information.”

Pertinent information? It was a name. Regulus was fairly sure he could have turned around and asked the shopkeeper, or looked her up in the Ministry directory. It wasn't about the information it was about conversation, how could she not see that? If Regulus wanted her dead, he could kill her right here in this shop. If he wanted information on her she'd be the last source he'd trust. He just wanted an identifier besides 'girl.' "Fair Enough," he agreed. She had nothing to fear from him, but he couldn't blame her for being mistrusting. "Then I think I'll call you Molly," Regulus concluded, as though this were a natural progression and the nickname was desired. He'd come by it simply enough she worked in Magical Law Enforcement, MLE...Molly. Not the best he'd done and it didn't quite fit, but that was part of the fun wasn't it. Regulus smiled at his own cleverness.

[Delaney James]

With an eye roll, Delaney attempted to yet again force her attention back to the wine rack. She should have just let him be. Regulus’ presence wasn’t out of the ordinary. It was pure coincidence that their paths had crossed here. Although he was a wanted criminal in some form or another, he hadn’t done anything for her to start a conversation with him. He wasn’t the first repeat offender that she had come across while out and about in public. Of course, those interactions always tended to go south quickly. They were usually right in the middle of a committing a crime. Delaney could count the number of times she had been minding her own damn business when some idiot would come rushing past her with a shopkeeper in pursuit. Despite being off of the clock, it was her duty in aiding to keep the public safe. There were never really any off days in law enforcement.
”Fair enough.” He still wasn’t moving. ”Then I think I’ll call you Molly.” Furrowing her brow in disgust, Delaney snapped her head towards him. “Molly?” The tone in her voice dropped as she spat out the name like it was the most horrendous thing she had been called in her life. She couldn’t even recall the last time she had heard the name or knew someone with it. It sounded so dull. So bland. Made her think of some character from those old muggle movies she used to watch with her mom. Didn’t describe Delaney at all. She had hated her name for the longest. Growing up, she had despised having a name different from everyone else’s. Sure, it had been hard for kids to make fun of her since her name didn’t really rhyme with anything but it didn’t stop them from teasing for it being different.

She remembered how often she had cried to her parents about not being named Ashley or Brittany. Those were always the popular girls’ names; way back when what you were called was your ticket to school notoriety without even trying. In retrospect, Delaney wished she could have obliterated those childish memories out of her head. It was amazing how those problems were so damn trivial but yet seemed to be earth-shattering. She could only wish difficulties as an adult were so simple.

Growing more and more irritated at the thought of that stupid name Molly, Delaney reached towards the rack and grabbed whatever bottle her hand went to by the neck. “Molly, is a stupid name,” she asserted. Bringing the bottle to her chest, she turned around and made her way towards the register. She still had no idea what she had selected but could only assume it was still a merlot as it had been on the appropriate shelf. Placing the bottle on the counter as she arrived, Delaney unzipped her clutch and began to ruffle through it. “How much?” Her fingers grazed the top of her coin purse. Her thumb and index fingers grasped the handle and were about to unclasp it when the shopkeeper stopped her. ”Not necessary miss. It’s been paid for.” She stopped instantly. “Paid for?” Delaney’s eyes went to the shopkeeper who smiled sheepishly and pointed behind her. Her gaze followed though she knew where the target was going.

Rolling her eyes as Reinbach came into sight once more, Delaney shook her head and chuckled. “No, take whatever he gave you out. I’d rather pay with my own money,” she demanded, turning back into clutch. ”But miss I…” She held up a hand. “Nope. Even if you can’t, just keep it. I’m paying for my own.” Her pride simply wouldn’t allow a criminal to do a good deed. Very rarely did they have redeeming qualities. Nor did she want him to think she owed him anything. Grabbing a few galleons from her purse, she placed them on the countertop, perhaps a little too aggressively and grabbed the wine. “Thank you.” Turning on her heel, Delaney tucked the bottle of wine under her arm and began making the way towards the door. “Your coins are on the counter,” she told Regulus in passing. “I don’t need your dirty money. See you in the office sometime next week I’m sure.” With that, she grabbed the handle of the door as she approached, opened it and stormed out.

[Regulus Reinbach]

Molly?

Hm, it seemed the new nickname had offended her. “Well, you hadn't really given me anything to work with, save your workplace,” Regulus protested defensively. If Molly didn’t like her new nickname she really had only her self to blame. Still, Regulus supposed he could offer up some insight, lest she think the name was just chosen at random. Regulus always preferred to elucidate those around him to the method behind his madness. “Magical Law Enforcement, M-L-E…Molly,” Regulus explained plainly, the left side of his mouth tugging upwards as he finished, amused with his own cleverness. He didn’t think it was such a bad name. A little plain brought to mind a blond-haired doll...actually, the more he thought about it, the more it seemed to fit.

“Molly, is a stupid name,”

“Then give me something else to call you,” Regulus challenged. Once again he'd worked his way into a win-win situation: Either Molly tacitly accepts her hated nickname or gives him real one in its place. He supposed there was a third option to invent a new name, but even that would be more telling than most of their conversation to this point. “Or give me a nickname in return, only fair,” he called after her desperate to draw Molly back in to further verbal repartee now that he had successfully found a way under skin. "I'm sure Stavros has called me plenty of names," he prodded. A subtle grab for information, but also I reminder that he hadn't forgotten their respective places in society. She wasn't interested in a friendly flirt? No problem, Regulus was happy to play the role of an antagonistic ex-con.

“Not necessary miss. It’s been paid for.”

Regulus caught the shopkeeper's eye and frantically waved his fingers in front of his throat. The implication should have been clear. Did this man not understand nuance? Granted Regulus had a reputation for this sort of thing and perhaps on a previous trip to this very store he had even asked for the credit when pre-paying for a pretty young woman's purchase, but he had thought the stern look in his eye this time around had been abundantly clear. Regulus relaxed his frantic waving as Molly turned her head. He gave a sheepish wave as her look of disgust followed the shopkeeper's grubby, tattle-telling finger. This was supposed to be a turning point, a sweet gesture from the shopkeeper. A show of respect for her position that might just ease her disposition and give her a fond memory to associate with an otherwise challenging confrontation with Regulus.

“Your coins are on the counter,”

Regulus did not like feeling beat at what he felt like had been a nearly expertly played game. "Pay it forward," he instructed the shopkeeper loudly. Molly may not want his money, but she wasn't going to get out of this change without the knowledge that he had done something nice for someone. It shouldn't be this hard to do something nice. And there were folks who wondered why he did what he did. The world was cruel and unforgiving. You eat or you get eaten, Regulus took no enjoyment from this fact, but that didn't keep it from being true. The least they could all do was show some base level kindness every now and then, but no, pride always got in the way. Not that Regulus was one to preach on the pitfalls of pride, how many times had his own pride put him in front of Molly's boss. His own sins aside, Molly's action were still rather rude.

“I don’t need your dirty money. See you in the office sometime next week I’m sure.”

"It's a date," Regulus called callously over the slamming door. He couldn't even bring himself to use proper inflection and no smirk crossed his lips. He sighed. Looked at the shopkeeper, exhausted and disappointed. "How do you not know what this means," Regulus seethed through his frustration repeating the frantic cut motion across his neck. "Well sir, I just thought usu-" "Silencio," Regulus barked, a wave of his wand cutting off the man's words in his throat. He breathed a heavy sigh again. "My friends will be by at the usual time next week. Make sure they get what they are owed," Regulus instructed cooly, keeping his words vague enough that, should Molly feel any guilt for how rudely she treated him and attempt to reconcile, she wouldn't be able to throw cuffs on him just yet. The shopkeeper nodded. Regulus returned the man's voice and took his leave.

[Delaney James]

Delaney had only gotten a few feet away from the shop when she paused in her tracks. Closing her eyes, she sighed and placed her free hand on her hip. She shouldn’t have reacted that way towards the shopkeeper. It hadn’t been the man’s fault that Reinbach had paid for her bottle of wine. She had just been so heated in that moment that he had simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time. Although her badge was tucked safely underneath the collar of her green blouse, that didn’t excuse Delaney’s treatment of the poor man. She was fortunate that it had been hidden away from the public to see, but the fact of the matter was that she still was a public official. Any member of the Austrian government already had a bad reputation in the eyes of its citizens. Unreliable yet an undeniable sense of entitlement. She wouldn’t go as far as to say the entire Ministry was corrupt though the citizens who did live here rarely showed respect for anyone with a hologram hanging off of their neck.

Turning around, Delaney bit down on her lip and shamefully began walking back in the direction of the wine shop. She owed him an apology. Hopefully he would understand. If not, whatever insults he felt necessary to bestow upon her would be allowed without any backlash on her part. Fortunately, the time she had been away had been long enough for Reinbach to take his leave and move towards the opposite direction in which she was coming from. Good riddance. Delaney had no interest in striking up anymore conversation with that annoyingly handsome criminal. Approaching the door, she took another deep breath and pulled it open at the handle. Merlin she was so embarrassed. Could feel the intensity at which her cheeks were surely burning a bright hue of red. She had gotten herself into this mess though. It was her, and only her, who could rectify the situation.

Slowly walking to the back of the store where the register lay, Delaney grabbed the bottom of the wine bottle with her left hand, the neck with her right and held it tightly against her chest like a guilty child walking towards an angry parent. ”W-w-welcome! P-p-please let me know if…” The same greeting yet this time in a shakier tone stopped as the two locked eyes. “Hello,” she started, stopping only when she was about a foot away from the stand. “I just needed to come back and tell you sorry. It was extremely rude of me to snap at you in the manner I did. You were only doing your job and I allowed my emotions to get the best of me in a tense situation. I am deeply sorry if I made you feel bad.” It was difficult to judge if the man would accept her apology by the look on his face. So curious indeed that Delaney couldn’t help but to notice that he seemed to be trembling as well. ”That..,that’s okay m-m-miss. I don’t feel r-r-right taking your coins.”

There was something off-putting in the way the man spoke. The quiver in his voice hadn’t been there before she left. Delaney had been irritated, sure, but even she didn’t think anything she said warranted him to be this frightened of her. “Are you alright?” She asked curiously. “If I caused you any consternation, it wasn’t my intent at all.” The man quickly shook his head. ”No, no! It’s not you m-m-miss. I assure you.” Not her? Delaney’s brow rose in confusion. Though the uncertainty was short-lived. “Did that man say something to you?” She could feel the anger that had only just subsided find its way to the forefront again. “When I left?” The man’s eyes widened as he shook his head. Body language always gave people away. She looked down towards her clutch and unzipped it. She carefully wiggled the bottle in until it was nestled safely amongst her other belongings. Thank Merlin for magical bottomless purses. A blessing and a curse both at the same time.

Placing her hands on the top of the stand, the man flinched. “What did he say to you?” Delaney asked, staring the man intently in his eyes. He said nothing but shook his head. Lips forming into a tight line, her hand moved towards the badge tucked under her shirt. “I implore you to tell me otherwise,” she said slowly, exposing just enough of the holographic material that showed her badge. His eyes widened even more. ”N-n-no miss p-p-please I don’t w-w-want any trouble.” Delaney couldn’t force someone to talk if they didn’t want to. Nor did she feel she was going to have much luck getting him to say another word without potentially causing him to fall into a bout of hysterics. “Fine.” Adjusting the collar of her shirt, she pulled the strap of her clutch higher on her shoulder. “I apologize again for any trouble I might have caused you. Have a nice day.”

With that, Delaney quickly left the shop and went in the direction that Reinbach had walked. If the shopkeeper wasn’t going to say anything then she sure as hell was going to make Regulus talk. It didn’t take too long to find him wandering around the entrance of Knockturn Alley. Shouldn’t have been surprised. He was probably going off to threaten some more people. That seemed to be his M.O. if any of the charges against him could ever stick. Quickening her pace, Delaney caught up to him and pulled him to the side of a building. “What the hell was that about?” Her teal eyes glared up at him intensely. “What did you say to that man after I left?”

[Regulus Reinbach]

His business settled, Regulus sauntered out of the shop and down the street. If Molly had hung around he hadn't noticed. Just as well, her uptight demeanor had become tiresome. Regulus appreciated a challenge, but the game can't start if your opponent refuses to take the field. Wine bottles still ambling behind him, Regulus decided to take the long route home...which he supposed meant wandering until he got tired and the apparating. It was a nice enough day out, and he'd rather escape the negative energy he'd collected in the wine shop rather than risk bringing it home. Unfortunately for Regulus, negative energy wasn't the only thing following him from the shop.

“What the hell was that about?”

Regulus snarled instinctively as he was pushed into the side of the building. Hand on his wand, ready to curse his assailant into oblivion, when he recognized the bright eyes and high cheekbones of his good friend Molly. The tension in Reg's face eased into something more resembling a smile. The young man didn't appreciate the undue assault, but he couldn't help but chuckle slightly as his own words to Molly replayed in his head Much as I'm sure you'd enjoy chasing me down a dark ally and frisking me in the shadows... Merlin, he surprised himself sometimes with just how well he could read people. What had it been, 20 minutes since he'd made that prediction? And here they were. But what was it she was on about? She was the one who chased him down and she was demanding an explanation from him? Clearly, Molly wasn't nearly as 'by the book' as she let on. Too bad, this sort of raw passion was a weakness Regulus could exploit in more ways than one.

“What did you say to that man after I left?”

Oh, of course. Stupid sniveling shop owner. Molly must have gone back to interrogate that poor stuttering idiot; no doubt hoping he'd give her some key piece of evidence to bring Regulus down. Was she really that hard-pressed for a win? Did she really think Regulus was dumb enough to be taken down so easily? How little did she think of him? Hell, how little did she think of Stavros to assume he hadn't been badgering the shop owners Reg worked with for years. "Me? I wasn't the one who shouted at him for trying to give me free wine now was I?" Regulus retorted, eyebrow raised as his lips tilted into a more natural smirk. Truth be told Regulus was rather confused, he hadn't said anything he considered particularly shaking. He supposed his tone was a little harsh and if you weren't used to being silenced magically it could cause some temporary unease around speaking. Still, Molly was fishing and it showed, as she knew he was just a patron purchasing a few bottles of wine. Speaking of which, thank Merlin for the cushioning charms he'd added to the wine bottles at check out.

"I wouldn't worry, James is a very nervous man," Regulus assured her. Regardless of where the blame ultimately lie, this was an important fact to lay down. Regulus couldn't know how often Molly visited the shop, but given that she only bought a single bottle and referred to the shop keeper as 'that man' it was a safe guess Regulus was the authority on James general demeanor. "You know," Regulus began, hoping to change the subject. "when I said you were desperate to chase me down an alley and frisk me, I was hoping you'd at least let me buy you dinner first," he smiled a crooked little smile, hoping the fifth time might be the charm for his charms.

[Delaney James]

Delaney wasn’t sure of what her end game was here. Only minutes ago, she had wanted nothing to do with the man whose arm she currently had a firm grasp on. Had been so bothered by his audacity to speak to her and then try and pay for her wine bottles. She had done exactly what was needed by leaving the shop in a tizzy. Not so much the way she had treated the poor shopkeeper, but exiting in a manner to stop conversation with Reinbach directly and going about her merry way. Perhaps it was just because his arrogance had been so off-putting. So confident that he would have been able to charm her solely based on his looks and way with words. The same confidence plastered all over his stupid face as he was led to a holding cell back at the Ministry knowing he would only be released hours later.

Delaney hated people like him.

She hated people who were able to commit the crime but not willing to do the time. She hated people who thought they were above the law. That they could wander around as they pleased until it was time to repeat the same cycle. It was disgusting. Truthfully, it was downright embarrassing for people like Delaney who worked in law enforcement and was supposed to be keeping the streets clean of thugs like Reinbach. Comparing the slender man in front of her to a thug was probably overreaching, but it was still similar enough behavior to her. The longer the pair stood in silence, the more her scowl deepened. What she wouldn’t do to bring a sleazebag like him to justice once and for all. Besides the validation that her department was capable of doing its job, it would do Delaney’s career wonders. Maybe even finally start earning her a little respect amongst her male co-workers.

After what seemed like minutes of the two glaring at each other, Regulus finally spoke. ”Me? I wasn’t the one who shouted at him for trying to give me free wine now was I?” Delaney’s eyes narrowed further. He had a point and there wasn’t much she could say in this instance to defend herself. It was the very reason she had gone back for Merlin’s sake. ”I wouldn’t worry. James is a very nervous man.” His remark only heightened her suspicions that he had some other relationship with the shopkeeper. How did he know him by name? Delaney didn’t remember seeing a nametag on his shirt though she hadn’t looked. Even if he had one, Regulus had implied that this behavior was typical of the man indicating that they had other interactions in the past. Now she wanted to know what kind.

”You know, when I said you were desperate to chase me down an alley and frisk me, I was hoping you’d at least let me buy you dinner first.” Delaney wanted to push him through the damn wall. “I’m not your type Reinbach. Keep dreaming.” Forcing herself to pull his eyes from his face, Delaney glanced at the bustling street around them. People were beginning to file out of work now and within minutes this place was going to be a nightmare given that it was the start of the weekend. She hated crowds and being caught up in one wasn’t her idea of a good time. “Stop trying to change the subject,” she continued, her teal eyes roaming back to his. “How do you know James? You’re not up to your usual tactics are you Reinbach? Because if you are, we’re only going to find out and arrest you again. Need I remind you, it's illegal to threaten people. Silly to think we’ve been thinking you’ve been keeping your nose clean huh?"

[Regulus Reinbach]

“I’m not your type Reinbach. Keep dreaming.”

Regulus left eyebrow popped up instinctively at Molly's curious choice of words. So thins could never work out because she wasn't his type, not that he wasn't hers. An intriguing development too delicious to blame on a slip of the tongue. "True, I prefer brunettes," Regulus admitted through an exaggerated sigh. He wasn't sure the total numbers backed up the statement, but certainly, his most intense relationships had been with women whose hair was as dark as their hearts. In any case, it was Molly's bright teal eyes that had caught his own. Eyes that now seemed reluctant to meet his. Embarrassed perhaps, but what secrets would be laid bare if they met his straight on.

“Stop trying to change the subject,”

Regulus lifted his hands innocently, wondering what subject it was he had strayed from. Reg had already assuaged Molly's fears about her tirade against the shopkeeper and considered the matter settled. The more pressing subject, at least to his mind, was why he was still being unlawfully detained for a failed flirtation. Was Molly sole purpose in chasing him down to lob baseless accusations? Or was she just biding time until her pent up sexual frustrations boiled completely over and she convinced herself a roll in the sack with Alzurba's most wanted was a justifiable mistake to make?

“How do you know James? You’re not up to your usual tactics are you Reinbach? Because if you are, we’re only going to find out and arrest you again. Need I remind you, it's illegal to threaten people. Silly to think we’ve been thinking you’ve been keeping your nose clean huh?"

No wonder Magical Law Enforcement had such trouble taking him down. They were paranoid about all the wrong things. Regulus supposed he couldn’t blame them though. With the meager salaries the ministry paid, how could they possibly understand what a man of Reg’s status’ life was really like? “Not everyone is as guarded about giving their name as you, Molly,”Regulus said sharply, making sure to put some emphasis on the nickname he’d given her. In truth, Regulus had a perfectly good, perfectly legal explanation for knowing James’ name...of course, he also had other, less than legal, reasons for knowing it. But, the way the question was asked, Regulus wasn't convinced Molly deserved to know either.

“If your department is especially worried about threats, I’d watch your tone,” Regulus warned. “This is already a rather threatening position you’ve got me in." The young man exaggerated his position against the wall to emphasize his point. Given the type of lawyers he had access to, Regulus felt he had a strong case against the department for harassment. It wouldn't get anywhere unless he poured some resources into securing 'eyewitnesses' and perhaps a few members of the jury. Still, it'd almost be worth it just for the look on Stavros’ dumb face when the papers were served.

"Now, if you'd like to adjourn to someplace more comfortable, maybe I'd be more willing to talk," Regulus continued his warning tone smoothing back out into silky charm. He doubted Molly would take the bait, but if she was going to keep opening the door he was going to continue asking to come in. "I'll tell you all about James and the vintages he sells from my vineyards," he offered deciding he would share his legal relationship with shopkeep if for no other reason than to show Molly he was not wholly against opening up about his business, under calmer pretexts. Most of the vineyards Regulus claimed to own were technically joint ventures or solely his wife's, but her insistence on limiting her business to strictly Italian vintners had allowed Regulus to make some heavy investments in a select few French Vineyards that provided modest profits and an excuse for frequent business trips to France.

[Delaney James]

Delaney’s temper always had the tendency of getting the best of her. She was a hothead; a trait passed down by her father who always lashed out whenever he was flustered or overwhelmed after a particularly long day at the Registration office. He was a mild-mannered man a majority of the time who did his best to have any of those fits away from his children. He didn’t want them to pick up on bad habits, he would tell them, usually after an episode, despite her and her brother Mason being able to hear them clear as day when he raised his voice through the thin walls of their childhood home. As he aged, he seemed to get a better handle on his temper, which provided hope for Delaney that someday she would share the same fate. Hers was far worse than the head of the James family; due in great part to the constant discrimination she faced at work. Considering she was usually only ever at work, there was really no time for her to find healthier coping mechanisms. She always felt on edge, which was a feeling that plagued her.

Reinbach had simply picked the wrong woman to attempt to flirt with today. Delaney liked men, in a romantic sense, but hadn’t engaged in a coquettish exchange with one in quite some time. She already had a scarlet letter on her chest simply for being a female. She had to be careful of how she acted or what was said as anything could have been interpreted in a way that was used against her to prove the point of some sexist man. ”Not as everyone is as guarded about giving their name as you, Molly.” He was right. Because what good would it really do? Whenever he got pulled into the Ministry again, the last thing Delaney needed was Reinbach trying to call to her in such a public setting. Even that stupid nickname he had given her would be enough to warrant a few raised eyebrows and snickering. Merlin she could already hear the jokes from Pichler now. Damn it why hadn’t she just politely refused his advances and been on her way?

His next comment only further proved the question. ”If your department is especially worried about threats, I’d watch your tone. This is already a rather threatening position you’ve got me in.” Delaney could feel her blood boiling as he dramatically pushed himself against the wall. He wasn’t the one supposed to be giving threats. That was her job. Even more infuriating was that he was right. Although Stavros hated Reinbach as much as she now did, the department Head would tear her a new one if his lawyers made a claim about harassment. How could she rationally explain to the Greek god that she jeopardized the integrity of public safety by being upset over an unwanted advance? The reality was that she couldn’t. Stavros would rip her head off and she would be the laughing stock of the entire office; further diminishing Delaney’s credibility amongst her male counterparts. She should have just gone home, popped in a muggle DVD from the birthday pack her mother had sent her last year that she was still trying to catch up on and cuddle with both cats on the couch.

Sighing out of frustration, Delaney stepped away from Reinbach, though not enough to collide with one of the passing bodies on the street behind her. ”Now, if you’d like to adjourn to someplace more comfortable, maybe I’d be more willing to talk.” Folding her arms to her chest, she waited for him to finish. ”I’ll tell you all about James and the vintages he sells from my vineyards.” Her ears perked up at this. “You own a winery?” The skepticism was apparent on her hardened features. Truthfully, outside of what he was arrested for, Delaney didn’t know anything about Regulus Reinbach. There had never really been any reason to since other hit wizards were responsible for keeping tabs on him. Had she questioned anything they would have asked her why and then tease her for having a crush on him. She couldn’t deny that her curiosity had been sparked. He was annoying, sure, and she couldn’t possibly think that her agreeing to continue taking part in conversation with him would give her any sort of legitimate information about why James the shopkeeper had been so startled by him. Then again, maybe there was the possibility that Regulus would let something slip that he hadn’t meant to and Delaney could use said intel towards a future warrant for him.

Though if she agreed, Delaney would be justifying the remarks the men she worked with made by using her looks to her advantage. She would risk being seen out and about by one of them and wasting her weekend by dreading whatever was to come the minute she stepped foot in the office the following Monday. If she didn’t, she’d risk Reinbach exposing the time they spent together today the next opportunity he got. Dropping her head behind her shoulders, Delaney closed her eyes briefly before reopening them and staring up at the unbelievably blue sky above them. It was a risk she was going to have to take. “Fine,” she scoffed, raising her head back to its normal perch on her shoulders. “Just stop calling me Molly. That name is atrocious. It’s Delaney. Don’t make me regret telling you that more than I already do.”

[Regulus Reinbach]

“You own a winery?”

Regulus couldn't help but chuckle at the shock in Molly's voice. "I suppose Stavros would have you believe I make all my money from back-alley muggings and wand wielding shakedown?" he asked mocking the inherent absurdity of the idea that he was some common thug. That wasn't to say that Regulus hadn't earned his place on the wanted poster he was marched pass every time he was brought in on petty charges, the department's inability to process nuance in criminality was telling. From what Regulus could tell law enforcement agents were rather roundly committed to drawing very distinct lines between what is right and wrong. Hard to blame them, what with the so-called 'Dark Lords' popping up and reinforcing this dichotomy with their cartoonishly evil schemes. What none of these self-aggrandizing egotists ever realized was that is was families like the Reinbach's who facilitated their rise while ensuring they were bound to fall.

“Fine...Just stop calling me Molly. That name is atrocious. It’s Delaney. Don’t make me regret telling you that more than I already do.”

"Delaney," Regulus repeated with a trademark smirk he doubted would make the girl feel any more confident in her decision. "That is much better. Pleased to officially meet you, Miss Delaney," Regulus said with a dip in his shoulders and nod of the head that hinted at a bow. Now that he had a name that seemed too unique to have been created on the spot, Regulus felt more at ease. He hadn't forgotten Delaney's profession, but he hoped she had given up or at least eased the 'gotcha' motivations that brought her sprinting after him.

While Regulus was pleased Delaney had agreed to talking on less aggressive terms, there was now that rather difficult question of where to go. The name was a good start, but there was no chance he could invite her back to his place, and anywhere else was easily objected to on the grounds of it being too public. "There's a dive around the corner," Regulus offered. "Should still have a good bit of time before it gets busy." Not a perfect solution, but it would be quiet enough that neither of them would have to be looking over their shoulder concerned about who might see them together for the time being. And the threat of the night crowd rolling in would put a limit on their conversation.

Not waiting for a response Regulus peeled himself from the wall and began to move down the alley. He moved slowly, open to other suggestions, but it seemed the longer they waited, the less likely they were to get anywhere. "In the interest of transparency, it's not as though I grow or stomp the grapes," Reg explained circling back to her earlier question about his wineries. "But I've made sizable investments in several French wineries, and oversee branding and distribution." The branding bit was rather interesting, but distribution was hardly ever something people inquired about. No one really cared how the wine made it out the vineyard and into their favorite shops and restaurants as long as it was there when they needed it, what other details did they need.

[Delaney James]

The minute Delaney revealed her name she instantly wished she hadn’t. She hadn’t been stupid enough to give her last name also, but she might as well have. Her name around these parts was about as uncommon as they came. Honestly, it was a pretty unique name still in America with all their Ashleys and Brittanys. Out here, Delaney stood out like a sore thumb. If one was truly interested in finding out more about her, and had the connections to do so, all they needed to do was look on public record and find out whatever information Austria wanted to make available about her; including her meager salary. Why hadn’t she just given him a fake, believable name? She would just choose to blame it on the fact that she wasn’t an undercover agent or an Auror. Her job description was just apprehending criminals; not infiltrating their secret lairs.

She did her best not to scowl when he repeated her name. ”That is much better. Pleased to officially meet you, Miss. Delaney.” She remained silent. The bow he then gave her would have normally been charming, but Delaney couldn’t think of anything other than wanting to get things moving so she could hopefully find out something useful before dinner. ”There’s a dive around the corner. Should still have a good bit of time before it gets busy.” At this, she raised an eyebrow. Dive bars usually warranted privacy. The crowd was dismal and the lighting usually dim. Often hangouts for the local drunks and those who didn’t quite seem to fit in anywhere else. Plus, they usually had great drink specials; something Delaney was counting on as she didn’t get paid until next week and had already spent a modest amount on the wine bottle currently resting deep within her bottomless clutch. It gave her some relief that Reinbach had suggested going to such a place. Though she wasn’t sure if it was to give her a sense of peace that they wouldn’t be seen by those she didn’t want or himself. Either way, she wasn’t going to question.

As he began leading them down Alzubra, Delaney reluctantly followed behind. She tried to place where he would be taking them but no particularly seedy joint on the strip came to mind. Briefly, she worried he would be bringing them somewhere in Drear. It wasn’t the sort of spot she needed to be seen in when off-duty. She should probably mention it to him. Her mouth opened to do so, but she was interrupted when he began discussing the winery he brought up earlier. “So, you don’t actually own a winery though,” Delaney responded once he had finished. “Are they notable vineyards? And why French? Are you from there?” Even if he wasn’t, she couldn’t blame him for investing in the area. She may not have been a wine connoisseur, but even she knew that varietals coming from the region were top of the line.