May 6th
Evander,
You'll be pleased to know that the curse situation seems to have been resolved. Miss Fisk was able to get the curse out of my lungs and into an earring, where it ought not to pose any risk.

This does mean that I've got an earring now, and I'll have to wear it for a good long while — not sure yet how long. I'll be the first to admit that it looks absolutely absurd, particularly as it's just the one and it's rather intrusive — I look like a pirate who went and pillaged a Pictish village — but it's a small price to pay, I suppose, to be rid of the curse. And maybe I'll be able to get rid of it sooner or later.

I'm not heading to India anytime soon, by the way. Some of my crew have found other assignments while the Ministry's been working on the Voyager, and I've got something else in the works that ought to keep me occupied locally for the summer, at least.

J. A. D.

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Evander Darrow

The following 1 user Likes J. Alfred Darrow's post:1 user Likes J. Alfred Darrow's post
   Elias Grimstone

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MJ made the most Alfredy of sets and then two years later she made it EVEN BETTER

6th May, 1890

Alfred,

That’s good news. Better news than we might have hoped for; and you’re right, for that I can forgive the earring. Besides, what’s one more bit of absurdity to you?

Please pass on my sincerest thanks to Miss Fisk for her hard work and persistence, and thank you for letting me know. No India for the moment is perhaps good news as well, for if you’re sure you’re safe, this might be a chance to spend some more time with Charity. I know she’ll like that.

If she doesn’t think your earring looks too ridiculous, of course.

I really am glad to hear it. Hopefully you will be able to rest easy at long last, and hopefully we’ll see you soon.

Evander

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[assume some good-natured banter has happened in the meantime re: Charity, visiting plans, absurdity of earring & of Alfred generally]

June 9th
Evander,
So there's a party in a few weeks that the Ministry is throwing for the Hawaiians — are you planning to be there? I assume you've been invited as you work at the Ministry but I wasn't sure whether it was your type of event. Hawaiians, and all.

J. A. D.

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MJ made the most Alfredy of sets and then two years later she made it EVEN BETTER

11th June, 1890

Alfred,

You’re right, I was invited. I had thought to be there, in fact, if only to ensure a good turnout on the Ministry’s behalf and to ensure our visitors are fully aware of British laws on magic - but I’m a little surprised you’ve heard about it, actually. I didn’t know you had any connections to Hawaii. Have you been invited?

Evander

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June 12th
Evander,
I am going to be there, yes, but it's not got much to do with Hawaii.

I don't think you'll enjoy the party. If you happened to be inclined to stay home, you'd doubtless have a more pleasant night and I could let you know afterwards whether anything interesting had happened.

J. A. D.

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   Elias Grimstone, Makoa

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MJ made the most Alfredy of sets and then two years later she made it EVEN BETTER

13th June, 1890

Alfred,

If you were aiming for ominous, you very well achieved it. ‘I don’t think you’ll enjoy the party’, honestly. What is this, some kind of plot against the government?

(You do realise it is a Ministry party and an international event, don’t you? If you’re planning on making a scene there, I will thank you profoundly not to.)

Evander

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June 15th
Evander,
I'm not trying to be ominous, I just don't think you'll enjoy the ball if you go. Honestly, do you ever enjoy balls? You don't seem the type. And I don't think the Ministry having 'good turn out' as you put it is quite as dependent upon your presence as you might believe.

"Planning on making a scene" rather does sound like a conspiracy, doesn't it? This isn't the gunpowder plot or anything, so you needn't fret over that. I have no reason whatsoever to suspect anything will explode either in or directly below the ballroom.

J. A. D.

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The following 1 user Likes J. Alfred Darrow's post:1 user Likes J. Alfred Darrow's post
   Elias Grimstone

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MJ made the most Alfredy of sets and then two years later she made it EVEN BETTER

18th June, 1890

Alfred,

Well, thank you very kindly for your concerns. Rest assured I will take them into consideration.

I am surprised that you suddenly have enough time on your hands to be this interested in my potential enjoyment of parties. Regretfully, some of us are a little too busy with actual work to be continually answering these notes.

Perhaps I will see you there.

Evander

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You don’t seem the type. Well, what was that supposed to mean? Evander suspected Alfred was right, but it was only really making him more indignant; he certainly did not recall asking his brother to advise him upon whether or not to attend a Ministry function. (He did not recall asking his brother to advise him on anything ever.) And the more Alfred tried to dissuade him from going, the more Evander felt something was going to go terribly wrong - explosion or not - and that it might be best to be there after all to... mitigate disasters.

He no longer had any expectation of enjoying himself, but that was beside the point.

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The following 2 users Like Evander Darrow's post:2 users Like Evander Darrow's post
   J. Alfred Darrow, Ophelia Devine

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June 27th
Evander,
I did tell you not to come.

Alfred

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The following 1 user Likes J. Alfred Darrow's post:1 user Likes J. Alfred Darrow's post
   Cassius Lestrange

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MJ made the most Alfredy of sets and then two years later she made it EVEN BETTER

27th June, 1890

Alfred,

You think you have any right to tell me you told me so? Not planning on making a scene in public, Merlin. Forgive me for not thinking you so obscenely stupid as to turn the entire Fisk family against you for a second time — in fact, I hope a few of her siblings duelled you on the street after that, for it would be well deserved. You realise if the complete circumstances of this are aired it will reflect badly on you and perhaps worse on Miss Fisk? And both families, of course.

“No tolerance for sailors”, do you recall saying that? What do you imagine her father makes of you now, exactly? Oh, correct me if I am wrong, and he was the only one to approve of this surprise, but otherwise — congratulations, you’ve proven him entirely right about your moral deficiencies. I would ask you to let me know if you survive meeting with him, as you presumably will if this ‘courtship’ progresses any further... but your life is yours to throw away if you and Miss Fisk are so hellbent on it, and I won’t be holding my breath this time.

Unfortunately on occasions such as this, I remain unwillingly

your brother,
Evander

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The following 4 users Like Evander Darrow's post:4 users Like Evander Darrow's post
   Cassius Lestrange, Charity Lloyd, Eloise Scrimgeour, Ophelia Devine

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June 30th
Evander,
I don't expect you could possibly understand no matter how well I explained myself, so I'll spare you the time and myself the trouble. And I do understand the risk to her reputation (mine, I think, is beyond the reach of something so mundane as courtship drama, when some people still think I engaged in much choicer activities while abroad) but as it was her idea I don't think I can be held entirely responsible for that. She assumed her family would be too averse to causing a scandal to actively protest (and perhaps she was right, at least a bit, because I was not challenged to any street duels). Anyway, I'm still alive as yet, but I haven't been to see her father, so I suppose that may change. I'll have my worldly affairs in order and the keys to my flat owled over to you before I go, just in case.

Alfred

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MJ made the most Alfredy of sets and then two years later she made it EVEN BETTER

3rd July, 1890

Alfred,

Well then. No sense in wasting your words on me. Though I hope you will humour me - tell me if it too much to ask - if I beg you for no more surprises and no public scandals, if you please. Otherwise, I wish you the best of luck.

As a matter of fact, on a not dissimilar topic, I suppose I should warn you that I may shortly be courting, too. Her name is Caroline Delaney; I don’t know whether you have met her. If not, I am sure you will eventually.

Nevertheless, I am so sorry not to make it more of a surprise for you.

Evander

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July 3rd
Evander,
Caroline Delaney! Merlin! Honestly, it's quite strange to think of you courting anyone at all. If you were ever inclined to marry I supposed you would settle arrangements very neatly over dinner and entirely skip over anything resembling passion — but perhaps that's what you mean when you say courting? Have you kissed her? Do you ever intend to?

I don't believe I've met Miss Caroline, but I know her name and her family. If someone was going to marry into an American shipping industry, it's strange that it would be you, don't you think? Have you ever even been underway on a ship?

What does Charity think of all this?
Alfred

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   Cassius Lestrange, Elias Grimstone, Evander Darrow, Roberto Devine

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MJ made the most Alfredy of sets and then two years later she made it EVEN BETTER

5th July, 1890

Alfred,

I’m sorry you think it so strange; I cannot see anything strange in it. And Merlin, if you expect me to dignify those questions with a serious answer, you are out of your mind.

As for her family, I will not pretend to have any interest in their business, but she has nothing to do with that, and I know as well as anyone that one cannot choose their family. (And whatever you’ve been told, sailing experience is hardly a prerequisite to marrying anyone.)

Charity seemed pleased enough, and I am sure she will not suffer to have someone else in her life beyond her governess and me. You are at perfect liberty to talk to her yourself, though I will say she took the news a damn sight more maturely than you.

Evander

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   Caroline Darrow, Freya Selwyn, Ophelia Devine

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July 8th
Evander,
Sailing experience may not be a prerequisite for marrying her but it would certainly give you more to talk about at the dinner table with your in-laws-to-be. Perhaps you should come out with me the next time I go underway — it might come up eventually and if you're the type to get seasick wouldn't you rather discover it before you lose your lunch on Miss Delaney's lap?

I'm glad Charity isn't much bothered; does she like her? Assuming that you've introduced them already, that is. And speaking of, when are you going to introduce her to me? I promise to be on my best behavior.
Alfred

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MJ made the most Alfredy of sets and then two years later she made it EVEN BETTER

12th July, 1890

Alfred,

I can’t tell whether you are joking or not. I suppose you might help me brush up on my knowledge of sailing, if you must if you are so inclined. Theory is surely all that is necessary for conversation, anyway. A few theoretical terms would not go amiss. If there is some reputable reading material you might recommend (other than your esteemed memoir, of course) on the topic, I would not be opposed to that. But is there not some prevention for seasickness, anyway? A simple remedy?

Not that I am worried. For heaven’s sake, I’ve only been courting her a week! I will hardly be able to avoid introducing you - at some stage - and you might look out for an invitation to that effect, but I am not particularly inclined to ruin things just yet am a little busy with work for a while. And thank you for that sentiment, but I’m afraid your best behaviour does not, historically, count for much.

Evander

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