Charles downed the shot the moment the barmaid heeded his command, grimacing for a second as he swallowed the burning, bitter liquid. The familiar taste of alcohol was soothing, the minute effect that it had on his system a welcome release. Mildly intoxicating, the famous beverage cleansed his system accordingly, washing away the sense of dread and apprehension that thus far had been built up over the course of the day. It helped, as it facilitated calm and relaxation - Either of which were qualities he, in his previous state of mind, had stood no chance of achieving. Ogdens fabled brew was an unlikely saviour, so to speak; the cure for every occasion, the unconventional brand of medicine that doubled as a miracle drug for any stress-related symptoms. Not to say that Charles knew from experience, as he was scarcely ever touched by such mundane ailments of the working-class society; but that was quite beside the point. As was, of course, from what dubious sources and enterprises he had familiarized himself with the hard liquor in the first place, as it was of no major relevance. Suffice it to say it helped, as originally anticipated; although whether or not it was particularly wise to order another one was throughout debatable. He wanted one, of course, but he suspected there was only outright stupidity to indulge in the urge to gobble even more of the beverage. Alcohol was poison; sweet and sedative, but poison nonetheless and be as it might, however much he required another drink, he would probably be far better off with a clear head and heightened senses for what was about to come.

He wasnt a drunkard, nor did he intend to broadcast the impression. He wasnt Braeden Wilkes, but rather had the amount of self-control required in order to stick to moderation when it came to alcohol consummation. Especially on certain occasions, given that there were specific circumstances under which one couldnt allow oneself to slack in attention. And however comfortable it was under different circumstances, dulled senses and unfocused gaze was nothing he desired to show off at his current appointment. He was not a representative of the scum of humanity that ran rampart in the wake of the dark lord. He wasnt a violent brute, no barbarian that pledged to Voldemort his loyalty for the opportunity to pillage and plunder. Conscious of his heritage, he fashioned himself as no less than the prodigal heir of a prominent family he was. And he would stick to that image, being ever the aristocrat; never mind that it was practically as if he clung to the remnants of a life already in tatters.

He welcomed improvement, indeed, but nevertheless he resisted it on several levels. Of course, he pointedly resented how that fact revealed just how deeply rooted his fathers influence had been; but nevertheless he sought to preserve it. Despite his new-found progressive approach, there was still a part of him that kept pulling him down in the opposite direction; God knew for whatever reason. It was presumably a touch of stagnation; a hint of contentment he couldnt allow himself, given that he was well on the verge of submitting himself to an existence of pursuing an ultimate reformation. The rectification of the world as he knew it, the transformation of a doomed society into a pureblood utopia. It all came down to a matter of ideology, so to speak, never mind the appealing prospects of power and release that inevitably accompanied devotion to similar goals.

If sacrifices were demanded for the sake of the cause, so be it. He could, at least, get over the loss of his identity far easier than the loss of his life. Given the nature of his inner circle, however, the dark lord didnt look for crudity as much as capability in his subjects. And that was a requirement he met. Having proved himself worthy of praise, it made such a thorough change of heart rather superfluous..

Though, eventually stealing a glance at his pocket watch, he supposed he would have to revise the decision to restrict his current alcohol intake to a little more than a shot. Only a few moments had gone by since his arrival, after all; every second like an eternity, minutes and hours seemingly at a distance comparable to years and decades. He wasnt yet ready; perhaps he had been a little too eager in his aspiration to be there in due time. As such, he could as well as have another..

Muttering a random obscenity under his breath, Charles leaned forward onto the bar-counter in order to attract the bar-maids attention; only to notice that, in fact, she wasnt available at the moment. Or at the very least not on place where one was most likely to find her, that being behind the bar itself. Leaving a few coins of minor value on the tabletop, that being a suitable tip (he was prepared to pay for subtlety with rather draconian sums, should he have to, and as such he had brought with him enough gold to spare whatever change he carried), he drummed his fingers against the tabletop in a rather semi-nervous fashion as he awaited the service. As non arrived, however, he threw a glance across his shoulder in order to determine whether or not she was elsewhere in the establishment. Flirting with random patrons, or whatever frivolities that a girl in her position engaged in to kill time.

It wasnt particularly difficult to locate her. A mere glance and he discovered her in the nearby vicinity; chatting away at random with whomever it was. Though the decision to call her over and ask for a drink was rapidly erased from his mind as his eyes flickered across the other person; the generic lowlife that carried her hood up, as was the customs at the establishment. Oh, she wouldnt have paid any attention to her whatsoever beyond that aforementioned glance; however, some hint of recognition about her features practically froze him to ice. His eyes narrowed in a stare toward what he could only presume were a Hogwarts student who he, unfortunately, was on quite familiar terms with. A particular sixth year that, however unlikely, had behaved as if keeping him under strict scrutiny since about the start of the term. Granted, he didnt know her motives, but suffice it to say he doubted her presence there were genuinely circumstantial. As such, he'd be damned if he'd let her be off; as much as a move toward the door and he would be on her tail in a second..

Suffice it to say he wasn't about to let Alannah Morgan jeopardize the operation.