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Post by Tyler Jackson on Sept 25, 2008 8:12:59 GMT -5
Ah, home.
Or was it prison? Tyler couldn't tell the difference anymore. He hated his house arrest. How long would he have to "lay low?" He wished the trial would just start already, and end, so that he could go back to some semblance of a normal life.
But could he? He had tried going to Amelia's brunch, and felt too much of an outcast. If even the Minister thought he was guilty, how was he supposed to get past the trial as innocent? Everytime he even thought of Emily, he felt so guilty he could choke on it... and still, he was the immidiate cause of tension any time he entered a room.
He collapsed on his couch, letting the silence of the room overwhelm him while he considered what to do with himself, from now and forever. The longer he had to wait, the more certain he was that he would be found guilty whenever the trial did happen.
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Post by Cassidy LaRose on Sept 25, 2008 9:25:11 GMT -5
Cassidy hurried down the streets of Hogsmeade nervously. She always felt a little nervous flutter in her stomach whenever she went to see Tyler, but she was learning to control it. And today she had some news for him... news that could either be good, or bad, depending on how one looked at it.
As a consolation for this news, she carried a bag of goodies in one hand. She knew that, being largely confined to his house, Tyler was also pretty much forced to eat whatever he could make himself, so whenever she could, she brought him snacks. Today there were some baked goods, a fresh loaf of bread and some cookies. She'd made both of them herself, just for him.
As she reached the front door of his house, she stopped to take a breath. She was feeling nervous again and she was almost tempted to conjur a mirror, just to check her reflection. But if she didn't look good, what could she do about it? And besides, what was it supposed to matter, anyway? She was here to do her job, not to flirt with him. She wasn't good at that, anyway.
Biting her lower lip, she raised her free hand and knocked firmly on the door.
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Post by Tyler Jackson on Sept 25, 2008 15:03:54 GMT -5
Tyler jumped up, and then chastised himself for how ridiculously excited that knock made him. He knew who it was... Cassidy was the only one who ever came to talk to him, and he found that he enjoyed her visits. He was usually so lonely whe she left. And this of course had nothing to do with her sweet, gentle nature, or her incredible skill with baked goods. Or that he enjoyed her company a little more every time he saw her.
He moved to the door and opened it wide, already leaving her space to come in. "Hi, Cassidy," he said with a shy smile, running a hand over his barely there hair.
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Post by Cassidy LaRose on Sept 25, 2008 22:27:31 GMT -5
Cassidy's heart jumped in her chest at the sight of him. Oh, she had to stop this... but she couldn't control her reaction every time she saw him. Luckily, she was at least able to cover it with a bright smile. "Hi, Tyler," she said, not quite meeting his eyes. She held out the basket of baked goods she had for him. "I, uh... I was baking some bread and some cookies yesterday, and I thought you might like some."
Of course, she had made them just for him. But she really didn't want to admit that.
Stepping into the house, she tucked a hair behind her ear and looked at him, her cheeks growing pink. No... she was here for a reason. What was it again? Oh, right...
"I have some news for you," she said. "About your case."
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Post by Tyler Jackson on Sept 26, 2008 1:10:37 GMT -5
"Oh, Merlin, thank you," Tyler said, taking the basket from her and ushering her inside. When she was in, he closed the door behind them, wondering why he ever allowed Cassidy to be imprisoned within these walls too, even if she could leave. It wasn't fair to cage a songbird.
He smelled the baked goods, relishing the smell of the bread, and he told her as much. "I'm running low on the groceries in this place," he told her. "So this break looks delicious." He loved when she baked for him, and it was the one thing he wasn't too shy to tell her.
He set the basket on his coffee table and motioned her to take a seat. "News. News is good. RIght?" He looked up, suddenly nervous. "Or is it bad news?"
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Post by Cassidy LaRose on Sept 26, 2008 12:39:28 GMT -5
"If you need anything else, just let me know and I'll pick it up for you," Cassidy said quickly. She was aware how embarrassing it must have been for him to have to have someone bring him things or take him places, just so he could have enough supplies. She wanted to do everything she could to help him, and not just because she felt sorry for him.
"Anyway... the news. I think it's good news. Or at least, I hope it is." She moved over to the sofa, but didn't sit down. "Your trial has been scheduled, finally. It's going to be next week. I wish I was a little more prepared... I never was able to track down that third Death Eater, and with the death of Charles Mortensen, my hands are pretty much tied."
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Post by Tyler Jackson on Sept 28, 2008 7:46:18 GMT -5
Tyler had smiled when he heard that news. Finally, he was getting his trial, and he'd be allowed out of his apartment more than once in a blue moon. He was thrilled... there was no way it could have been bad news at all.
No way until she decided to tell him how unprepared she felt, and as he considered this, his heart sank straight into his stomach.
"So it's just my word they'll have to go on, then," he said, his voice soft, and nearly defeated, and he sank onto the sofa next to her. "And the new Minister of Magic doesn't even believe me..."
They were going to send him to Azkaban. He could almost feel it in his gut, and the news wasn't so good anymore. "Cassidy, I'm not ready."
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Post by Cassidy LaRose on Sept 28, 2008 22:02:24 GMT -5
Cassidy reacted immediately to the sound of defeat in his voice, and, without thinking, put her arms around him comfortingly. "I'm not giving up," she assured him. "I believe that we have right on our side, and somehow I'm going to figure this out. I actually think I'll try talking to Crystal Jacobs one more time, to see if I can get any further information about the third Death Eater. So far, all I have is a name--Nathan Randolph--and the fact that he appears to have vanished into thin air. I don't even know if he's still alive. But if he is... Maybe there's a chance I can persuade him to come forward."
She was still holding him, she realized, and a knot formed in her stomach. She knew she should pull away, but somehow, she just couldn't make herself do it.
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Post by Tyler Jackson on Sept 29, 2008 13:49:56 GMT -5
He took a deep breath, and noticed that it was easier to breathe when her arms were around him. It was like she was supporting him, holding him up, and he hated to admit it, but sometimes, he needed it. She was the only one who could make him feel like everything was all right. He was terrified, and she was the only one he coul admit it to.
"I wish I could do something," he said. "I wish I could be out there and find them or... anything." His hands fisted. He had been floating between depressed and angry a lot the last few weeks. He'd been trapped here for too long, and even the good news sounded fatal.
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Post by Cassidy LaRose on Sept 30, 2008 12:21:03 GMT -5
Cassidy began rubbing his back lightly. She was still holding him and it was filling her head with confusing thoughts. But he was upset, and she wanted to soothe him as best as she could. But what comfort could she really give him? He'd been trapped inside for months, and now, when the end was nearly at reach, she still had no good news to give him. She felt like it was all her fault, that she should have done a better job finding the people who had cursed him. If she was a good auror, she would have caught them by now.
"I know," she said softly. "I can't imagine how powerless you must feel, being stuck here, unable to do anything at all, and being forced to rely on me for your case..." She pulled back slightly and looked straight into his eyes. Her stomach churned nervously as it seemed to realize, before she did, just how close her face was to his. "I promise you, I will not let them send you to Azkaban."
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Post by Tyler Jackson on Sept 30, 2008 14:12:30 GMT -5
Tyler didn't quite realize that she had included herself in the list of things that made him feel helpless, but he shook his head anyway. "You're the only reason I haven't just turned myself over to Azkaban," he answered truthfully. She was the only one who believed in him enough to fight for him, and yes, he hated that he had let her. Not only let her, he had to depend on her to fight for him.
He sighed, turning his head towards her and catching a scent of baked goods and flowers, all from her. She was like an angel, he found himself thinking, and he was still oblivious to what these thoughts actually meant.
"Thank you for doing all of this, Cassidy," he told her. "No matter what happens, I won't forget everything you've done for me."
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Post by Cassidy LaRose on Sept 30, 2008 23:06:28 GMT -5
Cassidy pulled back slowly, reluctant to let go of him. Somehow it felt so right to be holding him, and it confused her. She couldn't be thinking like that. She had to keep her mind on what she had to do.
"Don't even mention it," she said. "I'm happy to do it... I just want to prove that I'm really good at what I do. And... I care about what happens to you. You're innocent, you shouldn't have to pay for what was done to you."
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Post by Tyler Jackson on Oct 2, 2008 6:29:59 GMT -5
"You're incredible at what you do," Tyler said, and he lifted his head to look at her. "Who are you trying to prove that to?"
He strongly believed that she was in the office doing paperwork all the time because she had a heart of gold and simply wouldn't say no. But that had nothing to do with her skills as an Auror.
"I know you're amazing," he added, in a way that suggested that was all that mattered.
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Post by Cassidy LaRose on Oct 6, 2008 22:32:15 GMT -5
Cassidy blushed and looked down. She wasn't someone who had ever known how to take compliments; in fact, she usually didn't believe them. But she knew that Tyler wasn't lying to her. He was being genuine and it filled her with a warmth that was difficult to contain. "Thank you," she whispered. Raising her eyes back to his, she smiled softly. "Well, you know I never got much respect from Vincent. Until recently, he couldn't even remember my name. But I guess... really, the only person I really want to prove myself to is... myself."
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Post by Tyler Jackson on Oct 10, 2008 16:19:35 GMT -5
"I don't think that he doesn't respect you," Tyler said. "He's just a very busy man, and sometimes he doesn't know how to make time for people who don't announce their presence, if you know what I mean. I've never seen you be forceful like that. And personally, I think it's a good thing. It's just easy to overlook sometimes."
But I've always noticed you. How could he have ever overlooked her?
"You're amazing, and you know it, Cassidy."
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Post by Cassidy LaRose on Oct 13, 2008 23:11:23 GMT -5
Cassidy smiled shyly. "Now you sound like Angelique," she said. "She's always telling me I need to be more aggressive and to stand up for myself more. I wish I could be more like her; I've always liked how she doesn't just let people walk all over her. Anyway, now that she's head of the auror department, I have a better chance of being noticed."
She blushed at his compliment. "Thank you," she said. "But you may not feel that way, if I can't find a way to prove that you're innocent. I just wish... I could find that third Death Eater. It's like Nathan Randolph just vanished into thin air or something. I think I'm going to try talking to his friend, Crystal, one more time."
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Post by Tyler Jackson on Oct 17, 2008 12:21:10 GMT -5
"Well, Angelique knows what she's doing. So as long as my voice hasn't gone all high pitched and lacey, I don't mind sounding like her," Tyler told her, smiling. He hoped she did get noticed more, though. She deserved to be doing something other than paperwork.
"Cassidy... just be careful, all right? It'd be my fault if you got hurt looking for this guy, and I couldn't handle adding that to my list of sins."
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Post by Cassidy LaRose on Oct 18, 2008 2:06:06 GMT -5
Cassidy heard the change in his tone and frowned slightly. She had very little experience in fighting; only the training she'd been foreced to take when she first joined up. But ultimately, she was untested in actual combat. She didn't know whether she was capable of defending herself properly.
"I'll be careful," she said. "I have to learn to take chances when it's important like this... I can't just sit back and let things happen... I need to stand up for what I believe in."
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Post by Tyler Jackson on Nov 5, 2008 5:42:48 GMT -5
Tyler sighed, rubbing a hand over his head in frustration. He hated being under house arrest. Yes, he had caused people to be injured, and potentially could have done a lot mor damage, but it wasn't his fault and they were keeping him on the low for far too long. He was dying to get out, sick of his own house being a prison to him.
"I wish I could come help you," he said, although the feeling in his gut was that he wanted to protect her more than find the Death Eater to help him. He would feel entirely responsible if anything happened to her.
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Post by Cassidy LaRose on Nov 9, 2008 2:50:48 GMT -5
"I know," Cassidy said, smiling reassuringly. "I wish you didn't have to be stuck here, too. I mean... it's still better than Azkaban... But it must be so frustrating to be locked up in here all day, and not even be able to work on your own case. But at least it's almost over. Now that we know when the trial will be, at least we know the end is in sight. And I swear, I'll do whatever I can to figure this out. I believe in you, Tyler. You wouldn't have tried to hurt anyone."
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