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Post by Riley Neves on Dec 11, 2008 18:26:34 GMT -5
Riley bristled. "I have a job to do too, and I don't appreciate you implying otherwise. Part of my job is to be sure I know how to work with you, which I can already see will be a challange. And knowing how to work with you requires knowing you, unfortunately."
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Post by Roland Ferrera on Dec 11, 2008 19:08:22 GMT -5
Roland knew he was being a jerk. He was lucky his mother wasn't in the room at the time; she would have been furious with him for acting the way he was. And really, he was taking this out on Riley when it wasn't her fault. It was his fault. He apparently hadn't handled things right, and he was being taught a lesson. He probably deserved it.
But on the other hand, he wasn't thrilled about being forced to be nice to someone. He'd always been this way; he was cold to the people he didn't know. Sometimes he was even cold to the people he cared about. What he had told Lina earlier that day was true, he could be a hard one to win over. And at the moment, Riley wasn't doing well in that department. The fact that he'd put her on the defensive didn't really occur to him at the time.
Still, they did have to work together, and at the moment, he wasn't doing anything to make that prospect more pleasant.
Sighing, he leaned his head on his hand and rubbed it tiredly. It had already been a long day, and it was still only half over. His visit with Lina and Mara already seemed like ages ago. Glancing up at Riley again, he said in a resigned tone. "OK, fine. We'll get to know each other." His lip curled up unpleasantly at this, but he continued, "Do you want to go somewhere and talk?"
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Post by Riley Neves on Dec 11, 2008 20:13:57 GMT -5
Not particularly anymore, Riley thought, sighing inwardly. She must have done something wrong. Maybe both of them were being punished, which just affirmed her need to talk to her boss. If there were improvements to be made, she needed to be aware of them. She would say it a thousand times.
"No, I don't really. I can see I'm forcing you, but I feel that there are things that need to be discussed, particularly about this upcoming mission. Now, if that's a problem, you're going to have to deal with it. However, I need to speak with Angelique first, whenever she's finished with Tonks."
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Post by Roland Ferrera on Dec 11, 2008 21:59:50 GMT -5
Roland shrugged. "Suit yourself," he replied dismissively. He knew he was going to have to try harder to get along with her, or at least make the best of things, but for now, he was still angry and he wasn't in the mood to make the effort.
He wondered what Angelique would say about him, and what reason she'd give Riley about their partnership. For Salazar's sake, if there was a problem with his performance, couldn't they have talked to him about it sooner? It seemed odd to him that Angelique would want him to learn control and balance after a mission where he had, in fact, controlled himself, to the point where he was almost killed.
"I have some reports to finish up anyway. We can try to talk later. Or tomorrow." Or next week. Or never, he thought to himself.
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Post by Angelique St. Clare on Dec 11, 2008 22:05:34 GMT -5
(Meanwhile, back in Angelique's office...) Ted nodded, his shoulders dropping just a bit. He had tried to catch Andromeda's eyes, or her attention, or anything, but she refused and sent in Roland. All he could think was how the hell was he supposed to earn her trust if she would never come near him? He waited tensely while Roland was in Angelique's office, and now was slightly defeated. He knew he looked terrible. The only reason he didn't smell like alcohol was because of this very reason. He has suspected a meeting with Angelique. But it was obvious that he was angry and something of a loose cannon. He entered her office quietly and sat, all without saying a word. Angelique studied him for a moment. He looked like hell. He looked even worse than Andromeda, who had been a pasty shade of gray, except for her eyes, which were rimmed in red. Ted rather looked like he'd been sleeping in an abandoned railway car for a week or so. "Wow, and I thought you looked bad the last time you were in here," she said. "The phrase 'death warmed over' comes to mind. Tell me honestly, Ted, am I making a mistake by pulling you off the graveyard case? Because right now, I'm seriously starting to rethink my decision to give you a proper case." |
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Post by Riley Neves on Dec 11, 2008 22:40:58 GMT -5
Riley had to resist rolling her eyes, and the only reason she did was because she had to remind herself that this was a professional relationship.
"We'll talk. I'll be in touch. In the meantime, remember that you don't have to like me. I don't want to be friends. I just want to be sure one of us doesn't kill the other somehow, in a way we could have prevented."
She gave him a dismissive look that said she didn't want a reply.
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Post by Roland Ferrera on Dec 11, 2008 22:51:20 GMT -5
Roland had no intentions of giving a response. Nonetheless, the frustrated huff still escaped his lips. Her comment, while true, annoyed him, because she apparently thought she was speaking to a rookie. He didn't appreciate her condescending words and tone. She was younger than he was, right? She hadn't been doing the job much longer than he and she thought she had the right to talk to him like that? It was insulting.
Of course, his hostile attitude probably hadn't helped....
He shook his head and tried to get back to the paperwork related to his last mission.
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Post by Ted Tonks on Dec 12, 2008 6:20:52 GMT -5
Ted looked back at angelique, almost dispassionately. He was now used to people telling him he looked like crap.
Part of him wanted to explain that the graveyard had been a waste of his talents. He was a good auror and he knew it.
But part of him wanted to quit too. He wondered what she would do if he just resigned.
"Putting me on something different would keep my mind off of her."
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Post by Angelique St. Clare on Dec 17, 2008 0:28:15 GMT -5
Angelique eyed him warily. Having just talked to Roland, she had expected that her talk with Ted would be easy in comparison. But Ted actually seemed just as angry, if not more angry, than the man who had just left. She didn't think Ted's anger was directed at her, but it could be, if she was not careful.
"As long as you are able to focus, then I have no problem giving you the assignment. Are you OK with having Veronica as a partner? I understand the two of you are friends."
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Post by Ted Tonks on Dec 17, 2008 0:42:25 GMT -5
Ted nodded. "It's fine. I am friends with Veronica." He left it at that. He understood why he wasn't being given a mission like this on his own... hell, he wouldn't even trust himself with that.
Being on a mission where he needed to be aware of things would force him to stop drinking, which was another good thing.
He was barely focused on her, until he sighed and said, "Put me on this assigment, please, or I'm going to be completely useless. I've considered resigning." He said it only to see her reaction. If he got any inclination that she wanted him to, at this point, he would.
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Post by Angelique St. Clare on Dec 17, 2008 1:03:24 GMT -5
Angelique raised her eyebrows at him. Not for one second did she think he was serious about resigning. But she recognized the desperation in his threats.
"Resigning? Was the graveyard job that bad?" she remarked. "Ted, really. You're still on thin ice with me... Your behavior is erratic. And I can't quite imagine what it is you're going through, but threatening to resign isn't really helping your cause. What would you do? Drink all day?"
She sighed and leaned across her desk to look at him. "OK, look. I'll put you on the assignment with Veronica. But if I find out you're not sober while on the job... you won't have to resign. And before you say anything, I want you to understand I have pretty much told the same thing to Andromeda. Right now, neither of you are focusing and I need you to be alert right now. You're a good auror when you focus on the job, so I want to trust you. And I don't want Veronica to have to spend most of her time watching you. So if you keep your mind on the job, there won't be any problem. OK?"
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Post by Ted Tonks on Dec 17, 2008 15:10:53 GMT -5
The angry part of him, which was most of him these days, wanted to fight her and argue. But she had laid things out quite clearly and it all seemed fair, and he couldn't think of anything to argue.
He nodded. "I'll be focused on the job," he said softly, making it a promise. He needed something to focus on after all. And Veronica was likely the only Auror that could put up with him right now, bless her heart. She was a good friend, something he only seemed to realize when he was sober.
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Post by Angelique St. Clare on Dec 17, 2008 15:22:09 GMT -5
Angelique studied him for another half a beat. She was almost tempted to call Andromeda back in here and force the two of them to talk things out. Despite Ted's assurances, she was not completely confident in him right now. But she needed every auror she could get out on the streets, investigating and patrolling. And she did trust Veronica.
"OK. Then you're on the job. But at your earliest convenience, I'd like a brief report one anything you were able to find out on the body-snatching case. As for the Hogsmeade case, I have reliable information from an inside source that something very big is coming up in Hogsmeade. So I need the both of you to be extremely vigilant. Check in often and let me know if you find anything of concern."
She nodded her dismissal of him. "Thanks again, Ted. Would you mind asking Riley Neves to come in?"
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Post by Ted Tonks on Dec 17, 2008 15:32:42 GMT -5
And Ted was dismissed. He didn't know where to go when he left Angelique's office, and for the first time, he thought maybe he would spend one more day searching over grave sites. It was something to do, and he needed to sober up completely.
He nodded and rose from his seat, leaving her office feeling just as defeated as when he went in.
Catching Riley's eyes, he nodded her in.
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Post by Riley Neves on Dec 17, 2008 15:37:02 GMT -5
Riley rose to her feet gracefully, in control of her body like she was in control of everything else.
Stepping into Angelique's office, she nodded a hello and sat down, her eyes never leaving her boss'.
"Ted Tonks said you wanted to see me?" She asked, deciding that she would leave this in Angelique's hands for now.
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Post by Angelique St. Clare on Dec 17, 2008 16:04:19 GMT -5
Angelique smiled with amusement. Riley was ever polite when it came to business, but she knew that the woman could be quite outspoken in her private life. Being much the same way, Angelique rather admired that quality in women, especially in England where there were still some rather antiquated notions concerning a woman's place and proper behavior. Angelique's family may have been British, but she had been raised in America, and she was fiercely proud of the fact.
"What? No accusations or irritated comments about why I'm punishing you with a partner?" she said calmly.
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Post by Riley Neves on Dec 17, 2008 16:20:28 GMT -5
"Of course not," Riley replied. "I trust your leadership, so I trust that you have a reason for giving me a partner. I also trust that any of my inadequecies thus far in my performance will be discussed so that I may improve upon them." She was unaccusing.
Riley didn't mind taking the blame for anything. Blame was a useless thing used to make others feel better, and if it made her job easier, she would take it.
Her eyes stayed still on Angelique, tossing the proverbial ball back in her court.
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Post by Angelique St. Clare on Dec 17, 2008 16:34:19 GMT -5
Angelique nodded. Riley was as controlled as ever when it came to business. The direct opposite of Roland, who was controlled in his personal life. It was why she had chosen to pair the two of them. They would combine to a potent force that would be difficult to stop.
"There are no inadequacies in your performance," Angelique quickly assured her. "Nor are there any in Roland's. Both of you are, quite honestly, two of the best aurors I have, especially considering how young you both are. So before you start thinking that I'm expecting either of you to keep tabs on the other, I assure you, this is not the case. But yes, I do have my reasons why I have partnered the two of you together."
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Post by Riley Neves on Dec 17, 2008 18:53:58 GMT -5
Riley allowed a small frown at this. She meant what she said about trusting Angelique, but that didn't make sense. She and Roland, she could already tell, where like oil and water. They were a terrible match.
She only nodded. "Very well, then."
That was all it took. She wanted Angelique to say more, but if she didn't, Riley would have to trust that as well.
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Post by Angelique St. Clare on Dec 17, 2008 23:58:29 GMT -5
Angelique smiled knowingly. "You're going along with this, because you don't want to challenge me, but in your head, you're thinking I'm crazy," she said. "And I know you have questions that you're not asking, so I'm going to try and answer them for you, anyway."
She paused a moment, looking at Riley carefully. "The two of you both have different work styles that I need for this particular mission. I've got tons of people breathing down my neck to solve this murder, and I need the contrasting work styles to make sure nothing is missed. You see, you are methodical, careful, and detail-oriented. He is... well, he can be kind of a loose cannon. But he's strong and forceful on the job, and I need that for this case. Sort of the good cop-bad cop thing, if you know what I mean. I imagine the two of you will have your fair share of clashes, because your personalities are opposite. But I do need everyone to learn how to work in teams, because we're all in this together. So I'm asking you to do your best."
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