|
|
Post by Cara Ferrera on Dec 21, 2008 0:22:10 GMT -5
"Actually," Cara replied, leaning back in her seat. "I rather hope Jamie is like you. You don't give yourself enough credit, Roland."
Roland was strong and skilled, capable and a good child. The more she saw Jamie turning into Roland, the happier she was. He could have been like Cyrus, and then where would they be?
"Well, with you on the case, I have no doubt that you'll find out who did it," she assured her son with a nod. "Just be careful."
|
|
|
|
Post by Roland Ferrera on Dec 21, 2008 2:05:57 GMT -5
"I'm hardly perfect," Roland said quietly. Back in his days at Hogwarts, he had often had a tendency to get into trouble, mainly out of boredom or a desire to go against authority. Yet he had always been responsible about his studies and his grades had been consistently good. When it was important, he always gave it his full attention.
The murder case, however, still worried him. It wasn't the kind of case he normally did. It required investigation and the studying of clues, which really wasn't his thing. Riley, he thought, was more suited to it. He assumed his job in the assignment would be primarily to conduct interrogations--something which he was extremely good at. He wondered if his parents knew about that. Would they think him so perfect then?
"I'll be careful," he replied. "Truthfully, I'm more worried about my new partner than I am about catching the murderer. Riley and I don't seem particularly well-matched, and I'm afraid we may wind up killing each other."
|
|
|
|
Post by Cara Ferrera on Dec 21, 2008 2:22:04 GMT -5
Cara raised an eyebrow. "You know, your father and I said that very thing about each other when we first met, too." She left it at that, not wanting to be a motherly matchmaker just now. The timing seemed odd. "You don't have to like each other, anyway. You just have to work together. I'm sure Angelique had a reason for pairing you, even if I do question her decisions sometimes."
|
|
|
|
Post by Roland Ferrera on Dec 21, 2008 3:00:10 GMT -5
Roland pressed his lips together tightly at this. The implication in his mother's comment was very obvious. He was prepared to protest, but she quickly and deftly shifted the subject. If he were to bring it back up again, it would look like he was trying too hard to deny something.
"I rather wish she had let me keep chasing after the death eaters I was after before. I don't really like leaving unfinished business, if you know what I mean. I won't complain about being put on the murder case... but I wish I could have stayed on the other case." He paused to take a few more bites of his food. He hadn't been eating very steadily and everything was starting to get cold. "How do you think Cyrus will do on his first case? I'm rather relieved he'll be working with Hayden."
|
|
|
|
Post by Mathieu Ferrera on Dec 21, 2008 23:02:12 GMT -5
Mathieu knew his son rather well, and he could tell by the way Roland was talking, he was very frustrated about being taken off of that case. It wasn't often that Roland failed at something, and on the rare occasion that he did, he insisted on coming back to it again and again until he got it right. This mission was an example. The "unfinished business" was going to bother him for a while. "Well, think of it this way, son, she's put you on a very important case. You need to give the new one your full attention, and let the other one go. I'm sure Angelique can handle it."
He reached across the table and put his hand on Roland's. "No matter what happens, we're proud of you. You know that."
At the mention of Cyrus, however, Mathieu's expression soured. "Well, Hayden is certainly capable for his age. He's only been at the job for a few months, but I understand he's been doing quite well. But that is an awfully difficult job for a first mission for Cyrus. I rather wish he'd been assigned with us to guard duty at Hogwarts."
|
|
|
|
Post by Cara Ferrera on Dec 23, 2008 5:24:55 GMT -5
"There are too many Aurors to let those Death Eaters get away. I know you want to be the one that brings them in, Roland, but take solace in the fact that they will be brought it. Your father's right; you need to focus on your current mission. Ms. Neves will need you."
She knew her son well too, which really only made her worry about him more.
Cara sighed. "I wish we'd just stop bringing the topic of Cyrus up. Frankly, I'm proud that he's on this mission and I hope he does well. I also hope that.... girl doesn't distract him from his duties."
|
|
|
|
Post by Roland Ferrera on Dec 23, 2008 15:16:48 GMT -5
Roland pressed his lips together. He knew his parents were right, but they also didn't know the whole story. In his mind, "bringing them in" was a dangerous prospect. While he understood the importance of capturing a few of these guys, he also knew that, as the death eaters became more powerful and organized, they were going to do whatever it took to protect their own. Including making threats to people who could act as witnesses, like himself.
So far, his fears seemed to be unfounded, yet he was still worried. The only thing more important to him than his job was his family. They were his Achilles heel, and if the death eaters were to figure that out...
He forced these paranoid thoughts from his mind and smiled slightly at his parents. "Well, I'm sorry if Cyrus is a more interesting topic of conversation than I am," he said with a shrug.
|
|
|
|
Post by Cara Ferrera on Dec 26, 2008 1:46:25 GMT -5
Cara rolled her eyes. "Well if it takes running away and ruining your life to make you a more interesting topic, I'd rather you didn't, darling."
She loved Cyrus so much, she just wished he would realize he was throwing his life away. She only wanted what was best for him.
"Anyway, Roland... I imagine we'll see you at the school at least for part of your investigation? I'm sure Ama and Jamie would love to see you if you could."
|
|
|
|
Post by Roland Ferrera on Dec 26, 2008 2:06:25 GMT -5
Roland had to bite his tongue at his mother's comments. He did not think Cyrus was ruining his life, except by not marrying Lina and making Mara legitimate. But he really didn't want to argue about it with her anymore. "I wouldn't do that, Mum," he said simply. "You know that. I'm far too practical."
And then, because he somehow couldn't help himself, he continued, "In fact, I really don't see myself getting married or having children at all."
|
|
|
|
Post by Cara Ferrera on Dec 26, 2008 2:20:02 GMT -5
Cara smiled, thinking that yes, he was ridiculously practical, and he must have gotten that from his father. In fact, she was sure Jamie had gotten that from Mathieu as well.
But her smile faded at his next comment.
"You don't mean that, Roland. You just haven't found the right girl yet. And you know how badly I want a grandchild... I was kind of hoping you would help me out there."
|
|
|
|
Post by Roland Ferrera on Dec 26, 2008 2:24:54 GMT -5
It took every effort he had to keep from rolling his eyes. "You have a grandchild," he said. "And she's beautiful. But Mum... I'm serious. I'm not planning to get married... I don't even date. I'm too focused on my work to deal with a relationship. So don't hang your hopes on me, OK? I'm content with my life the way it is."
|
|
|
|
Post by Cara Ferrera on Dec 26, 2008 2:30:41 GMT -5
"She is not Cyrus'," Cara replied, determined to believe that Lina had lied. No one could have blamed her if she had slept around. Cyrus was supposed to be a summer fling. But she hated that Lina was pinning a child on her son.
She sighed. "Yes, I know, and I understand. I just ask that you keep an open mind. You could find someone, you never know. I said the same thing. Granted, I was very young when I said it, and I found your father very early on, but still..."
|
|
|
|
Post by Mathieu Ferrera on Dec 26, 2008 2:43:42 GMT -5
Mathieu looked back and forth between his wife and his eldest son. The two of them were both so incredibly stubborn, and it was very difficult to get either of them to change their minds when they had it set on something.
Cara still refused to believe that the baby was Cyrus's, but Mathieu was pretty much convinced that it was. It was so typical of Cyrus to make such a mistake and then refuse to own up to it by marrying the girl. But Mathieu had long since stopped trying to convince Cara of this. Cara would not believe until she had proof.
Roland, meanwhile, was equally stubborn. And he had no doubt that Roland meant every word that he said. But of course, things could change if he happened to meet the right woman...
"Your mother's right, Roland," he said. "Don't completely shut out the idea, OK? Things can change in an instant. We just want you to be happy."
|
|
|
|
Post by Roland Ferrera on Dec 26, 2008 2:56:42 GMT -5
Roland would never consider himself to be a happy person. Even as a child, he had been incredibly serious and hadn't laughed very often. This was why he used the word "content" to describe his life.
"Look, I'm not the romantic, sappy type. You know me well enough to know that. I really don't ever see that changing. But I'll tell you what. I'll promise to keep an open mind, if you will. You said you wouldn't mind if Cyrus brought the baby here to see you. Just keep your mind open about her. I guarantee she'll win you over. Hell, even if she's not his biological child, she's beautiful and innocent and doesn't deserve this. If you do that, then I promise I won't completely shut out the idea of getting married."
|
|
|
|
Post by Cara Ferrera on Dec 26, 2008 3:05:20 GMT -5
Cara sighed, frustrated beyond belief with this conversation.
"Yes, yes, I know. And he can bring her. In fact, I will send Cyrus an owl asking the *two* of them over for Christmas dinner. And I'll even agree that the child in this in innocent and deserves better... she needs parents that aren't still children themselves."
|
|
|
|
Post by Roland Ferrera on Dec 26, 2008 3:19:16 GMT -5
Roland pressed his lips together. The emphasis on "two" did not escape his notice. That meant she was deliberately not inviting Lina over for Christmas dinner.... meaning that the girl would spend the holiday alone. He felt sorry for Lina... She didn't deserve this at all. Still... whatever steps they could take would be worth it.
"It's a start," he said. He let out a sigh, then reached across the table to put his hand on his mother's. "Look... I don't mean to be pushy about this. I'm only doing it because right now, I don't see how anything is going to change. Cyrus can be as stubborn as you, and right now, he's refusing to talk to you. Either of you. So I'm here doing it. It's just that you all mean so much to me. You know that, right?"
His voice had softened during this, and he smiled slightly.
|
|
|
|
Post by Cara Ferrera on Dec 26, 2008 3:29:38 GMT -5
Cara was on edge and ready to argue with Roland more, but she couldn't bring herself to do it after what followed.
Her own tone and expression softened, and she turned her hand so that she could squeeze Roland's. "You mean the world to us, too, darling," she told her eldest son softly. "And I'm sure Cyrus appreciates your help... honestly, he just needs to make a decision. His hesitation to do so only proves that he doesn't want to marry her. If he truly did, I would deal with it. You understand that, don't you? I don't want him to settle and throw his life away for something he doesn't want with all his heart. I wouldn't want that for you or Ama or Jamie, either."
|
|
|
|
Post by Roland Ferrera on Dec 26, 2008 3:37:46 GMT -5
Apparently, he was as good at the guilt technique as his mother was. But his comments were genuine and from the heart. And since he so seldom voiced his emotions this way, it meant all the more when he did.
"I know, Mum. And I understand. When it comes down to it, we all want the same thing... for him to make a decision, one way or another." He gave her hand a final squeeze before pulling away.
|
|
|
|
Post by Cara Ferrera on Dec 26, 2008 3:45:34 GMT -5
And hopefully ending the conversation about Cyrus.
She squeezed his hand back, and then gave her husband a soft smile. She hated how quiet he was during the whole thing, and wondered if he wasn't going soft on the Cyrus things. She would have to ask him later, when Roland had left.
"Do you need more tea, or maybe something different? Wine?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Roland Ferrera on Dec 27, 2008 0:06:34 GMT -5
Roland smiled and shook his head. "No, really, Mum. I'm fine. Dinner was delicious, as always." He gestured to his plate, which was only about half-empty. "I really should visit more often... I'm a terrible cook, and I usually end up eating junk food. I forget what a proper home-cooked meal tastes like."
|
|
