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Post by Roland Ferrera on Jan 12, 2009 23:34:28 GMT -5
Roland awoke the next morning on the couch, still shirtless. Sometime before falling asleep, he'd finished half the bottle of wine, then spilled the rest on the carpet. And yet, when he woke, he was still furious at Riley.
How dare she try to butt into his life? What right did she have? She had made assumptions about what happened and wrote him off as being careless. And yet, he had been an auror longer than she had... Did she really think he didn't know what to say and do and how to be sure he could trust someone?
He was absolutely convinced that her excuses about his compromising the case or the department were just covering for her moral objections. And OK... he could understand those. He even sort of agreed with them. But she still didn't have the right to lecture him about his private affairs.
He let out a sigh and got up from the sofa. He had a crick in his neck, and his shoulder was stiff from laying in the awkward position. He stretched, then bent down to pick up his discarded shirt. Pulling out his wand, he also performed a quick cleaning spell to get out the wine stain.
A quick scan of the kitchen uncovered some stale cereal and spoiled milk. But other than his mother's leftover package, there was nothing edible in the house. He sighed. He was going to have to go shopping.
Finally he gave up and headed into the bedroom to get ready for work. He was still early, which was good. He wanted to get to Angelique's office before Riley did.
He took a quick dose of hangover potion before taking a quick shower and getting dressed. By the time he was ready to leave, there was no indication of the mess he had been the night before. Now, if only he could keep his temper and make his case calmly and rationally...
He locked up his apartment, then apparated directly to the Ministry. Without even stopping at his own desk, he marched straight towards Angelique's office.
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Post by Riley Neves on Jan 13, 2009 6:46:54 GMT -5
Riley had a feeling that he would try and outdo her in some way, and would probably try to get to Angelique's office first, as if to make some kind of ridiculous point. Well, she wouldn't let him make it. It was childish and unnecessary.
She had barely slept the night before because she was so stressed about how to ask Angelique to reassign Roland. She had never done anything like that before, and she didn't even know where to begin.
Around two in the morning, she finally got up and started drafting out her arguement, listing all of her points and possible arguements from Angelique.
Now, she sat oustide Angelique's office, a cup of coffee in hand, waiting patiently though she was still nervous about doing this. When she saw Roland coming towards her, she glanced at the clock and smiled. He tried to come early.
"She's not in yet," Riley said calmly, and took a sip of her coffee, her eyes mockingly on Roland.
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Post by Roland Ferrera on Jan 13, 2009 11:02:59 GMT -5
Roland pressed his lips together in annoyance. Merlin, how he hated her. He should have known she would expect him to be early, and plan to be here even earlier. She just had to show him up. Her calm voice and expression mocked him, as did the cup of coffee she was drinking. He hadn't had time to stop for coffee and a muffin on the way, and he was starving and in need of caffeine.
But he took a deep breath and kept his face serene. He could be calm and unflappable, too. He could control himself.
"Fine," he said, his voice light, as if he didn't care. "I'll just sit and wait."
He sat down in the chair next to her, his posture stiff and awkward.
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Post by Riley Neves on Jan 13, 2009 15:32:00 GMT -5
Riley was silent for a moment, watching him next to her out of the corner of her eye, when a small bubble of laughter escaped her lips.
She held up a hand, leaning away from him and crossing her legs. "I'm sorry," she said, still smiling, and she shook her head. She wasn't going to explain herself, but Merlin they were being ridiculous. The two of them sitting so poised next to each other, each seething with hatred, and the look of pain on his face... it was too much.
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Post by Roland Ferrera on Jan 13, 2009 15:44:06 GMT -5
Roland gritted his teeth at the sound of her laughter. He wanted to ignore her, to pretend she wasn't even there. But then she spoke. He turned to her slowly, his eyebrow raised. "I'm sorry, too," he said, his voice deceptively mild. "I don't exactly see what's so funny."
He hoped Angelique would come in soon. His stomach was churning, and he really needed to eat something soon.
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Post by Riley Neves on Jan 13, 2009 16:05:55 GMT -5
"No, you wouldn't," Riley said, shaking her head and knowing Roland was probably beyond irritated at this point. In a sadistic way, that made her happy.
However, she too wished Angelique would arrive soon. More and more Aurors were showing up, all filing into the office as their day started. There were a handful that she didn't see, naturally... the ones on patrol. But that meant that Angelique should be arriving soon and hopefully they could both move on.
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Post by Angelique St. Clare on Jan 13, 2009 16:19:57 GMT -5
Angelique was feeling tired and stressed as she arrived at the Ministry. She apparated into the approved area and then hurried down the hall towards the Auror office, carefully balancing her cup of coffee, a bagel, and a file filled with reports that she had taken home to study the night before.
She nodded hello to a few other Ministry workers as she went, then finally rounded the corner into the Auror office.
Immediately, her eyes fell on Riley and Roland, both sitting uncomfortably outside of her office. She let out a tiny sigh, having expected this. Well, she had expected it from Roland, not from Riley. He must have really done something to annoy her. Still, Angelique put on a bright smile as she approached them.
"Well, don't you two look bright-eyed and alert this morning?" she said. "Don't tell me you've solved the case already?"
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Post by Roland Ferrera on Jan 13, 2009 16:36:30 GMT -5
Roland stood up immediately. If anyone had looked closely at him, they would have noticed that his green eyes looked tired, and were tinged with red from drinking the night before.
"Actually, I was hoping to talk with you privately," he said, his voice calm. "I'd like to be reassigned... I want to go back on the case I was working on before. I'll even work with you, if that's what you want... But I want to finish what I started. Please."
He didn't so much as glance at Riley as he spoke. Although his request was partially because of her, he didn't want to give her the satisfaction of knowing that. The truth was, he had other reasons why he wanted to be reassigned.
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Post by Riley Neves on Jan 13, 2009 17:55:37 GMT -5
Riley refrained from rolling her eyes and remained seated, speaking when she thought Roland was finished.
"No, we have not already solved the murder, though I do have some promising leads." She purposely left Roland out of this. She remained seated, keeping her cool and speaking in a restrained voice. "However, we are here for much the same reason. I would also like Roland to be reassigned."
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Post by Roland Ferrera on Jan 13, 2009 18:50:20 GMT -5
Roland bristled at her choice of words, but refused to look at her. Instead, he quickly cast an eye around the office, to make sure none of his family members were around to hear her implication that he was somehow not doing a good job on his current assignment. Even though he wanted to to taken off the case, hearing her say it that way was an insult that was difficult to bear.
Yes, he had lost control with Ms. Weaver. He'd had extenuating circumstances that she didn't deserve to know about. And he would do better, if given the chance. But this wasn't even about the incident with Ms. Weaver. It was because she'd caught him in a compromising situation and was uncomfortable with it. That was all.
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Post by Angelique St. Clare on Jan 13, 2009 18:55:15 GMT -5
Angelique let out a sigh and looked from one of them to the other. Honestly, it had only been a day! She really expected them both to try a little harder than this. She knew of Roland's concerns, and she even understood how he felt. But she thought it best to give him a different assignment, for his own safety.
But Riley, she expected better of. It was unlike her ever to complain about anything. What could be the problem?
"OK, look. I'll talk to you both, one at a time," she said at last. "Riley first. Come in." She waved Riley in and nodded dismissively at Roland.
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Post by Riley Neves on Jan 13, 2009 20:02:09 GMT -5
Riley did not look at Roland as she stood up, though she was pleased that she was chosen first. It would have given Roland too much pleasure for it to be the other way around, and she didn't want to deal with his snide little look that she could picture in her mind.
She closed the door behind her once they were both in the office, and took a seat on the other side of Angelique's desk.
There were a thousand things she wanted to say, but she kept her mouth shut for the moment.
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Post by Roland Ferrera on Jan 13, 2009 20:10:44 GMT -5
Roland was annoyed that she was chosen first, but he didn't let it show on his face. He didn't want Angelique to catch him giving off an attitude. Besides, having a short break would enable him to run down to the cafeteria and grab a cup of what they called coffee and maybe a muffin or scone. Angelique's bagel had not escaped his attention, but he had refrained from staring at it.
With a quiet sigh, he nodded at Angelique and turned away without looking at Riley.
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Post by Angelique St. Clare on Jan 13, 2009 20:14:16 GMT -5
Angelique watched as he left, then went into her office with Riley. She sat down at her desk, setting her files down in the corner before pausing to take a bite of her bagel and a sip from her coffee. As she did so, she eyed Riley quietly, trying to figure out just what was going on.
"OK," she said at last, "why don't you tell me what's going on?"
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Post by Riley Neves on Jan 13, 2009 20:22:12 GMT -5
Riley leaned forward. "Angelique, I have never complained about any assignment. I have always asked what I've done. Always. So this one time... this is the first time I have ever asked for anything, or complained. Please take that into consideration."
That being said, she sighed slowly. "I would like to work on this case alone. I was told that I wouldn't have to babysit Roland, that he would work professionally, that we could work together. I do babysit him, he loses his cool, and most of the time we're together is spent with him telling me I think I'm better than him. It is not conducive to a working environment."
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Post by Angelique St. Clare on Jan 13, 2009 22:08:16 GMT -5
Angelique listened carefully, nibbling on her bagel with her eyes fixed on Riley. When she was finished with her little speech, Angelique set down her bagel and took a drink from her coffee cup, considering her next words for a moment.
"OK," she said at last. "For argument's sake, did you attempt to approach this partnership with the belief that you had to--to use your word--babysit him? Because if you did, that might have affected the way you acted towards him, which might have, in turn, caused him to make those accusations."
Before Riley could respond, Angelique held up her finger. "No... don't answer that. Just think about it for a second while I talk."
Pausing for another sip of coffee, she continued. "I did warn you that Roland tended to fly off the handle while working. I think that made you believe that you needed to babysit him, which is not the case. Now, you've only been working together for a day. What did he do that was so bad?"
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Post by Riley Neves on Jan 14, 2009 4:21:08 GMT -5
Despite Angelique telling her to be quiet, Riley wanted to answer that question. She was complaining... she might as well go all out.
"Angelique... when I was here and you were explaining the reason why I had a partner, you said that neither he nor I had done anything wrong, that he had a tendency to fly off the handle, but my job was not- to use your word- watch him. I held up my end of the deal. I went into the interrogations yesterday believing that he would do his job, and I would be there in case he got out of line but not for that purpose alone. So no, I did not automatically assume that my job was to watch him. Although, I'll be honest... I think he automatically assumed my job was to watch him, and he proceeded to act like a scorned child.
"Not only did he fly off the handle while speaking to Ms. Weaver, but he asked me twice, in the middle of our interrogations, if he could run a personal errand.
"Then I found him last night inebriated and with some girl. And while I could forgive him that, what if she had been the wrong girl? She wasn't. But let's say she had been... he was under the influence. Who knows what he would have given away? His mind is obviously not on the assignment, and I would rather continue it alone than have to do my work plus whatever he messes up."
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Post by Angelique St. Clare on Jan 14, 2009 9:20:04 GMT -5
Angelique continued to listen, keeping her face impassive. Of course she knew much more about Roland's situation than Riley did, and she had a different interpretation of his behavior. It was all too obvious to her what was distracting him.
"OK," she said at last. "You have some valid points here. But I think I understand what is going on with him, and frankly I'm not surprised. I warned him to keep his head on this case, but he is having a hard time giving up the last one. I will speak with him about that. I have my reasons why I don't want him on that case. I don't suppose he's told you anything about it?"
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Post by Riley Neves on Jan 14, 2009 18:22:37 GMT -5
Riley sighed. "No, he hasn't, and frankly, I don't care. The only reason I even know about it is because it's interferring with *this* case. I've heard rumors he let a couple of Death Eaters get away. I don't care. We all make mistakes. I can't work with him if he's going to keep reliving that mistake during this assignment."
She saw the look in her boss' face and she knew Roland wasn't going to get reassigned. It was sadistically unfair to her.
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Post by Angelique St. Clare on Jan 14, 2009 19:16:28 GMT -5
Angelique shook her head. "There's more to it than that," she said gently. "It's not about a mistake..."
She let out a sigh, unsure of how much to say on the subject. "Look... I'm sorry he's being difficult. I will talk to him again. But I really think that the two of you need to work on your communication. If the two of you had been put on guard duty at the school, you'd have to work together, too. I need to know that any two people in my department are capable of working together. We all have the same goals here. It's only been a day, Riley. I need you to try a little longer to work with him. Can you please do that for me?"
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