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Post by Roland Ferrera on Feb 17, 2009 14:41:24 GMT -5
He took a couple calming breaths and looked at her. He would have been protective of any woman in this situation, he told himself. Rookwood was an arse, and Roland just didn't like the idea of the guy taking advantage of any woman when he so clearly had no respect for them.
"OK, OK..." he said at last. "I just.... I really hate that guy," he said.
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Post by Riley Neves on Feb 17, 2009 14:53:07 GMT -5
Riley couldn't help but laugh. "You and me both, Roland," she said. She definitely wouldn't be talking to him again if she could avoid it, and she did still need to wind down a bit, but she didn't say either of these things to Roland. The last thing they needed was Roland going off on a Department Head. Aurors or not, they would both get in a lot of trouble for that.
She started walking again, pulling her hair up as she went. "Let's go back to the office. Where you should have been already, by the way."
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Post by Roland Ferrera on Feb 17, 2009 15:05:32 GMT -5
Roland smiled slightly. "Oh, come on. You were acting so odd... even for you. Did you really think I was just going to go back to the office without trying to figure out what you were up to?"
He shook his head. "Well, whatever you did in there... good job. Apparently, I was not equipped to get the information out of him the right way."
He wondered if he would have been as willing to use a similar tactic to get information, if questioning a woman. Moreover, he wondered silently whether such a tactic would work on the likes of Arachne or Bellatrix...
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Post by Riley Neves on Feb 17, 2009 15:29:44 GMT -5
"I wasn't actually expecting you to care," Riley told him, honestly. If she knew the thoughts going through his head, she would have told him no right away. Besides, she didn't sleep with Rookwood. Like she said, there was only so far she was willing to go.
"Don't take it personally. You know, the more I think about it, I wonder if he was fully aware what he was giving away. Rookwood is not stupid. He is many things, but not stupid."
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Post by Roland Ferrera on Feb 17, 2009 15:59:39 GMT -5
Roland smiled. "What can I say? If one of us is going to act dodgy, I expect it to be me, not you." He shrugged. "Look, I saw where you were going, and I needed to make sure you'd be OK. Like I said, I really don't like that guy, and I'd be worried about any one who went in to talk to him alone."
He kept walking with her, and they were now almost to the entrance hall. "But I know why you didn't tell me what you were doing. I never would have let you do it if you'd told me about it ahead of time."
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Post by Riley Neves on Feb 17, 2009 17:10:42 GMT -5
"I figured you wouldn't," Riley said, nodding slightly. She knew Roland would have stopped her immidiately. "I don't get Fiona's loyalty. I really don't." But she felt sorry for the girl. To be that hopelessly in love with someone that was just toying with you... she shook her head. It hurt when you finally realized.
"That's sweet, though Roland. I don't know what to do with nice you."
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Post by Roland Ferrera on Feb 17, 2009 17:33:05 GMT -5
"She's setting herself up for a heartbreak, that's for sure," Roland agreed. "It's a shame, really... She's a sweet girl, if a little scattered."
At her second comment, he let out a slight laugh. "You know, some people actually think I'm a really nice guy," he pointed out. "I've got them all fooled. But not you... you know better."
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Post by Riley Neves on Feb 17, 2009 17:45:42 GMT -5
There was something else mixed with his sarcasm... she couldn't quite read it. Resignation? Or was he just tired of the way the clashed all the time? She couldn't blame him for either. Still, his comment made her laugh.
"Well, now that I have you figured out, I think we'll be able to work together just fine. I just feel bad for those poor people you have fooled."
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Post by Roland Ferrera on Feb 17, 2009 17:57:40 GMT -5
He glanced at her out of the corner of his eyes, a playful grin still lingering on his face. "Well, you'd better watch out. I might just have to turn my charm on you and see if I can get you as deluded as the rest of them."
Even he recognized that he was kind of all over the place in his behavior with her. She seemed to bring about the most drastic mood swings in him, and he couldn't quite understand it himself. But the truth was, he was a many-layered person. He could be a nice guy, or he could be a jerk... it all depended on the kind of mood he was in at the time.
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Post by Riley Neves on Feb 17, 2009 18:06:50 GMT -5
If that was the case, then Riley had the uncanny ability to bring out the jerk moods better than any other mood. It was a shame, because she could see herself really liking the Roland she was with now.
Maybe they could stay like this for a while. They had been getting along since leaving Angelique's office. Maybe he really was the nice guy he said he was.
By now, the had reached the edge of the school grounds. "See you back at the office?"
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Post by Roland Ferrera on Feb 17, 2009 18:15:37 GMT -5
He glanced at her for a second, wondering what she was thinking. He was also liking the easy way they were talking to each other, and he was even almost willing to admit that they made a pretty good team.
Almost.
"Yeah, OK," he said. "I'll see you there." He gave her a quick grin, then apparated.
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Post by Riley Neves on Feb 17, 2009 18:23:09 GMT -5
Riley sighed, frowning when he apparated, and she looked towards the forest, then back at the castle.
A second later, she apparated after Roland and met up with him in the office.
"I've just realized we still have so much work to do," she said, sighing again.
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Post by Roland Ferrera on Feb 17, 2009 18:51:53 GMT -5
He was standing by the elevators in the approved apparating area when she arrived. He looked at her, noticing for the first time that she looked tired. It had been a long day. "Yeah, we do," he agreed. "But we're making progress. I honestly think we're on the right track."
They walked toward the auror office in silence, but as they entered the office, he turned to her, putting a hand on her shoulder. "You look exhausted. Why don't you go home early? I can finish up the notes from today, and we'll go over them first thing tomorrow morning, OK?"
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Post by Riley Neves on Feb 18, 2009 16:33:10 GMT -5
Watching him as he told her to go home, Riley could see what others saw in him. For whatever reason, they clashed, but he was a good guy. It was a shame they just didn't know how to deal with each other.
She shook her head. "No, I can't. I've got some nervous energy I need to work out, and even if I go home, I won't be able to stop thinking about the case. I'm fine, let's do the notes."
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Post by Roland Ferrera on Feb 18, 2009 18:16:53 GMT -5
He hesitated a moment, looking her over. He could understand the nervous energy, but he was still feeling a little frustrated that she hadn't told him exactly what had happened with Rookwood. As useful as the information was, it bothered him more than he could really explain that he didn't know exactly what she'd done to get it.
"OK," he said at last. "We'll work on the notes. My desk or yours? Or would you prefer a neutral corner?" he added with a lopsided grin.
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Post by Riley Neves on Feb 18, 2009 18:48:09 GMT -5
Riley cracked a smile and then laughed a moment later. It sounded like a pick up line or a joe about how they went at it, and either way, it made her smile.
"My desk. I like home court advantage," She said, nodding towards her desk to the left. "You know, last time we were here, we were ready to rip each other's throats out." That very morning they had been volatile and angry, and now look at them. Being his partner really was exhausting.
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Post by Roland Ferrera on Feb 18, 2009 18:59:52 GMT -5
He chuckled as well. "Fair enough," he said, following her to her desk.
It was strange how they had changed so completely in just the space of a day. Although he was known for being mercurial, few people were capable of bringing him to such highs and lows in such a short space of time. He wasn't exactly sure why she seemed to bring out the worst in him... and the best.
"You probably shouldn't bring it up. You've just jinxed us," he teased as he pulled up an extra chair and sat down.
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