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Post by Roland Ferrera on Mar 15, 2009 1:20:50 GMT -5
"It really doesn't need sugar," he said. He picked up the mug and took a quick sip, breathing in the soothing aroma of the spearmint.
Then he glanced at her. "You don't have to say it. My kitchen is a wreck. I really don't spend a lot of time in there. I'm not even sure what all is in there, actually." His expression was sheepish.
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Post by Riley Neves on Mar 15, 2009 1:24:30 GMT -5
"I wasn't going to say it, Roland," Riley said, sitting down again and holding her own tea in her lap. She was letting it cool off. Coffee or tea, she liked it lukewarm at best, but she liked holding the cups when they were still hot.
"In fact, I was thinking about bringing your chips out here, because believe it or not, I'm still kind of hungry after your mother's dinner." She was being very warm towards him. Berating him about his poor eating habits wasn't going to help anything right now.
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Post by Roland Ferrera on Mar 15, 2009 1:32:52 GMT -5
"Don't tell my mother that," he said. "She'll be crushed. But anyway, the chips are pretty new. I bought them about a week ago, and I haven't opened the bag. They're probably the freshest thing in there. I have a bad habit of buying things, then forgetting about them."
Actually, he had a lot of bad habits, and she'd already seen most of them. He was just lucky that his mother didn't know about them, or she'd drag him back home.
"Anyway, I wanted to thank you. For staying tonight. I know I was an arse at the beginning of the night. I just... I guess I was anticipating the worst."
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Post by Riley Neves on Mar 15, 2009 1:38:23 GMT -5
"Hmm," she said. "Well, I might be tempted to go back for those chips," she said, smiling lightly.
She caught her breath for just a moment when he thanked her, thinking that he somehow meant that he was thanking her for staying here, and that he wanted her to stay the night. She realized quickly what he did mean, though, and almost laughed at herself for thinking otherwise.
"You were expecting the worst... from me?" She asked, raising her eyebrows questioningly.
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Post by Roland Ferrera on Mar 15, 2009 1:53:00 GMT -5
He shook his head. "No, not from you. From my family." He paused to take a sip of the tea, before raising his eyes to meet hers. "In case you haven't noticed, they're extremely nosy. Jamie and my father are fine, and most of my uncle Judah's family. But my mother and sister... even Cyrus has a tendency to pry. Mainly because he knows how much it bugs me."
Shrugging, he wrapped his hands around his mug to prevent him from being tempted to reach out to her. "They weren't as bad as they could have been, actually..."
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Post by Riley Neves on Mar 15, 2009 1:59:28 GMT -5
"They had a lot going on," Riley said, unsure if she was defending them or making excuses for them. Either way, they weren't her family. "Your mum especially... I think I was the least of her concerns."
But if she knew at all what Ama had done, or the kiss they shared after that, she had a feeling more attention would have been spent on her and Roland.
"Look, don't apologize for tonight. I know it was a handful, but I actually had a good time. My family get togethers are never like that."
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Post by Roland Ferrera on Mar 15, 2009 2:09:26 GMT -5
He chuckled. "You had a good time? Really?" Looking at her in disbelief, he saw that she looked sincere.
"Well, I'm glad that you did. I was hoping you would. It felt sort of nice... having you there. I've been known to go through our family get-togethers without saying a word to anyone. I liked having you to talk to. Especially since we weren't arguing."
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Post by Riley Neves on Mar 15, 2009 2:14:52 GMT -5
"Yeah, you're a nice guy when you're not biting my head off," She teased him, bringing the mug up so that she could blow on the tea.
"I hope you don't mind that I made myself a cup, too," she added, suddenly feeling odd that she did, and she didn't realize just how tired she was until she took a sip. It was soothing... it made her feel the exhaustion she hadn't before. She wouldn't admit it to him, but she had been pretty wound up throughout the night.
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Post by Roland Ferrera on Mar 15, 2009 2:29:12 GMT -5
"Maybe I'm starting to fool you, too," he said teasingly. "And of course I don't mind. You're staying because I asked you to. You're doing me a favor."
Giving her a sideways look, he continued. "I think we're always going to argue a little. But hopefully, we'll start to understand each other better, and the arguments won't be so bad. It just takes a little time. And for what it's worth, Riley... the fact that I brought you in on this... of all the aurors at that party tonight... I hope you understand that it's because I trust you. And I do respect you. I know you think I don't... But I do. You're good at what you do."
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Post by Riley Neves on Mar 15, 2009 2:35:31 GMT -5
"You're trying to apologize again," She observed. At least, she thought he was, but she was pretty sure that kiss was enough peace between them. It was all they needed to say.
She looked away from him. She needed to forget that kiss. She needed to forget it ever happened, because it wasn't going to happen again.
She stifled a yawn and leaned back so that her back was on the arm of the couch. "Believe me... I know it means something that you trust me with this. I just hope I don't let you down."
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Post by Roland Ferrera on Mar 15, 2009 2:47:04 GMT -5
Roland was thinking of the kiss, too. But what he was thinking was that he didn't know if he could live without kissing her again. He'd made a promise... one he didn't know if he could keep. He didn't want to keep it.
He watched as she stretched out on his sofa, which was actually pretty roomy. He was keeping her late, and she was tired. He should send her home. But he didn't want to.
"You won't let me down," he said with confidence. "So, what do you think, Riley? Can we call ourselves friends yet?"
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Post by Riley Neves on Mar 15, 2009 2:54:29 GMT -5
His confidence in her was actually a lot of pressure, and she suddenly made it her mission to help him get Blake and the other two Death Eaters caught. He was trusting her to help, and she was going to help, no matte what it took.
She nodded. "I think we've been something of friends for a while now, Roland," Riley told him, and she ran a hand through her hair, wishing she had something now to tie it up with. "I'll be more patient with you... if you can do the same."
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Post by Roland Ferrera on Mar 15, 2009 11:07:40 GMT -5
Roland was also starting to relax, thanks to the soothing properties of the tea, and he leaned back, closing his eyes for a moment. "Friends who fight a lot," he commented. "I'll take it. I want us to be friends, not enemies. I'll try to be more patient, too. I have a feeling I'm going to need you on my side."
He opened one eye and peered over at her. She seemed to be pulling her hair back, as if she wished she had it up, the way it normally was. "You look nice with your hair down," he blurted out.
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Post by Riley Neves on Mar 15, 2009 11:14:07 GMT -5
"I have a feeling you could use everyone on your side that you can get," Riley returned. She wasn't going to theorize right now, because she didn't want him thinking about this until tomorrow, but she was worried. About him, about his family... and she made a note to be a bit more vigilent herself. "I'm not going to leave you to go through this alone, Roland." He trusted her to help... she was going to help.
His compliment caused her to look up, and for the first time since being in his apartment, she thought back to what Geoffrey had told her. She took a deep breath. "Thanks," she said as she exhaled, and moved her hands away from her hair. "I'm just not used to it."
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Post by Roland Ferrera on Mar 15, 2009 11:29:13 GMT -5
He was still smiling sleepily as he turned his head to look at her. "You know, you're not like I thought you were at first," he said. "I really didn't like you at first. I guess you probably felt the same about me. Maybe sometimes you still do. But... I'm actually kind of glad Angelique refused to reassign me."
He eyed her quietly but didn't say anything else. When he was tired or drunk, that was usually when he was at his most open and honest. Right now, he was a little of both.
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Post by Riley Neves on Mar 15, 2009 11:33:45 GMT -5
Riley lifted her chin and smiled, taking another sip of the tea. "What did you think I was like, Roland?" she asked.
Roland was exactly like she thought he was from the very beginning. She had detested the idea of having to babysit him, even though Angelique refused to call it that, and maybe that was why she hated him so much. He argued and got under her skin, but who didn't at one time or another? He was caring, noble guy with a lot going on. She could understand that.
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Post by Roland Ferrera on Mar 15, 2009 11:42:40 GMT -5
Roland's smile was sheepish. "I believe I called you a self-righteous know it all. I don't think I said it to your face, though... did I?" He shook his head. "If I did, I'm sorry. I thought you were one of those women who tried so hard to prove themselves in their careers that they forget how to be a woman. But that isn't you at all. You're good at what you do, because you care. When it comes down to it, we're really not that different, Riley."
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Post by Riley Neves on Mar 15, 2009 11:57:11 GMT -5
"I almost don't want to admit how on the nose some of that is... I do try to prove myself a lot, but it's because I know I'm good at what I do, and I hate when other people tell me I'm not. And most the time, I think I do forget how to be a girl... at work. I think I do just fine in my private life."
She smiled assuringly, however. "But no... you would remember if you had said that to my face. She yawned again, sinking down into his couch a little. She was going to stay until he told her not to, but neither of them could hide their half lidded eyes.
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Post by Roland Ferrera on Mar 15, 2009 12:14:16 GMT -5
His eyes were closed now, but his head was still turned in her direction. "Yeah, I suppose if I'd said that to you, we would have argued about it. But you know, we've argued about a lot of things, and I can barely remember most of the reasons now. I hardly think they even matter."
Opening his eyes again, he smiled at the sight of her. She looked heartbreakingly beautiful, leaning against the arm of his couch, her hair spread out behind her. She seemed almost fragile, and he ached to touch her porcelain cheeks.
"I'm glad we're friends now," he murmured sleepily.
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Post by Riley Neves on Mar 15, 2009 14:49:53 GMT -5
"I don't even think we had reasons, to be honest," Riley said. Her voice was softer now, half used as though the energy was too much.
She didn't mean to, and she didn't know how he stayed awake, but she missed the last part of what he said... and she would have agreed. She sank a little further into his couch, and she was asleep, her legs uncurling from her body just a little.
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