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Post by Riley Neves on Jun 23, 2009 19:54:34 GMT -5
It was that voice that tore Riley from her silent pleading with the empty coffin, and she looked up, though her facial expression barely changed.
She saw the smirk, but she might have been imagining it. She hated that he was here, hated that he was pretending to be sorry. And part of her was scared, too. What if he tried something? But now that Roland was gone, he had no reason to. Except that she was still a threat, because she knew what he looked like.
Still, there were more Aurors here than she could count on two hands. He'd be insane to try anything. Right?
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Post by Cara Ferrera on Jun 24, 2009 2:48:55 GMT -5
Cara looked up and scowled at seeing Blake. She never liked him. In fact, none of her children even liked him, and that included Roland, she was pretty sure. He ignored his wife's side of the family... so why was he even here? Unless...
Her eyes found Emelia, and her expression softened. Unless Emelia asked him to come. Cara stood up, already knowing that Mathieu probably wouldn't even react to seeing his sister, and it was just something else that broke Cara's heart. She gave the woman a hug. "Thank you for coming."
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Post by Mathieu Ferrera on Jun 24, 2009 9:20:41 GMT -5
Mathieu did, in fact, register that Emelia was there. However, his reaction was to flash back to the last time he'd seen her. At Christmas dinner. She'd been there, all meek and submissive, while her obnoxious husband dominated the conversation. Hugging Roland--and it was still so odd to Mathieu why he had done that--talking with him, making suggestions about Roland's relationship with Riley... It was all so odd. And then there was Roland's reaction. Nervous, uneasy, even slightly hostile. And the last time they had seen Roland, hadn't he made some kind of comment about how much he disliked Blake? What if....?
Maybe it was just his paranoid mind working over time. But there was something about Blake that had bothered Roland immensely. And if what Mathieu was thinking was true, then Blake had a hell of a lot of nerve showing up here, even if he did at least bring Emelia as well.
Mathieu gave a twitch and glared in Blake's direction.
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Post by Sheena Ferrera on Jun 25, 2009 0:57:15 GMT -5
Ama hugged Sheena closely, but she never let go of Jamie's hand. She knew she had been distant from her cousin lately. But she knew now how important it was to keep family close, especially family who risked death everyday. "Sheena," Ama said. "I miss you." "I miss you too Ama," Sheena said, her eyes watering. She looked up and noticed that the Malfoy's had arrived, as well as people, who Sheena assumed, worked at the ministry and were friends of Roland's. She wasn't sure as to why, but Blake being here made Sheena's gut tighten. She didn't like him, and the way he was at Christmas, all buddy-buddy with Roland, excessivly cheerful, something was ringing in Sheena's head, screaming that there wasn't something right with that man. But she wouldn't say anything about it now, after the funeral, she'd tell Hayden. He'd want to know. |
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Post by Blake Malfoy on Jun 26, 2009 23:39:43 GMT -5
"We simply had to come," Blake said, sounding predictably pompous. "It's really such a senseless tragedy, and we wanted you to know that we're here for you during your time of need. We were just glad we got to see him one last time at Christmas... We'll always remember him as he was then."
He then turned a rather evil glance in Riley's direction, almost daring her to say something. He knew full well that most people thought Riley was falling apart, and she would hardly be considered a credible witness. In addition, the only proof she had that he had been the one to kill Roland was whatever Roland had told her. And since he was dead, he couldn't very well back her up.
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Post by Riley Neves on Jun 27, 2009 4:17:09 GMT -5
But Riley, surprising even herself, met his gaze and held it until he would look away. Blake wasn't going to intimidate her. She wanted him to know that she wasn't going to be backed into a corner, kept silent because she was scared. She was going to make Blake pay for killing Roland. She just had to figure out how.
She watched as Cara hugged Emelia, watching to see if Blake was planning anything. Here would be a bad place to do it with all these Aurors around. but she wouldn't put it past him. Why was he here, though, if he didn't want to try something? That was the only part that she didn't understand. Appearances?
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Post by Amandine Ferrera on Jun 29, 2009 4:02:29 GMT -5
Amandine followed her cousin's eyes to her mother and hayden, who were talking to Blake and Emilia. Even if Hayden was there, she didn't want to leave her mother alone with Uncle Blake, not now especially.
"I'll be right back," Ama said. Squeezing Jamie's hand, she let go, feeling the support he was giving her suddenly evaporate and Ama found herself longing for Jamie to just hug her close again. But she shook her head a little and walked over to where her mother was.
"Mum, do you need anything?" Ama asked, avoiding her uncle's eyes.
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Post by Sheena Ferrera on Jun 29, 2009 4:04:38 GMT -5
Sheena nodded when Ama left. She watched her walked over to her mother, very poised, not even shaking. "I'm worried about her Jamie," Sheena said. "I...I don't think she's greiving, she just wants to take care of everyone else..." Sheena turned to Jamie. "What do you think? Am i crazy?"
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Post by Mathieu Ferrera on Jun 29, 2009 9:42:59 GMT -5
Mathieu was seriously thinking about creating a scene by kicking Blake out. Emelia could stay, but the sight of Blake made him ill. Roland hated him; he'd been quite clear on this point. He didn't belong here. The bastard had kept Emelia away from her family for nearly 15 years, most of Roland's life. Because of him, Emelia never really got to know the extraordinary man her eldest nephew had become. Even if Mathieu's sickening gut instinct was wrong and Blake had nothing to do with Roland's death, he still did not belong here.
He turned to Judah. "I want him out of here. Will you help me?"
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Post by Judah Ferrera on Jun 29, 2009 10:02:55 GMT -5
No one in the family liked Blake, that was a given. He didn't see how Emelia could put up with him. Just two seconds looking at Blake and Judah wanted to get rid of him. Judah was usually a man that seemed to give people chances, but this person wouldn't get any.
Turning to Mathieu, Judah raised his eyebrows. It was a funeral but it was Roland's funeral. Judah would do almost anything his brother asked him to. Even if he didn't want a big scene, Mathieu was asking him. Blake might claim he had a right to be there, but then again Blake didn't really know Roland even if he was supposed to be a part of the family. Sighing, Judah gave a little nod. "As long as it doesn't cause too much of a huge scene," he answered.
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Post by Mathieu Ferrera on Jun 29, 2009 10:09:39 GMT -5
Mathieu was angry enough that he didn't really care if there was a scene. In the back of his mind, he realized it would be hard on Emelia and on Cara, but he didn't entirely care as much as he should have. Roland wouldn't have tolerated the man's presence. And Mathieu wasn't going to tolerate it, either.
"I'll try not to make a scene," was all he could manage to promise Judah.
Without another word, he walked over and first embraced his sister. There was no emotion in his voice as he spoke. "Emelia. Thanks for coming."
Then he abruptly released her and turned to Blake. Speaking in the same flat, emotionless tone, he said, "I'm going to have to ask you to leave."
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Post by Judah Ferrera on Jun 29, 2009 10:45:46 GMT -5
The only thing that Judah could really think to do was just follow Mathieu's wishes. If it made him just the slightest fraction better that Blake was gone, then who was Judah to disregard what his brother wanted?
He smiled lightly at Emelia after Mathieu hugged her. Judah hugged her as well, but his face turned emotionless turning toward Blake. Like a good little brother, he stood beside Mathieu as he spoke to Malfoy. He would be ready to prevent (or attempt to prevent) anything from happening.
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Post by Emelia Malfoy on Jun 29, 2009 13:04:59 GMT -5
Emelia hugged both of her brothers in return, though lightly. It wouldn't be proper to be happy to see them, given the circumstances. And she was deeply upset by Roland's death.
"I wish I had known him better," she whispered to Mathieu, but then she stepped back, her eyes downcast.
Until they asked Blake to leave. If Blake left, that meant Emelia had to go as well, and there was nothing more she wanted right then to be there for a brother she barely knew. But he obviously didn't want her there, if he was sending them home. It didn't even occur to her that they might want her to stay but not Blake.
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Post by Blake Malfoy on Jun 29, 2009 16:04:42 GMT -5
Blake's expression was serene as he turned to face Mathieu. "Mathieu, I know you don't mean that," he said, his voice deceptively calm. "You're upset about the death of your son, and with good reason. He was a fine boy, strong and brave. And I realize that Emelia and I may not have been here for much of his life, but the important thing is, we're here now, and we support you. I know I would want to be able to lean on you, if something were happen to Noah. Just because we've been absent for so long doesn't mean we're not family. We're grieving, too."
Anyone who truly knew him--and there were very few people who did--would realize that he was lying through his teeth. Unlike the average person, when lying so blatantly, Blake made full eye contact and held it. He felt no hesitation or uncertainty in lying; it came as easily to him as breathing.
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Post by Cara Ferrera on Jun 29, 2009 16:12:38 GMT -5
Cara could have cried when Ama was suddenly with her, asking her what she needed. "Nothing, sweetie. I'm okay," she told her daughter, because someone had to be strong for her and Jamie. She put her arms around the girl, though, just grateful to be able to hold her.
And then Mathieu came up. Cara had an uneasy feeling the second she heard Blake give that little speech, and her eyes shot to Mathieu. She had a bad feeling that punches might be thrown, and it would be her husband throwing them. And while it might make him feel better...
Cara stood up, putting a hand on Ama's shoulder. "Hold on, sweetie. One second, okay?" To her husband, she said, "Mathieu, it's all right. Let's just..." Ignore Blake. But she let the last part of the sentence hang in the air, unspoken.
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Post by Mathieu Ferrera on Jun 29, 2009 17:06:31 GMT -5
Mathieu would have dearly loved to punch Blake in that moment. It burned in him, a desperate need to wipe that unflappable expression from his brother in law's face. But when he thought about it, what Mathieu really wanted was to hurt the person who had taken his son away from him. And suspicions aside, Mathieu had no proof that Blake had anything to do with it.
But maybe Riley knew something. His eyes travelled over to the girl, who was staring at Blake. Had Roland told her anything about his attackers?
When Cara spoke, Mathieu turned to her, a flash of anger in his eyes. But it was gone quickly, and in its place was nothing. A void of exhaustion and frustration and apathy. He could no longer summon the strength to do anything, and he walked away, back to the spot where he'd been standing before.
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Post by Riley Neves on Jul 3, 2009 21:43:40 GMT -5
Riley was tensing up as she watched this, holding her breath almost. Why was Blake here? Was he taunting her? Was he silently congratulating himself on Roland's death? She wanted him gone just as badly as mathieu did, though.
She stood up, ready to actually go to Mathieu's side. On her feet, however, she stumbled, a wave of dizziness hitting her. By the time it passed, Mathieu had gone. Blake remained.
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Post by Blake Malfoy on Jul 3, 2009 22:41:38 GMT -5
Blake had to work to suppress a smirk. He was not surprised that Mathieu had given up so easily. It was just like what had happened with Emelia--rather than fighting to keep his sister in his life, he'd let her go. Blake rather thought that the only person in that side of the family with any real strength or bravery had been Roland. And he had gotten rid of him easily enough. Perhaps too easily.
Sometimes Blake found himself thinking about that. How easy it had been to kill Roland. The boy had practically asked for it. It had just been him and the girl. Why not call in his whole family? He had an entire family full of Aurors who would have gladly fought on his side. Why would he only bring one girl? It didn't entirely add up. And then there was the fact that they hadn't found a body. The explosion had been bad, but surely there would have been something left...
But when he replayed the scene in his mind... the ineffectiveness curse, the flames, the killing curse, and of course, that final scream as he'd cried out his girlfriend's name... There was just no way he could have survived. And he was so nauseatingly devoted to his family that there was just no way he'd stay away from them and let them suffer this way. One look at Mathieu and Cara was all he needed to know that they were truly grieving.
No, Roland was gone. And Blake was enjoying the misery a little too much.
"Come, Emelia, let's have a seat," he said to his wife, leading her over to the chairs.
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Post by Jamie Ferrera on Jul 4, 2009 14:29:28 GMT -5
Sheena nodded when Ama left. She watched her walked over to her mother, very poised, not even shaking. "I'm worried about her Jamie," Sheena said. "I...I don't think she's greiving, she just wants to take care of everyone else..." Sheena turned to Jamie. "What do you think? Am i crazy?" Jamie's eyes left the wall for a couple seconds to look at his cousin. He hadn't even noticed she had been standing there, although she had given him a hug. He reran the conversation between Ama and Sheena through his mind before he could come up with an appropriate response. "If this is how she thinks she can handle it, then this is how it will be," Jamie mumbled, looking at his hands. Ama had gone to their mother, and he hadn't remembered how she had even left. He shoved them in his pockets. "She'll break down when it finally settles in." |
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Post by Geoffrey Montgomery on Jul 6, 2009 1:18:16 GMT -5
Geoffrey had slipped into a seat on the other side of Riley, and he was watching everything that happened quietly. When Riley started to get up, Geoffrey dutifully did the same, so he was there when she stumbled. He reached out his hand to her, steadying her. He was so focused on making sure that she was all right that he didn't notice that Mathieu had given up and Blake was slipping into a chair near the front.
"Riley," he whispered. "Let's just sit down, OK?"
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