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Post by Voltaire Rothschild on Oct 14, 2009 20:57:06 GMT -5
Voltaire felt like every step he took toward Wesley's office was a long walk through murky memory. He reached the door with a sense of both feeling heavy and light. Like a bowling ball in his gut but his head was spinning. He knocked firmly on the door and waited to see if there was a response. He knew there had to be resolution to this. He couldn't live like this, anchored to the past unable to move and for the split second before the door opened; he knew how Charles felt.
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Post by Wesley St. Clare on Oct 22, 2009 22:45:49 GMT -5
Wesley sat in his office, grading papers while a Wagner opera played on a record player. Olivia had been the one to make him learn to love opera; she loved opera and made him take her to one at least once a year. Now Wesley was glad that they had done that together. Now that she was gone, the music still seemed to bond her to him, and each note was a memory that could never fade.
As often happened, he was so deeply caught up in his work and the music that he had completely lost track of time. He didn't even hear the knock on the door right away, and it wasn't until it got a little louder that he finally shook out of his haze.
"Coming! Just a moment!" he called, turning to turn the record player down before moving to the door and opening it. "Voltaire," he said. "This is a surprise. What brings you here?"
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Post by Voltaire Rothschild on Nov 8, 2009 1:31:02 GMT -5
Voltaire was mentally thrown off balance by the opera wailing away in the room. He was grateful that Wesley had turned down the volume. He felt an awkwardness slid into belly and he cleared his throat before answering. "Charles has shown up again...I left him with Isa...at least in theory I left him... he seems to be attached to me." Voltaire paused for a moment before revealing his best guess at the whole situation "I think, if there is anything holding Charles here... It's me. I feel like I'm his anchor to this world, like he's on a string and I keep pulling him back here without even a moments thought."
To Voltaire, it was a depressing thought. He seemed to be the architect of his own misfortunes yet again, even if this misfortune lacked his complete understanding of its creation.
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Post by Wesley St. Clare on Feb 15, 2010 0:57:34 GMT -5
Wesley thought about that for a moment. It certainly did seem likely that Charles was somehow tied to Voltaire, if he was the only one who could see him. It just seemed somehow odd that it should happen this way. After all, if Charles was to be tied to someone it would seem logical that it would be Isabella. Charles had died to save Isabella; she had been the last one to see him alive. So why was Charles tied to Voltaire?
"I've done some research, and it seems that there must be something keeping Charles here, something he must do before he can move on. He sacrificed himself out of love for Isabella; that kind of sacrifice can leave a very powerful impression on the spirit. Perhaps he is tied to you so that he can help you keep Isabella safe somehow."
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Post by Voltaire Rothschild on Mar 15, 2010 3:05:30 GMT -5
Voltaire stepped into the office, side stepping past Wesley. He thought it shouldn't be a conversation held in open doorways, so he by passed a bit of civility to try and finish the conversation quickly.
It made some sense, but it really didn't make sense.
"I get that I'm supposed to keep Isa safe, but what do I have to do to get him to realize that things will be alright? He's off the mortal coil isn't he? If he's waiting for me to off the Dark Lord, I don't think that will happen." he paused and actually considered the feat, a lost look glazed his eyes "I'd die trying to do that, I think we barely escaped the first time"
He looked up at Wesley and for once appreciated what he knew. Voltaire could dance around spell work, even break defensive spelled if they weren't too strong, but he didn't know what Wesley would know about people like Charles, or rather Ghosts like Charles.
"I'm at a loss." the tone was defeated, He admitted he didn't know what to do Charles or even where to start with it.
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Post by Wesley St. Clare on May 18, 2011 23:18:37 GMT -5
(I'm just digging out ALL the forgotten threads this week, lol!)
Wesley thought about it for a moment. The situation was certainly unusual, even among the spirit world. Logically, Charles shouldn't have remained on the earthly plane at all. He knew from extensive research that, in general, the only people who remained as ghosts were those who were, for whatever reason, reluctant to let go. It was often a kind of selfishness, or fear, that kept spirits from moving beyong the veil. Charles had willingly sacrificed himself. It had been an act of bravery, of love, and of selflessness. He should have moved on. Yet he was tied to this world for some reason.
"I believe he is tied to you because you both love Isabella. That makes you, in a sense, kindred spirits. I can't rule out that there is some kind of curse at work here... the situation is highly unusual, and I can't find anything quite like it in my research. For now, let's assume there's something he needs to do. Do you think you could bring me to him? I realize I won't be able to see him, but perhaps I could ask some questions and you could tell me what he says?"
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Post by Voltaire Rothschild on Jun 3, 2011 0:37:30 GMT -5
Voltaire thought about when Charles usually appeared, it seemed random, or rather when Voltaire would rather not have him appear.
Instead of leaving to fetch Charles, he took a seat in Wesley's office and felt that if Charles would show up now, he would be gravely disappointed.
He waited just long enough for Wesley to look at him worriedly, then in an irritated huff he said "How like that prick, not only does he have poor timing but he also knows how to really punch a whole in a brilliant thought process." he turned to Wesley and continued," I thought if I felt that I would be disappointed about seeing him, he'd show up. as he usually turns up when I'm with Isa...or the classroom." he thought for a brief second about Natalie, but dismissed the thought about her. If she hadn't told her father, he wasn't going to tell for her.
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Post by Wesley St. Clare on Jun 4, 2011 22:24:45 GMT -5
Wesley found this very intriguing, and he moved to sit down at his desk. Taking out a parchment pad and a quill, he began to jot down some more notes.
"So you say he only seems to show up at the most inconvenient times for you?" he said thoughtfully. "Interesting... most interesting. Tell me, Voltaire, what sort of terms were you an Charles on before his death? I mean, I know Charles had feelings for your wife, but were you enemies? Perhaps that has something to do with the matter..."
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Post by Voltaire Rothschild on Jun 13, 2011 21:33:19 GMT -5
Voltaire thought of that terrible moment in time, He had seen Charles at a bar...He confronted him about leaving Isa. a throb bubbled to the temple of his head.
"I'm hazy on details..." he paused, loathing to tell Wesley this personal tidbit of information "My mind isn't what it used to be...The dark lord put me under the Cruciatus, since then I forget the details of many things...I just realized I don't remember..." he didn't finish what he was thinking, it was too sore a subject.
it was very painful to realize that his head was only a little bit better than wet cheese cloth.
"What I do know is that I respected him, I may of even liked him, but I knew he was never going to take Isa from me." he finished feeling a painful chill clawing down his back and settling into his skin. He looked up to meet Wesley's gaze, not wanting to appear as hurt as he actually felt.
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Post by Wesley St. Clare on Jun 22, 2011 16:31:43 GMT -5
Wesley had started taking notes, but when Voltaire mentioned his memory problem, he looked up sharply. He gave Voltaire an appraising look, but was silent until he had finished speaking.
"You know, I might be able to help with that, as well," he commented. "It's not entirely my area of expertise, but I did do a little research on the human brain when I first started at the Department of Mysteries. I know that there are some experimental hypno-therapies that can be used to help after someone's experienced a severe trauma. I could research that for you, if you're interested."
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Post by Voltaire Rothschild on Jul 1, 2011 2:07:11 GMT -5
Voltaire squashed down the hopeful feeling that sparked in his blood. He wasn't one to put himself through little agonies like having a treatment fail or a potion end up nothing but a bitter flavor in his mouth. His eyes however couldn't stop a twinkle of that hope that dimmed as he cleared his throat and nodded.
"It wouldn't be a bad thing too try. It's just a problem we can sort out after Charles gets sorted out, whether that's the afterlife or whatever he needs." he sat back in the office chair.
"Charles mostly complains about being dragged back here, and how he's resentful of not being wanted even if he's dead or alive...sometimes he tries to be funny, which only vexes me because it's usually a joke about watching Isa change robes or making the rooms we stay in freezing cold for a moment or two." he thought of the latest things Charles had managed to do in his rooms and why it was getting so frustrating.
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Post by Wesley St. Clare on Mar 17, 2012 23:28:20 GMT -5
Wesley felt a flash of sympathy for Voltaire, and wondered if, under other circumstances, they could have actually been friends. Maybe they still could... but he wouldn't push the issue. "I'll see what I can dig up for you on that. I saved some of my more important research from the Ministry shortly after Olivia died... I knew it was just the beginning."
But the issue of Charles was certainly more pressing, not only for Voltaire's sake, but also for Charles'. This fragmented half-existence--not dead, not alive, yet not a ghost--would have to be stressful on any soul.
"There are a few possibilities with Charles," he said. "It really would help if you could get him here, though... there are some questions I need to ask him. Or rather... have you ask him for me. My belief is that he is cursed in some way, and the curse must be broken in order to free him."
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Post by Voltaire Rothschild on Mar 18, 2012 1:36:40 GMT -5
He sighed and answered "What ever you need to be asked, I'll do it twice over if it will help."
Voltaire thought back to when Charles first started to appear, most infamously during his first class at Hogwarts.
"I don't know if there's a real trigger for this curse, I could just be working on something, feeding the pets or even during class. Usually when it feels the quietest, He'll just show up." Voltaire was still pretty shaken by the argument they had while Isa had bore witness to it.
"We had a pretty bad row, reason why I'm being a bother, I said some things to him in anger and He shot back at me and I just feel like I'm talking to a living man, not a ghost." Voltaire was finally able to put his jealous thoughts into words, he didn't think of Charles as a ghost, but a living person, which drove him a bit mad to think of Charles wanting his wife.
"He's too alive to be dead, he doesn't look like the other ghosts in the castle, doesn't move like them...He just seems so solid, until he slides past a wall and back around the other side of the room!" Voltaire again of his mother's parlor, and how Charles' body lay there. He saw his body, knew he was dead, but could still see him, hear him and for a moment he felt like he couldn't even grieve his death.
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Post by Wesley St. Clare on Mar 18, 2012 23:28:39 GMT -5
Wesley thought about this for a minute, frowning deeply. "I don't think he is a ghost," he said at last. "Not in the traditional sense, anyway. He didn't choose to stay here--he died willingly, sacrificing himself for Isabella's sake. If he were to be bound to anyone, you would think it would be Isabella, and not you, but I think that the two of you are linked by Isabella in some way. Do you happen to have any objects that once belonged to Charles, by chance?"
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Post by Voltaire Rothschild on Mar 20, 2012 2:46:22 GMT -5
Voltaire looked at Wesley blankly, he couldn't remember if he did have anything of Charles's. Maybe Isa would know. He sat dumbly in his chair, trying in vain to remember if Charles had ever had a conversation with him that involved giving something to him.
"Voltaire, you ponce, hold on to this [insert something here]" a poor imitation of Charles's voice rung in his head.
Finally Voltaire gave up racking his brain for an answer he wasn't going to find and admitted
"I have no idea if I do, I can ask him when I see him if and when i do whatever the trigger is for him to return." he sighed and thought maybe it would have been better if he hadn't ignored Isa and stayed with Charles and let her come and deal with Wesley...but then he couldn't pretend that he selective hearing now or else he could never use that excuse again. Foiled again... no wonder h was so bad at being evil.
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Post by Wesley St. Clare on Mar 25, 2012 0:16:17 GMT -5
Really, the idea in Wesley's head was a bit of a long shot, and it seemed a bit unlikely given the manner of Charles' death. If this idea was correct, Charles would probably know about it and expect it, and it didn't seem to be the case here. Still, he needed to rule it out, at least.
"Yes, you should definitely ask him," Wesley said. "I don't think it's likely, but I want to make sure... if you do have any possessions of his, it could be a... horcrux," he explained, lowering his voice. "Charles doesn't sound like the type, but it would be the most obvious explanation, especially since he keeps haunting you. I rather hope this isn't the case, however... for obvious reasons."
Voltaire had dabbled in dark magic before, so he would surely know what a horcrux was and why it was a bad thing.
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Post by Voltaire Rothschild on Mar 31, 2012 1:36:02 GMT -5
Voltaire had been one to know about old magic spells, but even the idea of a Horcrux being an option for a man like Charles seemed laughable. None of the Deatheaters he knew wouldn't rip themselves in half for a chance that they could live again.
Voltaire's face betrayed that thought a moment and he thought of just calling Wesley an idiot for suggesting it, but he knew he had no right to tell Wesley anything of the sort. As the score went, he was the former Deatheater that was now a nutty professor.
Voltaire opted instead just to nod and stand up from the chair. "I'll ask..." He smoothed down his jacket and leaned forward shoving an awkward hand toward Wesley for a handshake. He was asking an awful lot of a man he had made it very clear that he disliked...disliked was a nice mild word for it.
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Post by Wesley St. Clare on Apr 8, 2012 0:32:39 GMT -5
Since Wesley hadn't met Charles, he only had Voltaire's description of him to go on. But based on what Voltaire had said, Wesley thought the horcrux theory just as unlikely as Voltaire did. Still, it was a possibility, and he wanted to rule it out before he continued his research.
"Look... I have to make sure. If I'm going to help you with this, I need to narrow it down. I don't think it's a horcrux, based on what you've said of Charles, but it's possible and I need to rule it out."
He stood up, walking Voltaire to the door. "I think it's more likely that... You Know Who... placed a curse on Charles, possibly as punishment for betraying him... but I'll need to research some pretty dark magic."
He was aware that Voltaire didn't like him, but he also knew that they hadn't met under ideal circumstances. Natalie had been kidnapped, Sabrina murdered... it had been a painful time for all of them. But Wesley thought Voltaire was a reasonable--if eccentric--man, and he would come around eventually. By helping him with his problem, Wesley hoped to change Voltaire's opinion a little bit.
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Post by Voltaire Rothschild on Apr 19, 2012 23:09:33 GMT -5
Voltaire avoided meeting Wesley's face, looking instead at the stone floor of the room. The thought of Charles being more alive than dead, floating inbetween, and Wesley being the man to get him out. He raised his gaze back to Wesley's and saw a man that had a lot to do. He set his mouth grimly and nodded.
"You're right, but I just have this sense that He wouldn't delve so deep into that kind of magic. " he turned his head to the door, "I should get back to Isa, and I'll ask Charles if he's ever had dealings with that sort of magic."
He walked to the door and reached for the knob "Thank you again Wesley." he said turning toward the man again and opening the door to leave.
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