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Post by Roland Ferrera on Aug 20, 2010 15:52:18 GMT -5
(Because I miss Roland and because I am bored)
Roland had been looking for an opportunity to talk to Angelique alone. He almost felt guilty about it, because the woman looked so tired and stressed these days. But maybe this would be one of the easier things she would have to deal with and would help her get her mind off of everything else that was going on around them. He knew it would be a big relief for him to resolve this little issue.
As Angelique passed his desk, walking to her own office with a cup of coffee in her hands (if he was counting right, it was her third one, and it was only 10:30), Roland decided this would be the best time to address her. Riley, as it happened, was in the ladies' room, so she wouldn't even have to know that he had talked to Angelique.
Getting up from his desk, he hurried over and fell into step beside his boss. "Angelique," he said. "If you've got time, do you think I could talk to you about something real quick?"
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Post by Angelique St. Clare on Aug 20, 2010 16:52:49 GMT -5
Tired didn't even begin to describe it. It seemed like she had to have a daily press conference anymore. Worse, there was this new reporter who was quite insistent in her questioning, and had ben skewering her in the paper. Next to her, Paige Owen was a sweetheart.
There was a serial killer--or two--on the loose, unsolved murders, the aftermath of the Hogsmeade attack, and she was getting angry letters from people almost every day. She needed a break, and she needed something good to happen. If they didn't have a victory of some kind very soon, she had a bad feeling that she was going to be on her way out.
Coffee seemed like the only thing keeping her going these days. She was actually on her fourth cup (having had one before she left home this morning), but really, who was counting?
She was prepared to go back into her office and close the door, but Roland had to stop her. She turned to him. "What is it, Roland?" she asked tiredly. "You don't still want me to reassign you, do you?"
It was her feeble attempt at a joke, of course. Roland and Riley were inseparable now.
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Post by Roland Ferrera on Aug 20, 2010 18:07:47 GMT -5
"What?" Roland said, taken aback. Of course he didn't want to be reassigned. He and Riley were working together beautifully now, and he was still sure that they had Katie's murder almost solved. "No, of course not. I'm good. I just wanted to ask you about... well, do you mind if we discuss it in your office?"
Yes, he was being cagey. But the office was particularly busy today, and he didn't really want just anyone to hear what he was going to ask about. It wasn't that it was such a big deal or anything, it was just personal.
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Post by Angelique St. Clare on Aug 21, 2010 22:57:31 GMT -5
Angelique was barely able to suppress a sigh. She really wasn't in the mood for this. Unless he wanted to tell her that they'd solved the case and had Katie's killer in custody, she wasn't sure that she wanted to deal with Roland's issues. It wasn't anything personal, but she had a lot of problems to deal with, and she really just didn't need another.
"All right. But let's make this quick, OK? I have a meeting with Vincent in half an hour."
She led him into her office and closed the door behind him before making her way to her desk to sit down.
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Post by Roland Ferrera on Aug 21, 2010 23:03:34 GMT -5
Roland nodded quickly. "Yeah, of course," he replied.
After all, this shouldn't really take very long. It was a fairly simple question, and he figured he'd either get a straight "no" or she would need to take a little time to think it over and get a little more information.
Sitting down across from her desk, he fixed his eyes on her. "I'm sorry to be so cagey out there before," he said. "I just... I needed to ask you about the safe house. The one that I stayed at while I was... well, you know."
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Post by Angelique St. Clare on Aug 21, 2010 23:06:04 GMT -5
Whatever Angelique had expected from this little impromptu meeting, this was certainly not it. But that was a good thing. She relaxed slightly. This didn't feel like it was going to be another big problem that she was going to have to solve.
"OK," she said, nodding. Roland had told her about the house he had stayed at during his "death", so she knew which one he was talking about already. "What about it?"
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Post by Roland Ferrera on Aug 21, 2010 23:11:01 GMT -5
Roland cleared his throat. He felt a little more awkward about this than he had really thought he would. It should really be a straightforward question, but he felt a little embarrassed about it.
"I was actually wondering... well, you know... Riley and I spent so much time there, and it sort of started to feel.... homey. And we've got a baby on the way now, and our apartment is starting to feel kind of... small. I was wondering if it would be possible to... buy the safe house?"
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Post by Angelique St. Clare on Aug 21, 2010 23:17:12 GMT -5
Angelique almost could have laughed. He seemed so uncomfortable about it. And she understood exactly what he was saying. It was at that safe house where he and Riley had fallen in love. Before his "death", the two of them had been fighting almost constantly, and by the time he returned, they were desperately in love. While Angelique preferred not to think too much about what must have happened there to bring them to that point, it was really rather obvious. After all, Riley had not been pregnant before...
"Honestly, no one's ever asked me about that before," she said. "I'm not sure if that can be done, but I can check with Vincent for you. I don't even know how much it would cost, even if it could be done. But I can ask."
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Post by Roland Ferrera on Aug 21, 2010 23:24:04 GMT -5
Roland relaxed in his chair. That was certainly better than a straight no. And the fact that Angelique seemed amused, instead of annoyed, was also a good thing. He smiled somewhat sheepishly. "Thanks. I really appreciate that. Anything you can find out for us would be great. I just... I've got to start thinking about these things, and I'd like to know ahead of time if the safe house is completely out of the question. I know Riley really came to love the place, and I'm pretty fond of it myself. I could really see starting a family there."
He looked down at his shoes, still smiling a crooked grin. "Merlin, I can't even believe I'm saying that with a straight face. A few months ago, I never would have even considered any of this, and now... It's crazy, right?"
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Post by Angelique St. Clare on Aug 21, 2010 23:35:11 GMT -5
Angelique just smiled. It was a tired smile, but a smile nonetheless. Seeing Roland and Riley so happy together was one of the few good things happening around the office these days.
"Not at all. It's sweet. You and Riley really are perfect together. I always thought you would be, even when the two of you were bickering like children. You're more alike than you ever knew. And love can change a person's priorities and outlooks on things. All of a sudden, you have another person to consider in all of your decisions. And soon you'll have a third person as well. Of course you're going to want a safe place for the baby to grow up, and if it's in a place where you already feel at home, so much the better. If it's at all possible to sell it to you, we'll do it. I just have to see what Vincent says."
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Post by Roland Ferrera on Aug 21, 2010 23:47:56 GMT -5
Roland smiled. He knew that he and Riley were perfect together, but it still felt good to hear someone else say it. It was strange how many people had figured it out long before he and Riley had. It honestly seemed like they had been the very last ones to know.
"Thanks," he said. "I really appreciate it. I felt sort of weird asking about it, but I just... I had to know. As soon as you find out, can you let me know?"
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