|
|
Post by Andromeda Tonks on Nov 27, 2010 1:10:13 GMT -5
(I figured that Rutger and Alana should get a chance to meet the other aurors...)
Once a week, Andi had a day off from classes. This was usually the day she went into the Ministry to check in with Angelique and give her report in possible death eater activities at the school. So far, she hadn't seen any proof of anything, but she did have strong feelings about a few people, most particularly her own sister Bellatrix. And of course, Bella had been avoiding her completely ever since the news of her and Ted's marriage got out. It was getting so bad that Andi wasn't even sure if Bella was really even still there.
The stress was really getting to Andi. The teaching job was really more than enough work as it was, what with grading papers and tests and devising lesson plans and helping students who were having trouble. She was worried that she wasn't doing a very good job with her "real" job. And being pregnant didn't help, either. She felt bloated and sluggish and really wanted to rest most of the time. At least the morning sickness had stopped, but in its place were aches and pains and raging hormones. Poor Ted often bore the brunt of this, when she would yell at him for something really stupid, then burst out crying.
Today, however, Andi was feeling pretty well. Still tired and achey, but at least she felt relatively calm. In fact, she was in a really good mood as she apparated to work with Ted.
Once they reached the auror office, Andi gave him a quick kiss before heading off to Angelique's office. But before she could open the door, it swung open and two people she didn't recognize stepped out.
"Oh, hello," she said brightly. "Are you new here?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Alana Kalb on Nov 27, 2010 17:42:56 GMT -5
After catching up on sleep, Alana brought the idea up to Rutger to go and visit the others that were working on the Kryshna case. She loved meeting new people, and being in London where she knew next to nobody, the Auror office seemed like a good place to start because they would all have something in common to start off the conversation. Even though Rutger didn't seem too keen on leaving the case in the back of their minds for a day, Alana had prodded him enough to get him to leave for at least a couple of hours.
She wanted to leave twenty minutes ago, but she couldn't decide on an outfit. This was different than the places she was sent for investigations, where she would wear clothes she didn't mind getting dirty. After trying on about six outfits, and testing Rutger's patience, no doubt, Alana chose a basic black and white combination and apparated to the Ministry from the hotel room. She knew where that was, at least, and they would just have to walk a bit to find the auror office.
Alana opened a door and almost ran right into a woman who was standing there. She worried for a second she may have tapped her with the door, but when the woman greeted them kindly and didn't shout, Alana's fears were put to rest.
"Well, kind of. We're here from Germany for a case. I'm Alana Kalb, and this is my partner Rutger Kilborn." Alana said with a smile.
|
|
|
|
Post by Rutger Kilborn on Nov 28, 2010 0:18:29 GMT -5
Rutger had only really agreed to go to the Ministry because he wanted to give a report to Miss St. Clare and to talk to Daniel and Sean about the case. Meeting people was not high on his agenda, but then, it never was. But it was important to Alana, and he couldn't really blame her. She was a sociable sort of person, and spending all of her time with just him had to be driving her crazy.
They were about to go to Miss St Clare's office when they ran into a young woman who looked to be going the same way they were. While Alana talked with the girl, Rutger gave a polite nod and kept quiet. In social situations, it was always Alana who took the lead, because he wasn't very good at it. He tended to be brusque and dismissive, and sometimes downright rude. He didn't mean to be, and there had even been a time when he didn't even realize what he was doing. At least since working with Alana, he now realized what he was doing and was able to keep it somewhat in check.
|
|
|
|
Post by Andromeda Tonks on Nov 28, 2010 0:29:47 GMT -5
Andi looked at both of them. The woman was quite friendly, but the man seemed more aloof, acknowledging her with a silent nod but nothing more. She hesitated just a moment, battling with her pride. She was, after all, a Black, even if she was an estranged one, and she was not used to being ignored. But at least he had nodded, and maybe he was just the quiet type. His partner more than made up for it, anyway.
"Oh, right... you're the German aurors Ted was telling me about," she said. Ted kept her up to date on the news in the office when she wasn't there, and he had mentioned the new aurors who were supposed to have come from Germany to work on the serial killer case. No one but Angelique had seen them yet, but everyone was terribly curious about them.
"It's really nice to meet you both," she said, holding her hand out to them. "I'm Andromeda Tonks. My husband, Ted, is over there," she added, nodding toward Ted's desk. "Are you going to be in the office long today? Maybe a few of us could take you out to lunch or to drinks after work."
|
|
|
|
Post by Alana Kalb on Nov 28, 2010 23:46:53 GMT -5
Alana felt a jolt of excitement when the woman mentioned people had been talking about them. For a moment, Alana wanted to turn to Rutger and express her excitement in the form of clapping and repeating what Andromeda had told her not two seconds before. Alana held back, however, realizing now was not the right time for something like that, not when she wanted to put on a good impression for the aurors they were meeting.
Alana looked around Andromeda to look at the man she motioned towards, repeating Andromeda's name in her head to remember it. It was an unusual name, one that Alana hoped she wouldn't forget. Ted, on the other hand was easier. Alana returned her gaze to Andromeda and shook her hand lightly.
"I don't have anywhere important to be today, and as long as Rutger doesn't have any plans, lunch and drinks sounds great!" Alana said, sending a sideways glance to Rutger.
|
|
|
|
Post by Rutger Kilborn on Nov 29, 2010 23:39:07 GMT -5
Rutger, on the other hand, suppressed a sigh. Yes, it was a very nice invitation, and it was good that their fellow coworkers--however temporary they may be--were being so welcoming. But he didn't do well in social situations. Early in his career, he'd had to attend social functions as part of his job, and he'd hated every minute of it. He was terrible at making small talk, and as a result, he often spent entire evenings not speaking to anyone unless spoken to. And when he was spoken to, he usually only responded in short answers, which didn't exactly encourage conversation. It wasn't that he was trying to be rude.... he just had a difficult time relating to people. Alana was the closest anyone had ever been able to get to him.
It was thanks to Alana's influence that he was able to keep himself from responding in a way that might be considered rude. After all, he might not be excited about this invitation, but he knew that Alana was. She wanted to meet people and make friends. She was good at it.
"Thank you for the generous offer, but I am afraid I'll have to decline," he said, giving Alana an apologetic look. "I need to check with Daniel and Sean about the case. But you should go, Alana. Don't let me stop you; I can handle things without you for a little while."
|
|
|
|
Post by Alana Kalb on Dec 5, 2010 21:27:06 GMT -5
Alana was disappointed when Rutger turned down the offer, but she had expected that. The thing that bothered her the most was he was going to talk to others about the case. Alana wished she could have smacked him, yelled at him to stay and get to know others and tell him to take his mind off of the case for at least thirty minutes, but she knew she wasn't in any place to do so, she her hands remained clasped together.
"Well, I guess I'll come home to new discoveries then, yes?" Alana said, putting a smile on. It wasn't that she didn't want to have lunch without him, she kept telling herself that having Rutger with her, having someone she knew, might make it a little better, although she knew the kiss was the only reason she still wanted him around. She was thinking about it, not as much as she had been that night, but ever since then it was harder for Alana to leave Rutger somewhere by himself. She liked being with him.
"Just promise me you'll get something to eat." Alana said, figuring she would get something to go and take it back to the room for him later. She turned from Rutger to Andromeda. "What's good to eat around here? Your choice." She said.
|
|
|
|
Post by Andromeda Tonks on Dec 6, 2010 1:01:42 GMT -5
Andi was disappointed, too, but that disappointment quickly faded. She had expected that Alana would also turn down the invitation, and was glad when she did not. There was something else that intrigued her, though, as she watched the two of them exchanging glances and talking to each other. There was a dynamic between them, and she wondered silently whether the two were even aware of it.
Rutger generally seemed like the all business type, but something in his eyes softened when he looked at Alana. He seemed concerned about her, and wanted to make sure that she would have a good time without him. And she seemed just as concerned about him, worrying whether he would stop to eat, and was clearly unhappy that he didn't want to take a break. It was sort of a co-dependent thing, unspoken and automatic. Maybe it was just that they worked so closely together, but there was definitely something going on... the only question was whether or not they realized it themeselves.
Andi had to keep from smiling as she looked between the two of them. Maybe when they took Alana out to lunch, they could find out a little more about the odd relationship between the two.
"I'm really sorry to hear that," she said, not letting her cheerful smile drop. "There's still a few hours before lunch, so if you change your mind, just let us know. We'd love to have you. I'll pass the word around the department and see if a few others would be interested in joining us."
She shot a look over in Ted's direction, silently "drafting" him to help her pull this together.
"Anyway," she continued, looking back at Alana, "do you like Italian food? There's this great little Italian place a few blocks from here, Galligan's. We could go there, if you wanted."
|
|
|
|
Post by Rutger Kilborn on Dec 17, 2010 1:52:49 GMT -5
Rutger could feel Alana's disappointment, and it gave him a surprising pang of guilt. Normally he wouldn't even notice when someone else was disappointed, but he knew Alana well enough to understand what she was thinking and feeling. This realization, along with the guilt he felt about disappointing her, unnerved him, and he had to suppress a frown. He wasn't used to caring what others were thinking, but Alana was different somehow.
He wished he could explain to her how very awkward he would be if he did go out to lunch with them. He would sit in silence, his mind on the case and not on the company. He wouldn't know what to say, and would keep any comments short, blunt, and expressionless. He wouldn't laugh at any jokes, and would generally drag everyone else down. Couldn't she understand that? She'd have so much more fun without him.
And yet, for the first time in his life, as he looked down at her, he wished it could be different. He wished he could kiss her again and hold her and laugh at her jokes.
"I am sorry," he said, his voice sincere. "I promise I will take a short break to have some lunch, all right? But you go and have fun."
|
|
|
|
Post by Alana Kalb on Dec 21, 2010 16:24:41 GMT -5
Alana knew that Rutger wasn't the type to go out and have fun with others. He was a man of few words and she didn't blame him for wanting to spend the day with the case; it was how he usually spent the day. Alana just wished he would get out more, thinking the fresh air and different atmosphere would do him good. Mainly, she just wanted him to stay around her. There was no more denying the feelings she had for Rutger, but the more Alana thought about it, the more she realized she wouldn't want to deny them any longer.
Alana smiled at his statement; fun was a normal thing with her when she was out with others.
"Okay. I'll check with the others that you did eat." She said. Of course, she really wasn't going to to save herself from looking too strange in front of the officers they were working with.
"Italian food is my favorite!" She said, turning to Andromeda, a smile on her face.
|
|
|
|
Post by Rutger Kilborn on Dec 22, 2010 0:46:34 GMT -5
Rutger relaxed slightly. He was secretly relieved that she wasn't going to try and push him to go out with them, because he knew that if she asked him to go for her sake, he would probably give in. He'd sit by her side, awkward and uncomfortable, hardly saying a word and obviously wishing he was somewhere else. But he'd do it for her, just to make her happy. That should have told him something, but he still didn't realize what it meant.
It also said something that she was so anxious to make sure he was all right, that he stopped to eat or that he rested when he needed it. Rutger imagined it was something that a mother would do, and although in the beginning it had annoyed him, now he had to admit he kind of liked it. He'd never known what it was like to have a mother or a father, or a girlfriend, or even just a good friend.
"Tell you what," he said, smiling lightly. He didn't realize it, but that smile was reserved only for her. "Why don't you bring me back something? Just in case?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Andromeda Tonks on Dec 22, 2010 0:47:28 GMT -5
Andi quietly pretended she hadn't noticed any of the conversation between Alana and her partner, but of course she made a mental note to ask Alana about it later. In a subtle way, of course. She wasn't trying to be nosy or to spread gossip or anything like that. But she liked Alana, and as a happily married woman, Andi wanted to see everyone around her just as happy as she was.
"Great!" she said enthusiastically, clapping her hands together. "I'll spread the word around the department, and see if we can get a good group together."
She looked at Rutger, smiling warmly. "If you change your mind, we'll be leaving at noon from the apparation area down the hall from here, OK?" She touched Alana's arm. "I'm really glad I ran into you today, and I'm really looking forward to lunch. See you later!"
With that, she turned and left, heading into Angelique's office for her intended meeting.
|
|
|
|
Post by Alana Kalb on Dec 23, 2010 15:46:02 GMT -5
Alana's face brightened up as he mentioned bringing something back for him. She was thinking some pasta, since they were going to an Italian restaurant, and pasta was filling. She figured that would hold him over until the next time he ate, which Alana had to admit she didn't know when that would be.
"Alright, sounds good. Just as long as you have the coffee ready for when I get back." She said with a smile. When Andi spoke to her again, she turned to her.
"I am too." She said, and watched her walk away. Alana found a bench to sit on while she waited, and looked up at Rutger. "Are you leaving now?" She asked. She wanted him to stay, but she wouldn't be too upset if he left. She knew he didn't like to hang around and talk, plus the case was calling him, she could tell.
|
|
|
|
Post by Rutger Kilborn on Dec 23, 2010 18:37:24 GMT -5
Rutger stood awkwardly beside her, feeling very unsure of himself. It would have been so much easier if they could have stayed at the hotel to work, and Sean and Daniel could have come to them. He felt mostly at ease there, with his mind focusing on work. Here, he felt uncomfortable and out of place, itching to get back to the case. He didn't know what to say to people if he wasn't talking about the case, and was only able to give Andromeda a polite nod as she went into Ms. St. Clare's office.
Alana spoke to him, and he glanced down at her hesitantly. Every time he looked at her lately, he found himself thinking about that kiss. He'd get lost thinking about how soft her lips had been or how it had felt to hold her in his arms, and he'd lose all train of thought. He wasn't used to such distractions, and it frustrated him. He needed to be able to focus on the case... lives depended on it. Maybe it would do him some good to work without her for a little while... he could get his head back in the case.
It made sense, and yet, for some reason, he felt reluctant to leave her. For a split second, he actually wished that she would ask him to stay.
"Oh... yes," he replied, suddenly realizing that the silence had stretched out between them. "Yes, I really should get to work on the case... I thought I'd go look for Daniel and Sean."
|
|
|
|
Post by Alana Kalb on Dec 27, 2010 1:35:15 GMT -5
When Rutger looked down at her, Alana wanted to jump into his arms and make him hold her. She wished he was the type of person that could admit that he liked someone, and a relationship could happen, the kind she wanted and not just a professional one. But, she knew deep down that if he was that type of person she probably wouldn't be as attracted to him as she was now. It added a sort of challenge that Alana liked, that she didn't have with the other guys she liked in the past.
"Oh... alright. Well, they should be around here somewhere." Alana said, trying to hide her disappointment. She wasn't upset, but she had held onto a little bit of hope that he would stay.
"Uh, what would you like me to bring you back? I assumed pasta, but I'm not sure." She said, thinking of ways to make him stay a bit longer. She knew it wasn't right, she was putting her feelings and wants ahead of others who could be attacked by Kryshna. She knew every minute counted for this case, and Rutger could very well find something out today that could save some more people, but at that moment Alana didn't care. She was being selfish, but she tried to push that knowledge from her head and act as if nothing was happening in the world.
|
|
|
|
Post by Rutger Kilborn on Dec 28, 2010 0:20:03 GMT -5
Rutger didn't really care what she brought him. He'd eat whatever she gave him. He didn't have the same problem with food that he had with sleeping... he really did just forget to eat sometimes when he was distracted with work on the case.
He had been about to walk away when she called out to him, and for a moment, he expected her to ask him to stay. He wasn't really surprised when she didn't, but what did surprise him was the feeling of disappointment that filled him when she didn't. Merlin's beard, what was wrong with him lately?
"Pasta is fine. You know me, I'm not picky."
He should have turned and left then, but he still stood there, feeling very unsure of himself. He hated this feeling... he wasn't used to it. When he was working or talking about work, he was perfectly confident and capable. But he avoided personal situations like this because he wasn't good at it. But somehow, Alana seemed more important to him than anyone else. He didn't want to drive her away, and yet, he suddenly had no idea how to talk to her.
"Er... I should go. But really... have a good time today. I'm sure you'll get along with all of them very well. And you can tell me all about it when you get back."
|
|
|
|
Post by Alana Kalb on Jan 4, 2011 22:59:23 GMT -5
Alana made a mental note to get at least two servings of pasta to go, thinking at least that way they'll be some food in the fridge for the next day or two, so he wouldn't have an excuse not to eat anything.
"Okay, I'll bring back a lot of pasta and force you to eat it while I tell you about my time." She said with a smile. She was thinking if she should ask him to stay, trying to come up with some reason for him to. The first one that came to mind, the fact she was a woman and would be alone wouldn't work since the Ministry seemed like a secure location, and she was an auror who could defend herself.
"Uhm, okay. But what if they're in a meeting? Could you maybe...come back here and sit with me until they're done?" Alana asked, hoping for a meeting to occur so she would have more time with him. She liked having him around but she didn't know how to outright ask him to stay without it sounding weird. Before, she may have been able to, but that kiss changed things, Alana could feel the slight awkwardness and she was worried that things she said to him in the past would be weird now.
|
|
|
|
Post by Rutger Kilborn on Jan 5, 2011 1:34:28 GMT -5
Oddly enough, for a man who was so knowledgeable in psychology, Rutger was often quite clueless about such behavior, at least when it applied to his own life. If anyone had told him that Alana was attracted to him, he wouldn't have believed it, even after the kiss. He thought the kiss was primarily his fault, that he had overreacted and had a momentary loss of control. So, no, he wasn't likely to read into any of her past behavior. But in the present, yes, he noticed there was an awkwardness, and he figured that the kiss was part of the reason for it.
Now, it was odd how she seemed sort of... clingy. She would do fine here on her own... She was in the Ministry and she was the type of person who made friends easily. She'd be holding court in less than ten minutes if he left her alone. In a way, he almost kind of envied her ability to relate so well with others. He had never been able to do that, not since he was a child.
But one thing he did know was that she wanted him to stay with her. She didn't ask it out right, and he didn't have the slightest idea why, but she wanted him to stay. "I can stay with you for a few minutes, if that's what you want. Are you all right? You seem... nervous."
|
|
|
|
Post by Alana Kalb on Jan 8, 2011 22:14:05 GMT -5
Alana's face dropped when he mentioned she seemed nervous. She forced a smile to make it seem like she was fine, even if she was a little embarrassed.
"No, I'm fine. Sorry, I'm wasting your time here. You should go find the guys and I'll see you back at the hotel." She said, imagining she must have seemed a little scatterbrained now. First, she wants him to leave and then stay and then leave again; if anything, she thought Rutger must think something was wrong with her. She had no idea why it was so hard to tell him she'd rather him wait for her.
She wasn't quite sure how to tell him she liked when he was around her. Alana knew he probably would say something to discourage her thoughts for a relationship, but she was used to that. It was embarrassment she was worried about, now more than ever around him.
"I'll be fine, I'm sure Andromeda's meeting won't be too much longer."
|
|
|
|
Post by Rutger Kilborn on Jan 9, 2011 1:00:59 GMT -5
Rutger was a bit concerned about her, but he was, of course, completely misreading her behavior. He thought, not unreasonably, that she was probably still tired from the whole incident with Kryshna and the lack of sleep that night. She definitely seemed out of sorts, and he knew she was used to getting more sleep than he was.
Yes, the kiss was still in his mind, but he was getting better about pushing it from his mind and focusing on the case. With any luck, soon he would forget about it entirely.
"Listen, I know this is a bit hypocritical coming from me, but when you get back to the hotel room, you should probably rest for a little while. We all had a rough night last night, and I think it would do you some good. I'll.... I'll even try to rest for a while," he lied. "But for now, I think I'm just going to do a little research with Sean and Daniel... I want to find out more about that weapon Kryshna left behind."
He stood up again, still feeling oddly hesitant about leaving her. "Have a good time, all right? I'll see you later."
|
|
