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Post by alfonztytusjedynak on Jan 8, 2008 19:46:33 GMT -5
March 5, 2008 Directly following Quite The Observant One, Aren’t We? apx 2:45pmThe ground floor wasn’t as crowded as Alfonz thought it would be, which for both him and the woman on his arm was probably the best outcome either of them could have hoped for. Nothing but a few glances here and there from passer bys, Alfonz quickly let go of the woman and sneered at her, quietly growling at her still with his venomous words. “This is where you get off….” Walking to the nearest door on the ground floor, he took out his wand and touched it, whispering the spell that would call the familiar door to him that wandered all around the ground floor. As he did so, his wand lit up purple and the golden A.J. he had magically carved onto his door appeared. His door was coming though, and soon he’d be safe within his own quarters. Alfonz was so upset, he only hoped that Celina wouldn’t come around. He couldn’t be around people at that moment. Alfonz knew that his temper would only get worse and he’d be sure to take it out on anyone who dared to mess with him, or even visit. It was why he had left Raynor to her own back at the entrance. It wasn’t too far away from where he stood, and since he didn’t look back, he had no idea of where she was. Why should he care? Let her run back to Shaw if she wanted to. Let her do whatever she wanted as long as it was nowhere near him. He wouldn’t be able to deal with it, and frankly he didn’t even know what would happen if she did mess with him. Sure, she was his boss, but even she had to have a clue on not to mess with an angered man. Especially, one of polish decent. There was no telling what those kind of men would do, or so his mother used to always say when their father was angered. Finally, Alfonz’s door was not only there, but he opened it and went inside, letting it slowly start to shut behind him. He found no reason to slam it and alarm anyone of his anger, and since it closed on it’s own (even if it did do that rather slow) he’d let it be on it’s own. He had to find something to occupy his frustrated mind with. As he went into his quarters he looked around it. Set up much like that of a living room at that moment, his quarters entailed his one book shelf located next to the fire place, a rug on the floor and a chair behind that, in front of the fireplace. On the other side of the room, his desk in which there were quidditch books and referee materials scattered about, his broom leaning against the wall behind the desk and it’s chair, and on the side of the room, the small staircase that led into his bedroom. As he studied his surroundings like he usually did when he entered it, he heard something behind him back at the door. Thinking nothing of it, he pointed his wand at his fire and lit a furious blaze that almost escaped the fireplace itself, growling at himself as he did so. [CLOSED]
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Post by Tamis Raynor on Jan 8, 2008 21:22:47 GMT -5
Tugging had not worked. Attempting to ram him aside had been pointless and ineffective. Digging her heels in was not something she was going to repeat. Punching the man with her free hand had been like punching a rock. But that did not mean she did not stop trying. The entire long journey out of the forest she had kicked, thrashed, and cursed out her petite heart’s content. What had it got her? Throbbing knuckles and what she would swear was a dislocated shoulder. The. Grip. Never. Budged. It was infuriating.
By the time they reached the greenhouses and the grand entrance to the castle, she had receded to silently fuming. She was tired of nearly taking her arm out of its socket -- silent except for the favored creative comment that passed her lips barely above a whisper ever few seconds.
The last thing she wanted was to “waltz” up to the school on this man’s arm. The glances from the graciously sparse student population did not help the matter any. Not wanting to make it any worse than what it was, she picked up her pace to match his and moved grudgingly closer to relieve the tension. Not that it helped. Oh no. They only looked like they had taken a less than leisurely stroll across the grounds. And her bare scraped feet poking out beneath her robes with every stride ruined all attempts at fantasy.
Blood rushed back into her numb fingertips when he finally let go. It brought an uncomfortable tingling sensation with it. Covering the wince, she refused to rub the life back into it, not wanting to give him the satisfaction. She settled for narrowing her gray eyes at his back. An infamous Raynor glare that did not seem to faze him any more than his did her.
“This is where you get off….”
If the man thought he could drag her half way across the school and that be the end of it, he had another thing coming.
Smoothing her face back into its collected mask, she strode after the young man, raising an eyebrow at any student that thought to give her a second look. She caught up with him as the door was closing on his quarters. Her stride quickened (for she surely had not run) and managed to catch it before it snapped shut.
Throwing courtesy to the wind, she peered inside with one eye, finding Jedynak’s back to her, outlined by the glare of the fireplace. Satisfied, she slipped in, letting the door finish its intended path with a small “click”.
Her gaze missed the details of the room, settling on the man occupying it instead. Controlled breathing. Controlled breathing.
“Give me one good reason why I should not dismiss you here and now.”
Okay, she could have used more control. That had not been the wisest thing to say in the world. But being rudely manhandled tended to dull reason.
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Post by alfonztytusjedynak on Jan 8, 2008 21:43:05 GMT -5
Click!
Finally, freedom.
Give me one good reason why I should not dismiss you here and now.
Or….not.
The woman behind him dared to follow? Was she mad? Obviously she was angered, but that was not the question being asked. Raynor had just entered into a snake pit filled with horrors probably beyond her imagine, and yet she was threatening him with termination? He could kill her right there, for his wand was still in his hand, and yet she was not afraid of him.
Good. That only meant that she thought him predictable and somewhat trustworthy.
Alfonz still held his wand in his hand, but as he turned around filtering his hand through his dark hair brown hair, he only could glare at her. Not in order to threaten, but rather out of frustrations his glares came.
“One reason?” Alfonz scoffed. Hadn’t he just shown loyalty to her? Just at the thought, Alfonz could feel his stomach want to throw up his lunch in the back of his throat. Loyalty to Raynor? That was as much of a laugh as loyalty to Shaw himself. He should have left her for the man to kill.
“If the two of you were not as in love as you sure seem, I’m sure I would have just saved your unarmed, bare footed life…” he said in disbelief at her question, trailing off just shaking his head and moving toward his desk. He needed a drink, really bad and this woman wasn’t helping any.
“But please, indulge me….would you?” he yelled his question back at her as he finally got to his desk pushing around papers with unfinished letters, most of them saying Dear Shay or something to that extent. Most of the stationary that was on the desk, taking up what his referee books were not, he should have thrown out ages ago before he had even started to write them. What was the point in any of this any more? Celina wouldn't even speak with him, though he had not ventured out far of his quarters yet through the school in order to find her either. He questioned often his being there, and yet, couldn't find himself anywhere else he'd rather be.
Frantically, he dug through a bottom drawer of his desk only briefly looking up remembering that he never finished his question about what she should indulge him with. “Why should you dismiss me? I must hear what I’ve done so wrong other than drag you out of a situation that you wouldn’t ever admit was above your head.” He tone was cold and harsh, and his eyes still pierced with frustration. What he wanted to say was something to the extent of her ruining his shot at a man who had messed with his sister, rather than helping any sort of cause.
Finding the flask, he took it out only to find that it was empty….
Figures.
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Post by Tamis Raynor on Jan 9, 2008 19:01:35 GMT -5
Open. Close. Open. Close. Raynor was a wonderful impression of a fish as her mouth worked for words that would not come. Gray eyes stared incredulously at the man before her as if he had grown four more heads and started fluttering around the room in a pink tutu. And then, the red hue that had faded from her face in the moment of shock flooded back. She shook her head slowly, nose wrinkling as if she had both smelt and swallowed something foul simultaneously.
“Do. Not.” She warned. “Make insightful assumptions on something you know nothing about. Make sure this is perfectly clear. I have never loved Robert Shaw and never will. I despise him.”
Every word was ringing truth.
Her chest rose and fell heavily, and she took a deep calming breath, letting it out slowly as she followed the traveling man with her eyes. It should have been a predictable theory for Jedynak to have; it would be the first one anyone would have. But he needed to quickly rectify his thoughts. She could not blame someone for ignorance on information they were not privy too. Easy, Tamis. Emotions like this never got away from her like they were now. Not for years now. Why were they now?
She jumped; all ready rattled nerves sent buzzing in different directions.
Jedynak’s shout reverberated off the walls. Those mentioned bare feet almost came out from under her. She watched Alfonz, caution now floating in her eyes. It had not evaded her that she was alone with a prone-to-be-dangerous man, in a room that would take a skilled wizard to access unannounced, and without any means to defend herself. And he knew the latter as well as she did. Was she afraid? No. But was she weary? Yes.
The raised voice was not appreciated, but she bit down on her tongue and reined in her pride. He ransacked his desk, apparently gone into a frenzy looking for something. Tamis tensed, not knowing what it was… or what it was for. This had been a very, very bad idea. He glanced at her once before continuing his search.
“Why should you dismiss me? I must hear what I’ve done so wrong other than drag you out of a situation that you wouldn’t ever admit was above your head.”
She flinched as if struck and her lips pinched tight. It was infuriating… because she knew it was true. He was right, of course. Shaw would not have killed her, but there was nothing she could have done about the situation out there. But to walk away knowing he was here…
She opened her mouth again, and then snapped it shut, actually looking at the man. That was not fury lighting his face, but something more stressful, more troubling. Frustration? He pulled out a flask. Was that all he ever did?
There was still his question to consider. It was, after all, an honest one.
“What did you do wrong?” She repeated. “To me? Nothing. I may very well be in your debt. But to the sister you claim to care about? Everything. Or was the sob story back at the pub just an alibi. I had not fear of death tonight. That would have been too simple,” the last part was muttered underneath her breath. “You were reckless with your life out there. What would it do the one you love if you had been killed?”
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Post by alfonztytusjedynak on Jan 9, 2008 19:39:04 GMT -5
It flung out of his hand faster than Alfonz could have thought about his actions, or whom he was throwing the flask at. Flying past Raynor’s head, it smashed against the shut door, clanging as it finally rested on the floor. Looking up, starring directly into the woman’s eyes, his face was as stone cold as ever, but his eyes told a very different story.
Alfonz was furious, and as his fury raged and he did all he could to hold himself back from really hurting the woman. Who was she to question him?
Especially….ESPECIALLY about his sister and his feelings towards her. “As I dabbled where I didn’t belong, so do you Tamis…what do you know about her? Or me, for that reason…” he growled loudly at the woman seeing that she could too use that argument against him for what he had just said. What did she know about Celina? She wasn’t one of her prided ones…Alfonz would know that if Celina was. Alfonz knew everything, or at least he was sure Celina would have mentioned being so if she knew she was.
And about him…she probably knew only what those had told her. Lies and truths that Alfonz would neither deny or claim to be anything but stories so that all would be confused about him. He didn’t want to be known. As much as Alfonz was a quidditch player, and now a staff member at the school, he had never wanted to be known. And though he believed he knew himself better than anyone else, he couldn't help but being slightly surprised at a feeling of relief he felt wash throughout his body as she told him that she had never loved Shaw. Why it was there, Alfonz couldn't fathom the reason, and frankly at the moment he was just to pissed to care.
So, she never loved him? Big bloody deal. She could have fooled him.
Alfonz slipped up the stairs that were located behind his desk into his bedroom. Maybe the Brandy he knew he had was in the top drawer of his dresser; he couldn’t believe he couldn’t remember where it was. As he entered into his room, however, he turned around, and looked at Raynor again from the top of his stairway.
“I know what I was doing. Don’t you even try to guilt trip me with something I’ve allowed you to know….” Alfonz regretted the day meeting that woman, and regretted telling her anything about Celina. She was probably the only woman who knew as much about his affections of his sister as much as she did…
He walked back down the stairs and over to wear Raynor stood, looking down at her with about two and a half feet in between the two of them. He shook his head, rage and frustration still building in his eyes and way of stance. His age was showing through his anger, but he tried to calm himself. "So? Am I dismissed then?" he asked her, a whispered sarcasm now evident where venom used to be. Alfonz knew he was calling her out on her bluff...or at least what he hoped would be a bluff.
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Post by Tamis Raynor on Jan 9, 2008 20:43:58 GMT -5
BANG.
She might have miscalculated on that last point.
In a blurred motion, the flask vanished from his hand. A rush of air grazed her cheek as it whizzed past her ear, its dark form just caught out of the corner of her eye before it smashed into the door behind her. She stood frozen in place, ghostly pale, expression completely void from her face. She stared straight ahead, eyes locked in that position. The heart hammering in her chest desperately wanted out and she was willing to let it. Thank Merlin her knees had not buckled.
It was wise, she felt, to continue to focus on the desk next to Jedynak, unwilling to make eye contact at that moment. Her throat constricted, but she held her ground. She could have thrown the boy comment back at him. Could have turned the argument he was making against hers back at him. Could have “this”, could have “that”, but she was more willing to use that intelligence she claimed she had. While many would argue she had an incredible amount of Gryffindor traits, she was not completely that ignorant.
Even thought she was not looking at him, she could still feel the menace of his glare.
He disappeared from her line of vision, footsteps treading upward. All sound muted for a second and then his feet returned.
“I know what I was doing. Don’t you even try to guilt trip me with something I’ve allowed you to know….”
Still silence.
Thought it did not seem like Jedynak minded the monologue.
The distance between them closed in. One moment she was attempting to read the title of one of the reference books, and the next she was staring at his upper torso, just short of eye level with his chest. He was all but quivering with pent up emotion. She was suddenly very aware of the sparse distance separating him. His form towered over her; looming. Having to look up at people was a humiliating experience she had adjusted to. But not when the difference was half her own height and ever ounce of it bearing down on her as if to squash her like a bug. Not for the first time, she mentally begged for her wand.
It was inevitable.
Her gaze rose to met his blazing one and she steeled her resolve. Raynor made sure that she made eye contact. And while she might have pulled off the classic Tamis Raynor arrogance, she was not so sure it was reinforced in her voice.
“I’m not intending to guilt trip anyone. If it is not my business, do not put me in the middle of it.” She responded, referring to when he had stood between Shaw and herself. “If you are going to get yourself killed, don’t leave your death resting on my shoulders.”
And then finally, the true born question. Her anxiety level decreased a decimeter when the ferocity in his tone recessed. Another test then. She considered him for a long moment, seriously actually considered him. Was he who she thought he was? He was right, she did not know him. Was he really Shaw’s crony? If not, had she placed a dangerous man on her campus for no real purpose? Would she actually remove him?
“No.” She said finally, steel returning to the words. “For now, you still have a place here. Throw another flask at my head, though, and you won’t remain so privileged.”
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Post by alfonztytusjedynak on Jan 9, 2008 21:09:35 GMT -5
“Heh” Alfonz scoffed at the shorter woman. It was so hard for him to take her seriously, let alone look up to her with any kind of respect. All she was, was in the way and blaming him for getting her involved. “I never wanted you involved…you just forced your way into the middle of it…” He turned again and walked over to the mantle of his fireplace where it burned and crackled. He had almost forgotten he had lit it in all of his anger….his pain.
So, she had bluffed. Then again, Alfonz would have seriously been surprised if the woman hadn’t. He had done nothing wrong but talked to a threatening menace and she just walked in on it. Just as she had walked in on him at the pub. Whom was putting who in the middle? Alfonz had put himself in the middle of all of this. Raynor should have realized that she was not in the middle at all; rather she was the other side he was now teamed with.
“Celina is the only thing in my life that I think about more than my well being…” he muttered softly, unknowing of why he was even telling Raynor any of this. Was it because she held his position secure? Was it because Alfonz finally needed an outlet? He doubted any outlet was needed, but yet had no justification as to why he spoke. “And after what I heard happened to her in January…do you have any idea how powerless I was? How powerless I felt?”
Alfonz of course knew he had been there. He watched as Shaw did what Alfonz had offered up as punishment for the two girls, including some of his own fancy work. Alfonz knew what kind of mental strain that would put on his younger sister. Her love for others would be her downfall, and Alfonz knew it, but at the same time…his own downfall played out for him to watch and listen to.
Her begging and crying yells still echoed in his ears and with the fact that he hadn’t even said one word to her yet, or sought to search her out, Alfonz could only imagine the torture she was putting herself through. Torture he had allowed to happen to her. “If I could have protected her….” He shook his head and hung it low. “You have no idea….” He chuckled defeated like to himself. Raynor insisted he was putting her in the middle? Fine then. She could leave him be, and remove herself for all he cared. It wasn’t as if she was helping him any more, any ways.
Walking away from where he leaned on the mantle of the fire place, he brushed past her and to his door. Opening it, he bowed and gestured for her to leave with his hand. “If we’re done here?” he said, again hoping she would leave. For what more was there possible for her to say to him? “Unless of course…there’s something else you wanted from me?”
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Post by Tamis Raynor on Jan 10, 2008 18:59:11 GMT -5
Forced? He made it sound like encountering one another had been more than just coincidence. Raynor had retreated to the Hogs Head that night for time to think without reputation or tittles mucking it up. Yes, she had confronted him, but in her shoes, who would not have? An alleged Deva member just strolling in? And the forest... she had been following the lead of two soon-to-be hapless rookies. Their lives seemed to be crossing paths, beyond both their controls. However, she merely grunted in answer.
When he turned from her for the fire, the tension fled from her body. There were very few moments in her life where she was absolutely sure that harm was about to befall her; four to be precise. And her intuition had been correct on all of them. This had been the fifth, and she had been blessedly wrong.
It was silent for a long moment and Tamis believed it was time for her to bow out. Provoking the man twice in one night was not on her to-do list, even by accident. With a nod to herself, she turned -- and then halted when he began to speak. Low. Soft. Pained?
She listened respectfully. After all the concern made at the mention of his sister, it was startling that he chose to confine in her now. And that was what he was doing, was he not? But... why? She recalled her conversation with Andrew Thornton and Devin Brady... perhaps they were wrong about this man. If he was seeking to control his sister, then it was out of caring rather than wanting to overpower. It didn’t make him wrong, but did it make him right? Watching him then, head hanging, she made the decision that no matter how much she tried, she couldn’t bring herself to dislike the man.
“You have no idea….”
That, however, hit a nerve. For this first time since meeting him, his youth truly shone through.
“No?” She said. “No, because it would be impossible for someone like me to understand, correct? Understand a pain that never goes, -- oh it might fade from time to time, but its always there; a constant agony. How to feel completely helpless as someone you love is suffering beyond your control, but somehow you know there is something you could have done?”
She did not think about it often anymore, but she had barely been older than the man before her now when confronted with that type of pain; when she had lost her perfect match. Time had helped, and so had Banks, but she still maintained a mental block against that night.
“And when you think you cannot possibly take it anymore, it gets worse. For, indirectly or otherwise, you were the cause of that pain.” She studied his back and shook her head not in mockery, but in irony. “But I can’t possibly have the slightest inkling of an idea.”
When he opened the door, she strode for it, not liking the new kind of emotional tension in the room. She was not fond of wearing her heart on her sleeve; or exposing it to near strangers. Raynor constantly felt the need to defend herself from this man; to explain. It was disturbing.
… And she couldn’t tell if that bow was mocking or not. Damn the man.
Speaking about damned… she stopped in her tracks, not quite to the threshold.
“Yes, there is something else. If you were not meeting Robert, why were you so deep in the forest? No more games, Mr. Jedynak, I’m growing tired of them.”
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Post by alfonztytusjedynak on Jan 10, 2008 19:48:46 GMT -5
He listened to her words as they echoed in his head as he stood there by the door, waiting for the older woman whom intrigued him so to just leave him be. At least without her watching, he’d be able to find that bottle of Brandy and drink it in peace. Her words struck nerves inside his isolated heart and he not only could see that she could understand but actually understood more. Alfonz was glad that he had known better than to get close to someone so much as Raynor must have to feel such pain. At least with Celina, it was his duty to protect her as her brother, and no other.
As she stopped at the door, he dared muttered softly to her, “And those are your own stories in which you hide away…maybe you cannot understand me, or maybe you can…but we are both stuck in vicious cycles of what web we have woven.”
His eyes drifted to where she stood and he tried to look as though nothing more was wrong. But as it was, there was everything going wrong and Alfonz wished that the woman would just forget all she had seen and heard. Though his luck was not fortunate at that time.
As she spoke and asked him what was happening…there was no other choice but to shut the door. “You are asking a quidditch player for no more games….isn’t life one of the biggest games one can play?”
The door clicked again, but was not locked or anything so if Raynor was to leave Alfonz would let her go. There was no more he really wanted to say to her and no more he wanted to explain, especially since his stories and creative thinking were coming to a quick end. What business had he to have in the forest where he so conveniently met upon a man that could have ended his life? One that he was already assumed to be in dealings with? And be it as it may have been true, it wasn’t the time nor the place to be spilling such news as that to anyone. Only two knew for sure that he was with the Deva, or rather two students within the school.
And even they thought his ways were righteous, though he really knew had been able to justify it with themselves to allow themselves to hide their secret. Rolen and Celina…the only two who’d ever know for sure that was not already on the side of the Deva. No one else.
Walking away slightly, back to her, he looked at her and nodded his head. “I was doing nothing more than checking out the playing field. For days now I have been making sure I know every inch of this school…” It sounded already very iffy, and Alfonz knew it, but it was mostly true. When one was in new grounds, one made sure they knew everything.
“I’m not done…but today I had some time to go into the forest. I was near there and just snooping around. Are even staff not allowed near the forbidden forest? Especially when they are so easily accessible by those whom are so closely connected to the Deva? Including the likes of Shaw?”
How ironic…he was talking about Deva being allowed on the grounds, and yet there he stood….
"I'm not playing games, Ms. Raynor....the games have yet to begin," he walked a bit closer to again and whispered, his deep voice growling slightly. "Especially, since the teams have not finished being created."
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Post by Tamis Raynor on Jan 10, 2008 21:49:06 GMT -5
“And what web would that be?”
She tilted her head slightly upward to the right, studying him with that eye. Gray and cautious, there was also perhaps a touch of curiosity. Was he referring to the war they were all ensnared in? Or those mentioned stories and secrets that seemed to blurt out of their mouths. Raynor was a much conserved woman. Her life was hers. Her secrets were hers and hers to bear. She had not even spoken so easily of herself, even to the husband she had – and still did – hold dear.
The way he was studying her made her uncomfortable. It was also sending all those alarms flashing and whirling their warnings in her brain again. They all urged her to leave, that she was treading dangerous waters without sufficient swimming skills. But that little stubborn spot that always won was telling her to stay, that if she left now, she would miss the crucial information she was trying to figure out since she hired him.
The door shut firmly both on her physical and mental escape, and by Jedynak’s own hands.
But she had not heard the lock click.
Games were his specialty then? Was that a warning? Suspicious welled up again and her shoulders stiffened defensively. She was positive she had not misinterpreted the first part of the conversation between him and Shaw. Had the truth that he was never going to tell the truth just been admitted from the horses mouth. But if Jedynak was trying to leave the Deva, had in fact taken stance against Robert, why would Shaw back up his story? Unless it was to lead her into a false sense of security.
Raynor abhorred mind games. Especially when they were aimed at her intellect.
He began his explanation and her back straightened more, eyes narrowing. No, it did sound bad. Scouting the school out for another attack? She was not Fiona Ticloon, such an act would not be so easily accomplished a second time. The rest of it, however, was believable, and she relaxed; slightly. Her downfall was that she wanted to believe him, that this was more a brother wanting to protect his sister than anything else.
“The boarders are patrolled by aurors. The groundskeeper keeps an eye on the rest of the forest. It is a dangerous place to be, more a territory of the magical creatures that inhabits it. Those boundaries should be respected. Robert will retreat, he is not foolish to stay in there for long.”
And if he tried to exit onto the school grounds, there would be wands waiting for him. She did not feel that needed to be voiced.
Personal space was invading again and her heart skipped a beat in warning. She wanted to back away a pace, but her pride would not let her. His words sent a chill down her spine, and she met his gaze. Dangerous. Dangerous. Dangerous.
“Is that a threat?” She whispered back, an edge to it.
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Post by alfonztytusjedynak on Jan 10, 2008 22:17:00 GMT -5
“What web?” Alfonz asked her a bit surprised that she couldn’t come up with that one on her own. “The web that makes up our decisions, their outcomes, and the eventual results of them. Life’s a web, Tamis…you just have to be smart enough to be the spider, and not the fly.” Alfonz scoffed as he answered and then continued with what he was saying, only laughing a bit more when Raynor asked him if what he had said was a threat.
As she looked up at him, he couldn’t help but bend down a bit smirking as he did so. A threat? She obviously didn’t know one of those if she thought that was. “No,” he answered her whispered snap with one that was calm, and confident. Her whisper had had a bite to it that just made Alfonz smirk a bit more.
She was so brave and yet he could see every little flaw that Shaw was talking about. She should have left, and yet she didn’t. Still egging on a conversation with him, trying to pull some piece of his brain out so that she could study him. Was a boy like himself so interesting that he had to be studied? Or was there more than just that….was there more?
“It was plain information being given. Information you know to be true…” he said softly as his hand dared reach for the woman’s arm. He didn’t know exactly what he was doing, but there was a slight excitement to the air that almost made him wonder how far he could push her.
How far Tamis Raynor would go to prove her survival of the fittest decisions actually worked. Was she protecting him by lecturing him on how Alfonz cold have gotten himself killed? And if so…why?
Alfonz looked into Tamis’ eyes and stared deep into them, wondering what it was that made her so damn interesting. What he saw, however, was interest back. It surprised him, and his faced actually showed some emotion of it. What was she looking for with him? Alfonz almost wondered if she had been put up to skewering and following him around, as if watching him herself because everyone else had dropped out of that job. Even Brady himself had admitted to not even getting involved with what Raynor had planned for him. As a matter of fact, Brady admitted that Raynor was after exactly what scene she had just been shown in the forest that day.
Sarcastically, he laughed a little to himself, thanking Brady for the information Alfonz was sure he wasn’t supposed to blurt. Yes, the teams were hardly made up yet. Not even Brady was really on her side, in Alfonz’s opinion. Not if he was giving up information so quickly to one he didn’t trust, and not watching her back as she trailed Alfonz’s. Where was her help now, if she in fact did need it?
He gently squeezed her arm a bit, almost affectionately as he slowly moved it up her arm, just resting it below her shoulder. He shook his head, looking at his hand and then cocking his head back at the woman whom stood before him. “But all of what has been said…” he said lightly, trailing off just a bit. The crackling fire could be heard in the background as it casted shadows over Alfonz’s face, though a smirk could still be seen, as well as dancing curiosity within the man’s dark orbs.
His temper was calming, but not his sarcastic sense of humor. His tone was still light, but it changed a bit from the frustrated anger that he had been feeling. It was a bit more playful (for lack of a better word) and prodding. As if the man whom stood before Raynor was now looking to get a good laugh out of the woman. As the spider, he now played with his prey gently, and spun his invisible web of words around her. Sure, she’d probably see what he was doing, but then again…the proximity between the two was decreasing a bit more with every word he spoke, as Alfonz tried to distract her with more than just his words.
“If the forest is so dangerous,” he continued a light, teasing growl heard in the back of his throat, “then why venture forth into it yourself….and without a wand…?…” Alfonz glanced obviously down at Raynor’s feet and then back up into her eyes once more. “…of all things, that is.”
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Post by Tamis Raynor on Jan 11, 2008 19:18:14 GMT -5
Tamis. The abrupt transition from the formal jurisdiction of surname address to the private sphere of her first was her first warning. She could count on one hand the individuals she was one first-name basis with; Robert Shaw was the most obvious, Jaccob Corrion, Rebecca Davenport, her ex-husband Banks Gallaudet, and occasionally Devin Brady when they weren’t down each others throats. The obligation of needing to use the other hand was unexpected.
“I don’t believe in fate,” she responded. “I’d rather just crush the spider.”
The tone of voice in the singular word that followed stilled every muscle in Raynor’s body. She drew slow, deep measured breaths, aware every time her ribcage expanded and condensed with the in take and dispelling of air. It was full of a confidence and assuredness that was startling and at the same time gripping. He bent down, dark eyes meeting lighting, but she did not back away from him yet; there was still a considerable distance separating the two of them. She needed to leave, and leave now. But her pride interfered again, rooting her to the spot. Games, he said? Was that what this was? The smirk on his lips was taunting, almost challenging her to back down. Testing her in a similar way as he had the night she hired him, was he?
If she retreated now, she might lose ground with the man. She needed to know the truth with Shaw. Was he a Deva member… or was he not? Tamis wanted to know what made him tick; what made anyone who chose such a path to do so? She felt she was beginning to understand one way or the other. Somehow she felt responsibly for him…. She couldn’t allow him to win.
There were boundaries, she was his employer, and he wouldn’t dare.
She had been wrong before.
He did dare.
His hand made contact with her arm. Her breath caught in surprise before it took up its previous rhythm. Her gaze did not waver from his. She could be naïve and believe he was simply attempting to restrain her, in league with Robert after all and taking advantage of the opportunity. But after thirty-three years of life, she couldn’t tolerate such nonsense. The interested glint in the dark eyes sent a sliver of -- fear? Anger? A combination? -- She didn’t know what it was, down her spine.
Who was this man?
Even as she contemplated the question, shock filtered across his face, surprising her in return. But before she could heed it, the hand moved, applying a tender pressure before settling beside her shoulder blade. He began to speak again, the fire extinguished in him and replaced with something else. She was aware of him moving closer, diminishing what was left of the personal space between them. The shadows of the fire shadowed the planes of his face, fading everything but his eyes and wide smirk from importance.
She knew exactly what he was doing, but all in all she was still a woman. To say she was unaffected would be a lie. Alfonz Jedynak was good. For the first time, she realized just how dangerous he was. The fox had been invited into the chicken coup after all.
“You forget the teapot.” She responded, finally finding her voice. “I was going to Fauna for some soothing herbs.” More like something that would leave her without a care in the world for an hour or two. “Two aurors were careless; I hadn’t expected to go tromping in the forest.”
Stiffening defensively for the first time, she continued calmly, “now that you have that pointless tidbit, if you value your career, you will kindly remove your hand.”
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Post by alfonztytusjedynak on Jan 11, 2008 19:58:28 GMT -5
There were only few women that Alfonz had ever neared as much as he was at that moment with Tamis Raynor. His mind started to argue with what his body was thinking of doing, what the smirk on his face was blatently announcing that he was thinking of doing. The only thing that his mind couldn’t say this time was that she wasn’t pure. Tamis Raynor, be it older, had something about her that Alfonz almost wondered if she always kept hidden from the world. Why was it that he thought he could see it? Alfonz didn’t know.
Her grey eyes were looking into his, and everything she spoke he took note of. It sounded too convenient, but still he didn’t argue. The head mistress had decided to go see a friend for some tea, unknowing that she was going to stumble upon something she wasn’t invited into. Had he forgotten? At the moment, he just wasn’t thinking. Such a foolish move for the twenty one year old, and yet, he knew he’d think about his actions later.
“Ah, I see...tea,” he whispered back to her explanation. “Convenient.” Inside his mind was screaming, trying to do anything it could to make him think of something else. Images of Shay were present, but soon fluttered away because Raynor had more experience than Shay in a magnitude of ways That Alfonz had wondered about since he had met Raynor. However, there was one similarity between the two of them that Alfonz just couldn’t get over. Both acted so strong, and yet melted easily. So frail, and it was that strength, yet frailness that made Alfonz want more than he knew he could rightfully have.
Her body stiffened, and for a brief moment Alfonz came back to his senses. What was he doing? He could lose everything by giving in to a drive that he suppressed as much as possible. Celina would be lost to him, and he knew with connections Raynor probably had, he’d probably be thrown in prison for harassment of sorts. It wasn’t until she spoke again, where a smirk came across his face that was evident of his loss of control.
As much as he was angered, it now was gone and gave way to something even more dangerous…but not for Raynor, as much as it was for himself. How else to let the tensions he felt out from the school, and from the stress, that to give way to emotions he’d rather never admit that he had. It was disgusting…and yet, Alfonz couldn’t help himself.
”now that you have that pointless tidbit” “No tidbit is pointless…” he interrupted softly, raising an eyebrow.
if you value your career, you will kindly remove your hand.
“As you wish…” his hand removed from her shoulder, just as Alfonz Jedynak closed the last remaining distance between the two of him. Gently, and briefly hesitantly, Alfonz’s lips connected with those of the Head Mistress’.
The last thing he dared do, without even thinking much thought of it, was gently trace her jaw line, his other hand never once moving back to the place where it had left.
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Post by Tamis Raynor on Jan 11, 2008 21:00:09 GMT -5
He didn’t believe her. That was fine. Raynor had never asked him too, just like he had never asked her to believe his story. One of two she at least knew was true.
Convenient would not have been the word Tamis would have used. Cursed? Jinxed? Unlucky? Ill-fated? Take your pick of the extensive list of synonyms known to the English language. No matter what she did, her life was full of those “opportune” (more in like inopportune) moments. Trouble found her like a plague. It was said that trouble sired three children. Robert Shaw. Azkaban. That was two. And that smirk on Alfonz Jedynak’s face screamed that she was face to face with the third child.
The pace of her heart suddenly changed, thumping hard in her chest in anxiety. She did not know what the man was thinking for it certainly could not be what she thought he was thinking. That was ludicrous. Simply preposterous. The Headmistress was at least a decade his senior, that she was certain of, though she was not a fan and therefore did not have all of his little facts, such as age, memorized. Merlin, she was far too old for him to possibly be provoking that kind of interest…
How many times could a woman be wrong in one day?
He acquiesced to her command, and his hand slipped away from her shoulder. The blood pump centered in her chest had the most meager of moments to settle back to a respectable beat. While she might not be overstaying her welcome, she was becoming antsy about his hospitality.
She had meant to back away from him. She had meant to give a polite comment about getting some sleep to regain his senses. She had meant to open the door step out into the hall and retreat to her tower where she could soak her feet and considered what happened today in security and peace. What she had not counted on was what Alfonz did next, so suddenly there was nothing she could have done to stop it.
One moment, his hand was falling away in what she believed was withdraw and the next the space between them winked out and she was being thoroughly kissed. The heart picked up again. Someone could make a jingle out of its rhythm… with its peaks and valleys. There was hesitation, but before she could register it, register anything, it was over. Shock overwhelmed the Crockpot of emotions swirling together inside of her. She numbly registered his fingers caressing her chin.
Damn the man, he had removed his hand, and never replaced it either. What was worse, she did not know how she felt about what had just happened. Infuriated for sure and when she stumbled back from him it showed clearly on her face. But that wasn’t the only thing reddening her cheeks.
She wasn’t sure what to do, so she settled with the first realistic option that came to mind.
SLAP.
It was a good thing he was bent as he was, or she might have never been able to reach.
Shaking a bit with the mix of emotions, she recomposed herself. “I think it is best if I leave, Mr. Jedynak, so you can compose yourself. Good day.”
Fire him. Fire him. Fire him. It was a constant chant in her brain. But she couldn’t bring herself to do it. Something about the man, she didn’t understand it.
She turned swiftly for the door, turned the handle, and stepped over the threshold.
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Post by alfonztytusjedynak on Jan 11, 2008 21:16:08 GMT -5
As much as he had expected it, Alfonz never had dreamed a slap from a woman would sting as much as the one Raynor had so diligently placed upon his face. It was probably a good thing he had let go of the kiss when he did, otherwise, she may have kneed him someplace else he really wouldn’t have wanted damaged.
He wasn’t ever planning on having children, but he didn’t want the chance taken away from him either.
Nonetheless, as soon as her hand made contact, Alfonz woke up from whatever daydream he had been stuck in. Opening his eyes, not making any movement to show how much the slap really had stung, he stood up straight shoving his hands into his pocket. A sly grin crossed his face as though he had won a victory that day, after all.
I think it is best if I leave, Mr. Jedynak, before you do anything more that we might regret. Good day.
He could see her body quake, but her face told of more than just anger that played around in her mind. It only made his smirk grow larger as he wondered what the smaller woman was thinking just then. Probably as confused as he, but at the same time he almost wondered if he was truly confused at all. He had just kissed a woman…was that really so hard to believe? If anything she deserved a surprise…he still had his job, now didn’t he?
“Yes, I’m sure it’s best…after all, you may regret later some of the thoughts that cross through your restless mind…” he followed her a bit to the door, not to close, but just as if he were seeing her out. He didn’t want to get slapped again, so he refrained from touching her in any sort of way and as he reached the open door he leaned against the doorframe and watched Raynor’s every movement.
Alfonz doubted very much so that she was as worried about what he’d do, as she was worried about enjoying herself or what she would regret doing. After all, here she was the captain and he was the team player. Not to mention the age difference, which, from what Alfonz had just experienced didn’t really make anything all that worse. If anything, Alfonz smirked as he thought about how age really did make everything better.
“Until next time…” he said out loud, still leaning against the door frame looking out into the hallway of the ground floor.
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