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cade owen woodward
HOGWARTS ALUM SENIOR ASSISTANT EDITOR DAILY PROPHET
98 posts
played by vanessa
keep quiet no longer, we'll sing through the day
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last online Apr 23, 2024 23:53:49 GMT -7
STUDYING ABROAD
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May 30, 2021 2:04:12 GMT -7
Post by cade owen woodward on May 30, 2021 2:04:12 GMT -7
You are the latest contender You are the one to remember It was that time of year again. Cade remembered the first time he had attended this career fair as a younger journalist, and somehow he ended up here year after year. When he’d been promoted to leadership of the paper, it wasn’t an option of whether he attended or not. Still, it wasn’t all bad. It was nice to see the eagerness of some of these teenagers pursuing their passion regardless of what that may be. This year he had something else on his mind, another reason this wouldn’t be so bad. As he stood in the corner, his name badge displayed “CADE WOODWARD. Sr Editor, The Daily Prophet” As if most would not know who he was by now. Scoping the room, he noted members of his own staff here, some by choice and others he’d forced as part of their duties. Hogwarts graduation in a few months meant more interns and more staff which meant more content for the paper.
Additionally, the Order had decided that the more of them present at such an event, the better. One couldn’t be too cautious though, in true tradition, it was a dry event compared to the events he usually attended in such a professional fashion. Cade strolled past a group of students excitedly asking a Quidditch player questions about his career. He stood tall answering them as he proudly wore his Bat’s jersey. Another group asked a group of Hit-Wizards questions while Professors walked about with their arms crossed and eyes open. Potter had ensured he would be here. Apparently, Bianca had put him in charge of making sure this event was organized, and he wondered just what James had done to earn that punishment. The thought made him smirk slightly. He knew Bianca well enough by now to know that certain personalities tested the limits of her patience, and he’d walked that fine line many times, but over the past few months, he supposed that they’d grown used to one another’s company.
Speaking of Bianca—Cade spotted said Department Head as she approached from the direction of her office, and Cade made his way over to her. ”You know—I always thought I’d be able to get out of these things when I became Editor.” Cade commented. The first day of the event was a bit slow as students figured out what to ask and whom or built up their confidence to do so. He figured that he would hardly get questions today, but he would have a lot the following day.
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Bianca Alia Rivera
CASTELOBRUXO ALUM MAGICAL LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT HEAD OCCLUMENS LEGILIMENS
268 posts
played by Jenny
do your worst for I will do mine
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last online Apr 19, 2024 10:44:21 GMT -7
MINISTRY
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May 30, 2021 6:10:57 GMT -7
Post by Bianca Alia Rivera on May 30, 2021 6:10:57 GMT -7
19 March 2026 There was no escape. These career fairs were always a test of Bianca’s patience, and she usually failed. She had never seen the point in spending year after year breaking down the fundamentals of law enforcement to 7th years. Fine, maybe some careers needed to advertise themselves to let students know they existed, but the Department of Law Enforcement had never had that problem. In fact, they usually struggled with the reverse – scores of overeager teenagers who thought being an Auror or Hit Wizard was all action and glory and heroic firefights. The department received waves of trainees every year who either dropped out or wizened up after realizing that law enforcement was much less flashy than they thought – and that most of the time was spent at the office and not in the field. But this year the Ministry was hosting and the Minister had given the responsibility of organizing it to Bianca, likely because she was the newest Department Head. She’d quickly delegated to James, who despite being a talented Hit Wizard had the unfortunate tendency of forgetting she was his boss when engaging her in unending chatter at Order meetings. She’d given him the job to hopefully discourage him from that idea in the future, but…she should have realized he would have chosen the second floor. Now there really was no good excuse not to stay the whole night when the event was a literal stone’s throw away from her office. So Bianca grumpily put on her nametag (it looked so tacky but she simply couldn’t be seen disregarding the regulations) and started to field questions from eager 7th years asking how many Dark wizards she’d captured and if she’d ever killed anyone. Maiming students looks bad on your record, she reminded herself as she finally escaped and sidestepped a student nervously discussing the Potions NEWT with a pair of potioneers (if the lingering smell of apothecary ingredients was any indication). The sight of the infuriating Head of the Department of Mysteries had Bianca abruptly changing directions again to avoid pretending she could tolerate him for an evening. After confirming that a noisy group of cursebreakers now stood between them, Bianca stopped and sighed as her eyes flit through the crowd. Her gaze eventually landed on a familiar broad frame as Cade approached her – just the way she liked it – although Bianca ignored the traitorous way her pulse began to speed up. “Oh, I don’t think your position has anything to do with why the Prophet keeps sending you to these things,” she responded playfully, lips curving into a smirk. It seemed impossible to think they could banter like this even a few months ago, but they had been spending too much time together not to have found a new dynamic. And truthfully, she had gotten comfortable around Cade. Maybe too much so. It used to be so much easier to suppress her smiles, and now she just...didn't want to. Bianca’s gaze focused on a point behind his shoulder, a small group of 7th year girls that were eyeing him with a similar look to a cat about to pounce on its prey. She refocused on Cade, a dangerous gleam in her eyes. “Haven’t you noticed? It’s hunting season.” cade owen woodward
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cade owen woodward
HOGWARTS ALUM SENIOR ASSISTANT EDITOR DAILY PROPHET
98 posts
played by vanessa
keep quiet no longer, we'll sing through the day
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last online Apr 23, 2024 23:53:49 GMT -7
STUDYING ABROAD
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May 30, 2021 23:52:56 GMT -7
Post by cade owen woodward on May 30, 2021 23:52:56 GMT -7
You are the latest contender You are the one to remember Cade raised an eyebrow at her suggestion. Surely the Prophet wouldn’t stoop to such a level as to send him to recruit more staff—or maybe they would. Still, he just blamed it on his charming personality and ease with a crowd. The Editor hardly stepped out but handled the most severe events as Cade kept control of the helm behind the scenes. Looking around, he spotted so many familiar faces, Aurors he’d interacted with, and other Department Heads—as well as Hogwarts staff and old classmates in various fields. That was the enjoyable part about all this—the connections still stood over all these years, and they were valuable for many different reasons. Still, he too also noted the group of giggling seventh-year girls as he only gave them a passing glance so he wouldn’t accidentally encourage them.
It had been pointed out to him by Bianca and Beatrice, and others, but he chose to ignore it as he didn’t like distractions to his work. Cade gave her an unamused look to Bianca's comment, rare considering he was typically bringing up topics to annoy her for his own amusement. ”Have experience do you?” Cade would be stupid to not note that Bianca was attractive, so it was easily feasible she could have been the hunter or the prey, though from what he knew and had seen, she wouldn't settle for being the prey. Cade looked around again, pretending to be busy while he avoided the girls' burning stares and even some younger Ministry employees—interns. One day when he was an old man like the Editor, this phase might pass, and he would be happy when it did.
”Your office is on this floor, is it not?” Cade asked. She didn’t seem pleased to be here either. Both of them were in leadership positions, yet they couldn’t delegate their way out of this one. ”I assumed you’d hide in your office while you made Potter do all the work.” James had talked his ear off until he agreed to attend, even though he was forced to make an appearance. And the next thing he knew, James had been assigned the work—not that he had been surprised. Something about that boy talking a hundred words a minute had a tendency to give one a headache.
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Bianca Alia Rivera
CASTELOBRUXO ALUM MAGICAL LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT HEAD OCCLUMENS LEGILIMENS
268 posts
played by Jenny
do your worst for I will do mine
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last online Apr 19, 2024 10:44:21 GMT -7
MINISTRY
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Jun 4, 2021 7:43:48 GMT -7
Post by Bianca Alia Rivera on Jun 4, 2021 7:43:48 GMT -7
Their dynamic was usually so set in stone that any divergence became immediately obvious. Bianca’s lips quirked into a half-smile at Cade’s unamused expression, his brows drawn together as he looked disapprovingly down at her. She resisted the urge to give a laugh at the expression, which was usually more likely to be found on her face while Cade openly smirked and celebrated his victory. Instead, she only smiled in amusement as she looked up at him through her lashes. “Why so grouchy? It’s not who you are, only another tool at your disposal.” The accusation of grumpiness was somewhat ironic coming from her, but her mood had considerably brightened since the start of the conversation – something Bianca wasn’t disposed to explore exactly why at all. Instead, she only diverted her gaze briefly behind her to see a large knot of representatives from Magical Education approaching from the side before glancing back at Cade. As they began to pass behind her, Bianca took the opportunity to step closer to him and lower her voice as she answered his question. “And if I do? I know what I want, and it’s hardly hunting if they want it too. Sometimes one side just…needs a small push first.” She didn’t move back to her original spot even as the representatives finished pushing their way through and the area behind her cleared again. Instead, she gave a small hum of agreement at the question about her office, turning her head slightly to search the room at the mention of James Potter. After a few moments, she found him deep in conversation with a student – good to see he was doing his job, although Bianca would have enjoyed giving him busywork if she’d found him slacking. As social as Cade might be, and as much as he might claim to enjoy these sorts of events, the question about her office revealed where his mind really was. Although she could understand why – as a professional, it couldn’t be much fun to be accosted by interns at every turn, or overeager students who didn’t mind crossing personal boundaries. Still, Bianca couldn’t deny that the privacy of her office had also been on her mind for the last 20 minutes, and she felt she had already done her part in speaking to several groups of interested students. “The unfortunate downside of hosting,” Bianca began in a low tone, “is that people would have noticed if I hadn’t shown up. And as tempting as the bottle of firewhisky in my office is, I’ve heard it’s bad form for a Department Head to drink alone.” Her eyes lingered on his face as she ignored the noise and bustle of the room around them. cade owen woodward
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cade owen woodward
HOGWARTS ALUM SENIOR ASSISTANT EDITOR DAILY PROPHET
98 posts
played by vanessa
keep quiet no longer, we'll sing through the day
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last online Apr 23, 2024 23:53:49 GMT -7
STUDYING ABROAD
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Jun 7, 2021 1:16:02 GMT -7
Post by cade owen woodward on Jun 7, 2021 1:16:02 GMT -7
You are the latest contender You are the one to remember Despite his own response to her statement, a smile eventually formed on his face, though if only because one had appeared on her own expression. Bianca wasn’t one that often smiled, let alone laughed, and ever since that first conversation in the art gallery, he’d wonder what it would take to get her to smile. It was a carryover of his journalist days. Connecting with an individual helped gather information because they were more willing to talk to you, they felt more comfortable. But Bianca wasn’t a target for a source or a lead. In fact, Cade would consider them friends as well as colleagues by now. But comments about his appearance were not new for him. Beatrice had commented the same regarding his effect on young interns. So he supposed he had to admit that it was helpful in such situations. Cade paused to consider her words. ”I suppose it is, and I’d like to think it is what got you to speak to me again.” He responded, a playful glint in his eye—but Bianca was used to his playful confidence by now.
The room was growing more crowded, and as a group passed behind them, Cade moved slightly to let them pass, and Bianca had as well. When he turned back, his elbow bumped into hers, and he realized how close she was standing to him. It wasn’t unusual, especially considering their work for the Order lately, and it allowed for more privacy to their conversation. Cade had no doubt that Bianca was a woman who knew exactly what she wanted. It was that focus and ambition that he admired about her and certainly what helped her achieve where she was today in terms of her career. He had to admit to himself that such confidence was, well, attractive and much more than just her physical appearance. ”So how are the two hunters expected to know they don’t need to hunt?” Cade wondered. He imagined two people just circling one another because they didn’t know the other’s intention. It was the scenic route to the same goal.
Cade gave Bianca a look when she mentioned firewhiskey. They’d both made an appearance and had enough subordinates to cover the floor, discuss various topics with students, and answer questions. The most Cade could do was answer questions about being an Editor, but the Junior Editor was also present, plus most wanted to be journalists rather than sit behind a desk. ”Well, isn’t it fortunate that you had that file on those cursed sneak-o-scopes to show me?” Cade asked her, knowing very well there likely wasn’t a file, but it was the first thing that had popped into his head as he was reminded of that particular mission at that bar. ”I know how busy you are. If you could spare the time, we can take a look at it now?”
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Bianca Alia Rivera
CASTELOBRUXO ALUM MAGICAL LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT HEAD OCCLUMENS LEGILIMENS
268 posts
played by Jenny
do your worst for I will do mine
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last online Apr 19, 2024 10:44:21 GMT -7
MINISTRY
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Jun 11, 2021 11:48:20 GMT -7
Post by Bianca Alia Rivera on Jun 11, 2021 11:48:20 GMT -7
It was rare to get Bianca’s undivided attention – her job as an Auror had taught her how to split her attention, study an entire room at once and track a handful of conversations until she found the missing piece. Her promotion had only made it worse, with a dozen people always vying for her attention at any given time on any number of issues, ranging from trivial and annoying to urgent split-second decisions. She never had the time to dedicate her full mental capacity to one thing, and frankly she rarely had the inclination either. But Cade had a unique way of drawing her attention and Bianca found she couldn’t tear her eyes off him now. She could usually find the self-discipline on an Order mission, where the stakes were much higher and the danger was much more real. But now, in the middle of a tedious social event, one she couldn’t wait to escape from? Impossible. “It didn’t hurt,” Bianca agreed as Cade brought up one of his seemingly favorite subjects – the subtle way over the course of months that he had gotten her to change her opinion of him. It wasn’t quite so simple as the way he put it, because Bianca wasn’t shallow enough to be disarmed by a magnetic gaze or a stunning smile. But it surely couldn’t hurt to admit that he had both, and that the opportunities to work together after the Order’s reunification had shown Bianca that she genuinely enjoyed spending time around him. He had a skillset that she didn’t, one that enabled her to accomplish much more than any time she had worked alone, and he’d demonstrated his ability to work cleverly and effectively on multiple occasions. At some point, she had gone from tolerating his presence to eagerly anticipating it. She couldn’t be sure when that had happened. The tone of her voice had dropped in volume, although Bianca didn’t even realize it as she gazed up at him as neither one stepped back. It was her usual move to create an excuse to close the distance, although the decision wasn’t purposeful so much as instinctual now. “It takes a leap of faith,” she answered, barely even thinking before she spoke anymore. “For someone to finally say, enough is enough.” His subtle nod to the case they had worked on Valentine’s Day caused her to bite her lip in order to stifle a laugh – the evening hadn’t gone the way he had likely expected it to, but Bianca couldn’t complain. She liked anything that ensured his eyes were on her, although – well, that couldn’t be unique to him. Why would it be? Bianca responded quickly to his question, as if she’d been waiting for his unspoken invitation this whole time. “It would be irresponsible not to review it immediately. Cursed sneakoscopes are…serious business. It might take the rest of the night,” she suggested intently. Her gaze shifted to the side to take in the room and note the positions of anyone who might try and intercept her. After a few moments, Bianca identified her path and set off determined. Only one time did someone try to approach her, although a dark look was enough to inform the Auror that it would be an unwise idea. The crowd began to thin as they approached her office on the far side of the floor, and Bianca let out an almost unnoticeable sigh of relief once she was on the other side of her door. cade owen woodward
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cade owen woodward
HOGWARTS ALUM SENIOR ASSISTANT EDITOR DAILY PROPHET
98 posts
played by vanessa
keep quiet no longer, we'll sing through the day
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last online Apr 23, 2024 23:53:49 GMT -7
STUDYING ABROAD
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Jun 25, 2021 3:01:05 GMT -7
Post by cade owen woodward on Jun 25, 2021 3:01:05 GMT -7
You are the latest contender You are the one to remember Cade was grateful that Bianca was here. Even if they had spent a lot of time together with work for the Order, he found that he looked forward to when he would stop by the Ministry or head to Harry’s pub. Plus, he had flexibility with his schedule as an Editor but in the same way Bianca did as a Department Head. They were incredibly busy people, so they understood. The banter became easier and even the joke he’d made now—well, he wouldn’t have dared pushed his luck a few months ago. Bianca didn’t deny that perhaps his appearance had helped to get her guard down, not that he’d used that on purpose. Unlike many of his old classmates or colleagues, he’d rather save that card. It had been helpful as a younger journalist, but he was a professional after all.
Still, a slight smirk crept onto his face but more in satisfaction to the small victory he’d felt he’d just achieved. They were both professional. Cade figured any other man in his position would have been distracted or even blinded by Bianca and those intense eyes and exotic features to really get any work done. Not that Cade was blind, he did find her attractive, but she was more than that. Bianca was a force to be reckoned with and not one to be underestimated. She was intelligent, and Cade had no doubt she would leave her mark on this world. Maybe it was that energy that drew him to her, though as she answered his question in a lower tone, she didn’t typically use with him. He focused entirely on her.
As what happened on occasion, they were on the same wavelength concerning this little social gathering. Cade was hardly interested in find ways to continually escape talking to students—and Bianca didn’t seem like she wanted to either. Plus, it all seemed handled. His staff was present, and he was hardly vital till at least the second day. So, they did what they did best—improvised. Bianca identified an escape route and Cade waited a few moments to follow her casually but quickly. Everyone was so focused on the students and what they were doing to notice them, fortunately. But his stride and his expression showed he was on a mission, rather than his usual friendlier expression that invited small talk.
They reached her office, and as soon as that door closed, they both relaxed. Cade took a moment to look around her office. He’d yet to visit it. ”So—where do you keep the whiskey?” Every professional at their level had some in their desk. Cade absolutely had some in his for those late nights at the office or when he wanted to sneak away during the Christmas party.
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Bianca Alia Rivera
CASTELOBRUXO ALUM MAGICAL LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT HEAD OCCLUMENS LEGILIMENS
268 posts
played by Jenny
do your worst for I will do mine
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last online Apr 19, 2024 10:44:21 GMT -7
MINISTRY
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Jul 3, 2021 7:33:08 GMT -7
Post by Bianca Alia Rivera on Jul 3, 2021 7:33:08 GMT -7
Bianca locked the door behind her as she shut it firmly. She didn’t expect any interruptions, as students and professionals alike were expected to stay in the main area and avoid wandering. They had plenty of classified material on this floor, after all, and security systems could only do so much. But her patience had been wearing thin as the night went on, and there had been several instances where she had needed to bite her lip or abruptly end a conversation to avoid snapping at an insolent student – so she wouldn’t tolerate any seventh years who had the bright idea of trying to knock, or worse. Some of the tension inside her chest evaporated at the sound of the lock, and she turned to lean back on the door and study Cade as he glanced around her office. Having studied every detail of her office during late nights and early mornings, Bianca didn’t need to look around. Instead, and not for the first time over these last few weeks, her eyes raked down Cade’s figure and her mind stole away to a distant place for a moment. She didn’t hide the appreciative quirk of her lips at his direct question, which suggested he had reached the same point of the night that she had. It shouldn’t surprise her, really. There were very few people who could understand the pressures of her job, the degree of sacrifice and sanity that it required from her. But Cade had been handling the extra responsibility of a senior position for much longer than she had, and he knew what it demanded. In the time they had worked together, he’d never had unrealistic expectations of what she could deliver, and he showed a cool and calm presence in all of his undertakings. She admired that persistence, that consistency, more than anything else he had – his good looks, inquisitive nature, ability to connect with anyone. Lately, she had found herself studying him more, his smiles and habits and how he engaged with people. Bianca told herself it was only a professional interest, that observing what tools he had at his disposal would improve their performance on missions. Maybe that had been true at the start, but there was no way to justify the observations she had been making lately. Eyes lingering on his broad frame and tanned skin, getting caught on the curve of his smile or distracting movements as he crossed his arms and gazed down at her. She prided herself on her one-track mind, on having no imagination at all. But it wasn’t true, and she had been wondering lately what would happen if she just closed that final stretch of distance between them, leaned in and succumbed to her curiosity… She hadn’t answered his question yet. At that realization, Bianca swallowed slightly and shot him a playful look. “What does the investigative journalist think?” she asked teasingly, crossing the room slowly to circle around her desk. The need for a strong drink outweighed the desire to spar, so Bianca withdrew her wand to unlock the bottom drawer and show him her collection. She would never have dared during her time in Interpol, with a cubicle and absolutely no privacy from her coworkers. But there had to be some perks to the job, and her quiet, isolated office was one of them. “One shot for every seventh year who’s asked me if I’ve ever killed a Dark wizard?” she suggested with a straight face as she took out a half-empty bottle, which was enough of an indication as to how the last couple weeks had been for her. Someday she was going to curse Burke for his blatant efforts to sink her newest task force. Waste of departmental resources, as if that was his call to make. Until then, she satisfied herself with handing the bottle to Cade and unceremoniously sitting on her desk like she was back in school again. cade owen woodward
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cade owen woodward
HOGWARTS ALUM SENIOR ASSISTANT EDITOR DAILY PROPHET
98 posts
played by vanessa
keep quiet no longer, we'll sing through the day
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last online Apr 23, 2024 23:53:49 GMT -7
STUDYING ABROAD
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Jul 6, 2021 23:55:09 GMT -7
Post by cade owen woodward on Jul 6, 2021 23:55:09 GMT -7
You are the latest contender You are the one to remember Cade should consider himself fortunate that his partner in crime, as it were, as of late when it came to Order business, was easy on the eyes. But, in his many years walking up and down the halls of the offices of the Ministry of Magic’s Law Enforcement division, he had quickly learned not to judge a book by its cover. The saying was cliché, but only because it held true time and time again. Bianca was unlike anyone he had ever met. The first thing he noticed was she wasn’t phased by his appearance, unlike those seventh-year girls back at the event or even the interns at the Paper. This was the first time he’d been in her office, though she hadn’t held this post long. Though, it was about what he expected. Simple and lacking the need to proudly display every award and plaque as older Aurors remembered their glory days or when they were in their prime. Such vanity would have been unexpected from her.
She pushed him to guess for himself, and his first assumption was a desk drawer—simple and within reach, much like one would keep their wand handy. ”My instincts tell me somewhere near you—like a desk drawer.” And much to his delight, he was correct. However, they weren’t wasting any more time sober. Cade looked at her and back at the bottle, an eyebrow raised slightly. ”One shot for every giggling girl that attempted to talk to me today.” He added with a dull tone. Fortunately, there had been the few students who were genuinely curious about the Paper and how it all worked, but he would leave all the questions to his able journalists. Cade stepped closer to where she sat on her desk, taking the bottle from her.
His confidence had always toed the line between his old house of Ravenclaw and Gryffindor—anymore self-assurance, and he would have been top-heavy. However, he supposed it was that ability to pause and think and not act so brashly as a Gryffindor might that helped him further his career along and made him valuable to the Order. Plus, he had seen Bianca’s lack of patience with some—there was no way they’d be drinking whiskey in her office if he was more like that. Watching her expression, he noted she was calm in her own sort of way, or at least maybe it was the comfort of being around one another and in stark contrast to that initial conversation months ago. They usually were working when this physical close, but this time they weren’t, and it gave him time to look at her. She was beautiful when she was calm, even more so when she had that fire in her eyes. ”They’re not going to come looking for you, are they?” James seemed to have things handled, so hopefully, nobody would bother them.
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Bianca Alia Rivera
CASTELOBRUXO ALUM MAGICAL LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT HEAD OCCLUMENS LEGILIMENS
268 posts
played by Jenny
do your worst for I will do mine
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last online Apr 19, 2024 10:44:21 GMT -7
MINISTRY
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Jul 17, 2021 8:00:54 GMT -7
Post by Bianca Alia Rivera on Jul 17, 2021 8:00:54 GMT -7
She liked watching him work the answer out for himself. It gave Bianca an insight to a different side of Cade than the one he showed while socializing. That was still him too – an easy smile that could disarm anyone, the bright look in his eyes that assured you he was listening intently. He had a reassuring presence, and even without saying a word could speak volumes to you. No wonder he was particularly talented at his job – people wanted to open up to him, wanted to tell him things, and the most disarming aspect of him was that there were no lies or deception at play. He was genuine and it was more intoxicating than if he would try to tell you the most magnificent lies. But when he was deep in thought, there was something even more magnetic there. The way he would absentmindedly clench his jaw, or the deep look of concentration he would wear while puzzling out the mystery. Bianca fluidly picked out those signs now as he considered where she might keep her whisky, eyes glued to his face as if she hadn’t memorized that look a dozen times over already. He gave his answer – correct, naturally – and Bianca gave a contemplative hum at his thought process. “Well," she began in a light and casual tone, “If your instincts tell you to come closer, then by all means…” Their conversations were usually so guarded, since they mostly took place in the context of an Order mission in a dodgy location. They had to watch what they said since it would only take one misplaced word for their target to realize they already knew each other and bolt. So it was a stark contrast to speak so freely with Cade, and even lean into the impulse to make light suggestions. Bianca usually didn’t allow herself the freedom, mostly due to the impulse to put the mission first, but also partly because she wasn’t quite sure what she might let herself do around Cade… His unhappy addition made her purse her lips slightly in disapproval. She didn’t like the thought of giggly girls approaching Cade – she knew that there were looks, that many women couldn’t help but admire Cade from afar. But the girls falling to pieces were hardly only seventh years and interns, and Bianca occasionally needed to sternly watch her Aurors or Hit Witches whenever one got the bright idea of approaching the reporter. No, she didn’t like that thought at all. So she breezily replied, “It’s bad form to poison someone in their own office. But if you insist.” He had moved closer to her, still perched on the edge of her desk, and Bianca slipped the bottle out of his hands so she could open it and take a long sip. She’d done away with glasses after her promotion – looking at you, Burke – and focusing on the sting of whisky was still a more pleasant sensation than processing what exactly had her so unsettled about seeing Cade with other women. Handing the whisky back to him without further ado, Bianca ran a hand through her hair and sighed deeply – she’d been thinking about that bottle all night. She felt warmer now, and some of the tension that had been coiled inside her all night began to unravel. “I try to encourage independence and taking initiative. They know that the first one to knock is getting assigned to border patrol,” Bianca said with a degree of satisfaction at the thought. After her promotion, she had quickly discovered a department that had become utterly dependent on the Head to move anything forward – and she could hardly go more than five minutes without getting a tentative request for help. It was a bad policy for careers that required innovative thought and freedom of action, so Bianca had been busy trying to break the habit. And, she thought as she considered the man in front of her, border patrol might not be the worst thing someone was risking if they tried to knock. They had started to broach new territory here -- not quite so public like their usual interactions, not quite so professional as what Order missions required...and well, Bianca was curious to a fault. She couldn't help but want to push. cade owen woodward
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cade owen woodward
HOGWARTS ALUM SENIOR ASSISTANT EDITOR DAILY PROPHET
98 posts
played by vanessa
keep quiet no longer, we'll sing through the day
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last online Apr 23, 2024 23:53:49 GMT -7
STUDYING ABROAD
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Jul 19, 2021 2:12:20 GMT -7
Post by cade owen woodward on Jul 19, 2021 2:12:20 GMT -7
You are the latest contender You are the one to remember It was much quieter in the office, none of the giggling or buzzing of excited conversation as Aurors told their most remarkable stories and Cursebreakers embellished on their latest treasure hunt. Even when they worked, there always seemed to be a flutter of activity around them and much to focus on. Now, with the bottle of whiskey in his hand, he could focus almost entirely on her. There was also a calmness to her and how she casually used her desk as a chair like he was getting an insight into a rare moment where the weight of the world wasn’t on her shoulders or at least the weight of her department. Outside of the office, she was tough, fierce, and had the intense and focused stare of a hunter. Now—she looked relaxed, her face softened, and so did her features. She was still beautiful, but Cade noticed the difference.
Bianca didn’t seem to appreciate his quip and suggestion. They drink to all the attention he had been receiving earlier. Really it had just been an excuse to drink more, though he wondered if there was enough whiskey in the bottle for that challenge. She took an impressive long drink from the bottle before handing the bottle back. ”And here I thought you intended to share.” Surely, this wasn’t her only bottle, but if that was the case, he supposed they would survive. A little bit of whiskey was better than none. Without really thinking about it, he shifted a little closer to her. Though he was still standing, just a bit closer to where she sat on the desk. ”What else should we drink to?” He inquired.
With her conditions, there was no way any of her staff would be knocking any time soon. The only person that came to mind at the thought of Border Patrol was Slater—though he realized he hadn’t seen her at the last meeting. Whiskey in his system was always welcome, though Cade was hardly one to overindulge. Still, he felt relaxed before the bottle being passed around. Was it his growing comfort level with Ms. Rivera? Probably. It was difficult to find such a combination. Easy to talk to, intelligent, self-sufficient, and easy on the eyes. Cade could admit that he looked forward to seeing and working with her. And in her quiet office, he was alone with more of those thoughts—more than he was used to. Though he knew she would surely and happily hex him if he ever said anything or did anything out of line. Cade took another swig from the bottle, licking the excess whiskey off his lips and handing it back to her though not quite looking away.
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Bianca Alia Rivera
CASTELOBRUXO ALUM MAGICAL LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT HEAD OCCLUMENS LEGILIMENS
268 posts
played by Jenny
do your worst for I will do mine
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last online Apr 19, 2024 10:44:21 GMT -7
MINISTRY
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Aug 19, 2021 17:58:17 GMT -7
Post by Bianca Alia Rivera on Aug 19, 2021 17:58:17 GMT -7
After the nightmare of almost being drawn into a conversation with Asher Burke, Bianca was reluctant to let go of the bottle. He was almost singularly responsible for the presence of the whisky bottles in her desk, after all, and a night without one of his sharp comments seemed the right occasion to celebrate with a drink. But Bianca didn’t protest as Cade slipped the bottle from her hands, instead giving a dry chuckle at his observation. “I’ve never been good at sharing,” she mused out-loud, running a hand through her hair, “Blame it on my childhood. I like having what’s mine.” She watched with a hooded gaze as he closed the distance between them another inch and raised the bottle to his lips. “I suppose I can make an exception for you,” Bianca continued idly, distracted as her gaze ran down Cade’s features and past his broad shoulders. It could be difficult to miss the tense set of his shoulders during missions for the Order, if one wasn’t looking for it. But she had been paying attention – perhaps too close attention – and could pick out the signs that he was focused, at attention. His eyes looked bluer, brighter here in her office – more dimly lit than the bright career fair – and it caused a fluttering in her chest. He asked what they should drink to, and Bianca gave a hum of contemplation as she languidly slid off her desk. He had been closing the distance, but it was too slow for her. She went by her gut feeling in all things, and it was no doubt part of the reason she had risen through the ranks of the Ministry so quickly. Her instincts were usually right, and Bianca had learned that it was better more often than not to listen to them. She knew what she wanted now – less distance, much less distance right now, although she didn’t know yet to what end. But Cade was impossible to stay away from – he was clever and insightful and there was a certain irresistible look to him when he smiled at her – and Bianca could feel her resolve to resist the temptation falling away. The dynamic between them was different during missions. The conversation seemed surface-level, innocent enough to any bystanders, but there was always an undercurrent to it, charged with tension. It only became more apparent as they found some privacy – maybe even the first time they’d truly been alone together? – and the pretenses began to fade away. Bianca almost forgot his question as she watched him drink again from the bottle, and her eyes lingered on his lips as he licked the excess drops away. Her gaze suddenly snapped back to meet his, and she took a step forward until they were almost toe-to-toe. Cade was so much taller, and she had to look up as she stepped closer and could feel the warmth emanating from his body. The observation made her catch her breath in anticipation. “How about,” Bianca began in a low tone, her mouth dry with desire, “to new partnerships, and wherever that might go?”cade owen woodward
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cade owen woodward
HOGWARTS ALUM SENIOR ASSISTANT EDITOR DAILY PROPHET
98 posts
played by vanessa
keep quiet no longer, we'll sing through the day
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last online Apr 23, 2024 23:53:49 GMT -7
STUDYING ABROAD
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Aug 30, 2021 11:27:31 GMT -7
Post by cade owen woodward on Aug 30, 2021 11:27:31 GMT -7
You are the latest contender You are the one to remember Their respective jobs could be challenging, not because of the work itself but those who surrounded them. In Cade’s mind, however, Bianca had more leeway when choosing when and whom to be polite to while Cade was heavily reliant on his network for his work. Though anyone at their level would be lying if they said they didn’t keep a bottle of something strong. Cade smirked when she admitted her possessiveness. Maybe it was partly behind her drive and ambition. Getting to the top without sharing the glory could be seen as selfish, but selfless actions only appeared selfish based on context. In Bianca’s case, he admired it, and their side work in the Order had shown him that her drive was hardly for selfish reasons. And like him, one didn’t rise to the top without that attitude.
She no longer sat casually on top of her desk, instead opting to move closer to him, and he didn’t move—letting her approach. The tension that once filled a room when they were both present didn’t exist anymore. There were no more cold glares from those warm brown eyes of hers, and her arms didn’t cross in that steely defensive way they did to her colleagues. They were friends, they were comfortable, and he couldn’t stay away. There was a magnetic pull he felt, and he looked forward to those late nights in seedy bars or Order meetings in Godric’s Hollow, even if it meant he went to work the next day with very little sleep.
Cade felt his throat dry. She was standing so close to him. Close enough that he could smell whatever scent lingered in her lotion or perfume she was wearing. It gave him a strange feeling, though mainly he was just feeling warm. Aside from that magnetic pull, Cade would be lying if he didn’t admit that he thought she was one of the most beautiful women he knew. ”To new partnerships.” He spoke in response, an equally low tone. Cade paused, eyes locked with her own as he placed the bottle on the desk behind her. ”Bianca…” He slowly closed what little gap was between them. ”Would you hex me if I kissed you right now?”
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Bianca Alia Rivera
CASTELOBRUXO ALUM MAGICAL LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT HEAD OCCLUMENS LEGILIMENS
268 posts
played by Jenny
do your worst for I will do mine
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last online Apr 19, 2024 10:44:21 GMT -7
MINISTRY
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Sept 3, 2021 2:48:41 GMT -7
Post by Bianca Alia Rivera on Sept 3, 2021 2:48:41 GMT -7
There had been a time in the past, not too long ago even, when it would have been impossible to be comfortable around Cade. Not because there was anything wrong with him – and as Bianca raked her eyes over his face she was having trouble recalling exactly what was wrong with him – but because she’d always been painfully aware of the professional boundaries between them. How many times had her fellow Aurors warned her that reporters couldn’t be trusted, that they would do anything to get their story? It meant she carefully reviewed everything she said to him, because anything could be incriminating, and decided most of the time that it wasn’t even worth the trouble of trying. She might have been more inclined if he had been bad at what he did, because then it would have been easy to spot the trouble…but being around Cade occasionally came with the unfortunate side effect of forgetting your own name when he smiled at you. Or rambling, maybe, because of the sincere look in his eyes when he asked a question – because he wanted to know the answer, professional or personal. Bianca couldn’t forget that those boundaries still existed, because she was still with the Ministry and the Prophet by no means catered to what the Ministry wanted. But it was no longer the most defining aspect of their relationship, and that was what made the difference. Working with Cade in the Order had shown her something new. No, not new. She had always known how clever he was, his talent for making people feel special, that he could move forward with confidence in every single thing he did. But the change came slowly. First she admired how well they could work together, the fact that Order missions had never been so promising with such a capable partner. Then she appreciated the friendship that grew from it, that her life didn’t seem quite so dark or serious around him (even if he looked far too pleased with himself every time he pulled a smile from her). And now…the heavy silence thundered in her ears and her whole being felt electrified as Cade pulled closer and gently placed the forgotten bottle of whisky on the table behind her. Her breath caught in anticipation, but she couldn’t pay attention to anything but how little space there was between them, the dangerous way the low light of her office made the moment feel more intimate, the spark of something in his eyes that crackled with electricity and lit a fire in her chest. Her eyes trailed over the planes of his face even as she itched to pull him closer, run her hands down the muscles of his back. She’d teased him about how women couldn’t help but swoon around him, but, she thought– there was some truth to it. He was gorgeous, striking both in his classic handsome features and the weight in his eyes that promised his full presence here, with her. Her eyes had been lingering on his lips, wondering if she dared, when his question made Bianca suddenly glance back up while a small laugh escaped her. “I’d tell you,” she began, voice barely above a whisper, “to get on with it already.” She traced a finger across his jaw as she felt the last of her resistance crumble, and – ten years of professional distance, months of cool camaraderie between partners, and all of it shattered in a moment as she leaned in to kiss him fiercely, one arm wrapping around his neck to keep him close. cade owen woodward
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cade owen woodward
HOGWARTS ALUM SENIOR ASSISTANT EDITOR DAILY PROPHET
98 posts
played by vanessa
keep quiet no longer, we'll sing through the day
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last online Apr 23, 2024 23:53:49 GMT -7
STUDYING ABROAD
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Sept 29, 2021 0:37:13 GMT -7
Post by cade owen woodward on Sept 29, 2021 0:37:13 GMT -7
You are the latest contender You are the one to remember It was not a scenario anyone expected, especially not Bianca or Cade. They lived in different worlds with different motives and often different goals. And while they both had justice on their minds, their methods varied greatly. Their worlds were at odds. The reporter and the police officer, it was poetic in a way. But even Cade had to admit that while they had become good friends, they were both just acting on that spark, right? And Bianca had never been shy about how she felt in any scenario and the fact that she hadn’t hexed him through the door—well, that was her way of communicating.
Cade became acutely aware of her finger running down his jaw, and it took everything not to just grab her there and then. But Bianca made that first move, and he was certainly glad that she did. Cade kissed her back, hands moving to her waist to pull her closer to him. Truly, he’d never imagined himself in such a situation in a professional environment. He had his own office as well, after all, and normally, he was pretty good at separating his personal and professional—most of the time. At least when there wasn’t too much whiskey at the annual Prophet Christmas party.
Very quickly, the room felt warm, much too warm, and he removed his hands only long enough to slip off his blazer and toss it aside. There was something about the risky nature of this that made it that much more thrilling. Much like that part of his work that’d require him to venture into the unknown for a story or a lead. But, this wasn’t work. Even when Bianca was rebuffing him at that art gallery or in the past when they’d crossed paths there was always that chemistry. That spark, only she’d never acknowledged it. Cade pulled back a time or two for air but otherwise they were in their own little world and he didn’t care about the fair or the people outside that office. Cade hadn’t even realized that he’d pushed forward so Bianca was standing right at the edge of her desk, not that he cared about possibly knocking over that bottle of whiskey they’d been sharing.
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