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last online May 5, 2024 20:54:38 GMT -7
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Mar 10, 2016 17:14:45 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2016 17:14:45 GMT -7
show me the way Royal laughed when Victoire said she’d never be seen in public. It was funny because it was so damn true. “Hey, maybe if people see you with me they’ll think I’m sharing tips about being Minister with you. Since, you know, my dad obviously told me everything.” That was even more laughable than what she had said; Royal knew quite a bit about what it was like to love the Minister of Magic in various capacities, but if he was ever Minister, then things would go to shambles quite quickly. He had really dodged a bullet when he gave up his political bent and went for writing instead.
“Gee, thanks, Vic.” Royal said drily when she couldn’t conjure even one thing that he was good at out of her head. “Legilimency?” He suggested, trying to save her. It was a skill he had learned for not-so-noble reasons (to look into others’ heads when he was interviewing them, just to see if it was the truth), but honestly, he wished that he was an Occlumens instead. He didn’t want anyone peeking around for secrets – the people he loved were too important in more ways than one.
He and Victoire having lunch with a maybe-stranger was certainly an interesting proposition. Victoire obviously thought highly of the man, and what could it hurt? “If you two want to schedule a time, I can duck out of the office pretty much whenever.” The good thing about writing about politics was that when Vic was busy, Royal was often busy, too, writing about why she was busy. Choosing a different career path might be better for his mental health, but he’d also lose some of what made his relationship with Victoire so special, and he wasn’t sure if he was willing to give away the pieces of her he’d just won back.
@victoire
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last online May 5, 2024 20:54:38 GMT -7
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Mar 11, 2016 13:58:46 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Mar 11, 2016 13:58:46 GMT -7
"Clearly," she faux agreed as he joked about his father teaching him everything there was to being Minister. She briefly wondered if Royal ever thought about being Minister for Magic, at least in a serious way. Then he went on to catch her in her struggle to think of other things he was good at. "In my defense, I've hardly seen you in the past four years. Your talents are probably very different from what I know," it was a lame excuse, but it was partly true. She didn't know that much about him anymore except what he knew from school. But, she was trying to fix that, wasn't she? She shook her head as he mentioned Legimency, "that's not a career, Royal."
"Perfect, I'll talk to Sebastian and get back to you. In the meantime... I guess we could talk a little bit about it now if you wanted to..." she didn't know why she was so nervous to talk about his father. Maybe because she really hadn't given herself a chance to really mourn about it. She did a little, but she was very rarely a mourner, even in incredibly dark situations.
@royal
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last online May 5, 2024 20:54:38 GMT -7
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Mar 12, 2016 20:27:35 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2016 20:27:35 GMT -7
show me the way Oh, Victoire. "In your defense, I don't have many useful skills." His joke fell flat, but at least Royal had tried. "I'm aware it's not a career." He sighed. "But it could be useful somewhere, right?" That was what he was going to keep telling himself. Royal needed to find some sort of purpose instead of just floating. He was the junior editor of the Prophet, yes, but his career seemed to be at a bit of a dead end, since he couldn't be promoted to editor until he was much, much older. "There's just a lot I need to figure out and writing the book is making me realize how much I want to do with my life while I still have the chance." They were all just hurtling into oblivion anyways, so he might as well enjoy the ride.
His eyes struggled to look anywhere but her face as he tried his hardest not to make the situation awkward. It was probably too late, considering he had brought up the book in the first place. They both knew they had been less than helpful to each other as far as emotional support went after Kingsley's death, but Royal was trying to put that behind him. He had shut himself in on purpose, and built up walls to keep people away. Even if Victoire had been there, their friendship probably would have fallen to shambles. "I don't have my list of questions with me." He admitted. He hadn't left the house expecting any of this, and he was worried that without the list of questions, he would end up being too emotional about it all. Royal knew he was putting off what was an inevitable conversation, but denial was a coping mechanism. It wasn't a good one, of course, but it worked for now.
@victoire
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last online May 5, 2024 20:54:38 GMT -7
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Mar 14, 2016 12:57:07 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Mar 14, 2016 12:57:07 GMT -7
Victoire shook her head as he said he didn't have many useful skills. She could tell it was an attempt at a joke, but they both failed miserably at making it succeed. "Of course it could be useful," she latched onto that, trying to make the conversation as unawkward as possible now. Trying to steer the conversation away from that feeling. "The Order especially has use for that and with all that's going on we will be needing it sooner rather than later."
Vic nodded as he said that the book made him want to do things with his life while he had the chance. She had never had that mind set, exactly. She had rarely thought about living like she was dying. She was too busy for that. "What kind of things do you want to do, then? Are you talking about quitting the paper?" she asked, a little shocked at the thought of it. He had always been a writer, she had seen that for years. It would be strange if he changed careers now...
She was relieved that he didn't have his list of questions with him. At that she let out a breath followed by a shaky laugh. "Well, not now then!" she said, taking another taste of the cookie dough before her. She smiled at Royal, reaching forward to place a hand on his shoulder. "In other news, I'm doing a press conference tomorrow."
@royal
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last online May 5, 2024 20:54:38 GMT -7
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Mar 14, 2016 18:12:17 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Mar 14, 2016 18:12:17 GMT -7
show me the way The Order. For as much time Royal spent doing one errand or another for the pseudo-secret organization, he managed to forget about it almost too often. He also managed to forget all of the other members just as often, Victoire included. “I guess I need to brush up on my skills.” He said with a small frown. “Sadly, there’s not that many people who will willingly subject themselves to Legilimency, especially if it’s just for practice.” His father had taught him, but Kingsley had also been a fantastic Occlumens, and had been careful to keep Royal out of any messes he’d be better off not knowing about. The number of Occlumens who were sound enough in their training to let an adept Legilimens into their head was, sadly, low, and among that number most of them were too busy for something as simple as practice.
Once again Royal found himself looking away from Victoire. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to quit the paper, per se, but he didn’t want to be doing just that for the rest of his life. “I understand how important it is for an Order member to have a hand in the way the news is portrayed, and you also have quite a big stake in it,” he began, picking his words carefully, “but I’m not sure if that’s all I want to do with my life. It just feels like I’m a machine made to crank out articles by a certain deadline, and living by a deadline used to make me happy, but…it just doesn’t anymore.” For the longest time Royal had thought it was because of his father’s death that he didn’t enjoy his work as much. He had a hard time enjoying anything for a long, long while. But even when the rest of his life brightened, the paper was still in a haze of darkness. “Maybe there’s something I’m missing, or maybe I’m just in a slump.” Royal finally said with a shrug. There were too many maybes.
He was more interested than he had a right to be in Victoire’s press conference. “What about?” He asked, reclaiming the jar of cookie dough to take a bite. “The kidnapping, or something else?” Normally, Royal would assume the former, but Victoire was constantly surprising him, and since she was a relatively new Minister, the time for making big changes was now.
@victoire
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last online May 5, 2024 20:54:38 GMT -7
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Mar 15, 2016 6:25:35 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2016 6:25:35 GMT -7
Victoire nodded, "yeah... I'm sure you could find someone in the Order willing to help you practice, though. I mean, you had to learn somehow, right?" then she realized who it was that had probably helped him in the past and her stomach twisted in a knot for a moment. She tried to recoup, "I'm sure anyone in the Order would gladly help you get better at it, and even use Occlumency if you wanted. Many of them are well trained," she continued, hoping that sounded somewhat encouraging.
As he went on about his career Victoire tried her hardest to try and understand what he was going through, but she had never felt a slump like that when it came to work. She did the auror training program knowing full well that she wasn't going to be a full time auror. She had always known what she wanted to do and had never felt 'slumped'. Still, she heard that other people went through that kind of stuff and this was proof. "I mean, Junior editor is a great place to be, of course. But if you're not happy... maybe you could try something else on the side? I mean, you have the book, right?" she said, "I'm not sure if the deadlines are what's really getting at you, though. I think it's less tangible then that. You feel something," she reached out and poked his chest, "in your heart and you're not sure where it's leading you. Maybe?" she guessed.
Then he asked what the press conference was for and she nodded, "that and other things. I was planning on telling the Prophet after this to get some reporters in there, you should come," she said.
@royal
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last online May 5, 2024 20:54:38 GMT -7
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Mar 16, 2016 12:24:05 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2016 12:24:05 GMT -7
show me the way Royal blanched slightly when Victoire mentioned using the Order as a resource. He still wasn’t sure of his place in the organization beyond being Kingsley’s son. It was a birthright more than anything else, just as it was for Victoire, and it would be for Harry Potter’s kids. He was supposed to help people, anyways, not place an undue burden on them by forcing them to practice with him. Not only would he be wasting his time, he’d also be forcing himself into their heads. Over and over and over. “I’ll ask around.” He replied half-heartedly. Did the Order really need a Legilimens that badly?
“I don’t even know if I’m happy!” Royal blurted out. Oh. That made sense. He hadn’t actually thought of being happy or sad…well, since his father had died. There had been light and dark in his brain, and he had translated that to happy or sad as he thought was appropriate. But that wasn’t how life worked – not everything light was good, and not everything dark was bad. “Look, I know this isn’t going to make sense, but I lost my sense of direction when my dad died. I knew how I felt when I was with him. He was my north and he made things make sense. And now that he’s gone, I don’t know how. I don’t know how to do anything. And that is why I grew old.” It was easy to piece everything together now that he had made that one simple realization. “And that is why I need you.” That was what he was feeling in his heart, the mysterious emotion that had been eating at him for all that time. Hopeless disorientation and the need to find a new north. He had tried the first hour after his father died to make Abigail that person, but she wasn’t strong enough for that, and neither was he. Maybe Victoire wouldn’t be, either, and then he’d have to go searching again. That was the most horrible thing about needing someone.
“I’ll be there if you want me to be.” Royal said, voice clipped as he tried to force his racing heart to still. That wasn’t the sort of thing you were supposed to say to someone in the middle of a bookshop. It wasn’t the sort of thing you were supposed to say to someone at all.
@victoire
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last online May 5, 2024 20:54:38 GMT -7
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Mar 17, 2016 12:09:32 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Mar 17, 2016 12:09:32 GMT -7
She knew that the conversation was going sour. He didn't seem all that interested in actually asking around. She really just meant for it to help him but... either way, she just smiled and nodded. Then he was announcing that he didn't even know if he was happy and Victoire caught her breath, her eyes widening for a moment. She understood that, of course. She had everything she had ever wanted in her career. She was the Minster of Magic for Merlin's sake. She was saving the world one policy at a time, right? She was doing everything in her power and she was doing really well. But she didn't know if she was happy. She had given up too much to get where she was now and... well, she understood what he meant. Then he said that he needed her to give him a sense of direction. To help him be... happy? When he finished, Victoire didn't skip a bit in stepping forward and wrapping her arms around his shoulders. She pulled him tightly to her and lifted slightly onto her tiptoes. She didn't speak as she held him, and she thought to pull back several times but she held on for a while longer before finally pulling away. "Hey. You know I love you, right?" she said. He was her best friend and always had been, even when they took that... break.
"You don't have to come to the press conference if you don't want to. I mean, if the Prophet isn't what you want to do anymore then you don't have to. of course. we can figure something out. Together," she suggested, "maybe not today though, since our brainstorming skills seem weak at the moment," she smiled at him with a hint of humor in her eyes.
@royal
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last online May 5, 2024 20:54:38 GMT -7
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Mar 17, 2016 17:42:01 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Mar 17, 2016 17:42:01 GMT -7
show me the way Royal loved Victoire. He loved her in a way that was probably stronger than any romantic love he could feel, and though he hated to say it, probably stronger than familial love at some times. They had chosen each other when they were just kids, both sorted into the Slytherin house for their ambition. They knew how to tear each other apart, which was why it was so special that they chose instead to protect each other from the others who tried to do just that. Despite everything that had happened in the years since they had left school, and despite how frightening life had become in the last year, he had never stopped loving her. Royal was reminded of why when she put her arms around him. He could smell her shampoo and hear every breath that she took. It had been a long time since he had let anyone hug him for this long, since even before his father had died. He loved Victoire, and when she said she loved him, he knew that he had been right to let her back in, even when everything in him had screamed to shut her out again.
“I know.” Royal paused. “I love you, too. But don’t tell your uncle, or he’ll probably skewer me.” He said with a laugh. Now that he thought about it, Teddy would skewer him, too. And they’d probably regret letting him inside in the first place. As for the press meeting, though…”Even if the Prophet isn’t what I want to do, I want to come.” A show of support or something along those lines. “Vic, I hate to tell you this, but your brainstorming skills are always weak.” He teased, jumping on the opportunity to lighten the mood. “I only keep you around for the access to top-level government secrets, obviously.” And for her superior hugs, not that he’d ever say. Royal had no desire to become a shish kebab.
@victoire
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last online May 5, 2024 20:54:38 GMT -7
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Mar 21, 2016 11:00:44 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2016 11:00:44 GMT -7
I know, VIctoire breathed a sigh of relief as he said it, and another when he saved he loved her too. Then, of course, he made a joke about her uncle Ron outside and she laughed along with him. "I'm sure you would make it out alive... well, maybe not with both of them out there," she joked. Teddy understood their relationship, though, at least how it was before. He had to get used to it as her boyfriend back in the day, didn't he?
She nodded as he said he'd come to the press conference, and then glared at his next words. "I knooow," she said, shaking her head. "And I'm not sure I can give you access to..." then an idea struck her, one she wasn't sure if he would go for... but she was going to say it anyway. "Do you... I mean, there are..." she looked away from him for a moment, taking a deep breath before making eye contact with him again. "There are two positions open in my office, still. No ones been wanting to step up to the plate but... I mean, why not? Senior and junior undersecretary to the Minister are available. I mean, would you be interested in that level of politics?" she suggested, staring at him with wide eyes.
@royal
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last online May 5, 2024 20:54:38 GMT -7
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Mar 21, 2016 11:58:30 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2016 11:58:30 GMT -7
show me the way Royal was quite fond of his limbs, and he would like to keep all of them. “Maybe I’ll just hide in here until after you’ve left.” He said. Self-preservation was a powerful instinct, especially since he knew Victoire’s guard had all of the skills needed to carry out their threats. He would have hoped that his friendship with Teddy would help keep him from assassination, but when it came to Victoire, everything seemed to be fair game.
Shock spread through Royal like a flesh-eating fungus at Victoire’s next words. He had all but abandoned the idea of a career at the Ministry when he was older and realized that cries of nepotism could run his father’s career. It was slightly less nepotistic for his best friend to offer him a position, but Royal still hesitated. He was interested, definitely, but it would make things complicated, to say the least. Hadn’t they just been talking about how horrible it would be if he was on her guard? Still, being on her guard and on her staff were different beasts entirely. “I would be.” Royal replied evenly. “I just never thought it would be possible.” He swallowed hard. Leaving the Prophet would be a big choice, but once the idea was sown in his brain, Royal couldn’t let it go. “Do you think I’d be any good at it?” He trusted Victoire to be honest with him, and while he doubted she would have made the offer if she didn’t believe in his skills, it would still be nice to have confirmation.
@victoire
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last online May 5, 2024 20:54:38 GMT -7
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Mar 22, 2016 12:30:31 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2016 12:30:31 GMT -7
She chuckled at his idea of hiding out until she and the guards had left. ”That miiiight be the best idea,” she chuckled again, lifting a hand to cover her mouth slightly. She was joking, of course, but she really did worry that Ron and Teddy went overboard sometimes… but wasn’t that why she hired them?
Victoire held her breath as she waited for Royals response. When he did speak, she still didn't let out the breath she had been holding until he was finished. Thens he asked if he'd be any good at it and she slowly nodded. "I do, Roy," she said, tentatively bringing her confidence back into her words, "a lot of it is decision making and looking at ideas that different departments come up with and deciding what we need to pursue and what we don't. It's a lot of sorting through lots of information and finding what's important. Reporters do that too, don't they? Especially editors. You've had a lot of experience and... I trust you," she said, giving a nod, "and If I trust you then those who elected me should, right? I mean, I want you by my side is what I’m trying to say." She placed a hand on his shoulder, "I think you could be one of the best people for the job. Plus, no one else wants it so..." she smiled at that, trying to bring a bit of that lighthearted air back into it. "It's not safe," she added. But he would know that already.
@royal
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last online May 5, 2024 20:54:38 GMT -7
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Mar 22, 2016 19:54:20 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2016 19:54:20 GMT -7
show me the way Royal was determined to make a joke about his semi-legitimate escape plan, if only because it would make Victoire laugh more. “Alright, so when you’re six or so blocks away, send some sparks into the air and I’ll watch from the second floor…” He winked at her with conspiracy in his eyes. “I’ll escape through the back door.” Because there was obviously no way he could walk out the front door if they were only six blocks away. No chance.
Victoire actually thought he could do this. Worse, the more she talked, the more he wanted to do it. The thing was, it would be a lot of responsibility. If Royal decided that he didn’t like it the same way he decided he didn’t like being the junior editor of the paper, it wasn’t as easy to find a replacement. The government was already unstable enough without a revolving door of undersecretaries. Then again, this was Victoire, his friend. He would stay as long as she needed him to, even if it meant grinning and bearing a job he detested, though he found that unlikely. “Do I need an interview or something?” Royal asked tentatively, more to indicate that he was seriously considering the job offer than because he actually thought it was necessary.
He tried to give Vic a withering glance when she mentioned that the job wasn’t safe, but it ended up just looking sad. “I know.” What else was there to say? Royal had been to his father’s funeral, mourned in stupefied silence for…for a long time. “But the world will never be safe again unless we do something about it, right?” Just as he had told her standing in the doorway of his home, he had watched the world fall apart. He knew the way the pieces should fit; he could put it back together.
@victoire
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last online May 5, 2024 20:54:38 GMT -7
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Mar 23, 2016 15:39:00 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Mar 23, 2016 15:39:00 GMT -7
She chuckled even more as he suggested sending sparks and his escaping out the back door. He winked, but a part of her still thought he was partly being serious. She narrowed her eyes at him, ”Or we could just go outside together and cut through all this red tape,” she suggested, smirking a bit at she did so.
As he mentioned an interview she nodded, ”that would be a good idea. You’d need to meet with Sebastian and me. We’d probably only be able to get you in as the Junior Undersecretary for now, until you got more experience… are you actually considering it?” She asked, then he made that face and mentioned how he knew it wasn’t safe. He was right, of course, the world wouldn’t be safe until they did something about it. She felt herself smile slightly and nodded, ”exactly, and who better than us, right?” she nodded her head toward the door where her guard stood, ”you could just as easily join the guard, sir, but I think your voice needs to be heard, Royal,” her gaze intensified, ”and I think you know that.”
@royal
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last online May 5, 2024 20:54:38 GMT -7
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Mar 23, 2016 16:55:34 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Mar 23, 2016 16:55:34 GMT -7
show me the way Victoire was always the one to make things simple. “Go ahead and take all of the fun out of it.” He said with a roll of his eyes. In the end that would probably be what they did. For all their joking, Royal was sure that if he didn’t come out with Victoire, he’d get a verbal beating about leaving her alone.
“What day and time would be convenient for both of you?” Royal asked, slipping into a more formal tone, appropriate for business. “Junior Undersecretary would be fine by me, you know that. I…I want this more than I thought I could want a job.” He had thought that he wanted to be editor-in-chief, but this was an entirely new thrill, sharp and visceral. He was more alive than he had felt in months. “Us working together is a lot easier than you having to work with some up-and-up who only wants the job so they could replace you.” Royal agreed. He knew of quite a few undersecretaries that had been promoted when the Minister fell out of favor or stepped down, and it was a common career path for the politically savvy.
He knew that his voice needed to be heard. That was why he had written article after article, hoping that if he somehow screamed loud enough and long enough he could change things. It would be so much easier, though, if Royal was in the government. He would be with Vic, yes, but more importantly, they would be changing the world. Together.
@victoire
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