Florence Rosier (italyrose) wrote in an_ill_wind, @ 2009-07-17 16:37:00 |
|
|||
Entry tags: | - 1980/07 july, florence rosier, rabastan lestrange |
Who: Florence and Rabastan
What: Yelling and an attempted apology
When: 17 July, 1980; morning, immediately after this
Where: A private garden in Chelsea
Rating: PG
Status: Completed log
Florence was furious. She could have handled that ridiculous Hurtz woman last night, though she wanted to know just how she knew about meeting Danny for tea in Newcastle. Nothing had happened, and she felt no need to explain herself to anyone. She actually thought Rabastan understood, that he trusted her to have self-control. Sure, she had a bit of fun flirting with Danny, but she knew that, as long as she was being courted, she couldn't keep up with her old habits. She hadn't been involved with anyone since Rabastan had officially asked to court her, and his suggestion that it was a possibility hurt.
She hadn't looked at her journal since bidding Rabastan good night, and was a little surprised by his owl. She'd thought he was still in the States, and while it was promising that he sought to remedy this situation immediately, she was not pleased. And to think she'd actually been planning on surprising him with Quidditch tickets. Still, she did not wish to explain this to her parents, and she'd rather attempt to fix this before they found out about it.
As such, Florence had no intention of meeting him at home. There was a private garden in Chelsea, just far enough away from the Rosier estate to ensure that her parents wouldn't interfere, and there were already wards in place to keep muggles out. She stood there, pacing back and forth, her wand in her hand, arms folded, waiting.
Rabastan had originally planned on staying in the States until early Saturday morning with just enough time to return for the Gala. Last night though had forced his hand and he had left Washington following the first set of negotiations at eleven. He had been severely tempted to rip one of his fellow negotiator's limbs from his body. The negotiator always was a prat but never had Rabastan been so thoroughly pissed than he had been this morning. Arriving home in a bit of a rumpled state, he had spruced up his appearance a bit but really had no desire to go overboard in preparing for something that he knew had all the makings of a firefight.
He tried to forget that he had been planning to send her a beautiful set of emerald earrings yesterday before this stupid thing broke last night. Rabastan had trusted her not to hookup with random people and yeah, it bothered him a bit to know that she had been spending time with Danny. If anyone knew his outlook on women, it would be Rabbit considering how close they had been at Hogwarts. "Use them and move on" seemed to be Wilkes's personal mantra and Rabbit did not wish to see Italy get hurt. Everyone from school seemed to remember how much of a player he had been and the fact was that he had been trying to change for Italy's sake. He had actually held off on women since beginning his courtship with her, even though the two of them had not progressed to that point in their relationship.
Rabbit knew he should have been more of a gentleman with her last night but even the remote possibility that she might have met up with Danny with some ulterior motives shattered his perfectly-ordered universe. Disapparating from his home, Rabastan took a deep breath as he landed at the coordinates that she had sent him. He knew she was bound to be disappointed and angry, both of which she deserved to be. Hoping that he could somehow salvage the courtship, the only good thing in his life at the moment, he stepped forward and entered the garden where he spotted Italy roaming the grounds. He gazed at her apologetically, "Thank you for meeting me. I cannot begin to explain how immature I feel for my behavior earlier." The thought of her killing him had crossed his mind more than once.
Florence turned as soon as she heard footsteps, her arms still crossed, her manicured nails tapping against the wand in her right hand. She didn't care that he wasn't immaculately dressed. She hadn't bothered much with her appearance this morning, only throwing on a clean dress and running a comb through her hair. She paused, tapping her foot, her eyebrow raised as she listened to his apology. "Do you have any idea--" she began, but cut herself off as she couldn't determine how to finish the question. "You had better explain something," she insisted. She did not care how immature he felt, and she expected a far better apology than that.
Rabastan looked her fiercely in the eye, "Do you know how much it would kill me if you and Danny had gotten together? The two of us go way back and the fact is that I never have shared well with any bloke I know, especially not when it comes to women that I date." Deciding to hold back for now on the fact that he was also falling in love with her, he continued, "It was not fair of me to spout at you like that but I would not put anything past him when it comes to the few ladies for whom he has long had feelings." He steeled himself for the barrage that would likely occur. Rabbit knew that had not been the answer that she had wanted. There was no way in hell that he was going to apologize right away for this thing.
Florence's heart skipped a beat. She'd had the feeling he was getting attached. Well, she'd suspected it since he had gone ahead and asked for permission to court her, rather than asking for her hand. But it was all happening faster than she'd thought it possibly could. Up until this point in their relationship, she had been very careful to avoid a fight. Honestly, he wasn't even supposed to have known about her visiting with Danny because she didn't want him to overreact. Now that they were here, though, she was going to be certain she was heard.
"And you thought that, what, I wouldn't be able to say no?" She understood what he meant about Danny. It was one of the things she'd always liked about him, actually. He was as discreet as she was when it came to sensitive matters. But why Rabastan should think Danny's habits should have any influence on her actions was beyond her.
Rabastan chewed on the inside of his mouth. Damn it, she was right of course. He hated to admit being wrong but it might help the situation if he gave into her point. "Well, I...uh...hoped that you would be able to say no. But after jumping to a few hasty conclusions last night about the situation, I wasn't really thinking all that straight. Besides you've always been so bloody silent about guys and relationships that I have never really determined your approach. That was what I meant last night. I really was not trying to offend you but it seems to have come out wrong in the heat of the moment."
"So who is this bloody Hurtz woman who was prattling on about you and Dan? And how in the world would she have had all this supposed information?" Rabastan found that little question to be most disturbing especially considering his own work in the Dark Lord's ranks. He almost wondered if the Order had a lead on the Lestrange or Rosier families and had somehow gone to the papers. He shook his head in bewilderment, "Did you tell anyone where you were going that day?"
"You never--what?" This was all because he didn't understand her approach with men? "Circe, Bastan, I'm not an idiot! And if you'd think I'd actually--ugh!" Florence was using her hands to talk, and sparks shot intermittently from her wand with her frustration. For someone who was not trying to offend her, his wording had not been choice, and she wasn't apt to forgive him easily. Not when she'd told that Hurtz woman outright that they trusted each other.
She sighed, not understanding why he was asking all these questions now. "I've no idea. It's what I said. We met for a spot of tea, end of story." She only glared at his final question. Right, as if she was going to spout to the world that she was meeting Danny Wilkes for tea. The entire discussion leading up to it had taken place behind wards in his journal, and then by owl. "Anything else?" Florence asked shortly.
"I never said you were an idiot, Italy!" Rabastan shook his head in disbelief while he looked around at the garden. Whoever's garden this was must have spent a fair fortune keeping the place maintained. Jumping out of the way of the sparks issuing from the end of her wand, Rabbit put his hands over his eyes. A typical bloke, he had never really forgiven her for turning him down in school. Although it did make her quite a bit more desirable now considering they had never been together. Aside from that, he had actually taken the time to get know her and fall in love even if he had been amiss to mention it to her.
"I believe you that you met for tea, darling, and that you did not allow it to progress beyond that," Rabbit gazed at her fondly hoping that he could convince her. Cringing at the malice in her voice, he muttered, "Yeah we need to talk about how to protect yourself in these troubled times. There are crazy people in the world and you can't trust them to have your best interests at heart."
Florence crossed her arms, taking a deep breath. She was glad she had achieved at least one small victory, but she was not happy with the course this conversation was taking. Did he really think she went anywhere without some level of protection? And what did she have to fear? The real danger in their world was from the Death Eaters, and she had nothing to fear from them unless her father and brother betrayed their allegiance, and she didn't see that happening in the near future.
"I am not so naive." Did he think she had brought this upon herself? She did not need lessons from him on discretion or wariness. She'd had plenty of experience in that regard since her fifth year in school.
"The world is not always as it seems," Rabastan remarked wracking his brain how to tell her this without revealing his allegiances. "I am not speaking of relationships and the like but the fact that several of our old classmates are not to be trusted. We are living in a world where the divisions between pureblood, bloodtraitor, halfblood, and mudblood are splitting ever farther apart. You can only trust those in your family and close friends." He knew she would be frustrated by this conversation since most upper-level pureblood families believed that wholeheartedly. But it had to be addressed because their lives might depend upon it.
"And when have I ever displayed trust outside my family and friends?" Florence humphed and turned her back on him. This was utterly ridiculous. Perhaps she was only looking for reasons to still be mad at him, but she did not want to hear this from him, of all people. It was not as if her daily routine was displayed for all to see in her journal. The most she ever listed were society functions that she was expected to attend, and performances, which she was required to attend. She didn't understand any of this, and she would not cease to meet friends outside her home, no matter how many rumors someone chose to spread.
Not surprised at all when she turned away from him, Rabastan shook his head and walked around to face her. "The reason I'm making a point of this is because I love you," he marveled at how amazing it felt to say to someone for whom he did possess those feelings. It wasn't like the young love he had felt at Hogwarts so frequently. He knew deep down that this was the real thing, the first time he had ever actually been able to say those words truthfully. "I want to apologize for the pain I caused you with this whole situation."
Florence blinked and actually dropped her wand. "Oh!" She took advantage of the distraction, reaching down to pick up her wand. Affection was one thing. Love was something else entirely. It wasn't the first time someone had said those words to her, but it was the first time she didn't know how to respond. She couldn't say it, not when she didn't believe it was true. She cursed inwardly. How the hell was she supposed to yell at him when he'd said that?
"You've got a funny way of showing it," she muttered, barely meeting his eyes. Oh, she was going to make him pay for this, somehow. She was supposed to win this argument, and he'd completely dissolved it with his revelation.
"This wasn't my ideal time for letting you know. Frankly I had a whole dinner planned out with more pleasant dinner conversation. I've never felt this way about someone before," he admitted quietly. "The reason I came back today was because I did not want to wake up 15 years from now and wonder what might have happened if I had pursued you and also to plead with you to give me another chance."
Florence crossed to one of the stone benches nearby and sat. She found this whole train of conversation unnerving. Did he honestly expect her to respond the same? Her whole life, she'd been expecting to have her father simply tell her one day that he'd arranged her marriage, and that would be the end of it. She'd been fortunate so far that it had been Rabastan, not a much older bachelor, and that they'd been granted the luxury of time for courtship. But love? She wasn't there yet. She couldn't truly say whether she would ever be there.
"Plead with me?" None of this discussion had sounded quite like pleading to her. And if he intended to plead, she certainly wasn't going to stop him.
Rabastan had no preconceived hopes for how she would respond to his revelation. He merely wanted her to know how he felt about her and if she eventually came to the same conclusion about him, he would consider himself a very lucky bloke. Usually pureblood arrangements did not work out that well and he knew of several where they had married for all the wrong reasons.
Sitting on the grass in front of her, he gave her a cocky smile, "Well, plead might be a strong word to use but I am hoping you will give me another chance to prove that I am not a total prick."
Florence was completely unimpressed with his smile, and she kept her face straight. "Proceed." She had all morning for him to prove himself. She had no intention of making it easy for him, either. Three little words didn't change the fact that she was upset with him. It just made it more difficult to express her frustration. She still hadn't forgiven him, and was not entirely pleased with his apology.
Rabastan had to look away from her to avoid getting lost in her deep blue eyes. Damn, this was not going to be easy. Sometimes Rabbit was too much of a comedian for his own good. "You know if you want you could hex me a few times. I'm sure you remember a few choice ones from Defense."
Florence crossed her arms and glared at him. "If I wanted to hex you, you'd know," she said flatly. She'd considered it earlier. It was the reason she'd had her wand out when he arrived. She'd never needed anyone's permission, especially the person who would be on the receiving end. "Is that all you have to say?" she inquired, less anger in her voice, her head cocked to one side.
"Well there is the major detail that I am sorry for my actions but I think we visited that point already." Rabbit didn't really like the direction this conversation was going. He knew for a fact that she never had been a big Quidditch fan at school, some of his friends had seen fit to remind him of that little detail. The harsh reality of the situation was that no one went to a concert on this short notice, assuming that one could be happening today.
Rabbit thought she looked rather sassy with her head tilted like that. "I know we came for completely different reasons than to consider your appearance but I cannot go without complimenting you on how attractive you look today."
"It would not hurt to revisit that subject," she remarked coyly. Florence rolled her eyes at the compliment. Naturally, he would turn the conversation that way. She was gorgeous, she knew that, and had no problem being reminded of the fact, but there was a time for such remarks. As he was well aware, now was not such a time.
"Come here," she said, resting her elbows on her knees and her chin on her hand as she crooked a finger, beckoning him closer.
Rabbit found her request quite puzzling but did as she said as he leaned closer to her.
Florence smiled inwardly, leaned in, and kissed him shortly on the lips. "It's going to take a lot more than words to earn my forgiveness," she whispered in his ear. With that, she rose from the bench, pocketing her wand, and strode for the gate that led out of the garden and onto the street. It wasn't too far back to her home, and she'd be glad for the walk.
Rabastan kissed her back, which was far too short for his taste, and then ascended from his spot on the grass. Walking towards the gate, he caught up with Italy and walked beside her out towards the street. "So are there any concerts that we might attend in the near future?"
She smiled, glad to see him so eager to please her. Stepping through the low gate, she turned to face him and held a hand up to stop him. "Well," Florence said, closing the gate between them, "I'll have to think about it." With that, she turned on her heel and made her way up the street. Honestly, she wasn't going to make it that easy.
Rabastan grinned as he apparated home. He never would have dreamed the apology would have gone that well and that he could still have a chance with her.