InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Narf!"

bl_collin (bl_collin) wrote in bloodlines_rp,
@ 2017-08-02 22:04:00

Entry tags:

!retcon, collin haussler (oc), dec 2002, loc: falcons team flats, loc: london, nicholas fleming (npc), oliver wood, type: rp

Awful Truth
Date & Time: Saturday, 28 December 2002 | Evening
Post Type: RP
Status: Complete
Character(s): Collin Haussler, Oliver Wood, other Falcons as needed/wanted
Location: Falmouth Falcons Training Facility and Team Flats
Summary: The Falcons deal with the aftermath of an incident at their most recent game
Retcon Info: Picks up after this thread, except with it pushed back to the 20th and other Dec threads pushed back accordingly. No major changes.

“What the actual fuck were you thinking, Haussler?”

Fleming’s voice carried into the common area, but Collin simply sat there, gazing down at his hands in his lap. He was tired in a way that he hadn’t been since he’d been in hiding just because of his blood status. The ferocity he had shown on the pitch just a few hours ago had vanished altogether when the Magical Games Department’s owl had arrived with a very formal looking document that said, in part, “…suspended, pending a formal review.”

It might well have been a howler as much as the words were echoing around his head. “I’m serious, Collin,” Fleming was saying; his voice had gone hoarse from all of the shouting he had done both at the match and in the subsequent hours, at him, at the team, and at the officials. “What the hell happened out there?”

Collin glanced up at his captain, but couldn’t hold his gaze. “I couldn’t let him say that about Elena,” he mumbled, and felt his face grow warm. “You didn’t hear him.”

As excuses went, it was really bad. It had been really bad at the time, of course, kind of the worse, but his rational mind had been temporarily obliterated by blind fury and the sort of bone-deep grief that he wasn’t even aware he was capable of feeling until he was dragging the other man 50 feet to the ground, fists pummeling every square inch he could get his hands on. His own throat still felt raw from the primal screams that had been ripped from him as he attacked. It was only their hard landing that had finally snapped him out of it. Collin had taken the brunt of that landing, still had the burn of healing ribs to show for it, the ache of newly patched lungs reminding him of his shocking display with every shallow breath.

Fleming stared at him, he could sense it, could feel the weight of his disapproval in the shadow that loomed over him. “We’ll fight this,” the other man said, and Collin saw the shadow unfold his arms, saw one of them start to reach out toward him, but it fell back to his side. Even his shadow looked tired. “We’ll get you reinstated, but it’s pretty likely that the Department will drag their feet on this. We’re not exactly the golden child of the league. Merlin, Collin, you almost killed him.”

He winced, but otherwise didn’t move or say anything else. Fleming pushed out a slow sigh, and then walked to his office door and pulled it open. “Pack a few things, and then head to your parents’ place. The Department’s letter was very clear about this point. We’ll owl you with any updates.”

Collin nodded his understanding miserably, pushed himself to stand stiffly, and then left the office. This was officially the worst day ever.

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bl_oliver
2017-08-03 06:28 am UTC (link)

"Where are they?" Oliver said without actually stopping his movement. Whether it was his glare or the purposeful strides he was taking, his teammates stepped out of his way without prompting. Gallager pointed toward office at the far end of the facility, and as Oliver approached he could hear raised voices.

The door opened just as Oliver reached it, and he immediately sidestepped Collin without looking at the other man's face. He wasn't sure he could keep moving if he saw Collin's expression. Instead, he entered the office without invitation and barely looked at their team captain before saying, "You know this ruling is bullshit. Zimmerman intentionally baited him!" Oliver pointed over his shoulder to the direction Collin had gone. "You've seen all the press about the Wasps lately. They just wanted to play the martyr and get the attention away from the fact that they've alienated their best players with their ridiculous paranoia."

Fleming held out his hands in a motion that was probably supposed to be calming. "Zimmerman left the field in a bloody pile. Baiting or not, the League had to do something."

Oliver made a dismissive noise. "You do remember our team motto, right? Collin barely touched the surface of some of the things that got the Broadmoor brothers suspended. He's the fucking scapegoat."

"I know. What do you expect me to do, Wood?" This time, the frustration was evident in the older man's voice. Oliver almost felt bad for venting at him. "We'll appeal the suspension and get Haussler back on as soon as we can."

"Fine," Oliver said, his mouth set in a firm line. "Let me know when that is. In the meantime, I'm sure Valencia will enjoy the time on the pitch." He turned to stalk out of the room, but then paused and added, "I know this isn't your fault, Nic. But the rulings the League has made this season have been ludicrous. This is only the latest example...and for me, the last straw." Then he kept walking until he'd caught up with Collin.

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bl_collin
2017-08-04 02:43 am UTC (link)

There was a part of Collin that had been terrified to see Oliver's reaction to the Department's edict. This was only solidified when he was leaving Nic's office and Oliver wouldn't even look at him. He hurried away from the door, not wanting to hear what was being said now, though he could still hear Oliver's voice as he got further away. Geena and Hertz made a valiant effort to talk to him as he passed, but he shook his head resolutely and waved them off. He wasn't sure what he would do if he tried to talk about it. Really, what the hell could he possibly even say?

Collin was so wrapped up in his own thoughts that he wasn’t even aware that Oliver had caught up with him until he felt his presence at his side. He glanced over at him, but quickly back again. “Come to see me off?” For some reason, he found himself smiling faintly, impossibly touched by Oliver being there, just at this moment. "You’re the only one I wouldn’t mind."