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Tweak says, "Liberalis is the SHIZZOW"

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
2017-08-06 09:54 pm UTC (link)

Oliver laughed softly at the teasing compliment, but he didn't shift his position except to wind his fingers through Collin's. It was warm and dark, and other than the tempting smell of chips coming from a few feet away, he had very little motivation to move. "Glad to see you took my commands seriously, even if the state of these sheets means that you didn't necessarily get good sleep." He paused, then added, "Feeling any better?"

The question was intended for the physical wounds, but he didn't clarify. If Collin felt up to talking about the rest, then Oliver wasn't going to dissuade him.

After a short internal debate, he said, "The team has your back. Not that I doubted it, but more than one of them made me promise I'd tell you." He supposed it was natural to assume that Oliver would see Collin, but it did make him wonder whether anyone else had picked up on the beyond-friendly parts of their friendship. Elena had known, but he thought she'd been the only one. Oddly, it didn't make him uncomfortable. As prickly and stony and they could be, the Falcons were family.

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bl_collin
2017-08-06 10:55 pm UTC (link)

A meaningful groan left him when Oliver mentioned the sheets. His slowly waking brain was hoping he'd missed that detail, but that just wasn't in the cards. He managed to shrug his shoulder, but it was mostly a reticent gesture. Better? Was he?

"Still hurts," he muttered, shutting his eyes tight. "More than I thought. Shouldn've done it. Should've taken the bludger and just flown away. But it was Elena, and I just fucking... I don' even know where it came from. An' I can't even say if I wouldn' do it again, if it happened all over. Now it's all bollocksed and--" He went quiet for long enough for Oliver to tell him about the Falcons' solidarity, and he just couldn't take it.

His eyes were stinging as he turned in Oliver's hold, so that he was facing him, and he felt wetness fall across the bridge of his nose. Collin reached up for Oliver's face, holding it. "I can't," he gasped, shuddered with the weight of it all. "If this all goes south, if they kick me out of the league for good, you have to go back. I know this is for your principles, and I get it, I do. But I will never forgive myself if you don't go back. The Falcons need you. You have to promise, please."

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bl_oliver
2017-08-06 11:32 pm UTC (link)

Oliver rested his forehead against Collin's shoulder as the wizard started talking about what had happened. Oliver had picked up on enough from his place on the pitch, the chatter of the other players, and the talk afterward to piece things together, but that was nothing compared to the raw emotion he could feel in Collin's telling of it. The Falcons were a close-knit group, but Elena had been special--tough and thorny just like the rest of them, but she'd had a way with people. He'd known that Collin had taken her death hard, but obviously he hadn't realised quite how hard until today. Oliver stroked his fingers over Collin's, but otherwise he didn't comment. Sometimes it was just about getting it out.

When Collin turned over to look at him, he was momentarily frozen by the intensity of it. He put a hand on Collin's arm as if it would help steady both of them. "Collin--" He started to say that none of that mattered, that he would see this through because couldn't play for a League that was so myopic, but the words died on his tongue, because they were lies. The truth was that he couldn't imagine not playing, and for the first time, he genuinely hated that his career was more important to him than literally everything else in his life.

He breathed in slowly and let it out in a shudder. "I promise. It's not going to happen--I won't let it happen--but if it helps, then I promise." He swiped his thumb briefly over Collin's wet cheek, then slid his hand to the back of his head, threading his fingers through Collin's hair. He hated seeing Collin like this. Hated it. "You never know," he said, attempting levity. "They might end up well shot of us both, and we can move to the European Conference. You can knock Krum off his high horse. The Quafflepunchers could use a talent upgrade." Oliver brushed a kiss over Collin's lips. "And you'd look smashing in pink, you know."

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bl_collin
2017-08-07 01:01 am UTC (link)

"Too fucking right I would," Collin said on the back of a reluctant laugh, because Oliver could always seem to do that. And now that he'd given his promise, Collin felt some of the tightness in his chest uncoil. The relief was making him feel practically giddy. He let out a small, pleased sound as Oliver's fingers moved through his hair, and burrowed in against his shoulder. "On both counts. I've been wanting to get my hands on Krum since the Worlds." His face twisted a bit at his choice of wording, and he darted upward to steal another kiss. "'Course, right now, there's quite another person I'd rather get my hands on."

The smell of food seemed to hit him all at once, and he sat upright very suddenly, searching the room for the source. He had to lean over Oliver to grab his wand from one of the bedside tables, nearly rolling on top of him in his enthusiasm, and then summoned the bag of food over to settle between them. He fixed Oliver with an open and very fond smile. "You really are the bloody best, Wood."

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bl_oliver
2017-08-07 01:44 am UTC (link)

Oliver was glad that his attempt at humour had at least partially hit the mark, well enough that he was caught off guard at Collin's unintended innuendo. He snorted a laugh, louder than he'd intended, that was only cut off by Collin sneaking in for another kiss. "Tall, dark, bushy eyebrows?" He feigned serious consideration for a second before laughing again. "No, you're right. Not quite my type, either."

He rolled to his back as Collin sat up, watching the other wizard summon the food over to the bed. There was still a lot ahead of them to handle, and a lot of what had happened already to sort through, and he was bloody starving now that the food was in front of him--but for a brief second, it only mattered that Collin was smiling at him. Really smiling. Oliver couldn't resist smiling back, answering the compliment by a brief touch of the hand as he sat up.

Oliver started pulling containers from the bag, pausing only to cast a quick charm on the foot of the bed to keep the food from bouncing and sliding too much. "There's a selection. Wasn't sure what you'd be in the mood for." He'd probably gone overboard for two people, but that was sort of the norm whenever he was in charge of food for parties, and this wasn't so different. "I figure whatever's left we can put under a cooling charm and save for tomorrow. No reason to head out anytime early, so."

He stole a glance sideways as he grabbed one of the containers--fish and chips, the scent told him--and scooted back to lean against the head of the bed. "Think I can count this as a proper holiday?" he asked, popping a piece of fish into his mouth. It was just hot enough to still be crisp, but not so much that it burned his mouth, which was exactly why the Leaky Cauldron was bloody brilliant, even if the menu selection was limited. "Maybe that's what I'll tell Mum. She doesn't read anything in the Prophet other than the Society section, anyway."

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bl_collin
2017-08-07 02:53 am UTC (link)

Collin gaped a little at all the food, but he shouldn't have been very surprised. He wasn't, once he really stopped to consider the source. Instead of needling Oliver, however, he simply followed his nose to a container that housed- ah-ha! he was right!- shepherd's pie. He was practically drooling as he rooted around for utensils, found them, and then sat cross-legged just next to Oliver, close enough that his legs were firmly pressed against the other man's thigh. The moan he let out on first bite was absolutely indecent, and his eyes rolled toward the ceiling. When he looked back, he was smiling contentedly. "Maybe we can save some for George, too. Bit of a thanks-for-letting-us-crash-at-yours gift."

A few further bites, perhaps slightly less enthusiastic than the first- but no less grateful, allowed him the chance to ruminate on Oliver's question. "Well," he said, pausing from his food inhalation, "given that in five seasons I've never seen you take a proper holiday, I think it can and you could." He grinned at a sudden thought. "We could go to the continent for a couple of weeks, really put the fear of Circe into the League. Once word gets out, honestly, I won't be surprised if we start getting seriously courted. Like you said earlier- League's top Keeper, three years running."

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bl_oliver
2017-08-10 11:37 pm UTC (link)

"It is a proven fact that Weasleys like to eat. Assuming we leave anything for him," he added with a chuckle, resting his free hand on Collin's knee. It seemed that the bubble of tension had finally burst, because the laughing came easier, and he was content for the moment with the food and the company. More so the company. "It's a good idea, though. We can always stop on the way and grab dinner. Something from London proper that he doesn't have often."

Oliver paused with a chip halfway to his mouth, at first caught by the we in that statement—and the fact that he really liked the sound of a holiday with Collin—and then by the thought that there was real possibility in the idea of the European League, despite the fact that he'd brought it up in jest. And if not in the League itself, then what it represented—leverage. "I should have spoken up weeks ago," he said, his tone matter-of-fact. There was guilt in there, too, but for now he could look at the situation with some objectivity. "Beyond supporting the team's refusal to follow the ruling. It just" —he gave a sheepish little shrug— "never occurred to me to use my name to do anything about it." He took a bit and chewed thoughtfully. "But maybe that's what I should do."

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bl_collin
2017-08-11 02:17 am UTC (link)

"Seems a good bloke," he observed, smiling faintly down at where the warmth of Oliver's hand was penetrating the fabric covering his knee. Collin felt a sudden and misplaced flash of irritation at the offending garment, wishing it wasn't there at all, and then he almost laughed at how stupid the thought had been. Instead, he nodded. He'd only met George the once, then run into him again in Diagon a short time later, though then they'd done nothing more than exchange a few pleasantries. Never really had the pleasure of being at school with a Weasley, though, not in any way to have any impression of the family other than what he'd gleaned from their involvement in the War. "Yeah, we should do that. There's a few muggle places around that the fam have dragged me to that were pretty amazing."

He watched closely as Oliver paused, and wondered for a moment if he'd misspoken. Collin was just about to start backpedalling when Oliver began voicing his apparent thoughts. A tiny frown pulled at his mouth, and he set his food to one side. He took Oliver's hand, threading their fingers together, then raised it and kissed his knuckles before lowering them again. Huffing out a sigh, Collin shook his head. "And here's me, the right bastard who's put you in the position in the first place," he said, though it was self-deprecating. He managed a smile down at Oliver. "'Spose there's worse ways to use one's celebrity, eh?"

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bl_oliver
2017-08-11 02:48 am UTC (link)

"It shouldn't have taken this," Oliver said firmly. As much as he wished he could keep the humorous tone they'd found, this felt important. It all seemed so big and obvious now that they had started talking about it, and he didn't want to neglect to follow the thoughts and see where they led. "I'm just not quite sure what to do with the attention now that it's come my way. Our way." He smiled up at Collin with a hint of tease to it. "You've got quite a set of fans yourself, you know. I think you might be surprised at just how many people agree with us."

He put his food on the side table. He looked back at Collin for a long second before tugging on his hand and pulling him closer, so that he unwound from his seating position and ended up next to Oliver. "You didn't do anything that the rest of us wouldn't have done in your place. Zimmerman and his flunkies knew exactly where to hit to get a reaction, and they did just that." He brushed his fingertips through the hair at Collin's temples. "The more I think about it, the more I think we have a real shot to turn this in our favour. If they can use the media attention, why can't we?"

Oliver closed the last bit of space between them and kissed Collin softly, hoping that would help reassure the other wizard if his words did not. "I've never back down from a fight before. Are you with me?"

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bl_collin
2017-08-12 09:30 pm UTC (link)

At the mention of his "fans", Collin quietly scoffed and rolled his eyes. He never put much stock in his own popularity, figured whatever fame he might have was only because of his association with the Falcons in the first place. "We'll have to be smart about it, of course. Get in front of whatever shite the League decides to spin on it. Need to issue a statement, and all that." He froze, his eyes going wide, gaze distant and a little horrified. "Fuck. I never owled Caterina. Oh, shite, she's gonna have my bollocks for sure." His agent was the best in the League, but could be terrifying in the right circumstances. This definitely qualified as the right circumstances. "I'm definitely in for a Howler. Maybe twelve. Fucking hell. I can't believe I forgot."

His flash of anticipatory misery was successfully interrupted before it could spiral into anything solid or deeply rooted when Oliver pulled him down so they were now side-by-side. Collin couldn't help but smile warmly as the other man offered him comfort in the best possible way, demonstrative not only by his words, but by his actions as well. He shivered a little when Oliver kissed him, and tried to ignore the tightness in his throat. Reaching down, he pushed Oliver's shirt up enough to splay his hands across his stomach. He leaned in to kiss him again, and then nodded. "Yeah. Yes. I'm always with you. 'Til the very end. No matter what happens."

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bl_oliver
2017-08-12 10:35 pm UTC (link)

It was Oliver's turn to roll his eyes, though he did laugh a little at Collin's look of horror—mostly because he knew Caterina, and knew that Collin was probably right at her reaction. "Nah, this is too big for a Howler. I'm pretty sure that as soon as your location is public, she's going to be in your face herself." He grinned at the tease in that statement, despite the fact that it was probably the truth, too. Oliver had split with his first agent when the war had interrupted his career and never bothered to get another one, but this was one of those situations when he could see the advantage of having one. "But she knows people. And I know a few people. If we're going to have any chance of anticipating the next spin, having the right allies will be key. Assuming you can talk Caterina down, anyway," he added, more teasing than serious now.

For one very vivid moment, Oliver was aware that Collin's reponse—and the warm hand on his stomach—spoke of much more than just their half-plan to outwit the idiots in the League. The sensation of it was far more intense he might have expected, if he'd been prepared at all for it—and he wasn't. He breathed in deeply as he leaned his forehead against Collin's, but as he breathed out, the shock of it faded somewhat. Why should Collin's loyalty faze him? He ignored the part of his brain that tried to tell him that it wasn't Collin that surprised him as much as his own response to the statement. Instead, he pulled the other man closer and kissed him again, then dragged his lips across Collin's jawline and up to his ear. "Good," he said, and his voice came out far huskier than it had been only a second ago. "Not sure I'd like not having you around."

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bl_collin
2017-08-13 12:35 am UTC (link)

The lips on his skin, the voice in his ear-- Collin gave a full body shudder. Any thought of the traumatic events of the day had all but vanished, because now there was just him and Oliver, in a muggle hotel room, so very far from the world that seemed to be crashing down around their ears on all sides. The only thing he cared to remember was the fire that had burned through him when Oliver had stood by him so resolutely a few hours earlier. It had ignited in him again, but that was so easy to do when he was around Oliver.

He usually had much more restraint, but, really, fuck that.

"fuck" he breathed against Oliver's throat, his hand moving higher to the center of the other wizard's chest. There was nothing for it, then, nothing else to be done. He pushed against Oliver gently, but insistently, until he was on his back again and Connor was above him, straddling his hips. He grinned down at Oliver, and tugged at his shirt. "Not really planning on going anywhere else any time soon. And you're wearing too many clothes. Come to think of it, so am I."

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bl_oliver
2017-08-13 01:26 am UTC (link)

Oliver nipped at Collin's throat and felt a pounding heartbeat under his lips as he moved with the prodding of the other man's hands, making an unconscious noise of protest as Collin pulled away to sit up. Things didn't usually start this way for them, and he couldn't say he minded having that moment of enjoying the view. He'd always appreciated Collin's lithe, muscled frame, and the way he carried himself that screamed Seeker in a way that was incredibly attractive. His hair was still tousled, and while Oliver didn't like thinking of the inadequate sleep that had caused it, he did like thinking of how soon he'd be digging his hands back into it.

He couldn't resist briefly tracing Collin's abdomen with his hands before he obliged and sat up just enough to pull off his own shirt, tossing it haphazardly to one side. As he settled back down on the bed, though, a bit of light from outside caught Collin's side just right, highlighting one of the bruises. Oliver gingerly rested his hand there, swiping his thumb over the skin. "This scared the shit out of me," he admitted quietly, watching the place where his hand touched rather than the other's face. He rested his other hand on Collin's thigh. "Are you sure you're healed up enough?" As much as he wanted to be close right now—which, admittedly, was a lot—he hated the thought of hurting him further.

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bl_collin
2017-08-13 02:30 am UTC (link)

Collin caught his lip with his teeth, face heating under Oliver's gaze, and then even more with the feel of his hands on his stomach. A small moan left him, but it quickly became a low hum of appreciation as Oliver divested himself of at least one article of clothing. As much as Oliver seemed to be admiring him, he was also a captive audience of the man beneath him. Where he was tall and wiry, Oliver was solid, had the kind of arms, the kind of body that he had to actively keep himself from being constantly distracted by- especially now that he got to see him like he was now.

But then the touch changed, and Collin glance down his own body to the spot that Oliver seemed to be unable to tear his gaze away from, and Collin stilled. He had to think about it, listen to his own body. The pain had already become background noise, and it didn't hurt to breathe nearly as much as it had before. He might only have been able to snatch a few minutes of sleep before Oliver had arrived, but it seemed to have done the trick. Except the other wizard's question brought him up short. Had it really? Or was he just willing to be a bit stupid right now.

Collin reached down and covered Oliver's hand with his own. "Sorry," he murmured. "I wasn't thinking in the slightest when it all went down." He let out a humorless chuckle, giving a rueful smile with a small shake of his head. "Maybe we take it slow? Go easy on me? I just... don't stop. Please."

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bl_oliver
2017-08-13 03:33 am UTC (link)

"I know." Oliver understood why he'd reacted the way he had, and he hadn't been lying when he said that the rest of them would probably have acted much the same way. It didn't make it any easier to see. There was a part of him, however overwhelmed at the moment, that wanted to suggest they curl up and get some rest. It would be the healthiest thing, physically. Oliver wasn't so sure it would be best for other reasons, though, especially after Collin's impassioned request earlier.

So taking it slow? That he could do.

"Me? Go easy on you?" He raised a teasing eyebrow, and one side of his mouth quirked up. "I'm pretty sure you've got me at your mercy here, Haussler." He laughed throatily, letting his hands drift to Collin's hips. Despite his playful words, his grip was possessive. "The question is what you're going to do now that you've got me."

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