InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "I could do it in my sleep."

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
2017-08-10 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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