Adrian's Rather Busy (and Stressful) Day, May 21st Who: Adrian Pucey and his manager Where: His office When: Noon, May 21st What: The truth comes out
It had been almost a month, but for the first time, Adrian Pucey was meeting up with his manager. It wasn't his fault, but actually the fact that his manager was busy and hadn't been able to schedule an appointment for the two of them to meet. Yet, when the time came for the two of them to converse, his manager wasn't there yet; he was still in another meeting. So, Adrian, took the opportunity to look around in the office a little bit. It was then that he had discovered something that he hadn't want to see -- at least not from his manager. Adrian found one of the letters that had run in the Prophet. He never expected that, but turning it around, he did find the address; so, he pocketed it and waited until he arrived. When the time came and he arrived, Adrian decided to confront him.
"So, Adrian, how's everything going?" his manager asked him, letting the small talk start.
"It's going well," Adrian responded, "excluding the fact that I got moved down to Reserve. That and I found something interesting."
"What's that?"
Adrian threw the letter down in front of his face. "This. So you've been the one writing these letters, right? Why did you never inform me of this situation earlier?"
"Because she's a lunatic who believes that you've father your child! You don't need to put up with this shit!"
"She says that she had a paternity test to prove it!" Adrian snapped at him, "Just how long did you think that you could keep this a secret from me?"
"She was probably lying through her teeth about that. Plus, I planned on never telling you. A child will ruin your career; make you go soft and everything!"
"Well, then, why couldn't we issue a Paternity test to figure out if I was or wasn't the father," Adrian responded infuriated with what had unfolded before him. "Plus, a child wouldn't ruin my career."
"And what would happen if we did administer one?! We would get all sorts of creeps claiming that you're the father of their children. Also, they do ruin careers; I've seen many careers that have been ruined because of that; that and love as well."
Adrian decided that it was a good thing that he didn't inform him that he was in a new relationship otherwise who knows what would happen. "Well, still, she should've had the opportunity to find out!" he yelled at him in frustration. "And in case you didn't know, Quidditch doesn't have to be my main priority! If you think it is, then you're sorely mistaken. Anyways, you're fired!"
It was after that was said that Adrian picked up the letter and stormed out of the office, not wanting to continue conversation after what he had found out.
Owl Post
To: Oliver Wood From: Adrian Pucey
Oliver,
Well, I finally had the opportunity to meet up with my manager earlier today and I found out something interesting. It turns out that he was the one who forged the letters that I was accused of writing. Said that a kid would make me go soft and ruin my career. So, we got into a bit of a row and I fired him.
Anyways, a couple of hours following that, I was told that I was required to attend a disciplinary hearing, so I complied. They told me when I got moved down to Reserve that I was placed on a permanent probationary period until things died down. But given my violent temper and other things (they wouldn't tell me what) they told me I was kicked off both teams. And also that I had absolutely no chance of getting picked up by another team again. So, my Quidditch career is over. Shocking, isn't it? Thought it'd be best if you heard it from me other than the Captain. And I guess I have to find a new job now; just don't know what though, since Quidditch has been my life for the past 15 years.
Yet, I do have the contact information for that kid's mother and I do plan on talking with her in a bit. But I also wanted to let you know that I'll be laying low for a bit until the press dies down and I won't be at my flat since I know that's where the press will look and I figure that it'd be best to find a new one.
You can tell Bell about what happened if you want. She'll probably be curious about the whole ordeal anyways. And I can almost guarantee you that if a Prophet article runs that they'll blame my temper for it.
-Adrian
To: Lilith Moon From: Adrian Pucey
Lil,
I'll probably be a bit late for our meeting tonight. Some things came up rather unexpectedly and I need to get them taken care of even though I'm extremely stressed about the whole ordeal. I'll explain them to you more in-depth tonight.
-Ade
Who: Adrian Pucey & Veronica Delaney (NPC) Where: A small diner in Bristol When: May 21st, 4PM What: Adrian meets up with his son's mother and the two of them converse
It was after the disciplinary hearing and after Adrian was informed that he was sacked that he decided that he needed to act upon the contact information he had found earlier. So, after he had owled Oliver and Lilith, he decided to head off to Bristol to this diner and talk to her in person.
Things at the diner hadn't been going well for Veronica ever since the article ran. Most people were rather sympathetic towards her but Danny was a little unused to all the attention that he was receiving. Part of her had hoped that Adrian had read the article that he would have a change of heart and come to visit. Yet it had been a month and he never had, so obviously the article was for naught. But it came as a bit of a surprise when she went to pour a cup of coffee for the one of her patrons. "What are you doing here?" she inquired of him.
Now Adrian remembered whom the person in question was. "I came here to discuss what happened," he responded quietly.
"Well, you're about four years too late for that!" she responded in frustration. "What were you thinking?! Saying all those things to me? To him?"
"I wasn't," Adrian simply responded, "I didn't send those letters. It was my manager. Look, I'm sorry for the spiteful things that he told you, but I want to have a second chance. I want to get to know Danny."
"And how I can believe you?" she inquired of him, tears starting to fall. "Do you have any idea of the torment and ridicule I've been under all these years? I remember when I told you that I was pregnant, that you wrote me a response back with some cash and told me to 'get it taken care of.' How do I know that you're telling the truth and you just aren't lying to me?"
"Because I was lied to myself for the same amount of time," Adrian told her, handing her a handkerchief to wipe away her tears. "Look, here's a letter that I wrote to the two of you that explains everything. I don't have to meet him if you don't want me to."
She scanned the letter before putting it down. "Does Sunday at 2 work for you?" she stated.
"It's fine by me," Adrian said with a smile, "and can I ask for one more thing?"
"What's that?" she inquired of him.
"A paternity test. Look, I know you said you have proof that I'm the father, and I believe you. But I just need to know for myself that he is and to just go through the whole thing and to have the paperwork would reassure me of it. That's all I ask."
"That can be arranged," she responded and well she was glad that he was wanting to find out whether or not he was the father, even if she already did know that he was. "He does bear a striking resemblance to you."
"I believe you," Adrian responded. "So, tell me all about him."
"I will. Over a nice, steaming, cup of coffee." She sat down and the conversation could begin now. Even though it was several years later than anticipated.