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Tweak says, "It's big, heavy, and wood."

un_cho_sen (un_cho_sen) wrote in pandorarpg,
@ 2011-11-03 21:34:00

Entry tags:

!status: complete, ^date: november 01 2003, character: cho chang, character: zacharias smith

Who: Cho and Zacharias
What: Zacharias realizes he's been assigned a security detail
When: around 2 pm, Saturday, November 1, 2003
Where: outside Zacharias' flat
Rating: possible inappropriate language

Cho had volunteered for the detail well before Zacharias had begun making inappropriate comments all over the journals. She knew his snarky attitude was liable to cause him grief, not that he would ever admit that he cared. Therefore, she had arranged for her patrol area to include the area of London where she knew Smith resided.

She had arrived back at the Ministry after her morning nap about an hour before his release. She had hoped to be able to speak with him, but only aurors were being given access to the holding cells that morning. Not wanting to make herself obvious, thus causing Smith to have a fit in the Ministry proper, she made her way down to the floos just prior to his release so she could make sure no one followed him. She then went to the Department of Magical Transportation made her best argument for disconnecting his floo from the network. She wasn't sure whether or not they could make it happen, the witch behind the counter kept going on about consent forms that had to be signed. So Cho signed that she was making the request and put them in her pocket. If the necessity arose she would do her best to convince Zacharias to sign the final agreement for a temporary disconnect.

Because the run around in the Transportation Department took so long, Cho made her way to an area that was open for disappariation and moments later popped to a spot behind an abandoned house a bit up the road from Smith's flat. After feeling confident that the area was free of those meaning to do him harm, Cho continued her rounds of the near by region. A little after two she returned to the area for the third time that day and began the ritual of walking up the road toward Smith's.

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overlooked
2011-11-04 03:21 am UTC (link)

After his night of luxury in a holding cell, Zacharias Smith had gone straight home. In short order all he wanted was a shower and food. The problem started when he arrived to his little flat only to be reminded that the closet thing he had to food was the picked over muesli remains. It tided him over a little, but it wasn't really what he wanted. And really once he was on the other side of it, the shower didn't change anything either.

He could still feel it. And it was just churning his stomach, over and over again. So, he had pulled out his journal and started down an even more slippery slope because at least it gave him something else to worry about. Even if the whole thing was absurd, he couldn't deny that he was at the center of shit storm.

Although he wasn't sure if he was more upset that people thought he did it or assumed that he wasn't capable of something like that. Still, a number of DMLE employees seemed intent to make veiled threats toward him, really just giving him something to use against them later if needed. He could worry about that later, right now, his prime concern was putting actual food into his body.

Throwing on a jacket he headed out the door and down to the street. Zacharias might have lived in a dodgy neighborhood, but it was of a decidedly muggle kind and really not something that he worried about. Still, that didn't stop him from looking up and down the street to see who was out and about. He paused just off the last step. No, it couldn't be. She wouldn't really be following him.

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un_cho_sen
2011-11-04 06:32 pm UTC (link)

As she walked slowly up the street Cho felt her stomach nudging her for a bit of sustenance. Normally, she would have grabbed a bit to eat as soon as she was released from her shift, but Cho had only wanted sleep and hopefully a temporary escape from the insanity quickly unfolding around her. Thanfully, the left over tid bits from the Ministry extravaganza had been placed on tables around the DMLE to help insure that suddenly overworked (more than normal) employees had something to snack on whenever they passed by if they were so inclined. Cho had picked up a few absently but nothing substantial enough to claim she had eaten.

Regardless of her own physical needs, Cho's mental and emotional faculties took over her being. Even though Zacharias had hurt her heart with his earlier statement she still wanted to ensure he was safe. That was one of the main reasons she had chosen her career path. Cho knew that there were times when even the best of wizards and witches (Cedric and Harry were fine examples) couldn't stand alone to protect themselves. By accepting the oath of service her job had required, Cho felt that she was able to put her life to good use.

Cho was still a bit up the street, her eyes on the steps that she knew led up to the front door of the building where Smith lived. Because of the angle she had not seen the person who descended the steps until it was too late. She knew that to jump off to the side and try to conceal herself would be more suspicious than simply continuing to walk her route. Even if the individual was Zacharias it wasn't as if she had spent all day camped out across the street. She had simply added his street to her regular rounds.

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overlooked
2011-11-05 02:04 am UTC (link)

Zacharias rolled his eyes, suppressing the desire to sigh as he walked down the street toward her so he wouldn't have to yell. As much as he might have made a scene somewhere else, this was not the place. "You making sure I don't skip town?" She had been caught, there was no point in even asking what she was doing. And off the chance this was just coincidence, he wouldn't hear any other reason.

Of course, if she was meant to make sure he didn't flee the country he might have actually been able to deal with that. But Zacharias Smith knew that Cho Chang was committing a far worse crime against him. "Or did you volunteer to be my unofficial babysitter and make sure there's no street justice about to happen?" Yeah, that was definitely worse. He really didn't want her lurking around, watching him like he was some child unable to take care of himself.

Zacharias smirked. "Or maybe you're hoping to catch the ex-death eater who drops by to pay me a large sum of money for doing what they couldn't?" It wasn't a jab he needed to make, but definitely one he couldn't not say once the thought was there.

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un_cho_sen
2011-11-05 01:09 pm UTC (link)

Cho held her demeanor as Zacharias approached. She was fairly certain he was not going to be pleased with her, but she didn't care. Cho was used to dealing with unruly individuals and she would separate her personal desires to keep him safe from the work related tone she needed to have in this situation.

When he was within speaking distance Cho did not have to wait long to get an earful. She allowed him to say everything on his mind and stood there watching him carefully while she formed the response in her mind. "If the Ministry thought for an instant you would skip town they would have continued to hold you until they had completely cleared you in the Potter case." She still didn't know what evidence they had on him or what they lacked that had caused them to release him and she was fairly certain they would have instructed him to speak of the details of what he'd seen with no one.

"As far as you're needing a baby sitter, I am well aware that you can take care of yourself. This street is in my patrol region for today. So yes, I have made an effort to come by a few times today. I have by no means been sitting here in the shadows awaiting some street vigilante." True enough, she had asked MacMillan to assign her to this region, but Zacharias didn't need to know she was there upon her own request.

She had cringed upon hearing his last comment. Had she not already made up her mind to treat him in a completely professional manner at the moment she likely would have hexed him there and then herself. How dare he make jokes about being paid off by Death Eaters when it was they that allowed Cedric to be taken from them. She filed his statement away to talk about at a later time. She could forgive him for the moment since he'd likely had a very rough night and wasn't quite thinking straight. But she would not let him get away with the comment for long.

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overlooked
2011-11-06 02:48 pm UTC (link)

"The Ministry is playing at being just, held me as long as they could and likely knew how much of a fuss I would make if was held without evidence." Even his parents might actually take notice to do something and try to help him out rather than just berate him for being ... well, being himself. He still hadn't heard from them yet, but that wasn't too much of a surprise.

He was sure that his sister would send an owl soon - poof that at least one person cared about him rather than whatever this was with Cho.

"Not for a lack of trying," he said with a dry laugh. It was just like her to want to set up camp near his flat and make sure that he was protected. She had been on about that this morning, and he still wasn't so convinced that he needed someone to be watching out for him. (Really, he wasn't used to the idea of someone else having his back, so it was always strange when he was in a situation where that could happen.)

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un_cho_sen
2011-11-06 07:11 pm UTC (link)

Cho took a deep breath. Why did Smith have to be so infuriating? If only he would shut his mouth for once and realize that she actually did give a damn about whether or not he was safe. Cho would have checked on his well being had he been in trouble regardless of the reason. That's what she did for those she cared about. Ever since Cedric's death, it had simply been easier to hold them at arms length and treat it all superficially than it would have been to admit any emotional tie to an individual.

"Evidence or not," she spoke trying to keep her voice even, "there will be those who once they process the information will move from shock and grief to anger. Personally, I don't want to see you on the receiving end of any of that anger. A person attacking out of pure rage is not going to hold back. You could end up in a fight for your life before you recognize how serious the situation has become."

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overlooked
2011-11-06 09:18 pm UTC (link)

"Why Miss Cho Chang don't you know my greatest trait is the ability to survive?" By many accounts from his peers, Zacharias Smith was a horrible Hufflepuff, but there was a reason why his patronus was a badger. He could hold his own and be just as vicious if he needed to - when it came to something he wanted he was going to fight for it no matter what. And even in it's current less than spectacular state, he valued his life and would fight to defend himself.

"I always thought that was something you liked about me, considering your history." Maybe this would have gone better if she wasn't coming at him with kids' gloves, keeping him at a distance withe professional even tones. Although it would have been somewhat hypocritical to call her on it because he did the same thing only instead of clipped tones he used snide remarks.

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un_cho_sen
2011-11-06 10:21 pm UTC (link)

"Zacharias, I have no doubt you can handle yourself," she stated very calmly trying her best to not allow emotion to overtake her. She didn't often show emotion to anyone except when she was completely broken and she reserved that for one person only, someone she hadn't seen in awhile but knew she needed to see soon.

"And if you are going to allude that I somehow keep you around because you've yet to die, then perhaps you should be more wary of my history." The words cut her like a knife as she spoke them. However, she knew that the only way to deal with him was to match him at his own game. "The Yankee Muggles say one only gets three strikes. Perhaps you will be my strike number three." She lowered her head slightly and added softly, "And that is not something I want over my head."

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overlooked
2011-11-07 12:42 am UTC (link)

The sad part was that what he was accusing her of was exactly what he didn't want to be. Zacharias Smith didn't want Cho in his life because he was the only one left. He didn't even want her because she thought she owed Cedric something. If she was going to be in his life, she needed to actually be there. And without knowing the why he would keep pushing, testing to see how far this could go.

"And then what?" While Zacharias didn't think he was going to live forever, he didn't think he would ever rank in the same league as Cedric or Potter. So, he hardly felt like he could be her third strike - whatever that meant. "Cho Chang alone forever? Or worse stuck lying about the fact she's baby sitting my miserable existence out of some shit obligation?"

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un_cho_sen
2011-11-07 01:49 am UTC (link)

If Cho had not felt some sort of affinity for Zacharias she wouldn't have taken the time or energy to worry about him. She didn't have many people that she took the time to worry about these days. She cared for Justin because of a bond the two of them had formed while still in school. She cared for Marietta even though the two had drifted apart over the years. And for some strange reason Zacharias, despite his attitude, had struck a cord with her.

"If I didn't want to be alone, I'd return to China and allow my father to marry me off," she snapped. Of course, being stuck in an arrange marriage wouldn't have made her feel any less alone. "For your information I'm not alone here either," she continued. "I choose to keep to myself because most people don't understand the pain. Forgive me for thinking you might have even the slightest inkling of what these past eight years have been for me. If my wanting to ensure your safety makes me a baby sitter so bit it. But I will not apologize for the fact that for whatever reason I actually believe that somewhere deep down you might just have a redeeming quality or two."

Cho knew she had crossed the line from professional to personal even though she had told herself that she would not go there. "If you rather I leave you alone, Smith just say it and I won't bother with you again." She wasn't going to put herself through this kind of hell. If he didn't want her around she sure as hell wasn't going to waste her time with him. Yes, once the two had come to terms with the fact that Cedric had cared about each of them very much in his own way she had vowed to watch out for him. However, she would step away and watch him from afar if he preferred to no longer have any interaction with her.

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overlooked
2011-11-07 02:10 am UTC (link)

Zacharias wasn't sure what answer he wanted to her. He certainly wasn't ready for that option to be thrown out there, more so because he didn't have an answer - at least no one that he felt he could give. Telling her to leave would be a lie, because he did honestly like having her in his life - at least the idea of it. Most of the time. But he wasn't going to tell her that.

"Right because you're the only one who is suffering from some unfathomable pain." And while he certainly had a strange way of showing it, finding Harry's body had triggered something in him that he didn't even know how to name, let alone deal with.

Shaking his head, he remembered why he had actually left his sofa. "Look, I'm headed to the chip shop around the corner, so it's still technically on your patrol, and I'd wager you could use something to eat." It was an offer with a hint of a snide comment all wrapped up in one, but it was Zacharias Smith.

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un_cho_sen
2011-11-07 03:40 am UTC (link)

Actually if Cho was feeling anything today it was guilt. Guilt for all the times she'd wished Harry was dead instead instead of Cedric. "You know exactly what I meant," her voice was quite snippy at this point in time as she knew they'd had this conversation before. True, several people in their world had scars from the war, but the scars surrounding Cedric were different. Cedric's death had been brushed under the carpet by the Ministry as just an unfortunate event instead of being recognized for what it truly was.

The fact that Zacharias mentioned his destination proved that even though his words might be harsh he actually did want her around. The mention of food reminded Cho that she'd not had more than a passing bite all day. Luckily she had thought to swing by Gringotts and exchange a few Galleons in anticipation of jumping in and out of Muggle areas today. "I suppose I ought to make sure you don't encounter any problems on your walk."

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overlooked
2011-11-07 04:48 am UTC (link)

What he considered an unfortunate side effect of living in a muggle neighborhood was need to keep both muggle and normal currency on his person at all times. "That and you know I've always had a bit of trouble with the fish bones," he said rather seriously as he started off down the street.

Zacharias Smith didn't want to talk about it, but that didn't mean that he wanted to be alone. For now, he would be content to have a bit of company. Even if that company could be judgmental and in more of an overbearing mode than he wanted. Still, by many accounts, Cho Chang was all right by him. She did manage to put up with him far more than most people.

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