t h e r e s e ❥ (alongday) wrote in valesco,
@ 2013-09-15 00:53:00

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As a fresh September breeze blew her hair into her face, Therese contemplated never leaving the island of Manhattan. The bustling city was a beautiful and intoxicating change of environment, providing her with a sense of excitement and vigor that she'd been so lost without this past year. Therese knew, somewhere past the elation she felt, that simply being away from her home and all the problems she had there could be giving her this jubilant feeling, but she liked to say that the cities of Paris and New York City were source of her happiness. Her time with her family in France had helped ease her stress-filled mind, and now the constant movement of New York kept her wanting to do everything and anything.

She had been given the portkey passes by an up and coming fashion designer she'd met in Paris. Therese would not lie, she had allowed him to sweet talk her, batting her eyes as he went on and on about how she should be his muse. It was thrilling to hear even if she knew that his intentions were not that holy; hers weren't either, and she had not met up with the man after landing in New York.

The fashion, the buildings, the people were worth the bit of trickery. Therese found herself on a bench in Central Park simply watching the muggles and wizards go by, intermingling without question. The muggles did not bat an eye at the strange fashions because they too were going through some strange trends. Therese had always enjoyed watching people, ideas swirling through her head about what their story could be. It soothed her, and she pulled her cloak a little tighter to keep her warm while she enjoyed the day.

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docstheword
2013-09-16 02:02 am UTC (link)

She was late. This muggle associate of his, the one that delivered him insider information about the muggle stock market each day-- she was tardy, and Caradoc did not appreciate it. He knew you could never really trust muggles for much, but since the wizarding and muggle economies did tend to mirror each other it was necessary information to foresee and potential of blips, dips, or crashes. But he couldn't exactly do that if the woman didn't show up with the information.

Only relatively annoyed, Caradoc let out a sigh through his nostrils and jammed his hands into his jacket pocket. Not to say that he had taken a liking to muggle fashion over the years, but when it came to muggle american dealings, it wasn't like he was about to show up in robes, chattering away in a british accent. No, blending in had very much become a second nature to him, and now was like any other day, as he decided to lean up casually against one of the many trees lining the sidewalk.

Five more minutes, then he was taking his fit, leather-jacket clad self out for lunch.

Exactly five minutes passed, which promptly forced Caradoc to decide Bonnie Williams had a nasty karmic event coming to her. Docking his sunnyglasses back to properly cover his face, he began the quick journey back toward a safe disapparation point within the park. It was only a few minutes away, a wizarding-only section warded off within the park itself. It was convenient, for Caradoc had never been one to exert more energy than necessary, and he had been about to make it there safely and uneventfully if it hadn't been for a very familiar looking brunette perched unceremoniously upon one of the upcoming benches he was on route of passing.

What the hell was Therese Bonaccord doing outside of France? How had she managed to plop herself here, of all places, while he was a mere few feet away and approaching? Darkly, Caradoc's thoughts circled around a certain other former housemate of theirs, and as he ducked his chin slightly to help shield his face, Caradoc was already stringing together a few choice words to owl Mackenzie Goldstein at the earliest convenience.

If he was perturbed by the appearance of one of his few surviving former housemates, it did not show on Caradoc's face. He kept a cool exterior, planning that would be enough to pass by Therese undetected.

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alongday
2013-09-16 10:02 pm UTC (link)

Therese had shut her eyes to enjoy the gentle breeze, and if her eyes had stayed closed for one second longer, she would have missed the man that briskly walked by. Her eyes narrowed as his profile was---familiar, and staring at his now departing form caused a sense of nostalgia to sweep over her. Therese found herself standing, hands out as if she might fall to the ground. He looked just like...No, it couldn't be...

Eyes narrowed, she hurried after him, wondering, just wondering...

They had found his body. They had found him, she remembered, she remembered that horrible night, but she also remembered...She had remembered Mackenzie mentioning in passing that Caradoc's old girlfriend was in New York, it---that connection was there. If this was just some man that looked like him, if it was someone who could pass as if his brother, then she could simply let it go. She could easily talk her way out of the confusion, the poor muggle wouldn't even get a chance to look her in the eye before she determined that he indeed wasn't Caradoc Dearborn.

But what if it was? Therese had heard countless stories from Remy about people disappearing to escape the terrors of war, he had misled her for years, he'd kept his identity a secret to keep himself alive. So could---Therese would never have dared grab hold of a stranger's arm if she hadn't felt the innate tug that yes, she did know this man.

"Excuse me, sir?" she said, reaching out to take hold of the crook of his arm. Her other hand gripped itself around her wand, in case he didn't take too kindly to being accosted.

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docstheword
2013-09-22 03:35 pm UTC (link)

At Therese's touch, Caradoc's eyes closed and his lips formed into a grimace. He supposed he could carry on the façade for a bit longer, with a dying hope that it would work, but even then, there would still be loose ends. Therese wouldn't let go of it, the possibility of him, as he knew how all to well she could harp on matters until their death. Either way, he would be left with the path of having... to clean something up.

Or, he thought much more cheerfully, this was not Therese Bonaccord at all and the first event in what would undoubtably be a field of disasters was about to unfold. If someone pretending to be Therese Bonaccord was approaching him in public, then the truth was out. And was about to be killed.

Neither option was preferable, and each scenario weighed on Caradoc to the point of burdensome. Former housemate or former peer? They both made him feel tired, and sullen. But fortunately, there was a quick way to bring this identity question to light. An old Order trick that hadn't failed him in the past.

Dipping his chin to his chest, Caradoc brought his legs to a stop and watched Therese out of the corner of his eye. Her opposite hand was still in her pocket, presumably clutching a wand. At least he could say his hand was already doing the same. Breathing in through his nose, he spoke quietly.

"Do you remember what you said to me on the platform after seventh year?" he murmured. While his gaze stayed focused on her, his natural instinct to begin surveying the scene around them had his gaze subtly skipping around for any potential looming figures.

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alongday
2013-09-23 01:19 am UTC (link)

It was him! Therese's eyes widened in joy and she wished to warmly embrace him but his question caused her to falter. The platform after seventh year? She couldn't recall, she'd rushed off to catch the first portkey to France! Therese cocked her head in thought, confused as to why he was asking this, and feeling a bit sorry that she couldn't remember.

"I don't...I think I simply waved a quick goodbye," she said honestly, vaguely remembering a furious wave over the crowd of students and parents towards her Slytherin friends. Therese frowned, wondering how she could have just walked away from Hogwarts so easily. After the past few years, it seemed like the school that she had dreaded going to each fall was now a place she wished to return to. Things, as frustrating as she had made them out to be, were so much simpler than the world she escaped into.

Therese blinked quickly up at him, realizing then that if Caradoc had gone through the great lengths to hide from the past that she wished to find again, then he would have to be careful. Therese smiled, feeling overwhelmed by the fury of emotions that were coursing through her within this past minute. Seeing such a familiar face, one she'd never thought she'd see again---

"It's me, Caradoc," she said. She let go of her wand and put her other hand up in a white flag manner.

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docstheword
2013-09-24 02:53 am UTC (link)

His skidding eyes finally stopped to focus in on Therese's face. If there was no imminent danger around... Caradoc looked at her closely. He took in the lines of her face, her curled brow, and soft features. It had been almost five years, yes, but Therese hadn't seemed to change much. Time had matured her face, but as it would anyone.

Letting out a silent sigh, Caradoc unclenched his grip on his wand. "It is," he agreed, and felt the faintest of smiles form on his lips. In this moment, it felt... relieving to be around such an old, familiar face. Therese had been there from the beginning, apart of the group that he had do distinctly called and believed to be his friends. Now, half of them were dead and the other half would want him dead--- he was lucky that out of all of them, Therese had been the one to find him.

"It is," he repeated, this time with much more vigor and emotion. His hands slipped out of his pockets to hover over her arms. He didn't... Caradoc again felt torn, unable to decide how to act. He was happy to see his former friend, alive and well, but knowing what must come by the end of the conversation...

Caradoc let his hands fall to Therese's elbows, and he quickly tugged her toward the side of the path. "What are you doing here?" he asked suddenly, his brow knitting with concern. Perhaps she... well, he wasn't sure, but it would ease his paranoia to know what exactly Therese Bonaccord had done to manage locating him, here.

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alongday
2013-09-25 12:54 am UTC (link)

"I'm on holiday from---life," she managed, attempting to keep her bubbling excitement from bursting, but she couldn't contain herself any longer. Therese bounced on her toes, throwing her arms around Caradoc's neck in the tightest of hugs. She needed to feel that he actually was there, that he was standing in front of her, alive. His life wasn't over, he hadn't been taken down by the death eaters. He'd escaped.

Therese loosened her hold, but only to press her hands against his face, kissing his cheeks as if he were her own brother, returning from his long, long trip. It wasn't until this moment that she realized how much she had missed his constant presence, one that had frustrated her for years than became one of the closest friends she'd ever had.

"I can't believe it," she said, hushing her excited tone, leaving her hands to rest on his shoulders. "I can't believe it." Therese stared up at him, smiling wide and bewildered. She blinked, trying to think of something more profound to say, but all she could manage was, "How are you?"

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docstheword
2013-09-28 03:15 am UTC (link)

He barely had time to acknowledge Therese's words before she was clinging tightly to him, squishing his face with her hands, and speaking in excited whispers. A holiday from life---

"Therese---" Caradoc pressed, but stopped himself as she started kissing his face. She wasn't... this was one of the most... when he had revealed himself to Mackenzie, she had held him at wandpoint until he had, in detail, proved it was actually him standing before her. A small part of him had felt some glee for making Mackenzie blush over his divulging-- but that had been a long time ago. It was a different time, and a different place. Which, surprisingly, felt much easier to deal with. Then, he knew how to conduct himself, knew the program to get with. Now, here... he struggled.

Feeling uncomfortable, Caradoc hesitated a bit before responding. "Alive," was all he could muster, unsure if... where else to start. He supposed it didn't truly matter what he said to her, for by the end of this meeting she wouldn't remember it had ever happened, but... "Staying alive." He nodded, slightly. His jaw dropped a bit as he shook his head slightly.

"Why are you..." he began, then cut himself off again. "Therese, a holiday from life?" He couldn't help but wonder, given for how long and hard he had fought for any kind of life at all, and she was... stepping away from it?

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