doricntorrcs

[doricntorrcs]

"If you wanted a date, you could have just asked. Though I think that girlfriend of yours might have something to say about it. Honestly I'm not sure if she'd kill me or ask me to join in. She gives me black widow spider vibes... like she'd mate me and then bite my head off." Dorian spoke frankly, a chuckle falling from his lips. "I'm not sure how you handle her. But a bit of both? I would warn you about mixing business and pleasure. It's not boded well for me in the past."

"And what if it's a little bit of both?" Gabe chuckled in reply to his friend's questions. "I can miss you and miss the business you bring at the same time, can't I? Or does that not fly in your book?"

[doricntorrcs]

He didn't really know what had compelled him to say it, only that it was the truth. Of course, how things had ended had definitely soured the memories somewhat but they were still good. Right up until that point they'd probably been some of his best. Whilst he might have regretted making the decision to get involved with a member of his team, he didn't regret Laurel at least. Hell, in different circumstances he'd probably not have put up so much of a fight. However, he'd been hurt by her, deeply so but the frankness of their conversation now; now that he was finally able to hear her out without his bitterness getting the better of him was allowing him to see the truth of the situation. She'd been a scared little girl who had acted on impulse. Like him, Quidditch was practically everything to her and she couldn't see a life without it. Faced with the possibility of that being taken away from her, it had caused her to act foolishly. Selfishly even. He could forgive her for that, even if forgetting it would prove more difficult. "No you won't, but I don't expect you to." Dorian answered after a moment. Her actions could have done irreparable damage despite that not being her intentions. "You may have shot yourself in the foot a little there though..." He said, offering up a small smile to show he held no ill will in his words. "It's far better to have me on your team than against you. As much as I admire the Holyhead Harpies, I fully intend to take you all down."

"I know," she said softly. There had never been a moment that she'd even considered Dorian was doing this to sabotage her. Not only had she been the one who'd insisted in the first place, but it also seemed far from his nature to do something of the sort. He was too good of a human being to do something manipulative like that. You weren't a mistake. That however struck something deeper within her. Something about it almost scared her. "Thank you for saying that," came out even quieter than the words she'd said before. It took Laurel a moment before she managed to speak again, finding herself lost in her thoughts about all of this for longer than she probably would've liked. "Look I'll never be able to say sorry enough for how everything played out but I just want you to know I genuinely wish you the best. Like I said, the Tornadoes are lucky to have you playing for them."

[doricntorrcs]

"I suppose that's fair. What's important to one might not be important to another." Dorian admitted, giving a nod of his head. "I suppose a good choice is just to go for toppings you enjoy. I don't think there are many pizza's I would consider bad but I never do enjoy the seafood ones for instance."

"It is definitely of vital important to me," Pippa elaborated, "Me picking what pizza to get. I don't eat it a lot so I don't have a favourite and I'm trying something," she nodded, "Okay, meat feast. A few people have said that one."

[doricntorrcs]

"She has lots of flavours she enjoys but you're right. Safe a bet as they are, they might be the right choices." Dorian hummed lightly, letting his gaze drift over them again. "I can make decisions on some things in no time at all and yet I struggle with something as simple as this."

"Does she have any favor flavors or anything like that? It might help narrow down your choices," she suggested, shrugging a little as she tried to offer him a hand in his decision-making. "I know chocolate's usually a safe bet. They've got lots of different options there."

[doricntorrcs]

"Well that happening was certainly unexpected so I can't say I am too excited about the prospect of anything unexpected happening again." Dorian explained with a shrug of his shoulders. "I also know you are good on all the promises you make too." He assured her, never doubting that about Rosa.

"A wide berth? Well maybe don't be so averse. Love can come around in the most unexpected of ways," she replied with a soft smile. "I'm sure she'd have her opinions, per usual. But we'd all laugh about it in the end," she considered in good humor. "Be my guest," she replied with a smug grin when he joked about using this conversation against her if things turned out differently. "I know I am good on the promises I make," Rosa shrugged back.

[doricntorrcs]

"Not in so many words I didn't." Dorian chuckled, shaking his head at the woman's assumptions. "I assure you, no medical assistance is needed. I've seen enough of the insides of the hospital to last me a lifetime. I'll let you pick the food of choice however."

"Hey, you said it first, putting it in my head. Blame yourself for that one," Cynthia replied, "Sure. Let's get food in you. Then we'll know if it's because of a lack of energy or because you need medical assistance," she teased.

[doricntorrcs]

"I mean, that's understandable. I'm glad it's at least not just sad or I'd be wondering about our friendship." Dorian said with a little amused smile. "But you're right, they would. That would be even worse than losing to me."

"Mmm, I guess I would be happy and sad at the same time," Ophelia replied with a light laugh. "Good, I'm pretty sure half of them would get pissed off if you even tried going easy on them."

[doricntorrcs]

"An event planning business? That's a change of pace." He mused but he didn't seem overly surprised by it either. "I see. Is it just a thing you two do together?" In a round about way, Dorian was trying to figure out the likelihood of running into her there.

"Not shares but I am in talks with them to be one of the venders for my event planning business," Ben explained, shrugging, "I've been going to this place for years. I take my sister sometimes after her games," he continued.

[doricntorrcs]

"Or we should do anyway." Some people didn't enjoy it and they still played because they had a talent for it. He couldn't imagine that though. He was who he was because of his love of the sport and because he chose it every single day of his life. "I can't promise I'm not competitive off the field but it's at least used in a constructive manner." He admitted with a little chuckle.

"I 100% agree on that one. We all have a love for the game at the end of the day," James replied, grinning, "I save my competitiveness for the field, no reason to bring it out of the game."

[doricntorrcs]

The silence seemed to stretch between them for several moments as Dorian let the words sink in and he watched the woman with the kind of intense curiosity that suggested he was trying to figure out whether or not her intentions were genuine. His conclusion seemed to come in the slight nod of his head, relenting slightly to her words. "I hope you know I never wanted things to go this way either." Dorian eventually spoke up, words quiet but calmer and softer than any other of their interactions they'd had since the incident. "I never wanted to impact your career. You weren't a mistake."

"That they do," Laurel nodded, saddened by that truth. It was hard to live a life under the spotlight, but to have every little thing you did to be sensationalized was a whole other thing that nobody deserved. And it only complicated cases like this further. The ghost of a smile reached her lips at his comment, knowing he was right to say she'd most likely would've never admitted this about him when they'd been part of the same team. But after everything, Laurel was able to set her pride aside for this. Especially when, in her opinion, he was so deserving of the recognition for what he could do in the Quidditch world. "And that doesn't matter. I deserve every bit of it," she insisted plainly when Dorian confessed to not being very kind to her lately. She'd find it more surprising if he had been. It'd probably even hurt more if he'd tried to show her compassion at a time where she was not deserving of it. "Despite the impact that my past actions might've had, I... I don't have any interest in dragging your name through the mud or anything of the sort," Laurel said apologetically.

[doricntorrcs]

"You sound almost like you have shares in this establishment." Dorian said with a little grin on his features. "But I'll bite. Honestly, I'm hungry and the smell here is already enticing me anyway." He just hoped that the others judgement was good, though he didn't see any reason not to believe him.

Ben laughed, "Noted," he said, taking the other's arm and apparating them both in front of a pizza joint, "You will not find a place better than this. It's locally owned and its success speaks for itself."

[doricntorrcs]

At the mention of her cousin, Dorian was careful to school his expression. He was fairly certain that Ophelia still assumed that they had a rocky relationship at best, but that didn't mean he wanted to be questioned on it because of something he said or did. "I'd expect no less. Though I would hope you would be happy for us if we did win against them." Because he knew that it would be tough competition. He had faith in his team but he also had seen the best of the Harpies too from working with them. "And I won't take it easy or be nice to them up in the air just because I worked with them. If anything, it'll make me push more."

Ophelia smiled lightly. "I'm so happy for you," she said. She wondered what that was like, she was still working at feeling like her again since leaving France and leaving her ex. "I'll definitely be out there rooting for you. Unless it's against the Harpies, don't take it to heart, but I always have to root for my cousin in that sense."

[doricntorrcs]

"I think you diminish your importance to me. I definitely need you." Dorian scolded softly. "But I appreciate despite your disagreement with my words, that you're still going to come. "I can't wait to hear you out there. I also can't wait to be up there again. I've missed it."

"You certainly don't need my support out there," Rosa highlighted with a smile, reaching to punch Dorian lightly in the bicep. "But you are most definitely going to get it. I will be the loudest one cheering so much so that there will be a risk of them having to remove me," her grin only widening. "I seriously cannot wait to see you up in the air again. I'm so proud of you, Do."

[doricntorrcs]

"I tend to change my choice of place but it is one I prefer to go to, especially when there is a good game on." He explained with a little smile, knowing that he didn't want to make his habits too well known when it came to anyone who wasn't in his friendship group. "Why? Are you wanting to spend more time with me or jealous I don't come to your bar more often?"

"That honestly sounds perfect," he nodded with a smile. "Should I presume whenever I don't see you around the Hog's Head, that's where you're spending your time?" Gabe couldn't resist adding playfully.

[doricntorrcs]

For a moment Dorian gave Laurel a look that pointed out that it wasn't exactly too far fetched for her to perhaps have done just that but he let it melt away from his features as quickly as it had appeared. "There's a lot about me you don't know so it wouldn't have been inconceivable that you may have believed some of what they were saying." And there was the added disappointment that some of their suggestions were not too far off base. Still, she seemed so impassioned as she defended him, even now and whilst it did move him, Dorian couldn't help but wish that she'd found this vigour back when he'd really needed her to show it. Perhaps however, better late than never.

"Unfortunately our lives are often victim to media engagement. Stories like that sell." Dorian spoke with a dull acceptance of the situation to his tone. When she pointed out that he was a valuable asset to the team, it did seem to draw a small smile to the corners of his lips. "To think... I could never have got you to admit that when I actually worked with you." He said with a shake of his head. If anything, Laurel had been determined to always remain of the opposite opinion. "It wouldn't have been a wild assumption to make. I've hardly been kind to you either as of late." Whether or not she deserved it was irrelevant. Sometimes people could be petty and vengeful when they felt slighted.

"What do you mean, why?" she looked to him in disbelief. Laurel was still not entirely convinced she was hallucinating his presence here at this rate. The last time they'd spoken she was convinced she would literally never see him again unless it was through Quidditch press for his team. "How could I not?" she then followed up with simply. "Did you really think I'd let them spin it all into their narrative of you being some bad guy? They wanted to fabricate a story that was false just because it'd do well for media engagement," Laurel said the words with disgust. As much as she loved her job and she even loved being a public figure, she hated the vultures that some people who worked in the media could be.

"Besides, I was just being honest. The people out there who are fans of professional Quidditch should know what a valuable asset you are to any team, even if you are loyal to the Tornadoes these days," she added plainly. "Did you expect me to behave or answer differently?" Laurel then asked, although she supposed she couldn't blame him if he still had in mind the person she had been the day he'd gotten fired.

[doricntorrcs]

Dorian's intention hadn't been to scare the living daylights out of her, he'd just been trying to avoid garnering too much attention. It did the job well enough but it had also apparently caused quite the jump scare for Laurel. Had they been on better terms, Dorian probably would have gotten amusement out of it, instead all he felt was a little bit uncomfortable.

What was he doing here? That was a question he wasn't sure he had a solid answer to, only that he'd found himself needing to come for some reason. "Why did you say those things?" Dorian found himself asking. "You could have refused to answer and I wouldn't have blamed you for that. It wasn't the focus that the interview should have been taking but you chose to give a response. Why?" He continued to ask, stepping forward further to get a better look at the woman. It was the first time he'd willingly chosen to engage in a conversation with Laurel which was a huge step in itself.

Despite the way it sounded as one, it was actually no exaggeration that respecting her promise to keep her distance from Dorian was one of the hardest things she'd ever done. It was laughable just how many things reminded her of him, how many times throughout the day she'd find herself thinking of him. She always loved to party, but it got more frequent again and she held herself back less. Laurel would try to numb him away and distract herself with other bodies, but she'd wake up hungover the next day feeling that same emptiness as she had before she'd grabbed a bottle. Not to mention the occasional nights she'd spent clutching his shirt with the now-faded scent of his that remained.

Slowly it got easier. It still proved to be a challenge but Laurel tried to pour herself into training even more than usual. She'd even stay back and help polish brooms or prep other equipment to keep herself busy. She spent a lot of nights scribbling plans and formations that she'd bring to Gwen, putting more thought, strategy and reflection into how she was playing the game instead of just focusing on the physicality of it like she did before.

Interviews were part of the gig, and she knew it was impossible to avoid the topic forever, but when she started getting asked about their former – albeit temporary – coach, Laurel felt herself go pale. They dug and clawed for some sort of juicy and dramatic quote they could slap down as a headline, but that was no interest to Laurel. Each question they fired she answered with a class and respect that almost frustrated the interviewer. And none of it was for the sake of saving her own skin or even attempting to protect Dorian. She simply spoke from the heart. It came easily to her, to speak highly of him. To speak of the impact he left on the team. And none of it was dishonest or embellished. Laurel found a comfort and almost healing in speaking about Dorian. And she was quick to squash any rumors they asked confirmations of. If there was any remaining good she could do, it was to make sure she didn't tarnish his name or reputation any further.

Ever since the interview he kept floating to the forefront of her mind once again. It still hurt, of course. She felt the absence of him in her life and what she'd done to him still weighed on her. However much it hurt, Laurel still didn't reach out. He was better off and she had to accept that their lives would run on different paths whether she liked it or not. It was for the best. Especially for Dorian.

Laurel had spent the training day giving it her all per usual. She'd been rather quiet despite it all, keeping to herself in the locker rooms and waiting until most had dispersed before taking her shower. She finished reapplying her kinesiology tape, grabbed her stuff and began to head out. While she was not jumpy in nature, there was still a chill of surprise that had run through her when she saw the shadowed figure. Realizing who it was was an even bigger shock to her however. "Dorian?" she blinked back, barely processing what he was referring to because she was just so stunned to see him there. And in such unique circumstances too. "What... what are you doing here?"

[doricntorrcs]

Whilst Laurel had said that she was going to keep her distance from him since the last time he had spurned her attempts to apologise and talk to him, he'd not actually believed she would follow through. She'd said similar in the past and it'd not come to anything, not to mention how their whole interactions had always gone. Laurel had never been very good at letting things go or respecting boundaries when it came to what she wanted. This time though it seemed she finally took it seriously, understood and meant it. She'd provided him with the space he'd requested and honestly, he'd not quite known what to do with the silence of it all.

It was strange really, the anger he felt towards her was still there of course. She'd done a terrible thing. But the quietude the woman's absence left behind... Dorian didn't know how to explain it. It wasn't as though he hadn't been without her before of course but he'd since learned what it was like to have her in his orbit and for all the girls faults, she was energy and life personified. He felt her absence much like a gaping wound she'd given him, both from her actions and her lack of presence and he was worse off for the deprivation.

Trust had always been hard earned where he was concerned, it was one of the main reasons why her actions had such an effect on him. That coupled with his past experiences... well it had set him hard down the path of seeing what Laurel had done as being unconscionable to his mind. Still, both heads and hearts could always be swayed, even someone as stubborn as the dark haired man himself. Such was the burden and charm of being human. He'd always been so set in his mind about things, difficult to sway from his path when he'd chosen it. Very much knowing right from wrong and treating it as thus. It was why he found himself so upended by the others following actions.

To say that he'd faced trials this week would have been an understatement. His quick switches in careers with no warning had naturally left prying eyes wondering. Dorian had hoped that their publicists had managed to squash any negative press but it seemed as though things like this always had a way of rearing their heads in the end. He felt like he'd been settling into the rhythm of being in the new team, proving himself a valuable asset and hopefully earning the support of their fans but curiosity was too high. People were slowly beginning to ask questions about the reasons for his quick exit from his previous team. How he'd left a couple now in swift succession. Honestly, the thought of his private life getting out made him feel physically sick so after a tough day of beating off reporters he'd planned to keep himself to himself in a hole in the wall joint, only to be greeted by the sight of Laurel being interviewed. That in itself wasn't bad per se, at least not at the start but when the topic of the questions seemed to take a turn to focus on him, Dorian found himself sinking further down into the booth, body feeling as though it had been dumped in a ice bath.

What was he liked as a Coach? How did they feel about a male falling into the role? What was the reason for his exit? Wasn't his contract longer because their full time coach wasn't back yet? Has she heard the rumours and is there any truth to them?

They went on.

Of course they'd have a lot of questions, but he hated the thought of Laurel being the one to answer them. She was somewhat of a loose cannon after all. Chaotic and exactly the type of person they would want to hear from given her unpredictability. With how she'd handled a situation to do with him, he wouldn't have found himself entirely surprised if she did end up saying more than he was comfortable with or perhaps refusing to answer at all. Either one of those could manage to fuel the stories currently buzzing about him. Gossip was fickle like that, you could be damned if you do and damned if you don't and given their current state and most recent interactions, he held no illusions that she owed him anything in loyalty.

However, the more the brunette spoke, the more Dorian found himself pushing himself up in his seat. Disengagement turned to attentiveness with each question she answered until the interview had captured his undivided attention. Far from the responses that Dorian had been anticipating with unease, Laurel actually appeared to show a startling openness, and what Dorian could only read as genuine admiration when she talked about him. Before this point, she'd given her usual sass and playfulness in the interview, but that had appeared to melt away and he was left gaping at the level of care she showed through her words. Whether others would believe her of course was up to their interpretation but he was left feeling a warmth that he hadn't experienced since before they'd fallen out at her attempts to allay their concerns and interest in the topic. He found that the dread he'd felt himself being weighed down by was made that bit lighter by her show of support.

It was for that very reason that he'd taken the decision to do something he'd not thought he would ever do after their dispute and his perceived betrayal, he'd decided to linger outside of the Harpies training ground to wait patiently for their training to finish. With how long he'd worked with them, he knew their schedules pretty well at this point. Unsurprisingly, Laurel was one of the last ones out, and still partially shaded by the shadows that the evening cast over them, he let her know about his presence. "You were kinder than I expected towards me. Probably more than was warranted. You know you could have refrained from answering if you wanted to."