Catching Up PV Caradoc Browne Closed

"Virtù, amica mia." He said as he held up the signature hand move any Italian would make if you asked Caradoc. "The man's a big softy. Sure, he gives me the shivers just looking at me. But deep down, he's just another kid looking to come out now and then." Marcus was a bit of an enigma. A serious man with a distaste for children accepted a job to work with children and helped out in a foodtruck serving said children with a smile plastered to his face. Seemed like good ol' Doc did the job again in chipping a person's hard face off with his charms.

"I'm sure I can make him do all sorts of stuff after some more time hanging out." The smirk on his face would be a tough one to wipe off his face. Caradoc was enjoying his victory a little too much. He took a place on the ground by the diminishing fire and leaned on his side. "So what's the plan for you? Have you impaled any more students recently?" He gave Maya a look, it had been a long time since they shared a drink in Hogsmeade, but time offered a place for joking. "Just kidding, just kidding." He said as he held up his hands in apology, but the smile on his face stayed in place.

@Caradoc Browne

Italian wasn't Maya's forte. Latin-based languages was difficult for Maya to fully understand off the bat when she heard it. She needed some time to process it before knowing what it meant. In the past, she had spent time in Italy for a couple weeks, but more to understand their culture, never to really learn their language. She couldn't help but to smile at his use of the language, uncertain of what it meant.

It couldn't be more agreed on the description Caradoc gave of Marcus. It was surely a sight to see someone who she remembered did not like children still work with children, and even go an extra mile with his role during the summer. Maya was also someone who was not interested in children but also accepted the role to be around them. There was a connection in that lingering about them.

A little tease came out of Caradoc and Maya couldn't help but to laugh. She knew where he was going and there was going to be some sort of ask, but perhaps a bit later in their drinking.

Maya reached for the flask and took a swig.

"I went to visit my home," to said, starting. The fire was slowly dwindling down, but it still felt good to the skin. She sat down facing Caradoc, but looking to the fire. "I haven't seen them since I finished my service," Maya paused, thinking about how many years it had been. A decade maybe...? Not one owl or message was ever sent.

"I've never made the effort. Do you for your family?" she asked, wondering what he does and seeing if she could learn from him. That is typically what happens when both parties share information. You learn and move on.

Reference:A Short Visit Home

"All the time." Caradoc replied with a smile. He would imagine his family was considered 'stable' compared to three quarters of Hogwarts' residents. His family never suffered from the war, his parents had been barely aware of the danger they could have been exposed to back when he was still a student. Others in his class had suffered loss in those darker times.

"My parents are still together, living happily in Dublin." He explained, staring into the fire as well, mirroring Maya's position. "My siblings have been known to be a nuisance, but that are siblings for you. And they never really caused any real harm..." His brother, above all, was someone he could barely stand these days. Their rivalry had sprouted from an argument that dated back to when they were children. It was a waste of energy for the both of them to keep it up, but it would flare back up every time.

"My daughter is right here at camp as we speak. I heard she's staying in the Augury cabin. We try and see each other as often as we can." He would not explain where the girl's mother was, however, that was a topic he refused to touch upon. "She and Nora have been getting a long well these days. So that's also nice to see."

His gaze turned back to his companion. "So how did it go then? If you don't mind me asking, of course."

@Caradoc Browne

Maya caught the mimicry of his stance in relation to hers. It was a common thing between those who bond with one another. She was taught that copying another meant respect more than just an annoyance or bother. She continued to stare at the fire when he did as well, sharing in the bask of the heated flower.

"I didn't know you had a daughter visiting here, Caradoc. It must be wonderful to have extra that time with her," she said, smiling at him. Maya was not fully aware of how where Nora and Caradoc stood, but to hear that his daughter was connecting with Nora meant their bond was growing. Despite Nora's attitude and their past, Maya was glad that she was getting a chance of something greater.

Maya couldn't help but to scoff at the question of how it went with her family. She shook her head and tore her eyes away from the dancing flames. She looked down at the ground, filled with ashy remains. "Well, let's see...," she paused and grabbed the flask, taking another swig and placing it on the ground between them. "My family doesn't think too high of this world to which my father remains estranged and although I found out he is sick, he doesn't want my help and would be okay with whatever life gives him," she said all at once. Yup... It called for yet another swig.

Granted, for her to be a Muggle-Born, there had to have been some magical ancestry in her bloodline. But who in their family would share that or even know? Instead, they were vastly into their religion and did not take kindly into what they considered as 'Black Magic'. Her father, the patriarch of the family, was one who kicked Maya out of the family for who she had become, despite Maya's ongoing battle to hold onto her muggle persona.

"Enough of that though," she said, shutting it down as quick as she could feel her heart pace just thinking about it. Maya took her right pointer finger and began to make circles on the dirt, unsure of how to start her upcoming question. "Cara...," her tone sounding curious.

"Can you tell me about Iwasaki?" she asked, feeling like a high school girl all over. Caradoc, from her perspective, was the closest to Marcus out of all the faculty. Her question said it all, but she couldn't help but to confide in a colleague about a colleague. "What stands out the most to you about him?" she added.

Caradoc nodded and smiled at Maya as she commented surprise towards his daughter. "Her name is Cassanora. You'd like her, I feel like most would. She has her father's charm, of course." He added with a smirk at the end. He had not been keeping her a secret from anyone, he merely preferred to be private about it all. If they asked, he would answer. It was a rather funny thing to do for a person that portrayed themselves as open as he often did. But that was mostly a charade anyway. Some bright light to distract from all the darkness. It's how he his own magical powers manifested after all.

He did not ask further on the topic of her family. There seemed to be a lot of baggage there, and Maya was only taking one more sip for each sentence she was required to utter about her father. Caradoc wondered if Cass would sometimes feel the same way. Not as serious as Maya's situation, perhaps. But he did rob her of Hogwarts. For good reason, he still agreed to himself. But that did not stop the resentment he felt from the kid when it came to her attending Beauxbatons...

One eyebrow arched upwards with the next question, though. His bright eyes flickered in the fire as they locked onto Maya. There was a curious twinkle in his gaze. Oh... he knew this territory all too well. And he was having far too much fun with it already. "Ohhh, Marc! He loves being called Marc, by the way. I believe he's thinking of changing his name to that at some point." He began with a sly smile and a way-too-obvious wink. She'd know he was kidding, or not... He didn't really know how good he was at giving hints with just his eyes. Though Nora seemed to understand him perfectly fine most of the time. Then again... she always glared back at him. Ahhh... but how he loved being on the receiving end of those.

His attention was pulled back to the conversation at the arrival of a second question. "For starters, there's that big shiny bald head of his." He grinned. Again, not taking it too serious, but he continued nonetheless. "He's got a stick up his arse most days of the week. Especially on disciplinary matters." He explained waving his hands around in too large gestures. "He was the caretaker for a brief period, of course. But..." And Caradoc leaned forward to make a point. "...deep down, he's just a sweet little puppy." One finger rose up. "Good sense of humour, though." The second popped up. "He's got that smooth movie-star smile going on when you do get him to smile." A third finger was shown. "He likes good food , like most sensible folks." He almost lowered his hand before he brought up a fourth finger in surprise. "Don't mention riddles... He's had issues with them ever since he got assigned to Raveclaw..."

@Caradoc Browne

A smirk was quickly painted on Maya's lips at his comment about his daughter having his charm. He was definitely charismatic in comparison to many which gave him a complete charm. One that swooned another colleague into his arms.

There was so much more respect for the Head of Hufflepuff. The fact that he did not pry further into her life is why they catch up together periodically. They only share what they want to share and they do not go any further. It's what made them perfect for each other for this kind of environment and colleague-esque friendship.

Maya couldn't help but the chuckle at his joke about how Marcus wanted to be called "Marc." There was no way anyone would ever call him that. He would have introduced himself as so if it were the case.

A laugh could not be contained when Caradoc began to mention different attributes of Marcus that stood out to him. She couldn't help but to roll her eyes at him as he counted each thing. It wasn't entirely what she was looking for, but it was nice to see another side of Marcus through Caradoc.

"Stop!" she laughed.

Humor was a huge plus as Maya was often serious and needed someone who was sometimes the opposite, even if "he's got a stick up his are most days of the week." Maya took her left hand and covered her mouth, hiding her large laughs and smile.

"Thank you for that," she paused, "not for the information because that was terrible. More for the laughs," she said, calming her smile down at the end and clearing her throat. She was not back to being a little more serious. Her head felt hot and began to slightly throb from the laughs, a usual symptom of fun.

"I take it that he is single and looking?" she bluntly asked, wondering this kind of information more than anything. It would be a waste of time to put emotional and physical connection towards someone who was taken and not looking.

Caradoc shrugged as he laughed with her. "I'm telling you, I'm not that far from the truth." He said, calming down a little. His bright blue eyes rested on her face as he pondered her last question. "I actually don't know. He never mentioned anyone. No secret cellist he flies over to in the weekend or something like that." Caradoc drew the man's face in his head, almost studying him as if he were sitting here with them. "He's reserved… And to be frank, I don't know if he's up for someone new." The Head of Hufflepuff was surprised by his own perception, not that he knew if he was right or wrong. "Those silly Ravenclaws right? Always dwelling on the past."

His eyes slid back to Maya. "I assume, since you're asking, that you are interested?" He cocked his head slightly as a smirk slid across his face. Until he abruptly swapped it with confusion. "Why?" Doc pursed his lips together and pulled up his shoulders. "Why him? Did I mention the man's bald!" Another joke, though it was more to mask his own questions. Caradoc had no real answers for Maya. Which, by this point, she ought to have figured out.

@Caradoc Browne

Finally, he was serious. There was always a playful side of Caradoc in conversations and now she could tell that he was telling the truth. And that truth was not as helpful in the beginning, but an insight at the end. According to him, Marcus was not looking for someone new. If that was the case, then she would be okay with the rejection. If she shared her interest to Marcus, she would understand the consequences of doing so.

"We are all at age where we have baggage. I can understand if he is not interested. But worth a try, right?" she said, shrugging. Most that were in their thirties had so much in their past that made them who they are, or that they are still working out. Maya is someone who has a lot of baggage and is still working out. Her baggage? Primarily with her family.

She chucked at first, but cleared her throat and gave Caradoc her answer. "There's a feeling I have when around him. I can't describe it. It's the same feeling as I had with Aleksander, if you remember him," she said, referring to the long ago Potions Professor who had moved to Hamberg for personal reasons. "Before Aleks left, we had something. That same feeling is felt when I am in Iwasaki's presence," she said, unknown that it was probably their intimidation factor that she always found intriguing and addicted towards.

She then stared at the fire for a second and looked back at the man who she was confiding in. "Listen, no one wants to be alone for the rest of their life. I may be independent, but having security in companionship is important to have, too."