17 Jul 2020, 22:04
All the colours Browne
3rd of August 2020
19:02 in the evening
East Wall, Dublin
Blythe Avenue
19:02 in the evening
East Wall, Dublin
Blythe Avenue
The three members of the Browne family had been driving just under fifteen minutes on the road. The trip from the airport to the Browne estate was practically a stone's throw away, keeping travel time usually under a good fifteen to twenty minutes. Cecil, the father of the Brownes, had always preferred following Swords Road up until Beaumont to avoid any tedious traffic around the airport's vicinity. A choice that had Caradoc shaking his head as it required the car to take a detour and turn back regardless in order to take the M50 back home. But Caradoc had never been able to break the old man's stubbornness.
Entering East Wall from the north side, they had just passed under the Dublin Port tunnel and crossed the river Tolka. From here it would only be a couple of minutes more till they arrived home. Quietly humming along with the Gem Radio station, Browne Senior was tapping his fingers on the wheel along to the music. Caradoc was quick to recognise the tune's intro as Enya's Orinoco Flow. Arching his eyebrow towards his father. His head slowly turned to see the old man quietly smirking and doing a little shoulder dance.
Only when Doc glanced over his shoulder he noticed the eye-contact between Cassanora and her grandfather. It seemed the old man was trying to get his eldest granddaughter to laugh with a few silly 'dances' and a bit of lip-syncing. Which explained the man's behaviour more, considering Doc easily would describe Cecil as the calmest and more stiff members of the family. With the man being in his seventies by now, he was rather impressed he was still keeping up his usual optimism. Or perhaps Grandfather Browne was just in a good mood today. It wasn't that rare for him to see Cassanora, considering the child usually stayed over at their place. But to have her smiling in her father's presence was a rarity all Brownes cherished dearly.
Cassanora in turn, had been fairly quiet the entire trip. Flying by plane usually had her fast asleep within minutes, a skill Caradoc was most jealous about considering he hated flying with a passion. While planes were considered to be safer than brooms, he had always exclaimed that "Flying is for birds!". Her giggle filled the car as she hid her mouth behind a clenched fist. Her dark brown eyes sneaking glances from her grandfather in his rear-view mirror, she kept silently challenging him to take it a bit further. To which the elder man happily obliged.
"Your father was four years old when this song came out." Cecil explained as he lowered the volume of the radio. "Your aunt Caerys wasn't even born yet, and we still had Cad strapped in the booster seat." Caradoc's gaze dozed off into the distance. An image of a young Cecil and Moira Browne strapping three children into a car was not unfamiliar to him. Cae had been a loud baby when she eventually arrived, Doc recalled and Cad was still innocent back then. The most they got in trouble with at that age was when the younger brother had decided he wanted to eat one of Caradoc's toys.
Doc responded with a narrow smirk, barely noticeable as he listened to his own father telling his daughter stories from his youth. Cecil was a quiet man for the most part. Preferring silence and calm within his closest environment. How on earth his marriage worked out with Moira was a mystery to many. Many of the family's friends often remarked that she would laugh for the both of them. It was a remark the old man had always found rather silly. Moira knew better of course. While her husband might not be too cheery in public, he was never shy to indulge her in private. Which had always been enough for her.
However, when it came to a grandchild, Cecil had found something changed within himself. People often say a grandparent loves their grandchildren more than their own children. Which was not a phrase to tell people their kids meant nothing. It only meant grandparents no longer had any grand responsibility to tutor these children. Grandchildren were offered sweets and treats and were allowed to maybe stay up that extra half an hour just this once (seven times a week). Their love was undeniable. And things were no different between Cecil Browne and his oldest grandchild.
Finally, arriving at the house, Cecil brought the car to a halt in the dead end of their small and narrow street. Around this hour there wouldn't be any trains passing by, so the evening scenery felt very quiet for the three Brownes as they got out of the car and started grabbing their bags. Little Cassanora only had to make two steps towards the door before Moira appeared in its frame. "AAAAAH! Look at you all happy! I bet your father was singing all sorts of stuff in that car again, wasn't he?" The short haired woman exclaimed with a loud cackle.
"Actually, it was daideó*!" The girl happily explained with a wide grin on her face. She looked over her shoulder to see her grandfather shuffle up to the house behind her. "Lies and slander!" The man spoke with a smile. "You think my tired old voice could handle anything other than a regular C?" Cecil smiled at his wife before kissing her. "Mo ghrá*..." He'd whisper with a wink. Cassanora's nose quickly curled up at the sight of her grandparents kissing and gave Caradoc a disgusted face. Winking back at his daughter he gave her a look that told her he completely agreed. Which only caused the girl to giggle under her breath.
"Now get your ass in here Caradoc Cecil Browne! You're the last to enter, so you know what that means: DISHES!" She may have been smirking at her oldest son and imply she was jesting. But Caradoc knew better than that. When it came down to cleaning up, he knew the last to enter always got the job no one wanted. "Evening to you as well mam." He sighed as he came face to face with the woman. She was about the same height as him, perhaps a bit taller even which put her over six feet. Dark brown eyes gave him a glittering look of excitement. "Evening dear." She whispered to him as she placed her hand on his cheek. "You look tired..." Her eyes turned to an investigating look. "That new job giving you a hassle? I thought you went back to your old school? Shouldn't that be fun?"
Before she allowed her son to answer she waved her hand in front of him as she shook her head. "Get inside first, Cara. I'm keeping you from entering, poor thing. You know the way!" She shouted at him as she was already heading for the kitchen. Caradoc would softly smile and look behind him where the sun had only just begun to set. It felt good to be back. Though the hardest part was yet to come.
*daideó - Grandfather
*Mo ghrá - My love
If you're reading this... You're awesome.
Calming Presence/Healing Sage/Wandless/Non-Verbal
STA - 16 | EVA - 6 | STR - 15 | WIS - 16 | ARC - 8 | ACC - 4
28 Aug 2020, 22:08
All the colours Browne
"So you are telling me your whole little club of misfits is currently teaching at Hogwarts?" Caduceus waved around with his glass in hand, almost bumping in Caerys who was in the midst of serving a few pre-dinner snacks. "Pardon love." The man nonchalantly declared without any trace of sincerity. "It is clear that the school has only fallen in more ruin than the way it already stood while I was there. Now they allow imbeciles and freaks to teach. Wizarding society will be lively in a few years when those batches graduate." He took a large swig from his wine. "I'm sorry, IF they graduate."
Caduceus Browne. Caradoc's younger brother and middle child of the three. The man stood taller than any of his close relatives and made sure to stand out in more ways than just his height. A bright green and turquoise velvet blazer was sure to burn people's eyes wherever he decided to show up. The suit fittingly showed a peacock design circling around the arms and shoulders of the man. Whenever he moved around, the jacket would seemingly shimmer in the light of a hundred peacock feathers brushing in the wind.
Caradoc's opinion of his brother was as multicoloured as Cad's kaleidoscopic wardrobe. The two boys had always been good at ruffling each other's feathers. But it was only in their time at Hogwarts where it became clear the two brethren couldn't have grown further apart. In Doc's eyes, his brother was the slimy piece of gum that got stuck on his shoe, and he was forced to drag along on the trip. In fact, he wouldn't have even showed up this day had it not been for the opportunity to get the whole family together again and have him see the four other relatives he did adore.
Caduceus returned the love in kind, often harassing Caradoc whenever he got the chance. The man viewed the world as wrong. With him being the sole person to see how it was truly meant to be designed rather than the mess they had made for themselves. Therefore, Cad chose to not have a job. Instead, he had a bed in his parents' house or whatever bed he landed in the night before. Pleasure and free will paved the way to full enjoyment of life.
"Honestly, I don't get why you would ever return to that place unless if it was to burn it to the ground. Reading the papers recently, it doesn't seem like it is faring any better than it did when we were there." The peacock emptied his glass and started looking for the next bottle to open up. He was about to reach for one in the corner of the kitchen when he was abruptly shoved aside by Caerys. "Are you still talking? Shouldn't you explain your ancient wisdom to your newest Juliette?" The youngest sibling asked as she nodded over to a timid looking young woman that had been sipping her tea quietly in Cecil's armchair. "Or did you just skip the boring parts this time?" Cae gave her brother a vicious smirk as she grabbed her own glass and took a small sip.
"Ailbhe (Alva) can handle herself, I'm sure. Besides, she looks happy." Cad replied with gritted teeth as he looked over to his new girlfriend. Doc sighed as his eyes met with Cae's. They both knew this one wouldn't last long either. To their knowledge, the longest anyone held out with their brother was three days, and they blamed that on the fact they were all on a weekend holiday. Having the girl trapped with the family was one way to have your fun last a little longer. His sister's remark did seem to shift the man's attention to the other room. Eventually with a soft grumbling under his breath, Cad found his way to the couch, leaving his two siblings by themselves in the kitchen.
"So, what do we know about this one?" Doc inquired with his sister as he finished his own glass of wine. "Local girl." Caerys began explaining with an unimpressed look on her face. As if she was reading information from a list. "I believe she's a librarian of some sort or at the very least own a small book store downtown." She sighed whilst rolling her eyes. "She has this fake laugh she does whenever dad tries one of his jokes on her. You know how big a fuss he makes about making people smile." Her nose curled up as her face turned into disgust. "Hee hee! Honestly, I can't stand it, Cara. You either decide to commit to being presentable or just show them you're a humourless wallflower with a stick up your butt. Sorry." She quickly apologised whilst checking if any of the children were in the vicinity. "Apparently she was able to expand upon his 'life wisdom', he told me. Which was..."
"Enough to stroke his ego for the night. I think I got it." Caradoc smirked as his sister jammed her elbow in his side. The pair stood there silently staring at their family for a minute or two. Caradoc always noticed his sister was much more like their father than either of both boys. It was nice to know there were others more like him. Caradoc had always tried to step up to the man's level of patience and calmness, but more than often that had been a lost cause.
"I haven't seen Noburu yet?" He asked his younger sibling out of interest. "No, he'll be here a bit later. Muggles and their cars you know." She grinned, Doc knowing full well that was another jab at him as well for arriving by car. He noticed Caerys turning to face him. "Cad might be an idiot, but he was right about the papers... There's not an awful lot of good news surrounding the school?" Her blue eyes met his, staring intensely at him. As if she was mentally trying to force him to give her the truth. "We are handling it." Caradoc replied softly before wiggling his nose a little.
Caerys arched her eyebrow and gave him a look. Doc assumed she knew him too well some times. "It's true. We are working on it." He nodded his head in confirmation and chose to avoid her gaze further. "What are your thoughts on 'nora hopping schools and attending Hogwarts this September then? I recall you promised." His sister asked whilst tilting her head a little and inspecting his face closely. "Well..." He began as he tried to find the right words. "She will not be going to Hogwarts. She will stay in Beauxbatons."
"WHAT?"
Both Caradoc and his sister turned around in shock as they laid their eyes on Cassanora standing in the door frame behind them. The people in the living room had paused their conversations and turned their heads to see what was going on in the kitchen as well. The whole family now staring at the face of a child ready to explode.
Caduceus Browne. Caradoc's younger brother and middle child of the three. The man stood taller than any of his close relatives and made sure to stand out in more ways than just his height. A bright green and turquoise velvet blazer was sure to burn people's eyes wherever he decided to show up. The suit fittingly showed a peacock design circling around the arms and shoulders of the man. Whenever he moved around, the jacket would seemingly shimmer in the light of a hundred peacock feathers brushing in the wind.
Caradoc's opinion of his brother was as multicoloured as Cad's kaleidoscopic wardrobe. The two boys had always been good at ruffling each other's feathers. But it was only in their time at Hogwarts where it became clear the two brethren couldn't have grown further apart. In Doc's eyes, his brother was the slimy piece of gum that got stuck on his shoe, and he was forced to drag along on the trip. In fact, he wouldn't have even showed up this day had it not been for the opportunity to get the whole family together again and have him see the four other relatives he did adore.
Caduceus returned the love in kind, often harassing Caradoc whenever he got the chance. The man viewed the world as wrong. With him being the sole person to see how it was truly meant to be designed rather than the mess they had made for themselves. Therefore, Cad chose to not have a job. Instead, he had a bed in his parents' house or whatever bed he landed in the night before. Pleasure and free will paved the way to full enjoyment of life.
"Honestly, I don't get why you would ever return to that place unless if it was to burn it to the ground. Reading the papers recently, it doesn't seem like it is faring any better than it did when we were there." The peacock emptied his glass and started looking for the next bottle to open up. He was about to reach for one in the corner of the kitchen when he was abruptly shoved aside by Caerys. "Are you still talking? Shouldn't you explain your ancient wisdom to your newest Juliette?" The youngest sibling asked as she nodded over to a timid looking young woman that had been sipping her tea quietly in Cecil's armchair. "Or did you just skip the boring parts this time?" Cae gave her brother a vicious smirk as she grabbed her own glass and took a small sip.
"Ailbhe (Alva) can handle herself, I'm sure. Besides, she looks happy." Cad replied with gritted teeth as he looked over to his new girlfriend. Doc sighed as his eyes met with Cae's. They both knew this one wouldn't last long either. To their knowledge, the longest anyone held out with their brother was three days, and they blamed that on the fact they were all on a weekend holiday. Having the girl trapped with the family was one way to have your fun last a little longer. His sister's remark did seem to shift the man's attention to the other room. Eventually with a soft grumbling under his breath, Cad found his way to the couch, leaving his two siblings by themselves in the kitchen.
"So, what do we know about this one?" Doc inquired with his sister as he finished his own glass of wine. "Local girl." Caerys began explaining with an unimpressed look on her face. As if she was reading information from a list. "I believe she's a librarian of some sort or at the very least own a small book store downtown." She sighed whilst rolling her eyes. "She has this fake laugh she does whenever dad tries one of his jokes on her. You know how big a fuss he makes about making people smile." Her nose curled up as her face turned into disgust. "Hee hee! Honestly, I can't stand it, Cara. You either decide to commit to being presentable or just show them you're a humourless wallflower with a stick up your butt. Sorry." She quickly apologised whilst checking if any of the children were in the vicinity. "Apparently she was able to expand upon his 'life wisdom', he told me. Which was..."
"Enough to stroke his ego for the night. I think I got it." Caradoc smirked as his sister jammed her elbow in his side. The pair stood there silently staring at their family for a minute or two. Caradoc always noticed his sister was much more like their father than either of both boys. It was nice to know there were others more like him. Caradoc had always tried to step up to the man's level of patience and calmness, but more than often that had been a lost cause.
"I haven't seen Noburu yet?" He asked his younger sibling out of interest. "No, he'll be here a bit later. Muggles and their cars you know." She grinned, Doc knowing full well that was another jab at him as well for arriving by car. He noticed Caerys turning to face him. "Cad might be an idiot, but he was right about the papers... There's not an awful lot of good news surrounding the school?" Her blue eyes met his, staring intensely at him. As if she was mentally trying to force him to give her the truth. "We are handling it." Caradoc replied softly before wiggling his nose a little.
Caerys arched her eyebrow and gave him a look. Doc assumed she knew him too well some times. "It's true. We are working on it." He nodded his head in confirmation and chose to avoid her gaze further. "What are your thoughts on 'nora hopping schools and attending Hogwarts this September then? I recall you promised." His sister asked whilst tilting her head a little and inspecting his face closely. "Well..." He began as he tried to find the right words. "She will not be going to Hogwarts. She will stay in Beauxbatons."
"WHAT?"
Both Caradoc and his sister turned around in shock as they laid their eyes on Cassanora standing in the door frame behind them. The people in the living room had paused their conversations and turned their heads to see what was going on in the kitchen as well. The whole family now staring at the face of a child ready to explode.
If you're reading this... You're awesome.
Calming Presence/Healing Sage/Wandless/Non-Verbal
STA - 16 | EVA - 6 | STR - 15 | WIS - 16 | ARC - 8 | ACC - 4