An Unhappy Anniversary by Professor Deck
Well, he wasn't crying. That was a definite plus. He hadn't cried once today, or the preceding week--and for a man as in tune and unashamed of his emotions as Declan, that was marginally surprising. Especially given today's date. Typically, Deck wasn't one of those people who arbitrarily pinned preferences on days of the week or month--I hate Mondays, Saturdays are the best--as it just made little sense to him. A day was a day was a day was a day, as his mum would say, and its defining quality otherwise was what you did with it, not what place it found on the calender. But today... oh, Deck did hate today with a passion.Three years. Was it even possible it had been three years?
Deck took a deep breath, folding himself into lotus position and placing his palms in chin mudra on his knees. Just keep breathing. Just get through today. Only eighteen hours and... he consulted his watch quickly, twelve minutes left.
Wait. No. He shook his head; he would not live minute to minute, day to day anymore. He'd done that for a full twenty months, and now... he was mature enough to deal with the anniversary of Michael's death without therapists' tricks, wasn't he? He nodded firmly in answer to his own question. Nevertheless, he began planning out every minute of his day, as he'd been taught to do right after Michael died.
It was 5:48 in the morning now. He would meditate until 7:00, then go into his office and do paperwork; it was a class day, but he didn't have any to teach himself until tomorrow. He should probably owl Maggie, and a few of the lads from BAMA. Maybe his friend in New York. Quite possibly a Howler to Maggie's boyfriend, who was nowhere near good enough for his baby sister. Then lunch, then work, then more owls, then supper...
He slumped out of his meditation pose, drawing his hands up to cover his face, elbows on his knees. "De corde totaliter," he repeated in a quiet, somewhat shaky voice, "et ex menta tota, sum presentaliater absens in remota. De corde totaliter et ex menta tota, sum presentaliater..."\n\n
Subthreads: Couldn't Resist by Professor McKindy with Professor Deck
*grin* Yes, I suppose I can [cont. from bottom] by Professor McKindy
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Professor Deck
An Unhappy Anniversary
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Professor Deck
1
5
Couldn't Resist by Professor McKindy
Two hours ago, Aaron had been awoken by something attacking his foot. After firing off a couple of sleep-blurred jinxes at whatever it had been (and missing terribly), he had found himself unable to return to sleep. So, after cleaning up the mess he had made, Aaron had dressed in Muggle-style jeans and a black shirt and gone outside to wander the Labyrinth Gardens. This was becoming a habit. Ever since he had met Sadi (and, unfortunately, Declan Chatterjee) in the Gardens, he had frequented them often. He hadn't seen anyone since then, but he liked it that way. Aaron was considering getting a dog. As a boy, he had raised sheepdogs, and he missed the companionship.Taking a right turn, Aaron ambled along, running a hand through his hair and hardly paying attention to his surroundings. He had simply not felt up to charming anything this morning, and the bubblehat had gotten old, so Aaron's head was bare. God, he was tired. Once awake, though, he had never been able to return to sleep.
He passed someone without a second glance. Their back was towards him, and they were muttering something. Probably a student, an older one from the size, studying for some sort of test. At least, that's what Aaron thought, until he caught a snatch of what the person was saying. "tota, sum presentaliater" Italian? Was he speaking Italian, of all things?
"Voi hanno bisogno dell'aiuto?" he asked, then mentally kicked himself. It wasn't Italian. But it was Latin, which made the fact that there was a student muttering something in the language even more odd. Aaron approached the person and briefly touched his shoulder, translating the Italian. "Do you need help?"\n\n
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Professor McKindy
Couldn't Resist
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Professor McKindy
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5
I'm sure. by Professor Deck
"De corde totaliter et ex menta tota..." Declan grimaced. The words were engraved in the leather bracelet around his left wrist, and in the stone above Michael's grave. With all my heart and all my soul, I am with you though I am far away, or so it translated as. "...sum presentaliater, absens in remota..." Oh bugger... don't you dare cry, Declan."Voi hanno bisogno dell'aiuto?" Declan opened his eyes at the sound of a vaguely familiar voice, and jumped as someone touched him on the shoulder. "Do you need help?"
Declan looked up into the face of the man who had, unfortunately, earned the label of Pureblood (in the most derogatory sense possible) in Declan's mind. He stumbled to his feet--literally. The fine stones of the path he'd been sitting upon skidded underneath his feet and almost sent him sprawling. Luckily he caught himself and regained his composure with surprising (and pleasing) alacrity.
"Professor McKindy," he said, struggling to keep his voice level. He cleared his throat and rubbed his wet lashes dry unobtrusively. "Actually, I'm not in need of any assistance at the moment." Lie. You know you need someone to talk to. Why oh why did his conscience always seem to sound like his sister when at its most obnoxious? "Though..." No, asking if he'd seen Tarquin around probably wouldn't do any good, as the librarian was notoriously hermit-like and it wasn't likely the two had encountered one another yet. He settled for shaking his head and trailing off, then looking expectantly at the other man.\n\n
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Professor Deck
I'm sure.
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Professor Deck
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5
*quirks an eyebrow* by Professor McKindy
Out of all the students and teachers in the school, it had to be Declan Chatterjee that Aaron ran into, didn't it? It had to be him muttering in Latin. Blast.Aaron hastily stepped back as Declan arose, one hand flying to his jeans pocket, where his wand was. If the other professor was still upset about the other day.... But far from going for his wand, Declan just sort of stood there, clearing his throat and being nearly as incomprehensible as he was at their first meeting. About to say something suitably biting and sarcastic, Aaron took a second look at the other man. He seemed distracted for some reason.
"Sorry for disturbing you, then." Aaron replied, somewhat icily. "I just heard the Latin and mistook it for Italian for a moment. Not many people speak either, unfortunately. If you wouldn't mind me asking before I go, why were you?" It wasn't like either language was particularly common knowledge over here in the States. Although Aaron didn't know much Latin, Declan had sounded fairly fluent. Repeating one phrase over and over, it had sounded like. Perhaps the man was in a play of some sort. Before he could stop himself, Aaron ran a hand through his longish black hair again. Now that he noticed it, they were about the same size, with Aaron holding a small advantage. That wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing, should the Astronomy professor take offense. \n\n
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Professor McKindy
*quirks an eyebrow*
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Professor McKindy
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5
Is that your reaction to <i>everything?</i> by Professor Deck
"If you wouldn't mind me asking before I go, why were you?" The curiosity in the other man's voice belied his chilly disposition. He looked tired, too, and the already infamous bubblehat was conspicuously absent. Declan eyed the other man speculatively."It's called a mantra," he replied coolly, looking away from the other man. "With all my heart and all my soul..." he muttered, then stopped and shook his head as a crazy idea came into his head. As much as Deck had taken a dislike to the man's apparent attitudes about blood status... well, the astronomy professor had overreacted a little. And his initial impression of McKindy hadn't been bad at all--and Deck was infamous among his friends for putting stock in first impressions. And now here came McKindy, at this ungodly (and unlikely) hour, stumbling upon Deck's meditation spot...
"I'll get you back for this one, Michael," he mumbled even more quietly, glancing skyward for a moment. Then he heaved a sigh, and like a recalcitrant child being ordered by a parent to make reparations, stepped forward and extended his hand. "Look, I'm sorry for overreacting last time we met. I'm... a little touchy about blood. My half-sister is a halfblood." He said that a little bit challengingly; he was willing to bury the hatchet (mostly because he couldn't really summon the energy to be truly angry on the anniversary of his love's death), but if McKindy couldn't take an olive branch... well, every other day of the year, Deck would be most willing to face off over something he felt so passionately about.\n\n
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Professor Deck
Is that your reaction to <i>everything?</i>
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Professor Deck
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5
Very nearly, I'm afraid by Professor McKindy
His half-sister was a halfblood. That would make Declan a...pureblood?! Aaron was surprised, to say the least, but didn't show it. Well then. Obviously the two were fairly close, for the other man to explode like that to a minor slight to his sister of all things. Especially as she hadn't even been present. Impressive, though, and it showed astonishing family loyalty, something that Aaron prized highly himself."I was out of line with that comment, though," Aaron smiled slightly and grasped Declan's hand firmly. And then, because the other man had almost seemed challenging with the last comment... "I'm a pureblood, obviously, but I've been living in Muggle society for the past decade or so."
Now, with that resolved, Aaron wanted to find out more about the other professor. Sadi hadn't known much, except that he had gotten into a snowball fight around the time of his arrival. And Aaron hadn't quite caught what Declan had said right after explaining that the Latin was a mantra.
"Sorry if I disturbed you," Aaron repeated, making what he hoped to be a relatively inoffensive start. "I wasn't expecting anybody else to be up at this time of day, nevermind here. Do you generally get up so cursed early, or is this a special occasion?" He grinned a bit, to show he was joking. "I'd always thought you astronomers would be more of the late night sort."\n\n
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Professor McKindy
Very nearly, I'm afraid
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Professor McKindy
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5
Fantastic. by Professor Deck
Deck raised his eyebrows in surprise. The man who'd spoken so demeaningly of Muggles had lived with them for the past decade or so? For a moment he tried to reconcile these two, and failed dismally--and then it struck him, a thought planted by conversations with the one step-sibling he could stand (his father's stepson, obviously; Maggie was the only other child of either Deck's mother or his stepfather, Ravi). He remembered Thomas saying something about how often more "enlightened" purebloods were forced to feign prejudice in order to keep their standing. His mouth fell open into a little 'o' of dawning comprehension.But then McKindy--Aaron was his first name, wasn't it?--had moved on to another topic, one which Declan wasn't entirely certain how to deal with. Even more than most Muggles, wizards were hostile to homosexuality--and the anniversary of his partner's death certainly counted as "a special occasion." Declan could always lie, but... well... he was pants at being sneaky. So... partial truth, perhaps?
"I don't get too much practical work done here, actually; it's more theoretical. No need to stay up 'til all hours. But no, I'm not usually wandering the gardens at dawn," he said, casting a glance at the horizon, where the sun loomed low. "It's..." he winced. Get over it, Declan. You were fine talking about Michael to Tarquin last year, weren't you? Of course, Tarquin would understand, with Danny and all, and this Aaron McKindy... "A f-friend of mine died three years ago today. Not to bring down the mood or anything," he joked weakly after the confession. "But what are you doing up? Another early bird, or did you get lost last night?" His smile was a little more warm and sincere after that.\n\n
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Professor Deck
Fantastic.
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Professor Deck
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5
Isn't it, though? by Professor McKindy
That would explain his distraction. A friend had died, three years ago? Perhaps more than a friend, given the short pause that had followed the beginning of the sentence. Yes, that would definitely explain the distraction. And perhaps the mantra thing as well, whatever that was used for. Aaron thought he had heard the word before, but in relation to something Asian. Latin and Asia didn't often come together in his mind, so it was probabl something else. After all, Declan had come to the Opening Feast in something that resembled Indian robes."Something tried to attack my foot at about four in the morning," Aaron responded wryly, then looked at the other man closely. "I'm sorry about your...friend. You were close?" He didn't want to blatently pry, but he did want to find out more about this Declan. And it was too early for anything besides relatively straight-out questions.
Aaron sat down cross-legged on the ground, one hand supporting his head, looking up at the Astronomy professor. It never hurt to have distractions from things that were making you miserable. Especially during awkward hours when there wasn't anybody much around to provide that distraction. And if there were people around, that usually meant talking, and Aaron was more interested by the moment in this strange Astronomy professor. Idly, he wondered if the man had ever found his cat. \n\n
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Professor McKindy
Isn't it, though?
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Professor McKindy
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5
Mayhaps, my friend, mayhaps... by Professor Deck
Declan raised one eyebrow, and one corner of his lips twitched upward in amusement as Aaron--he was positive now that that was the other man's name--explained what he was doing in the gardens this early. "Yes, well, that's Scrappy for you..." Deck said ironically. He had no idea whether it had been a prairie elf--or that one in particular--but given Scrappy's reputation around the school, he really wouldn't be surprised."I'm sorry about your... friend. You were close?" Aaron asked, sitting down. Declan inhaled abruptly, and consequently choked on air; he spent the next few questions coughing, which at least gave him time to try to think of how to answer such a direct question. He gained himself a little more thinking time by making his way over to a stone bench nearby and sitting down there, in half-lotus again--it made him uncomfortable to be standing when others were sitting. That was his excuse for the delay, anyway.
"Yes," he responded flatly. It was far too early for anything besides direct answers. "My partner." He ventured to smile a little, then cleared his throat and looked away to wear the sun glinted off the windows of the school. "Term going well so far? You're lucky to have come in at the beginning."\n\n
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Professor Deck
Mayhaps, my friend, mayhaps...
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Professor Deck
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5
And now, life gets...[i]interesting[/i] by Professor McKindy
Aaron was wondering why Declan choked suddenly after he asked about his friend. He assumed that his projection had been correct, then went on to answer the other man's question without thinking too much on his answer."It's rather nice to be back at a wizarding school. The prairie elves are [i]much[/i] appreciated, at the very least. The students are rather enjoyable as we--" Wait. 'Partner'? That term wasn't generally used for heterosexual couples. Which meant....Aaron's eyebrows shot up like twin rockets and his mouth fell slightly open as he processed the information. It was too early for him to be interacting with the civilised world, that was plain. He wasn't thinking at all, and his reaction had probably just offended Declan again. Blast.
Aaron quickly closed his mouth and lowered his eyebrows, making his face into the vaguely friendly mask it had been at their first meeting. It wasn't that he had any problem whatsoever with homosexuality. He was firmly against hypocrisy in himself and others, and homophobia would be borderline hypocritical. Aaron wasn't exactly about to spill his life story to a complete stranger, however. Especially a complete stranger that had ended their first meeting by stomping off in a huff of overreaction. Yet again, he decided that he would wait the reaction out and sort things out if it was necessary.\n\n
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Professor McKindy
And now, life gets...[i]interesting[/i]
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Professor McKindy
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5
I guess that's <i>one</i> way to put it. by Professor Deck
Declan's posture, always ramrod straight when he sat in meditation position but even moreso than usual due to his uncertainty, relaxed imperceptibly when Aaron didn't comment on his answer, but moved on to his own instead. Pleased, Declan's mouth relaxed into an easy smile, and he nodded in agreement--as frightening as certain prairie elves might be, their service on the whole was greatly appreciated.Suddenly, the other man stopped, and Declan looked back towards him uneasily. Uncertainty morphed quickly into alarm as Aaron's eyebrows rose violently high, and his mouth fell into an 'o.' Blood rushed into the astronomy professor's cheeks. Well... maybe direct hadn't been the right route.
The Charms professor quickly mastered his expression again, but the damage had been done. The fingers of Declan's left hand stroked the leather band on his right wrist, on which those same Latin lines from before--the ones from Carmina Burana and Michael's gravestone--were imprinted. "I..." he began, then felt himself blush hotter. He looked away instead, and set his lips into a determined line as he attempted to control his reaction. Soon his cheeks had returned to their typical pale, Irish complexion. There was nothing to be embarrassed about. Hadn't Michael taught him that five years ago?
Admittedly, this wasn't nearly as bad as that had been. First of all, Declan's relationship with his father was... less than exemplary from the very beginning. When Declan had resolved to finally come out to his father (his mother, stepfather, and half-sister had all known for quite some time at that point), he'd been nervous as Hades. It had taken a lot of long conversations with his partner, who'd been out for the better part of his life, before he'd been able to convince himself that he had nothing to be ashamed of. And that had ended with him leaving a fist-sized bruise on his father's face.
This... this he could deal with. The man's reaction was hardly mature, after all, Declan counselled himself. It wasn't Declan who had the problem.
"Is something wrong, Aaron? You look a little peaky." There was a little more determination between the words than they would typically warrant, but on the whole, Deck was proud of himself for restraining the urge to hit the man. Aaron McKindy seemed to rouse that urge in him a lot.\n\n
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Professor Deck
I guess that's <i>one</i> way to put it.
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Professor Deck
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5
*sticks tongue out* by Professor McKindy
Well, it wasn't as bad as it could have been. Declan blushed, stammered a bit, and looked away. No hexing, no yelling, and no physical attacks. The situation wasn't too irreperably damaged, then. Was an apology in order? Yes, probably. Declan certainly did have a knack for putting Aaron in situations that he had to apologise for. Homosexuality was a topic that many people were fairly touchy about, himself included. It was too much of a controversial topic to be let alone like this. He took a breath, considered how to apologise, then, before he could do so, Declan decided to say something."Is something wrong, Aaron? You look a little peaky." Aaron gazed blankly at Declan for a moment, then burst out laughing. How could he not? That response was so unexpected, the situation so ironic, and the hour so early that it was almost a mandatory reaction. After a few long minutes, with Aaron barely able to choke out a few, incomprehensible words, he finally gained control. Looking at Declan wryly, he rubbed his eyes with the heel of one hand.
"Sorry, Declan. Is there anything else you feel you ought to tell me? Before I say stick my foot in it again? You seem to have that effect on me, and I would love to be able to have a real conversation without worrying about being jinxed." \n\n
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Professor McKindy
*sticks tongue out*
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Professor McKindy
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5
You and your habitual responses. by Professor Deck
Declan blinked. And then blinked again. He was distantly aware that his mouth was cracked open a little and his eyebrows pinched together in consternation. Aaron was laughing. At him. Aaron was laughing at him. Yes, Deck, that would be what he's doing.But as perplexing and vaguely unsettling as Aaron's reaction was, after a few moments Declan's lips began to twitch until the typically good-natured professor broke out in a grin, which soon developed even further into stifled chuckles. He rather hoped that whatever was so amusing to Aaron wasn't at Declan's expense--but to be quite honest, he didn't particularly care. He was laughing on his least favorite day of the year, which would've made Michael happy. It made Declan warm up to the Charms professor even more.
He laughed for good reason when the other man spoke up again, but felt his cheeks heating a little again. Had he really come across as that jinx-happy? "Yeah... sorry 'bout that, mate. I'm not usually such a walking minefield. Though I suppose now we only really have religion and politics to cover, eh?" he asked with a little grin.\n\n
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Professor Deck
You and your habitual responses.
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Professor Deck
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5
Fine.*stands on his head and whistles* by Professor McKindy
Aaron grinned back. "Roman Catholic, and fairly liberal about politics, Muggle and wizarding. Pureblood, went to school in Italy, favored Quidditch position is Keeper," pause. A moment of thought. A quick glance Declan's way. Another moment of thought. Should he mention it? He felt he owed the other man some sort of informational trade for what he had uncovered thus far. "bisexual," he ended coolly. "Anything I missed?"Shifting a bit, he removed his wand from his pocket and laid it on the ground in front of him. Even though he was fairly certain Declan was no longer inclined towards jinxing him, sitting on a wand was cursed uncomfortable. Fairly dangerous as well, although his wand only rarely emitted anything unexpected nowadays.
Declan was a fairly interesting study, as Aaron had thought he might be. They were similar in height and seemed to have similarly coloured eyes as well. Aaron still didn't know what was going on with the whole mantra business, or the foreign robes at the feast, when the Astronomy professor was so obviously not Asian or Indian. He could only hope that he posed at least some sort of mystery in Declan's mind as well, or this was going to be a fairly probing, one sided conversation. \n\n
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Professor McKindy
Fine.*stands on his head and whistles*
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Professor McKindy
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5
...That works. by Professor Deck
Deck's smile widened into an expression of mingled amusement and bemusement as Aaron took his jibe as a challenge and responded with a laundry list. "...school in Italy, favored Quidditch position is Keeper..." Here the other man hesitated, and Deck caught the tail end of a glance up towards himself. "...Bisexual. Anything I missed?"Declan couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at this concession, and cool delivery. A moment's thought gave him a very probable motive, though--an attempt at reparations, perhaps for the other man's prying queries. He gave the other man a little smile and a nod.
"Irish Catholic by birth, Taoist by choice; about as liberal as they come; Pureblood; Hogwarts; Chaser," he supplied. "And you know the rest." He looked the other man over as he replied. He appeared to be somewhat taller than Declan, with darker hair and complexion; his eyes were a familiar gray-green, and it took a moment for Deck to remember where he'd seen that particular color before. When it struck him, he barely restrained a chuckle of surprise--it had been in his own mirror that morning. Curious...
And he was. Aaron McKindy was nothing like the man Deck had had painted in his head. "So what's kept you in the Muggle world these past years?" he asked.\n\n
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Professor Deck
...That works.
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Professor Deck
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5
No, let's ask awkward questions instead. by Professor McKindy
So Aaron's second theory had been right; Declan was a pureblood. An odd one, without too large a family, otherwise he probably would not have attended Hogwarts. Aaron's father had considered sending him to Hogwarts, claiming that his family had been going there for generations, but Grandfather Demarco had decided against it. Consequently, Aaron and his brothers had been sent to an Italian private school to be tutored in the arts of magic. Interesting that he played Chaser, though. Aaron hadn't Kept in years, but he had been good. Maybe he would pick it up again, now that he was back in the magical community.The other man seemed to be looking him over as he responded to Aaron's list. Unfortunately, he then decided to ask probing questions of his own. "So what's kept you in the Muggle world these past years?" It was too early to be evasive. It really was. However, Aaron had no choice but to give it a good shot. Family business was not to be messed with by strangers, even strangers that Aaron was liking increasingly more as each moment passed. Declan was quite open, which both amused and fascinated the Charms professor. That, and the fact that Aaron honestly could not remember another person he had hit all the wrong topics with in such quick sucession.
Aaron blinked a few times, processed the question, and began fashioning an answer. He could lie well, but the pause beforehand was awkward. It could be taken as any manner of things, although Aaron hoped it would be put down to the fact that he was obviously tired, or not noticed at all.
"Oh, I just wanted some cultural experience. One of my brothers went into politics with my father, but I wasn't very suited to the job. We decided" Less of a decision than a statement cemented by Aaron's abrupt departure from the family home, but it was relatively close to the truth. "that it would be best if I explored some more career options. Muggles have always been a bit of a mystery to me, so I decided to spend a few years in their world. It was interesting."\n\n
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Professor McKindy
No, let's ask awkward questions instead.
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Professor McKindy
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5
Sounds like a plan. by Professor Deck
Declan Chatterjee had never been a very good liar. In fact, his friends at Hogwarts had often said it was a good thing that as a prefect he'd never been tempted to misuse his power or get into too serious of trouble (like certain other classmates he could've named), as he was completely incapable of dissembling his way out of a wizard's hat.But luckily for Declan, a wretched liar does not a wretched lie-detector make. Actually, he was as good at sniffing out lies as he was dreadful at telling them. Maggie said it was because of how much attention he paid to vocal nuances and body language. Between the way Aaron blinked when first asked the question, and the pause between the query and the response, Deck was certain that--even if he wasn't lying--the Charms professor wasn't giving him the full truth. His eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly; not in malice or distrust, but a vague, not unsympathetic sort of suspicion.
To tell the complete truth, Declan was fascinated by this man--more fascinated than he'd at first realized. His wardrobe was enough to prompt an interest, and these secrets just whetted his appetite all the more.
"Muggles are fascinating. Technomancy's a bit of a hobby of mine," he admitted, sidestepping the other man's lie with a solemn self-made promise to figure out what it was hiding as soon as possible. "But your father was a politician? In the Cabinet?" A little of Declan's dislike for the Cabinet filtered through, though he managed to keep his voice far more steady than he would've thought. After all, it wasn't the entire Cabinet he despised; just the one man. Luckily, his name hadn't been McKindy, or things might've gotten a little intense.\n\n
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Professor Deck
Sounds like a plan.
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Professor Deck
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5
Uh-oh. Not <i>more</i> promises! by Professor McKindy
Excellent. Declan didn't seem to have noticed the awkward, unrehearsed manner of Aaron's answer. He should have been more prepared for that one, but hadn't really expected it to come up. After all, teachers at a boarding school could hardly be expected to have close familial ties. The man moved the conversation onwards, although not quite far enough away from family affairs as Aaron would have liked. Declan was interested in Technomancy? It was only barely accepted as true magic, at least in his family. Granted, his family tended towards the more effectual ways of getting things done, legal or no, and muddling about with Muggle instruments and concepts was not one of them."Yes, I'm afraid the Cabinet is a bit of a family tradition. Quite a few of my cousins act as emissaries between America and Ireland, or America and Italy, depending on the side of the family. My father is quite involved in the Cabinet, or was the last time I saw him, and I would assume Isaac is on his way to that point. My maternal grandfather is also politically active. I believe that my father held a Muggle office at one point, and may today, although I'm not quite sure what." Was it just Aaron, or did Declan seemed to mention the Cabinet with...disdain? Anger?
"Have you had problems with the Cabinet? For the most part, they're not bad people; a bit stuffy, perhaps, but not all that bad. I did an internship there at one point. I know most of them quite well."
That could be taken several ways, and Aaron knew it. Declan seemed so different in his reactions, though, that he couldn't resist throwing a few things in there. Besides, it was really enough of his family business, and if Declan had a quarrel with the Cabinet, he would probably want to vent about it, providing Aaron with a bit more insight into his motivations.
"Oh, and by the way Declan, did you ever find your cat?" he added, a bit curiously.\n\n
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Professor McKindy
Uh-oh. Not <i>more</i> promises!
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Professor McKindy
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5
You know me... by Professor Deck
Declan nodded as Aaron answered, though briefly put a mental question mark next to the name Isaac--the brother that Aaron had mentioned, perhaps? Yes, that seemed likely. Strange that he didn't know whether his brother was involved or not. He knew just about everything about Maggie and her life--probably more than he, as a big brother, wanted to know. Sometimes it was hard to sleep at night, knowing what that girl got up to. But he and Mags had always been unusually close, especially given the age difference of almost seven years.The conversation and the morning air, which despite weather charms retained the last vestiges of a typical autumn night's crispness, had cleared Declan's head enough at least that he was able to tackle Aaron's next question without stumbling too badly.
"Ah. Not with the Cabinet, per se, but a Cabinet member. I worked as--" he caught himself "--this man's assistant not long ago; it's been maybe a little over a year since I left. He... wasn't incredibly impressed by some of my life choices." One corner of his mouth quirked upward into a wry, dry grin. He'd been a homophobic arse, actually, but despite Declan's usual ability to be "blunt yet inoffensive," the former Ravenclaw actually had picked up a bit in the way of diplomacy. He just didn't usually choose to use it.
"So, school in Italy. You speak the language, obviously," he said, referencing how the other man had questioned him in Italian first, probably because of Deck's Latin mantra. "Another world traveler?"\n\n
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Professor Deck
You know me...
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Professor Deck
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5
That's the frightening bit by Professor McKindy
A Cabinet member had objected to some of Declan's life choices? That wasn't particularly unusual. Aaron's family, especially the Demarco side, was quite picky about their assistants and what they did in their free time. More often than not the assistants ended up being related in some way to the person in question; it made things simpler. Most of the other wizards were equally as picky. Since Declan did not seem to conform to the general wizarding practises either, there were probably numerous things that a conservative Cabinet member would disapprove of."Yes, school in Italy," Aaron replied, a bit irritated that the conversation had turned back to him. At least Declan was no longer upset, although he had at least been less curious before. Granted, Aaron had half expected the man to jinx him before as well, but he was beginning to think that would have been preferable. "I speak fluent Italian, know some Latin and speak basic Gaelic. I don't travel, though; I've family in Ireland and Italy. We only spoke Italian or Gaelic at home, if we could help it. Do you travel, then? Or speak Latin? What was it--et ex menta tota...and from..."
Aaron paused and frowned slightly, trying to remember. Menta...was it mind? Tota was all... "and from all my mind? Sorry, it's been awhile since I learned what little Latin I know." He shrugged slightly and grinned a bit. Aaron's strengths lay in languages and crafting Charms and he knew it. It wasn't as if one got the opportunity to deal with any sort of Latin on a regular basis, though, unless you were in a field surrounding language. Charms was more interesting, at any rate. Languages were just something he picked up.
\n\n
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Professor McKindy
That's the frightening bit
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Professor McKindy
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5
I'm not sure whether that's complimentary or insulting... by Professor Deck
As interested as Aaron seemed in Declan's life, history, and habits, he seemed equally unwilling to delve into his own, which simply wouldn't do, in the astronomy professor's opinion. He brushed off Declan's inquiries with a brusque affirmative and an almost equally terse negative, along with a laundry-list of the whats and whys of the languages he spoke, and then returned to the topic du jour--at least, in Deck's mind. Michael."De corde totaliter et ex menta tota," he corrected, pronouncing the syllables gently, eyes downcast as his fingers worked the clasp on the leather bracelet he wore on his left wrist. "Sum presentaliater absens in remota."
He passed the brace to Aaron so he could see the words. "With all my heart and mind, I am with you though I am far away. From the Carmina Burana. Just a rough translation, I'm afraid; it's the right gist, at least, but I'm no Latin-speaker. There's little need for a strong base in Latin in astronomy... not much call for new spells, you see. Funny that you speak Gaelic, though..."\n\n
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Professor Deck
I'm not sure whether that's complimentary or insulting...
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Professor Deck
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For you? Always complimentary. by Professor McKindy
Aaron rose, scooped his wand up, and took the bracelet Declan handed to him and examined it. He had no idea what a Carmina Burana was, or why Declan would have the words to one on a bracelet. With all my heart and mind, I am with you though I am far away. In Latin, of all languages. The other man was becoming increasingly enigmatic, even though Aaron knew his basic information. Pureblood, but oddly so, with a halfblood sister and absolutely no pride in his blood. Not from a particularly prominent Pureblood family either; Aaron had never heard of a 'Chatterjee' before now, not even in passing.Stepping closer to Declan and handing back the bracelet, Aaron stiffened at the astronomy professor's remark. "Funny that you should speak Gaelic, though...". For a brief moment, wariness and surprise crossed Aaron's face, although he regained control almost immediately. He quickly removed his hand from the bracelet and stepped back, this time seating himself on the other end of the stone bench.
"How so, Declan?" he asked coolly, mentally kicking himself. The other man had been with the Cabinet, for however short a time, and he was a Pureblood. Gaelic was far from a common language. If he knew any McKindys or Demarcos, it wasn't going to be too hard to draw lines between Aaron and his family. And here he was, practically handing Declan the 'inconsequential' information he needed to do that. Blast. Aaron's right hand lingered on his wand, which he had placed next to him. If necessary, there was always a mild Memory Charm. Those could be broken, though, and would probably end up erasing everything that had happened thus far today. Two or three days, if he wasn't very careful. \n\n
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Professor McKindy
For you? Always complimentary.
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Professor McKindy
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5
I'd expect nothing less. by Professor Deck
The corners of Declan's mouth twitched downward, his gray-green eyes following the other man's hand as it moved towards his wand. His eyebrows pinched together in an expression of vague bemusement; Aaron was awfully defensive, and over the strangest things. His ability to speak Gaelic, while it certainly was unusual, wasn't anything worth reaching for a wand over."Just funny, is all," he said, lifting his eyes back to the charms professor's face. "I was born a Byrne, you see," he said with a charming smile, laying on a perfect Irish accent. That reminded him; he should probably make the prerequisite seasonal Floo to his father Daniel sometime soon. Much joy that always was, with his harpy wife sitting nearby. "Me mam taught me Gaelic; I've lost a good bit of it, but I was conversational when I was still in Surrey."
Why exactly was Bulla's new replacement currently eyeing Declan mistrustfully and fingering his wand for asking how he'd come to speak Gaelic? Smile still in place, though a little more bemused, he clasped his bracelet back around his wrist and leaned up against a statue of Felix Summerby. Actually, he thought as he crossed his arms over his chest, I think Aaron could do with one of Summerby's Cheering Charms right about now.\n\n
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Professor Deck
I'd expect nothing less.
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Professor Deck
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Then I shall be sure to meet your standards by Professor McKindy
Aaron blushed noticeably when he saw that Declan had observed him going for his wand. It was paranoia, that was all, although now that he knew Declan's original family name (why had he changed it?), he wasn't quite so worried. He had heard of the Byrnes from his father's side of the family, and it didn't seem as though they had much contact with his family, if any at all. The way Declan mentioned his family as well, that his mother had taught him Gaelic, that he was born a Byrne, suggested that matters were not necessarily good on his father's side. Quite understandably, considering that his mother had presumably gone off to marry some Muggle or other."Er...right..." Aaron began, still embarassed. "If you don't mind me asking, why do you have this 'Carmina Burana' on your bracelet?" It was the first thing that came to mind that seemed fairly inoffensive, although Aaron was actually interested in the reason. Perhaps it was some sort of organizational motto. Something to do with Astronomy of some sort.
He looked away from Declan, willing his face to cool down. When it finally did, he examined the statue rather than his colleague, wondering if the other man was going to say anything.\n\n
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Professor McKindy
Then I shall be sure to meet your standards
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Professor McKindy
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You could try. by Professor Deck
Declan fought a grin as the Charms professor blushed vividly. Well, one overreaction cancelled out another in this case, he supposed; now his overreaction at their first meeting was squared. And whatever it was that had had Aaron so concerned seemed to have passed; though he was still a rather lovely shade of red, Aaron didn't seem likely to hex him into oblivion anytime soon.And they were back to Michael. Well, Mags always told him that talking about it would help; it looked like Aaron was subconsciously on a quest to help prove his sister right. "Carmina Burana... it's a collection of a songs and poems from the 13th century. A Muggle composer put some of them to music in the '30s." He fingered the leather affectionately. "Michael--my partner--had a passion for music. Those lines were," on his gravestone, but that was far too depressing for what was turning into a lovely, sunny morning, "his favorites. And rather appropriate."
"So, Irish and Italian... huge family then?" he asked, grinning. It was time for a change of subject--preferably one that would give him a little more insight into this enigmatic Charms professor.\n\n
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Professor Deck
You could try.
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Professor Deck
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*grin* Yes, I suppose I can [cont. from bottom] by Professor McKindy
Not a word was mentioned about his reaction to Declan's perfectly innocuous question, so Aaron looked back at the other professor and pointedly stuck his redwood wand into his pocket again. Aaron appreciated the explanation given on the Carmina Burana. It made sense now, he supposed, if it had been this Michael's favorite that Declan would be attached to it. They had obviously been close; it was the manner that the other man used when speaking of him that broadcast their closeness. It had obviously not been a good idea as far as a topic change went. Aaron was almost glad when Declan made an effort at it this time, even though it was, yet again, directed towards him."My immediate family isn't that large. Growing up it was just me and two brothers. Both parents had quite a few siblings, though." Aaron shrugged. "We lived with the Demarco side; the McKindys were mostly over in Ireland, and my father preferred it in New York."
There were an inordinate amount of cousins about, though, and sometimes he could swear that he was related to all the Purebloods over in Italy by either blood or marriage, and quite a few in Ireland too. Having such a large family did occasionally have its merits, though. Nothing beat a long line of cousins for gathering information.\n\n
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Professor McKindy
*grin* Yes, I suppose I can [cont. from bottom]
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Professor McKindy
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