a shipwreck inside me

caradoc dearborn obliviator kiddie pool owner

[dickdowndearborn]

♦ about ♦

age: 22 relationship status: married education: puddlemere ‘76 / hogwarts ‘79 occupation: obliviator

♦ recap ♦

While some might have looked at their impending graduating with terror, Doc was merely happy to put more space between he and his father. Professor Dearborn, head of the Arithmancy Department, was something of an utter arse, in Doc’s humble opinion, and their relationship didn’t improve with proximity. Instead, it remained as cold and distant as ever, something that Doc does his best to forget.

Speaking of poor relationships. While his father is mostly out of the picture, his mother has finally, and truly flown the coop. She even went so far as to take his brother to another country, and since then, communication has been non-existent. 

Before Doc became a real adult, settling down with his day job, he and Mary Macdonald (his now wife) went on a reality television show called Amortentia Island. They didn’t manage a win, but he did manage to flirt with as many attractive people as he could find, and he kept the girl in the end.

Three months into the job, and Doc was faced with something he should have anticipated, yet didn’t. An attack, though unconfirmed, pending investigation, had occurred on a simple train, taking commuters from one town to another. He worked quickly to get his job done, and muggle victims as immune to what happened to them as possible. But now he’s aware of a larger threat. A looming threat.

In February, Doc took a step he never thought he’d make in his entire life: he got married. Not only that, but he was more than happy about the event, and makes sure to use the word ‘wife’ more than any human should.

Most aspects in Doc’s life continue to run smoothly, such as his rather brilliant flat at the Copse. Other areas, such as a feeling as though he should be doing more, have started to infiltrate all other aspects.

♦ dating history ♦

dawn withey: consistent and most beloved hook-up

adrian vallancourt: drinking buddy + fuck buddy

mary macdonald: married (that’s my WIFE)

[dickdowndearborn]

pyreoferis​:

Eris listened, almost giving them impression that she might have been enraptured by his words. “Your romantic ideas are quite cute, fanciful, Dearborn. Really, very illuminating. As if people can’t have their own selfish interests in mind when caring for each other, pursuing their own interests in the process.”

.

“Maybe you see it as a romantic notion, but I just see it all as true humanity. Not the twisted sort that you’ve deluded yourself with. But something pure that can’t ever actively be tainted. So, go on, keep up the illusion that we’re all somehow beneath you just because we care. I can live with that.”

[dickdowndearborn]

pyreoferis​:

Eris didn’t answer right away, as if pausing for dramatic flair. “I understand how evolution works. Survival of the fittest and all that. There’s a certain point where one can only do so much for others. That’s how animals work, you know. The mother jumps off the cliff, the young ones follow and it’s only those who know how to fly that manage. The others, well, they’re better off without their rubbish genes propagating the species.”

.

“Do you know what people often say marks the start of civilization is? Not pottery. Not creating tools. Most definitely not weapons.” He keeps the words suspended, as though he believes himself to be some sort of master of craft. Transforming every syllable into something impactful, instead of more useless wind that will travel around Eris without ever settling in. “Evidence of healed bones. Proof that somewhere along the line, people long gave up the pursuit of survival of the fittest. That even back thousands of years ago, we still cared for one another enough to put our own energy into others. Fuck evolution.”

[marlenethemenace]

“Hey, what’s the price on that?”

[dickdowndearborn]

.

“McKinnon, we are not getting started on lava lamps again. The last time that happened, both of us ended up being cursed, and I’d like to reduce the number of curses I encounter in my life.” He stood, hands on his hips, firm in both stance and conviction.

[dickdowndearborn]

pyreoferis​:

Eris’ poisonous smiled never wavered. It was almost too easy, watching him get worked up. “Just as well, I’m sure I’ll have a chance to see what miserable looks like at some point while we’re all here.” She looked around at the stadium, still full of thousands of people. “Someone will snap. It’ll be a nice learning experience for me, because you know, that one is one I don’t think I’ve managed yet, looking truly sad.” 

.

“You know, that might be the most truthful thing I’ve heard you say.” Though, in many cases, he doubted Eris had ever felt more than one emotion, let alone put on the right guise of one. He simply stared at her, knowing it would be prudent to walk away. To leave her to her miserable nature, and desire to see others suffer. But Doc wasn’t a quitter. “Don’t you understand how imperative it is to take care of one another?”

[dickdowndearborn]

pyreoferis​:

“It’s cute that you think any part of me would ever be miserable.” It was true, Eris didn’t really feel misery. Not the same way other people felt it. No, she didn’t feel much at all. Of course, she understood the concept of it, and most other emotions, but when it came down to it, she never really felt any of it. She never felt moved by tragedy, or overjoyed by triumphs. “Why don’t you tell me what that’s like? To feel miserable and sad?” 

.

“I haven’t the time nor the desire to explain to you basic human emotion. Should you be interested in such a prospect, I hear doctor’s can work wonders for that these days. Perhaps you should get yourself a room at St. Mungo’s, and maybe I’ll stop by once in a while. Bring you flowers.” He knew she was doing this to get a reaction, and Doc had always been excellent at reactions. No matter how old he grew, there was always a prevailing part of him that could never be hidden away.

[bidoctor]

[dickdowndearborn]

16

16. name the one meal you are an absolute pro at making, bonus points for sharing the recipe

First order of business, you need to head to the store. Grain and dairy are highly necessary for this process, so choose your favorite combination of both (I recommend whole milk and Lucky Charms). Next, gather up your favorite bowl and trusty spoon. Make sure the spoon is large, otherwise you won't be able to get the best combination of marshmallows to cereal bits. Then, pour in a heaping amount of Lucky Charms, leaving just enough room so they don't overflow as you gently drizzle down the milk onto your cereal. Eat quickly, and drink that milk after. Strong bones, or something.

[dickdowndearborn]

seven

7. what’s one thing you wish others understood about you

I'm an inherently distrustful person who tends to do everything they can to be trusting. What I mean by that is, my first impressions of strangers are generally not positive, but I know that it won't be positive, so I'll go out of my way to compensate for that initial feeling. I know it isn't fair. I know that it takes time to build trust in relationships, but really, I suppose I just mostly believe that everyone eventually leaves for one reason or another. It's my job to give people a little less reason to do so.

Most people would meet me and likely assume the opposite. That I'm far too forgiving, too congenial. Too ready to accept people into my life. The reality is, I'll take what the world has to offer, but that certainly doesn't mean I'm not quietly waiting for it all to slip through my fingers. I'm working on that.

[dickdowndearborn]

pyreoferis​:

“You know, that might be the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me, I’m touched, really,” said Eris, a hand on her chest. “Besides, what’s your excuse? Is that how you make yourself feel like you’re worth something? Like you’re really contributing something to this world? Constantly trying to be this unbearable and uplifting person in the hopes you might feel something resembling that for real?”

.

“No, Eris, I simply do this sort of thing because it’s the right thing to do. And if no one else will bother, then I’ll step up.” He was more frustrated than he ought to have been, and Doc was more than just aware of how much she enjoyed riling him up. “I know exactly what I am and what I can offer. I know my limits. You just enjoy making the world as miserable as yourself.”

[dickdowndearborn]

pyreoferis​:

Eris gave him a sickly sweet smile. “As noble as that may be, I have a feeling that one man can only do so much in a stadium with this many people. Besides, if we’re here long enough, people will get hungry and thirsty and be too low on energy to worry about stampeding through the stands.” 

.

“You know, Eris, do you ever get tired of being a rotten bitch, or do you really derive this much pleasure by finding the absolute worst in every single situation you find yourself in?” Not many people managed to get so easy a rise out of Doc. Eris was special in that way, if you could find such a thing special. Mostly, he felt a flash of violence that rarely appeared. They were the feelings of a practically abandoned teenage boy.

[dickdowndearborn]

pyreoferis​:

Eris was annoyed. She hadn’t even really wanted to come to this game, but she had been given the tickets by someone from work. As someone who worked hard to keep up appearances within the Ministry, she couldn’t not make use of her ticket. However, the game itself might have been tolerable and she might have even been able to make her appearance and leave early, only the match hadn’t even happened due to this flooding issue that they were suddenly dealing with. 

And really Quidditch fans felt like the worst people to be stuck with like this. They were already overly energetic and hopped up on adrenaline, and now to have that energy while dealing with this crisis only felt like salt to the wound. 

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep, Dearborn,” she said as she noted the familiar voice nearby. Of course, he would be taking it upon himself to comfort others. That show of empathy was almost sickening. “Always going above and beyond to help others, aren’t you?” She smiled sweetly at him. 

.

Doc turned away from the woman in front of him, her eyes growing wide at the presence now joining them, as if inherently knowing that Eris Pyrites was no one to be overjoyed to see. “Ah, pleasure to see you again, Eris. I’ve almost missed you.”

Except her hadn’t. Not now, and certainly never in the future, either. There was something about her eyes that remained predatory and fixed. As though both seeing him and seeing through him. “I’d prefer to keep everyone calm than watch everyone go mad watching the water rise, yes. Unless you fancy being a part of a stampede?”

[dickdowndearborn]

when: march 21st, 1981 where: puddlemere stadium who: 0/2

Doc had kneeled down on the ground next to someone, offering up shushing, soothing words, the best he could manage. From their shaking, he knew that fear would be the greatest obstacle during this event. That somehow they had all found themselves in the kind of disaster that seemed truly biblical, though Doc had never actually read anything about Noah’s Ark. 

“Hey, you haven’t got anything to worry about. The water’s going to recede, and I’ll make sure you get home safely, yeah?” Promises seemed like a bad thing to make, but it was better than leaving the people around him suffering alone. They were all tied to one another inextricably by circumstance, and he wasn’t going to give up the opportunity to make another connection. They could be so fleeting. So easily swept away in the current.

[dickdowndearborn]

wonderwatkins​:

“Are you kidding me? I’m, like, fucking obsessed.” Strange, given that she avoided watching most attempts at reality programs. The ones like hers, anyway. Opening up your entire life to the public, as rewarding as it had been in some ways, was even more than that exhausting. Andi felt for all the people under public scrutiny who hadn’t opened their door up, but had their blinds peeked through instead.

But this—this was a game. Hardly any different from the way her father had built his career, when she sat down and thought just hard enough about it to overwhelm herself into putting it down. A game full of players exposing all their vulnerabilities to the world. If she hadn’t been born into it, maybe Andi would be a contestant, too.

“If there’s a reunion episode or something, what are the odds I can get a seat?”

.

He couldn’t even pretend not to be pleased. Doc, though he was happy with his life and his floundering career, couldn’t help but feel at home in the space that the network provided. Around people that made their livelihoods by being on screen and sharing things that normally people wouldn’t actually share. Andi, therefore, was an easy person for him to like in every capacity imaginable.

“Please, Watkins, I’d be delighted to see you there. Just so long as you pretend to be the world’s biggest Amortentia Island fan. I’ll get you a shirt that you can wear and everything.”

[dickdowndearborn]

wonderwatkins​:

“Funnily enough, I haven’t heard of a fix, muggle or magical, that would fix your crow’s feet by the time you’re on air.” Not that Doc had any crow’s feet to speak of, if they were even what she thought they were to begin with. “Is that what you’re doing here? I guess I didn’t actually ask, huh?” It still wasn’t much of a question now, but Andi counted on her bright energy to move the needle.

.

Doc side stepped any further discussion on wrinkles that he did or didn’t possess. “Last few recordings of that dating show that’s on air. Catch it at all? Bloody brilliant, I think. Fun, harmless. And we all get a few solid laughs from it.”

[dickdowndearborn]

alsodromeda​:

“Terrible, isn’t it?” Andromeda couldn’t tell if she was joking or not, but she nodded anyway. “Having things to lose.” She cleared her throat, slapped the bill down on the counter. “I hear Sri Lanka is paradise this time of year.”

.

“Not so terrible at all, actually,” Doc countered happily. Knowing that whether it was a joke or not, he might’ve once agreed easily. Without a second thought. These days, he was just simply grateful. “Sounds to me like I’ve got the perfect place to take my business to next. I wonder if there are any volcanoes in Sri Lanka.”

He paid the bill, and left two galleons for her trouble. Not a tip. A gift. Whether it was for listening to him speak, or helping him with the crossword, or perhaps acting as his travel agent, it seemed well earned. 

the end

[dickdowndearborn]

wonderwatkins​:

Andi was the furthest thing from a menace, which was why she took the faux insult in stride, and wore it with pride, like a colorful and sequined caricature of a costume. “I don’t think that’s the quick fix to all your problems, from the looks of it. I’ve got some tricks for wrinkles, if you’re going live.”

.

“You’re not talking about wrinkles on my face, are you? Because I’ve checked, and I haven’t got a single one.” Doc most certainly did have wrinkles, and a few grays as well that he expertly plucked out every single day. Those were the hazards of getting older.