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Tweak says, "Dates on occasional dates"

Bryony Capper (goodlight) wrote in finnigans_rpg,
@ 2015-06-23 12:28:00

Entry tags:

character: bryony capper, character: dean thomas, status: complete

Tea Time
Who: Bryony and Dean
What: Talking about tattoos, Disney, potions... Whichever of those they get around to
Where: Towpath Studios, Camden
When: 11.30ish, Tuesday 23rd June
Rating: SFW

Bryony had been in the studio since about half-eight that morning. Fathers' Day wasn't as hard for her as Mothering Sunday but it had been stressful enough to fill her with restless energy. Braith was away all day, gathering potions ingredients, and so Bryony had the room they usually shared all to herself. She was working on a portrait that would be a gift for Shauna's wedding - small enough that it wouldn't take up undue space in her new home. She didn't realise until eleven that she had skipped breakfast, and it wasn't until half past that she reached a sensible stopping place.

After spending a few minutes in the kitchen she walked to Dean's door, levitating two cups of tea ahead of her. She'd heard him arrive some time ago and hadn't heard him leave his room in all that time. He'd been working hard lately on his project, and Bryony thought he'd probably appreciate a cup of tea, even if he didn't have time for an actual break. "Dean?" she asked after knocking. "It's just Bryony. I brought you some tea, and a biscuit."

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artistdean
2015-07-15 07:38 pm UTC (link)

"Well, that's good then," he said, giving her what he hoped was an supportive smile. "If you need to let off steam you're welcome to come talk about it again if you like," he said. He'd have said at any time but they should both know that that just wasn't a practical promise.

He nodded encouragingly as she clearly continued to think about animation. "Yeah, and since muggles don't have those it means that films are even more appealing. There are shorter cartoons as TV shows too, and those are mostly aimed at kids," he said. When she mentioned still having some of her old books at home he smiled and gave a little nod. "Yeah exactly. And, I mean for me, hmm, right, I don't remember if I or someone else told you, but I have PTSD, and loud noises and explosions and some other things can trigger me into having a sort of panic attack, which is worth knowing in general, but also a lot of live action films have things in which could upset me, and far less animations do, so I tend to see them or films aimed at children generally if I go to the cinema." He frowned. "That sounds kind of sad, but it's not because kids films are usually pretty good!"

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goodlight
2015-07-20 11:27 am UTC (link)

Though there were still some unfamiliar words in Dean's explanation, but Bryony nodded her general understanding. "Braith mentioned it, I think," she added quietly. She wasn't as unsure as she sounded - she could definitely remember being told and had tried to keep it in mind in her interactions with Dean. Not that she was a particularly loud or explosive person, but it was just her way to make extra sure once it had been brought to her attention that it might be an issue.

"I never thought that muggle books wouldn't have moving illustrations," she added, frowning slightly. She knew it would be impossible to think through every difference that would exist between muggle and magical upbringings, but it still disappointed her that she hadn't applied that logic in this case. "I'm glad they have something else that's similar." She glanced at Dean a little enviously. "It must be nice, being able to experience both, if you want."

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artistdean
2015-07-20 03:18 pm UTC (link)

"Yeah, I thought she would have done," he said. "I was a lot worse when I started my apprenticeship." It was true too, he'd started soon after he first got a handle on his mental health, in fact some of the art he'd done in the depths of his despair had formed part of his portfolio for prospective masters to look at. She was, and always had been, spectacularly understanding of the difficulties it caused him, one of the few that had prospective teachers who had. In retrospect he probably should have done the same basic warning for Ophelia had joined the studio, but clarity only came with hindsight apparently. Not that it seemed like they'd have managed to last given that he was in love with Seamus. But again, clarity comes only with hindsight.

The little amused smile and huff Dean gave was borne of experience with wizarding friends who had grown up with no conception of the muggle world. "Yeah, it's pretty hard to imagine once you've seen the magical version," he admitted. "But muggles just don't have a way to do it, so animation steps in," he said and shrugged. He was looking down at his tea as she spoke the last sentence and he heard something in her voice and looked up. "You could too, I mean as long as you don't do magic actually at the cinema you could go and see films," he said. He had no idea what Disney films might be coming out soon since he hadn't had any plans to go, but there was likely something she could go and see. Unless he wanted to invite her to somewhere that they could watch, but that seemed a bit too private really. "Some cinemas do Saturday morning shows of children's films pretty regularly. Especially with Summer holidays coming up."

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goodlight
2015-07-22 04:13 pm UTC (link)

Uncertain what to say about that, Bryony tried to smile sympathetically. Part of her was selfishly glad she hadn't been around when Dean was worse, she didn't think she'd have dealt with it very well. Another part - more altruistically - was glad things had improved for him, and hoped they'd continue to improve for everyone who was affected by the war. "I suppose the number of submissions you had for this show that no one is completely free of memories of that time," she said, thinking about her own submission - as well as wondering what, if anything, Marcus might have included.

She flushed slightly when Dean pointed out it was (theoretically) possible for her too to experience both words. Her parents would never understand it - or at least, her mother wouldn't. Her father had been a Ravenclaw himself and would probably have some sympathy with the desire to know more about what was out there. "I wouldn't know where to go or how to act," she admitted. She didn't mention that she didn't even have clothes. If she'd been thin, maybe she could have asked Ophelia or Astoria or someone else to lend her something, or buy something they thought might fit - but the difficulty of finding something to fit her continually turned her away from involving anyone else in the solution of that particular problem.

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artistdean
2015-07-22 10:09 pm UTC (link)

Dean, who had been vaguely chewing at his lip raised his eyebrows and nodded. "Yeah. I mean, I'm not sure all of the submissions come from then. I know one of mine doesn't, but I think the fact I had submissions open during Victis Honor probably means a lot were," he said. "I hope it'll get easier with time... well some of it already has, but you know, more so."

Frowning slightly Dean considered Bryony's problem. "Well, hmm, I mean I could tell you where a cinema is, but I'm not sure that's going to help if you don't know ahead of time what's on," he said, thinking hard. He sipped his tea and took a breath, opening and closing his mouth once before starting to speak again. "I don't know if you've got muggle clothes, but they would help, although you could maybe get away with some simple robes. I mean it's London, people dress in ways people think are weird all the time." He gasped, realising what he had implied. "Not that robes are weird, well not to wizards, but for muggles they're a bit unusual," he said. "And otherwise mostly don't do magic and probably avoid talking about... this is one of those things where you really need someone who knows what they're doing to go with you isn't it?" he said, realising his description was getting more complicated by the second. He sighed. "Sorry, I'm not being helpful."

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goodlight
2015-07-24 08:47 am UTC (link)

Bryony frowned slightly, wondering if she'd given herself away. "I hadn't thought about people having nightmares for other reasons," she admitted. She was lucky enough not to have literal nightmares herself very often, though she did have dreams about her mother calling her names explicitly which she would only hint at in real life. Those tended to stick with her for days until she realised they were just dreams. "I think it has got better in a lot of ways," she said, thinking of Marcus. He'd gone from joining the Death Eaters to protect his secrets to being released from prison, able to do the job he loved, and even in a relationship. She couldn't ask much more than that for him.

Far from being offended by Dean's slip, Bryony just giggled. "I'm sure I'd think muggle clothes were very weird if I tried wearing them," she said. She'd seen people in them, of course. Diagon Alley had a lot of people dressed in muggle clothes rather than traditional robes. She did sigh a bit when he caught on that her going alone would really be very impractical - she wouldn't know how to navigate, or where to go, or understand half of what was said to her. Maybe she could find someone who'd go with her - though she wasn't used to asking for anyone's company except Marcus, and she wasn't sure how much help he would be. "I know it's more common now, but my family are quite... traditional. They don't think muggles are bad or anything - but they don't see why wizards should want to mix with them." It was a weak defence, and Bryony knew it, but she'd never been comfortable openly speaking out against her family's ideals.

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artistdean
2015-07-24 03:16 pm UTC (link)

"Well, I don't the miss one I had as a kid about being chased through Tudor London by a dinosaur, but in retrospect..." he said, trailing off at shrug. It was a nightmare he'd not had in years. Sadly these days his nightmares tended to be a little more based in horrible reality, no matter how twisted a version of it. "But really, it has got better. Definitely for me anyway," he said. "But until the war my life was pretty great, weird imagination aside."

Dean's mouth spread into a little smile when Bryony giggled. She didn't often seem very relaxed as such so it was nice to see her react like that. "I think witches have it easier there to be honest. You can still wear a dress that's at least relatively reminiscent of robes, but trousers, to really traditional wizards have got to be so weird. Never mind jeans!" he said, gesturing to his own jeans. Personally he tended to feel a little out of place when he put on particularly formal robes, but at least Hogwarts had got him used to wearing basic robes every day. Then again he also felt uncomfortable in a suit, so it was probably just the formality aspect.

Shaking his head vehemently Dean spoke quickly. "No, Merlin no, I mean I grew up believing I was a muggle and these days I end up behind on things pretty quickly. And it works the other way too. I still don't know everything about the wizarding world and sometimes I ask someone something and they look at me like I've just grown an extra head for not knowing it!" He rolled his eyes. "Doesn't happen very often these days, but once in a while," he said. The way Hogwarts integrated the muggle-raised children had often left quite a lot to be desired in his opinion, especially if you didn't have the Hermione-like tendency to read thirty books to find out everything out for yourself.

"Really though, there must be somebody who is a bit more familiar that might be able to help. I'd offer, but like I said, me and films don't always mix. Although if I find a new Disney film we could maybe work something out if you'd like," he offered. He had a feeling the traditional feelings of Bryony's family might also extend to not being alone with strange men, especially in something like a darkened cinema.

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goodlight
2015-07-28 10:59 am UTC (link)

"A dinosaur in London?" Bryony asked, slightly baffled. She knew what a dinosaur was, though it hadn't been part of an curriculum she'd been involved in, but she couldn't imagine one being in London. And, somehow, even less so in Tudor London. Her expression turned more solemn as she said, "Well... For a lot of people, life got better after the war. I mean, that's what Dumbledore and everyone wanted, isn't it?" She spoked softly, never having voiced this particular opinion before - and not at all certain Dean was the ideal person to begin with. "I know being part of the war must have been awful, and it's given a lot of people bad memories but... it also got a lot of people out of terrible situations." Marcus, in particular. Without the war, would he have always been beholden to his family's values? Bryony knew there were others, who hadn't wanted to be involved with Lord Voldemort but hadn't been able to escape. Not to mention, of course, that life was better for many muggles and muggleborns now that the Death Eaters were disbanded.

Dean's comment about dresses made Bryony wonder just how difficult it would be to transfigure one of her robes into something that would be acceptable. She wasn't much of a seamstress, but she did have a lot of practice with making robes fit her fluctuating figure. That would give her a starting point, at least, something to wear while she went and bought more professionally made things, if necessary. It was worth considering.

She was never quite sure how to make it clear that she dearly wanted to break away from her traditional upbringing. She wanted to learn more about muggles, and feel comfortable in muggle areas, and any number of other things her parents would find scandalous - but speaking out against them openly was so difficult. She really felt like she shouldn't criticise them in public. "I'm sure I'll find someone," she agreed quickly - not sure at all, but not wanting Dean to feel obligated to help.

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artistdean
2015-07-28 10:36 pm UTC (link)

"I was, like, eight or nine," he said with a sheepish shrug. "We were learning about the Tudors and I guess I saw some dinosaur thing on TV. My wonderfully vivid imagination combined the two while I slept I guess?!" In retrospect the 'nightmare' was pretty funny, but at the time he'd been pretty scared of it. Just another example of how his vivid imagination wasn't always an advantage.

There was something Bryony wasn't quite saying and Dean had no idea what it was. What she was saying made sense though and he nodded. "Sure. I mean most of my memories are bad, but there are a few good points, and things improved afterwards." He paused, chewing at his lip, suddenly reminded of the anonymous person whose words Seamus had read at the Battlescars meeting after Victis Honor day. He nodded reluctantly. "Yeah. I mean I don't really know anyone personally but I've heard some things," he said. He couldn't say more, the agreement he signed each week ensured that.

He shrugged lightly. "If I find something that's going to be on I'll let you know," he offered. It would be nice to see Bryony come out of her shell a little more, and he had a feeling something like a Disney film might help. Although he wasn't exactly sure how, but it was a general impression.

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goodlight
2015-07-30 10:50 am UTC (link)

"I never really got to learn much about them. I think -" She paused, and offered Dean a shy smile before continuing. "I think muggles found them first, and the magizoologists weren't too happy about that." It was just an impression she'd got, from how dinosaurs were skimmed over even in modern and updated wizarding naturalist and historical text books. "The only nightmare I really remember is one where I was outside my house and I couldn't get in because there was some kind of shielding spell, and I was too young to have a wand."

Bryony nodded slowly. "I suppose I've got a better chance of knowing those people. I mean, they would mostly be purebloods, wouldn't they?" She didn't quite know how to talk about any of this. The war was not an open topic among her family, as evidenced by her mother's refusal to even hear Marcus's name. "It was used as an excuse a lot, after the first war, but I know there were people who really didn't want to join the Death Eaters - but they were forced. And now, there aren't Death Eaters anymore, so they can go back to the lives they wanted. Mostly." She knew there were still people in Azkaban, people who hadn't been released - and she did worry that some of them might be like Marcus, though logically she supposed most of the people with longer sentences were ones who'd really believed what they were fighting for.

She finished her cooling tea and put the cup aside to take with her when she went. "I'd like that. Thank you." She glanced again at Dean's current work. "Should I let you get on with it? Or is there something I can do to help?"

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artistdean
2015-07-30 08:57 pm UTC (link)

A look of comprehension dawned across Dean's face and he nodded. "That... actually makes a lot of sense. I was into them for a while there but I've forgotten it all, magic was more interesting," he said. Her nightmare however made him wince. "Yeah. Muggles get the same kind of dreams only they just lack keys. Not a good feeling though." His dreams along those lines also involved nudity at times, but he wasn't touching that topic right now. Or probably ever.

Dean honestly did have a lot of thoughts he could formulate into sentences on the topic of Death Eaters. At least not with Bryony. He honestly did have compassionate feelings for those who had been forced by position or family or whatever other reason, but he found it hard to separate his thoughts on individual Death Eaters from those about the group as a whole sometimes. He made a sort of non-committal hum. "I think people are changing for the better overall. Slowly, very slowly, but I think it's happening," he said. Which was honestly the best he could do. It applied to muggles and wizards both as well. Some changes were coming faster than others. On both sides of the divide.

He finished his own tea and looked around at the mess that was his room and sighed. "Thank you for the tea, but honestly I think I just want to get on with it myself. Talking about potions the other day helped me - well it helped me have some more things to work with and rule out, but I think I got closer," he said and smiled. With a slightly knowing, and placating tone he continued. "If I remember rightly apprentices get charged with keeping the tea and coffee supplies stocked, so if you could do that it'd be great. No need to bring it to me even. Just make sure there's some in the kitchen, that'd be great."

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Complete?

goodlight
2015-08-04 11:35 am UTC (link)

Bryony gave a sort of half shrug in agreement. "I think people in general are improving," she agreed. Society seemed to be more accepting now, and she liked that. "But some individual people are still as bad as they ever were - and I think the fact that the world doesn't suit them anymore makes them worse." Maybe that wasn't quite true, but Bryony certainly felt like her own mother had become more intolerant and more critical since the war. Of course, that could have been down to Bryony's age and the fact that she no longer had the excuse of being just a child.

She stood, collecting her teacup and saucer. "You're welcome. I'm glad I could help a little." Inwardly, she felt a little irritation that Dean felt he needed to remind her to keep the supplies stocked - had she ever failed to do so? Did it seem like she would? She gave no indication of that feeling as she smiled. "Of course. Good luck with it."

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