Marcus Carson

"Is it?" Most had used it from a young age but he supposed the boy wasn't all that old really if he looked at him. He chuckled a little and nodded his head. "Unfortunately, that is often the thing with natural working fireplaces. They get dirty. Smokey. Usually hot too." Marcus added in amusement. "But yes, you are in London. I think next time perhaps you should stick to the bike but your best bet is potentially the train now."

“Actually, in education, it can be a judgement on my teaching if there’s a pattern,” Callista pointed out, “Of course, I do. It’s not the easiest of jobs, especially with everything going on, but I do love it,” she replied, shrugging, “So no big plans then, just taking a break when you need it?”

“I like to save my days for when I need them. Or I have a specific plan.” Neither of which were something he had set ideas for at the moment. Maybe he would take himself away at some point to get a bit of a breather but he wasn’t in any rush. Besides, he’d found it cost more to take the time during the days schools were out. He’d rather not have to spend excess money.

Callista was filled with hope all of a sudden. A kind of hope she had lost a long time ago. The pair had been good as friends, possibly better than when they were as a couple (before she fucked things up anyway). Perhaps friends wasn’t too far out of reach for them, “I think paperwork would be nicer. Grading is just tedious and frustrating because if they get something wrong, it makes me rethink all of my teaching and how hard I worked with a given student on something goes down the drain sometimes,” she explained, “But then when they get it right, it’s awesome and gratifying,” she shrugged, “I’m good though. Looking forward to summer despite having no plans. What about you?”

“They are human Callista, they are going to make mistakes and some plain don’t listen. That’s not a judgement on your teaching.” He pointed out when she commented on how that made her wonder about her own teaching. Teenagers really could be idiots sometimes but then so could many adults. “But something keeps you doing it so you must love it more than you hate it at the end of the day.” All jobs had some downsides to them. “I’ll be working given I don’t run by the summer holidays in the same way you do. The benefit of not having children of my own at the moment I suppose. I might take a few days off here and there though.”

“Maybe I’m just somebody entirely different who wasn’t memorable enough to get his own movie out of it?” Frank suggested in response with a laugh, knowing he didn’t fit either of those two options. “It’s less about what I think I’m going to get out of it and more that it’s just sort of become second nature to me at this rate,” he admitted sheepishly.

“Sounds about right.” Marcus jested though he thought a lot more of the man than he often let on. Marcus wasn’t exactly the most forthcoming with his feelings. “I suppose there are worse ways to be though aren’t there.”

“I think I have, at least for the year,” Callista said, looking up with a look of surprise but smiling nonetheless. She nodded, “I do. Some things change but my taste in drink does not,” she replied, laughing, “Thank you.”

It had taken a long time for Marcus to let go on his anger with what had happened between him and Callista but it’d happened with the help of friends. Now he felt so much lighter for it, he wished he’d been able to do it long ago, even if he hadn’t been ready for it at the time. It was better for both of them. “You’re welcome. It seemed you could do with it. Honestly, a lot of paperwork comes with my role too but I’m glad I never chose to be a teacher.” Marcus admitted with a little laugh. “But how are you? Other than the paperwork I mean.”

“Of course. You were personally appointed to be my Obi-Wan,” he chuckled in response to Marcus. It was easier to joke about that then think about the real reason the British Ministry had called on Aurors from international departments. “So rude,” Frank gasped in mock offense. “And so what if I am? I’ll definitely admit to it. I’m such a suck up,” he continued with a laid back laugh.

“And who are you? Either way I don’t like the options because either you are Anakin or Qui Gon Jinn.” Marcus pointed out. Yes he did know about the franchise, he’d heard a good deal about it and had wanted to see what the fuss was about. “And I’m not sure what you think sucking up is gonna get you, Frank.”

“Honestly, whoever decided to put exams in the summe, was stupid,” Callista said, wiping her forehead , “Too stuffy in the hall to take the exams and too hot in the classrooms and offices to mark the exams. I’m not even halfway finished through the first set.”

“It sounds like you’ve really had enough of them.” Marcus stated, announcing his presence with that comment. He set a drink down in front of her. “I’m assuming you still enjoy this. It seemed like you could use one.” 

“Lost without you, hmm?” Frank couldn’t help but let out another laugh. “If I recall correctly, it was you asking for my help not so long ago to get a certain newbie off your back,” he teased his coworker lightheartedly. “Careful, you’re starting to sound like Will,” Frank joked. “Personally I went into this job to be hands on so it’s hard to tear work away from me really.”

“You heard me. That’s why I was brought over the pond anyway, wasn’t it?” Marcus joked, knowing it wasn’t but that they had needed the extra support given everything that had been going on with the Death Eaters in England. That had changed as of late though, clearly. “At least I have admirers, Longbottom.” He snorted in amusement. “Oh now you’re just trying to sound like the teachers pet.” Marcus laughed when he commented on why he’d gone into the job.

“I know, it’ll be a vast improvement in how I usually look,” the blonde joked. At Marcus’ grin, Diana couldn’t help but to grin back. “Sure thing, you’ll be in the first one to know. Just don’t show any of the footage to the kittens, I’d like them to still think I’m their cool aunt.”

“I think they have given up on ever hoping for a cool dad.” Marcus stated with a shrug of his shoulders, knowing that much like Diana, they had probably seen him at his worst so there was no hiding from the truth now. “I also got the papers back to my Lawyer.” He added after a moment, knowing that Diana was already aware that Callista had handed him divorce papers.