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Harry Potter:"Do you really think there's going to be a war, Sirius?"
Sirius Black: "It… feels like it did before."
TURN ON THE LIGHT is a Post- Potter roleplay that takes place twenty-five years after the Second Wizarding War.
We welcome canon and original characters in this (currently) sandbox style roleplay.
Post by THEODORE SILVESTRI on Nov 3, 2022 14:41:28 GMT
Teddy, Leah, and a few other muggleborns had been hiding out in a safehouse provided by one of the resistance member's contacts. It was deemed safer by some of the higher profile muggleborns to limit their contact with the outside world and unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately) Teddy and Leah fit that bill. That still didn't mean that they couldn't continue their work and thank Merlin for that because Teddy would have run up a wall if he was left to sitting day in and day out peering through a boarded-up window, sipping whisky, and stewing about all of the mistakes he had made to get up to this point.
On this particular evening a resistance meeting had occurred and concluded a little over an hour ago and most folks had left. The rest were scattered in the house's many rooms checking in on everyone who resided there or doing the rounds. Teddy and Leah were playing a muggle board game (Settlers of Catan) and bickering, even laughing like it was old times - that is until all hell broke loose. A door was blown open and several windows boards shattered as cool air and cloaked figures rushed in.
Out of instinct Teddy leapt up from his seat and his arms wrapped over his Co-Captain's head protectively as he pulled her to the ground and under the table shielding her from sharp bits of broken wood, glass, and destruction. Screams throughout the house could be heard, the sounds of property damage, and souls being taken. From the floor Leah looked over to Teddy, both of their gazes filled with concern but then kicked into action. The two scrambled to their feet and Teddy took his pal by the wrist, both hunched over as they rushed from room to room for an escape. Wands in hand Teddy turned out to be the only one who used his as he was far more skilled with spellcasting than his friend.
"Expelliarmus!" He shouted pointing his wand disarming one such attacker which Leah then promptly used her full body weight to shove into a glass case after which they fell in a heap. Moving onto the next room two more attackers and Teddy was quick to point his wand. "Bombarda Maxima!" A huge explosion from the wall and the two went flying. Running forward they hooked a hard left and it was during that he noticed Leah was no longer behind him. Shit! He glanced about worriedly doing his best to keep his voice and heartrate down but dang his heartbeat was racing. He couldn't lose her. He just couldn't. He couldn't lose anyone!
"Leah? Leah?" He called out making another turn Teddy ran into a wand pointed at his nose. Shit. The villain smirked, his chin showing through the bottom of his broken mask, that is until a fist punched him in the side of the face shattering half of the mask. Turning to look Teddy saw Leah who, rubbing her hand, shrugged. "What? It works." Teddy couldn't help but nod. She wasn't wrong.
Fire burned on one of the tablecloths. As another bad guy aimed their wand Teddy beat them to the punch. "Engorgio!" The fire shot up eight times its size and overtook the villain. Both hightailed it to the next room to find a figure in one door. They moved to go back but with a flick of the being's wand they were stuck.
"Don't touch her." Teddy's voice didn't often hold venom but he was practically a rattlesnake. Teddy raised both arms in the air in surrender, stepping protectively in front of his friend as the figure stepped toward them weapon pointed snagging his wand out of his hand. "Why are you doing this?!" Teddy's jaw was met with a hard punch which had his head spinning and his lip and nose bleeding. He stumbled backwards. "Fuck you!" Leah instinctively raced forward as if to sock the attacker to which Teddy, despite the throbbing pain in his head, shoved her right back to the point that she normally fell. "Damnit, Silvias! Don't!" And for once - she listened.
"I'm fine... I'm fine..." He lied as the being before them chuckled an evil sort of laugh clearly relishing in watching them struggle. Still in front of his teammate, the two moved in a circle in an unfair showdown with their captor, Leah and his backs now faced the open doorframe but neither moved. It would be game over for one (or both if they did) unless... And it was that unless that had Teddy biting his bottom lip, looking down to the floor, and then sadly back at his friend who knew all too well what he was thinking.
"Teddy..." Was the only word to escape his dear friend's mouth as he saw something he had not seen in her eyes in a long time: Fear. He had only ever seen it once, when they were far younger when an attack had taken the life of an older keeper and teammate Ryan Sunderlin their first years as professionals. Even now, his heart couldn't bare it. He always had a neverending need to keep everyone safe often to the detriment of his own well being. Now was one of those times.
"Go." Came the singular urging, eyes imploring her as he looked over his shoulder imploringly at her. She didn't budge. Damn her stubbornness - one of the things he liked the most about Leah was standing in their way. "NOW!" He snapped, bellowing the command in a way that nearly shook the safe house's woodwork. It seemed to do the trick after one last worried look, she ran off to find a hiding place or, God willing, someone who could protect her. This left Teddy alone to do the dirty work. So be it. He was used to it and even if it was the last thing he would ever do on this mortal coil, it at least felt fitting to go out like he lived.
Here goes nothing. "Well, what are you waiting for?" Well, this was it. "Do it." He closed his eyes and braced himself for the worst. "FUCKING DO IT!"
Maxwell wasn’t really in a great state of mind as of lately. There were a lot of changes he had to deal with lately on top of the ongoing war and unresolved trauma. To say it was a lot was an understatement. While he usually was the type to hang around after meetings and socialize today he left around the time most members left. He had to go to work later and needed to rest up. Besides after things got awkward between Teddy and him, he didn’t really want to overstate his welcome. After taking a quick smoke outside, Maxwell set to disapparate.
Just as he vanished from the scene, he noticed some movement in the distance around the house. “Shit-” Something was wrong. Already mid apperation, Maxwell had to wait till he arrived back at London before he could disapperate to the house again. Precious seconds, almost minutes were lost and Maxwell feared he might not make it in time. After catching a quick sense of London, he immediately went back.
Disapperating twice shortly after each other without having landed and acclimated properly made him extremely dizzy but there was no time for it. Once his feet touched American grounds again he sprinted inside the house towards the sound of voices. It looked as if a huge explosion had just taken place. The building was slowly catching fire there was debris everywhere, taking him back to the night at St. Mungo’s when they were attacked. Failure was the conclusion of that night. People died because of it. He couldn’t fail tonight, these were his friends.
Clearing out a house usually was daily business for the auror, something he did smoothly and swiftly. However since losing most use of his wand arm, he had to rely on his off arm. Which was way slower and it showed. Facing opponents actually required a duel instead of a quick knockout. More precious time lost, he soldiered through. Sometimes using magic, sometimes throwing a heavy object at his opponent. Never seemed to fail him during his beater years. He picked up on Teddy’s voice as he was talking to someone as if surrendering. “No,” he hissed. Come one leg, faster. Maxwell bursted full force into a room and stood behind the attacker, he looked at Theodore who had his eyes closed. He cursed Teddy for giving up but he’d shout at his friend later. Maxwell had a chair in his hands and slammed it full force into the back of the villain’s head. “Not my friends, asshat!” The cowboy shouted and his sharp angry hazel eyes shot towards Teddy. “What the heck do you think you were doin’ just now?”
Post by THEODORE SILVESTRI on Nov 6, 2022 14:40:07 GMT
Eyes closed he found himself bracing himself for the inevitable that was to come. In some ways it would be a relief. No more pain, no more worrying, no more second guessing everything that you said or did and how you did or said it. There would be only quiet. For him and for everyone he had hurt accidentally or on purpose. Taking a shaky, slow inhaling breath he had no intention on releasing as he assumed the killing curse would do that work for him. But that release never came...
Instead there was a crash, yelling, grunting, shrieks, and then silence... but he was still here. It took him a second or two but he was sure of it. He was alive.
Eyes daring to open they widened slightly when they saw who had thwarted fate. "Max?" His voice was filled with surprise, relief, and a whole mix of emotions that the human body struggled to feel all at once. He could only gape at his friend as multiple realizations hit him (who had saved him, that he was saved, that today wasn't the day that he would die) that he barely heard the words his angry once roommate was yelling at him. It was all a blur. All that mattered is that he was there, yelling at him, and that Teddy was still around.
Stepping toward him he then wrapped his arms around his friend in a tight hug. Perhaps not the reaction the auror had been expecting but it was the one he got never the less. Hands on the man's back, face on his shoulder, he just hugged him blinking back tears. He didn't want to tell him all that had been going through his mind with the wand pointed at his head, the fact that he had accepted death would only upset Max so instead he chose the thankful gesture before reality set in.
"Oh no." Stepping back, out of breath, and visibly upset he rambled at his pal hoping something that he said made some semblance of sense. "I... I lost her... McCree... She's..." Breathe, Silvestri. Breathe. "She was right behind me until - shit." Hands went to either side of his hips as he willed his breaths to get under control. "She has to still be here right?" His mind raced a mile a minute and he couldn't keep up. Dark eyes darted to the floor as if he might be on the edge of over exhaustion, an adrenalin rush, or anxiety attack - perhaps all three. "Silvias." He finally got the name out, fear ripe within the confession. "Max... We have to find her. I'm all that she's got." At least lately. Or vice versa.
"Please..." The final pathetic request fought its way out of him as tears stung in his always (lately) sad eyes. "Help me."
He skipped a breath as his heart sank at what he just witnessed. It was as if all the information only processed once he had calmed down from the initial adrenaline of combat. What he saw just a second before he bashed the attacker’s head in with a chair. Was that Teddy preparing himself for death? Max couldn’t believe it. “Don’t you ever dare to do that again,” he said, voice cracking as fear and horror washed over him. The ever tough and sturdy man broke in a short sob, quickly brushing away the tears on his sleeve. Never ever had he thought he could lose Teddy. The man had always been such a red line through his life, he seemed unkillable. Maxwell was certain Teddy would outlive him by miles. Being confronted with his friend’s mortality was terrifying. Was this how Maxwell’s friends usually felt about him? Heck he never really considered… What an awful friend he was.
Maxwell stepped closer, making sure to hit the attack once more with the back of his boot, and wrapped his strong arms around his friend. Tighter than tight he hugged him. “You’re still here, you’re still here. Thank Jesus, Merlin or whoever spared you,” he whimpered into the other man’s shoulder. Teddy’s face looked like a mess but he wasn’t going to comment on it. He’d get in a healer later.
“What? What is it?” He squeezed his friend’s arm in worry as Teddy looked visibly upset. His eyes widened at the words. Leah… “Ah’ll find her,” he said as he pressed the key of his apartment in Teodore’s hands. “Get to safety,” he firmly said, not having Teddy follow him. People were still targeting his friend for being a muggleborn. Maxwell had kept his bite secret, nobody besides the healer who saved him knew. So Max was no target. He couldn’t be searching for Leah while he also had to watch over Teddy. Not in his current condition.
He didn’t hesitate nor did he finish listening to Teddy’s plees. Instead he immediately went back to action. The auror ran into the direction his friend had been looking in, assuming it was where Leah was last spotted. And started tracing her. In situations like this every second counted. ,
Post by THEODORE SILVESTRI on Nov 8, 2022 17:23:41 GMT
The two men were no strangers to fighting. Things would naturally come up as young boys who were roommates and things did come up due to the 'complexity' of their friendship, or, whatever it was. Normally though he would have argued back, like two brothers, but right now he was so overcome with his near-death experience, seeing Max again, and the adrenalin that he couldn't bring himself to do it. Heck, right now he didn't want to.
"You... came..." The look on Max's face, so upset and torn, and the tears in the other man's eyes both pulled on Teddy's heartstrings but also provided a revelation of sorts. Even as angry as they were at one another, though who could remember exactly why anymore, they still cared deeply for each other. Years wouldn't change that, people couldn't, marriage didn't, and whatever this current fight about wouldn't. They were linked, whether they wanted to be or not.
"I... I had to. They would have killed us both. She had to-" He cut himself short and looked away, still having difficulty catching his own breath. Max risked his safety practically on the daily, out of anybody he should understand and yet... it seemed that he didn't. "I had to." Maybe now he would have some perspective about what those closest to him went through when he was out doing god knows what. Maybe, just maybe, Teddy had provided that clarity? But perhaps that was wishful thinking on his part.
"Thank Jesus, Merlin, or whoever spared you."
"You did." Teddy stated quietly in a hollow voice as Max held him tightly like if he let go for even a second Teddy would disappear. Even with destruction and the awfulness around them, with evil awaiting them, Teddy felt safe. He didn't want to lose this feeling but knew that he must. Not just because of his missing friend but also because nothing lasted forever - and Max would eventually go off to someone he would rather be spending his time (or bed) with. This wasn't Max's fault of course. Theodore knew this deep down. It was his and it was very much his pain to continue to bare.
"Max, if Leah di-" He couldn't bring himself to say the words. Choking a cry back down he struggled to remain a pillar of strength but he was waivering. It was clear from how he sniffled and wiped at his bloody nose, streaking the bottom part of his face and cheek with crimson. "We have to find her. I can't lose anyone else." His dark eyes were piercing as he pleaded with his friend - something he knew he didn't need to do. When push came to shove, Max was as much of a protector as he was. Perhaps unfairly, he could not say no.
His head still throbbed with pain as he felt a small cool metal in his sweaty palm. He opened his lips to say something but Maxwell was already rattling off instructions and by the time Theodore's brain had caught up the man already raced off. "No-" But he was uttering the quiet protest to no one as he was once again left in an empty room. Looking down at the key in his hand he debated with himself about what to do. Max was right. He should get to safety. He was in no shape to fight. He was at risk. And yet... He was Theodore Silvestri. So he shouldn't do a lot of things. His fist clenched around the key and he was off in Max's wake.
From up the stairs, Max would be able to hear a woman's yell followed by the sound of crashing. Footsteps on creaky floorboards as Leah was picked up and thrown again, this time landing ontop of an old dusty piano, an ominous flat chord of a horrific song ringing out as she slid to the floor in a heap. Her wand laid on the ground a precious few feet away but it might as well have been miles. A booted foot on her back holding her into place wet brown eyes pathetically landed on the stick of wood and she reached out for it, fingers splayed doing her best even though it was hopeless.
"Stubborn one, ain't she?" Laughed one of the attackers.
"As ever." Agreed the other. "Somethings never change."
A rough kick landed on her stomach causing her to curl up in the fetal position. She had fallen from a mile up in the air and even she had to admit, that one hurt. Nudged by a boot she was pinned to the floor looking up at her two attackers.
"A heads up, this is really gonna hurt." One of them kneeled down to get in her face, sneering evilly. He was promptly met with a headbutt which had him crying out and the other cackling with amusement. "Shit! Shit! You little shit!" He cried out, holding his forehead before pulling out his wand. "Avada-"
Seeing Teddy frightened like this broke his heart. He never wanted his friend to go through anything like this. Which was the sole reason why he had been pushing Teddy away while he was a maffia dog. Not anymore. Max was an auror now, he was supposed to be a hero who saved people. And he was set on saving his friend and keeping him safe. Would Teddy let him, Max would stay close to make sure of that.
Gosh he couldn't imagine what he would have done had he lost Teddy right here. The mere realization of how close Teddy had been to dying put him on edge. While he saw dozens of people die each day it was different when it were the people you loved.
"As much Ah'd love to have ya in my arms all day, this ain't over. We gotta move, hug later," he told Teddy as he left to find Leah. Sweet stupid Teddy, did he really believe his sacrifice would safe her? They both would have been dead hadn't it been for Maxwell's sharpened senses he gained since his first full moon. Perhaps the curse had its perks.
He picked up the sounds of fighting, two attackers and Leah. Maxwell had always been fast and strong. Yet he seemed to have gotten an extra boost that even caught him off guard. It was much needed, he probably would have been too late without. An animalistic instinct kicked in as he sprinted towards the sound, his wand ready. A silver moonlike shimmer crossed his eyes as he laid them upon the scene. "Avada Kedavra," he growled and shot the killing blow at the man who was about to cast the same curse. The other attacker seemed caught off guard but aimed his wand. "Bombarda Maxima!" The auror dodged but the wall beside Max blew up and large parts of concrete debris smashed against his shoulder and face. He could feel his jaw swell up the moment it was met with force, his shoulder bruised and hurt. A large piece of metal cut his cheek and his ear on that side started ringing and buzzing.
Enraged, Maxwell jumped at the man, pinning him down on the floor. Sticking his wand in the man's mouth he cast the same spell and well you can imagine how that ended up. With the two attackers gone, Maxwell panted deeply as he calmed down and regained his senses. Shocked eyes stared down his bloodstained trembling hands and wand. He hadn't been this brutal since- Maxwell swallowed, he still wasn't good but that rage… it was different from the cold efficient assassin Mr. Williams had trained him to be.
Something bigger hit him. "Leah!" He shouted and got off the headless man as he rushed towards the woman on the ground. ,
Post by THEODORE SILVESTRI on Nov 11, 2022 20:18:40 GMT
I AM RECKLESS, NOT THOUGHTLESS
While Max barged in one doorway, Theodore barged in the other. Though bruised and bloodied, Theodore, a man possessed, pushed onward. He wasn't someone you wanted on your tail when his loved ones were at risk and right now was one of those times. In a lot of ways, the ones that counted, he and Maxwell McCree were a lot alike.
"Stupefy!" He brought up the rear entering behind Maxwell, wand aimed as someone tried to flank his friend's side. Maxwell finished the job and while preoccupied another two men entered from where they had. Too bad. This was *their* room now and Teddy was determined to take it back and keep his pals safe. He was done failing. It didn't suit him anyhow. "Levicorpus!" One of the men was dangled in the in the air by his ankles then with a flick of the wand chucked through the window to the pavement far below where his body fell dead and mangled. But there was still the case of his friend.
"Lumos!" His wand let out a bright light blinding one of the attackers giving Theodore enough time to hit him with a double whammy. "Stupefy!" Like Maxwell, he would give these people no forgiveness. He had a score to settle. He had almost died and they had almost killed Leah as well. Taking out his own frustration and anger, on the situation, on almost dying, on what was going on with him and Max and how he had ruined it, he grabbed the stunned man by the scruff and began to roughly slam him into the wall over, and over, and over again. The bad guy's face was more pulp, split bone, and blood than anything recognizable. Releasing the now very much deceased attacker, the body slid down to the floor in a thud. Theodore, out of breath, and coming down from an adrenalin rush, turned his now streaked with blood face to look in his friends' direction.
Leah's big brown eyes stared at both men having just witnessed their (necessary) brutality. Lying on the ground with her hands up in surrender like a deer in headlights she couldn't move. So they would have to move to her... and move they did.
"Leah!" Sweet, caring Teddy instantly went down on his knees before her taking either side of her arms in his hands bracing her. The way she shook nearly broke him but she was alive and that was the important thing. Scared but alive. "It's ok. It's ok. It's us..." He tried to comfort her in a hushed voice, though he wasn't sure who even they were anymore. Pulling the young woman to him in a fierce, brotherly hug. "You're safe. We got you. I got you." He then took notice of Max's cut on his cheek, and worried dark eyes led way to an equally worried furrowed brow.
"You're bleeding." He stated the obvious to his longtime pal, still holding his teammate close with one arm the other reached out to lightly touch Maxwell's cheek before mouthing: "Thank you."
While Maxwell was aware of his own violent side, he hadn't seen it from Teddy before. Honestly he grew a little worried for his friend. But now was not the time to have that conversation. Being an auror he quickly checked Leah's vitals while Teddy hugged her close. They couldn't go to Mungo's now it was taken by the enemy. "You're tougher than you think, Hi-C," he smiled softly at Leah and rubbed her arm. He didn't want to think what would have happened had he been a few seconds late.
Feeling Teddy's fingers lightly touch his cut cheek, he softened a little. Max had another confident comment ready but swallowed it. "We all are messed up. Come let's go to my apartment. You're both stayin' the night. Ah'll call in a healer friend," he said firmly, leaving no room for arguments. Max wanted to leave quickly before back up on the enemy site would arrive. Leah and Teddy likely wouldn't make it through round two. A small smile crept on his face when Teddy thanked him. It was nothing, he was just grateful they were both okay.
His eyes slid to Leah, wondering if she would be stable enough to apperate all the way to London. But it seemed they didn't have much choice.
Post by THEODORE SILVESTRI on Nov 11, 2022 20:22:55 GMT
I AM RECKLESS, NOT THOUGHTLESS
Leah wasn't good at apparating normally, Nathaniel or someone else who was appointed with the duty, usually had to do it for her. But in her current state, exhausted and beaten up? Forget about it. They would have been better off walking no matter how far it was. Luckily Max and Theodore were more skilled at the art of magic than she would ever be and with a swish and flick of the wand they got where they needed to go which, in this case, was Maxwell's place.
Max had a friend who was a healer - he always had so many friends who seemed to be willing to drop everything for him. Teddy couldn't help but wonder... were any of these folks more than just pals or did Max just have that affect on people?
After all was said and done it was about three AM in the morning and he sat in his pals shockingly clean and very homey living room. A little slice of country in the midst of all of the chaos and for a brief few moments, for the first time in a long while, the Quidditch Captain and Chaser felt relaxed.
Leah had been stubborn, as always, even shaken and afraid (though she wouldn't admit it) she had put up quite a struggle against sleep but it eventually became the victor. She laid curled up much like a child would on Max's sofa, her head in Max's lap and hand holding Teddy's whos sat on the other side of the couch. Quiet and dimness surrounded them and Theodore couldn't help but sneak a peak at his brave friend. Someone had to speak first... right?
"She likes you." Teddy admitted quietly with a hint of a smile not really at all surprised. "Which is saying a lot." Reality semi sinking back in he sighed and looked down, smile fading. "Then again, I reckon everybody does so that's not really much of a surprise, is it?" Some more than others but that was another story. He sighed falling quiet for another brief moment, smiling weakly he couldn't bring himself to look at his friend again. "Thank you again by the way... for everything. If you hadn't come along we'd be... well..." And some of it was his fault. He had almost died tonight... something that had seemed to upset the man across from him... so maybe they shouldn't talk about that. Something else might be better?
"Healer a friend of yours?" Except maybe that. "It's just that not many healers make free house calls well after midnight..." He swallowed hard trying to keep his jealousy and curiosity at bay. "So... Yeah..."
Where would he be without Faith in his life? In a coffin would be the correct answer. His dear sisterly friend has helped him on numerology occasions. Today again she showed up at his doorstep to help. Being a starling herself she probably understood the situation. It wasn't safe for muggleborns at St. Mungo's right now. Of course she didn't leave without giving Max another speech about being more careful which made him chuckle and reply with the ever 'Ah'll try but won't make any promises'. Afterall he was an auror risks and injuries came with the job.
Once everything was taken care of and peace returned to his apartment, Maxwell found himself sitting on his couch, Teddy on his side and Leah resting on top of them. Max gently brushed her hair like he had done to his younger sisters when they had a fever. He wondered if he had ever received his friend here. Things had been so blurry. "Ah'm glad she does, she is very important to you. Ah like her too. She's got spunk and a very kind side since once you get to know her," he told Teddy with a smile as he glanced at his friend. There was a smile on that handsome face but it faded as he spoke, Max wondered why. Somewhere deep down he had already realized it but he wasn't ready to actually bring it up. "You'd be surprised how many people hate my guts." There was a brief silence and the Texan almost found himself sliding into sleep, awakened once Teddy spoke again. He swallowed, not really sure how to respond to those words. "Ah'm grateful you both made it out alive," he eventually settled on. They had been lucky. If Max had left just a little earlier the both of them would have been- Heck if they hadn't managed to stall the attackers Max would have already been too late. Praying, Teddy didn't mind it, he moved his foot slightly to brush the other man's. He needed the comfort.
"Faith?" A warm smile shone on his face. "She's fantastic, too good for me yet we still are friends. We always joke on how we're like brother and sister but honestly she is more like my mum sometimes, keepin' me from doin' stupid things," he spoke fondly of her. "You'd like her too. In fact she might have reminded me of you when Ah first met her." He looked at Teddy with the same fondness. Their fight a few days earlier didn't change that
Post by THEODORE SILVESTRI on Dec 2, 2022 17:06:44 GMT
I AM RECKLESS, NOT THOUGHTLESS
Teddy watched how Max gently played with Leah's hair like an older, caring sibling might. Unlike a lot of other people in the auror's life Theodore knew how much of a teddy bear his school chum could be but even so, Max seemed so very practiced at it. How long had it been since he had soothed his siblings like this after his parents were murdered? A dark thought, but it was a part of Max's history wasn't it? And it was one that Theodore was privy to. Swallowing he looked away and down at his lap. That probably wasn't something Maxwell wanted to think about. Not ever again.
Important to him? An understatement. They both were the most important to him. They *were* what made Teddy, Teddy. "Yeah. Maybe don't say that part so loud. She's got a big enough head as is, you know." He smiled in a weak attempt of trying to lighten the mood, his voice quiet and husky from the amount of adrenalin that had surged through his body a mere two hours before and then suddenly left. "You should also probably keep that her being secretly nice to yourself too. When she wakes up she'll have your hyde." The Quidditch chaser continued to lightly tease, his dark, exhausted eyes sporting a rare glint as they locked on Max's for a moment. Perhaps too long of one as he felt the corner of his mouth curve into a closed mouth smile despite himself, before catching it and quickly looking away wiping in from his face. He couldn't be happy. Not with what they had just went through. Not with what the rest of the world was going through. Theodore wouldn't allow himself that pleasure.
"Yeah, well, take that, triple it, and add five. I've got you beat." Was that supposed to make Max feel better? Good going, Silvestri.
"Yeah. She seems... nice." Nice enough. He opened his mouth to add something more carefully worded but his words were cut short. His eyes stared for a long time as Max's foot bumped his own sending a tingle in the pit of his stomach and chest that both exhilarated him, frightened, and confused him all at once.
"Are you?" His words hung in the air like knives threatening to drop at any moment. "Glad that I... made it out..." The shockingly dark and quiet words left his mouth before he could stop them. Maybe he didn't want to. He was too exhausted, too sad, too lost for that so... here they were. "Because I..." Now it was becoming more difficult to speak as his throat tightened and his brow furrowed. "I don't think that I am..." Now he was the one near tears much like his pal had been as teenage boys a few decades ago. Swallowing the emotion down he forced himself to take a labored, slow inhale.
"I just... nevermind... I don't know why I said that. Sorry." His hand instinctively rested atop Leah's ankle giving it a little squeeze more for his own benefit than hers. Doing his best to keep his tears and shakes from holding them back at bay so not to wake her.
There was a short moment of grounding, progressing that what happened today hadn’t been a bad dream but reality. Maxwell’s life had been filled with moments like these but he had wanted to spare his dear friend from having to experience them. He had failed. All these years he had worked so hard to make sure Teddy didn’t end up like him. But he knew all too well that experiences like this were traumatizing and kicked off such paths.
Despite his sad eyes, his forced smile shone warmly at his friend’s attempt to lighten the mood. “Well someone here has to grow an ego,” he joked before his face turned soft. “Let her hear it, maybe it’ll keep away ‘em nightmares,” he said softly, portraying more of the big brother he used to be. While his core was still there, Maxwell had changed a lot over the years. A husky weak chuckle left his lips when told he had to keep Leah being secretly nice to himself. Oh he was definitely going to tease her in the future with it. He caught Theodore glancing at him and couldn’t help but wonder what was going through his friend’s mind. Teddy looked exhausted, they probably both did.
Shaking his head, he leaned over and flicked Teddy on the forehead. “No math at this hour of the day, please. Besides, it ain’t a game.” Max’ enemies had caused him to flee to England. It wasn’t just a fresh start.
“She is way too nice to be my friend or so says her girlfriend,” he tried to chuckle but it came out very painfully. The words spoken by Faith’s girlfriend still pained him. Especially now he started to see they were true. She had told him that Max was the type of person who got the people who cared for him hurt. Which was a harsh reality. Today again it proved true.
Then Teddy started talking which had Maxwell’s emotions and expressions change rapidly. Eventually sadness was what remained because he wasn’t too surprised. After all he’d been there, several times now. How often had Max recklessly stormed into battle to play hero, embracing death if it would find him? Carefully his fingers found their way to his friend’s hand and wrapped gently around Teddy’s. “It’ll get better,” he told the other eventually. But did it ever really? “But yes, Ah am really relieved you’re still here and Ah’m pretty darn sure she is too,” he nudged his head to Leah. “We need ya, Teds.” His voice was quiet with the slightest hint of fragility, something Maxwell didn’t like displaying. He couldn’t quite get himself to look Teddy in the eyes as he said those words. A brick seemed to have formed in his throat and stomach. Why did those words feel so heavy?
Post by THEODORE SILVESTRI on Dec 4, 2022 20:37:38 GMT
"Yeah..." At his best friend's words he smiled a bit, but it was a sad smile, as he looked down at the sleeping Quidditch keeper between the two men. Asleep she looked almost... peaceful. So unlike the usual ball of sarcasm and tough as nails character that she showed the world. He knew why she did it though. It kept her safe and sane. Except for tonight. After tonight she wouldn't ever be the same. Just like how they had both been changed watching their teammate Sunderlin killed in front of them over a decade ago. As if she could sense what Theodore was thinking about Leah let out a soft murmur from Maxwell's side, wincing, in the midst of some bad dream. His hand gave her ankles an instinctive squeeze as if that might help scare the nightmares away. It seemed to as soon she quieted down and was dead to the world. Gosh, asleep she looked like a kid. They all were. Even in their thirties. Still just kids. At least it felt that way.
The flicking on his forehead had him wincing in surprise and then smiling in spite of himself when he saw the cause. "I'll have you know that math is fun any time of the day." He noted, rubbing his forehead. He wasn't sure if the sentiment was true or not but it was still nice to joke around with Maxwell. It felt familiar. Like a warm blanket that he had on his person on and off since his youth. The comfort faded a bit by Max's self burn about his own worth. He couldn't let that stand. Not ever.
"You're also very nice." That was an understatement. Maxwell was a joker, and a teddy bear, and a sweetheart, and a fierce protector all bunded into one larger-than-life man. Theodore, in his eyes, paled in comparison. How could Max not see this? "Her girlfriend sounds like a real prize." Teddy had never met Faith before tonight, or her girlfriend, but he decided that he already disliked one of them for hurting one of the most important people in his life. Max should be protected at all costs and Theodore liked to think that, normally, protection was where he excelled. Except for tonight... Tonight had been... Tears stung in his eyes now and he brought a bawled-up fist to his mouth to cover the sound and try to prevent it all from coming out. It was a losing battle.
Max's fingers entwined with his gave him the permission that he needed to exhale again and a tear trickled down his cheek and to his pant leg. "What if it doesn't?" God, he felt so hopeless. It was the weakness of Max's last utterance that had Teddy looking at him, pained but truthful. "I need you." He forced out the strained words with glistening eyes. Not them. You. What did he mean by that? Deep down he knew. Maybe Max would too even if the man had looked away from him. Teddy's hand gave Max's a squeeze.
"Max..." No. Don't say anything. It'll only ruin things. Yet he couldn't tear his gaze away from Maxwell.
Hearing a murmur coming from Leah he gently squeezed her shoulder in comfort. Likely a nightmare, not surprising after tonight.
"Lies, lies in mah own house. Math ain't no fun," he pouted. "Ya inner nerd is showin'," he teased and snuggled his friend's shoulder. This light playful argument was a nice distraction from the things that happened and the unsure future that lay ahead of them.
"Ah can be nice when Ah want to, Ah can be a real ass when Ah want to," he smiled slightly, in another self mockery joke. "Her girlfriend is just heckin' overprotective, can't blame her in these times." If Maxwell sensed someone was dragging Teddy or any of his friends down with them, Maxwell would step in as well. Of course he felt guilty knowing how bad Faith felt each time she found him somewhere wounded and drunk. She was his friend and worried for his sake because he wasn't worried about himself. It'd hurt Teddy too if he had seen half the things she had. Yet why was it so hard to change for the better?
Maxwell knew that him wanting Teddy to be happy again was selfish. It was really hard to let him be but Teddy needed this moment to process his emotions. All he could do was be available; his friend wanted him to be there. What if it doesn't get better?
"Then there is still therapy," he said trying to make it seem like he was going to deal with his stuff but he actually wasn't. Hearing the other say he needed him made him part his lips slightly to say something. Before closing again and looking slightly away. The words were both sweet and put a load on his shoulder. tWith Max it was the battle with a desire for death and being punished versus not wanting the last few people he cared for. As long as he was still needed or had purpose, he supposed he'd kept trying. "What ya need right now is sleep," he tried to be sassy in a soft and gentle way. Feeling the squeeze in his hand, he looked back at Teddy. "Ah need ya too, Teds," he admitted softly trying not to wake Leah. What Teddy needed was a warm supportive girlfriend, someone stable he could rely on. Once things calmed down Max would be his wingman. To make sure the woman he falls for isn't going to hurt him.
"Hmm?" He hummed with an exhausted look on his face, eyes half closed. Biting down his lip, he gazed at Teddy in an almost shy way. "Teddy, is… is it okay if I use your shoulder as a pillow?" He asked carefully, not wanting to make this awkward but also not wanting to move Leah to go to his bed.
Post by THEODORE SILVESTRI on Dec 14, 2022 1:25:41 GMT
"Better keep your voice down, McCree. Don't need people to know that US National Team Quidditch Captain is a big old nerd who does silly things like read, and listen to indie muggle music, and math." Even exhausted and after the ordeal that they had just been through together it was tough not to fall back into old patterns like they had at school. Lightly, and harmlessly, teasing one another as friends (even complicated ones) often do.
His eyes tiredly lulled over to steal a glimpse of Max watching how he squeezed his teammate and other best friend's shoulder to comfort her while she slept. A smile so badly wanted to tug at the corner of her lips but he couldn't muster it. How far they had come since school and yet not far at all. They were still caring, protective, and friends (sort of?).
"Oh really? I hadn't noticed." Came the teasing remark, one that hopefully Max would accept in good spirits. As Max turned to briefly snuggle into his shoulder Theodore quickly looked away not wanting to be caught red handed. He felt some butterflies flutter about in the pit of his stomach at the contact and he wished now, more than ever, that he had bug spray to force them back down (because that's what they were: bugs). Now was not the time. Never was the time.
Therapy? "Yeah. But who has time for that nowadays?" He gave a little chuckle, shifting where he sat. Every once in a while the thought had crossed his mind to go, he surely needed it (a lot of the professional Quidditch players did) but then if the tabloids got ahold of the information it would be game over - quite literally. It was too risky to go and too risky not to. But Merlin would he need it after Maxwell seemingly rebuffed his earnest comment about needing him in the moment. That killed all of the butterflies more than any spray. Probably for the best. They didn't need to fall down that rabbit hole of sadness and despair again.
"You're probably right." In more ways than one but he didn't elaborate. He was about to wave the white flag in surrender when Max spoke up, a soft declaration of need, and the butterflies had once again burst from their cocoons. His dark eyes looked back at his friends, hopeful, desperate, having so badly needed to hear that but not being able to verbalize why. He should say a thousand and one things "then lets be there for each other", "fuck this fight", "I love you"... but nothing came out. He just stared.
Maxwell was tired. Truth be told Teddy was too but he didn't want to sleep just yet. He wanted to keep talking, hopefully he would muster the bravery to say what he so badly needed to for years but his care for Max ran out. If Max wanted to rest, Teddy would give in. At the man's surprisingly innocent, but very much sweet, request Theodore nodded, swallowing, finding that his throat had went dry. "Of course." Maybe a sure would have seemed less desperate.
He shifted a bit where he sat, careful to not also wake Leah and rested back on the couch making room for Max to lean against him. When he finally did Teddy, after a few moments of hesitation and wrestling with his inner demons, rested his chin in his friend's hair. His head felt heavy, like it was carrying more of a weight than just tonight. Even lying against him ever so slightly he felt exhausted. Instinctively Teddy's arm wrapped around him and he trailed his fingers soothingly up and down his pal's back, shyly at first just in case he was called on it so he had ample time to pull away.
"You did a good job tonight. You can rest now, Max..." He encouraged softly amidst his scalp, pressing a soft kiss atop of his head without realizing it. "I'll keep an eye out." As tired as he was, he would try. And nobody tried harder than Theodore Silvestri.