Quote:

Originally Posted by lemondrop13

Macadrian glanced to Caleum and handed him a cookie, "Here, eat up. And believe me, now that I'm here I fully intend to eat more regularly and not skip meals. I can't be skipping meals anymore. It just isn't healthy for my body, especially now." Macadrian wrapped her hand around a chocolate chip cookie and began nibbling around the edges.

He couldn't help but raise a brow at the comment, but otherwise said nothing. Not that it was or wasn't his place to inquire, but he was fairly sure he didn't want to know the answer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lemondrop13

When Drago pulled out fudge, Macadrian's eyes grew wide and her mouth began to salivate. "Oh my. I've such a sweet tooth and that looks delicious! Thank you for sharing. I'd love a piece, please. It is very kind of you to share this. If it were mine, I can't say whether or not I would have selfishly hoarded this for myself." Macadrian chuckled lightly as she smiled gratefully at Drago.

"I'm sure I would as well, if I did not make it." He cut off a fairly respectable-sized piece and handed it to her. "However, as I keep stocked on many things--" 'I always keep a well-stocked supply' "--I never fear of running out. I always have the ingredients to make more, and I enjoy cooking." He hoped they did not notice the hesitation. Still, even the smallest things reminded him of his friend, and though he did not shudder, it chilled him.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Granger1814

"Fudge looks delicious." She commented, forcing herself to act normal. "Though those peanut butter cookies look even better. I think I'll have one of those and save the fudge for later, if there's any left." She remarked with a slight smile.

"But of course. It is here if you wish for some." He took a small slice for himself and set it aside, within reach of anyone who wanted it.

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Angela glanced over towards Max as he questioned her. With a chuckle of obvious chagrin, she shook her head. "A bit, I suppose. I'm not entirely sure about the game of poker. Anyone mind sharing some tips?"

"Keep your hand close, and your emotions closer." He smirked. "Poker is the only game where you could be dealt a bad hand every time and still win the game."

EDIT, OOC: I take no credit for that last line. I read it recently in Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney...

The cookie Max was eating fell out of his mouth and he stared at Mac for a few seconds before he could regain the power of speech. "Are they sure?" he finally stammered and sighed since there was nothing he could do about it. "Guess I'll have to adjust the game schedules and file a request with the Ministry for a substitute official, if needed."

Caleum blinked a couple of times then took the chocolate chip cookie from Macadrian. He felt bad for taking her food but she offered and he ate it. The last thing he wanted to do was offend a woman, especially a hungry one. "Thank you," he mumbled then watched everyone around him. Something was strange but it could be the simple fact that they were back at Hogwarts and he was not used to being in the staff room.

Alex sat back in her chair looking at Max and Macadrian with a thoughtful expression. She glanced to her side and noticed a similar expression on Ang's face, she'd have to speak to her after the game. "Its not to difficult dear, you'll catch on fast." she said to Ang with a smile, adding a subtle, pointed glance in Max and Mac's direction as if to say, "Whats up with that?"

Macadrian's lips turned into a small frown as she whispered barely audibly, "Max, this is your child we're talking about. Please try to sound a bit more excited than that. Quidditch isn't going anywhere." Macadrian turned her blue-green eyes upon Max and surveyed him. He sure seemed more nervous about this child than his previous one. But then again, the circumstances this time are much different than before.

Ah, and the line that said he could remain pleasantly ignorant no longer. "If you two would please..." he said through gritted teeth, looking away as the image of his own wife coming before him, bright red flashing against the pale of death. And knowing that while there were two tombstones that day, he had lost three lives.

Cassandra stayed with her eyes on the sweets that were making they way around the table. The smell was making her nautious and the sheer thought of the amount of sugar that Professor Shackleton was injesting was scaring her. She had never been one for sweets, and the one treat she did enjoy, carmel apple pie, seemed to not even appeal to her, with the abudance of sugar here.

She sat silent and just observed... Professor Shackleton and Professor Vindictus? Really? She thought Shackleton liked Clarke... Oh Well...

"Yes, I think poker may be more fun if we played it..." She agreed with Drago.

Caleum blinked quite a few times as Max and Macadrian spoke. Questions! The questions began to form in his head and he couldn't stand it anymore.

Sigh!

"Okay! You two," he said pointing to the two of them with a slight frown. "What in the world is going on? I'm lost and confused...I need some gossip." He was more interested in what was going on than the card game, but wasn't that what card games were among the men? Just juicy gossip, laughing and snickering about others.

Angela shot a smile towards Drago as he commented on her request for tips. "Nice advice." She remarked with a chuckle.

Glancing around the table in hopes of other tips, she caught Alex's eye and nodded as she spoke. "I suppose so.." She usually did catch onto new things quite fast. Not missing the pointed glance that Alex gave her, Angela nodded slightly. They would certainly have to speak after the game.

Or...maybe not. Caleum had apparently taken the situation into his own hands. Pushing one hand through her hair, Angela leaned slightly forward, glancing between Caleum, Mac, and Max.

Macadrian was surprised at Caleum's bluntness and Drago's slight hostility. It made her feel incredibly uncomfortable, triggering her eyes to well up, the blood to rush to her cheeks, and nausea to crash over her in waves - an odd response for anyone, and particularly uncharacteristic for Macadrian. Tossing her cards on the table, Macadrian stood from her chair and mumbled, "Excuse me. I'm suddenly not feeling very well." She then dashed out of the room, her robes flowing gently behind her.

This game was sure interesting. She watched the weird conversations and looks between Mac and Max. Wasn't Mac the one who gave her the evil eye for even saying hello to Fabian last year and now she was being buddy buddy with Max. She didn't get it at all, but was glad someone finally asked.. Caleum. This was when she realised that she didn't even greet Macadrian, Sophie was about to when she stormed up from the table. "Ummm...is she ok?" Sophie asked, mainly directing it to Max.

"Way to go, Caleum," Max said as he watched Macadrian slam the door behind her. "If I had an acorns, I'd pelt you with them." He glanced at his cards and then at the stunned expressions of each person sitting at the table. "She's...she's really stressed out about some things at the moment. You know, missing the train and not having her classroom ready. Stuff like that. Just take it easy on her, okay?"

Alex turned away from Angela just in time to hear Caleum's rather harsh question. Her mothing instincts took over the second Macadrian stood up and ran out of the room, Alex wanted to dash after her and offer her suport in anyway she could, though she didnt know how the other woman would take it, seeing as they didnt know each other well.

"Do you think she'll be ok Max? Is there anything I can do?" Alex asked the Flying instructor with concern written all over her face. Perhaps she should drop by with some food from the kitchen later, comfort food is always a help.

Angela frowned as Mac pushed away from the table and fled the room. She knew not what was going on, but she felt the automatic urge to go after the woman. It seemed as though Alex felt the same as well, for Angela could see it in her face.

Glancing at the door once more, she shook her head, for the atmosphere had changed quite quickly, and suddenly, she wasn't so certain that she felt like playing cards.

"Perhaps someone should go after her...just in case it's something else besides an overload of stress." She suggested, glancing now towards Max, her brow creased in worry.

... gossip? What was he? A woman? She shook her head ruefully and turned to look at Professor Shackleton.

... Drama queen much?

Cassandra smirked at Vindictus' comment, he'd have good aim too. She stayed quiet... and just kept observing.

Caleum threw his hands up in the air. Was this card game ever going to happen? Well, not at this point. "Throw acorns at me?" He blinked a couple of times as he shook his head. "I was making small talk but in reality, when you look at things that just happened between you and Mac here in front of us...out loud...eating...LOTS of food, sweets, umm..." He paused thinking of his words for a moment before speaking. "Slightly moody? Max, I'm sure it is a little more obvious to some..." he said as he looked to the intern that, yes she should know the signs more than he would. "But I think it is a little more than stress that is affecting her at the moment."

He raised a brow to Max finding it weird how Mac and Max seemed to be a little closer now than ever before but, there had to be a reason and only they knew. "I'm more than sure that if none was meant to be brought up, then the little chit chat that was exchanged wouldn't have taken place out in public. Just a thought you know." Caleum frowned slightly at Macadrian ran out. He never meant to offend her and truthfully he was playing but it was obvious that he messed up. Jokes were not allowed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by demented_death_eater

"Way to go, Caleum," Max said as he watched Macadrian slam the door behind her. "If I had an acorns, I'd pelt you with them." He glanced at his cards and then at the stunned expressions of each person sitting at the table. "She's...she's really stressed out about some things at the moment. You know, missing the train and not having her classroom ready. Stuff like that. Just take it easy on her, okay?"

"Perhaps she could have it 'easy' if the two of you refrained from such commentry whilst among others," he said a bit more hostile than intended. "It makes many curious, and whether or not the obvious result is exactly as it sounds, it doesn't make it any easier to hear for others."

Quote:

Originally Posted by LadyNerd

He raised a brow to Max finding it weird how Mac and Max seemed to be a little closer now than ever before but, there had to be a reason and only they knew. "I'm more than sure that if none was meant to be brought up, then the little chit chat that was exchanged wouldn't have taken place out in public. Just a thought you know." Caleum frowned slightly at Macadrian ran out. He never meant to offend her and truthfully he was playing but it was obvious that he messed up. Jokes were not allowed.

"I am more than in agreement," Drago commented, more to his usual tone these days... which was to say very little at all. After his little show of temper, he chose to use Occlumency to keep the rest of his mind in check; however, this left him rather emotionless once more. He stood and straightened his robes. "I see that this little social occasion has turned sour, and I cannot say I would be reasonably comfortable here any longer myself. I'm afraid you will have to excuse me." With that, he bowed elegantly to the lot and left as quickly as dignity would allow.

And there went another one. At least someone in the room agreed with what he spoke of, but Caleum felt bad that Drago was given reminders to his past. That was one thing that Caleum admired Drago for, being able to still carry on with the loss he suffered. He didn't know the entire story and didn't need too, but his thoughts were with the professor as he watched him leave.

Caleum was now to the point that he wondered just how many others would leave. OH! There was one in particular he wished would leave, and maybe she would. He was now believing that for the first time in his life, he knew how to clear a room.

Max sighed as Drago left the room and gathered the cards that were thrown down on the table. "Are we finished playing a game we never started?" he asked.

Caleum sighed and handed his cards to Max. "I am as well," he said with yet another sigh. "I know what I need to do and it's not sitting here." He had to make a point to apologize to Macadrian. He was not one to step on toes, especially her toes. She was one lady he didn't want to make mad and he was a little worried. Her actions seemed to be...different. Almost to the point that different things began to run through his head.

Maybe since food was a thing that Macadrian seemed to like, he would sneak to the kitchens and find her something else to chomp on for a bit. But why was the woman eating so much. It was almost as if she were eating for two.

Caleum shook his head and looked down at the table but then suddenly his eyes widened. Eating for two? Was there something that someone was not telling? He more than knew that Max was a happily married man and that Macadrian was with Fabian but what was going on. There had to be more than what was showing.

Appointments, baby talk...was Mac...it couldn't be? He knew that Max and his wife had a child but...what if there was a chance that she couldn't have more? What if...what if Macadrian could help out? OH! He loved good gossip! Sad thing was, he was worse than a woman.

Kapoor had assumed, with the familiar language, and affectionate playing, that Shackleton was Vindictus' other half. He smiled politely at her when she entered and remained rather amused by the couples playful banter.

David offered Alex a gentle smile. "Time to be catching up with life?"

He stiffled a small chuckle as Angela mentioned her inexperience with the game. "You will catch on." He told the librarian with confidence. "And, one of the first rules is to show all of your cards to me.", he joshed.

At Professor Shackletons sudden departure, he frowned a bit worriedly.

"That might not be a bad idea." The Arithmancy Professor seemed upset and it might do her some good to not be alone at the moment. Seeing as how her husband was still at the table holding the card deck.

"I'm still on, Professor Vindictus, and perhaps a few of the others will elect to stay as well?" He said looking to his fellow staff members.

Alex smiled sadly, "Yes, I supose it is."

Shaking her head, she put Macadrian out of her mind for the time being. "I'll stay as well Max." she stated with a smile in the mans direction, maybe beggining the game would release the tension inthe air.

"Drago wait..." she called for him, but he'd gone.

It was all Caleum's fault, ALL his fault. First Professor Shakleton, then Her Drago... wait... just Drago. Myers was going to be her new target... she was going to make him sorry. She glared at him...

"I'll stay..." Cassandra told Max and game him a smirk.

Caleum stacked his cards and looked to Max. "Sorry mate," he said in a soft voice then felt eyes burning a hole in his head. He turned to look in the direction of Cassandra and there she was staring at him. Geez she was annoying and he loved every moment of it, just for the simple fact of annoying her back.

"I'm afraid I will have to go and speak to Mac after a good game of cards. Anything to keep those glaring eyes on me that Ms. Intern is giving me at the moment." He smiled with a hint of evilness in his eyes. This was going to be fun and he was not going to miss anything.

"Don't you think you've done enough?" Cassandra said raising an eyebrow. He was going to be rude and single her out than she was going to do the same. "I think maybe someone with more tact might be better suited."