five more miles til the road runs out

[Maya Patel]

At the veritable crack of dawn, Maya ran down the streets of Hogsmeade at a breakneck speed. She'd been an early morning runner for years, and was currently trying to outstrip her personal record. And if she happened to challenge Ben to a race one of these days and beat him at his own sport? All the better.

Running was the plan, anyway. As she rounded a corner and neared the Quidditch shop, Maya was forced to slow down due to the large crowd of people currently swarming the streets to get a good look at the newest Firebolt model. She stopped under the pretense of tying her trainers, while also peering curiously at the shopfront -- a bit of giddy excitement bubbled up in her whenever a new broom was released, even as she claimed she'd grown out of that sort of thing.

(ooc: Trying to sort out Maya's voice! Anyone would be amazing

[Mason Mitchell]

((ooc: Ever so sorry, I couldn't resist and as you may have gathered from the FB thing, I kinda love writing as Mason.))

Crack-of-dawn was not exactly Mason's favourite hour and that fact was written all over his sullen expression as he left the house in search of coffee. They had yet again forgot to buy any and if he didn't get caffeine or cocaine in his system right now he would be useless to the world, he figured the first was probably easier to find in Hogsmeade in the morning and so he strolled up the main street into the town.

Dressed in an entirely odd outfit for him - a formal black suit and tie with smart black shoes that were actually clean - Mason loosened his tie as he slowed by the Quidditch shop where something seemed to be going on. Peering over the heads of the crowd he realised today was the new Firebolt's release day and nodded with a smile as he caught a peek of it. Taking a step backwards as the crowd moved, he almost fell over someone crouched down and quickly sidestepped, twisting so as not to stumble over her. "Not a great place to tie yer laces, love," Mason advised and then chuckled as he realised he recognised the woman, if only through her Facebook profile. "Awww it's me secret fiance, fancy that!" he greeted Maya in a jokingly affectionate tone.

[Maya Patel]

Maya pulled out the cord attached to her left earphone and was about to tell this guy to watch his damn step when she looked up, mentally connected the accent to the face, and laughed suddenly. "Mason Mitchell, in the pasty Irish flesh," she greeted him as she stood up. Maya brushed her fringe from her eyes, the hair sticking to her forehead slightly. She silently wished there was a way to postpone this random serendipitous encounter until after she'd gone home and taken a shower, at least.

She then stepped back, held her hand out and gave Mason a skeptical look. "Whooooa, Mr Big Suit! Church or court hearing?" Maya didn't know this man outside of pictures, but somehow it didn't seem like his normal 'look'.

[Mason Mitchell]

"The one an' only!" Mason enthused with a good-humoured laugh of his own as she realised who he was. "Is that gonna become a weird sorta-endearing nickname, a term of affection for me, eh?" he asked of the 'pasty' adjective which she used once more. Stepping aside as another excited Firebolt fan pushed past him for a better look at the new broom in its window display, he gently touched Maya's forearm, nudging his head to the side as if to say 'maybe we should go over here to talk'.

He shook his head with a grin then as she clocked the formal dress, "I'm happy t' report it's neither. I play guitar a bit, got a couple of wedding gigs outta it, they tend to like even their entertainers to come suitably attired, hence t' penguin suit," he explained as he pointed both hands at his outfit with a flourish. "Not me usual choice, I prefer jeans, t-shirt, the delinquent look, y'know?" Mason suggested jokingly, pausing and making a point of stepping back and looking at her outfit, "Oh god, you're a crack-of-dawn runner," he realised with a horrified look, "Are all you Patels big on distance running then? Is it some kind of genetic thing?" he mocked just a wee bit, but in such a good-natured way with a smile that she couldn't get too irritated at.

[Maya Patel]

Maya walked with Mason away from the overexcited crowd, ignoring the section of her brain that sort of wanted to be a part of it. "If taking it as a term of affection makes you feel better, sure," she grinned at him.

"Orange jumpsuit, prison tats, shiv wounds..." Maya suggested casually, before giving him a yeah, what of it?! look as he correctly judged her by her running outfit. "Nah. It's more of a... 'nerdy, studious offspring of strict hard-working immigrant parents who therefore never touched drugs and needed to get our highs somehow' kind of a thing. Also, a healthy source of sibling rivalry." She stopped to stretch out her shoulder before looking at Mason curiously. "So, you're a musician. That makes one thing I know about your life. Any brothers or sisters?"

[Mason Mitchell]

Mason nodded, "It does, story of my life," he commented lightly, casually sticking his hands in his trouser pockets as they spoke. "Exactly, can't wait to ditch this funeral suit for the comforting feel of orange jumpsuit," he joked easily with her. "Ah, the search for legal highs, I gotcha," he nodded in understanding but still had a highly amused expression at the whole idea of running to get some sort of kick. "But the sibling rivalry thing too, huh? Who's better then? Honestly?" Looking to the sky as if momentarily praying to god he murmured, "Please don't let it be Ben, please don't let it be Ben," with a sly grin at her. Then he lowered his gaze and casually watched as she stretched her shoulder - that didn't count as staring or checking her out, right, if he feigned a casual, almost disinterested air in the idea of running and everything that went with it as she did so?

"Musician seems a bit too highfalutin' of a label fer a bloke that waits tables an' bars an' cracks out the ol' guitar on the side like," Mason pointed out with a shrug of his shoulders and an easy smile because he really wasn't one for making himself out to be better than he really was. He was more of a 'this is my life, take it or leave it' kind of bloke and unguardedly honest in that respect. "Oh sisters god yes, I lived in a very female household," he laughed. "There was me, Jenny, Christina an' Kate. After dad threw in the towel with trying t' raise us, my aunt an' uncle brought us up with their two daughters, Bridget an' Siobhan, they're kinda more like my sisters than my cousins," he explained. "We don't really do traditional sibling rivalry, it's more of a 'I messed up again, can you come get me out of it?' kinda vibe with my sisters, well at least with Jenny it is. She continually makes bad life choices when it comes to blokes, c'est la vie," Mason added with a roll of his eyes as he thought of this.

"So what about you? You have another sis, right? And then of course there's lovely Benjamin," Mason enthused with a smile.

[Maya Patel]

"I'm faster, but Ben is better at endurance. I'm pretty sure he just thinks about Quidditch statistics and, like, mentally checks out until the end of the race." Maya stopped stretching and caught Mason's eye before looking away slightly awkwardly.

Maya then rolled her eyes. "Oh, come off it. If Justin Bieber is allowed to consider himself a musician, I'm sure you can. If everyone had an accurate job title, I'd probably be called the Secretary of Spin and Damage Control." She strolled along the side of the road, listening and nodding as Mason explained his family situation. "Huh. See, Ben thinks we have that sort of relationship, despite my proving time and time again that I can handle myself," Maya said while quickly adjusting her ponytail.

"Nadine," she offered as he asked about her other sister. "Muggle policewoman, total badass. You'd like her. I love Ben, but he pretty much has a coronary if every part of his life is not hermetically sealed and forced into separate compartments. It took me forever to meet Jenny, and she's the sweetest woman ever. For years, we couldn't hang out on the full moon because he was taking a 'nighttime yoga class'." She put her hands on her hips and took a few steps before turning around. "So. Girlfriend? Boyfriend? Or do you just form imaginary relationships with women on the internet? Because you surely have plenty of company, there."

[Mason Mitchell]

Mason couldn't help but smile at the idea, nodding along, "That sounds about right for Ben."

"Do not even utter his name," he jokingly hissed at her in a hushed tone of disgust as she talked of Justin Bieber. "But I take your point, darl, I'll rethink my business cards then. Sooo... politics, spin, you're part of that world, eh? Must admit, bit intimidated of your title now," he admitted with a slight laugh. Looking to her as she talked of her family he nodded, "Again, that sounds like Benny-boy. But maybe at least let him delude himself that he's protecting you, aye? Give us big brothers a sense of being the protector, y'know?"

"Ah, Nadine yeah. You really think so?" he spun round to face her as Maya claimed he'd like Nadine, "Aaaand she could take care of herself, being a badass and all. That's an attractive quality," he suggested conversationally. As talk turned to Ben and his tendency to box off different parts of his life, Mason sobered, "I've noticed that. Come on, t' fact I'm only just meetin' a family member of his despite knowing him since we were 11 sorta attests t' that compartmentalisation. But I couldn't agree more... Little Jens is unfailingly sweet, he's found a good 'un in her, fer sure."

"Oh I take t' fantasy route every time," Mason said seriously before smirking somewhat, "Boyfriend, really? Not a chance in hell since your dearest brother rejected my affection all those years ago and had me swearing off blokes fer life," he claimed with an amused chuckle at this. "Nah, I'm free as a bird, darl, 's the way I like it if I'm being honest, I tried the serious girlfriend, hell even the engagement ring deal, before and it didn't treat me too well in the end," he shrugged it off as though it was nothing rather than one of the most pivotal moments of his life so far. "You single?" he shot back in reply before adding lightly, "And I swear I'm not some kind of mole reporting back t' yer brother just how worried and protective he needs t' be over yeh."

[Maya Patel]

"Not a fan of the Biebs? More of a One Direction man?" Maya asked while putting her hand to her chin, grinning at him. She then shrugged while kicking at a stone on the ground. "If that intimidates you, you'd better hold on to your hat when I tell you my actual title. Deputy Director of Press and Communications, bitch," she said with a slightly sarcastic edge, dropping an 'explosion' motion with her right hand. She was honestly expecting the 'all politicians are dicks' attitude to come out of this scruffy friend of her brother's. And hey, she could take it. Intimidating, however... she'd be lying if she said there wasn't a part of her that kind of enjoyed that. "I'm sorry, but 99% of the time Ben Patel is a mild-mannered gentleman in the shape of a French bean. If I have to be protected by an older sibling, I'd rather it be the one who knows how to operate a firearm, thanks," she laughed.

Maya leaned against a bench and nodded. "Right? He should just propose, man. I don't know what he's waiting for. Get up on those sweet marriage benefits," she said, forever the pragmatic strategist. Moreover, she was impatient and didn't see the point in delaying what seemed, to her at least, like an inevitability for her brother and his girlfriend.

"Hey, I have to cover all possibilities for the sake of political correctness. Press officer, remember?" she deadpanned. "You're not reporting back to Ben? That's great. It would be terrible if, say... you told him I've been knocked up by a traveling carnival worker," she suggested with a look that said that she loved the idea of messing with Ben at bit.

"So, yeah, single obviously. Can't help but feel like serious relationships are a bit of a trap. For me, anyway. I like to at least have the option of cutting and running without all of that messy... stomping on someone's heart business," she said fairly lightly, though she knew deep down that she had hurt people by her tendency to panic and break things off without warning, as hard as she tried to never let things get too serious with anyone.

[Mason Mitchell]

"Absolutely, they speak t' me in a way no one else ever has," Mason deadpanned about One Direction, casting her a bemused smile afterwards. "T' be fair, look at me, love, my 'career' consists of jobs you do when yer a teenager wantin' a bit of cash," he pointed out, making air quotes with his fingers before commenting lightly, "T' be honest, I'd be intimidated by any job title remotely grown-up sounding. But yeah, that's impressive, I'm feelin' a bit out of my depth here with you."

Mason conceded the point with a nod of his head before looking thoughtful, "Well yeah but what about the times when he goes all monster, he'd be slightly more scary protective then. You'd just have to time when you need him to go all wolf on someone's arse." As talk turned to Ben and Jenny, "I've bin sayin' that for months!" he exclaimed in exasperation, "I dunno, d'ya reckon he's scared to ask her or sumthing? Ridiculous if he is but still, you know Ben," he shrugged easily. "I kinda feel like Jen feels a bit outta place when she comes to our place, but I can picture her like in a spotless little cottage somewhere, setting the immaculate table for breakfast for two. Proper little picture-perfect marriage, y'know?"

Nodding, "Course, and an excellent diplomatic move there," Mason agreed soberly before breaking out in a hearty laugh, "Right, that's it, I am reportin' back to Ben now, I can't keep that kinda thing from him. Want me to videotape his reaction to the news?" he joked. If there was one thing they immediately connected over, it was messing with Ben. "But yeah, I'm with yeh," he nodded along as she explained her misgivings about serious relationships. "Serious relationships sorta feel like the ones I observe from afar and think 'aww that's cute' but I'm a grumpy old cynic. Can yeh tell?" Mason asked jokingly, well aware he came across as grumpy and pessimistic all the time, "I automatically disbelieve they are as rosy as they seem on the surface."

[Maya Patel]

"Would you say... they light up your world like nobody else?" Maya asked with barely-contained glee; she was not one to let it go once she got on a teasing streak. "Look, I'm a fan of anyone who makes their own damn living and doesn't whine too much about it. So we're cool. Not everyone loves being raked over the coals by the Minister and gunning for a promotion that might only occur after an assassination, but for some reason I do."

"Yeah, but then I'd have to deal with that annoying guilty conscience thing he's got going on. 'Oh, I'm Ben, I've maaaauled someone'," she joked. She'd dealt with Ben's condition quite matter-of-factly, even if it had taken him far too long to tell her, and she was fairly certain their parents still did not know. "Adorable. I don't know whether I want to smile or throw up," she laughed. "I've never been to your place! All of that... 'rowdy dudes in a state of arrested development' energy might be too much for me, sorry love."

Maya then broke out in laughter. "Please. Just make sure it's not his moontimes, yeah?" She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Well, I believe it's possible. My parents have been together for upwards of forty years. They watch the same TV, they complain about all the same people. It seems to work. Honestly, that's scarier to me! Bad relationships are been-there-done-that, it's that suffocating feeling and... I don't know, being tied down to someone that makes me break out in hives."

[Mason Mitchell]

Playing along, Mason shook his head, "I'd say mainly it's the way that they flip their hair, gets me overwhelmed," he told her solemnly but with a flash of a grin then as she seemed to enjoy such teasing banter. He also knew the lyrics to that song were something he probably shouldn't know and would probably regret admitting to knowing, even if only for the purpose of going along with a joke. Considering her words then, he nodded slowly in agreement, "I like that, 's a good philosophy t' have, different strokes for different folks an' all."

He laughed at her impression of Ben's guilt and then asked, slightly more seriously, "D'ya think he'll ever stop feelin' like a monster? 'Cause I personally highly doubt it but there's only so much guilty conscience someone can bear 'fore it eats them alive." Mason smiled about Ben and Jenny, "Little bit of both maybe? That's how I usually feel when I see 'em together, the smile usually wins out thankfully." Shaking his head he protested, "I resent that accusation, we're mature specimens of blokes I think you'll find! Besides... we have girls living with us too. Sam and Rosalind, they're great, the former more so than the latter admittedly but I can't complain too much."

"Awww really? Spoilsport," Mason teased with a sad puppy look at her. Personally he thought telling a pissed off werewolf that his sister was pregnant would be quite amusing, if hazardous for his own life. "I'm sure it is possible... fer other people," he agreed and then shrugged, "Look, don't mind me, love, I'm just a bitter ol' cynic 'cause my parents weren't exactly perfect, my aunt and uncle, maybe though they argue like troopers too." Leaning against a wall for a moment he nodded, "Breaking out in hives at the faintest whiff of commitment, eh? Sexy," he remarked sarcastically but then broke out into a chuckle and shook his head, "Nah but seriously, I get it. Look, don't be offended when I say this but I didn't really have yeh pegged as the kind of lass who'd like the... repetitive, the predictable, like knowing you'd be waking up to the same face every single day, y'know? Doing the same things, watching the same TV, having the same conversation about how yer day was or whatever."

[Maya Patel]

Maya considered her brother's situation for a moment before shaking her head. "I don't know. Look, I'm not the most... emotionally revelatory person myself, but there's a whole year of his life he won't even talk about. And that can't possibly be healthy."

"Sorry, I assumed Sam was a guy. Ben mentioned a girlfriend... damn, I've already failed at my diplomatic, inclusive mission, haven't I?" she sighed dramatically. "I don't even know who Rosalind is. How many scruffy, lovable misfits have you guys let into your home? There's you, Ben, Sam... the long-haired grumpy bloke, the wee Death Eater's kid, couple of stray dogs here and there... who am I missing?"

Maya shrugged in a jokingly coy way. "Hey, suddenly breaking out in hives is a great natural defense mechanism. The only thing better would be shooting ink like an octopus every time I want to drive a guy away," she laughed before miming raising a glass. "To dying alone. The only real path to happiness."

[Mason Mitchell]

Mason looked thoughtful, "Hmmm is that so? But yeah, I take yer point about Ben but I mean it's not somethin' we ever talked about after the fact, y'know? Not sure we ever will, t' be honest," he shrugged with a soft sigh.

"Disgraceful!" he exclaimed, feigning a scandalised look as she admitted she'd assumed Sam was male. "Sam's the one who takes pity on strays, both animal an' human. And none of us have the heart to say no to her when she drags home another new pet," he noted. "Rosalind's someone we knew in school, I went out wi' her for a bit, Ben took a bit of a shine to her as well. But that's the current list, minus girlfriends an' stuff. T' be fair though, I could go back home today an' find a newbie sitting on our sofa all casual like," Mason admitted with a chuckle.

"Fair dos, never thought of it like that," he conceded, "I like the octopus defence mechanism, element of the unnatural about it, it'd make damn well sure the lad was out of yer life fer good." Making a show of miming pouring himself a drink and then raising his glass, he enthused with a laugh, "Hear, hear, darl!" and pretended to clink against her glass.

[Maya Patel]

"You were there when it happened, right? Did you ever figure out how they tracked you guys down?" Maya asked. She and her parents had been halfway around the world when everything went down, and as far as they were aware, Ben had spent a fun-filled summer backpacking with his best mates and forgetting to write home, exactly as he'd done for the previous three years.

"So, okay, that Charlie whoever who you lot went to school with is definitely a girl, right? Because if you tell me I'm wrong again, I'm just going to assume you're fucking with me." Maya then nodded knowingly. "Let me guess. Ben was stalling on making a move with this girl, waiting for some perfect moment, while you had no such issue?" She smiled at him. "I'm glad it didn't ruin your friendship, at any rate. Bros before hos, and all of that."

Maya took an imaginary drink before laughing. "Team Dying Alone is gathering steam! Know anyone else who'd get on board with this philosophy?"