checking out the players

[Torrance Jackson]

If he was to be completely honest Torrance wasn’t sure if Mr. Casper Darrow had been the right candidate for the job. He seemed like a nice enough fellow, but one that lacked will strong enough to be his own person, somebody who got intimidated by a lot. Granted, he was not working under him so their professional meetings were very few and far in between. To get a better view on his options Torrance decided to use this opportunity to actually get to know something more about the man.

He gently approached the man and nodded to him politely.
”I hope you are having a nice day so far, Mr. Darrow.” He said, trying his best not to sound intimidating, because lately one of his sisters said that sometimes he could sound like he was.

  

[Casper Darrow]

Casper had been working at the Ministry of Magic for all of his adult life and so he had come to know a large number of people by sight and name who didn't work with him - it was hard not to when you worked in the same building, passed people in corridors, overheard them in the elevators and just generally rubbed shoulders with people. Mr. Jackson's occupation in the Ministry wasn't entirely different from his own, they were in the same vein - that being dealing with magic gone astray rather than something like sports and he knew of the man though couldn't claim to have ever held a conversation with him before.

So he felt infinitely thankful when the gentleman approached him and he could address him by name. Casper liked knowing people's names, he loathed having to ask when the other party already knew it, it made him feel uncaring and guilty. "I am indeed, Mr. Jackson!" He couldn't deny that the turnout had been very pleasing, he'd had a series of nightmares in the week following up where no one had turned up at all and it was an utter failure. "I hope you haven't found it a waste of your day, I thought a picnic would be nice and simple. I read up on a few atmospheric charms in case it rained today." He couldn't hold back a slight nervous laugh.

  

[Torrance Jackson]

Torrance found himself often grateful for what the world offered him. He knew a lot of people of African descent had it much worse and harder than him. He had been born in Britain, a country that abolished slavery some time ago now. He didn’t meet many setbacks based on his skin – more so based on his blood. He knew that at least with that Mr. Darrow won’t have a problem not being a pureblood himself.
He smiled friendly to the man. He was obviously nervous, Torrance based that on his laugh and the way he spoke. It was understandable, though. Heaven knew he’d be nervous himself if the roles were changed.

”Indeed it is. Very well done. Organizing a successful picnic isn’t as easy as it seems and it looks like you are doing a good job so far.” The dark skinned man commented trying to ease out the man. Merlin knew if he could be as tense as Baxter (though his friend was a different case) he’d need some loosing up. ”Atmospheric charms are tricky things, but I am sure you’d do fine. To work in your field wandwork is very important.” He added looking at the sky.

  

[Casper Darrow]

Casper truly appreciated the compliment; he'd nearly worried himself into a sleepless night or several worrying about whether it would be successful, whether people would even be there to like it and worrying about numerous other things that could go wrong. "Thank you, that means a lot to me, though I did have a lot of help from my father and brother." It was true, his father and Ramsay had both been beyond supportive and he only hoped he could do them proud and succeed.

It was true, Casper's job did demand a lot of wandwork though he thankfully didn't have to work with memory charms, that was up to obliviators, he wasn't sure he trusted himself to tamper with someone's brain without giving them permanent brain damage. "It's a good thing I enjoyed Charms and Defense Against the Dark Arts at school." He had been more booksmart then and not as good when it came to actual spell casting but it had mostly been a confidence thing, since working on the squad, his confidence had most definitely improved along with his spells. "I like a challenging job, it's very rewarding." He supposed he'd feel the same way about being Minister should he be voted in.

  

[Torrance Jackson]

Torrance was not the kind of man to give compliments left and right. With those working under him he could be actually rather harsh (according to some at least), but inside there was a big softie. He was just way too busy being a responsible adult to find anything else to do other than work. It seemed like he and Bax were almost brothers in that way.

What he learned from being a squad head and now assistant head was also the fact sometimes you had to say a few nice words for the employees to work more efficiently and to feel better. It was interesting to see how this man seemed to grow more confident by the minute of the conversation.
”Family help is always important.” He nodded his head. He was a self-made man, but some people needed help here and there. Apparently Mr. Darrow was one of them. Not something that boded well for election. ”Oh, I am sure it must be very interesting. I have always been more of the getting inside of the brain of the person who committed the crime kind of person, you know? I was an interrogator.”

  

[Casper Darrow]

Casper was sure he couldn't ever cut it as one of the Ministry's interrogators, such a job required a certain firmness and Casper certainly didn't have that, he was as mild as it came. He did admire those that could do such a job, however, he couldn't understand how they were able to be tough on people and so it was very much like a hidden art to him in a way.

"I'm not sure I could ever do that," he admitted with another awkward little chuckle. "I think it would be unnerving to think the way a killer might." Maybe he was too soft to be Minister but he was sure that if he did get the job, he could do good for the magical community. "Interrogating must be a very demanding job, you must have seen a lot of dangerous people."

  

[Torrance Jackson]

Torrance had always tried to remain calm, sometimes even cold when he was an interrogator. It was a hard job, a person couldn’t do it if their own psyche was weak, but luckily Tor was far from weak. He was also a very intelligent and perceptive man and it helped him out to get in the head of the people he interrogated.
”Well a person has to be built a certain way for this sort of job.” Torrance said smiling bitterly. ”You need to break those people, get where it hurts, find what hurts and then give them hope, it’s what gets them to spill everything out.” He sighed heavily. ”But let me not spoil your wonderful event with such things. You are far too kind to do that, but that is a good thing. This world needs more kind people.”

  

[Casper Darrow]

Casper felt even more convinced as the other man spoke about interrogation that A) he wouldn't stand a chance being interrogated and B) he wouldn't stand a chance interrogating. He was very happy where he was. He honestly dreaded the idea of actually becoming Minister but at the same time was putting what he wanted to for the good of the community before his own anxiety. He wasn't often brave and there had been many times since he'd become a candidate that he'd wished he hadn't put himself forward but he had to soldier on now, whether he became Minister or not. He could be a coward in private but not so publicly.

"I think there's goodness in all people, some people just don't like to show it." He'd met his fair share of unkindness in his life so far but he couldn't believe people were all bad but maybe he was just naive.

  

[Torrance Jackson]

The man who was just a few years younger than Torrance seemed to much younger to the dark skinned man. He was kind, but also a bit… naïve? Or so it seemed. Like somebody who’d easily be put out of his comfort zone. Somebody that didn’t even had an ounce of evil in him. Maybe that was good for his job, but the more Torrance talked to him he was convinced the man before him would be soon eaten by the political sharks.

”People sometimes just lose their path and they have no idea they can be redeemed.” The former interrogator commented a bit sharply.

  

[Casper Darrow]

Well that sounded ominous and unsettled Casper. Did he think he would ever stray so far? He sincerely doubted there was anything that could possibly make him do bad things but then he hadn't had a lot of strife in his life, the worst had been the loss of his mother and sister at a young age. He still missed them but it was an old wound. Maybe if he became Minister, he could help people like that who had gone astray too. "I think it's a great pity, more should be done for those people." He didn't know a great deal about Azkaban besides the fact it was supposed to be awful and inescapable and he didn't want to ever find himself locked up there but he doubted that sort of place could help reform people so they could one day function in society again but then how could you ever be sure a murderer would be safe around other people again?

  

[Torrance Jackson]

Torrance smiled gently to the man. By now he had already made up his mind, but he needed to end this conversation politely. He decided the man before him seemed too meek to make a real difference. He didn’t even need to ask him what he needed to know. Just this talk gave him the picture.
”I agree. Now, if you excuse me, I need to find my sisters before they scold me for taking so long.” He laughed and extended his arm to shake Mr. Darrow’s.

  

[Casper Darrow]

Casper shook the other man's hand. "Good day, Mr. Jackson," he replied humbly, hoping he really had enjoyed the event. It would be nice to think no one would be disappointed by it.