SSRP: Date Thing

[kayquilz]

Ern picked the name

On the muggle side of the Leaky Cauldron, Lynley Purcell was to meet a one Giuseppe Silvetti. This was not her choice. She had not bid on the man, but her very lovely sister-in-law had.

If she wasn't married to Lynley's brother, Lynley would have dislocated her hEAD from her BODY. Merlin. But at the end of the day (and, well, this WAS evening time, so) she was sort of excited to get out with someone her age because spending all of her time with either her four-year-old or her employees was exhausting, and now she didn't even have her employees. They were on their holiday break.

So with a slightly excited but also sort of heavy heart (Wyatt needed to be pried off from her leg when she was trying to leave ;__; ) she wondered if he was doing all right, if he was giving her parents trouble? Poor baby. Her baby. She still felt weird leaving him with her parents even after all these months...

And so, Lynley had arrived. Waiting. Dressed well, her hair down and curled for once and not up in its usual bun. She looked...well, she thought she looked quite nice. Her brown eyes peered around, looking for a man wearing...whatever he had told Lynley he was going to be wearing.




Characters:
Lynley Purcell - kayquilz
Giuseppe Silvetti - Cassirin

[Cassirin]

Giuseppe hadn't dated much since... well, for years. He'd spent too long pulling himself together and then working his way through university, shunning the idea of women while he tried to get his life in order. The Giuseppe from before his life was together enjoyed spending time with women who only had good looks and a willingness to taste danger...

He really didn't know how to go on dates with responsible, adult women who didn't travel with their passport and a toothbrush in their purse. He hoped he'd be good at it.

The street on the Muggle side of the Leaky Cauldron was not a nice place to meet a woman, but it was busy enough that he hoped she'd feel safe encountering a total stranger there. And he hoped she'd recognize him from the auction, since it had all gone a bit fast for Giuseppe. He stood right on the curb, his dressy coat pulled tight around him to keep out the cutting wind.

Come and find him, Miss Purcell.

[kayquilz]

She kept checking her watch. He wasn't late, yet, and if he were to BE late, she'd not be happy. But she needed to be patient for now.

And it seemed that her patience was worth it, too, for she spotted the coated man nearby. He was.....quite handsome. Yes, she remembered seeing him up on the stage. She just hadn't known her SISTER IN LAW was bidding on him for her -__-

She smiled a little as she tried to catch his attention with a gentle wave in his direction. "Hi, are you Giuseppe?" she asked in a businesslike tone. His face was......a huuuuuge juggernaut of distraction. Merlin. Um. She felt her cheeks turn pink...but played it cool. Icy cool. "I'm Lynley Purcell, Department Head of Magical Transportation," she the shook his hand like she would any employee or business person.

[Cassirin]

Giuseppe turned and gave a polite lift of the eyebrows at the woman's appearance, which quickly turned to bemusement when she introduced herself like this was a business transaction or a meeting she had to take. She had a very pleasant face, a warm voice tempered by all that formality, and... Merlin. Was she blushing? Or was it just cold?

Women didn't blush anymore. It was a lost art.

"Buona notte," Giuseppe did shake her hand just as vigorously as he would in a business meeting. Since... well... was that what this was? "I'm Giuseppe. It's a pleasure to meet you, Signorina Purcell. Shall we?" He offered his arm.

[kayquilz]

It was a blush, yes. Lynley hated it. Why did people blush other than to let the other person know something of what you're feeling? Ridiculous. Especially for a woman who did NOT wear nearly any of her true feelings on her sleeve. Sleeves on the outside, feelings on the INSIDE all right?

Oh.

Oh ho ho! Was he Italian? Lynley smiled, genuinely, and bowed her head. "You are Italian? Or...know Italian and are trying to impress me??" she chuckled a little at her teasing tone. Lynley hooked arms with his. The businesslike manner was gone. She felt at ease slightly more so than before. "It's nice to meet you, too. You have...a plan for us?" she asked gently, because he had told her to meet him here and that was it. "Am I dressed all right for the occasion?" she twirled her necklace strand nervously in her fingers.

[Cassirin]

"Do you think I could wear a name like Giuseppe Silvetti and have to pretend to speak Italian?" He offered her his arm and pointed them down the street towards Muggle London. Away from the Wizarding center of town altogether... he hoped she trusted him among Muggle kind. Some witches found Muggles very nervewracking.

"I grew up in Italy. Venice. But if it impresses you, I'll keep speaking it, by all means." Around the corner, and there was the carriage waiting for them. "It's not too chilly for a ride, is it?" Of course he had a plan.

[kayquilz]

Heh. He had a point, but she smirked. "Some people only inherit a name, you know." She teased. "I know...no other languages, unfortunately. Waste of my intelligence, really..." more joking. Okay. Jokes were happening, which meant she was feeling at ease, sort of. But she was feeling slightly nervous. She wanted to pull her hair into a bun. It was bothersome hanging down and touching her shoulders like this.

"It very much impresses me...because like I said, I only know English," she smiled more. "Venice, though. Beautiful city. I've been once when I was in university...so it was a looooong time ago." She didn't need to specify just how long.

A carriage!

Lynley laughed and covered her mouth with her a hand. "You got a carriage?" That was very...nice. And thoughtful. "No, not too chilly. I think I'll be okay. I brought a coat just in case." And she shimmied it on, letting go of his arm for a moment. "There. All set! Will you be warm enough?" Of course he would. He had a coat on. It was a joke, but Lynley thought that it was a DUMB JOKE but it was too late. It had left her mouth forever.

Merlin.

She wanted to face plant.

[Cassirin]

He inherited less than a name, if he was being honest, since he was biologically linked to an entire family without any proof or ties. But that was not first date/ blind date/ bought date conversational material, and Giuseppe simply smiled and shrugged. Yup, Italian. Yup, Venice. Yup, beautiful city.

"You don't really live in Venice anymore, you know. You have to experience it from the point of view of a local. Maybe I can show you sometime." Nope, G... that was way too forward. This was the first five minutes of a date that might end when the carriage stopped.

Especially with her laughing at his carriage. He grinned ruefully. "It's cheesy, yes? I knew that but I still made the mistake of going for the easy date play." He picked up the blanket laying across the seat and tucked it over both their laps. "There's cocoa too, but if you draw the line at the carriage, I'm going to chuck it on the street."

[kayquilz]

Oh.

He was going to show her Venice. She smirked. "I hold you to that even if this date turns sour," she said with an eyebrow raise. "Understood, sir?" she put on her ultra stern voice she reserved for her employees and her son when he was THINKING about misbehaving.

"No, no, it's sweet. Darling, I haven't been on a date in...years. You could have taken me out in a box in the street and I probably would have thought it was nice." Lies, Lynley had expectations, but eh. Her point was still the same. "Oh no! I like cocoa...I love cocoa," she smiled. "My son loves hot cocoa." Oh.

Oops.

Was...kid talk...like....was that first-date off limits? She didn't know? She had just acquired a kid to begin with! "So no need to waste good cocoa."

[Cassirin]

"Understood," Giuseppe dropped his head in a sheepish nod. He suspected that she wouldn't really hold him to any promises if they turned out never wanting to see each other again, but he was always as good as his word. "Venice tour. I won't forget."

Since she was so insistent on loving cocoa, Giuseppe grabbed one of the thermoses and offered it to her. "Darling is just what I was going for. And I wouldn't really have chucked it. Just sulked and hoarded it, more likely, which is extremely good behavior on a date. How old is your son?" He didn't mind the mention of a kid, although the light blush was back... so she minded.

[kayquilz]

Even this...well, it wasn't that the tour of Venice was fake, but Lynley certainly wouldn't REALLY hold him to that promise, but even so, she couldn't help but feel bad about potentially having to have her parents babysit Wyatt again. Poor babe. "Neither will I, sir..." she winked playfully at him before taking the warm thermos in her very cold hands. It felt so nice! Lovely. Who needed gloves? "Will it scorch my tongue? How hot is it?" Would she need her tongue at some point??? Was this important, Giuseppe?

The though made her cheeks turn pink again. Merlin, was she fifteen or thirty-six? Or was she thirty-seven now? Once you hit thirty you just sort of forgot.

She smiled when he asked about Wyatt, though. "He is four. Was three when I adopted him...literally, I've had him for less than a year. It'll be a year in June. I think he still thinks I"m leaving forever when I let my parents babysit," she chuckled a little sadly. "But it's okay. I'll be back to get him and he'll be fine again."

[Cassirin]

"It's hot, but not hot. I have a warming charm on it, but that doesn't mean it hasn't kept itself a little too well," Giuseppe dropped his voice and eyed the back of the driver's head. Muggle, but he was probably well trained to ignore his patrons. Still, Giuseppe tried to avoid getting himself in trouble or unnecessarily involving Muggles when he could. Losing a few hours of your memories because someone was indiscreet was a terrible price.

"Ah. You adopted him? Just you?" It was a bold question, sort of presumptuous, but Giuseppe was just so curious. Adopting a child who wasn't your own was a generous and compassionate gesture. Doing it alone was brave. He hadn't expected to find a reason to admire his 'blind' date, but he found... he did. "Kids are resilient. He's probably having a ball staying up late and getting to eat things he's not supposed to eat."

[kayquilz]

Oh. She hadn't thought about the driver being muggle, but when Giuseppe's eyes flickered towards him, she figured he had caught himself just now. Oops. Lynley pressed a finger to her lips in a SHHH motion and chuckled.

So this was more enjoyable than she had expected. Sis in law did something right for the first and last time, probably.

She smirked over at the man as she took a timid sip from the hot cocoa, as if she didn't believe him about it not really being hot. But it was fine. Her lips remained in tact. "I wanted a child. I am single. So I adopted. It was simple, really. It's hard, being a single parent, but my paycheck and parents help," she grinned. Wasn't bragging about such matters a big N-O on a date? Oh well. "It sucks when I have to go anywhere...and....he'll probably start muggle primary school next fall." Who could afford private magical tutors....when schooling was free in the muggle community? He'd be fine. He was a strong little guy.

[Cassirin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kayquilz

Oh. She hadn't thought about the driver being muggle, but when Giuseppe's eyes flickered towards him, she figured he had caught himself just now. Oops. Lynley pressed a finger to her lips in a SHHH motion and chuckled.

So this was more enjoyable than she had expected. Sis in law did something right for the first and last time, probably.

She smirked over at the man as she took a timid sip from the hot cocoa, as if she didn't believe him about it not really being hot. But it was fine. Her lips remained in tact. "I wanted a child. I am single. So I adopted. It was simple, really. It's hard, being a single parent, but my paycheck and parents help," she grinned. Wasn't bragging about such matters a big N-O on a date? Oh well. "It sucks when I have to go anywhere...and....he'll probably start muggle primary school next fall." Who could afford private magical tutors....when schooling was free in the muggle community? He'd be fine. He was a strong little guy.

Giuseppe waited as she took a sip of the cocoa, and he was satisfied it wasn't too hot when she was able to take a second sip without wincing. Obviously the temperature charms had done their jobs... but not too well. He followed up with his own sip. On a chilly night like this, it was exactly what he wanted, a line of warmth straight down to his stomach.

"You make it sound like you were the only one to get something out of it. He got a home, a loving family. That's everything." In case she wanted to shrug it off, he wasn't going to let her. But he also didn't need to linger on the subject, since she seemed uncomfortable. Except... "Have you considered magical primary school? There are some really reasonable places in London proper." He didn't have kids, but all his co-workers did.

[kayquilz]

Lynley smirked a little. "Yeah...but I didn't do it to be kind. I did it for me," she said softly. "I can be quite selfish sometimes," she shrugged and took a sip of her drink. "Rephrasing that...I used to be. Wyatt.....having a child does not allow for selfishness all that often." And another sip of cocoa. It was smooth, creamy, and sweet. She liked it. "Did you make this yourself?" she asked.

Honestly, Lynley hadn't considered it that much yet. She had dismissed the thought so quickly from her head...she assumed they were all pricey. "Well...no? Not really. Perhaps...I'll have to look into it. And...you know, since I DO reside in London.." she smiled. "Where do you live? So I can properly stalk your home?" She smirked at her joke. Heh.

"Is the carriage going anywhere in particular?"

[Cassirin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kayquilz

Lynley smirked a little. "Yeah...but I didn't do it to be kind. I did it for me," she said softly. "I can be quite selfish sometimes," she shrugged and took a sip of her drink. "Rephrasing that...I used to be. Wyatt.....having a child does not allow for selfishness all that often." And another sip of cocoa. It was smooth, creamy, and sweet. She liked it. "Did you make this yourself?" she asked.

Honestly, Lynley hadn't considered it that much yet. She had dismissed the thought so quickly from her head...she assumed they were all pricey. "Well...no? Not really. Perhaps...I'll have to look into it. And...you know, since I DO reside in London.." she smiled. "Where do you live? So I can properly stalk your home?" She smirked at her joke. Heh.

"Is the carriage going anywhere in particular?"

Maybe she needed the narrative in which she was selfish, but Giuseppe honestly believed that the kid appreciated her actions. He toasted her with his cocoa. No arguments from him. "You seem like a very unselfish person to me, but I've only known you for about 20 minutes."

It was tempting to take credit for the cocoa, but it was an awfully stupid thing to lie about. "I bought it. Bought the whipped cream. I'm not particularly handy in the kitchen, although I survive. I make the best pancakes you've ever had. I mean, if you like them burned on one side and undercooked on the other, there are none better." He watched as the carriage took a corner into a park. "Dinner. Particularly dinner."

[kayquilz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cassirin

Maybe she needed the narrative in which she was selfish, but Giuseppe honestly believed that the kid appreciated her actions. He toasted her with his cocoa. No arguments from him. "You seem like a very unselfish person to me, but I've only known you for about 20 minutes."

It was tempting to take credit for the cocoa, but it was an awfully stupid thing to lie about. "I bought it. Bought the whipped cream. I'm not particularly handy in the kitchen, although I survive. I make the best pancakes you've ever had. I mean, if you like them burned on one side and undercooked on the other, there are none better." He watched as the carriage took a corner into a park. "Dinner. Particularly dinner."

"Twenty minutes too long," she added, joking. She was close to being done her cocoa, and she suddenly wondered if this would make her full int he event of them eating dinner or something. Like, she assumed they'd be going to dinner, right? And now..what if she was too full from the hot cocoa? Was the cocoa made from milk? That made a difference on the fullness thing. Hm.

"Now, did you buy it already MADE or did you buy the packets to make it?" she asked. "Because that...is two different things altogether. Your laziness in my eyes depends on it," she smirked. Nothing wrong with the packets. She bought the packets. She had found a fairly simple recipe for homemade hot cocoa, but she hadn't tried it yet because she had no damn time for it lately.

Particularly Diner. Pfffft. "Oh, is that the name? How odd," she set her cocoa down and smiiiiirked more, side eyeing for his reaction. His reactions had been entertaining thus far. "I can't get pancakes quite right. I'm lucky Wyatt is three--four. He's four. Or else I think he'd tell just where to stick my cruddy pancakes."

[Cassirin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kayquilz

"Twenty minutes too long," she added, joking. She was close to being done her cocoa, and she suddenly wondered if this would make her full int he event of them eating dinner or something. Like, she assumed they'd be going to dinner, right? And now..what if she was too full from the hot cocoa? Was the cocoa made from milk? That made a difference on the fullness thing. Hm.

"Now, did you buy it already MADE or did you buy the packets to make it?" she asked. "Because that...is two different things altogether. Your laziness in my eyes depends on it," she smirked. Nothing wrong with the packets. She bought the packets. She had found a fairly simple recipe for homemade hot cocoa, but she hadn't tried it yet because she had no damn time for it lately.

Particularly Diner. Pfffft. "Oh, is that the name? How odd," she set her cocoa down and smiiiiirked more, side eyeing for his reaction. His reactions had been entertaining thus far. "I can't get pancakes quite right. I'm lucky Wyatt is three--four. He's four. Or else I think he'd tell just where to stick my cruddy pancakes."

More scoffing. Giuseppe made a motion to snatch the thermos out of her hands, although he stopped short of actually doing so. "Of course it's homemade. Not my home. Not made by me. But not dusty chocolate from a packet." Not that there was anything wrong with packet cocoa, but this was a date. One she'd paid for and everything. "I'm not lazy. I just know my limits. I cannot make cocoa."

But he could do other things. Plan dates. Be awkward yet somehow pull it off. All sorts of things.

"You have a sassy mouth on you, don't you? Good thing you know how to make pancakes... or better than I do. I was thinking of Italian. Any objections?"

[kayquilz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cassirin

More scoffing. Giuseppe made a motion to snatch the thermos out of her hands, although he stopped short of actually doing so. "Of course it's homemade. Not my home. Not made by me. But not dusty chocolate from a packet." Not that there was anything wrong with packet cocoa, but this was a date. One she'd paid for and everything. "I'm not lazy. I just know my limits. I cannot make cocoa."

But he could do other things. Plan dates. Be awkward yet somehow pull it off. All sorts of things.

"You have a sassy mouth on you, don't you? Good thing you know how to make pancakes... or better than I do. I was thinking of Italian. Any objections?"

Lynley laughed. DUSTY CHOCOLATE. "How do you..even make cocoa anyway. From the beans, yeah? But I don't know the proper technique for that. Perhaps our next date. We can save the Venice tour for our third date. At this rate, we might have our wedding planned, too," she teased. It really was a joke, and she hoped he knew that. Right? She laughed all the time. This was proving to be a bit easier than she had thought----the conversation part.

Hmph. "It's more than sassy, eh?" she wiggled her eyebrows and coughed.

Ahem.

Yes yes, moving on.

"I enjoy Italian food. And men. It seems." She winked. Merlin, was Lynley.............flirting? This was flirting right? She felt her cheeks flush.

[Cassirin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kayquilz

Lynley laughed. DUSTY CHOCOLATE. "How do you..even make cocoa anyway. From the beans, yeah? But I don't know the proper technique for that. Perhaps our next date. We can save the Venice tour for our third date. At this rate, we might have our wedding planned, too," she teased. It really was a joke, and she hoped he knew that. Right? She laughed all the time. This was proving to be a bit easier than she had thought----the conversation part.

Hmph. "It's more than sassy, eh?" she wiggled her eyebrows and coughed.

Ahem.

Yes yes, moving on.

"I enjoy Italian food. And men. It seems." She winked. Merlin, was Lynley.............flirting? This was flirting right? She felt her cheeks flush.

"I think... you melt chocolate, add warm milk. Whipped cream, if you're living dangerously." He wasn't living so dangerously, not with the danger of the cocoa going cold and the limitations of a thermos. What was more disconcerting, perhaps, was that this first date had just turned into three dates and a wedding. Chocolate made people weird, didn't it?

"You seem to have mapped out our entire future. I'm not sure I get a vote, hmm?" He tapped the seat to let the driver know that they'd reached their destination. La Strega was a very nice Wizarding restaurant with the best pizza this side of London. Time to feed that crazed witch who was not very good at flirting but was adorable when she blushed.

[kayquilz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cassirin

"I think... you melt chocolate, add warm milk. Whipped cream, if you're living dangerously." He wasn't living so dangerously, not with the danger of the cocoa going cold and the limitations of a thermos. What was more disconcerting, perhaps, was that this first date had just turned into three dates and a wedding. Chocolate made people weird, didn't it?

"You seem to have mapped out our entire future. I'm not sure I get a vote, hmm?" He tapped the seat to let the driver know that they'd reached their destination. La Strega was a very nice Wizarding restaurant with the best pizza this side of London. Time to feed that crazed witch who was not very good at flirting but was adorable when she blushed.

"No, but like, how do you make chocolate? Do you know?" she asked, still teasing slightly. "I don't think I'd like whipped cream on my hot chocolate. Wouldn't it just melt?" And that didn't sound.......nice. Melted whipped cream was not something Lynley thought she would ever want. Some people liked it; good for them.

She laughed pleasantly as they came to a stop. She peeked out. "Well, not really, no. You don't have a say at all. I have all the say. That's how marriage works," she teased as she peered out at La Strega. She had been before. Not often, but it was nice and good and she was excited. "Good pick," she said as she looked back over at him. She then held her hand out for him to take to help her up.

Lady and all, right?

[Cassirin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kayquilz

"No, but like, how do you make chocolate? Do you know?" she asked, still teasing slightly. "I don't think I'd like whipped cream on my hot chocolate. Wouldn't it just melt?" And that didn't sound.......nice. Melted whipped cream was not something Lynley thought she would ever want. Some people liked it; good for them.

She laughed pleasantly as they came to a stop. She peeked out. "Well, not really, no. You don't have a say at all. I have all the say. That's how marriage works," she teased as she peered out at La Strega. She had been before. Not often, but it was nice and good and she was excited. "Good pick," she said as she looked back over at him. She then held her hand out for him to take to help her up.

Lady and all, right?

"You're a troublemaker," Giuseppe gave a nod, absolutely sure that he'd figured this woman out. Early days yet, and he totally understood her. Button-pusher. "You don't 'make' chocolate. You just buy the stuff that doesn't taste like sugared cardboard. And if that isn't right, then you buy it off some cocoa hawker on the street."

He stepped out of the carriage and took Lynley's hand to help her down. Not to be forward or anything, Giuseppe released her as soon as her feet hit the ground. "Marriage doesn't sound like something I'd be good at, not if I never get a vote."

[kayquilz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cassirin

"You're a troublemaker," Giuseppe gave a nod, absolutely sure that he'd figured this woman out. Early days yet, and he totally understood her. Button-pusher. "You don't 'make' chocolate. You just buy the stuff that doesn't taste like sugared cardboard. And if that isn't right, then you buy it off some cocoa hawker on the street."

He stepped out of the carriage and took Lynley's hand to help her down. Not to be forward or anything, Giuseppe released her as soon as her feet hit the ground. "Marriage doesn't sound like something I'd be good at, not if I never get a vote."

A TROUBLEMAKER? Lynley laughed. "I've never been called them in my life." She had always liked rules. She always loved rules. Rules were friends. "Cocoa hawker...my, what a life you lead..." she shook her head in mock seriousness, and smiled when he took her hand. Quite the gentleman, wasn't he? She appreciated that in a man.

She nodded his way appreciatively, and wrapped her coat more tightly around her, crossing her arms over her chest. "Votes shmooootes," she said with a grin and a shiver. She was so hungry. Growing ever hungrier by the minute. She might drop DEAD at any second because of it. "Shall we...go in then, good sir?" she asked as she took a timid step towards the restaurant. If this wasn't..a first date, or a date at all for that matter, she would have been a bit more forward with the "hellllooooo please let's go now yes yes?"

A wind blew, and her brunette hair whipped about her shoulders. She didn't like the feeling of her hair down. She usually wore it in a tight bun at work. She liked things kept like that, very ordered. Structured. Unkempt....was how she felt her hair was just milling about.