Quote:

Originally Posted by Shanners

Eli let Rockwell jump up to sit on her lap as that was their usual routine whilst in the park, although she did usually get out her magazine and catch up on the latest gossip and find out what all of her favourite former coworkers were up to. Always so candid, sordid and laughable. "Hear that, Rocky? You're darling!" And with that, she laughed and gave him a kiss as he settled into spot on her lap, head hanging off by her knee. He was a nosy dog. Nosy as much as he was darling.

Shaking her head, Eliora did look closer at the shoe of the other woman, thankful that she hadn't been one of those females to demand a shoe clean of the highest pricing - something which Eliora was at no liberty to afford, what with two kids and a house to pay for. Single parenting wasn't her favourite, but it was her life. "Licorice wand?"

Because she had a whole bag in her bag.

Smiling at the scene, Kiera removed her shoe and gave it a look over. It was not too terrible, saturation localizing mostly around the toe area. She wished that she could pull her wand out and tend to things properly, but she would just have to settle for a simple muggle trick or two for now. Handkerchief out, she removed a bottle water and weted the cloth to begin dabbing at her shoe to clean it. She would have to apply something for the smell when she returned home.

"Oh, thank you," she smiled. She would have to lean over significantly to accept the treat, so she scooted a bit closer to the woman on the bench. "I'm terribly sorry, but I have neglected to ask your name," she blushed while tucking some of her blonde hair behind her ears. "I'm Kiera."

He never really understand why most of his friends decided to settle down so soon. He just didn't see the appeal.

Back to Ella. He couldn't help to chuckle when she answered his question. "Well, good luck then." If taking care of baby is worse than taking care of dragons, she need all the luck. "Wow. He must be a pretty difficult kid when he's a child if your father said something like that." Was he a little terror too when he's a child? Maybe he should asked his grandfather sometime. "So any plans for the next Summers?"

Interesting place? "Hmm...Nope. Just Denmark and England." Nothing interesting. "How about you? Alec probably already took you everywhere huh? Being a WAGs and all that jazz?" Surely he's not going to leave her here while he's doing a tour or a match. So Ella probably went to more interesting places than him.

Closer. She was coming closer! Why was it that whenever Eliora offered food to anybody, they assumed that she wanted them to voluntarily make themselves a home almost in her lap? Luckily, Eli wasn't opposed to sharing personal space and encouraged it if someone was on her list of rated and dated. Mainly the top five would be the goals to share space with, but she'd take any from the top thirty if they were around. She didn't discriminate based on rate.

She did however erase those that fathered her children from the list very very quickly. Goodbye.

Not that she knew who one of them was, or did she... Oh, memories were a telltale thing. A secret thing. A big problem. Nothing too dreadful for the thirty year old, though. No one needed to know. She was a good enough mother and father to both children.

"Eliora. Nice to meet you." No hand shaking, for she was too busy putting food in her mouth now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shanners

Closer. She was coming closer! Why was it that whenever Eliora offered food to anybody, they assumed that she wanted them to voluntarily make themselves a home almost in her lap? Luckily, Eli wasn't opposed to sharing personal space and encouraged it if someone was on her list of rated and dated. Mainly the top five would be the goals to share space with, but she'd take any from the top thirty if they were around. She didn't discriminate based on rate.

She did however erase those that fathered her children from the list very very quickly. Goodbye.

Not that she knew who one of them was, or did she... Oh, memories were a telltale thing. A secret thing. A big problem. Nothing too dreadful for the thirty year old, though. No one needed to know. She was a good enough mother and father to both children.

"Eliora. Nice to meet you." No hand shaking, for she was too busy putting food in her mouth now.

No personal bubbles were being breached, so at least there was that. Kiera was the timid sort when it came to close proximity with others - unless they had a creature with them. So really, she had been moving closer not just for the sweet but to get a closer look at the doggie again. Perhaps after she moved she could get one.

Perhaps.

"Pleasure to meet you, Eliora," the blonde smiled as she held the licorice wand in her hand. The lack of a handshake was noted, but no hard feelings were had because of it. "Do you live close by? I am thinking of looking for a place but I am unfamiliar with the area."

So any advice would be most welcome.

This might have been the first in three years that Alexa was not thrilled to be spending what others had as a holiday at work. Usually, she was a bundle of eager energy, ready to stay in the somewhat empty Ministry building, filing things, patrolling empty corridors, having the food court to the workers of Level Two and very few others but not this time. Lex almost hated the place. She resented walking into it every morning and was never happier than when she left it in the evening.

Aurors enjoyed their work and an Auror she was not. With all the work she'd put into it, in the end she just wasn't good enough to make the cut based on technicalities and would have to continue as an underling.

If she couldn't even earn a badge, how would she eventually earn Head Auror?

It was questions like that which made it of the utmost importance that she didn't have lunch inside the Ministry. It was a constant reminder of her failure and she would be having none of it. 'Sides, lunch in the park was nice, especially when she could take her partner with her--er...former partner. He was no longer a YATI. It was just her they'd deemed undeserving of the badge. How silly of her to forget.

Lex walked silently along the foot path, looking for a bench they could share. The task was distracting enough for the moment.

Things were....different. Something was off and Rhydian couldn't quite put his finger on it. Lex was somehow just, not Lex. Or the grumpy version of Lex, which usually preceded flaming balls of fire and numerous hexes. Why he had agreed to lunch, given it jeopardized his immediate safety, was slightly beyond him.

Perhaps because when it came to Lex, he didn't really think about safety. She was a dangerous person, it just came with the territory. It was something he'd learned long ago, and something he had no issue with. Probably why he didn't hesitate to agree to a lunch in the park with her.

Private time alone wasn't always good, and with Lex that was especially true.

He let her do the picking of most things. It seemed somehow important. His attention went to fussing with his hat, and then picking a few pieces of pencil shavings and paper scraps off his wool jacket.

But Rhydian Blackhold and silence didn't go together very well, and by the time they reached the park he had about enough to last him till the end of the holiday season. Plucking his hat off his head, he reached over and gently deposited it on Lex's. "Want to tell me what's eating at you?"

There was a hat on her head.

Lex turned, glancing up at her ex-partner. There was a lot eating at her lately if she was being honest and it all seemed to stem from one place; a place she was currently trying to forget in case it ruined her lunch. The young woman tipped the hat on her head but otherwise ignored his question for now in favour of gesturing him over to a bench she'd spotted by the lake up ahead.

Once at the bench, she flopped down, staring out at the ducks as the silence continued. It wasn't how she preferred her environment and in fact, it gave her too much time to think but at the same time, she was done repeating it. It all just seemed so much worse every time she said it aloud and it was doing nothing for her healing.

After a time, she removed the hat from her head and held it out to him, but her gaze never left the ducks. "It's gonna be weird not having you at training."[/b] You know, now that she would be the only required to go through it. "I guess I should just hope the new YATIs aren't idiots, or I'll never make it."

He had learned rather quickly, that Lex was about the only one who tolerated his transfer of hats. It still baffled him why sharing was so unaccepted by so many, but it also made him even more grateful that Lex humored him. Even if it was just for the sake of humoring him.

The silence, however, disturbed him some. Lex wasn't a particularly silent person, which meant that something was deeply wrong. He used the time in getting to the bench to mull over the possibilities, anything from lack of sleep, to bad chocolates that morning, to some boyfriend giving her the awful run-around, to Felix having passed away.

He was about to ask about the later, when Lex was returning his hat and giving a very un-Lex-like, convuluted answer. One eyebrow went up, the other went down, and he gently pushed her hand back and helped her replace the hat. She looked like she needed something warm and comforting, and hats were just that.

"Aurors and Hit Wizards have to train too, you know." But it was the last bit of her statement that had all his caring ability up in a runckus. "Suppose it'll be harder for the both of us. Not like a YATI can pass your skill in a few years. You'll be blowing them out of the water."

Could even play fish in a barrel with them too. Wasn't there something about initiations?

His gentle refusal of his hat didn't bother her, she simply placed it on her head once more and fished for her sandwich from its little paper bag. Yet another distracting action, just to keep her occupied. It was still nice and toasty thanks to the spell she'd cast before they left the cafe and that helped with this brisk January weather. Finally, her gaze fell on him again.

"That's the point. 'm not good enough to be either." No matter how many times she said it, the sting was going nowhere. "You'll be the Auror--Hit Wizard." Had he made up his mind officially? "And I'll still be a YATI when the Ministry officially opens in another week." Another week then she had to face it full on. Being grouped with the newbs, being ordered around with them--being put into the same categories.

She would have to share the floor with them, unless a desk was one of the conditions, Emily said would be afforded to her despite her having to repeat.

"They won't be as good as me, but I didn't want to still be one of them..." Was that her appetite crawling away? Why yes, yes it was.

When Lex went for her sandwich, so did Rhydian. There was no telling how long it would take to get to the bottom of the issue, but there was a time limit to the bottomless pit that was his stomach.

The rather thick conglomerate of stuffing was on the way to his mouth when she gave him that look. And said those words. He wasn't sure which he came closer to: dropping the sandwich or nearly smearing it all over his face.

He did, however, choke a bit on air. "What? Hold on a sec." Shifting his weight, he pulled his leg up onto the bench so he could face her properly. "What are you saying? Browne failed you from the program?"

It was tempting to add on a 'you're kidding me, right' sentiment, but he couldn't bring himself to it. In all truth and honesty, he could see several reasons why Lex might have failed, though he didn't really attribute them to being her fault. Sleeping disorders weren't something that one could control.

Instead, he managed an alternate version. "On what grounds?"

Her sandwich was lowered to her lap and it was all she could do not to stuff it back in its bag. "When you say it like that, it sounds a million times worse." She informed him, not quite hitting the tone of indifference she'd been hoping for. Lex much preferred the euphemism of repeating a portion of her final year. It sounded.....less like she'd failed at the only thing she'd ever wanted. "But essentially, yes. I did."

His incredulous look matched her own feelings to a 'T'. She hadn't been able to believe it when she'd heard it and at first she thought the boss lady was only joking, but no such luck.

"Failed my psych eval. Apparently, I've got the wrong mindset and that makes giving me a badge somewhat irresponsible." She didn't have a bleeding heart, she didn't much care about the innocents and she was motivated by thrill rather than justice. It didn't seem like to end of the world to her but it might as well had been.

"I'm also apparently not as caught up on the law as I should be." Though that she would take partial responsibility for. Theory was never her thing and she didn't think it would be all that important, leaving her to focus on her physical training--which she had passed with flying colours mind you.

It was about a two second switch from bafflement to incrediulous amusement. Rhydian knew that laughing, or showing any form of humor, right now would likely wind him up in the duck pond. Problem was, appropriatness hadn't been something he'd gotten any gold stars for or 'E's for effort.

Problem was, he couldn't help the snort and bit of laughter that left him with a shake of his head. "Hold on. The grounds are your psych evaluation?" Thankfully, he was able to bring it under a somewhat calm state relatively quickly. "Lex. There has to be a mistake. If I got in, there's no way that you couldn't get in."

Besides the lack of sleeping and somewhat brash and brazen attitude that put safety second to effect, Rhydian really couldn't see why they would have failed her. She had the drive, the motivation and....well sad thing was, it was kind of a big deal. It was her big dream. Head Auror. She'd talked about it almost endlessly.

Shaking his head with more disbelief than anything else, Rhydian couldn't get past it. "None of the graduates are as caught up on law as they should be. It's called trial and error." Not like the whole thing was black and white. There was a lot of grey, and only experience and exposure would dilute that.

...

......

Why was he laughing? The paper bag crumpled in his grasp, without her being aware of when she'd begun squeezing at it. Last she checked, hearing that someone did poorly and STILL got in but she didn't wasn't the best way to make her feel better about this situation. When the paper bag could be crushed no further, she unceremoniously threw it at him with all the ill intent she could muster. "That's bloody brilliant for you. My Examiner considered my results 'alarming'. Said it shows a certain disregard for what the MLE stands for and I'll need a second evaluation sometime in March or so." All she had to do was pass that. It would take some preparation. "My dad thinks my being candid was what tanked me. Doesn't think I should have told them how I really felt about half the situations they presented to me with." Looking back, he might have been right.

She could tell he was making genuine attempts to ensure she understood this didn't make her any less than the others in her would be graduate group but for as much as she wanted to believe him, she was the only one they'd forced to repeat.

"They don't think someone as 'reckless' as I am should be allowed to pass with the level of the law I do know. They think I'll be more of a danger than anything else when reckless abandon meets ignorance of the rules." But it wasn't true, not completely. Alexa was well aware she was reckless but she knew how to make the distinction when it came to her Professional life...for the most part.

So, he should have seen it coming. He sort of did, but at the same time he didn't. Perhaps because he was expecting something a bit more.....extreme.

Needless to say, the chucked paper bag got a quick deflection of his hand, and it's own bought of laughter. "Hey! I was agreeing with you that it's hogwash ridiculous."

Clearly, agreeing in the wrong manner, which he had to agree with in turn. Clearing his throat, Rhydian tried to settle himself and pay attention to what she was saying. It was the hurt and disappointment in her voice that got to him, and his smile slipped away. For a few moments, he was silent after she had spoken, considering her with a slight head tilt, as if he was listening to something unsaid.

"I think perhaps, being candid is what gave you grace until March." There was more he wanted to say on that, but past history had him rearranging his words. "Lex, in all the time I've known you, I've never seen you get into a situation you couldn't get out of. Never seen you unable to handle yourself. Being candid...that's what makes you, you. What gives you that flare that is needed in the MLE."

Too sentimental? Perhaps. "We're all bat-boogey crazy to even be in the MLE. I think the examiners like to forget that. Don't think they like to hear that some rules have to be broken."

He knew what the law said about following the law. Didn't mean he always agreed with it, and he knew Lex was of a similar mindset.

He let out a huff and clapped a hand lightly on her leg. "March is only two months away. Then you'll be graduated."

"Agree without laughing or I'll accidentally remove your tongue for a while." Accidentally of course, because she still liked Rhydian enough not to leave him permanently damaged and when he wasn't Ravenclawing her, she didn't mind at all hearing him speak. The laughing, however, was not something she would contend with.

In the next minute, he proved just why she let him keep his tongue. See? He said nice things. "I couldn't agree with you more." There was nothing wrong with being candid; it wouldn't prevent her from carrying out her duties. "Nothing wrong with my being candid. Not feeling sorry for someone doesn't mean I won't save them if they're on the right side of the law--neither will offering me exclusive knowledge of the dark arts keep me from taking someone down." Because they HAD asked and she'd been nothing but upfront in letting them know that anyone who offered such things would instantly hold more value to her--but only because it was true and they'd asked. Put in the situation for real, they couldn't honestly think she'd strike a deal without the boss' go ahead.

"Don't think they like that thought much for real." She conceded. "I hinted at something like that, one of them's eyes nearly fell out of their sockets before he furiously started scribbling again." But at the time she'd only chalked it up to the man being interested in learning from her obviously clever ways. Apparently not.

Her eyes fell to the hand on her leg, a gesture that was meant to be comforting but only had her sighing. "It seems like forever away and I bet they'll just find another reason to fail me by then." Except she wouldn't let them. Even going into the last assessment, she'd known all the 'right' answers but figured they'd have preferred the honesty. Now, when the time came, she would respond with recitation and they would have no choice but to give her her badge.

Ah, there was the Lex he knew. While he could stop his laughing, he couldn't keep the grin off his face as he held up his hands, and sandwich, defensively. "Dully noted."

Lowering his sandwich, Rhydian gave her a quizzical look. "Did you tell them that?" Because right there, he didn't see a single reason that she should have failed the assessment. If anything, she should have passed with flying colors. Keeping feelings out of the equation was often as important as knowledge of the law. Feelings made people do things. Made them step out of black and white and into grey.

It was why Rhydian only saw grey. But he was also good at hiding it. Perhaps that was why he had passed...and Lex hadn't.

Of course, it was hard not to laugh again when she said things about the examiner like that. He tried to hide it in taking a bite of his sandwich, but his eyes danced with mirth. Someone had to tell those people who had their noses in books for too long, what was actually going on in the world.

That sigh though, it was almost as disheartening as the look she had given him when she had told him about not making Auror. He set his sandwich on his knee. "Lex, you'll pass. This is a small set-back, and those destined for great things often have the hardest pitfalls before they get there." Or something like that. It sounded nice.

"And anyways, I won't let them fail you again. I will be your instructor in bullcrap." He knew it well. The ways of reserving bluntness. It was, after all, different than tact. "And I'll train with you, as always. No sense in dulling your skills with fresh blood." Training with new YATI would likely only make her more cynical and likely to blow a hole in the examination room wall.

At least he'd stopped laughing, that much she could handle. It wasn't funny--none of it was and not for the life of her could she see why he might have been laughing. Finally she raised her sandwich again, ready to make a second attempt but his words cut her off. She shook her head. "I told them everything. The problem was telling them too much apparently." Growing up, she'd always been that kid that overshared but it served her well when it came to making certain people stay away from her.

Now...now she'd pushed away the people she was meant to be impressing and it made no sense at all. "Why is it so hard to believe that people can separate their lives indiscriminately?" It was a question she wondered more and more about. People told her she wouldn't see the world in black or white for the rest of her life, that she'd eventually start seeing shades of grey but it was yet to be proven. Lex did not blend things--Rhydian of all people would know that. Unfortunately the Examiners would not.

Somewhere deep down she also knew he was right about the setback. She was aware the world didn't always work the way you wanted it to but it didn't make it hurt any less. At current, she could think of a handful of things she would have preferred going wrong instead of her YATI training.

"Finding I have cavities would have been a far more acceptable setback." She muttered, willing to interject her own bit of cynical humour into the situation. She meant it though. ANYTHING would have been better than this setback.

The faintest of smiles appeared at his next words, both because she would be loathed to train with fresh meat and because he was offering to help her fudge her next examine. "Thanks. I appreciate that, I really do." Pretending she cared was gonna be hard. Having an instructor might help.

Rhydian clicked his tongue in response. The humor was all but gone from his expression, and he wasn't in danger of laughing anytime soon. This was, and he knew it, serious business. Especially when it came to Lex. Were it anyone else, he might have told them to suck it up and deal. But this was Lex.

"It's a fine line." He took a mouthful of his sandwich, chewing around her question as much as he chewed around the contents. "You seem to forget that in the MLE our lives are our work. So nothing is private. Unless you're good at hiding."

Even then, it was a very unsure thing. Just how long could one go undetected in the MLE? As long as they didn't do something to warrant more eyes watching than normal he supposed. For Lex, that might not be too long.

As was his decision not to laugh. A chuckle left him. "Not sure they hire based on number of cavities or not, but I still think you can take that off your list of future setbacks. With the amount of chocolate you eat....."

His grin said the rest. A grin that extended into her thanks. Which, there was something else he wanted to offer as well, but perhaps now was the not the best time? Then again, Rhydian Blackhold and timing never went hand in hand. "I also have a place now. So, if you ever need somewhere to crash or wander to or a good meal....." He shrugged. "Got a couch and a table with chairs."

Better than a box and a mattress in some hole in a wall.

"But that's the point." She objected, swallowing a bite of her sandwich. Keeping it warm had been a good idea; it tasted heavenly. "I wasn't hiding anything and I wasn't trying to be private. They got the full bill and receipt--everything I thought and all it did was have them label me a hazard rather than a help." Which, as he could guess, was most certainly not her intention.

The little smile that had come up only minutes ago had gotten a little wider. "You'd think so--and you wouldn't be the first to think so but I actually take VERY good care of my teeth." Cavities were as unlikely as repeating her last year...except that DID happen but her point still stood. As far as she was concerned, given more liberal examiners, she would have had no problem passing.

Also, she was very happy for the shift in conversation. Talking about her own shortcomings had never been a hobby of hers and if she could forget about it, she would.

"That's brilliant, where is it?" His new place, of course. "Remy's been making my meals--unless I go to my Dad's or let Fox order half the restaurant but I like your cooking too." Which meant she was very likely to take him up on his offer.

"Fraid it won't be a stop on my wandering tour unless it's outside of Britain though." As a general rule of thumb, she tried not to stay within the country.

Maybe it was a little too cold to be walking around a park but Jetson was a fan of winter. Winter was different from all the other seasons. To most people it was a bad season but to him it was about being with family, that's what he cared about most, his family. Thought most of his family is broken he always feels the need to try and rebuild it to where it was before but he knew that was far from possible. Jett took a break from walking and just stood off the side of the pathway and looked around at his surroundings.

"Some people just can't handle the true you, Lex." That might not have sounded like a compliment, but it was meant to be one. Surely the smile that accompanied it said as much. He shrugged a shoulder. "And lets be fair, I think you and I both know that you can be a bit of a hazard sometimes."

His smile only grew and he shook his head. "Oh I know." He did. She had some nice pearly whites there. Had to be some trick of the trade. "Maybe if you exchange your oral hygiene secrets with the examiners, they'll let you in."

Doubtful. So very doubtful.

Of course, his good mood went a bit sour at the mention of Fox. Of course he had to get used to hearing about him, but that didn't mean he wanted to get used to it. The man's name was like a lingering bad taste. Bloke had a habit of showing off. Buy half the resturant. It was laughable.

"Downtown London, so...not a wandering destination." Clearly not. "It's a bit noisy if I don't put the muffling charms on the walls, but it does fine." He considered his sandwich. Half a restaurant...."Why don't you swing by for dinner tonight? I'll show you where it is so you can pop by whenever the fancy strikes you."

Thomas was wrapped up for a walk in the park and was wondering when he would be starting at the ministry he had not heard anything but maybe he will hear back soon and he saw another man standing off the side of the pathway and said "Hey there cold day isn't it"

Jetson looked around the park. He had been here before but it had been a very long time. Over ten years to be exact, he hadn't been here since before he got kid knapped and held prisoner for over ten years. As Jett stood there with his hands in his pockets he had heard a voice. "Hello." The Scottish man said back to him. "Indeed it is."

Thomas smiled at the man and said "Name's Thomas Arrowsmith" Thomas held his hand out for the man to shake

Jetson nodded as the man introduced himself. "Nice to meet you, mate!" The man smiled. "I'm Jetson Somerhalder." Even though most people just called him Jett but he'd like to get to know people a little more before he let people call him by his nickname.