Louisa was lost in thought, nibbling on the scone in her hand and staring intently at this one spot on the table, that is until a familiar voice drew her attention. "Jwaw!" She blurted out, surprised but pleased for the distraction. She hadn't seen him since last August! Not knowing whether to hug him (she wanted to) or to shake his hand (eh) or what, she remained seated but straightened up and allowed her face to beam a little. "What a pleasant surprise. Look at you in your sharp work uniform and combed hair." She let out a wolf-whistle, not caring if this was okayed by him or not.

He could join her, and so she gestured to the chair opposite of hers. "Please. It's been a while since we caught up. How're you?"

Alright, looks like they were going to have a conversation. He'd at least make an effort to not be stilted even if he had found it strange that she was talking to him. Then again he'd randomly shared tables with people when getting lunch before and both Mariel and Victoria had turned out to be nice enough people even if they were just acquaintances, and then that time when Emily had sat with him while having coffee so this probably wasn't all that different.

"You should, or y'know just the scones because they're amazing no matter what," he commented, barely suppressing a groan when the lady in the front ordered five coffees. Why did people have to buy coffees for everyone? Nice to meet you Sky," he said politely. "Dmitry Konstantinov," he finished off, offering his hand. Perhaps it was a bit formal but even if they were meant to be introducing themselves so they weren't total strangers the fact was that he was meeting her for the first time and he'd had manners drilled into him for so long it was second nature.

Soooo... she wasn't going to hug him.

Okay.

He sat down where she'd indicated and chuckled at the whistle. "Would you expect less of me?" He guessed not. "You look beatiful too. All grown up." Hehehe. She was only a year younger than him, but in his eyes for some reason, the gap was bigger.

"I'm fine. How are you? What are you doing here?" In other words, spill the beans!

Nah, she wouldn't expect less of him and his extravagant car. Merlin, she still remembered that fantastic experience driving that thing. Maybe he'd lend it for her once again. She was sipping from her coffee when he said she looked grown up, grown up! Louisa almost spat the coffee out as she laughed, "Heeey! I've been a grown up since I was eleven, thank you very much. But the beautiful thing gets you off the hook for saying that." The laughter subdued to a chuckle.

"I'm good, good." She took a bite from her scone, crossing her legs and getting comfortable to tell the WHOLE story to her dear friend Mr. Jwaw. "Weeell, you'll be pleased to know that I graduated last month." Louisa waited for the applause and made a curtsy with her arms. "Thank you thank you. And I thought, if I wanted to make something big of myself, I cannot keep jumping countries, I have to decide where I want to settle down and start climbing that ladder." She gestured to him and then to herself, "And as you know, we, politicians, serve our country best if we start inside the country then maybe spread our word outside. And here I am, applying for an internship in the International Wizarding Confederation office in London." Louisa finished with a smile.

"I'm hoping to intern in the Secretariat office, get closer to the decision-makers of this country and learn their ways, I'm writing to professor Tate, he used to work with them so he's going to help me a little." Thanks to Giuseppe, too.

João snort-laughed too. A Louisa at the age of eleven, and he can see her being a know it all about everything. But she must also have been a cute girl too. Hmm. He wondered if she'd show him any childhood pictures. Probably not.

...

He was gaping. He was gaping, and he didn't even have the strength to close his mouth and stare more gentleman-like. All he could think was that she'd graduated and was going to work here.

"Whendidjagrowupsomuch?" he exclaimed, completely missing out the applause part. "Hey, that's great! How did the interview go? When are you starting?" Most important of all, why was he learning about this by COINCIDENCE?

... okay, see that? THAT look of surprise was slightly insulting, but Louisa knew he didn't mean to offend her. He was simply expecting her to be the same old Louisa with her occasional outbursts and childish but ADORABLE schemes. Welp, she still did the schemes thing but they were more effective and better planned. "Oh for heaven's sake--" she slapped his arm playfully not really. "--stop it! I'm a grown woman now, you should start talking to me like one." Okay, so maybe some things never change. Heh. "You and your girlfriend. Same feedback, only hers was underneath all those layers of self-defense mechanism called acting like a rogue law officer." Louisa unraveled those layers, though. She firmly believed so.

Now she had to look for a new arch-enemy. SIGH.

Anyway. Back to discussing more important things. "It was great. But all the others' interviews were great too, so it's not saying much. They'll owl me in two or three weeks." She seemed quite confident and detached but you could see her hands toying with the hem of her shirt nervously. "It's fine. If I don't get it, I'll always have that post in Wellington's university." Only Louisa didn't want to teach, that was such a boring career starter.

João chuckled lightly and playfully, even though that hurt. "I'm sorry, very grown up Lady Carter." He bowed royally. Did Her Grown-up Grace forgive him? He wanted to ask what about my girlfriend, but kept his mouth shut and listened to her tales of interview.

He made a face at that nasty possibility. She... wouldn't live in New Zealand again. He knew it. She wouldn't. "I'm sure you'll get it and we will celebrate it together." Yeah?

Louisa gave him a smirk, "That's not talking to a grown up, that's like talking to a queen. I don't mind, though. Carry on.." Heh, if he insisted on his proper manners that made her feel oh-so fancy.

She appreciated the faith he was showing in her, though. It sounded genuine. "Thank you, I appreciate the gesture." Of willing to celebrate with her for that. She leaned forward a little. "So you want to celebrate, huh? Let's seeee, what's your offer?" Hmm, Mr. Joao Neves? What kind of celebration were they talking about here? Louisa was all ears with the same smirk on her face.

João grinned back. Every girl wanted to be a queen deep inside, no? Yes, they did. He knew from his mother. The thought of her still hurt, so he shrugged to himself and raised one eyebrow so precisely she should back down.

"I'm willing to do whatever Her Grace wants - as long as it's not absurd." He grinned back sweetly. Huh? How about that?

"In a manner of speaking yes, You are right." But that didn't mean he was going to admit to being wrong. No, Benji loved being right himself, even when he was wrong he never gave up his position of possibly being right. "Yes, i know. I'm terribly burdened with such things." He wondered how Conan would behave with a cat around? Not that he wanted one, they pooped inside, he wasn't having his home smell like a litterbox. The door of the Cafe held open as he let Eli step in first. He had manners. "Well, actually Carrie has mentioned getting another dog." It was really more of a joke, he at least thought so, considering the rest of the conversation. But they did also talk about living together so who knew?

Hmmm She was fun to look at. That's all he could do really but that was enough. "And what would you prefer? You'd like me to confess that I'd love to be dragged along by You?"

Jasmine was excited to meet Jamie! She sent him a tweet to meet her. She hoped he would show up. As she made her way to an open table, she smoothed out her romper before sitting down. She hoped she wasn't dressed too fancy. I mean this was a casual date. Wait was this even called a date? No this was a casual meet up. I mean work friend and to work friend. She got out her menu and decided on what she wanted. She hoped Jamie would hurry she was starving walking around all day in the sun.

Jamie walked around trying to find the cafe that the Jasmine girl had told him about. The thirty-four year old searched and searched but he wasn't sure if he was in the right place. Why were cafe's so hard to find? They were always small and invisible really. Why was that? Were ghosts the only creatures that could find these places or were they the ones that created these little teeny tiny cafe's? Jameson wasn't really sure what was going on with cafe's, what were they and why did ghosts make them because they weren't a coffee shop and they weren't restaurants or a bakery. It's like they weren't anything really. After about fifteen minutes of searching for this cafe Jamie had finally found it! It was about time that he had found it.

As Jamie walked into the invisible cafe he could have sworn that he had seen the outside of the building before. It had to be so. Jamie probably walked past it when he was looking for the place. Jamie looked for Jasmine which wasn't hard because the place was small. "Hello." He said and waved at her and as Jamie walk towards the little table she was sitting at he tripped and fell on his face.

SPOILER!!: Jamie :3

Quote:

Originally Posted by DinosaursOnASpaceship

Jamie walked around trying to find the cafe that the Jasmine girl had told him about. The thirty-four year old searched and searched but he wasn't sure if he was in the right place. Why were cafe's so hard to find? They were always small and invisible really. Why was that? Were ghosts the only creatures that could find these places or were they the ones that created these little teeny tiny cafe's? Jameson wasn't really sure what was going on with cafe's, what were they and why did ghosts make them because they weren't a coffee shop and they weren't restaurants or a bakery. It's like they weren't anything really. After about fifteen minutes of searching for this cafe Jamie had finally found it! It was about time that he had found it.

As Jamie walked into the invisible cafe he could have sworn that he had seen the outside of the building before. It had to be so. Jamie probably walked past it when he was looking for the place. Jamie looked for Jasmine which wasn't hard because the place was small. "Hello." He said and waved at her and as Jamie walk towards the little table she was sitting at he tripped and fell on his face.

Jasmine heard the door open and she couldn't help but peek over her shoulder. She was glad she did because she saw Jamie. Okay she needed to play it cool. She turned her head back towards the window and looked towards the crowds passing. She needed to pretend she didn't notice Jamie coming. She heard footsteps and her heart was beating very fast. She couldn't wait to eat lunch with him. She heard him say his hello and she turned around to return the greeting when she noticed him fall. She put her hands over her mouth and then after the shock, she giggled a bit. She didn't want to be rude but it was kind of funny.

"Are you okayy??" she asked containing her laughter. "Do you need help getting up?" she asked her lunch date.

Theodore had never been here before, but it smelled absolutely awesome so he trusted what they were cookin'. It was the perfect place to meet up with one of his friends that he hadn't hung out with in ages, and he was excited! He had lots to tell Blue, but more importantly he wanted to know what SHE was doing. He kinda missed her a bit. A lot. Okay, loads.

He sat at one of the tables with a hot chocolate steaming in front of him. He'd already tried to start the sipping off slowly, but had successfully burnt the tip of his tongue from doing so.

Yes, just watching it was all Theo was doing for now.

Okay, so naturally she was really excited to see one of her best friends again. That was a given. Don’t get her wrong – it was just a little sad, in all honesty. The thing with becoming an ‘adult’ (PSH, like that was ever going to happen for real) was that you seemed lose touch with best friends apparently. Like you don’t wake up every day minus two months of the year and see them. Sucks really. So it was a bittersweet having to actually properly arrange to see Theo. But she was getting to see Theo. So she couldn’t be sad about the whole ordeal, no way.

Blue pushed open the door with a bounce in her step and a little too much force in her push. But who cared? Minus the waitress and owner of the store, of course. The eighteen year old found a grin growing across her features even as she searched the small bakery for Theo.

“THEO.”

It required extra strength and constantly reminding herself that she might’ve already cracked the glass in the door not to go running. She didn’t attempt to restrain herself from pulling him into a hug that resembled a ‘loving’ attack from a python.

After telling himself that his hot chocolate MUST have cooled off by now, Theo gave it another sip which burnt his already burnt tongue even more. He frowned at his cup, then pushed it to the other side of the table.

Had enough.

Theo started tapping the table as he began to wonder where Blue was, buuuuuuuuut there we go, she had arrived. He immediately looked around at other people in the restaurant, who would probably notice that noisy introduction, but he soon shrugged that off because he was being pulled into a bestie hug. "Bluuuuue!" He squeezed her tightly, then leaned back into his chair with a super grin on his face. Why had it felt like FOREVER? "What's up?! How's it goin'?" In general.

"I was just about to get a cake, or something. Want anything?" He had to wait for company to arrive before stuffing his face, of course.

It didn't take long after entering the place for Gavin to wish he hadn't. Did Muggles have nothing better to do at their lunch hour but stand in lines for pastries and conversation. His signature scowl set in, obviously displeased he hadn't missed the lunch rush. Evidently he'd have to sit and wait for the line to get shorter. Tooooo many bodies touching over there and he wasn't about to add to that.

This firmly decided, Gavin took an empty seat and watched. People watching wasn't nearly as bad as being entangled with him, rather it'd become a pass time, one he'd recently included Emily in. In his momentary laspe in sanity at the sight of the crowded cafe, he found himself agreeing with his 7 year old niece, muggle's were funny looking...or maybe it was his mind playing tricks like the way it made it look like the walls were closing in....

Gavin rubbed his hand across his face. Vacation, he needed one of those. This was proving to be a long year.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaniDiNardo

It didn't take long after entering the place for Gavin to wish he hadn't. Did Muggles have nothing better to do at their lunch hour but stand in lines for pastries and conversation. His signature scowl set in, obviously displeased he hadn't missed the lunch rush. Evidently he'd have to sit and wait for the line to get shorter. Tooooo many bodies touching over there and he wasn't about to add to that.

This firmly decided, Gavin took an empty seat and watched. People watching wasn't nearly as bad as being entangled with him, rather it'd become a pass time, one he'd recently included Emily in. In his momentary laspe in sanity at the sight of the crowded cafe, he found himself agreeing with his 7 year old niece, muggle's were funny looking...or maybe it was his mind playing tricks like the way it made it look like the walls were closing in....

Gavin rubbed his hand across his face. Vacation, he needed one of those. This was proving to be a long year.

Wow, it was REALLY busy in here. William had entered the cafe at a good time, a bit on the early side of the lunch rush, but by the time he got up to the counter, paid, and received his food, there were no seats left in the place. He didn't want to eat outside because he had soup and was paranoid about leaves and bugs getting into it, so..... so no he was going to have to stand here with his little tray and be his awkward self.

Sigh. He moved out of the way of the other inpatients in line and looked around for annnnyone who looked close to leaving. Oh! There was a half-empty table... and that guy didn't even have food or trash with him! William edged closer. And then a little closer still. And... then he realized...

He knew that guy. "Gavin?"

Vaguely he was aware of someone approaching his table, vaaaguely because he didn't want to think too much about what he'd do if someone came and parked their bum in the seat opposite his. His eyes stayed trained on the line but the figure was slowly moving into his line of sight and soon he was...well you know...hard to miss. Especially when he said his name?

Huh?

He blinked, allowing himself to regard, for the first time since he'd noticed, whoever it was heading toward his table. "William?" WILLIAM!!! That was it!! "Sit." He urged, blinking just a little in disbelief of his actual luck. Imagine that! No muggles for HIM today. "Sit sit sit. Were you in a hurry? I don't mean to keep you from Harmony." Merlin, no. That might cause her to pay him a visit and he was well on his way without talks of a pulsating aura he didn't even KNOW he had.

Would he need to offer a special pardon? He would. This was serious. Completely. Sooo many people and no Emily to ignore them with. Next time he decided to surprize her with pastries...he'd send his PA.

Was Gavin oka--- oh, he DID remember Willy! Wonderful. The tall man sat with a relief, shaking his head already to his questions. "Nah, I don't think anyone at the office would really miss me if I came back late. But I won't, I mean, I'm not in a rush." Nooooo he couldn't look like a slacker in front of the senior undersecretary.

Speaking of, though, the man looked stressed. "Did you eat?" he asked him politely, not yet touching his food. Dat soup tho... looked soooooo warm and cheesy.

No one would notice if he returned late? "Lucky." Gavin muttered. That used to be the case with him when he worked down in Mysteries only...he would never leave the lab and no one would ever notice or question it. Now, now it seemed like everyone in the world wanted something signed or reviewed the moment he stepped away from his desk.

The question proved foreign to him at first but that might have been because his attention was somewhat divided. Had to keep an eye on the line and all that. "I did actually. Grabbed something from the cafe on the corner." And you'd NEVER believe how much emptier it was at this hour. Another glance at the line had him grimacing. "Just so happens Emily likes the brownies here best." And he was going out of his way to be a good boyfriend, see?

"Wish I'd known there would be this many people...I'd have gotten her something from the food court--the level of contact over there is horrifying." That one man...did no one else see the way he kept brushing against that one there? Or THAT ONE! That one would moved even when there was no room to move. It was enough to make his skin crawl.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaniDiNardo

No one would notice if he returned late? "Lucky." Gavin muttered. That used to be the case with him when he worked down in Mysteries only...he would never leave the lab and no one would ever notice or question it. Now, now it seemed like everyone in the world wanted something signed or reviewed the moment he stepped away from his desk.

The question proved foreign to him at first but that might have been because his attention was somewhat divided. Had to keep an eye on the line and all that. "I did actually. Grabbed something from the cafe on the corner." And you'd NEVER believe how much emptier it was at this hour. Another glance at the line had him grimacing. "Just so happens Emily likes the brownies here best." And he was going out of his way to be a good boyfriend, see?

"Wish I'd known there would be this many people...I'd have gotten her something from the food court--the level of contact over there is horrifying." That one man...did no one else see the way he kept brushing against that one there? Or THAT ONE! That one would moved even when there was no room to move. It was enough to make his skin crawl.

Heh. He was at that. Lucky today, anyway. William sort of grinned and tucked in to his soup. No point in waiting since Gavin said he already ate... though the topic of Emily was nearly enough to make him lose his appetite.

Yuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuucky.

"I would avoid that food court if I were you," he offered in between bites of soup. Unless, of course, Gavin were trying to poison Emily, in which case Willy was ALL FOR THAT and would encourage him to steam on ahead. "Last time I ate a brownie there, I choked on it, and this insane Healer woman attacked me and forced me onto a stretcher. I'd just taken too big a bite was all!"

Buncha crazies! Speaking of contact though.... Will eyed the line like Gavin was doing. "You anti-being touched?" How did that factor into a relationship? Oh wait, he was dating Emily and she was anti-social. Perfect! Perfect couple. Hah.

At the mention of Healers, Gavin turned to William again. "Those....right...." He began, somewhat hesitantly. The Senior Undersecretary now had some deep rooted anxiety that he would need to get himself over thanks to those women. He didn't know which had scared him more but it was safe to say that even Emily seemed questionable to him for a while. "Don't suspect you'll be choking on a brownie on their watch anymore. Sent them packing maybe a week ago. Minister's orders." And thank Merlin for that. He didn't mind his lunch being spent under Emily's table hiding from the general public but having to check every corridor before stepping in it was taxing.

Then there was the fact the woman could hold her own against food better than anyone he'd seen. She'd be FINE and he would be away from this lot of sweaty, non-magic folk.

"Isn't everyone?" Was his initial response, but a second later he knew he'd only been lying to himself. "Scratch that, the world's out to leave my skin crawling." Emily had been amongst them, all touchy feely and NOT understanding space. How he'd survived he had no idea. "I've been told I'm improving but after the Healers, I think that's hardly the case." Like...cringing when hugged by your 7 year old niece then walking away quickly when she cried.

"Is the soup any good?"

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaniDiNardo

At the mention of Healers, Gavin turned to William again. "Those....right...." He began, somewhat hesitantly. The Senior Undersecretary now had some deep rooted anxiety that he would need to get himself over thanks to those women. He didn't know which had scared him more but it was safe to say that even Emily seemed questionable to him for a while. "Don't suspect you'll be choking on a brownie on their watch anymore. Sent them packing maybe a week ago. Minister's orders." And thank Merlin for that. He didn't mind his lunch being spent under Emily's table hiding from the general public but having to check every corridor before stepping in it was taxing.

Then there was the fact the woman could hold her own against food better than anyone he'd seen. She'd be FINE and he would be away from this lot of sweaty, non-magic folk.

"Isn't everyone?" Was his initial response, but a second later he knew he'd only been lying to himself. "Scratch that, the world's out to leave my skin crawling." Emily had been amongst them, all touchy feely and NOT understanding space. How he'd survived he had no idea. "I've been told I'm improving but after the Healers, I think that's hardly the case." Like...cringing when hugged by your 7 year old niece then walking away quickly when she cried.

"Is the soup any good?"

Why did the Senior Undersecretary sound so.... unsure about the Healers? He had gotten rid of them? Wait, HE was the one responsible for getting rid of them?!! THANK MERLIN. Willy dropped his spoon in his bowl with a clink and abruptly held his hand out across the table.

"Thank. YOU. Man, those nutjobs were INSANE. YOU sent them away? You rock. Just saying: thank you for coming to your senses." He'd been having nightmares about his interactions with them ever since. And now they were gone. Whewwwwwwwwwwhat a relief.

Anyway, back to eating. He raised an eyebrow at how eccentric the Undersecretary was...hadn't known that...but now found it all the more interesting that Emily thought HE was nuts. GAVIN was the nuts one. Emotionally unstable, anti-social, and twitchy were a few words that came to mind when describing the guy across from him. Still, all things said and done, he still liked the guy. He had horrible taste in women, but he was alright.

"Yeah, no, mate, sorry. I think most people are okay with a small amount of touching and jostling." It just... happened. Had Gavin had a strange childhood in which he was never hugged or something? Willy didn't care enough to ask. "The soup is delicious." He was almost finished with his bowl already.

It all happened so quickly. One minute the man was eating then the spoon was dropping and the next thing he knew there was a hand being extended toward him and his eyes were widening sooner than he could remind himself this was a normal part of interaction. How offended would William be if he...just....sat there...staring at his hand....? Gavin weighed the options carefully before reaching out for the briefest of shakes. There. Interaction had. The day was saved.

"I did." Gavin confirmed, sending them packing that is. "They tried insisting there was more work to do and one of them....insisted I work out a wedding date for a heart throb on level 4.....?" Or was it Level 5? Truly, Gavin hadn't been listening. "They weren't too hard to get rid of after they'd gotten their walking papers."

The Senior Undersecretary gave a small nod in defeat. It figured the wider population would enjoy that sort of thing, for reasons he'd never understand. What was the appeal in touching? Could they all NOT? "Touching and jostling sounds right up the alley of those Touchers and Tacklers by Level 2." Especially the jostling. Violent lot of them.

"Might consider some the next time I chance leaving my office." Might not be for another week or three considering the size of this crowd right here.