Today was a lovely day! Perfect actually.

The sun was shining, his daughter was off at Hogwarts and his son was with his his parents and that meant that Antonio and his wife Daphne could have some alone time for the married couple. What better than a romantic lunch? Antonio was excited for this. It had been a few months since they could actually go and do something because his job was demanding at the moment. He would have loved to have had a romantic night for him and his wife during the summer but he wanted to spend time with their children.

Antonio found a empty table near a window for just the two of them. The man took a seat and looked across the table to his wife. "How are you today?" The southern man asked.

Sitting there with her Husband made her smile, she needed this break more than anything.

"im okay Hun, its just my little nest is a bit empty now. I miss my children, but im happy now that I get a break..... but I still miss them" momma bear just missing her cubs over here.

she was happy that she had such a caring husband that she could lean on in times of sadness.

Antonio looked down that the menu in front of him. He didn't know what exactly he wanted.

Tino looked up as his wife began to talk. He smiled at her, she was so beautiful. How did he get so lucky? "Don't worry. When we're done here we can go back to my parents house and pick up Mikos." Tino nodded and smile. He knew what she was feeling. It was empty and year after year Mikos was getting closer and closer to going to Hogwarts as well and he didn't want him to leave them. "By the time Mikos is at Hogwarts, Echo will be graduated." He couldn't believe that. "Then we'll really be empty" At least during the rest of the year and not the holidays.

"oh that would be amazing, I want to see my little Mikos" she smiled at her husband. taking his hand her other one flipped open the menu, "what do you feel like having" normally she would eat a salad but today was kind of a cheat day for her, something yummy and that would totally fill her up was on her mind.

"i know its going to be good to have my Echo back but she will most likely be moving out and then i'll have no birds in my nest" it was true, how did they grow so fast. she wanted them all of them in her house at the same time and never let go.

"Don't worry we'll be at my parents house before we know it." He reassured her. The man held his wife's hand as he looked at the menu and smiled. Antonio shook his head. "Honestly I'm not really sure what I want." He man looked up at his wife. "Do you know what you want?"

"Have you heard from her?" He asked her. "To see if she's coming back for the holidays? My parents want us to go to their place this year since my brother, his wife and kids are going to be there this year." It was odd for his brother to spent Christmas and New Years at his parents house. It's been years since the last time he had done something like that. "We can always have another. We're not too old for that." Antonio chuckled.

Lex was excited. It wasn't often that she had proper plans for her day off and even less often that they involved a bit of home renovation. There was still a bunch of stuff to be ordered for the apartment in Spain...a thing or two she could add to the one here in London and her latest project that had her all the more excited.

Occasionally, she would glance over at the clock on the wall, anxious for the guy to get there already. There was SO MUCH to discuss and so little time before she needed to apparate back to Belgium to check on the work progress and help with the demolition--no way was she missing that.

To occupy her time, and because she was sufficiently hungry, Alexa ordered herself an appetizer of wings and bread sticks. If he took much longer she would order herself a proper meal and if by THEN he still wasn't there, she would have dessert and call it an afternoon sorely disappointed.

He was still coming, yes? Didn't matter she'd been there all of five minutes. Waiting was hard.

SPOILER!!: Alexa

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaniDiNardo

Lex was excited. It wasn't often that she had proper plans for her day off and even less often that they involved a bit of home renovation. There was still a bunch of stuff to be ordered for the apartment in Spain...a thing or two she could add to the one here in London and her latest project that had her all the more excited.

Occasionally, she would glance over at the clock on the wall, anxious for the guy to get there already. There was SO MUCH to discuss and so little time before she needed to apparate back to Belgium to check on the work progress and help with the demolition--no way was she missing that.

To occupy her time, and because she was sufficiently hungry, Alexa ordered herself an appetizer of wings and bread sticks. If he took much longer she would order herself a proper meal and if by THEN he still wasn't there, she would have dessert and call it an afternoon sorely disappointed.

He was still coming, yes? Didn't matter she'd been there all of five minutes. Waiting was hard.

Anton wasn't late. He was right on time. Satchel hung ever-so-carefully over his shoulder, he approached the restaurant Miss Alexa Cambridge had told him to meet her at. The man straightened his collar and peered around, looking for a young woman seated alone. It wasn't very packed, so he could easily guess which one was his newest client.

"Miss Cambridge?" he asked, his gaze resting on her for a second before holding out his arm for her to shake his hand. "Anton Gellar. Your new...personal woodsmith." He smirked and had a seat. "I see you've wasted no time in ordering food." How unprofessional, yet interesting. Anton merely flicked his eyebrows upward for a second before calling over someone to order himself something.

"It's wonderful to meet you." But really, only time would tell. So far, he wasn't impressed.

This one had interesting timing. Showing up just after her appetizer had. Lex watched him approach the table, casually biting into a bread stick as if there was nothing wrong. Patience had never been her thing, neither had being hungry. He was lucky to show up before her main course.

Her eyes fell on his outstretched hand a moment before she reached out to give it a firm shake. "Hope you don't mind me not returning the sentiment. I like to be sure first." Alexa Cambridge did not use pleasantries, not unless she meant them or was in the presence of grandparents that demanded it.

He was helping her accomplish goals, but several others could too. Was it wonderful to meet him?

"Have a seat, you can have some of my bread sticks." The wings....not so much. "It's just the appetizers for now. If you'd kept me waiting longer I could be on my fifth chocolate frog."

"Understandable, of course," he said shortly, opening his satchel after hanging it on the back of his chair. He had a few lookbooks...tons of notebooks...a pencil pouch for writing utensils...etc. "You may find you cannot stand me. It's certainly a common reaction." He smirked a little and ruffled his long hair, which he found to be in the way right now, so he promptly pulled it back into a pony-tail.

Anton DID take a breadstick, biting into it immediately and scrunching his face. "Too greasy," he said. "But it will have to do, I suppose." Hmph. "Ahh. Well. Luckily I arrived, then. I wouldn't miss dessert for the world," he said, merely to add conversation.

He actually didn't like chocolate all that much, to be honest.

"Are you ready to begin? Or do you prefer to eat first?" Which type of client was she? She DID seem to enjoy her food...so. Whatever she wanted, really.

Chocolate frog points for being up front; at least he was honest. "What a coincidence; a lot of people don't fancy me their cup of tea either. It's all the same to me but it's good we've gotten this out in the open." Very good. If nothing else, the two could now have an understanding to expect very little from the other. What more did she need? Unless she felt like it, she didn't need to be on her best behaviour.

"Get my places looking brilliant enough and I might not even care what you're like." Alexa was intolerant, it was a common fact but she was also one track minded when she wanted to be. Who cared what he was like so long as she had cozy places to call home at the end of a long night of wandering--within limits of course, because yes, she DID have those.

Too greasy? Would 'have to do'. Lex pulled the plate toward her, indicating that the bread stick he was eating would be his first and his last. "Don't settle on my account. I'm fine eating them all by myself." In other words, he was a whiny complainer and she didn't share with that sort. "Reckon we can jump right into the thick of things right now." Came her reply with little hesitation. "Might be for the best. Not sure what I'll do if the waiter brings the triple stacked double chocolate cream cake and you decide there's too much cream."

Without waiting for permission, Alexa reached for one of his books, opening it flat out before them. "How are you with Spanish designs?"

Miss Cambridge was interesting enough to think she wasn't dull, but a little too interesting for him to think she'd be an easy client. It didn't matter. He felt he could handle anyone and anything.

He wa Anton Gellar.

"Really? Is it your sparkling personality that turns them off or...?" he smirked a little, again, and didn't mind that she pulled the breadsticks away. He didn't want another one. "Oh, they'll look brilliant once I'm done furnishing them," he said without a pause. "You won't have to worry about that." Did she think he charged so much money for kicks? No, because his craft was serious business. Every piece of furniture was artwork; customized and personalized for their owners.

Pffft.

"Well, if there's not the right amount of cream per ratio of the cake...I probably wouldn't like it, you're right." He smirked again, amused, now. He didn't dislike her thus far. She was just interesting. Hmph.

"And yes, I am familiar with Spanish designs." He rolled his eyes and snorted. "There's hacienda designs...rustic Spanish designs...it's all about what you prefer. Hacienda---" and he flipped to a page with a room in Hacienda design. "Is very fancy looking, lots of curves to really...create movement in a home. Warm or neutral colors, for the most part...lots of woods and carvings...also stones, too. Woods mixed with stones, black iron-rod, too--luxurious, really," he said. "But...the other option is a more...rustic feel." And he flipped to another page. "A lot of untrained eyes say these styles are similar, but not really--no--rustic is less about decorations and more...just simple, but still elegant. You can see more color is involved...more sharp edges....less curve..." he let his eyes flicker up to hers.

"What do you think? There are also...some other styles I could do that aren't necessarily Spanish but...you know." She asked to see those first.

Full of jokes too, would you look at that. Lex snorted at the question of her 'sparkling' personality, finding it an...interesting way to describe her. "You might say that. Not everyone likes the dazzling shine of stubborn, head strong intolerance. You'll be just fine. Working with hard wood for so long, I trust you'll find me just as...malleable." Which...if he thought about it, spoke of nothing good but if he couldn't handle her, she didn't want him handling her furniture. It was that simple.

"I don't worry." Not a word she liked to use in her vocabulary if she could help it. "These are nice enough to keep me at ease." She went on as she skipped from page to page. Not worried, but picky. Liking wasn't enough but it did help.

Lex watched him over the wing she was set to bite into, unsure whether she was amused or exasperated by what she would hope was a joke. "And what do you like, Mr. Nitpicky?" Clearly nothing she did. Wouldn't even offer him a wing, no, she just polished them off while he flipped through pages--

Oooooo, that was nice. Alexa leaned over to get a better look at the hacienda he'd mentioned. It...looked...like what the old house needed. She could see it sporting something like that...her apartment however....that might have required something else so she waited for him to go on, listening as he spouted everything they'd taught him in good 'ole furniture school. "I think, I like both but I'm not a settler and would like to see what else I could end up living in. Incidentally, the Hacienda looks brilliant for Belgium but I'm open to other ideas. I would like to keep the apartment rustic however." So far, she liked what she was seeing.

"I honestly should have asked you for your personality first...before showing you designs," he said with a roll of his eyes. "But that will...okay." He typically designed furniture for people based on what they wanted and what he thought they would like. So, yes, personality. Sometimes...people didn't WANT what went along with Anton thought they'd like, so he would always do what HE thought best.

It hadn't done him wrong, yet, but it was always risky, not giving the client what they originally wanted.

"What do I like? What do you mean? Food, design, women, or..what?" he asked, smirking again.

He could tell by the look on her face that she liked what he had chosen to show her. Heh. Look at that. He always did a good job, though. Snaps for you, Anton Gellar. "Spanish rustic," he corrected. Regular rustic and Spanish rustic were just SLIGHTLY different, you know? "And sure. I have two--very different but interesting--styles to show you, of course. The first is one of my personal favorites and is very French...it's called Rococo..." he smirked and went to the correct page. "Very old style, this one. Used by royalty for many years...all those palaces in France like Versaille are decorated with Rococo. Very over the top, fancy, lots of patterns and bright colors...this room is a little TAME for Rococo...but tamed is, I think, better." Because real Rococo...just no. TOO BUSY.

"And then we have something a little less insane...English Country style." He pointed. "It can be very modernized, too. Oo--I should show you contemparary." It was always a must. "But English Country is..." how to explain it. "Woods are important...but also lots of colors...but they all GO together. And this style likes patterns, too, but different ones..more domestic looking, I suppose. Simpler, but still a bit busy." he said. "Now..to be honest...neither of those two FEEL like you...but a weird combination of both, perhaps. Because I make the furniture so...I can really customize what you want. From anything you see in ANY of these books," he pushed the other two towards her.

"You're the expert." Lex reminded him. Explaining what he did or did not need to do in order to make sure she was satisfied meant very little to her. The end result was more up her alley. "But if it'll help, you won't get far if you try looking for a pattern to fit my personality. I like different things for different reasons." It all depended on her mood, much like the place she spent the night depended on her mood.

The last of her bread sticks disappeared, much to her disappointment. It meant it was time to order the real stuff. Alexa gestured the waiter over while she consider the man sitting across from her. "Don't reckon I care much about what you like in women--or design right now. We're having lunch, aren't we?"

He might have been trying to come off as intentionally difficult...or who knew, the man sitting across from her might have been a Ravenclaw in another life.

...

....

Merlin she hoped not. Graduating had done nothing to increase her tolerance for that sort. Neither had his correcting her use of 'rustic' but that was all immediately put behind her when she was shown the Rococo. "Absolutely not." She said without hesitation. That was a lot of pink for one page...a lot of 'fancy' pink and it didn't suit her one bit. "When my grandmother decides to change over the furniture in the Manor, you and her can discuss this one--and even then, not for my section of the place." This was a big no. "If that's tame, I don't want to see what full on fancy looks like."

Thankfully they were moving on to something a little more....simple. "I want comfortable, not furniture that will jump out at me the moment I get home to crash." Lex tapped at the page a few times in contemplation. "This one is more to my liking and doesn't look like my kneazle will hurt himself on it while I'm gone." She paused the discussion to order herself the barbeque chicken with a side of fries and a glass iced tea to wash it down. Now where was she. Oh yes! "I'm not going for over the top, just...comfy." He was ordering too, yes?

SO she liked...lots of things, is what she was saying? All right, that was cool. Anton could deal with that. "I'm sure I could if I tried," he said with another smirk. "But no matter, if you're not interested in my interpretations..."

Ha! His taste in women was just as choosey as anything else, and his design was probably the MOST picky. "We are having lunch...yes. Good observation there, Miss Cambridge," he kept his face completely clear of any smirks for THAT snarky comment. The waiter came, and he ordered a coffee with his meal, which was just a sandwich, light on the MAYO, thank you. Exactly three tomatoes, please.

Once he was DONE ordering, there, he had to laugh at Alexa's reaction to some Rococo. "My Gran loved that style...but I see your point. It's a bit much, I know," he chuckled again. "Comfortable. I see. Well." He opened his notebook.

"Tell me a list of the furniture you need."

As the conversation wore on, Lex was learning more about this wood man. The latest thing on the discovery registry? He was one of those people who fancied themselves an exception to her rules. He was good at what he did (supposedly) and he knew very little about her so it was a fair assumption for him to make, thinking hard work was all he needed to change her mind. Poor guy. He wasn't the first to make such an erroneous assumption.

"It's a brilliant observation, more than you've taken notice of if your question was any indication of that." Keep up dude. They were talking about food, those sorts of conversations seldom moved to 'women' and 'designs' with her. "Another brilliant observation? You're awful picky for someone having a casual lunch meeting." Such....specific instructions for his meal. Merlin.

On the topic of what she actually needed...she paused. Perhaps she should have walked with a list, might have made things easier. Now she was left to whim and memory.

"Bed frames, nothing fancy for the two that go to my apartment in Spain but you have greater creative freedom with the three meant for Belgium. coffee tables--two again with the same specifications. A neat little table for my breakfast nook but a proper dining table for the other--somehow I feel a you'll understand this all better when we go to both sites once we're done here." Then he would understand the distinction she was going for and she could provide him separate lists without needing to add loads of explanations. "A lot of the structures for the house need replacing and your keen eye might be of more use up close."

Anton just....sort of cackled. "To think and be creative I need food...and I'm picky, all right?" He just had very high standards, you know? He couldn't eat just any sandwich.

So five bed frames so far. Wow. This was going to be...a huge job. It was going to take months. Did she know how long this might take him? Long. LONG. Two coffee tables...two...other tables, one a dining and the other..small? "Well. That, so far, is a lot," he said softly. "Lots of time ad money, which I hope you're okay with." Honestly, if she contacted him, she had to be okay with his prices. He wasn't...secretly expensive. He was OVERTLY expensive.

"So after we eat, you'll want to head on over to your houses, then?" he asked softly, scribbling some things down in his notebook. "Sounds wonderful. Do you live alone in both places, or will I have to deal with people trying to interfere with our creative process?" Spouses were the worst thing in the entire world to him. He hated spouses. Part of why he didn't have one? He didn't like sharing spaces, he didn't like sharing ideas, and he most certainly liked everything HIS way or the highway.

So hmph.

"Yeah...no kidding." Picky, she could see it. Were she not just as picky in other areas, she may have sat there judging him but food was important stuff and if you didn't like it, you didn't eat it which was a perfect waste when it came down to it.

And then he said that. As if waiting for lunch wouldn't be hard enough. It would take time. Of course she expected it would take time but...."Let me be the one to decide how much is 'a lot' of money." That wasn't the point here. "How much time are we talking about exactly...?" It wasn't like she was in a tremendous rush, possessing enough other places of abode to not necessarily be left hanging but...waiting was...hard.

"Yeah, we'll head to them both but...depending on what we're looking at, I might just want you focusing on the Belgian one for now. It's a project of sorts. Still needs a lot of renovation so the wait won't seem so long for that one." The list would need to be amended. She'd have to see.

"What's the matter? Don't play well with others?" She quipped, allowing an amused sort of half smirk at the idea before easing his doubts. "I live alone, nothing to worry about there."

He was amused.

"it's just a fair warning. If you'd gotten your head chewed off for your prices a million times...you'd understand." Customers were just the worst. The best...and the worst. Usually the worst. "And that depends on...how many things I have to make. So I can better give you an estimate once I have an exact list..." and not one off the top of her head. Hmph.

The Belgium home. "I don't mind the order...just let me know what you want," he sipped his coffee calmly and made a small note that she probably wanted the Belgium Home furniture done first.

PFFFFT.

He ROLLED his eyes dramatically, making a show of it really, and SNORTED. "I do not. I work alone, I live alone, I visit my siblings when they ask, and that's that." Did Anton have friends? Of course. But he saw them on HIS time...no random popping in or any of that nonsense. "I run a tight schedule most people can't handle--and I'm too particular to get along well with anyone ....headstrong." And this woman seemed a bit headstrong but...in a way that could perhaps work WITH him and not against him. "Oh good. Being taken is overrated..stay single forever." Just a piece of advice here.

"Well see, that's your fault." Lex informed him, her tone as casual as if she'd told him her eyes were hazel. "You should know better than to get into business with poor clients. Of course they'll chew your head off, you've gone and damn near blown their own off with prices they make in a year. What did you honestly expect? You're lucky no one took it real personal and did you in for the insult." There was a subtle glint of mischief in her eyes that said she wasn't meant to be taken completely serious but at the same time...it was kinda obvious.

"By the time we're done, you'll have no doubt in your mind what I want." Clear cut, to the point and straight shooting. Lex had no doubt that all his questions and instructions would be sorted out by the time they left the Ardenne Forest.

And if she thought he was an interesting specimen of man before, this just took the amusement cake. Lex didn't even try hiding how amused she was at his little spiel. "There are nicer ways of telling me we can't be friends." She teased. There were hermits, then there was him if what she was hearing was anything to go off of. "Lots of people have learned to acclimatize themselves to my headstrong, overbearing nature. I'm sure you will too." Yes, she was aware he wasn't necessarily referring to her but that didn't make it any less funny.

"You're right though, it is overrated. Haven't found a single thing I can't do that someone with a boyfriend can." Which...as you could imagine...left her with very little incentive to attach herself to someone. "How wise of you."

"Hey, I'll meet with whomever. Not my fault if they see my prices and contact me anyways....by the time I meet with someone I assume they're okay with how expensive..my services are." oh, that sounded so mysterious. Really, he was just making furniture for a living. Nothing that mysterious or dangerous.

He could dream, though. Or make his job sound cooler than it was, though to be honest, to him, it was the coolest job ever, and his parents had been pretty supportive of his craftsmanship at an early age.

"Well...good." It was better than dealing with indecisive people. Ugh. They were the worst.

HA! That got quite a laugh out of Anton. Friends. Right. "Well, certainly we could be friends...only after I finish your furniture, though. It's quite unprofessional to 'hang out' with clients." Just a little rule. He had some friends he'd gained over the years from jobs....but he only ever pursued a friendship IF his job for that person was done. Because really...that could get awkward.

Anton thought himself wise, of course. "I know. But it's true. Having to answer to someone...seems...tedious. Time-consuming. Awful."

As much as Schuyler enjoyed casual, no-plans nights with her girlfriend, she was a big fan of proper date nights too. They were still special, all this time later. And not only that, but she also took this opportunity to wear her new dress, of course. The cut and color suited her, she thought, and that warranted a new purchase.

After apparating to a spot not far from the restaurant, Schuyler pulled her shawl a little tighter against her skin. It was chilly, but at least it wasn't raining. Plus, girlfriends were used as a heat source. She hooked her arm around Olly's and moved closer to her as they began walking. Somewhat carefully, mind you. One needed to use caution on the cobblestone with these heels.

"Well if we ever need to start saving money we should give it a go." He was very much laid back with his money at the moment. But who knew what the future held? Besides, he could always come up with a way of bringing lunch to work for both he and Gabby.

He walked across the road, still holding Gabby's hand, into the restaurant. He gave her a kiss on her forehead before pulling the chair out for her. What a gentleman. He went to get two glasses of water for them, being that they were at work and all. They could order different drinks when they had a chance to look at the menu. Of which he brought back to the table with him. He handed the menu and water to Gabby and sat down across from her. Yes, he liked sitting across from her, for the view, but also next to her sometimes, for the closeness.

"Is your department having many issues with organising the transport around the Junior game?" he asked, curious about her work.

Archer had a good point. Gabby hadn't considered that they might end up needing to save money. She wasn't sure what would cause them to, but she was wiling to try it. "Okay, I'll give it a go but I can't promise that I won't buy more clothes." She tried not to go too crazy, but she did love clothes. And there was an extension charm on the wardrobe... Surely they would work something out.

She smiled as he first kissed her forehead and the pulled her chair out for her. Always the gentleman and Gabby loved it. Happily she took the water and menu from him before looking at his gorgeous face. She never stopped loving the view. "It isn't going TOO badly for us. There is a lot to do, but things are running pretty smoothly all things considered. Thank Merlin I don't work with Portkeys." Lynley was probably going to need all of them considering the crowds that Quidditch matches brought. Oh well. "So how are things going in the greenhouse? Anything new since my last visit?" A lot can change in a short period of time.

Archer's head rolled back as he laughed. Of course! "well with the money we save bringing something in, I'm sure your clothing budget will be happier." And Archer, too, seeing as he very much enjoyed watching his Gabby model her new clothing for him.

"Ah, don't you? Who does the Portkey stuff? I never liked portkey travel." he said. He had never been one for Portkeys. The feeling afterward was nasty. He preferred apparition. He grinned "Not much. Still trying to extract the genes from the desert cactus so that we can replicate it. So far it's proving difficult. But we're getting there." And his team were great.