Courtyard and Brick Wall

[sweetpinkpixie]

The Leaky Cauldron sits auspiciously as part of the Muggle World, the portal to Diagon Alley. Stepping out the back door of the Leaky Cauldron, it leads to the open patio that is deceivingly large. Once inside the Courtyard the stone path circles around the green area, which is a popular place for young children to relax upon during summer holidays and is also a popular place for, people to lie out and have lunch.

On the green, a tall stone fountain sits and waits for a lucky sickle or two to find its way to the bottom of the fountain. However, the incredible thing about the fountain is the stone is rests upon. The stone floor underneath and surrounding the fountain is charmed to light up with each step a person makes on the stone floor. The color traces the outside of the traveler’s foot and each new step is a fresh new color.

Out on the green surrounding the fountain is the home to a garden of flowers that are freshly planted. Each little patch of flowers is also charmed by the former owner, Harley, to smell of a different kind of treat at the Leaky Cauldron, i.e.. Butterbeer Flowers.

Off to the side of the Courtyard, a winding stone pathway leads to a quaint little pond filled with a hundred carp fish that Ryoma, a previous owner, had specially imported from Japan. This little pond is tucked in the back of the Courtyard and serves as a little treat to all who happen upon it. Next to the pond is a simple wooden box with a money hole in the top. Dispense ten sickles and the box produces fish food to feed the carp.

The owner asks that everyone, including little witches and wizards, pick up after themselves.

[sweetpinkpixie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Holmesian Feline

Oh, for September to come and the Alley to quiet down a bit.

Granted the summer could be fun and energetic, but Septimus had spent enough time at Gringotts to know the goblins could get just as grouchy with all the business flowing through the halls as they could when it was slower. Especially when some of the newer children caused trouble in the vaults. Today he had taken a nice walk through the shops without the hustle and bustle, just keeping a slight eye on the time knowing he didn’t want to be late meeting up with his appointment. Though he was just a tad anxious to see how she reacted to his news.

Stepping through the still open wall, Septimus entered the courtyard. Perhaps outside would be nice given the weather was behaving. He took a quick peek into the Leaky Cauldron to make sure Candela hadn’t beat him to it and inside before taking a seat at one of the tables set out between the bar and Diagon Alley to await his expected companion. The cursebreaker absently gazing around to people-watch the lingering patrons outside.

When Septimus had invited her out with the hint that he had some good news to share, Candela naturally drew several conclusions and had prepared accordingly. If this news ticked none of the boxes she had assumed, then she could always save that which she carried in her bag now for another time. She just had the biggest hunch that she ought not come out tonight empty handed. Gone were the long blonde braids and back was one of her favorite styles for her hair - natural curls, teases just a bit to complete the whole dandelion fluff vibe and with a gradient from her natural deep raven hair to a vibrant fuchsia color. It certainly helped make spotting her much easier, especially since she was so petite in stature and wearing heels still only put her at most people's shoulder height, but that did seem less of a problem today as the majority of the crowds had thinned out with back to school shopping complete. It reminded her that she had a couple of things she still wanted to pick up for Elio, some art supplies that he may or may not actually need at his muggle school but she had noticed were whittling down to the nubs. It was unlikely that she would have time today, so maybe she could swing by the shops after work tomorrow.

So, no, darling cursebreaker. She was not already inside and arriving with just seconds to spare to be considered on time. Her heels clicked against the cobbled stone with an airy sort of dantiness despite her power walking and she peered around the other patrons until she spotted him and offered a rather exuberant wave as a greeting.

[Holmesian Feline]

There she was, Septimus spotting the familiar head belonging to Candela with ease just after he had sat down in the courtyard. Returning her wave though definitely more sedately, the cursebreaker rebounding to his feet out of respect as she neared him and the table he had chosen for them. “You made it…hello,” he greeted with a smile. A facial expression that had become more common in the days they had known each other as his life had evened out and he was feeling more comfortable with himself.

And why not today of all days, with the good news that he had been granted through his job. Good news that his friend had been the one person he had wanted to share with, even somewhat more than his father who come to think of it likely had already known given he was a colleague as well as family. Not that he wasn’t trying not to appear nervous or awkward at the prospect of attention being directly on him now that they were together in one place. "How was your day?" he asked to break the ice. So much for just being happy.

[Lottiepot]

Terry hadn’t intentionally timed his return to the UK as being September and therefore void of any children swarming the streets of Diagon Alley but he had been grateful for not having to shove his way through small bodies nonetheless. It wasn’t that Terry actively disliked kids, he just didn’t have any of his own and therefore was a bit awkward when in their presence. He was however much more comfortable in the company of creatures and was desperately missing the reserve he had just spent the last eleven months on.

As he had no permanent abode in the country, he was temporarily renting a room in the Leaky Cauldron for the time being. His job meant that he didn’t stay in one place for too long but his maturing age and watching his fellow classmates moving on with their lives whilst he remained static was.. well it was lonely. Not that anyone would be able to tell from Terry’s naturally cheery and enthusiastic disposition that hid his true feelings.

It was in the courtyard that Terry could be found that day, sat on the patch of grass and chomping down on a sandwich for his lunch. The weather was luckily still warm enough to enjoy basking in the sunshine, a relief considering he was not the type to enjoy being cooped up inside. His eyes were trained over towards the bubbles coming from the koi fish in the pond.

[Chelliephone]

SPOILER!!: Terry

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lottiepot

Terry hadn’t intentionally timed his return to the UK as being September and therefore void of any children swarming the streets of Diagon Alley but he had been grateful for not having to shove his way through small bodies nonetheless. It wasn’t that Terry actively disliked kids, he just didn’t have any of his own and therefore was a bit awkward when in their presence. He was however much more comfortable in the company of creatures and was desperately missing the reserve he had just spent the last eleven months on.

As he had no permanent abode in the country, he was temporarily renting a room in the Leaky Cauldron for the time being. His job meant that he didn’t stay in one place for too long but his maturing age and watching his fellow classmates moving on with their lives whilst he remained static was.. well it was lonely. Not that anyone would be able to tell from Terry’s naturally cheery and enthusiastic disposition that hid his true feelings.

It was in the courtyard that Terry could be found that day, sat on the patch of grass and chomping down on a sandwich for his lunch. The weather was luckily still warm enough to enjoy basking in the sunshine, a relief considering he was not the type to enjoy being cooped up inside. His eyes were trained over towards the bubbles coming from the koi fish in the pond.

The summer season was perhaps the busiest season for Ece, just as for the other proprietors and shopkeeps in the Alley. It was true, she didn't have the same demands as the others (and her establishment didn't make nearly the same profit) but her front door seemed to be ever revolving of children who'd lost their parents or couldn't find where to meet their friends or an array of other circumstances that meant the map at the forefront of Nesting Occamy was always being frequented. That HAD been her intention when she'd installed the feature, but it didn't mean the woman was any less exhausted of the constant chatter.

But finally, now that the youngest ones had been headed back to Hogwarts, her doorbell rang more from new prospective uni students looking for residences with their friends. That was far more her speed, and certainly a better alternative for her ledgers.

She was in such a good mood over it all too, that she'd offered to get her staff a platter of goodies from Leaky Cauldron. Though of course she was not nearly as good of a neighbor as she ought to have been, as she didn't think to call it in ahead of time and instead surprised the poor individuals working. She'd apologize profusely, before insisting they should take as much time as they needed. In fact, they'd be doing her a favor so that she could take a proper break. With those assurances out of the way, she went out to the Courtyard to sit and wait. There were plenty of tables which she would have gravitated towards, but then she noticed a gentleman sat upon the grass enjoying his own lunch picnic style. It was not what she was used to, but it seemed so quaint she couldn't help but follow suit.

Heading over to the grassy area, trying to not encroach on his space, Ece sat down and stretched her linen clad legs in front of her, leaning back on her palms as she tilted her head up towards the rare sunshine-y rays. "Oh, it is a magnificent day today." She exclaimed aloud.

[Lottiepot]

Had Terry not been invested in the thoughts of whether ornamental fish had a place in captive society, he might have heard the approaching footsteps of another human being and offered a friendly smile in greeting. Instead his face was morphed into a sort of blank expression until a voice could be heard in the ether.

“Hmm?” he blinked, snapping his head into the direction of the voice to see a woman had joined him on his grass adventure. “Oh! Yeah, better take advantage of it whilst it lasts,” he chuckled. Terry had been lucky enough to work in some of the most exotic locations in the world and coming back to Britain was always a shock to the system and this was coming from someone who grew up in the remotest islands of Scotland. The one (or two at best) weeks of decent weather in September always had to be utilised to its best. “Guaranteed next week it’s gonna rain. Real shame, I’ve just come back from the heat of South Africa.” He might have hit his fourties’ but that didn’t stop Terry’s knack of being able to start a conversation with anyone. Whether the woman was invested in whatever he had to say he didn’t know but it was she who spoke first after all.

“I’m Terry” he nodded towards her. Perhaps it might’ve been more polite to offer her a handshake but this man had been working with magical creatures for so long that societal constructs had become a little blurred over the years. He was pretty sure that she wouldn’t appreciate a pat on the head like most domesticated creatures did though. That and the former Slytherin had never really been the formal type of guy anyway, just ask his former dorm mates who was responsible for the majority of the mess in their room.

[Chelliephone]

Perhaps the biggest adjustment for Ece for her adventure in the UK, was the difference in the weather from home. While it was not uncommon for it to rain or the temperatures to dip into lower numbers during the brief winter months, primarily it was sunshine and heat that she had grown up in. The dreary weather could certainly give her a strong case of the blues at times with how frequent it stayed, but on days like today with the sun shining and the world looking more bright she didn't have even a glimmer of those feelings still within. "With as quickly as it seems to adapt back to rain, I wouldn't be surprised if it hit us even tomorrow!" She replied, turning her head to return a friendly smile to the gent who had originally found residence on the ground. She hadn't really expected him to respond to her exclamation, but she was also pleased to have someone to speak with. It certainly could be lonely without any established friends or without bothering her fellow colleagues in the alley.

"South Africa!" She exclaimed at the information, her expression turning to one of interest. "What is it you were doing there?" It occurred to Ece as she asked that that was perhaps too personal of a question for a stranger outside the pub, however she consoled herself by rationalizing he wouldn't have mentioned it if he wasn't open to discussing it. As if it was not a possibility he just would have assumed the stranger wouldn't go prying into his business, like most civilized individuals would probably not do.

It was not always common practice to shake hands in her own culture, so she didn't think anything of his not offering a hand, instead just launching into her own introduction. "Please to make your acquaintance, Terry. I'm Ece." She gave a small wave in lieu of offering her hand towards his, figuring that would suffice as friendly enough. "What brings you out to the alley today?" She didn't recognize him, so she wondered if he was a local to the area or perhaps had just been on a holiday from South Africa as he had previously mentioned the location.

[Lottiepot]

You’d have thought that growing up in one of the coldest and wettest climates of the UK that Terry would be used to the impending doom of a British autumn. You’d also think that having not lived full time there for a number of decades that he would have also ‘got over’ the Britishism of always talking about the weather but clearly not. “We’ve been known to have all four seasons in one day,” he chuckled. His Scottish lilt was mild now, not through any intention but because he’d been working with such a hodgepodge of nationalities that it seemed to fade into the background. He was pleased that the woman didn’t look confused by his response, an indication that perhaps her words were directed to him. Not that it would usually stop him, Terry was friendly enough to make conversation with most others.

Her exclamation of the country he had just returned from did surprise him and it took him a second to place whether it was somewhere she was familiar with herself but her voice lacked the Springbok twang and so that thought was immediately quashed. “I’m a magical creature conservationist, I was working with a small population of Erumpents on a reserve out there.” He offered her an explanation. He was more than happy to talk about his exploits, if anything talking about it usually meant more funding and more funding went to helping more magical creatures. It was something he was highly passionate about. “Their numbers aren’t great, they only have a single calf and the males have a habit of blowing themselves up.” It made their conservation efforts just that little bit harder but something seemed to be working.

“Ece” he repeated in an attempt to store the name in his head in case he were to come across her again. He was glad that his assumption that she wasn’t necessarily from around here was correct judging by the pretty exotic name but he wasn’t outwardly going to ask her for fear of sounding rude. “I was just visiting for a while. My job means I don’t have a permanent abode, staying here in the meantime.” He pointed up to a small window overlooking the courtyard behind which was the room he was renting from the Leaky Cauldron. “The lighting isn’t great, I feel a bit like I’m living in a cupboard so I spend more time out here.” Weather permitting of course.

He obviously didn’t recognise her either but that wasn’t due to being unobservant, it was merely because he spent a vast majority of his time outside the country that he had lost touch with his own citizens. It was quite sad really. His school mates had mostly moved on and here he was at forty-something clinging on to the fact that he still had time.

[Chelliephone]

While some might say the weather was one of the most uninteresting things people could bring up - Ece would have politely argued against them. The weather was an easy enough observation to make, certainly, which was why it was often used first. However anything was a good ice breaker if one was skilled enough with conversation to turn it into as such. Besides, you could learn a fair bit from someone just based on what type of reaction they had to different weathers. Those that seemed to thrive in the rain and cold seemed more likely the type to be found curled inside with a steaming cuppa, enjoying the sounds of nature while those akin to her who preferred the sun enjoyed warmth and something that could be found outdoors. “Isn’t that a marvel?” She replied, continuing to look up at the sky. “I can’t say I much enjoy the humidity from a rapid change from warm to wet but it’s amazing to see just how quickly things can change!” Always have an umbrella on hand was perhaps the first thing she’d learned in her move to the UK.

Despite the fact her living was made in permanent abodes and assisting others with finding theirs, Ece had always loved the idea of traveling and what each different country held of interest, which was the sole reason for her exclamation. The gentleman in the courtyard was a stranger, true, but sometimes strangers were the best people to learn the world through. Besides wasn’t everyone a stranger until you had a conversation? His life in particular also sounded fascinating, even just from the tidbits he’d so far shared. “Erumpents?” She considered for a moment, her eyes briefly closing as she struggled to recall the long ago Care of Magical Creatures courses. “You know, I think I always got those confused with the mundane Elephant.” The names were similar, even if she was fairly certain she remembered the magical creature being compared to another species muggles were more familiar with. “Those are pretty dangerous to be around too, aren’t they? Especially if you’re working around their offspring?” Not that she knew for certain they were particularly protective, but weren’t most mammals? “That sounds thrilling though! Especially if you and your agency can make any headway with how to solve the unfortunate explosion issues.”

At his repeat of her name, she just smiled and gave a small nod of her head. She didn’t mind talking about her own country and where she had grown up and moved from, however it wasn’t something she usually jumped right into either unless it was relevant, so she offered no further back story. At his explanation of staying at the Leaky Cauldron, she glanced up as well at the windows overlooking the courtyard before giving a small nod in understanding. Lighting was something that was hard to come by, surprisingly. For the rental locations, she’d had to get pretty crafty with magic and design to make everything seem bright enough for the new inhabitants. “The courtyard here is one of the most beautiful spots to spend in Diagon Alley anyways, so perhaps that is to your advantage.” She considered for a moment if there were any others, before adding, “The Colored Umbrellas are perhaps the second best. Though that might be for the location to the creamy treats from Floreans.” It was the colors really, but the ice cream WAS also exceptional. “Do you enjoy all of the travel? Or do you think sometimes you miss the stability of a single residence?”

[Lottiepot]

His mum would be bitterly disappointed to hear his complaints over the weather. His childhood had been firmly outdoors, in the remotest of the Scottish islands, where three quarters of the year was spent battling gale force winds and rain that seemed to fall horizontally. She’d say that he had been spoiled by all his exotic travels and that he’d forgotten his roots. It wasn’t true though, Britain and more importantly Scotland would always be his home. “It’s a good job my hair is short and a bit flat then” he chuckled. Humidity thankfully didn’t have an effect on him, besides he’d spent summers in the depths of the rainforest before. He wasn’t particularly caring of his appearance either, frizzy hair would be the least of his worries.

Terry often forgot that others weren’t as invested in the wonders of magical creatures as he was and therefore his passionate ramblings could become lost in the ether. “That’s an easy mistake to make. They’re more of a Rhino though, the ones with the big horn and thick skin.” Arguably more dangerous too but truthfully Terry wouldn’t want to come across either creature in the middle of the night without his wand for security. “All creatures are dangerous if you don’t know how to handle them correctly. Even a peaceful little Bowtruckle can give a nasty bite.” At least you could tell where you stood with the larger species. “Not that I know that from experience,” he chuckled. That was a lie, the Bowtruckle had some serious sass in his opinion.

His fondness of the courtyard wasn’t solely for finding light and solitude. Although his conservation team were wonderful people, world travel and a lack of a mundane routine had left him with a touch of loneliness that had started to bubble beyond the surface as he aged. Being around the Leaky Cauldron often meant a steady trickling of people with the potential of finding someone to socialise with, as was the case that day with Ece turned up. “I used to love Florean’s as a kid,” he commented. At that age there was nothing better than hanging around the ice cream parlour with your buddies from school making the most of the summer freedom before being whisked back to school. The next question hit him with a hard dose of reality. He remained silent for a while, thinking up his response whilst focusing on the koi in the pond once more. “Both? Is that a terrible answer? I’m passionate about what I do but I’m in my fourties’ now and it’s weird seeing all your mates move on when you feel like you’ve barely started.” Ugh, talking about his ‘feelings’ were not on his agenda today.

“We are talking far too much about me.” Just because he was a former Slytherin didn’t mean that he was self absorbed enough to notice that the conversation was a little one sided. “What brings you to Diagon Alley?” he asked.

[Chelliephone]

At his joke, Ece gave a laugh and a nod in agreement. That was of course exactly why the humidity itself was not one of her favorite things. She’d always chosen to wear her hair long, the one moment of vanity she allowed herself with the silken strands. But while she normally thought her hair looked nice, the rapid change in weather always certainly caused a fair amount of frizz she could happily do without. Wrapping a strand around her finger now she gave a chuckle as she surveyed it. “I think you have the right idea. I might have to adopt your tactic!” Some change could actually be nice - and it would certainly free more of her time up!

Ece was the type to be invested in the passions of others when in conversation with them. However when it came to being able to offer meaningful commentary to encourage them, she ended up at a loss as she was not knowledgeable in most fields beyond her own. If one wanted to talk about property law, she could droll on until she was blue in the face. But otherwise she had to rely on questions to encourage conversation - which she asked with no lack of sincerity. “I think it might be the similarity in name.” She mused, before trying to instead picture the mundane creature he had described. “Is that the one that can often have birds sitting on it?” She believed that was something she’d seen in a comic of the creature, but she figured perhaps there was some truth to it? He had… a very good point there. Her shop opening had been delayed by Bundimum infestation which while generally considered only a pest, the damage they had done to some of the structures could have caused injury if she had been standing in only sliiiiightly different of a spot when beams began to fall. Another joke, and another smile and laugh in response. “You, sir, certainly sound like that was said from experience. Though you’re certainly right - anything can end up being a danger.”

Yes, it could certainly be good for that as well - though on the moments she had tried the same method, she often went inside to the bar and serving area. If nothing else, whoever was behind the counter usually would chat with her. But it didn’t have quite the same atmosphere as out here. “Your love of Florean’s went away with age?” She questioned, unsure if he was merely just meaning he’d always loved it or if it did not hold as much of a place for him now that he was no longer in his boyhood. At his silence, Ece wondered if perhaps she had asked something too personal and nearly apologized for prying - except then he was answering so she remained silent. “It’s never a terrible answer if it’s honestly how you feel.” She replied, before considering further. “I can understand that however. It’s… a gift when you enjoy your life’s work, but when it places you in new surroundings when you don’t have anyone close to you it can be awfully isolating.” Not that it happened to her nearly as often as she was certain he experienced, but she was still feeling her own loneliness from having relocated away from her family. Her sister was now dating and it killed Ece that she had yet to meet them.

Suddenly the conversation shifted to her, which saved her from having to think too much further on her own missing of her family and companionship, and instead she focused on the why of her being in Diagon Alley. “Work, actually!” She brightened, happy to shift to speaking of her own passion. “I had the opportunity to start a new enterprise here in Diagon Alley for longer term residency, so I moved here from my home in Istanbul. The Nesting Occamy is my establishment - so if you ever decide you do want to settle and this feels like home again, come see me.” She knew it sounded too much like a businessy pitch, but she hadn’t fully meant it to. She’d be happy to help if his circumstances ever changed!

[Lottiepot]

Truthfully, Terry didn’t see the need for Ece to change anything about her appearance. Not that he personally had a vain bone in his body and showering daily and the occasional trim of his beard was about as much effort as he’d put into his body. He thought there were other things that were more important so his opinion was one that shouldn’t matter. “I think it looks great as it does. Unless you wanted to change it in which case who am I to give any input?” He chuckled. It was true though, he was just a stranger and her hair was.. hers.

Terry was much the same. His dorm at Hogwarts was full of Quidditch players and musicians and the ‘it’ crowd and despite trying to be involved in appreciating their talents, they just didn’t interest him in the same way. He was sure that when he spouted on about some creature or other, they weren’t interested either. It hadn’t stopped him from pursuing his passions though and look at where that had got him. “You mean the Red-Billed Oxpecker? They have a sort of symbiotic relationship in that the birds consume ticks and other pests from the Rhinos and are in turn protected from carnivores. Although more recent research shows that the birds are even more of a support system in that they give warning calls to approaching predators including us humans. Rhinos have notoriously bad eyesight you see..” He paused towards the end of his spiel, realising he had gone off on a tangent about a mundane creature the poor woman probably had no interest in. “We err.. We see a lot of big game animals out in the reserves. You learn quite a lot..” An animal was an animal whether it was magical or not. At the end of the day they could learn a lot from the animal kingdom over living harmoniously.

“I might have been bitten once or twice” he laughed, agreeing with the statement. You didn’t work with magical creatures unless you had the scars to prove it.

A love of ice cream was never a finite thing. “It’s more that I don’t have the opportunity to visit so frequently anymore. Unfortunately there’s not a Florean’s franchise in the savannas of Africa.” He had to expand his taste buds a little which meant saying goodbye to his beloved childhood treat temporarily. “That’s not to say I wouldn’t treat myself to a scoop or two whenever I’m home.” Maybe even three if he was feeling particularly daring. He simply nodded to her understanding of the isolation that his type of work brought about but said no more on the matter. It was a strange sensation, talking about himself, when he was so used to his small team of conservationists in the middle of nowhere.

The conversation moving swiftly on to Ece and what she was doing in Diagon Alley was hugely appreciated. The man turned his body slightly towards her, an indication that he was all ears to what she was saying. The admission that she was from Istanbul was received by a knowing smile, impressed that he was able to place her lilt somewhere in that region. “Well.. if I do ever decide to relocate back here and get a normal job, I’ll be sure to swing by.” Despite being in his forties, he had never had a place to call his own. It was all travel and safari tents and strange little cabins in the wood and living out of a single suitcase for him.

[Chelliephone]

While there might not have been specifically a need, sometimes it was fun to just shake things up. And while Ece had had plenty of changes in the last few years, her new life in Diagon Alley was starting to grow a little comfortable. Which naturally meant it was up for shaking things up a little bit - even if it was something as miniscule and unexciting as a simple hair change. “Thank you for the compliment. Sometimes change is just welcome.” And honestly, the frizz truly was annoying and she hadn’t considered the idea that chopping it off would simply eradicate that minor annoyance.

When Terry spoke a bird’s name, she blinked at him unsure how to respond considering she very much didn’t know if that was the one she was thinking of or not. But considering he was the expert in their vicinity, she was inclined to believe him - even if she’d only known him for a few moments. His own passion and enthusiasm for his work was clear which probably helped to aid of why he came across so easily trustworthy as well on this subject. Thankfully though too, she didn’t even need to worry about how to reply considering he was continuing on in a fact dump - which did not at all uninterest her. In fact, the way one of the largest of the animal kingdom learned to rely on someone so small was kind of a heartwarming tale. “I love that!” She commented, enthusiastically. “Well, perhaps not about the poor rhinos not being able to see well, but just the harmony of how the two creatures live together - how their unlikely friendship benefits each other.” Though perhaps using the term friendship was romantizing it a bit too much but… oh well. “Do you just learn a lot from being in the vicinity of the creatures or do you also look into a lot just for the fun of it?” She sometimes would read current tenant laws of other countries - places that truly had nothing to do with her work. But… it was interesting!

“I figured as much.” She replied, a small smile as she laughed as well.

“We really should talk to the current owner about that.” She mused. Imagine a Florean’s that could be found anywhere. Or at the very least, a magical delivery service so anyone could enjoy the nostalgic creamery from anywhere in the world. Actually, maybe she should be posing that idea to some of her favorite places from back in Istanbul. She certainly missed some of the old delicacies. “I suppose that makes sense. What are things that you found you enjoyed the most food wise in Africa?” At his assurance he’d seek her out should he choose a future career change, she simply smiled and gave a nod - reminding herself to drop a card by for him later too, just in case. Realizing there had been a difference in his smile for a moment related to her home, she tilted her head with a bit of amusement. “Is it terribly obvious I’m not from around here?”

[Lottiepot]

Regretfully Terry was not the best at dishing out compliments. It wasn’t that he didn’t mean them but rather that he always felt a little awkward and insincere when he said them even when they were honest. He had never been the most serious of people, certainly not whilst at school anyway. It could explain why he had found himself single after all these years. “As you can probably tell I haven’t changed much in a long time” he chuckled ruffling out his own messy blonde hair and touching his unshaven chin. “There aren’t many barbers in the African Savannah and I don’t think I trust myself enough to do it.” He wasn’t the best at Transfiguration spells either.

His complicated spiel over the inter-species relationships between Rhinos and Oxpeckers was seemingly received by an interested companion which didn’t always occur. Some loved to hear of his experiences with creatures all over the world and others couldn’t care less. He knew which of those were his people. “I think there’s a lot to learn from the animal kingdom. They all seem to live quite symbiotically and its humans that ruin it all.” A pessimistic view of humanity maybe but it was his honest opinion. Terry wasn’t the type to sit and read for hours but when a subject piqued his interest enough he could divulge in a book or two. “You mostly learn on the go. It’s more the other people that you meet who are so full of information to share that you just sort of.. absorb it.” He liked to think that he could equally share an interesting tidbit or two in return.

“Do you know them personally?” he asked. He thought it would be a great idea. A sort of home away from home type of comfort plus with some of the exotic locations he visited he could do with a Florean’s to cool off with. With that being said, the man had expanded his cuisine enough to enjoy the local delicacies too. “There’s this incredible dish called Bobotie. It’s a rice based dish with minced meat and fruit blended with all these spices and a sort of eggy-custard type topping. It tastes a lot better than it sounds believe me.” He was practically salivating thinking about it.

Her accent he had only picked up on because he was well traveled and had frequently met others from all walks of life. “No not at all.”

[Chelliephone]

Compliments were difficult so who could fault him for that? There was always a timing to them, and if you didn’t use the correct verbiage something that was meant to be nice came across as…. Not so much so. Actually, her own issues with such was probably why she also remained single. Or perhaps it had something more to do with the fact that while plenty of women had turned her eye in the Alley, she had not turned theirs. Even if she also hadn’t tried THAT hard. Rejection was scary. “Truthfully? I wouldn’t know. How quickly facial hair grows for men is something that has eluded me.” Was it quickly? Because it seemed like someone was clean shaven one day and scruffy the next. “I assumed the long was just a stylistic choice. It’s fun, gives a less serious look.” Which hopefully he didn’t take offense to, because he struck her as someone laid back in the brief conversation they’d had. Which was not a negative, at least in her book.

Perhaps it was pessimistic, but she couldn’t fault him for that either. She had an overall positive outlook of humans in general - her primary clientele as they were - but that didn’t mean she hadn’t encountered some particularly sour individuals. “You’re probably right about that. Say, do you know, is there any species of animals that have internal squabbles over emotions? Or is it always over basic needs?” Like food aggression or what could come from mating. Well, he was certainly teaching her in conversation. It was possibility she would not learn by osmosis the way he seemed to prefer, especially with this not being her primary field, but she was interested in the conversation and the knowledge he was sharing in the moment nonetheless. “I imagine you have met some truly fascinating people in your travels, too!” Pessimistic view of them or not.

The Floreans current owner? Ece gave a small nod of her, smiling a bit. “I’ve been lucky enough to get to meet almost all the individuals currently working in Diagon Alley in my time here.” It was mainly in her role on the council that had allowed her to do so, which she was eternally grateful the other owners had given her the opportunity when she’d moved into town. She did not know them well enough however to guess how they would take the suggestion. It was something she might not actually be brave enough to offer an opinion on, but perhaps. Listen, she was skeptical at the idea of meat and fruit combined together but…. She supposed she would take his word for it. “If I get the opportunity, I’ll make sure to try it!”

[Lottiepot]

Terry had never taken much interest in his appearance, even during his schooling days. The beard had come after graduation from pure laziness and it had stuck. He never let it get quite this unkempt however until he was without access to basic grooming equipment. “It depends on the person. Thankfully mine isn’t too quick growing or else it would be down here.” He indicated to the middle of his chest. The Dumbledore look wouldn’t suit him, he didn’t think. “Thank you” he chuckled accepting the compliment. It was a look that would be sticking for a while until he settled again.

Ece was doing nothing to quell his desire to talk about his passions. He appreciated her interest, even if it wasn’t genuine and it showed in the way that his face lit up as he spoke of his beloved creatures. “Most animals are constantly in survival mode and don’t have the time or resources to deal with emotions” he chuckled. Which was fair enough especially if situated somewhere at the bottom of the food chain. “That’s not to say that they aren’t capable of emotions. Take for example a herd of elephants. If a youngster were to fall into a hole or get stuck in mud, elephants will abandon their cause to rescue the baby even if it means endangering themselves.” There were so many other examples but as they were already talking of African animals it felt the most appropriate. “The same could be said of magical creatures, in fact they’re arguably even more aware of emotions than their muggle counterparts.” He wasn’t an expert in the psyche of creatures but it was a subject he would be interested in studying further.

Terry was at heart a people person, even if he thought that humanity could do a better job of preserving its environment. The people often made his travels even better. “Absolutely! Everyone has a story to tell.” And considering being out in the savannah could be a little lonely at times, he always had the time to listen.

Which was why he had changed the subject over to Ece and her time as a Diagon Alley Proprietor. “I bet there’s an equal number of interesting people here, it IS one of the best shopping streets in the magical community.” He’d visited quite a few but nothing quite compared to stepping foot on the cobbled streets for the first time. He understood that the dish might not have sounded like the best but its taste was surprising and it worked. “Trust me” he winked. For an ex-Slytherin, he was a terrible liar anyway.

[NiallNIP]

Quinn discovered it was very important for her to take time for herself nowadays. She was sat in the courtyard of the Leaky Cauldron with her journal and a quill, drawing the assortment of flowers that were planted across the grass. Drawing plants had become a little hobby for her, and she had gotten quite good at it, actually. She was able to get the detailing of the veins within leaves and petals, and her perspective was getting better. Doing it with an ink pot and quill was her favorite; she liked how the tip of the quill was a very fine point that made detailing a bit easier.

Drawing plants had been her way of grounding and relaxing herself when she was abroad. She would go out to a park, sit down and draw whatever was in front of her—an interesting tree, lily pads on a pond, even just the grass as times. It was easier when she was away to manage her thoughts, with her being so far from the source of them. Now she was back and everything was still a bit overwhelming for her, and after losing touch with most of her friends here she didn't have much of anyone to talk to outside of her family. Hence her trying to spend a little me time decompressing. She liked coming out to Diagon Alley because maybe someone she knew from a long time ago would pop up unexpectedly, and they would reconnect and everything would be like it was when she was younger. Well, not everything, hopefully, but at least the friendship.

[Zoe]

After a long shift at St. Mungo's, he relished the thought of taking the scenic route home, allowing himself to unwind before retreating to the flat above Scribbulus Writing Implements. The hustle of the hospital had drained his energy today, and he craved a few moments of peace. Dafydd stepped through the arched doorway of the Leaky Cauldron, leaving the vibrant chatter of patrons inside and the faint aroma of butterbeer.

His eyes scanned the familiar sights as he walked into the courtyard. He had always appreciated what one of the previous owners of the pub had done with the space, transforming it into a cosy little nook that welcomed both locals and visitors alike. He recalled the few occasions from his youth when he had frolicked through the little garden and peered down at the koi swimming lazily in the pond. Taking this path again allowed him to soak in the nostalgia of it all.

It was then that he spotted a figure, a quill poised over a journal, completely absorbed in her artwork. For a moment, Daf thought nothing of it and was planning on casually passing by in silence. But then he did a doubletake, his heart leaping when he recognised particular features he hadn't seen since ... Merlin, it has been years since they last crossed paths, when they were just little kids running around Hogwarts.

"Quinn?" he called out. "Is that you?"

[NiallNIP]

Quinn was so focused on her work that she didn't notice that someone else had come out into the courtyard with her. It was only when someone said her name that she looked up with a start, nearly smudging her drawing. She gave him a once over—he looked to be about her same age, so he must have been someone she went to Hogwarts with for him to recognize her. She took a moment to take in his face, and there was a familiarity there that she couldn't place for half a second, until—

"Dafydd?" Quinn dropped her quill into the ink pot and stood, giving him a big smile. She was going to give him a hug, but she hadn't seen him in almost nine years and she wasn't sure what level of familiarity he was comfortable with, so she thought against it. But the gleam in her eye couldn't hide the excitement of seeing an old friend. "Gosh, it's been ages, how are you doing?"

[Zoe]

Dafydd's heart warmed at the sight of Quinn's smile, the years melting away in an instant. "It really has been a long time!" he replied, his voice bright with genuine enthusiasm. "I can't believe it's you. I thought I was imagining things for a moment!" The former Hufflepuff stepped closer, the familiar feeling of camaraderie bubbling to the surface, and without thinking twice, he opened his arms for a hug.

"I'm doing well. Just finished a long shift at Mungo's. You know how it is—patients don't heal themselves," he said, waving a hand dismissively as if to brush off the weight of work. Dafydd inhaled the fresh air of the courtyard, filled with the mingling scents of the garden's flowers and warm food from the pub. "Just passing through to wind down on my way home. The atmosphere here just has this comforting charm."

"How about you? I see you're quite the artist now." He gestured to her journal, noting the delicate lines capturing the flowers with impressive detail.

He paused, keenly aware of how much had changed since then. "It's good to see a friendly face and reconnect." His smile widened, genuinely eager to catch up and hear all about what Quinn had been up to. "What have you been up to all this time? Any wild adventures?"

[NiallNIP]

Quinn giggled as she went in for the hug, squeezing him tight. "Nope, really here," she laughed. "It doesn't quite feel real being back to me, either. But it's so good to see you!"

Quinn nodded. She'd been spending a lot of time at the hospital herself, recently—a Muggle one, visiting her mother. "Wow, okay Mr. Healer, very impressive." She was genuinely impressed—she could cast healing spells fairly well, but being a Healer was an entirely different level. "But yeah, I like coming out here, too. It's lively but relaxing. Good for me to get out of the house, too."

"Oh, thank you, but that's just a hobby, really," she said, glancing back at her journal and blushing a bit. "I haven't been back for long, so I've just been doing odd things until I find something more stable. I'm working as an Herbology tutor for kids at the moment, when I have some spare time." Right now her mother was taking up most of her attention. Stressful and frustrating as she may be, she's still Quinn's mother. "But I've been alright."

"Gosh, I don't even know where to begin," Quinn said. She had been up to a lot, but there was so much family stuff along the way that she didn't want to weigh him down with. "After third year I switched schools to Durmstrang. Very cold up there, and dark a lot of the time. But it was alright. And after I graduated I kind of just...bounced around. I worked odd little jobs all over—Italy, France, Greece, Germany—and it was really fun to travel around." She thought of it more as running, truthfully, but life is all about framing, right? "I worked as a gardener, a bartender, I was a sewer for a fashion house in Paris for a bit. It really was a whirlwind. And I got back this past December. Being home is strange after so long away, but it's also...comforting. Like seeing an old friend, which I guess is a bit on the nose," she laughed, "but I do think I want to stay now. I've had my fun and it's time to settle. What about you, though—has it all been school and work or have you gone on any fantastic journeys?"

[Zoe]

"I can imagine it's a bit surreal to be back. But hey, now that you're here, maybe it'll start feeling more like home again, especially with a few familiar faces popping up." His eyes sparkled with warmth and a touch of nostalgia.

Dafydd let out a low whistle as Quinn described her travels, clearly impressed by the colourful path she'd taken. "You've had a real adventure!" he said with a grin, shaking his head in admiration. "Sewing for a fashion house in Paris, bouncing around Europe, tutoring Herbology... That sounds like living to me. You must have stories to last a lifetime."

He paused, considering her question, and chuckled. "Me? Not nearly as exciting as you. Mostly, yeah, it's been school and then work... you know, the Healer grind. Training was, well—intense, to say the least. And now that I'm out of training, I feel like I'm starting to get the hang of balancing it all at the hospital. There's always something to learn, and every day's different. A lot of pressure, too, but I can't imagine doing anything else."

He tucked his hands in his pockets, leaning back against the courtyard wall. "That said, I did do a bit of travelling between all of that. Went to Atlantis and a few other locations here and there with my boyfriend—he's got a historian and archaeology background, so I get to join him on his ventures every now and then. We recently moved in together into a flat above Scribbulus." A slight pause followed before he spoke again. "Otherwise, my adventures at the moment have been more of the accidental 'where did I leave my wand this time' or 'Betty snuck out of the ward again' variety,” he joked, giving her a playful smile.

[NiallNIP]

Quinn laughed and rolled her eyes, thinking about the hijinks she had gotten into abroad. "Yeah, it was fun, and I have plenty of stories. Not all of them fun, but such is life. It was really good to get a look at different wizarding cultures and all that. The Greeks especially do it quite differently over there—well, most do magic the same way as us, but some still keep up with ancient tradition—from mythological times, you know? Wild rituals and things that I got invited to; fascinating to watch but I'd never do it myself."

"Aw, I'm so happy for you both!" Quinn smiled and clapped a bit. "Kudos to you for getting through training and getting into the swing of work, I don't know if I could stand the pressure of it. Having someone's life literally in my hands...I might just crumble to pieces." She paused for a moment, thinking of her mother. "But you should be so proud of yourself," she said as she came back to reality, "and I'm sure your partner must be as well. And I'm glad you're able to get away from the stress with him from time to time. He must be so happy you get to go with him on his works trips, it sounds like a lot of fun."

"That's the kind of stuff I missed while I was abroad—the mundanity of life. While I was going around everything felt so big and new, but nothing felt super..." Quinn paused while trying to find the right wording. "...like home, I guess. I couldn't really put down any roots, make a lot of lasting relationships, start on any career paths. I didn't have my own apartment, couldn't keep pets, no romances—well, serious ones, at least," Quinn giggled, "but that's what I really want now, I think. Something that's really mine. I need to figure out what I want to do with my life, I need my own place, I want to start dating. I've been thinking about applying to the Ministry, or maybe a shop in the Alley, or even just taking up teaching. Maybe I'll move in somewhere in the Alley, too, if there's an open apartment. She thought about it for a moment, having a place that overlooked the bustling street, plants around her and a mug of tea in hand as she people watched. "But I do think that the traveling was good for me, at least for where I was in life."

Quinn shook her head. "God, sorry, I don't mean to just ramble all my thoughts at you. I just haven't had many people to talk to besides my family, recently," she chuckled awkwardly. This was a habit that had been hard for her to shake since she was a child—monologues about the things she liked, what she was thinking. She had learned to embrace that part of herself more, but was still cognizant that not everyone needed to hear her every waking thought.