Time to Pay Up

[Edmund Fairfax]

"An accidental double date?" Edmund said, his mouth wrinkling in distaste. The only think worse than having to continue to convince Angelique that he was still heartbroken over Claire was to do it while pretending to befriend this Tristan character while the rapscallion was putting his hands all over Claire right in front of him. The idea made bile rise up in Edmund's throat. But he wasn't going to let Claire see that. He quickly stuffed another piece of croissant in his mouth, and as he chewed, he faked an icy smile.

"Interesting is hardly the word I'd use for it," he replied. "Nevertheless, you're on. Maybe while we're there, you could try talking me up to Miss Angelique. I still have the feeling the woman doesn't trust me," he said tightly.

[Claire Weiss]

"Ah. So, I'll send you an owl once I find out the day we're supposed to be going out. That night should be the best night ever, don't you think?" Claire gave Edmund a wicked grin. The night that would have an 'accident' double date would be the night Claire would see how far she could push Edmund, causing him to break. She wanted to see if he did care about her, which was going to be a twisted way to find out if he liked her or not, but she knew that he wouldn't ever tell her verbally. Oh, what fun! Plus, not only would she be having fun with Edmund, but fun with Tristan as well. Although, she would actually mean what she was doing to Tristan, it would be for other reasons as well.

"Talk you up to Angelique? And she has a right not to trust you," said Claire giving him a wink. "But, since you did lose, I guess trying to talk you up to her could be least I could do. Although, just to let you know, I told Tristan the reason I broke up with you, was because I started to feel like you didn't care about me anymore, and that you kept on looking at other women, so I decided to break up with you before I got hurt. So, just in case Tristan asks about other stuff when we were supposedly together, with did you tell him exactly, so I'll know how to react."

[Edmund Fairfax]

Edmund raised an eyebrow. "Well, that will create some rather interesting dinner conversation," he commented. "Because I told Angelique that you were the one who didn't feel the same about me. She thinks you left me... brokenhearted." He laughed at the ridiculousness of such an idea. I think it will be best if we steer the conversation away from talk about our relationship altogether. Either that, or we're going to have to come up with an official story that can be interpreted both ways. I can tell you right now, Angelique is quite outspoken, and she won't hesitate to blurt something out, no matter how uncomfortable."

Already he was dreading this event even more than the average day at his parents' house.

[Claire Weiss]

Claire laughed. "Ah, the thought of that is just too funny. You being brokenhearted? That's highly impossible. But I'm sorry. I shouldn't laugh. After all, that story did get her to at least take you somewhere, even if nothing really happened." She picked up her cup and took a sip of the hot liquid. "I agree with you. The better we stay clear of that conversation, the better it will be for the both of us. However. If the question should arise, what exactly are we going to say? Although, we don't have to worry about that now. We could just improvise if that should arise, however, I don't really think it will. I don't mind the fact that Angelique is outspoken. I can probably handle it in my own response."

[Edmund Fairfax]

"Go ahead and laugh, my dear," Edmund groaned. "My humiliation is already complete. Well... maybe not, actually. But I'm quite certain that this little double date will finish me off." He rolled his eyes. "I definitely think we should try and keep the conversation away from our so-called relationship, if that's what you'd even call what we had. I'll try to think of ways to discourage Angelique from discussing it, and you can handle your friend. But if it comes up, perhaps we should pretend we had some kind of big fight or something. That might be easier to skew to fit either story. What do you think?"

[Claire Weiss]

"Sure. I don't see why not, however, let's not worry about that anymore. I doubt anything like that will arise," said Claire. "You know, you must really like this Angelique. You don't do second dates, unless you really like them. I shall try to get her alone sometime during the night. Maybe if she goes to the ladies' room, I could follow, and talk to her about you." Claire was starting to become slightly jealous of this girl, however she would never let it show, and after all, maybe Tristan could help her get over it. "I'm sure that will boost your ego for the night."

[Edmund Fairfax]

Edmund looked at her appraisingly, tryng to determine how she felt about the idea that he might genuinely like Angelique. As ever, her face was infuriatingly inscrutable. "Well, I guess I do like her," Edmund admitted. "She intrigues me. But she's also a challenge. You know how I am... I don't like to back down from a challenge. Since I haven't quite made much progress with her, I would like to keep trying... you know, to see if I can break down her defenses." He flashed her a wicked, dazzling smile. "I'm sure once I have her eating out of my hand, I'll get bored."

[Claire Weiss]

Claire bit the inside of her cheek to keep herself from frowning. "That's true. You've always liked a challenge. Although the way you speak of Angelique, she's not one to give in so easily. So I guess I have to say good luck with breaking down her defenses. After all, she seems to be a woman with a good head on her shoulders. I'm surprised she hasn't seen right through you even if you do give sob stories." She was glad that she was sitting down whenever he smiled, because if not, she would have feared that he would see through her facade. "Well, again, good luck with that."

[Edmund Fairfax]

Edmund gave a sarcastic chuckle. "Oh, well, thank you so much, Claire darling," he said, rolling his eyes. He sighed. "To be quite honest, I think she does see right through me, and that troubles me. At times I almost feel like the player is getting played, if you know what I mean. The woman is an auror, so she's clearly not stupid. I really shouldn't bother with her, except that I find her such an intriguing challenge..."

[Claire Weiss]

Claire wanted to blurt out Well don't bother with her then, however she picked up her cup and finished its contents. The way he was talking about this woman was starting to get on her nerves, although she shouldn't really be bothered with it any longer. After all, she liked Tristan. Claire's widened slightly and she reached up and messed with her eyelashes as if they were feeling like they were sticking together. She just admitted to herself that she did like him. "Like I said good luck with her. I'm sure it will take time, but I'll try to help speed that time up for you. I'll send you an owl once I hear from Tristan, which should be either tomorrow or the next day," she said attempting to change the subject.

[Edmund Fairfax]

"Ah, right," said Edmund, curling his lip distastefully. "Tristan. Well, if I'm to... make friends with him, do you want me to wait until after the dinner, or do I have to seek him out sooner?" He frowned deeply at the idea, hoping that Claire wouldn't realize the real reason why he dreaded it so much. He couldn't let her know that the mere idea of being friendly to the new man Claire liked made him feel physically ill.

[Claire Weiss]

"I don't think things would be to terribly awkward if you just so happen to run into him before hand. I know that he usually stays around the Leaky Cauldron while he's working late. So maybe you could just go in there for a drink or something making it look natural while you're there," said Claire with a shrug. "And don't sound like you hate it so. I could have thought of something far worse than this."