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Post by Nathalia Webb on Jan 5, 2009 21:59:28 GMT -5
"It took years of practice just to get the smile exactly right," she joked, moving her hand from her chin to the table, but she stayed leaned in. She was well aware of body language and how to read it, as well as communicate it. Leaning away would have been showing a loss of interest, which she certainly was not.
"An Auror? I'm impressed. One of the save-the-day types, are you?" He looked like one of those unsung hero types. And it looked good on him. "All right, here's a tougher one," she teased. "Why, besides my drinks, did you come to the bar tonight?"
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Post by Roland Ferrera on Jan 5, 2009 22:15:04 GMT -5
He also leaned closer, scooting his chair towards hers a little more, then leaning forward so that his elbows rested against his thighs. The more she spoke, the more charming he found her to be. He would have been content to just let her speak, but what kind of conversation would that have been?
"I like to think of myself that way," he said with a sly grin. "I'm not exactly a... what do the muggles say... boy scout? But I do have all those lofty ideas of defending the innocent and all that."
His smile slipped slightly when she asked why he had come in tonight. He took a sip from his drink, then exhaled softly. "I had a bad day today. I'm sure you don't want to know all the details... let's just say I'm less than thrilled with my current assignment."
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Post by Nathalia Webb on Jan 5, 2009 22:20:53 GMT -5
Nathalia sat up a bit straighter. "Oh, Roland, I wouldn't be a barmaid if I didn't want to know all the details. Helping people feel better is my speciality... you can't tell me you don't feel immensley better after that drink. I wouldn't believe you." She smiled. "But I think you might need another one... and I think you're the type that can handle at least three before you start forgetting me. I'll be right back."
And she was up on her feet, quickly checking in with the other patrons before she went behind the bar, and came back with another Double O Seven for him.
"We're even now... two questions each. It's your turn again."
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Post by Roland Ferrera on Jan 5, 2009 23:10:47 GMT -5
Roland had to admit, although his head felt a little fuzzy and his limbs were heavy and languid, he was still quite lucid, and very far away from being completely drunk. At least one more of the Double O Sevens wouldn't hurt him. He was feeling immensely better, as compared to how he had felt when he walked into the bar.
"Oh, I see.... we're taking turns, then?" he teased as he sipped from the glass she handed him. "Very well. I suppose since you asked me if I was married, I should probably ask to make sure you're single as well."
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Post by Nathalia Webb on Jan 6, 2009 8:24:26 GMT -5
Nathalia seemed to appraise him before she answered that particular question. "Would you really care if I was?" She asked, then shook her head. "I'm sorry. You would... you already mentioned that you're a family man."
She held up her left hand, displaying an empty ring finger. "Just me. Single suits me well. I think I'm too chaotic for most men to handle." She shrugged as if this were no big deal at all.
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Post by Roland Ferrera on Jan 6, 2009 9:13:12 GMT -5
"My family means a lot to me, yes," Roland said, nodding his head. "And my mother would absolutely kill me if I broke up someone else's family." He paused to take a sip from his drink, then added, "And just because I know it's probably going to be your next question, no, I don't still live with my parents. You saw my uncle invite me over for dinner tomorrow... it seems my family thinks I don't eat."
He chuckled lightly at her comment. "Chaotic, huh? Well, you're in luck, because I like chaos. I don't get enough of it in my life."
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Post by Nathalia Webb on Jan 6, 2009 16:05:44 GMT -5
Nathalia laughed. "You know, actually, the question didn't even cross my mind. I just assumed you were on your own anyway." It was a compliment, and she was finding Roland quite intriguing. Maybe it was the alcohol, but he was very easy to talk to, and fun at that.
She refrained from mentioning that she was staying with her mother for a while. She honestly didn't know if she was going to stay in London long enough to make an apartment worth it, but all of that was a lot to explain, so she just kept quiet.
"Everybody likes chaotic on occassion," she told him. But it wasn't exactly something you could settle down with. She wasn't complaining; she liked her life. Those were just the facts if it.
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Post by Roland Ferrera on Jan 6, 2009 16:22:05 GMT -5
Roland found her laughter contagious, and this was intensified by the alcohol. A true laugh from him was rare, so when he threw his head back and laughed heartily, it showed just how much he enjoyed her company. "Well, I'm glad to hear I don't give off that 'I live in my mother's basement' vibe to you," he teased.
He took another gulp from his glass and looked at her for a minute, his expression only slightly more serious. "OK, next question," he said at last. "You said that you went to school in New York. What were you studying?"
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Post by Nathalia Webb on Jan 6, 2009 16:34:29 GMT -5
"Oh, believe me... I know that vibe, and you certainly don't give it off." She had known far to many guys that did. It never ceased to be awkward to be taken to a guy's parents' house. Nathalia, of course, had her pride (and her standards) and she never stayed.
The next question was possibly the easiest one yet. "Art," she replied. "Well, modern art. I took a lot of theory classes on top of the practical ones." How was that for unstable? A nomadic, restless artist who bartended to pay the bills.
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Post by Roland Ferrera on Jan 6, 2009 16:41:52 GMT -5
He raised an eyebrow at her answer. Oddly enough, he had not expected it. It was rare for wizards and witches to truly study or work with art, and he found it quite interesting that she would be drawn to it. Somehow, once she said it, it seemed to suit her.
"You're a free spirit," he said. "I like that. Do you actually paint or draw or anything?"
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Post by Nathalia Webb on Jan 6, 2009 16:50:29 GMT -5
"You have no idea," Nathalia replied to the free spirit comment. She took after her mother in that regard. Well, maybe her father too, but who knew, besides Ursula? Anyway, the family was well aware of this, and could pratically see them torn between trying to conform her and trying to support her.
"I'll be honest with you," Nathalia said, a glint in her eyes. "I can't draw at all. I'm terrible at it... too much attention to detail is required, I think. But I do paint. There's a lot more freedom with a paintbrush than with a pencil. Is it my turn to ask you a question yet, or are you still on a roll?"
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Post by Roland Ferrera on Jan 6, 2009 16:56:43 GMT -5
Roland's intrigue increased. "I'd like to see your work sometime. Unless of course, you prefer not to share it. I'm afraid I'm not particularly artistic, but I do have an appreciation for those that are."
He was very curious to know more about her, and the more she told him, the more he liked. He could see himself being friendly with her, long after this night. He didn't expect or want more than a little fun and companionship, but every so often he needed to spend time with people who were different from himself, just to break himself out of his shell once in a while. Somehow, it seemed easy to do that with her.
Smiling, he nodded his head. "No, by all means... it is your turn. Ask away."
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Post by Nathalia Webb on Jan 6, 2009 20:17:22 GMT -5
"I would be happy to show you some of it," Nathalia agreed easily. "I've never actually understood the people that don't want to show their work. What's the point of art if it's not to be seen? Besides, if you practice an art, you should be proud of it, and make it proud of you. Everyone makes mistakes. Art is just knowing which ones to keep." She knew she was talking quite a lot, but he seemed not to be bored yet, and the alcohol was probably making him fairly agreeable.
"Hmm... what else to ask you... did you always know you wanted to be an Auror?" Her actually question had been about his family, but she got the feeling that he was protective o them, and it was probably safer to leave them alone.
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Post by Roland Ferrera on Jan 6, 2009 21:22:01 GMT -5
Roland liked listening to her talk about her artwork. She was enthusiastic about it, and that made a big difference. He had also never understood people who were neurotic about their talents. In his mind, if you had a talent, you should show it off. He came up with a few more questions to ask her when his "turn" came around again.
"Well, I guess it was fairly expected that I would be an auror," he said. "My entire family have been aurors. My grandparents, my parents... my aunt and uncle... my younger brother, and my cousin are all aurors. I had a rebellious stage when I was younger where I thought I wanted to work with dragons, but it didn't last... I pretty much knew I was meant to be an auror."
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Post by Nathalia Webb on Jan 6, 2009 22:44:12 GMT -5
Nathalia's eyebrows went up. "Dragons? Wow, you do like chaos. Not that being an auror is much less dangerous these days." He kept confirming the vie she had of him that he was a save the day type. The world needed moe heroes, honestly, so she could admire him for that.
"So, you've been an auror for... how long? Did you start training right after you graduated? How..." She laughed and shook her head. "I'll save that one for later. One question at a time, right?"
Had he been completely sober, she may have been more reserved,... but just barely. Nathalia was Nathalia, and what you saw was what you got. She didn't make apologies for that.
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Post by Roland Ferrera on Jan 6, 2009 23:18:30 GMT -5
He smiled back at her. "Yes, I do like danger," he admitted. "It keeps things exciting. I'd be bored if I had to work some boring desk job all day long. Although, to be fair, there is still a fair amount of paperwork involved in being an auror. It's not all danger and excitement.. but I do get my fair share."
He laughed again at her excited questions. Pausing for a sip of his drink, he nodded his head. "I actually applied and started pre-training when I was still in my seventh year," he said. "Your grades have to be perfect to qualify. So I did the training, took the test not long after graduation, then started on the real training. I was given my first solo mission when I was 18."
Which was why he was pissed about being given a partner now. All this time, he'd thought he was doing well... now he was expected to work with another, whose style was very different from his own? He still didn't understand it.
"Is it my turn now?" he asked, ripping his mind away from thoughts of Riley.
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Post by Nathalia Webb on Jan 6, 2009 23:29:18 GMT -5
Nat sighed, but she was still smiling. "Yes, I suppose it is your turn again."
She looked round the bar while she waited for him to ask her another question, curious to hear what it would be, actually. The man was still singing very poorly and three drinks lined up at his feet. Her other customers were still working on their drinks, which meant she didn't have to leave Roland just yet.
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Post by Roland Ferrera on Jan 6, 2009 23:38:41 GMT -5
Roland took another sip of his drink. His reflexes were getting a little slower, but he showed no other ill effects just yet. "Don't sound so disappointed," he teased. "You'll get another turn."
He leaned a little closer to her. They were now almost close enough to touch, and if he reached out, he could just about brush her cheek with his fingertips. But for the time being, he kept his hands to himself. "What kind of paintings do you do?" he asked. "Landscapes, portraits, abstracts...?"
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Post by Nathalia Webb on Jan 6, 2009 23:54:00 GMT -5
"Portraits... mostly. I like painting people. There's a lot of beauty there that I think a lot of us take for granted," Nathalia answered, not having think very much before she answered. She knew what she liked and wanted, and wasn't afraid to share it.
Her voice was softer now because they were so close, and she studied his face. She couldn't help but think that she'd like to paint him. There was something in those eyes that was as haunting as it was intriguing. So she was studying his face now, in case she never saw him again.
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Post by Roland Ferrera on Jan 7, 2009 0:10:24 GMT -5
Her answer did not surprise him, nor did the way she suddenly seemed to focus on his face. He allowed his smile to slip, adopting the more serious expression that was more common for him. He lowered his eyelids slightly, his gaze becoming soft and a little sleepy. "It's not just the physical appearance, though... you find people in general fascinating."
It wasn't a question, because he was relatively certain that it was true. Everything she had said to him thus far seemed to prove it.
After a moment, he broke the spell with a slight quirk of his lips. "So, when do you finish your shift?" he asked, his voice low.
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