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Post by aramis on Jan 27, 2009 2:05:44 GMT -5
Aramis skipped out of work early tonight, tired of reading the same articles over and over again. Every single one of the journalists at the Prophet were covering some angle on the Hogsmeade attack. It was out of pure irony that he went into Hogsmeade to escape articles on Hogsmeade. Stu's Bar was in the less populated area of the village, and thus the least disturbed by the happening, so he ventured there for a drink.
It didn't seem very busy when he went in, and he figured people were still keeping their distance, afraid of a reoccurring attack. Aramis doubted this. He went straight to the bar where he saw a very attractive, young barmaid. "Hullo doll. I'd like a whiskey please."
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Post by Nathalia Webb on Jan 27, 2009 2:14:32 GMT -5
Nathalia flashed the man a smile. This was mostly out of habit now. She liked being on good terms with all of her customers.
She didn't actually look him over until half a second after that smile, and it only grew. She could already tell he was older than her, but then, when had that ever stopped her?
"Straight or on the rocks?" She asked, already pulling out a glass for him. She was the only one working today- no one else wanted to risk coming in. Nathalia doubted there was anything to risk, so Stu let her have the run of the place.
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Post by aramis on Jan 28, 2009 0:31:22 GMT -5
"Straight," he replied with a dazzling smile to match hers. He evaluated her as she got his drink. She was thin but not so much that she didn't have curves, which he admired for a while. Her hair was styled, not just thrown together like many girls would have done while working on a Thursday night shift. She was much too pretty for this dodgy pub.
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Post by Nathalia Webb on Jan 28, 2009 6:30:48 GMT -5
"Straight it is," Nathalia said, pouring it for him in the next instant. It was all second nature by now.
She set the glass down in front of him and leaned on the bar, resting her chin in a pretty, perfectly manicured hand. "Drink of choice, or are you having a particularly rough day?" This was also part of her job, talking with the customers. She felt sort of honored with the secrets people trusted her with, even if they were drunk when they told her.
But he had a charming smile and a melodic voice, and the bar was close to empty. Above all of that, she was bored and wanted the conversation.
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Post by aramis on Jan 29, 2009 1:45:21 GMT -5
He took the drink and thanked her with a nod. "Drink of choice," he responded. He usually only had one or two drinks a night, so it wasn't like he got pissed when he went out. But when he had a trying day, like today, he generally liked to blow off steam in a more athletic way than drinking. He thought to himself that the pretty barmaid would be perfect for steam blowing. He smiled. "What's your name, love?"
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Post by Nathalia Webb on Jan 30, 2009 12:16:45 GMT -5
Nathalia put her chin in her hand, leaning against the top of the bar. He didn't seem like a sour, antisocial drinker, which she liked. At least he would keep her entertained for a few moments in the near empty bar.
"I'm Nathalia... though you can shorten it however you like. And what should I call you?" She phrased it that way because she found that a lot of people didn't want to be known in here. However, he had asked for her name, so his was only fair game.
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Post by aramis on Jan 31, 2009 0:35:36 GMT -5
"Nathalia," he repeated in a low tone. It was a pretty name to match her pretty face. He didn't think it needed to be shortened, but since she had said that, it must mean that she was used to nicknames.
"I'm Aramis. Its a pleasure." He extended his hand to her out of habit. He was used to being in business situations where he had to be professional, though often for different professions.
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Post by Nathalia Webb on Feb 2, 2009 4:40:19 GMT -5
She took his hand, placing her well manicured one in his and continued to smile, though it was a little more relaxed and a bit spunkier than it had been initially.
"The pleasure is mine," she told him, letting his name roll on her tongue. "Aramis... like the muskateer. I'm sure you've heard that one a thousand times. It's a very regal name." She didn't mind saying something he had probably heard before. She wasn't the kind to be shy or apologetic.
"So, tell me, why did you choose Stu's tonight? The answers are always good."
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Post by aramis on Feb 2, 2009 15:45:12 GMT -5
He pressed his lips to the back of her wrist, not lingering too long but able to inhale her scent in a decent manner. She smelled like wild flowers and alcohol. An intoxicating aroma that would have made any man want to be an alcoholic just to get another whiff.
"Yes, like the Musketeer," he said with a chuckle. He had heard it many times, and when he was younger he had actually been picked on because of his name. By children named after plants and food, no less. But in time he grew to enjoy his name. And the ladies seemed to like it as well. "My mother was quite fond of Dumas. I'm certain if I had had any brothers we'd of been raised as Musketeers."
"Would you fault me if I said I had heard a beautiful woman was working here tonight?" He had heard no such thing, and the reason why he had come to Stu's was not anything exciting, as far as he was concerned. The reason why he would be leaving, he hoped, would be much more entertaining.
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Post by Nathalia Webb on Feb 2, 2009 16:58:01 GMT -5
Nathalia smiled. "Now that's one *I* hear all the time," she told him. Yes, it was a line and she recognized it as such. Even Roland had used something similar on her. But she wasn't going to hold it against him at all.
"But no, I wouldn't fault you." She laughed. "And for that, your next one's on the house." Stu let her get away with that because her drinks had been bringing in a little more business. Besides, he wasn't here tonight to tell her no.
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Post by aramis on Feb 4, 2009 4:53:32 GMT -5
Aramis laughed and nodded his head. Of course she had heard that before, he hadn't thought any differently. "I suppose lines like that one are a hazard of the job when you work at a bar. I'll have to be more creative in my next compliment. Or perhaps there's some gesture I could make that would raise me above the rest of your admirers..." He leaned back a little bit to evaluate her.
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Post by Nathalia Webb on Feb 13, 2009 17:15:22 GMT -5
Nathalia laughed and shook her head. "Are you asking me for help trying to impress me?" She shook her head. "Nope. You've got to do the work, I'm afraid."
She knew men's body language pretty well, and knew that she was being assessed as he leaned back. She stood up straighter, giving him a better view to assess. She was quiet for just a moment before she said, "I have to go refill drinks at that table over there... enjoy yours and I'll be back in a minute."
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Post by aramis on Feb 14, 2009 18:55:16 GMT -5
Aramis laughed. He wouldn't need her help if he wanted to impress her. And he hadn't been asking for her assistance, rather he was thinking aloud. Those thoughts made one side of his mouth curve upward into a crooked smile. He nodded when she said she had things to do, and he watched her hips sway as she moved away from him.
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Post by Nathalia Webb on Feb 15, 2009 20:59:53 GMT -5
Nathalia didn't rush coming back to him, but it wasn't on purpose. She had flashed him a tiny smile as she refilled the drinks from two of the three tables, and sauntered back his way when she had delivered them.
She glanced at his glass to see if he too needed a refill. "How's the drink?" She asked, though she had nothing to do with it, since it came straight from the bottle. She still asked, however.
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Post by aramis on Feb 19, 2009 22:47:48 GMT -5
He noticed her smiles to him as she served the other patrons, but didn't gawk or stare as she was away. The time alone gave him the chance to think over what he needed to do at the Prophet, particularly concerning Isabella Kerrith. He had met with her once already, and could tell she would be easy to woo if he could find the right angle. She was soft spoken and gentile. And driven, that he could tell right off the bat. He could easily turn that into a relationship to get what he needed. Yes, this would be simple. Aramis was a little turned off at this realization. She would be too easy and he enjoyed a good challenge.
Nathalia returned and asked about his drink, which was nearly gone. "Excellent. You pour a mean whiskey," he teased. "When are you off tonight?" She had made it clear that she was open to flirting with him, and he knew that usually meant she would be open to more. He wasn't going to waste his time, but if there was going to be a payoff, he could wait it out.
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Post by Nathalia Webb on Feb 20, 2009 2:44:32 GMT -5
"It's all in the wrist," Nathalia returned with a laugh.
She didn't answer his question right away. Nathalia was willing, but she hated to be easy. There was a difference in her book, and she barely spoke to Aramis. He was good looking and engaging, charming as well, but there were plenty others just like him.
"My shift is over in half an hour," she said, being diplomatic about it. "But what time I go home depends on what kind of fun I decide to have tonight."
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Post by aramis on Feb 27, 2009 1:10:13 GMT -5
Aramis had a few kinds of fun in mind, but he would leave those thoughts for later. "Well I'd offer to buy you a drink, but would you want to do something like that?" Aramis certainly did not want to go read the Daily Prophet after having worked there all day, so he wondered if she felt the same about pubs.
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Post by Nathalia Webb on Mar 3, 2009 1:00:08 GMT -5
Nathalia tilted her head. "You think that just because I bartend, I can't enjoy drinks anymore? I do get them for free though, so the effort on your part is lost." She shrugged, a smile on her face as if saying sorry.
"Do you smoke?" She asked. "You can supply me with a cigarette later to make up for the drink."
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Post by aramis on Mar 3, 2009 1:34:48 GMT -5
That was a good point. Why should he pay money for what she could get herself for free? It'd be like him buying the paper. Frivolous spending. He finished off his drink and set the bottle on the bar which was now cluttered with condensation circles. He grinned at her. Aramis did smoke, but only after sex or at a party. He didn't carry them on him. "I have some back at my place if you don't mind a little detour."
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Post by Nathalia Webb on Mar 3, 2009 2:09:46 GMT -5
Nathalia quirked an eyebrow. What a sneaky bastard, she thought, but couldn't help the smile on her lips. He was good at this, she could tell. Which must mean he'd be good all the way through.
"I think a little detour would be fine," she told him, pouring herself a shot of something in an unmarked bottle.
"Would you like another?" She asked, taking the empty bottle from him.
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