|
|
Post by Alison Hale on Nov 17, 2011 18:25:34 GMT -5
It was about time Alison start going out again. She had been exercising quite a bit to keep in shape. Running with Benji, her now almost full grown dog, kept her busy. She hadn't made any contact with Geoffrey since she last saw him. Alison decided that she needed to focus on herself and continue to improve.
She hadn't been dancing in a long time. Sure, she continued to practice the ballet she practiced since she was little, but actually going out and dancing was something else entirely. It had been awhile since she had been to a club and she really did need to get out. Alison didn't want to go just to a bar, so she headed toward Enchanted.
Reaching Enchanted, there were already a few people there and she didn't recognize any of them. Maybe that was a good thing for the night. After accessing the situation, Alison blended in with the crowd that decided to be on the dance floor rather than at the bar or the table. For the first time in awhile, she was having a lot of fun.
After dancing for awhile, Alison realized that she needed to cool off because she was getting fairly hot. Making her way out of the crowd she walked up to the bar and asked the bartender just for a cup of water. Once her cup of water was in hand, she turned her back to the bartender and observed the people dancing while she cooled off.
|
|
|
|
Post by Justin Scotts on Nov 18, 2011 0:54:16 GMT -5
Justin didn't really like clubs. It just wasn't his kind of scene... all that silly jumping about like apes, the tacky lights, the crowds. He much preferred a calmer, quieter environment, where he could dance slowly, talk in depth, and command the sort of attention he believed he deserved.
But the fact that he never really went to clubs was the very reason he was in Enchanted that evening. He needed to find a victim, an innocent person who he could put under the Imperius Curse, and since he never went to clubs, no one here was likely to recognize him.
He had been sitting rather boredly at the bar, chatting occasionally with the blonde barmaid while he surveyed the dance floor. He actually considered cursing the barmaid, but it would be hours before her shift ended, and he needed to get her alone to do the curse. No, he wanted this over with quickly, so he could get out of this filthy place.
And that was when the pretty blonde girl left the dance floor and came over to the bar to get a drink. A slow smile spread across Justin's face.
"Just water?" he commented. "I always thought it was easier to dance with something alcoholic?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Alison Hale on Nov 18, 2011 9:02:21 GMT -5
Hearing someone speak to her, Alison turned her head in the direction the voice came from. "For some people, maybe," she replied with a shrug. "Plus, it's a little early to start drinking right away, at least for me anyway." She smiled and then turned the rest of her body in his direction. "A few drinks might come in a bit."
For a quick moment, she observed the man speaking to her as she replied. It was just out of habit. He seemed young, possibly around her age. "Is that why you have a drink in your hand already," she asked in a teasing manner.
|
|
|
|
Post by Justin Scotts on Nov 18, 2011 17:36:52 GMT -5
Justin smiled and took another sip from his drink. "You could say that," he replied. "I'll admit, I'm not very good at these modern dances. I was trained in classical ballroom dancing... Something tells me that would be a bit out of place in an establishment such as this."
It would be easier to convince the girl to leave with him if she had a few drinks in her system. But he liked the looks of her.... she looked sweet and innocent. Maybe if he could get her talking a bit, he could get her to drink a little.
"Would you believe this is my first time in a nightclub?" he asked. "I feel like I stick out like a sore thumb."
|
|
|
|
Post by Alison Hale on Nov 18, 2011 23:26:35 GMT -5
"Ballroom dancing would be a bit out of place here," Alison agreed. She raised an eyebrow as he mentioned that it was his first time in a nightclub.
"Really?" She relaxed a little bit. The guy seemed to be nice enough. "Although I suppose I guess I could believe it." Alison smiled. She looked to the bar maid and she poured Alison her usual drink. It had been awhile since she had been in Enchanted, but the barmaid remembered her as an old regular.
Picking up the drink she turned attention back to the guy. "If tonight is your first time in a nightclub, what brings you out?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Justin Scotts on Nov 20, 2011 1:16:51 GMT -5
"I'm used to going to the same places all the time, seeing all the same people," Justin replied readily. "It gets a bit boring, you know? Sometimes I just want to get out and meet different people, have different experiences. Wouldn't you agree that it's a good idea to try new things? You never know what you could be missing out on."
The best lies, they said, were mixed with an element of truth. This was no exception. It was very true that he usually went to the same places, and saw the same people all the time. And it was getting rather tedious, if he was honest. Unless of course Natasha Davenport happened to be one of those people... but that was another story.
"What about you? What brings you here tonight?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Alison Hale on Nov 20, 2011 10:25:25 GMT -5
"I haven't been out in awhile," said Alison. "I used to come here quite a bit on weekends. There's always different people here, but then again I don't really come here for the people. I like the dancing. It's a great way to relieve stress after a long week at work."
Coming to Enchanted used to be the way she would unwind after a long week of work. Also, it gave her something to do when Maia was spending time with Chase. Alison loved them both, but she didn't want to always be the third person there.
|
|
|
|
Post by Justin Scotts on Nov 20, 2011 23:58:40 GMT -5
"So you like dancing?" Justin said. "It is a good way to keep in shape, and I can imagine it must be good for stress, too. Do you have a stressful job, then?"
He wished he had been watching her more carefully when she was on the dance floor. He'd seen quite a few girls out there dancing, and as cute as she was, she still managed to blend in with the crowd. Still, if she asked, he would tell her that she was a good dancer... girls liked to hear things like that.
"I'm sorry, I'm asking you all these questions, and we haven't even been introduced. I'm Justin. What can I call you?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Alison Hale on Nov 21, 2011 10:13:41 GMT -5
"I do like dancing," she said with a smile. "The job can be a little stressful at times, but at other times it can bore you to tears." Alison hated the part of her job that required any desk work. Of course, just about anyone would hate desk work all the time. "Going out is just a way to have fun and unwind from any kind of week you may or may not have had."
Introductions slipped her mind. Alison was not the very best with introductions seeing as she could probably talk with someone for awhile without mentioning any names. "Nice to meet you Justin," she said with a friendly smile. "I'm Alison."
|
|
|
|
Post by Justin Scotts on Nov 22, 2011 2:01:55 GMT -5
Justin nodded, mostly to cover his vague annoyance that she didn't mention what her job was. It sort of sounded like a Ministry job, but he wasn't sure. "Oh, I know what you mean," he said, even though he didn't know at all.
He didn't work for a living, not really. He worked for Voldemort mostly, searching for lost artifacts and treasures that the Dark Lord wanted for some reason or another. But of course, he didn't get paid for this job, which was fine with him. His family was rich enough that he didn't need a paying job.
"Well, it's very nice to meet you, Alison," he said with a friendly smile. "So... why don't you show me some of your dance moves? I think I've got enough of a buzz going now to loosen me up a bit."
|
|
|
|
Post by Alison Hale on Nov 22, 2011 19:14:58 GMT -5
"At least you have the gentleman skills of asking about dancing, unlike others," she said with a smile. Alison put down her empty glass and motioned for him to follow. "Come on. I think you're probably a lot better at dancing in a place like this than you may think you are." Alison kept an eye on Justin as they moved toward the dance floor.
She didn't think twice about talking to Justin. He seemed harmless, besides it was just dancing. There wasn't any warning signs, or at least that she noticed. Just as they reached the dance floor, another fast song started and she started to move along with the beat.
|
|
|
|
Post by Justin Scotts on Nov 23, 2011 1:02:03 GMT -5
"I'm always a gentleman," Justin replied smoothly.
He took her hand as they made their way over to the dance floor. He was a little less confident about his ability to dance to what passed for music in this place, but he did know how to dance, and he hoped that what he didn't know would be filled in by a little alcohol. This girl liked to dance, and if he was going to curse her, he was going to have to play along with what interested her.
"Well, I guess we'll see, won't we?" he teased as they reached the dance floor. The song changed, playing another fast song, and he watched her moves for a second before he began to follow along with her. "You are good," he said approvingly, watching as her hips swayed with the music.
|
|
|
|
Post by Alison Hale on Nov 24, 2011 17:58:18 GMT -5
"There's nothing to it," she said over the music. "Just don't think and go along with the music." That was one other thing she liked about dancing. You didn't have to think about what you're doing, you just have to move along with the music. Everything that seemed to matter during the day did not matter while the music was playing. All of those thoughts seemed to be pushed to the back of her mind.
As the music played and Justin moved along, she commented with a smile, "See? You're not too bad yourself."
|
|
|
|
Post by Justin Scotts on Nov 26, 2011 0:43:07 GMT -5
"Thank you," Justin said obligingly, bowing his head to her. "I suppose when it comes down to it, ballroom dancing isn't all that different from this... the point is to let the music be your guide, am I right?"
He flashed her a dazzling smile as he continued to move along with her. "So, besides dancing, what else do you like to do? You don't have a jealous boyfriend who's going to come after me for dancing with you, do you?"
He gave a little laugh for extra effect. These were all normal questions, and he was sure she wouldn't think anything of it... she'd never guess that he was digging for information about her.
|
|
|
|
Post by Alison Hale on Nov 26, 2011 7:53:06 GMT -5
It was normal for questions to be asked. Again, Alison didn't think anything of it. She gave a smile as he asked about a jealous boyfriend. "No," she said with a shake of her head. "I'm single actually, so you don't have to worry about anyone coming after you." As for what else she liked to do, she shrugged.
"I don't have a whole lot of time to do much else. I like to go running with my dog at least once a day and I like to travel when I can. Other than that, I spend most of my time in the Ministry."
|
|
|
|
Post by Justin Scotts on Dec 1, 2011 1:26:57 GMT -5
So she worked at the Ministry. Justin broke into a smile, but he managed to keep it innocent. This was good. It didn't even matter what department she worked in, but he would have to work that into the conversation eventually. Just not yet. He didn't want to make her suspicious.
"Oh, you have a dog?" he said, seizing on the first part of what she had said. "I love dogs... we used to have a Great Dane when I was younger. What kind of dog do you have?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Alison Hale on Dec 4, 2011 11:01:06 GMT -5
"Golden Retriever," she replied. "My parents gave him to me as a birthday gift. He's fully grown now and thinks he's still the size of a puppy." Alison laughed. She loved her dog. She sort of looked at him as her best friend, other than Maia of course. Benji was always there when she needed him.
"He's full of energy too and sometimes hard to keep up with. I feel bad sometimes when I can't go running with him because he'll just give you that look."
|
|
|
|
Post by Justin Scotts on Dec 6, 2011 1:55:22 GMT -5
Justin gave a light-hearted laugh. "That's cute," he said. "They say golden retrievers are the most loyal companions you can get. You're lucky to have him."
Alison was a nice girl, and for a split second, that irritating conscience of his began to act up. At times like this, when he was in the process of doing something for the Dark Lord, Justin always found himself thinking of Gwen. She suspected that his presence in Hogsmeade the day of the attack wasn't purely incidental. She suspected that he wasn't an innocent bystander, as he had tried to claim, but a participant. He still wouldn't confirm that theory, but he knew she doubted him. And she was the only person that could truly make him feel guilty. He didn't have a close relationship with Thane or Timothy, and Xavier... well, he rather hoped that Xavier would choose to follow in his footsteps. But Gwen... well, she was different. She was his only sister, and he wanted to protect her from all of this, even though he was part of it.
He had to force thoughts of Gwen out of his mind and focus on the task at hand. Just one victim. Just one curse. Poor Alison had no idea what she was in for.
"My dog, Duke, used to follow me everywhere. He was taller than I was... I could have ridden him like a horse." He laughed. "Of course, I had a real horse, so I wasn't going to ride the dog. But even though he was huge, he was also really gentle and affectionate. He just didn't always know his own strength."
|
|
|
|
Post by Alison Hale on Dec 13, 2011 11:44:48 GMT -5
She laughed. "It's true. No dog really knows their own strength." Alison was actually having a decent time. Maybe it was a good thing she decided to go out tonight, so far anyway. The music continued to play throughout the club as their conversation continued.
"Since you know where I work, what do you do?" Alison realized that he could very well not have a job, but it was an attempt to keep the conversation going.
|
|
|
|
Post by Justin Scotts on Mar 1, 2012 1:55:08 GMT -5
"I think most of the time, dogs think they're still puppies, even when they're not. They don't really understand the concept of growing up. Poor old Duke used to try to cram himself into the smallest places."
Strangely, Justin felt himself actually beginning to have fun. He didn't laugh enough these days, and talking to Alison was rather enjoyable. Oh, it didn't change what was about to happen, but it did give him a little bit of guilt.
"I guess you could say that I deal in antique artifacts," Justin replied smoothly. "I hunt down rare artifacts and deliver them to wealthy collectors."
This was true, in a way. She didn't need to know that the "wealthy collector" was Lord Voldemort.
|
|
