Yesterday was one of the busiest of the year, she could say easily.  The wee hours of the morning had been spent at St. Mungo’s with her old torso wound being sewn up and runespoor venom sucked out of her thigh from a botched raid in Knockturn.  Then she had to suffer a quick change into her indigo performance dress for the Welcoming Ceremony at six in the afternoon, and lastly the change into her chocolate gown for the all-night Memorial.  Thank Merlin for Callie…

Considering all that had happened (especially what had happened in the wee hours of the morning) she was both physically and emotionally exhausted.  Now was the PERFECT time to relax at the Beer Garden… and the rest of the family seemed to agree with her.  All the kids were with them this time, running about and playing on the lawn, occasionally running back to their “adults table” for a sip and a bite before returning to nibbling on their siblings’ ears and whacking each other with sticks because those who were old enough to have wands had them piled up at the center of the table.

Sighing, Covi leaned back in her seat and allowed herself to drink deep from her glass.  While the wound on her thigh was reduced to nothing more than a red line now, the pain was intense (an after-effect of the anti-venom) and the tonic she was given tasted awful.  Sure alcohol didn’t have the same strength as the specific pain-killers, but it sure as hell tasted better.

The commotion the past few days had lead Lukas to be quite exhausted himself. His body was aching from the constant moving and what was worse he got in a spat with his ex while his son looked on. During the ceremony the previous night when things had started up he had spotted them off in the corner and asked her to take their son and leave. To which the two spouted off that he had a lot of nerve coming up to them in the first place. Needless to say the commotion on the stage was not nearly as gut wrenching for Lukas as what happened in the seats.

The look on his son Jasper's face chilled his blood to the point where he felt sick to his stomach. In fact he couldn't get it out of his head that was why when the Beer Garden was opened he felt he deserved a relaxing day. Figuring his troubles could melt away like they were meant to.

Walking through the crowds a little he chuckled as kids darted in and out of his legs. They were active and smiling. A look he had seen many times when Jasper was a young boy but now he could hardly venture a guess when the last time he smiled was. Certainly not in the direction of his father who was trying his hardest to make amends. While looking for a place to sit he came across the face of someone familiar and he felt like kicking himself. There was his date from awhile back who left with someone else. Instead of walking over however he made his way to an empty table so not to disturb her and what appeared to be a decent sized family. Setting his plate down he took a sip of his cool drink and sighed relaxing into the chair and just closing his eyes.

Dress & Shoes

Out of the corner of her eye, in the midst of a good hearty sip of port of course, Covadonga saw a brief flash of a familiar face.  Thankfully the triplets, despite their shenanigans, had not managed to trip the poor fellow.  Placidly she watched the hitwizard settle down into an empty table for what seemed like a nap under the same wide ivy covered canopy their section shared.  Sadly, the direction of her stare did not go unnoticed.

“Ooo… are you fancying that handsome hunk of man over yonder, Covadonga?” the distinctly low voice of her sister-in-law instigated.

“Caliope,” the poor witch began with a whine, “I am not fancying him by any means.  He happens to be an acquaintance and a co-worker of mine.”  After a cockeyed questioning glare from the Spaniard sitting across from her she uncrossed her legs and leaned forward to make a point, “and I believe he is taken.”

“Pish posh!  Or so you English say,” Covi rolled her eyes, “If you only believe him to be taken, I suggest you march your fabulous derriere right over there and make sure your belief is fact.”  Just as her sister had opened her mouth to protest Callie put up a finger and shut her down.  “Ah-ah!  March,” she said with the commanding tone only a mother could produce, and when her husband giggled at it he received a good smack upside the head.

With a grumble akin to that of a dog Covadonga winced as she stood, picked up her glass and left the now squabbling couple behind her.  Gratefully that she had been allowed to wear flats today—though they were just as fashionable as anything else her sister had dressed her in—she cleared her throat as she made her way to the table with only the slightest hint of a limp.  “Sorry to bother you, Lukas, but could you spare me a couple minutes of your time to appease my dearest sister?” she automatically pointed over her shoulder toward them.

Lukas had played the night over in his head a couple times curious to how it all went down. It wasn't like he regretted the two of them going their separate ways that evening, but he did feel a bang of guilt for having left her in the arms of the Minister of magic. Not that he didn't seem terribly willing to oblige that evening, but still he felt like a heel for abandoning his party and helping out the other woman in need of attention.

That was only a few days before he was there for a break down of the lovely Ana Snark who fell asleep in his arms. Granted nothing seedy had happened, he had been there for her but still there was a closeness now that he hadn't intended to form so soon with someone. Seeing her vulnerable had endeared her to him and left Lukas a little tongue tied.

After Kayla he swore he wouldn't get serious with another woman. So far he had been good at keeping his word but he found it a little more difficult to just go from girl to girl without attachments. Maybe he was getting old, that thought had crossed his mind. It could make a wizard have a mid-life crisis perhaps spend far too much on a shiny new broom and pretend he is still in his quidditch playing years. Instead he chose to age gracefully. He would think about that broom later...

The voice caught him off guard, "Ah I have been spotted" he said with a bit of a laugh. Opening his cool blue eyes he looked up to Covi who was now begging his pardon. "Of course Miss Getrudis, how can I be of service?" Judging by her tone she harbored no ill feelings from their last out of work encounter. Perhaps it was not as awful as he had thought.

With a grin she settled down into one of the other empty seats and put down her glass, "Just talk to me for a moment or two."

Looking back she saw that both her brother and his wife had been staring intently at the two, and while Billy turned right back around with his face flushed with embarrassment Callie just smiled and waved ridiculously.

Rolling her eyes as she put her gaze back on her companion she giggled, "I swear she is trying to throw me at any handsome man she comes across."  It was true, her sister-in-law thought she was far too lonely and at her age should have a healthy (meaning busy) sex life.

Smiling, she chose not to delve into the topic of their last informal meeting at the Signature, the lady would only go there if he brought it up.  Instead she decided to focus on more recent events.  "Last night the Pitch seemed to be Pandemonium and the immediate vicinity closely resembling the outskirts of it," referring to Milton's naming Pandemonium the capital city of Hell in Paradise Lost.  "How did you fare during that whole situation?"

Lukas had gestured towards the open chair and was happy to see her taking it. They hadn't caught up in since their last meeting and he was semi-curious to what had transpired that evening.

It was none of his business. He should mind his own and keep himself occupied with his thoughts. Not worry about the thoughts of others, and least of all about the thoughts of his former escort.

Following her eyes to the family she had been pushed by he gave them a wave and a clever little smile. If it was anything he was egging them on. Turning his gaze back to her he smiled, "Suppose you could have done worse. There are others who aren't exactly built like myself," he chuckled as he said it trying to play off his blatant cockiness as a joke. Lukas was fully aware of his looks, but internally he knew it wasn't wise to be a braggart.

The previous evening was not something he wanted to delve into either however she brought that up and he was a lovely obliging young man. "Ran into my ex, exchanged words and then fought with my son, the usual. It wouldn't be a public event with out us verbally sparring." Lukas ran one of his large calloused hands slide through her hair, "How about yourself you seemed to have fared well. You also look well I might add."

“Oh I don’t know about that…” she started in response to his first comment, “I really have not seen much of that ‘build’ you speak of,” ending her fun with a brazenly devilish grin.  Alcohol ALWAYS seemed to make her flirtier.  Oh well, better that than some of the angry drunks she had known in her family.

As for his answer to her question, all she could do was sit quietly and blink.  It certainly sounded… exciting.  “Really?  Sounds like my mother and me,” her grin now more compassionate.  Mother had been getting more ornery in her years, which was saying something considering how much of a mean-hearted bitch she was before.  Instead of just sitting there and taking it as she had to as a kid, since the ‘children should be seen and not heard’ rule no longer applied to her, she felt great pleasure in finally being able to do some of her own sparring.  Of course their version sounded much different than his.

His compliment elicited a slight tinge of rose to her cheeks as she looked down and replied with a sip, “Oh hush,” she looked up at him after regaining some confidence, “once again, my sister Callie’s doing.”  She chuckled, “she is doing everything I tell you…” she whispered and turned her back squarely on her family so the witch couldn’t read her lips, “and do not worry, I will be back to my old boots and gear once the week is out,” she added as if being fashionable was a bad thing.

Well, it was only the second day of the holiday… there were a few more days yet for the brainwashing to be complete.

“Oh!  I did receive one interesting new scar courtesy of one your lovely comrades,” Covi scooted her chair closer to him and stretched out her leg.  “See?” she declared almost proudly, lifting up the hem of her dress a bit so he could see the thin red line running down from the top of her thigh nearly down to her knee.  Naturally she did not raise her skirt far enough for him to see the top of it, while tipsy she still retained a sense of decorum… but even so she never would have done such a thing if she hadn’t had a drink in her.

“I do not know if you are familiar with the spell of runespoor breeders we have come across,” we meaning the Ministry, “but there was a raid early, early yesterday morning.  Poor Tam—err…” she almost slipped up on that one, normally she would never refer to someone she worked with in the third person familiarly, “Ms. Raynor had to put up with my Mermish curses as she dragged me through Mungo’s.  Apparently after being sliced open some of the venom got in too.”

“I really have not seen much of that ‘build’ you speak of,”

The words stopped him right in his steps, well if he was walking it would have. It definitely shut his self important trap for a moment. "Dear Covi I do believe that is my fault considering the circumstances of our last meeting." He tried to smooth over that without going into it too much. Picking up the cool pint before him he took a sip and smiled looking back to her.

"Yes well family is nothing without it's drama right? My son has a flare for the theatrical and tends to think whatever I wish he should do the exact opposite," no he couldn't be positive that was his definite feelings or intentions, what he could be certain off was that his son didn't care much for him. The poison his mother probably spewed about him could have something to do with that. Not that he could place his finger on one particular even that would have caused such animosity but he knew it was there.

Grinning at her, "You should let her doll you up more often. Look at you, you shine," Lukas took another drink of his beer. Surely he was allowed to say nice things of the woman he was sitting across from. "Why would you tell me not to worry? I would think it better to spend time dressed up than dressed down when you have your looks. That of course might be me being a bit bold," grinning in a cheeky fashion he sank back into his chair.

His eyes grew to the size of dinner plates as she lifted her leg for his observation. After careful consideration he looked up at her, "One of my comrades did this?" He let his hand go out but stopped before he touched the scar out of curiosity. His hand slipped back to wrap around his drink and kept himself out of a dangerous situation. It was not wise to let his mind and fingers wander where they may want to. Especially when for all he knew they were still being watched. Good thing the skirt never moved much above her knee.

His eyes flitted back towards her family. They were being watched like a hawk. Chuckling he turned his head and listened back to Covadonga. "You say Ms. Raynor is responsible for your safety? Suppose I should thank her for taking care of a friend then." Would he be considered her friend? Surely they weren't enemies. What he did know was they were civil with one another. She was certainly friendly with him at any rate.

His comments surprised her quite a bit, but it certainly didn’t show too much in her current state. “Ah, no worries about our lovely time at the Signature,” she patted his arm, “Ms. Snark can be very wily,” and that was all she was going to say about that.  If they had the time and if the topic was of interest she might have gone into the hows and whys of the Department Head's actions, but it wasn’t appropriate and she didn’t quite know how the relationship between the two had progressed since then.  She would not portray her in a poor light to a possible paramour… no matter how much she disliked the woman.  It was just bad form.

The rosy color of her cheeks deepened as he continued to compliment her, “You flatter a woman far too easy, Mr. Quinn,” she started, taking a sip and then looking at the man over the rim of her glass.  Covadonga had never really thought about her looks, especially her face.  The most she had ever heard about her appearance were her curves and her bum from all her silly relatives in Valencia.  They were far less up-tight than her mother’s side of the family, overall her paternal side was a very cheerful and happy group.

“And yes,” she sighed, “although I do not know which hitwizard or witch it was.  There were spells being fired right and left.  Some at the smugglers and breeders who were escaping and those afraid of the serpents,” she wriggled her nose, “naturally I was offended by the latter.  Not really thinking I stepped between them and the beasts and while I was successful in shielding them… not so much myself,” her lips turned into a bit of an embarrassed smirk.

As for him titling her as a friend she made no remark and seemed not to take all that much notice of it.  She certainly considered them friends, from the moment she offered him a drink for her clumsiness actually, and the same with him nearly touching her leg… took absolutely no notice at all.  Good thing he hadn’t, though, it still stung and burned like a blast from a Hebridean Black. 

Speaking of yet another thing she wasn’t aware of, her family behind her seemed to be quite intrigued by the conversation happening at their table.  Callie had her fingers crossed and seemed to have a prayer on her lips, Billy (who was entirely disgusted) was looking at the couple between the fingers of the hand which covered his face, and now her teenaged twin nieces were staring at poor Lukas with hearts in their eyes and sighing.  They were completely enamored with this handsome mysterious man their Tia Cova was talking to.

She put his fears of their previous evening at rest. A small reserved smile crossed his features feeling much better knowing that they would not have to fret more about it. "Ms. Snark is quite a different woman all together," he said as the smile grew in size thinking about the younger minx. Ana had a way of making him very curious of what was next, she had a spark or a fire he was interested in stoking a little more. That of course didn't leave him blameless for ditching out on his original escort because the golden eyed beauty drew him in like a moth to a flame.

No, not blameless, just male. Male and easily manipulated with a few drinks in him. That of course would always be his down fall. Kayla hated it about him. Hated that the more he drank, the more he drank and it meant he could be down right obnoxious in the process. Having grown up much since their split he was different now, more casual and less brash.

"Miss, you will learn from experience as we go on that there is little I do to flatter. What I say is honest, and not flattery. Points of fact," his voice was solid and unwavering there was no lies hidden behind the words. His intentions however were veiled.

Lukas shook his head, "Of course fighting the never ending battle for animal rights. I must say in the little time I have known you, I have been impressed by your character. Your spirit to protect the weak is unyielding, really it speaks volumes about the person you are. I on the other hand find myself slacking off more and more as time goes on. Perhaps I am getting too old," he gave her another cheeky grin to say he was 'just kidding' but it was bothering him. His attention was less and less on his work nowadays.

Hardly noticing the little girls eyeballing him, Lukas finished his pint and ordered up another. Where he had been ready to get up to get it someone came by and filled it without him having to move an inch, "Now that is service," he stated raising his glass to her, "To you fighting the good fight. Hopefully you will make that difference you seem destined for." There were still moments from the night he remembered and there was something about animal rights and those who were condemned due to an affliction he himself bristled at the thought of.

The serious way he spoke snapped her out of some of her inebriated silliness, granted her eyes were still a mix of neon and dark blue (meaning she was still a little nervous at the situation of having her sister push her on the poor man while still tipsy) but the sparkle in them turned into a more curious gleam and her easy grins turned down into just the merest of smirks and the blush to that of a healthy glow.

His cool blue eyes did not belie what he had said and she knew him well enough to trust his word.  Tilting her head to the side she let her hem down and crossed her good leg over the bad so she didn’t draw more attention from the surrounding people.  Leaning forward she gently put a hand on top of his and warmly said, “In that case, you are very kind, Lukas,” then withdrawing her hand, knowing the gesture was appropriately long enough without being awkward.  She added, “And I must say the same of you, then.  I know in your occupation as well as mine that we must be quiet observers from time to time… remembering details about a being’s face especially,” well, her more about the details of beasts and non-human beings, but identification was a very important thing in both of their fields, “so you will know what I mean when I say that I am not speaking of fabrics alone.”

Even in all his scruffy tiredness, he was still quite a handsome man, and judging by his comments at the beginning of their conversation, he knew it.  She admired his self-confidence.

Covi could not help but let out a good-hearted chuckle as he described her, “You know me so well already!  I see you are more talented at being that ‘quiet observer’ I spoke of than I originally thought.” 

However, as for the self-depreciating notes on himself she gave the man a quick frown and a wee back-handed smack on the arm, enough to surprise but not to hurt… unless he wanted to play being the weenie, “You are NOT old!” the frown turning upside-down as she giggled, “and if you say it again I will abuse you further!” not quite catching the other ways that declaration could be used before she said it, but when she did she could not help but laugh, a cheery ring for the ears nearby.

"Now that is service,"

Raising her half-full glass in response she said, “Of course it is!  Why do you think I have been acting the way I have?” she smiled.

“And may you never remember your age and continue to fight for our world as greatly as you have thus far!”

Flattery, as Lukas learned all too well, will get you no were. Especially if the flattery is only meant to get you farther with an individual. Once they learn you were talking to them from the side of your mouth your credit is blown as well as your reputation because as with all witches and wizards of that age they are gossips. Gossips had a hand in undoing his relationship with Kayla a few years back, a part from his obvious distance there was also talk of infidelity. Though he denied it, Kayla couldn't deal with her cold boyfriend and his hard partying ways.

Having toned himself down somewhat since then, Lukas preferred to be straight forward as well as keeping to himself more. Learning a lot losing his son's trust had taken much of his wild boy ways out of him.

Lukas gave her a warm smile, "I do try miss, I certainly do that." He watched as her hand left his and he relaxed a little more. His free hand moved to his pint and he took a nice long drink of the frosty glass. "Now you are being much too kind to me." He chuckled a little as she did the common practice of returning compliments. Which he knew she didn't have to but he took them with a small smile.

"I am quite the observer when I wish to be miss, you will learn that in time as well. It is a hidden talent," not really hidden but it was used quite often when he was at work. What he needed to do was observe, report, and get the job done. The ministry relied on that, and work was everything to him so of course he did what they wished without delay.

“and if you say it again I will abuse you further!”

Grinning a mischievious grin, "Well I have to say if that's the case it might be odd for me to like it, it may lead me to discuss my age is greater detail," a little harmless flirting wouldn't get him in much trouble. Besides he was of course under the influence of alcohol and an attractive woman, clearly not a good combination for Lukas Quinn.

"Sadly enough my age is an ever present number only growing with each passing time," he waved it away. Though he wouldn't leave his job anytime soon it didn't mean he wasn't getting a little older and his years had slowed him down considerably.

She sighed, “Does that mean I should start unpacking my whip?” the question slipped right from her mind to her lips without any second thought at all.  The raised eyebrow showed she was curious as to what his answer may be, but the look in her eye was somewhat confusing… would she act on what she had said or was this just another playful and meaningless string of words? 

It was hard to say.  After all in her state she could have easily kept on the line of honesty that had been established just a minute or two ago. 

If one looked over her shoulder they would see her sister-in-law rubbing her hands together like a mad scientist who had finally gotten the desired effects from one of his evil experimental elixirs while Covi’s poor brother had sprinted around the table to try and cover his daughters’ ears, but it was too late… the twins had been scarred for life.  One was just staring mouth agape in horror whilst the other was viciously gagging.  To think of… of… of… their good aunt and… OH LORD NO! 

There was a random burst of Spanish heard from their table as the gagging one composed herself enough to ask for a solution of diluted Bundimun juice and dragon’s blood to pour in her ear so she could scour out the images from her brain.

"Sadly enough my age is an ever present number only growing with each passing time," 

“As it does with well-crafted wines,” and, as if on cue (though it wasn’t wine) her pint was refilled, her third for the evening.  Granted… there was some subtle innuendo behind the well-crafted bit, but goodness knows if the witch realized it.

“Does that mean I should start unpacking my whip?”

That did it. Lukas choked a little on a sip of his beer. Getting back his bearings, Lukas downed the last of his frosty glass and watched as it was filled right before his eyes. It was all he could to not look back at the girl with a tinge of pink on his face. It was hard to make him blush but catching off guard with a saucy little response like that was enough to make him almost spit out his beer.

Cocking a brow he looked over at her curious to her intent. Clearly she was not in the right mind set, but was she truly trying to push the bounds of inappropriate? Not that he personally cared but there were people in ear shot and he was sure when she sobered up she might be a little less likely to repeat such a thing.

Or he could just be assuming this from absolutely nothing.

"I see someone is teetering on the line of impropriety, perhaps you should lay off the sauce," he pointed at her drink and gave her a warm smile. There was nothing wrong with celebrating a little more than usual and she seemed to be enjoying herself thoroughly.

“As it does with well-crafted wines,”

Obviously he would catch that one, "I'm glad you think so miss. However it appears you have a skewed view of me. Suppose I will have to take it at face value," Lukas gave her a wink and moved his hand to his pint once more. "So other than making your relations gag," he nodded towards the kin she had rolling around, "What are your plans for the evening?"

His reaction was better than any response he could have given.  Covadonga giggled, “Teetering?  Obviously you have not been around me long enough this evening.”  And as for the sauce… well, that was not a phrase she had heard often.  She took what that was a face value.

Hazarding a look over her shoulder she suddenly exclaimed, “Victory!” before turning her eyes back to Lukas.  “That is the first time I have been able to get such a rise out of the twins,” she cackled after taking a sip, “I am almost glad they overheard us.  Also good pay-back for all the disturbingly detailed ahh adventures my brother told me about back in his day.”

A known national-level European Quidditch player was not one unless they had such varied conquests.  Sadly, whenever she tried to return the favor of grossing him out… he (and Callie, for that matter) would just try and give her tips… bastard.  Therefore she had to go for the closest thing to him, his kids.

“And skewed?” a somewhat disappointed look crossed her face, “and I thought you knew me well.”  Covadonga shook her head, “if you did you would have figured I had come to such a conclusion only after a great deal of research and deliberation.”