September 5th
9:37 PM
Knockturn Alley

Vivian sighed after getting everything sorted out with Lexus and Dotty. It was a long day, and that had been the cherry on top of it. Arguing with two obviously drunk women who had lost a shop and a thing of keys. Who knew it could be so infuriating? But now it was late, and Knockturn Alley seemed to be even darker than usual, the sliver of a moon glaring down at them. Lights shown from behind the shop windows, dim of course, most of them were closed. Or so they said...

Course a few of these shops had to stay open late for their stranger customers, actually most of the people in Knockturn alley were strange to her so it was a moot point.

She looked at Micheal standing next to her, he seemed to have kept his cool the whole time, unlike she had. His body language suggested he was just relaxed, plain and simple. "Well, that was easy." She said, breaking the slightly awkward silence. Vivian looked down at her feet and back up, she felt like she should say something other than that, but wasn't sure how to continue.

"Care to join me for a drink?" She asked, not ready to head home yet and too awake to just walk around. Vivian needed something to do, someone to talk to. Whether that would be Micheal or somebody else... May as well extend the invitation.

Michael chuckled.  It was a light, easy sound, indicating that he laughed often.  "I think you may have been reading my mind,"  he said.  "I was about to ask you the same question.  I was supposed to meet somebody down here but it seems that they stood me up.  Did you have a place in mind or shall we pick something at random?"

He extended a elbow towards her, offering her an arm to take.  "Have you eaten, or can I interest you in a late dinner?"

 "Actually, I don't have a place in mind. I was just going to wing it." She said, enjoying his light laughter. It made her feel good and seemed to brighten up the dark Alley they were in.

She took his arm, enjoying the use of that long lost art called chivalry. "I haven't eaten yet," she added in response to his second question. "Dinner sounds fabulous right about now." Vivian smiled, something she hadn't done in a while. Too much stress from the job she supposed, or maybe she just hadn't been talking to the right person who could make her laugh or smile.

"What about... hell I don't know. Where do you want to go?" She asked, momentarily flustered as she tried to think of somewhere they could go to eat. This part of London wasn't her forté. She definitely spent too much time in the office.

"That would depend on what you are in the mood for,"  Michael answered.  "If you're feeling adventurous and are willing to risk a trip out into Muggle London, there is this terrific little pub called the Fox and Badger.  The owner is a wizard, so if you know how to order you can get things that aren't listed on the menu.  It's walking distance, if you enjoy a good hike or we can grab a cab if you'd prefer."

He checked the road for traffic then crossed.  "Or we could hit the old standby, the Leaky Cauldron.  I'm easy either way."  There was a simple test in what seemed like a simple choice.  The location of the Fox and Badger put many witches and wizards outside their comfort zone.  It also brought them into close contact with Muggles.  Michael was half Muggle and if his peers couldn't deal with that half of his life, they likely wouldn't become or long remain his friends.  He hoped Vivian was Muggle friendly, because now that he had gotten her into the light, he saw that she was stunning.

"Well, I've been in Muggle London many times before. Grew up there with my parents, they were both Muggles. Never heard of that pub but I'd love to give it a try." Vivian said, trying to remember if she'd ever been there with her parents before. "Walking sounds fine, I could use the exercise after just standing around all day."

She was enjoying talking to Micheal, he was a really nice guy now that she had a moment to talk to him. He seemed like the kind of guy who wouldn't oppose to her being Muggleborn, it was a status some people seemed to despise but Vivian wore it on her sleeve. Or at least tried to, sometimes you had to hide that around certain people who just weren't very nice to people like her.

They ventured out together into London, the non-magical part, and Vivian realized how much she missed this place. The busy sidewalks, really fast and sort of terrible drivers; but to go on about it would be hypocritical of herself. Then she realized something, and she started laughing before sharing what she was thinking, "I feel like we just walked out of a bad one liner or something.... An Auror, A WCU agent, and a drunk werewolf walk into a bar."

"I have no idea why I though of that but it just seemed really funny, and kind of ironic if you look at it." She smiled, hoping Micheal didn't think she was crazy.

"You left out the punchline,"  Michael said.  "An Auror, A WCU agent, and a drunk werewolf walk into a bar.  The bartender looks up and says 'what is this, some kind of joke?'."  He chuckled again.  "Here I was thinking I'd be taking you someplace adventurous and I find you grew up out here.  So did I, sort of.  My mother is a Muggle.  Let's just say there were a few very interesting moments during my childhood."

He had always loved London and always would.  No matter where his travels took him, London would always be home.  Paris, Munich, Venice, none of them had the same metropolitan feel that London had.  Being able to walk the streets with a beautiful woman on his arm was just icing on the cake.  He'd seen some of the looks he'd gotten from other pedestrians.  Let them make what assumptions they wanted.  There was magic in the air even out here and maybe, just maybe the reasons behind the looks might just become true.

Vivian laughed along with Micheal's addition to the joke, it really did make it funnier. "This is still an adventure! I haven't been out here in forever, 'fraid I've lost my touch with this side of me."

They walked, arm in arm, and she realized there wasn't anyplace else she'd rather be. He was funny, making her laugh and giggle like a girl... nobody had made her feel this way in a long time. She had to admit, she had that funny feeling of butterflies in her stomach, the ones that said 'Look at him! Ain't he gorgeous!' Maybe they weren't really saying that, but she felt like they were trying to.

"So," She started after enjoying the comfortable silence. "Not to sound like an obnoxious child, but how far exactly is this fine establishment you seem to hold so highly?"

"Not far,"  Michael answered.  "Another five or six blocks.  You see that neon sign in the distance?  It's a little past that."  He grinned.  "Are your feet getting tired?  I could carry you the rest of the way if you like."

It felt good to be going for a drink with Vivian.  It was a spontaneous date, although they hadn't really discussed whether it was a date or not.  He was making assumptions, which was never a good thing when dealing with a woman you'd just met, especially one that hunted dark wizards for a living.  Her job was one of the few even more dangerous than his.

"My feet are fine and dandy," she said as she kicked one foot out in front of her in example. "Although I might have to take you up on that offer to carry me later, just in case." She flashed a flirty smile at him, one of those mischievous glints appearing in her eyes.

She looked out for the neon sign, seeing it and making a mental note that's where they were headed. At least she had a sense of direction now, she was just trusting Micheal not to turn out to be a phony agent and have a whole team of dark wizards ambush her in the middle of London. But hey, you never knew what to expect.

They got held up in a small crowd on the sidewalk, but within a couple of minutes they were nearing that neon sign he had pointed out. "I think we're here," she said, looking to Micheal for confirmation.

"Welcome to the Fox and Badger,"  Michael said as he held the door open for her.  "Hey, Patrick!  Can we have one of the booths in the back?" 

"Absolutely!" came the reply from a mountain of a man behind the bar.  "My wife is threatening to name her next baby after you.  Is there something going on that I don't know?" 

"I'm surprised she didn't name the first one after me,"  Michael answered with a laugh.  "Vivian, this is Patrick Thomas O'Malley.  Patrick, this is Vivian."

Patrick Thomas O'Malley was well over six feet tall and nearly as wide at thew shoulder.  He had a voice that could easily be heard easily over the din of his noisy bar. There was only one rule in the Fox and Badger.  If  a fight started, he would personally finish it. Rumour had it that the first time a woman started a fight, O'Malley became so confused he ended up marrying her. Nobody messed with Mrs O'Malley either. She was the only known person who could cow Patrick. Most people called her Mrs O'Malley. Michael called her Lyndsey.

(Oh goodness, I think I've been spelling Michael's name wrong the entire time... wow I feel smart!)

Walking through the door to the Fox and Badger, Vivian immediately noticed the place had a good atmosphere. Or at least it was her kind of place. The man behind the bar seemed sort of nice as he talked with Michael. She couldn't help but laugh a little at the short conversation that would confuse anyone who overheard it. "Nice to meet you," Vivian said to Patrick, giving a small wave.

As they walked to the back, Vivian whispered "Who's his wife? And why would she be naming her kids after an unruly agent such as yourself?" She joked, prodding him in the arm playfully.

"His wife and I grew up together,"  Michael explained.  "She was my next door neighbour.  We went to school together until it turned out that I was a wizard like my father.  I told her about everything when I got back the next summer.  She wanted to see my wand."

"And he showed it to me, the sick mookie.  Asked me if I wanted to play with it."  Lyndsey was just over five feet tall and had blonde hair that flowed almost to her waist.  She was also VERY pregnant.  She laughed and gave Michael a brief hug.  "Couldn't turn me into a witch though, even though I begged him to."

"Something I will always regret,"  Michael replied and he seemed to mean it.  "Look at you!  When are you due?"

"Friday," she replied.  "Not a moment too soon.  I assume this young lady is either one of the privileged or at least in the know?"

"Lyndsey, meet Vivian.  She works with me but in a different department.  Vivian, this is Lyndsey.  My first crush and one of my oldest friends."

"One of your only friends,"  Lyndsey countered.  "And one he ignores until he wants a decent meal and a good pint.  Speaking of which...."  Lyndsey let the comment hang.

She smiled and laughed along with the conversation between Lyndsey and Michael. The man really had a way with words, and a funny way of showing affection to his friends. But Lyndsey was a whirlwind of a woman, or so Vivian came to believe. The fact that she was due in a few days time just made Vivian's head spin, shouldn't she be resting? Not walking around and talking with customers... right?

"Can I get a pint of mead?" Vivian asked, remembering Michael's comment earlier about ordering things off the menu. Never having been here before, she didn't exactly know what the off-the-menu things were... So she went with something they were bound to have. Hopefully.

"And I'm up to having whatever for dinner, I suppose you could pick out one of your favorites right?" She asked, directing her attention to Michael.

"I'll have a double fire whiskey on the rocks,"  Michael replied.  "And two of the house special for tonight.  It's usually safe."

"Safe, says the man who complains that the curry isn't hot enough when we serve it,"  Lyndsey responded with a chuckle.  "I'll get your drinks and it will be a few minutes for the food.  Shepherd's pie, in case you were wondering.  Mashed or chips?"

"I'll have the chips, with a side of gravy,"  Michael answered.  "Vivian?"

"Chips as well, no gravy please." Vivian said. Lyndsey walked away to get their drinks like a woman on a mission.

"So Michael," Vivian asked. "When did you first join up with the WCU?"

She figured it was safe to start off with a few not-pushy questions. For example, things about occupations, where you grew up... etc. etc. Then, if things were still going well, maybe dive into a few more personal questions. Because honestly, somebody who threw up their walls while you were talking with them sort of let you know they wouldn't be good friend material.

And Vivian really, really, really hoped Michael was good friend material. And maybe a little bit more.