Lexus looked down into her Amber coloured Ale. She was exhausted and had barely touched her drink, something rather unusual for her. It had been a rough few months since she had arrived in London and it didn't feel like it was ever going to slow down. First the Explosion at the Leaky Cauldron then the Poisonings. So many people had died, it was making her begin to reconsider her decision to move. She was supposed to be getting away from the death of her Husband and instead walked into the deaths of dozens of strangers. Granted it came with the territory, she was a Healer and it wasn't always possible to save everyone.

She rubbed at her eyes and stifled a yawn. Perhaps she should have gone home afterall. She had been working straight since the night before but that was something she was used to by now. The real exhaustion came from the relief of knowing the poison epidemic was finally over. They had managed to rid themselves of all the contaminated supplies and potions and most of the more recent victims were on the mend. Even if a few more cases came in they knew how to deal with it now. She hadn't realized just how much it had all weighed on her.

She shook out her daze long enough to take a drink. The beer was still going to take some getting used to (especially the fact that it wasn't served chilled) but she had found a brand she liked and she had been drinking it since. She spent most of her free time amoungst the different pubs in Diagon and even a few on the other side of the magical barrier. She wasn't even a heavy drinker, she just liked the atmosphere. After having been a Bartender for so long before finally becoming a Healer being back in a bar made her feel at ease. It was the closest she came to feeling at home.

She lifted her glass once again and nodded to a nearby patron, "cheers."

"Cheers." Andromeda lifted her glass to the other witch. She had an accent. American? Canadian? Andromeda could tell the difference between British accents. She did not know many people in America or Canada. Her brother's best friend Nate was American. The witch did not sound like Nate. "Is this your new haunt?" Andromeda asked. Death and Co. had opened at the start of the year. Andromeda had only been inside a couple of times.

Lexus shrugged with a bit of a crooked smile, "More or less." The pub itself was still rather new having just opened but Lexus had already come by more than once. There wasn't much else for her to do. She was still so new to the city and sitting in a coffee shop had never really been her thing, nor were they usually open by the time she got off work. So far the place had been good. Good drinks, good service, good atmosphere. If she could fill in the good company portion she'd be golden.

"Nice place though." She took a drink, "I heard the owner used to be a Dragon Tamer?" One thing you could count on in a pub was hearing stories about nearly anyone and everyone, likewise though you could usually count on said stories to be absolute bollocks. She used to enjoy some of the stories that came out of the Lunar (though those that involved her affliction weren't always as entertaining) there were a few of the waitstaff that had shipped her and Lucas long before she ever admitted having feelings for him.

She thought about the dark haired owner she had seen at least once. The idea of being a Dragon Tamer fascinated her though. They weren't exactly native to North America, you were more likely to see a Yeti or Wendigo than you were to see a Dragon. Despite the large natural menagerie that was part of her Alma Mater, Dragons were not one of the species that were kept there.

"Yes. Her name is Margo Amherst." Andromeda told the witch talking to her. She remembered names well. But she and Margo did not know each other properly. "I will point her out if I see her. Where are you from? I cannot place your accent? It is not British, but it does not sound American."

Lexus nodded and made a note of the owner's name. It was good to know, especially if you planned to be a regular patron of an establishment. She tried to remember if she had heard it before, the name seemed familiar but she was also quickly learning that here in the UK Wizarding Surnames were something that were widely shared. Being a Pureblood or a long descendant back home was something rare, most witches and wizards were half blood or less, or even muggleborn like herself.

"Canada." She took another pull of her drink, having someone to talk to made drinking a little easier, "Southern Ontario, it's a hard accent to place since it doesn't really sound like anything. Most people just think it's American, it's not like Quebecois or East Coasters, their accents are really easy to place."

She chuckled, "Though I can't blame you for not knowing. I've only been in London for three months or so now and I think I've come across a dozen different 'British' accents."

"I do not really know much about Canadian accents." Andromeda admitted. "But yours is nice." She nodded. "There are hundreds of British accents. Mine is hard to place too. I grew up in the West Country but I do not have that accent. I sound like I have a London accent now. I have lived here a few years. Are you visiting or have you moved to London?"

Lexus nodded. The woman certainly sounded like most of the people around the neighbourhood but even that seemed to differ. She had settled in with her Aunt and Uncle for the time being in their flat in downtown Muggle London and had gotten familiar with shopkeepers and the such in a few blocks around the building. It reminded her of the old British Comedies her parents used to love watching. She absently wondered what they were doing now. She hadn't seen them in many years.

"Moved here actually." Another swig and a hastily added, "for work." It was the story she went with most often. She had gotten a chance to transfer from the Hospital she had been working for in Toronto to come work for St Mungo's. It wasn't an entirely unbelievable story and it beat telling anyone the truth. She just wasn't ready to be that honest without complete strangers, at least not yet (and certainly not with only half a pint in her)

She studied the woman for a moment, "You're with the Department of Magical Law Enforcement aren't you?" There had been Aurors all over the place during the poisonings back in December.  Lexus felt like she had met the entire Department by the time the month was through. It had been such a big incident she didn't really blame them but it had become quite the distraction.

Andromeda committed it all to memory. Canada to London was a long way. Not so far for a witch but still far. Andromeda had never been to Canada. She had read about it in newspapers and books. She was surprised the witch recognised her work.
"Yes I am. I am an auror. Have we met before? I do not usually forget faces. Especially not good looking witches." Andromeda grinned. She said it politely. "Andromeda Gamp." She leaned over. Her hand outstretched to Lexus to shake.

Lexus smirked for a moment, "I'm a Healer with St Mungo's, part of I.D.R.E.A.D as well. I'm pretty sure I met all of the MLE last month with how crazy everything got." She left that as her explanation. It was likely just in passing that they had seen each other, though Lexus had spent enough time around the crimson robes both here and back home to recognize an Auror from a mile away. They always had a certain way about them even when not in uniform. She never could explain it, she supposed it was the same way muggles could point out cops or soldiers. It took a certain type to want to uphold the law.

She took the offered hand and gave it a shake, "Lexus Dale." At least now they both had names to go with faces. She was better with names, though if she were being honest she was better with smells but that was a conversation best left unsaid. She contemplated Andromeda calling her good looking for a moment. It wasn't that she didn't hear it often, Merlin knows she did, especially with how much time she spent in pubs but it was still a foreign thing to her. She didn't think much of herself, she had a strong jaw and intense eyes but once she became afflicted, well the curse took it's toll. Her skin had turned paler, her hair a little duller, and she rarely wore anything that would show her scars (considering nearly 100% of her back and arms were covered that was a lot of covering up)

"So what brings an off duty Auror here tonight?"

"The end of a shift." Andromeda said. She had worked all day. "I felt too restless. Decided to come by and be amongst people." She had chased off dementors that week. Last night she and her brother had talked about dementors. Everyone was talking about them. "It is this or a run and chocolate. I keep feeling cold." Andromeda shrugged. "You know. Cold." She drank. "And what about you?"

Cold. Lexus definitely knew what she meant. It was hard not to notice how the general conversation had turned to Dementors lately. They seemed to be everywhere. Lexus had done her best to steer clear considering. Sure, she was part of I.D.R.E.A.D but she wasn't a fighter, she wasn't an Auror, she was a Healer which often meant even as a first responder she was in charge of making sure everyone was okay. Which allowed her to keep her distance if there was actually a Dementor still present when she arrived on scene.

"Fair enough." She took another long pull from her pint and looked around the bar.

When she was asked about her own reasons for being there she simply shrugged, "Feels like home." She offered a small smile, "Spent years as a bartender and this far away from my own country, well it's the one place I know I'm always welcome." Her smile became almost bittersweet. She had yet to really experience the general opinion on Werewolves here in the UK. Back home they were heavily regulated to the point of there being specific jobs they were allowed to have. She always felt lucky that she got accepted into Healer Training. Her natural talent far outweighed her affliction and those talents simply allowed her to transfer over when she moved. Other than the few full moons she'd spent in a Ministry safe house she hadn't really spoken too much about what she was and whether her statement would still hold true if she had.