Shade sat the finished sketch gingerly down on the table in front of him as if he thought something might ruin the drawing.  He'd never actually done something like this, but now that he had, he was incredibly proud of it.  Taking the bottle from Monty, he opened it and took a long drink. He'd not moved from the table for a few hours and only now was he realizing that he was massively hungry and thirsty.

"I don't think I'd want them to swirl," he responded after another long drink, "Maybe just reflect the night sky like the ceiling at Hogwarts, but all the time, not just at night. Does that make sense?" he asked his friend.

"I don't know, I just drew it, up to you to make it real." he said and gathered his sketchbook and the box with his pencils in it and put them back in the ever present shoulder bag he carried.  "Now, I don't know about you, but I'm famished.  Where's a good place to eat Monty?" In response to his question, his stomach chose that time to make it's presence known.

“Perfect sense.” Monty replied calmly.

“… up to you to make it real.”
“Hm, never too early to learn,” the older wizard followed up. If he’d started out in this business at Shade’s age he wasn’t sure what might have happened. As it was now, he was in uncharted territory since his timeturned self had caught up and now gone past the moment he was transported back.

“Where’s a good place to eat?” Shade asked, and as Monty drew breath to answer, the stomach rumble interrupted.
“I know just the place,” the older wizard replied with a wink.



The restaurant was not more than a half hour drive from the Blue Silver buildings when you flew. The car park was full of other unusual vehicles, bikes, and a rack of brooms. Monty was sure he’d seen a rolled up flying carpet in the broom shelter once too. This was no ordinary, muggle place, but run by a Muggleborn who embraced many elements of Muggle style and melded them with the American wizarding fashions.

The single story bar restaurant smelled of meat, onions, beer and pipe smoke as they brushed through the doors. Two wizards with enormous bushy beards were playing a game of enchanted eight-ball pool on a purple table at the far side, and perched on barstools, a half-giant discussed quadpot results with a wizard barely three foot high over beers and peanuts. The music shifted to a crooning song with a female vocalist as Monty led them over to a free table, and their purple-haired waitress hollered in friendly protest at a hunched figure by the jukebox who had just selected it.

“Mr Pepper, good to see you sir,” she greeted, flicking her fingers to send two menus over to the wizards as she approached. “Knew it was you when I saw that beauty pull up. You’ll have a good investment in a Blue Silver, darling, many a happy customer-”
“Just like here, Kady, just like here,” Monty interrupted, feeling a tad awkward at her willing endorsement to ensure his good custom. “This is Shade O’Connor, friend from back home, Shade, Kady,” Monty gestured between them both.
“From England?” Kady asked, marvelling at Shade, eyes like saucers, hoping he’d indulge her in his lovely accent. “Well, what can I get you boys to drink?”

The restaurant had a good quality about it and Shade felt comfortable as soon as Monty led him into it.  It seemed like there were wizards and witches from all over in here.  He stopped for a moment and watched the two playing 8-ball and almost laughed when one of them missed and scratched the table, they looked up at him and Shade chose that moment to catch up with Monty and have a seat just as the waitress came over and chatted with Monty for a bit before asking what they'd like to drink.

Having never been here before, Shade decided to go with the simple, "Just a beer thanks." he told the waitress and then looked to Monty, "What's good here?"

Monty had to suppress outright laughter as his young artistic companion missed Kady’s interest and muttered he’d just have a beer.
“Two Maelbolge,” the older wizard requested with a wink to Kady.

“What’s good here?” Shade asked.
“Everything’s good here.” Monty replied quite honestly. Over the years he’d worked his way through the menu. “But if you’re mighty hungry, there’s dragon steak.” He reached over the point it out on the menu. Kady’s quill was poised on her floating notepad.
“It’s a monster meal, but it’s super tender,” she assured Shade, with the smoothness of a line recited several times a day.

Once they were alone again and the beers had appeared out of thin air on the table, Monty relaxed again.
“If you’re thinking of going on a road trip, I’ve a few friends I can recommend to meet. All up the coast, across the country. Ever fancied turning your art towards machinery? If the portrait painting’s not your thing then I’d be more than happy to give you a stint over here for a month to learn the ropes and see what you can do in the workshop.”

Shade finally looked at the waitress and smiling he asked, "Could I just have a cheeseburger?" He didn't know what they had here, so he decided to play it safe with what he ordered.  You could never really go wrong with a burger.

His attention turned back to Monty.  "I'm not sure what I want to do.  I mean, I love being an artist, but there doesn't seem to be one thing that really fits my style that I've found yet.  I think I'll just have to keep trying new things until I find it. " He took a sip of his beer.  "A road trip does sound nice though, it would give me time away from England for a bit.  I've always wanted to travel some.." he trailed off.

Oh to be that age with all the possibilities and the money behind you. Monty did envy Shade.

“Then do!” The wizard exclaimed without moderating his volume, “Now is the time you can before the world starts placing obligations on you and you run out of money.” He grinned widely at the younger man, genuinely pleased for him, and wishing he’d take charge of his situation more assertively.

“We’ll get your bike done, and I’ll give you some addresses and some of my cards to help you gain a warm welcome.” He raised his beer towards Shade to toast: “Here’s to youth, money and freedom!”

End