"And as we set to drinkin we sing and dance and roar -- And we become far merrier than we ever were before," Rufus sang in a quasi huff, the forming smile on his face becoming more evident, even as the worries in his heart about making it in time to flag down his runner for the upcoming show this week. He knew what he accounted for wasn't going to nearly be enough, even with 3 day closing - much to the dismay of his patrons - of Pigs Can't Fly. They could grab from the storehouse inside of Fiddler's Green if it came to it, but Rufus was going to keep from that mindset.

And so, this meant heading out to Muggle London round noon time as Paddy minded the pub and the band while they continued setting everything up. In jeans, a light jacket, random wrock shirt (disenchanted, mind you) he'd blindly pulled from his closet, sunglasses to cover his eyes, Rufus blended well enough as he slipped from wizarding world to Muggle London. His wand was holstered safely inside of the jacket as he moved amongst the Muggles, humming and giving polite smiles to any who might give back a remark.

He was passing by the corners where Purge and Dowse sat, a tinge in his heart as he thought of the moments spared there with a former flame in mind. They'd been more fling than serious and well, now she was happily with someone else, wasn't she? A lingering of sadness, longing was there but it lasted only a moment or three more as the thoughts became materialised right before him. He hadn't wished her to show up right at that very moment, but there she was in all of her glory. Elixa Mordent.

A grin.
"Oi! Mordy Dents!"

His feet stepped towards her, a few Muggles tilting heads towards the brogue before them. Rufus was genuinely happy to see her and half hoped she was too. Even if no longer an item for each other, there had to be amicable feelings, right? At last he was in arm's length of the witch and patted at her shoulder.

"Hey there, stranger..."

“Oi! Mordy Dents!” It was one of those moments where you think you’ve imagined hearing someone shout your name. Especially right outside the front of the hospital amongst the muggles. She almost jumped out of her skin at the pat on her shoulder. A man in denim wearing sunglasses was attempting to get her attention, did they know each other?

“Hey there, stranger…”

“Rufus!” She sprang on her tired feet with pleasant excitement at recognising him. “Hej! You gave me a start. How are you?!” She threw her arms around him tightly without further hesitation. Ahh he smelled always as he had, aftershave, pipe smoke and the city. It was too early for him to smell like he’d had a few pints, after all. At least she thought it was… hard to tell what with finishing an extra long night shift and the wizard owning more than one pub. There was always somewhere in London you could drink, any hour of the day. She probably smelled of herbs and astringent.

“So good to see you!” She continued to exclaim, hugging him tightly on her tiptoes. She’d changed out of her healer’s robes, into sandals, skirt and short-sleeved top which showed off her arms. The feeble summer sun in England had barely warmed her colour which she had inherited from her Italian mother, so she was determined to find every excuse to get them out if she couldn’t escape abroad before summer was done. Her thick wavy black hair was pinned up as best she could with help from a charm, though two ringlets were loose before her ears.

“What are you doing here, or shouldn’t I ask?” She thumbed towards the front of Purge and Dowse, worried for a moment he was seeking a healer’s assistance or visiting someone unwell.

Rufus wasn't certain that he'd startled Lix so much more than than he had. But he had and exceedingly so. There was that fine, hair split moment to break out into a full blown mischievous grin for his success in his deception, however, chose against once Lix's brain kicked in. It was evident when those gears went into recognition mode, that Lix was finally catching up as to whom her personage was precisely.

What Rufus felt when her marvelous and wonderful hugs came through was receiving them from one of your best friends that you hadn't seen in ever such a long time. Which was evident in this case, considering he'd been an awful friend of sorts post the times spent as bedmates. Not the issue at the moment, not at all -- it was enjoying living the moment, being tightly hugged, causing him to oof! slightly, a chuckle leaving his lips. He appreciated it all, taking it all in, savoring the exchange, returning the favor with squeezing bear hugs for Lix.

"Glad to know I'm able to keep you on your toes still, literally and figuratively speaking, Healer Mordent," Rufus quipped with the long at last smirk showing itself. "Makes for an interesting conversation piece when you're not accustomed to seeing one of your bests." A few fingers moved the the strays hairs and tucked them gently, neatly behind her ear after one final for the moment squeeze. "Speaking of which, you look yourself like you're ready to pop off to the beach or somethin' of the sort. Me, though? I've got the gig[1] in tre days and I've got to get over to Pigs to meet with a distributor shortly. Kinda figured tho' it couldn't be all bad walking by Mung's and seeing if my very good friend is doing well off."

All smiles.

"She is, isn't she?"

1.	A Murder of Crows

Elixa Mordent tilted her head quizzically, reading the cheeky expression of the bar owner.
“Why Rufus, is it written so plain across my face?” She gestured with both hands to her face, which on closer inspection wore tell-tale signs of a long shift with shadows beneath the eyes and a faint smudge of sage ash on her chin. “I suppose you’ve seen it before,” she ventured, cheeks squeezing her eyes almost closed as she grinned. “And miss it…” She winked and rose up on her toes to kiss his cheek affectionately. She looped her arm in his, and they started forward in their mutual direction.

“This whole going steady thing, it’s new,” she admitted, “I get such itchy feet but, well, maybe she’s cursed one of mine to her bed to make sure I don’t run off.” She shrugged. “I take it you do know Eva Kuester, now Deputy Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement?” She mouthed the word Magical given they were approaching the foot traffic of the adjoining road, with muggles. London was such a loud place one could not be overheard yet simultaneously find themselves shouting private business over the din so all could hear. Tiresome.

“What’s new with you? Am I replaced seven times over?”

Their conversations had never been one of boredom, even in their period of Irish breakfasts and then some. Rufus appreciated it as seemed to ground him and realise that maybe, just maybe, not all things were bad and that there was more to life than that next keg to go tapping. Such memory recollection dripping had him distracted from properly listening.

Until he heard the words Kuester, Magical, and Law Enforcement put all together. He paused their stroll for a moment, shades pulled downward. "Bloody hell, woman!" he let out in exclamation, a few people staring for a moment, causing Rufus to grin to avoid looking like a complete idiot.

Which he very much was being with that kind of outburst.
And would also agree to that much later in that day, week, month.....

The grin became its own chuckle, genuine surprise all over his features. Clearly Rufus Uriah Paganell Delacroix was in genuine surprise. Not that she was dating, no, but that it was someone as influential in the Ministry. He really looked Lix over before another chuckle left him, the shock and disbelief beginning to wear off.

"Congratulations to you, big shot. I never really gave it a thought of ever going steady with Ministry folk, especially those upper echelon types, but hey.... if Lix is happy, Rufus is happy for her too."

Genuine, kind words.
Even though he were still single as ever.

"Er, as for me? Nah. No one yet. But that's fine, innit? Keeps me from being neglecting." Translation: He still felt bad for neglecting them even they'd been a flame. "But that said, it still means I can be friends with you and we can talk about anything, everything. Lemme buy you lunch? No romantic strings attached."

“Bloody hell, woman!”

The ejaculation was nothing unusual in response to Lix’s usual explanations about her love life. It was the sort that made her openly cackle, to the point a muggle might describe her a witch on hearing it alone. The muggles were staring either way.

“… if Lix is happy, Rufus is happy for her too.”
“Ehh… well…” She shrugged.

“No one yet. But that’s fine, innit? Keeps me from being neglecting.”

“Oh you never,”
“… I can be friends with you and we can talk about anything, everything. Lemme buy you lunch? No romantic strings attached.”

“She’ll just cuff you later…” Lix lowered her voice, a devious smile on her face. If only you knew, Ru..!”Lunch then, good Sir. Sounds like we’ve got your lack of love life to solve.” The healer planted another kiss on his cheek and squeezed their arms tight.