The sun had recently set, and James had just gotten off of practice.  Once again, he was eating the Shepherd’s Pie at the Black Chimaera.  After realizing how often he ate this particular dish, he was seriously tempted to see if he could not work a freezing charm and somehow use the aforementioned culinary concoction to make a nutrient potion.  However, he did not know enough about how the individual reagents themselves would react to various potions methodologies.  Wondering if he should commission someone to study that for him, James decided against it.  Once word got out of who commissioned the study, it would become magically manufactured and James would lose whatever minor edge he had over the competition in flying.  James knew he needed all the help he could get, and did not want to give up any advantage he might have. 

His musings on the nature of nutrition complete, James eyes scanned the bar for something worth bringing home.  Unfortunately for him, it appeared as though there was a distinct shortage of females for him to choose from.  He was about to call it a night and maybe go fly a few laps when he noticed the new barmaid - Nicola.  James had no clue how he could actually manage to pull that one off.  Even if she had not worked here very long, James knew that it was obvious how he worked.  As he contemplated how he would dig himself out of that hole without digging it deeper, he had a sudden epiphany.

James realized that he was a customer.  More importantly, he was a regular customer which meant she had to be nice to him.  Though to be perfectly honest, James would have preferred her to be naughty.  James, now reassured that he would not be batted out of the sky like a bludger, gained a little bit more confidence.  As he tried to think of some smooth line, James mentally slapped himself.  'Pick up lines never work.  You know that Forrester' he mentally criticized himself.   He tried to come up with some random question or something else that would keep the barmaid talking about herself.  James had also long ago learned that woman loved to talk about themselves. Hoping he could gain something from a seemingly benign question, James finally figured out what to ask her.   

As the barmaid approached him, James asked for her opinion on, “How is business coming along?”, with a mildly curious tone.  Though his tone was mild, his body language was not.  James was leaning in slightly towards her, and had an open expression on his face.  He was trying to read her body language more than listen to what she was saying, but he was keeping track of what words were spoken as well.

Nicola’s eyes widened in feigned surprise as held a glass beneath the golden pump that dispensed the guest bitter. Usually a favourite amongst the regulars. “Oh I don’t know about that sir,” she responded to the man sat across from her, balancing precariously on an unstable barstool. He’d had a bit too much to drink but she was happy to keep serving the wandless wizard, he tipped well and money was money. “I’m not the type to offer private shows.” Or those were simply reserved for those men either of interest or that could help her in any way. Nicola wasn’t above using her feminity to get what she wanted. The large pint glass was now full of the golden brown liquid before Nicola placed it on the bar in front of the intoxicated ex-death eater.

Taking the coins in her hands and thanking him for the extra tip, Nicola dropped the majority of the coins into the till before pocketing the last couple. Wasn’t it handy being a young woman working in a bar full of men? They all handed over a little extra cash in hopes it would increase their chances. Bless the poor ignorant souls.

Stepping out from behind the bar, Nicola moved slowly through the tables, collecting empty glasses and dodging wandering, drunken hands. She was most definitely getting out of this dive when she found something better or had the money to start up on her own once more. She’d have been such a little bit closer had her husband not managed to clean her out while he was still locked away in prison! Not that she was about to share this information with anyone. There was a reason her wedding band remained safely tucked away in her robe pocket.

A few glasses were held between Nicola’s slim fingers as she approached another regular. Definitely younger than the majority of the usual clientele. There were never normally many women in the bar, if at all, yet the man, as Nicola had noticed had a tendency to leave in the evening with one of them. Either that or he no doubt picked one up on the way home. Women liked Quidditch players. The illusion was that they had money. Celebrities always had money. Although, one had to question why a celebrity spent his free time in a back alley bar in London.

“Business?” Nicola smirked and rested her free hand on her hip, shifting her weight onto her right leg as she studied the male specimen carefully. What a strange initiation into conversation. “I’m afraid you’d have to address that question with our infamous landlord, my dear.” For a barmaid and an ex azzie, Nicola surprisingly spoke very well, her posh upbringing having taught her to annunciate every last syllable in order to sound devastatingly intelligent. One would expect to hear such a voice coming from an overpaid ministry head instead of the young, pale and slim barmaid at the Black Chimaera.

“Despite my ignorance in that area I can procure you liquid refreshment. Anything tickle your fancy?” She flashed the Quidditch player a bright smile.

“I’m afraid you’d have to address that question with our infamous landlord, my dear.”

Noticing the smirk on Nicola’s lips, James wondered if there was something wrong with the way he phrased the question.  James knew he was just trying to fish for information, but he hoped that she would give him something to go on.  Whether it was the crowd, a slow night for a Saturday, or something else James was expecting something he could comment on.  Since James had absolutely no desire to discuss Cinaed, he let the subject drop.  Though James did not know how to change the subject, Nicola was kind enough to do it for him.

“Despite my ignorance in that area I can procure you liquid refreshment. Anything tickle your fancy?”

James was surprised at how cultured the barmaid seemed whenever he talked to her.  James knew something would tickle his fancy, but was also aware that the odds of him taking her away from a bartending gig on a Saturday were slim to none.  James was trying to think of a way to phrase his question.  Though he had not yet come up with what he would do if the lady said yes, he needed to figure out how to phrase the question. 
“You know – I would fancy something, but what I want is not on the menu tonight,” James started speaking in a neutral tone, though he was looking over the barmaid once again.  As he continued, he met her gaze and somehow managed to inch closer to her on the bar stool.  Taking a moment to lick his lips, James completely forgot what he was going to say.  He was too busy making googly-eyes staring at Nicola.  Remembering that it would be completely awkward to say nothing at this point, he finally gave up trying to fool the witch in front of him.  At this point, James knew any pretenses on his part were worthless. 

“And I think you know exactly what that is.  So tell me fair lady, would you care to explore the River Dee with me sometime next week?” James asked his tone and body language implying completely dishonorable intentions.  After James asked the question, he inwardly cursed his pheromones.  James knew he was capable of doing a far better job of picking up witches than that clumsy display implied, but knew he had to say something after staring at Nicola for so long.  As he awaited her reply, he kept his gaze firmly locked on the witch’s eyes, though it was rather obvious he would rather be looking at her other assets.  James did realize that he needed to act like a gentleman for the next several minutes, even though Nicola could probably see through him like a window pane.

The gaze James was pointing in Nicola’s direction failed to make the barmaid falter. She gripped the grubby glasses between her fingers tightly and shifted her weight over to her right side, tilting her head as the dark eyes gazed down upon the Quidditch player. It was ever such a compliment having a man look at her in such a way. The young woman had only had a month to get used to such looks since her very lucky release from Azkaban.

“Try me.” A small smile tugged the edge of her lips, dark eyes twinkling somewhat. “Our menu can be very varied for those who show interest in such refreshments.” Oh it was plainly obvious the man wasn’t referring to drinks. The fact that he was practically drooling from the corner of his mouth led the woman to such a conclusion. She didn’t mind.

Nicola blinked. Well she’d never had a proposal quite like that in the past. Her husband’s first suggestion of a date had been him pointing out the fact he was devilishly handsome and she would therefore have been a fool to deny. Her and Cinaed? He’d offered her a job; she’d offered him a bit of fun after hours. The arrangement seemed to work well for both.

Smirking, Nicola leaned forwards; resting the empty glasses on the table and in turn her hands against the edges of the wooden table. “I’ve explored a varied assortment of things but a river?” Her right eyebrow quirked. “Why would I wish to do that Mr Forrester?”

“Why would I wish to do that Mr Forrester?” the bar maid asked him.  Now it was James turn to smirk.

“You have never gotten wet with a broom between your legs?” James replied with a completely neutral tone to his voice, even if his smirk gave him away.  This time, James relaxed a little as he faced towards her.  Blatant innuendos aside, James knew he had to make this good.  James knew that a girl as good looking as Nicola working at this place had to get hit on at least ten times a shift, if not more.  Wondering what else he could say to make him stand out above her other suitors, James wondered if he should try being honest.  James quickly dismissed the thought, realizing that honesty would probably not get him very far.  Even though Nicola probably could read him like a book at this point.

“Seriously though – you have never explored a river?  It is one of life’s simple pleasures.  You can either skip stones off a bridge or just walk lazily down one of its banks.  If you are feeling adventurous, you can mess around in the whitewater upstream of Llangollen.  Simply put, there is much to do, much to see, and it is always done better with company,” James replied, this time allowing a genuine smile to grace his face.  The idea of flying and having a pretty woman with him at the same time was about as close to paradise that James could access on Earth.

As James waited to see how she would respond to this.  Somehow, that last explanation of his had been completely without innuendo, intentional or implied.  Wondering how the bar maid would respond to it.  He wondered if he should have added something sexual in the explanation, but failed to see how it would change Nicola’s response one way or the other. 

James also wondered how Cinaed managed to get so many attractive witches to grace his bar.  Though he had no clue if they were offered free firewhiskey or something else completely, James wondered how they kept showing up here.  Not that James was complaining, he just wondered how the bearded man managed to do it.  It was a trick James would like to learn. 

Nicola blinked. Well that was...unexpected. Men made comments in this bar. Of course they did. Here was a young slim and most probably willing barmaid serving in a dingy back alley pub. Nicola would have been ridiculously delusional to believe she could get through a shift behind the bar without receiving a few comments like that but some...some were more blunt than others. This one left Nicola silent for a moment, searching her mind for an appropriate response.

Having a feeling she would be there for a while as this quidditch player, in vain, attempted to chat her up, Nicola placed the empty glasses on the table in front of her and folded her arms across her chest. “I’ve been a bit...tied up in the last few years.” She said simply, shrugging her shoulders. “Not had much chance to visit any rivers.” She’d seen sea. Lots of cold, powerful sea crashing against the walls of Azkaban, spraying through the barred window of her cell. That didn’t need to be any more of common knowledge than it already was. This man no doubt had no idea. It was nice encountering those select few.

“So I’m guessing you happen to frequent this lake often,” Nicola asked, her eyebrow quirked ever so slightly. “with company.” Probably female. Nicola suddenly became interested. What made him decide to ask the barmaid when usually he would find himself some pretty, better dressed, wealthier young thing and drag her home to his cave? She had an idea. A small smile began to play on the barmaid’s lips as her dark eyes searched his face.

“There aren’t any pretty young ladies in here tonight are there, James?” Randall asked smoothly, glancing around the room as if to prove a point. “

As Nicola responded to his innuendo, he wondered what caused her to look that far away.  He had no idea about her past, though he would not be hitting on her if he knew she was married.  Still, James was blissfully unaware of anything beyond the fact that she was a barmaid working at one of his favorite haunts.  Still, she had not yet really replied to his query or his innuendo one way or the other.  James was going to make another suggestion or just consider Nicola a lost cause when she started replying to his queries.

“So I’m guessing you happen to frequent this lake often…with company.”

“Actually, yes.  Usually the coach makes us fly up and down that river so many times, and we usually all act our mental age.  In other words, we somehow manage to either get wet, have grindy-lows attached to our brooms – do not ask – or end up buzzing mermaids.  It has been a while since I have actually been able to enjoy the scenery,” James commented, unaware of her thoughts.  If he was though, he probably would have taken the opportunity to make another innuendo.

After Nicola realized that she was the only one who was somewhat attractive in the room and came to the same realization that James had a few moments ago.  James started his response, intentionally over dramatic.  Clasping his hands together, he put a cheesy grin on his face, and rested his chin on the tips of his fingers. 

“My dear barmaid, I am surprised at you.  Fishing for compliments is rather unbecoming, particularly when you probably get a hundred a shift.  Of course, it says far more that I am actually trying to take you out rather than just take you back to my place.  But if you just want sex – far be it from me to refuse you,” James finished, wondering if his acting was too over-the-top or not. 

The Black Chimera was not a place for Alyson O'Sullivan to frequent. It was dirty and dark, known for it's shady customers. Once wouldn't expect a mother to be there; at least not one of Aly's caliber. Tomi would pitch a fit to find out she was there. And Aly was sure her coach or manager would be unhappy at her presence in such a place. The last thing the Harpies needed was some biased article to show up in the Prophet about one of their star chasers making herself comfortable in a place like the Black Chimera.

But Alyson was on a mission. And she couldn't let something as petty as appearances keep her from achieving her goals. One of her friends-a good friend, who just happened to be a werewolf-had been attacked last week. There were no witnesses, only a brief description of what she thought the two attackers looked like. So Alyson set off to find information herself, and she knew the best place was tat the bar in which she now sat. Alyson had a fire-whiskey in front of her, only to keep away men from offering to buy her something. But mostly she just at at her tale, trying to be inconspicuous in her listening.

At one point, a pair of familiar voices reached her ears, and Aly had to stop herself from turning around and revealing her identity. She didn't have too much interaction with Forrester, outside of Quidditch matches and the occasional PR gigs, but it still surprised her to hear his voice. The even bigger surprise came from his female companion, whom Aly soon realized was an employee there. Hmmph, figures. Somehow she must have missed the fact that Nicola was working there when she came in.

Alyson hadn't heard from her cousin in a long time; the last she knew, Nicola was still rotting away in Azkaban. Even before she got locked away though, Alyson didn't talk much to her father's niece. Nicola wasn't exactly a good person to be around. Their viewpoints were completely different in every possible way. Take for instance, the fact that Nicola was so opening flirting with Forrester. When as far as Aly knew, the girl was still married. Not that being married to Billy Tawse was saying much, but he was still her husband, right?

She listened to the pair go on for a few minutes, before turning around to face them. "Of all the women you  could probably have Forrester, you're gonna try to shag the likes of her? Really, I thought you'd have better sense than that. Taken one too many bludgers to the head, eh?" Not that she cared who the rival player was trying to pick up, but Alyson was sure this man was unaware of her cousin's......history. "How's Billy these days, Nic?" Alyson flashed her a smile, but it was not friendly at all. She didn't keep her feelings about Nicola hidden, that was for sure.

She recognised that stuck up voice straight away. Of course Nicola hadn’t heard it in many years, but she was one of those people that simply didn’t forget a voice. Or a face. That’s why if she ever heard of saw one of those disgusting guards from Azkaban, she’d not think twice about indulging in a little torture and murder. That was definitely Billy’s influence. But one didn’t do that to family and no matter how judgemental and annoying little miss prissy was, Nicola’s urge to bury her alive in a ditch to rot forever wasn’t strong enough to actually do it. One could day dream, after all. Alyson was simply an irritation, not trouble. A nuisance, not exactly needed to be murdered.

Nicola reluctantly glanced to the side to see her cousin. So many cousins yet so few brain cells between the three. Arianna? She was a chubby snorlack in a blonde wig. The blonde hypocrite was under the disillusioned impression she was better than everyone else. But who’s marriage had broken down? Of course Billy was presently locked up and Nic feared for when he came out, but they were still married. And when he was released, they would no doubt remain wedded. As long as he wasn’t too furious with her present arrangements. With any luck, he’d not be privy to too much information about what she’d been up to.

But now the big mouthed Alyson was simply sat there insulting the company Forrester chose to keep. Oh how wonderful of her! Nicola would have been alright qirh rhat, or at least not overly irritated. Putting someone down only made Alyson, her unintelligent cousin feel better about herself. It was pathetic really. It wa sonly when the disrespectful cretin had the gall to mention Billy that Nicola began to get irritated. It was quite obvious James was  trying to get himself a lay and it was very possible Nic would have been it. However, she very much doubted he would have been so keen had he been aware of his target’s marital status. Sure, the big brute was behind bars, but it wouldn’t be forever. And if Billy knew? There was no doubt he’d enjoy a little play with this Quidditch player.

Nicola’s lips pursed tightly as her dark eyes bore into Alyson’s. This expression only remained for a few moments before she decided she couldn’t curse her cousin, but she didn’t have to be nice either. This thought caused a tight smile to appear on the pale lips as Nic leaned forwards against the chair in front of her.

“Oh, he’s looking forward to his release, Alyson dear. Not long now. You’ve not moved recently have you? He can’t wait to come and have a play with this new sprogg of yours I’ve heard about.” At this point, Nic couldn’t help but grin. Surely Al was aware that this was not a woman to cross.

After Allyson criticized his choice of women and talked to Nicola about Billy, James could not help but wonder what it was with married women interfering in his sex life.  First a potions mistress and now a quidditch player.  James wondered if an herbologist would attempt to cock-block him next time.  Usually, at this point James would give some sort of smart-alecky remark about how if she wanted some time away from her rooster, it would probably be better to find another married person to sleep with so they would not talk about it.  Still, James hardly spoke to Allyson outside of professional gatherings, but she had never acted like a shrew until now.  What are you doing here, and why are you bothering me? James thought to himself.

Before he could comment on it one way or another, Nicola commented that apparently this Billy person was presumably behind bars.  James wondered what the heck he had gotten himself into.  He did not see anything in particular that would indicate Nicola had an abusive ex-boyfriend.  He also wondered why they seemed to be at each other’s throat, especially since they knew each other somewhat well.  Not really knowing what was happening between the two ladies, James kept his tone professional, but somewhat cold.

“O’Sullivan – we hardly speak to each other outside of the league.  And I have never seen you here before.  I sincerely doubt you came up here to speak to me – yet here you are.  While I do not particularly care why you are here, I do care when you start insulting me for no apparent reason.  Do we have business I am not aware of or is there something else you need to discuss with me?” James asked, wondering what crawled up her butt and died.

Since James was clueless regarding Billy, James figured he should probably ask about him as well.  It would be good to know if there was an abusive ex-boyfriend hanging around.  James was fairly confident he could take care of it himself, but if worse came to worse he could get the rest of the tornadoes to help.  His tone warming a few degrees, he asked Nicola,

“Who is Billy?” James asked the witch, assuming he already knew the answer.