InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Venta"

luna lovegood (loonacy) wrote in finnigans_rpg,
@ 2014-09-20 23:40:00

Entry tags:

character: luna lovegood, character: richard summerby

RP: Dinner and a lack of dancing.
Who: Richard Summerby and Luna Lovegood
What: They're going to dinner in India
Where: Delhi India
When: Saturday night
Rating: SFW

A night out seemed to be just what Luna needed. She'd been doing nothing but being at work and being at home to take care of her father for the past couple of days. A really long couple of days. And she hadn't been getting a whole lot of sleep either. Today though she made sure that she was able to make sure that her father was well looked after and agreed to go out with Richard to eat. The fact that they were getting out of the country to do so was a plus. She'd never been out of the country just to have dinner and possibly go dancing. It was going to be a rare treat. If she didn't make a fool out of herself anyway.

She was dressed quite conservatively for her. Of course for Luna Lovegood that was still a bit over the top. Most of her dress matched, but her shoes didn't and her jewelry was still out there. The pattern was a bit off as well. It was just enough her that she felt good, but still wasn't going to make anyone stare at her in wonder. Hopefully. Either way she would ignore stares, since she was good at that. After leaving her father in the care of one of his friends so they could play pinochle or what have you.

When there was a knock at the door, she went to answer it with a smile. Hopefully there wouldn't be too much embarrassment if they danced. She liked dancing. But yeah she was bad.

"Hello, Richard!" she greeted as she opened the door. "Ready to go."

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loonacy
2014-09-21 06:42 pm UTC (link)

Giving a short nod of her head in affirmation, she couldn't help but smile a little. "That's lovely. I always like making friends when I go to places. It's been a while though, and usually when I go to other countries it's in the middle of the jungle where no one's around but still it's nice." One of these days she would have to try hanging out in bigger cities instead of the middle of nowhere, looking for animals.

By the time they got out of the taxi, she was feeling much better and like herself. It was a good thing he knew the language because this was one she didn't know a lick of. She knew the basics in other languages but not this one. As they waited for seating, she was all too happy to look around and take in everything. It was all rather lovely in India. If she had to live somewhere else other than England, it would probably be somewhere here.

Sliding into her seat, she took the menu from him and looked a bit relieved at that fact. "Oh good. Maybe I can read this then," she said with a laugh. She had her heart set on something particular, so she looked to see if they had that. "I'll have a glass of wine. Why not?"

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the_richard
2014-09-21 07:45 pm UTC (link)

Rich nodded. "I've been to the edge of civilization a few times for different projects, but most of what I do is meet with people in the different cities. Found that it's the people that make places special."

He ordered the wine and waited cheerfully while the steward went through his little ritual. When their glasses were full, he raised his. "Here's to you, Luna, and to seeing new places and meeting new people. Thanks for going out with me tonight. It is certainly a pleasant change to get away somewhere with a pretty girl and just have a meal without worrying about the next meeting."

"I was thinking of starting with the Varqui crab for an appetizer, and then the Martabaan Ka lamb in an earthenware pot for the main course. See anything you like?"

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loonacy
2014-09-21 11:02 pm UTC (link)

"I very much agree. People makes places special. Unless there's something rare out there, I suppose." And one of those days, she was going to prove to people that the things that she knew she saw were actually real. And that she wasn't crazy. That was her goal in life. She didn't care if people thought she was crazy for the other things.

She held up her glass and beamed quite happily at him. "Oh well thank you." By the end of his toast, she was blushing quite a bit. She was pretty? No one ever said nice things about her like that. Well they said she was insanely nice, but that was about it. "You're very welcome, thank you for asking to come out. I haven't been out in a really long time. It's hard to with Dad being sick."

It was nice just to be out of the house. And not worrying about the next meeting. Though she never did. After all, no one had ever asked her out on a date.

"That sounds marvelous," she agreed. "How do you feel about the Khurmani Ke Kebab?" It had apricots and all sorts of lovely things. She was probably butchering the language but it sounded good.

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the_richard
2014-09-21 11:50 pm UTC (link)

"I've heard about your hunts for rare animals. Don't let anybody talk you into giving up. I've... seen things out there that people who never leave the city ever see. And I very seldom really get out into the bush. But you can't travel as much as I have, talked to as many people as I have, heard their stories, without finding out there is more to the world than is ever dreamed about in a quiet English drawing room."

Rich sighed. "My first choice in school was Care of Magical Creatures. After Cedric, well, you know... I chucked it all for Auror training. After the war, I did go to the Swedish Dragon Reservation for a while. Didn't work out, which is how I ended up working for my father's company. But your searches have always sort of fascinated me."

"It was sort of odd, I guess, posing like I did in the journal, but it seems to have worked out for the best." He smiled. "My mother has been after me to go out with the daughters of her friends. Trying to set me up with a wife, don't you know. Not something I'm that interested in. But I like girls, like to see them smile, have a good time, maybe even dance with them - no pressure; we'll see about lessons if you're interested. Sorry about your father, I hadn't heard. If you do find you have the time to get away again, just let me know. I'm still out of the country on business two to four days a week, but I'm usually around weekends."

"It is very good," he nodded again. "If you want to stay with the vegetarian selections, try it with the tamarind and coconut soup. And don't forget to save a little room; they have an excellent dessert bar here."

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loonacy
2014-09-22 01:58 am UTC (link)

It was nice that someone actually paid attention to her work. Former work. "I haven't completely given it up. I just realized when I was out there in the middle of nowhere that I was missing out on a lot of things with my friends. So I came home and opened up my veterinary hospital." That way she could take care of animals and still be close to home. "I still go look for them though. I will find them one of these days. I know they're there. I mean there has to be. Even the ocean has only been explored a small amount. Imagine how many other things are out there."

Not to mention people were constantly finding new species of things. This was no different. She nodded knowingly because she understood what it was like to be set on something and then change your mind in the middle of it. "I really liked the Dragon Reservation. I almost stayed. They're a little bit bigger than I like," she said with a small laugh. "Do you miss all of the animal stuff?" she asked.

"Those journals are a good way to stay in touch and ask things like that without having to owl everyone and wait." She wondered what it was that everyone's parents seemed to be trying to set them up with people. "I had to help another friend the other day because his Gran was trying to set him up and he didn't know how to tell the girl he wasn't interested. But I suppose it's understandable in a way. Parents don't want you to be alone."

Luna shrugged slightly, "It's all right. He's got his spirits up. I'm a bit surprised that he's not tried that on me. When he goes, I won't have anyone. I don't have any other family. And since I've never been on a date before, I don't think that's going to change any time soon. We can do dance lessons though. It sounds nice. I'll take you up on that if I can get my father interested in another game of pinochle with the neighbor."

Glancing at the rest of the menu, she hm'd a bit and nodded. "I don't mind meat, I'm not a vegetarian. But that does sound good. I'll try my best."

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the_richard
2014-09-22 02:42 am UTC (link)

Richard ordered for the both of them when the waiter made his efficient appearance.

"Even if you don't find what you went out looking for, there are other things out there waiting to be discovered. You never know what you might find." He shrugged. "Sometimes. My mother's family has vinyards in France. I go there every now and then to ride horses or thestrals. I'm too bloody big for winged horses unless I run a team, though. And they have the usual farm animals there. Dragons were interesting, but like a lot of things in the wizarding world, there was a lot of politics involved in who got promoted, instead of the welfare of the dragons being primary. That part I don't miss. I kept my healing wand, though. If you ever need an extra hand, I wouldn't be against doing a little pro bono work for you."

"Parents want to be grandparents for some reason. Mum wasn't interested in hearing that as long as we live, there was plenty of time for that. But I guess I've been mostly alone since the war. I have my work, and broom racing. Well, you knew Anna - she was that Claw a few years ahead of you I was seeing - I still miss her every day, regret all the things that can never be now." He gathered himself in before the conversation took a serious maudlin turn.

"You'll always have friends, Luna. Now, I didn't know you hadn't been getting out on lots of dates. Something must be wrong with the young men in London. I mean, I know a lot of the Hufflepuffs are gay, and I'd suspected the same of a lot of the Slytherins, but I never thought nobody's been asking you out. Tell you what. A lot of the social functions I get asked to for work, I'm supposed to bring what they call a 'plus one'. A polite euphanism for members of the fairer sex that are supposed to keep the event from degenerating into just another business meeting. If you'd like, and if I know the crowd won't bore the socks off of you, I can give you a call and see if you'd like to go. Might meet a whole different group of people that way."

He smiled. "And some of the bouncing around I do, if you just want to get away for a while, you've seen how I travel, I can take you just about any place you'd like for a little vacation. Even leave you a portkey if you like so you can get home on your own."

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loonacy
2014-09-22 05:51 am UTC (link)

With that settled, Luna could focus on drinking her wine and having a good time. "Precisely. I'm always out there, looking for new things or trying new things. Even if they're not animals." In fact every time she saw a new plant that looked quite keen that she hadn't seen before, she packed it up and sent it to Neville. "Oh winged horses are lovely. I take care of some.. well they're not mine, but they come to me to have them looked at and they're just the prettiest things." Though honestly she liked Thestrals a bit more, in a sort of morbid way.

She nodded a bit at his comment on dragons. That whole thing was one of the things that she never quite got into. She supported animals of course and would do whatever she could for them but politics were definitely not her thing. "Thank you, I'll remember that."

Luna had no idea what the big deal was about grandchildren. Other than perhaps being lonely. She could understand that part. "We do have plenty of time and we're all quite young. There's no rush to get married. As long as you're happy. And no, I've never .. I've never been on a date, or been kissed or even held hands. I don't know if you noticed, but most people think I'm crazy." She shrugged a little. Guys didn't like crazy girls. They liked confident girls, and while Luna was quite confident in pretty much everything else - she wasn't in that.

"Oh well.. okay. I like meeting new people. Even if I never get a date." She'd never been to a function like that where everyone was dressed in suits and dresses. Except for the Yule Ball. That was the last time she wore anything fancy. "Sometimes I think I should talk to more muggles. But they might think me even more strange than the wizards do."

She smiled slightly. "Thank you, Richard. That's all very sweet of you. I'd like that, if I can manage to get away."

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the_richard
2014-09-22 11:56 am UTC (link)

"They are pretty, and I can drive a team, but I've always preferred thestrals. Omnivores, generally smarter, much more endurance."

He smiled at her comment about plenty of time, but then Rich could only shake his head as a frown came and went on his face. "That's just... wrong. Well, you can certainly say you've been on a date now. We didn't hold hands, but we went arm in arm for a while. We can hold hands going home if that will make it official. Now a kiss... a kiss should be between people that have real feeling for each other, or it's just one of those dry greetings you get from friends and family. Wouldn't take that first special kiss away from you when this is just our first time going out."

"The ones call you crazy have never seen crazy, gone face to face with Bellatrix - now there was crazy, and bad crazy at that. You look at things your own way, do things with your own style, they don't understand because you're not like everybody else. But everybody's crazy, at least a little. Or at least different from everybody else. Look at me; rich enough to be called eccentric for my broom racing. Rubbing shoulders at two hundred plus in a corner. Riding right on the edge of control because thats the most alive I've felt since the war, when it really was life and death. Somebody calls you crazy tell 'em to sod off."

He smiled then. "Then that's settled. In and out of the muggle world with my work. Most are pretty tolerant, some aren't. Pretty much your usual run of people. And look at you, out in the muggle world right now, with nary a bit of trouble. Like I said, any time you want to see more of the world, even the muggle world, just let me know."

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loonacy
2014-09-22 11:22 pm UTC (link)

"I prefer thestrals as well, they're lovely." If a bit unconventional, which was probably why she liked them so much. Oddly enough they made her feel closer to her mother in a way.

"I have?" she looked a little surprised. "I don't.. I mean it's lovely that you say that, but I don't know if this is a date. I always thought that dates were for people you were interested in." Perhaps her views had to broaden a bit, but for her it was just friends going out. No one was actually interested in her in that way. The same it went with kissing. She didn't know why someone would ask someone else out if they weren't interested. Besides he'd asked out everyone and she was the one that said yes. It wasn't a date. "I'll wait for all of that if someone ever has feelings for me." Which let's face it, wasn't going to happen.

It was true that she wasn't as crazy as Bellatrix. And she definitely had all of her sanity. That didn't stop people from still calling her loony though. It was kind of odd because no one ever gave a crazy nickname to Bellatrix and she was much more unstable. "I remember perfectly well how crazy she was. I don't see why people have to put labels on things. I'm just myself. I'm just not quite the type of girl that people generally have feelings for. Not in that way anyway. Eccentric or not." She was too nice to tell anyone to sod off though.

Well she supposed she could go out and meet some new people. That would be good, even if she never got anything out of it but a friend. "Thank you, I will."

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the_richard
2014-09-23 04:24 am UTC (link)

Rich relaxed a little when the waiters brought dinner to their table. "Maybe it's the salesman in me, but I'm always interested in people. Interested in getting to know them, if not in a romance sense. So this could be a date, I guess, if you wanted it to be. A date to go to dinner with a friend?"

"I'll be honest, I don't know whether we'll ever be anything else than friends. Right now I'm not sure I'll ever want to be more than friends with any woman. I do like you as a person, a person that I could be friends with. If you want this to be a date, then it's a date."

He took a few bites of his lamb - it was very good - while he though about how to word what he wanted to say. "People label things... other people too. You were sorted into Ravenclaw because you're smart, a thinker. Some of the conclusions you draw might be different from the way most people think. Doesn't make you wrong and them right. The facts of the matter are what does that."

"Look at my family. We're as much the purebloods as any of the twenty-eight. But we think differently enough that none of us live in some ancient mausoleum of a manor. Me, I live in a converted furniture-maker's shop. And I'm out there like most of the rest of the family in what some people call 'the trades', making money, doing business, maybe even improving things a little. Associating with muggles, even. It isn't The Way Things Are Done."

One eyebrow went up a little. "And I'll bet the people that really matter to you don't call you names, right? That's how it is with me, with Father. Like my grandfather told me, the sort of people that would call you a name are mostly to be pitied, because their worldview is so stunted."

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loonacy
2014-09-23 05:36 am UTC (link)

Oh good. Food. It smelled wonderful.

"I never thought that we would be. I imagine if you were interested in me, you would tell me." Wasn't that what people did? "This is just friends having dinner. Don't worry." She didn't think he was worrying, but she wanted to assure him that she wasn't thinking that this was something that it wasn't. Luna didn't feel any romance in the air. And she didn't want to go on her first date with a guy who wasn't actually interested in her. Maybe it was naive, but she wanted it to mean something. After all she had waited this long.

She started to eat, trying not to get it all over herself or make herself look too foolish. "Thank you for saying so, Richard." She did appreciate it when people didn't find her so odd that they didn't want to associate with her. "All of that is starting to change though. At least I hope so. For the better. And you won't hear me complaining about anyone not doing things the way they're supposed to be done. It's all a bunch of nonsense if you ask me." And that was saying something.

Luna tilted her head as if she had to think about that question. "No, they don't call me names. That's all that matters. I've never cared what other people think. If people don't like me, that's their problem." She just didn't want it to mean that she was going to wind up alone.

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