Tweak

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Tweak says, "Is posy in the room?"

prankstrinchief (prankstrinchief) wrote in pandorarpg,
@ 2012-01-02 17:36:00

Entry tags:

!status: complete, ^date: november 10 2003, character: alicia spinnet, character: george weasley

Who: Alicia Spinnet and George Weasley
What: Date!
Where: Ciao Trattoria
When: November 10, 6PM
Rating: Should be worksafe at the beginning, potentially not so much so later on

George was actually nervous as he was getting ready for the date. He'd skipped out during his lunch break to make reservations at the nicest restaurant on Diagon Alley, which had been a little complicated, because really they prefered you made appointments a few weeks out, but George had it on good authority that if you greased the correct palms, you could get in. Which, thankfully, had worked, because otherwise he'd need a plan B. So now he was getting dressed and preparing to apparate to Alicia's flat to get her. He really wanted everything to go perfectly, he didn't want to blow his chance with her.

Once he was ready, he left his flat, locked up the shop, and stopped at a flower shop close by to grab a bouquet before apparating and appearing at her front door. He took one deep breath before knocking confidently on the door and waiting for her to respond.

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prankstrinchief
2012-01-03 01:54 am UTC (link)

He laughed at her comment. "Yes, because I'm that popular that I have multiple dates on one night. No you just have to know the right people to talk to, and I know those people, a few of whom are good regular customers of mine, they were more than happy to help me out. So, shall we?" He was amused by how she reacted to that, but it pleased him. He wanted to impress her, after all.

As they left, he kept glancing at her, unable to completely take his eyes off her. "So, how is business going?" he asked. "I mean the massues thing, not the other one, I know that's going well." He smiled wickedly at her. By the time they got to the restaurant, a table was waiting for them, and they were quickly seated and given menus.

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spinrightround
2012-01-03 02:06 am UTC (link)

She nodded, a little relieved. She hadn't been concerned he'd had two dates, she was more concerned he'd canceled dinner with a family member or a business partner or some such thing. It would have been rather awkward had that been the case, but she was glad it wasn't.

She playfully slapped his arm at the mention of her 'other' business, though it was kind of nice to be able to even discuss it with someone who not only knew what she did, but didn't find it repugnant. "I had a few sessions today, one with the Tornados' keeper. Trying to keep his muscles in form during the off-season and all that. All in all, was a good day."

She slid her wrap off her shoulders, leaving her in her dress and bolero, and folded it to place on the back of her chair - but a waiter quickly came by and took it away for her with a bow of his head. She sat and looked over the menu, wondering what she felt like eating - though as always, her eyes strayed to the prices more than the items, as she'd penny pinched most of her life.

"What about you? Anything in particular selling well?"

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prankstrinchief
2012-01-03 02:29 am UTC (link)

While George normally wouldn't cancel serious meetings or get togethers with family, he felt like if it had come down to it, he would have picked Ally over the others and made up some excuse to rearange plans with them. Thankfully, it hadn't come down to that, but he wouldn't have really cared so much. At least his family would have been thrilled to know he was going on a date, but he wasn't sure he was ready to breach that topic with his mom at least quite yet. He wanted to see how things went first.

He did smile at her smack to his arm, and nodded at what she said about work. When they were seated, he watched her shawl get whisked away and smiled in amusement at the level of service, he'd actually never eaten here before, but he'd heard it was good, so he hoped they lived up to that. He didn't think she'd be looking at prices, it really wasn't a big deal, he could splurge on her happily.

"Well, the naughtier line has been doing well, and some of the basics. Seems we get at least one order daily from Hogwarts for Skyving Snack Boxes, and the Peruvian Darkness Powder is always a hot sell. Other than that, most things are doing well. I've got to get a break from work long enough to make some new things, I've got a few things in the wings, but nothing finished yet."

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spinrightround
2012-01-03 02:42 am UTC (link)

Her menu lowered as she looked up with an expression of curiostiy and interest. "Naughtier line? Why George, I had no idea. This is something I'll have to see next time I'm at the shop."

Not that she'd been in years, but perhaps a visit was long past due.

She closed the menu and waited for the waiter to finish pouring he a glass of water before continuing. "What sort of things? You were always so brilliant at coming up with stuff that I'd never imagine in a million years. How do you do it, anyway?"

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prankstrinchief
2012-01-03 02:55 am UTC (link)

He looked up at her with a crooked smile. "Really? You didn't know about the Naughty line? I keep it in the back, so the younger generation won't stumble upon it, but yea, all kinds of toys and such, I've had a lot of help getting it up and running, but it's been doing well. You're more than welcome to come by, I'll even give you a nice discount." He winked at her before ordering some wine for both of them.

He closed his menu as well, having decided what he was getting. "Well it was easier when I wasn't doing it on my own, but I don't know, stuff just comes to me. I think a lot of it is thinking back on some of the old pranks I've played on my siblings and how much better they'd have been with some of the things I've made since."

"You know what you want?" he asked, folding his hands over his menu and leaning forward a bit.

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spinrightround
2012-01-03 03:10 am UTC (link)

"Well, it certainly sounds like the kind of merchandise I could go for," she teased.

"So, you're trying to say that you owe your success to Ron and Percy and the rest for being such easy targets." She smiled at him fondly. "Remind me to thank my Mum and Dad for not having more children."

She bit her bottom lip at the question, tempted to order nothing but a simple salad, but not wanting to seem like one of those twits who didn't like to eat like normal girls in front of blokes. Yet she also didn't want to choose anything too expensive. "Perhaps just a spaghetti bolognese? I haven't had it in ages." Plus it was the cheapest entree on the menu.

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prankstrinchief
2012-01-03 03:23 am UTC (link)

He laughed. "Well you're more than welcome, I'd be happy to help you pick some out too, maybe offer some suggestions, teach you how to use them." he couldn't keep a straight face no matter how hard he tried, he just had to smile the whole time, but that was one of things he really liked about Ally, he was perfectly comfortable being himself around her.

"Well, not all of it, but a good deal of it sure! If they hadn't been such easy targets, I wouldn't have been able to hone my skills so well! But I like to think some of it was on me the whole time, and not all on them." He chuckled at her comment about not having siblings. "Hey, you might have been missing out. Look what a success I am due to my siblings."

He opened the menu back up and did in fact notice that it was the cheapest entree. "I'll only let you order that if it is really what you want, and not because it was the cheapest thing. Because I'm taking you out, I expect you to get something you want. I said business has been good, I can afford to buy you dinner." He smiled knowingly at her.

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spinrightround
2012-01-03 03:42 am UTC (link)

She snorted. "Yes, I'd love to hear you say that to their faces, how you're a success because of them. I think I'd pay to see it, actually," she teased.

She had the grace to look sheepish when he called her out. "I do," she said, meeting his smile. "It would compliment the escargot I'd like as an entree, I think." There, if he insisted, she'd let him.

"So, how often do you eat here? It's rather posh - I'm glad I dressed nice enough for it. Would have been rather embarassing otherwise."

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prankstrinchief
2012-01-03 03:56 am UTC (link)

"Well, that might be asking a bit much, don't you think? I mean, besides the fact that if I did say that to them, they'd never take me seriously. I mean come on, you wouldn't take me seriously about that." George shook his head as he grinned.

"Nice save," he said, laughing a little. "Alright, if you're going to eat snails, then sure, go ahead," he made a little face to show exactly what he thought about eating snails, but smiled so she wouldn't feel self concious about it. Girls could be strange that way sometimes.

George looked around before leaning closer so he could speak quieter. "To tell you the truth, I've never eaten here before." He leaned back. "But a number of people whose opinions I trust have said it's quite good, and I wanted to take you some place nice. This is the nicest place I know of, I'm not too familiar with muggle London."

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spinrightround
2012-01-03 04:06 am UTC (link)

"I'll have you know that smails are quite delicious - especially since they're so covered by melted garlic butter that nobody really remembers what they're supposed to taste like anyway."

When he leaned in, she did as well, not certain what to expect. When he spoke, though, she smiled at him fondly, even blushing a little at the proof of his regard. Honestly, she was so far from used to this sort of treatment that it was almost like it was all new again.

She could get used to this.

"This place is very nice," she assured him, reaching over to touch his hand with hers.

At that moment, the waiter arrived with their wine.

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prankstrinchief
2012-01-03 04:18 am UTC (link)

He shook his head. "No amount of tasty garlic and butter would be able to distract me from the snailyness of the actual dish."

He was pleased with her reaction, rather than being nervous about whether this place was really any good, as he secretly was. And he wanted to spoil her, she deserved it. When she touched his hand, he held onto hers and smiled honestly, absently rubbing his thumb along the back of her hand.

Of course, then the bloody waiter had to show up and ruin the moment. He reluctantly let go and sat back again, thanking the man for the wine, and placing his order, allowing Ally to do the same. He watched the guy walk away, having recieved a little knowing smile from the ponce before he left with their orders. "Well he just has the best bloody timing, doesn't he?" he asked.

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spinrightround
2012-01-03 04:25 am UTC (link)

"I don't know," she said, reaching for her glass of wine. "I was getting a little thirsty, to be honest."

She took a sip and nodded in approval. "Nice. But then I wouldn't expect any less. You've wonderful taste George Weasley." She smirked. "Just look at your date!"

She reached back across for his hand, and she crossed her legs under the table, the toe of one shoe accidentally brushing his calf.

"So, what are you plans for tonight? Wine and dine me, then throw me over your shoulder to take me home and have your way with me?" She gave him a playful grin.

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prankstrinchief
2012-01-03 05:11 am UTC (link)

He took a sip of his too, smiling. It was a good wine, and he laughed at her comment and nodded, completely agreeing with her. "Funny, I was going to say the same thing, you do look absolutely amazing." he resumed the absent stroking of the back of her hand and smiled as her foot touched his calf. He even moved his leg forward a little so as to maintain the contact.

"Wait, is that an option? Because if it is, those are my plans," he laughed a bit. "I don't know, is there anything you'd like to do? I had dinner, but I hadn't really figured out what after, thought I'd let you participate in that choice."

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spinrightround
2012-01-03 05:20 am UTC (link)

The stroking of her hand was sending pleasantly warm tendrils of feeling along her torso. When he responded to her accidental contact with his leg, she decided to maintain it. It felt strangely comfortable, yet quite new, all at once.

"Well, it's nice to know I get a say," she teased. "Let's just play it by ear. That'll give you an incentive to be extra-nice to me, after all." She smirked. "Also, I wonder if you're even strong enough to lift me. What do you think?"

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prankstrinchief
2012-01-03 05:42 am UTC (link)

It felt very right to be in physical contact with her, even as simply as they were, it just made him happier, more comfortable. He was quite pleased with how things seemed to be going so far. She seemed to be enjoying herself, and that's all that mattered to him. He was even more glad when she didn't pull her foot away from his leg too, gave him a nice boost of confidence.

He smiled. "Of course you get a say. I'm not going to force you into anything that would bore you or be generally unenjoyable. But I like playing things by ear," he paused, assuming she would automatically think that was an ear joke, which he guessed it was, though it was a happy accident at that. "And for the record, if I was motivated enough, I've no doubt I could pick you up and throw you over my shoulder. The only reason I might not be able to is because I have a feeling you'll squirm, which makes it harder."

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spinrightround
2012-01-03 05:51 am UTC (link)

She was about to argue about the squirming, but the waiter arrived with their appetisers. She squeezed George's hand so he wouldn't feel he had to let it go, as she didn't mind the display of affection in front of complete strangers. She only let it go to pick up her fork to spear up one of the garlic butter-soaked, cheese encrusted pieces of heaven.

Though as her hand let him go, her foot sought out further contact, rubbing softly against his calf, as if reminding him that she was still there.

"Well, I don't know how much we actually got accomplished on Saturday, but at least the meeting was entertaining," she said after tasting her first snail, wanting to keep the conversation going.

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prankstrinchief
2012-01-03 06:08 am UTC (link)

He was glad she didn't let go of his hand when the waiter came back, even though he eventually had to let go so they could both eat, but then she started rubbing her foot against his leg, so he was less upset about it really. He was really kind of surprised they were here, in this particular moment, he wouldn't have guessed even a few days ago he'd manage to get her out on a date, but he wasn't complaining at all.

He watched her eat one of her snails and shook his head with a little smile, but didn't say anything. "You mean the DA meeting? Yea, if you call your little brother going postal on some poor bloke entertaining, then it was a riot. Honestly, I don't know what has gotten into his head, I mean, I know things are shite for him right now, but punching a friend in the middle of a bunch of other friends seems a little bit off the deep end." Of course, then things had gotten even more interesting the next morning at the Burrow, but he'd hold off on that conversation for the time being.

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spinrightround
2012-01-03 06:20 am UTC (link)

"Hey, give him a bit of a break," she chided gently with a look that bade him no ill-will for his sentiments on the matter. "He's still hurting, and is acting out. Ernie'd been talking about protecting Hermione - maybe that set him off somehow, like him thinking how he couldn't protect Harry."

Her foot slid to the back of his calf to rub in a soothing manner.

"And he did send that apology, after all. He's hot-headed, you know that. Hopefully he'll get over it a little over time, but until then, he's still young, still a Gryffindor."

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prankstrinchief
2012-01-04 01:36 am UTC (link)

George nodded, surpressing a sigh. He knew how protective Ron was of Hermione, especially after Harry dying, and he guessed he'd be just as protective if it was Ally. But it still bothered him. "I know that she's a weak spot for him, but when Fred died, I didn't go taking it out on anyone, and I can be just as much of a hot head as he can, it's a red head thing," he smiled, feeling perfectly comfortable talking to Ally about Fred and everything going on strangely enough. "I just wish he'd think once in a while, he's got that head for a reason, he just doesn't seem to like using it."

He did appreciate the way she rubbed his leg, it did make him feel better. "I guess Ron's always been like that though, more than the rest of us. Well, Ginny is like that too, maybe it has something to do with being the youngest two of the family." he laughed a little. "Merlin knows they were the targets for all the rest of us, whether we were pestering them or blaming things on them. But that's just character building!"

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spinrightround
2012-01-04 01:48 am UTC (link)

"Ron, a head for reason?" She didn't want to laugh, but she couldn't hold it in. "Strategy, yeah, but reason? I can't see it myself. I always thought that's why they kept Hermione around. Though the thing about the red hair? I'll consider myself warned, not that I didn't already have a clue." She smiled to let him know she was teasing.

She twirled a snail into the butter and cheese as he spoke, eating it carefully before replying. "Maybe. I don't really know what it's like to grow up with siblings, so I wouldn't have a clue. But I do know that everyone grieves in their own way. Plus, he and Harry, and Hermione of course, went through things that nobody else did, no matter how close they are."

She shrugged helplessly. "But then, what do I know. I've only lost friends. Others have lost so much more."

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prankstrinchief
2012-01-04 02:27 am UTC (link)

He laughed too. "He is bloody brilliant when it comes to strategy things. Don't tell him I said so, but yea I'm fairly certain Hermione was the brains of that group for a reason. I know she's helped me out more than a few times too, she's almost freakishly smart." he shook his head, not really capable of understanding how that was possible, but grateful since as he had said, she'd helped him out a number of times. He gave her a little wicked smile. "Yea, red heads are fiesty in many ways." He winked.

George nodded, agreeing with everything she said. His way of grieving had been disappearing from the world and never intending to rejoin it. He was glad, especially at this particular moment, that he hadn't followed through on that plan. "Yea, I'm fairly certain no one wants to imagine what they went through together that last year. I know none of them ever talk about it. Maybe they do with each other, but I don't think anyone else could come close to understanding. Things were supposed to be better now, you know? After the war everything was supposed to be good." He took a long swig of the wine and looked across to her.

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spinrightround
2012-01-04 02:41 am UTC (link)

"Your secret is safe with me," she promised with a wink. She also couldn't help the blush from staining her cheeks at the thought of just how 'fiesty' he might be. Though she could be rather 'fiesty' in her own right.

She put down her fork, having already finished her appetizer. "We all thought so. But then, I guess our parents thought so after the last war, and our elders after Grindelwald was taken out." She reached out for her own glass, but instead of picking it up, she stroked along the upper rim with her index finger as her mind churned in thought.

"Maybe things will never be completely 'good', and we just have to find as much good as we can, day to day. That, and keep fighting." She nervously chewed her bottom lip before speaking again. "But then, I don't know what else to do. This- this isn't something we can fight with a wand, or a fist, or a bludger. I don't even know why some of us were targeted while others weren't."

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prankstrinchief
2012-01-04 02:56 am UTC (link)

He smiled in response, and was amused by the blush that painted her cheeks, so maybe he did have some effect on her after all. It was a good sign to say the least.

"Well at least they had a much longer period between their wars than we did. I mean, five years is not that long, and really for me it's been two, I don't count those first three. And they still had their heroes from those battles. Ours was just taken from us, I feel like that's going to shake the world's confidence a bit, especially since everyone still remembers the war all too well."

He remembered then what she'd said at the meeting the other night, about the spot and the nightmares. He reached across again and took her hand, giving her a sympathetic look, realizing this must be more traumatizing for her than it was for him, and wishing he could shoulder that burden for her. "Whatever this is, we're going to figure it out, and it's going to be ok. We'll find a way to get the world back to a more normal state. Like you said, it's been done before, once by us, we can do it again." he offered her an encouraging smile and a squeeze to the hand.

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spinrightround
2012-01-04 03:05 am UTC (link)

"One of ours," she corrected. "Yes, Harry did so much, but so did others. You and that radio broadcast, Neville and Ginny at Hogwarts. I bet even some at the Ministry tried rebelling in their own way. Not all of them are bad."

She squeezed his hand back and tried to shake off the maudlin thoughts, though it was hard considering she'd had a nightmare the night before. Thinking about it, she was tempted to ask him to spend the night with her, if only to have someone to be there when she woke up. She wouldn't though. If she had him over, it would be for other reasons.

"If anyone can do it, our friends can. But, please, let's talk about something else? I don't want such a nice evening to go to waste over this." Her eyes pled with him as the waiter approached, removing the dishes from their first course and replacing them with their entrees. Thankfully, he spoke little and left quickly.

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prankstrinchief
2012-01-04 03:22 am UTC (link)

George nodded. "While I agree, he was only one of many, he's the one everyone knows about. Especially those who weren't involved, I doubt they heard many if any other names mentioned. I'm just saying, as a world issue, the blow may be bigger than we now realize. But like I said, I think given the people we do have with us still, we stand a decent if not excelent chance at figuring this out and beating it. We're just going to need a few new heroes I guess." It was a strange thing to think about really, and the fact that in the seven years that Harry was at school, Voldemort couldn't kill him, no matter how hard and how many times he tried, and then someone just walks up and ends his life, it was a sobering and terrifying thought in the least.

"You're right, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring it up, it's a bad dinner conversation. How was your night out with the girls after the meeting? Angie said you were all going for drinks or something?" That seemed like a safe conversation. In his experience, girls generally liked talking about their nights out and spending time with other girlfriends. It seemed like a good direction to shoot in.

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spinrightround, 2012-01-04 03:30 am UTC

prankstrinchief, 2012-01-04 03:42 am UTC

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prankstrinchief, 2012-01-04 04:23 am UTC

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