Who: Roger Davies and Cho Chang When: Friday, August 25th Where: Roger's Office What: Cho comes to check in. Rating: Low Status: Partially logged, continued in comments.
Between her job, her new obligations to her inlaws, and her marriage Cho's social life was suffering. She barely had time to grab a bite to eat with Anthony and she hadn't seen Roger in what felt like years. But around three o'clock that afternoon, Cho found herself miraculously caught up on everything. She stared at her desk for a long moment and debated getting started on something due in a few weeks, but instead decided to take a much needed and well deserved early day. Leaving with a smile on her face, Cho popped over to Roger's office. No one ever expected to see Cho before the end of business so she knew she'd surprise him. Before she headed inside though, Cho quickly ducked into a cafe and grabbed them both a coffee and some scones. If she knew any better, Roger hadn't taken more than a moment to eat all day.
Walking into his office without being announced, Cho set their food and drinks on his desk and took a seat on top of the gleaming wooden surface. "Pop quiz! When's the last time you left your office before eight at night?"
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Roger couldn't say he lacked for a social life; it just tended to exist on weekends and late at night, once he finally decided to leave work. It seemed all the rage for young professionals to spend most of their time on the job. The pay certainly didn't hurt, and he had aspirations, after all. Making good impressions and putting in extra effort would go a long way toward achieving those goals. He wasn't expecting Cho, and so knocked over the stand that held his quills when she burst into his office. His expression transitioned from surprise to a pleased smile, and he sat back in his chair, taking in both his visitor and the food she'd brought.
"Will I get better marks if I say last week, or last year?"
He laughed, and gestured at the food. "You're an angel. I'm surprised my stomach isn't trying to tell you so itself." It felt like ages since he'd seen Cho around, though he knew she was busy with having a life.
"Hey. Aren't you usually at work this time of day?"
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"I am usually at work during all times of the day, but today I finished early and realized there was no one else in the world I'd rather spend my time with," Cho replied with an overly sweet smile and saccharine tone. She managed to hold it for all of three seconds before laughing and shaking her head. "Actually, I just realized I hadn't seen you in awhile and you're one of my least annoying friends. Plus Cor is still at practice and since the sun is still in the sky I can only assume Anthony is asleep. Nora has... all of that going on and that leaves you. Aren't you lucky?"
Taking a swig from her cup, Cho peered down at Roger's desk, her curiosity getting the best of her. "Are you working on anything remotely interesting? Because it has to be better than payroll which is what I spent my day trying to wrangle back into some sense of order."
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About halfway through the three seconds Cho held her smile, Roger snorted in a very undignified manner and slapped one palm against his desk as he devolved into laughter. "I do feel privileged," he agreed. "Especially that I'm one of your least annoying friends, even if I am fourth on that list you just rattled off." He was only teasing. They'd been friends for a long time. She was in a different place in her life, however. Married, working in the sport they both enjoyed. Roger wasn't sure he'd ever do the family thing unless it was for convenience purposes.
"This week?" Roger shifted some papers around on his desk so that she might see clearer. "A case involving a wizard who tried to smuggle in a lethifold, of all things. He'll be spending more than a few years paying for it if I have any say." The man was an absolute idiot, trying to bring a deadly creature into Britain.
"How's married life?
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Shrugging his shoulders, Cho answered Roger honestly. "It's good and bad," she said. "We fight a lot, but mostly because we're so different. And we make up just as quickly. He makes me really happy, but it's been a really big adjustment. Sometimes I'm not sure I made the right decision, but then he smiles at me and I can't imagine being with anyone else. We're talking about starting a family though. Adopting. Because there's no way I'm going try and give birth to anything, let alone the offspring of a giant like Cormac."
Cho nibbled on her scone and wondered for the four hundredth time if she'd made the right decision. Marrying Cormac was the first impulsive thing she'd ever done and every day she second guessed herself a dozen times. But deep down she knew how much he loved her and if he could love someone as difficult as her, well. She could love him back.
"How about you? Any pretty ladies knocking down the door these days? Mari is still single," she teased, knowing full well that Mari would give Roger nothing but a headache.
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It was hard to even imagine being married. They were all still quite young, and wizards lived a long time. Sure, Roger had dated, and dated plenty in school. There'd been nothing very serious, though. Still, he was happy if she was happy. And she sounded like she was. He laughed and then shuddered at the idea of first a tiny Cormac followed by the very idea of giving birth. Some days, Roger was very glad to be a man. He tugged one of the coffees and a scone closer to him and started to pick at the food. The coffee held a lot more draw for him.
"I haven't seen Marietta in ages. But no, no one's beating down the door. There've been a few dates for social things, but nothing significant." He shrugged, much as Cho had done moments earlier. "No wedding bells in my near future."
Finally he took a large drink of the coffee, mmm-ing at the rich taste. "Although I think I'd marry you for this coffee." Roger grinned up at Cho.
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"Don't worry, she's still off making enemies and telling the world how much better she is than them," Cho said with a laugh. She loved her best friend dearly and was never going to look down on her for being a bitch. Especially not when Cho was just as much of one. "But, should I be trying to find you a sweet girl to shower with affection? Cormac has a sister, you know. She's... sweet." And loud. Merlin his entire family was so loud. Cho didn't know if she'd ever be use to it.
Laughing as he drank his coffee, Cho winked at her friend. "Sorry, love, I'm taken. But if Witch Weekly turns out to be right and my marriage fails, I know how to get you to propose, yeah?"