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Tweak says, "There is no war in ba sing se"

Eleanor (eleanor_) wrote in unexpectedrpg,
@ 2008-07-08 21:10:00

Entry tags:

eleanor branstone, percy weasley

WHO: Percy Weasely and Eleanor Branstone
WHEN: Tuesday, June 24th
WHERE: Diagon Alley
WHAT: Random run in
RATING: E for everyone
STATUS: In progress

Eleanor didn't often come to Diagon Alley anymore, but today was one of these days. She needed to stock up on hangover potions. After doing that Eleanor strolled through the street, enjoying the sunshine and looking at the various shop windows. Today she was for once wearing a dress, but of course in her own way as always. An assortment of shopping bags in one hand and a coffee to go in the other one El really had no hand free to get out the sunglasses from her bag. Not that such a trivial thing would be a problem for her. Looking around she spotted a guy with red hair near the book store. Walking right up to him El smiled, thrusting the coffee and shopping bags into his hands.

"Hold that for a sec, will you?"

Humming softly to herself she rummaged through her bag, searching for one of the many pairs of sunglasses she owned.

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eleanor_
2008-07-08 03:10 pm UTC (link)

"Huh?" El looked briefly up when he spoke, squealing with delight when she finally found a pair glasses - star shaped red glasses, to be precise.

"Oh no, don't think you know me, mate. Do you?" She tilted her head to the side, studying him for a brief moment.

"Nope, don't know you. But I really like your glasses, you know?" El added as an afterthought, reaching out and taking Percy's glasses just to put them on herself.

"Wow, mate, your vision is fucking bad, is it? Though I bet I look bloody awesome with the glasses," She grinned, looking around curiously before she took them off and set them back on Percy's nose again.

"I'm El, by the way."

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weatherby
2008-07-08 03:29 pm UTC (link)

Though Percy wasn't the type who got accosted by strange women regularly, he did have an entire childhood surrounded by grabby, forward Weasleys to prepare him.

So he didn't instantly drop everything he now held and take back his glasses. He stood, tense, waiting, feeling the blush rising that meant he suspected he was being made fun of by this total stranger.

It wouldn't be the first time.

When she finally handed his glasses back, pushing the world into focus again, he blinked. "I can't say how you looked with them on. As you pointed out, I can't see without them." He spoke stiffly, unsure what was expected.

He might have held out a hand normally - that was what one did when someone introduced themselves. But his hands were full and he had the disconcerting feeling that came from not knowing how to react.

"Percy," he said finally, feeling the flush rising to his face. "Percy Weasley. Would you like your things back, or is there something I ought to be doing with them?"

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eleanor_
2008-07-08 03:37 pm UTC (link)

"Nice to meet you, Percy," El put on her sunglasses now, looking at him for a second before realisation dawned.

"Oh bollocks. You wouldn't have any use for them, mate." Taking her bags and coffee back she smirked at him. "Not that I would really need a bloody bra either, you know, kinda useless given my proportions, but need one for exercising still." El shrugged, taking a sip of coffee.

"So Mister Percy Weasley, what brings you to this very spot at this very day and at this very time?"

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weatherby
2008-07-08 03:55 pm UTC (link)

He blamed his complexion for the instand dark red flush that spread over his face. His eyes most definitely did not move beyond her face, to make any kind of judgement whatsoever on her need, or lack of, for undergarments.

With his hands free he had no idea what to do with them, and after a moment he slipped them into the pockets of his starched, carefully pressed robes. "I was reading," he said, nodding back at the shopfront behind him. "I'm due back at work."

He drew a breath and glanced down the road towards the side entrance to the Ministry of Magic, and he smiled faintly and made an admission he wouldn't normally make to a stranger. "And, I suppose, I'm trying to stall returning."

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eleanor_
2008-07-08 04:01 pm UTC (link)

"I see," El drawled, following Percy's glance. Now he was certainly not the kind of guy she normally hung out with, but right now she really wanted a drink and having drinks alone sucked.

"Well, Percy Weasley, you are a bloody lucky guy then because I happen to be the fucking queen of stalling returns." With a wink she finished her coffee and threw the empty beverage away, grabbing Percy's hand with her free one and dragging him off to the nearest pub.

"If anyone asks, just tell them I fucking kidnapped you."

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weatherby
2008-07-08 04:12 pm UTC (link)

"Excuse--" Percy was tugged off balance, and for a moment was too surprised to stop.

But stop he did, pulling her to a halt. "No. I mean...I am needed at work. I can't simply not return." He regarded her, the wild sunglasses and strange, brash manner. She reminded him, in an odd way, of his brotehrs. The twins at least, with their nature so spontaneous and so sure everyone else could simply be carried along in their wake.

It made him tense. "I am not the type to run off to pubs with strangers. I'm sure you'll have more fun with someone else."

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	eleanor_ 2008-07-08 04:18 pm UTC (link)
	"Jeez mate, I am no stranger. I'm El, you're Percy. See, no fucking strangers," El grinned, tugging at Percy's hand. "Bollocks. I didn't say you shouldn't return, but I am very sure that your work can wait for another fucking twenty minutes, so you can have a drink with me. Come oooon, I'll even try to behave," She added with a grin. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

weatherby
2008-07-08 04:50 pm UTC (link)

"Is this..." Percy pulled his hand from her grasp firmly. "Listen. El. I'm sure you're a nice person who is used to doing things like dragging people off for drinks in the middle of the afternoon. I am not."

Maybe it was because she reminded him of the twins - of George - but for some reason he felt rather off-center, like he was the butt of a joke he didn't understand.

Any other Weasley, he supposed, would rush off to have a drink with an unpredictable stranger. A girl, near his age, and attractive in a quirky way he didn't often see.

Any other man, maybe, might understand how to take advantage of the situation. Percy had no idea. Was this how people met, randomly on the road? Was he expected to go with her? Was he the one breaking rules by saying no?

His confusion showed in his face. "I'm sorry. I do appreciate the offer."

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eleanor_
2008-07-08 04:59 pm UTC (link)

El let Percy talk although she obviously didn't see where his problem was.

"Well, mate, you certainly seem like you need some more excitement in your life. So be bloody adventurous and come along. Like bloody hell I just want a beer right now and drinking on my own is fucking boring, you see? Looks like you could use a drink as well. I mean, I don't bloody care, if you want to go back to work and submit to boredom that's your decision," She shrugged.

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weatherby
2008-07-08 05:12 pm UTC (link)

Percy drew back, feeling his spine straighten as he regarded this odd woman. "With all due respect, Miss, I don't think you have any call to say what I may or may not need in my life."

It figured, though, really. He heard it from coworkers, from family. Every day there was someone around to tell Percy what was wrong with his life. Normally, of course, he simply nodded and stayed silent, wondering how any of them felt they could possibly know him well enough to judge.

But he was hurt, in some strange way, by this stranger on the street etlling him the same thing. As if it showed on his face.

He pushed his glasses up his nose and drew in a breath. "If you'll excuse me, I have work."

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eleanor_
2008-07-09 12:55 am UTC (link)

"Last time I looked I was allowed to say whatever the fuck I want because this is a free country. Or did I overlook another decree from the Ministry, forbidding that?" El huffed. Now this guy was way too complicated for her and that meant something. Normally she got along just fine with about any guy, but this seemed to be one of the few exceptions.

"Fine, go back to your fucking work then." Shrugging she turned around and entered the pub.

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weatherby
2008-07-09 11:07 am UTC (link)

Percy frowned after her. He couldn't help but feel wounded in a small way, like he had been entirely misunderstood.

He hesitated, standing there stiff in front of the pub she had dragged him to. His eyes went down the road, towards the Ministry, and he considered what was waiting for him there.

A moment later he pushed inside the pub, stiff and frowning - serious, after all, he wasn't there to have drinks - and he looked around to see where she had gone to.

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	eleanor_ 2008-07-10 01:41 am UTC (link)
	El was already sitting at the bar, grinning at the bartender and ordering a Guiness. When the man left to get it she pulled the rumpled script out of her bag, deciding that it couldn't hurt to go over the text once more, just to make sure. Besides, she didn't have anything better to do. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

weatherby
2008-07-10 01:33 pm UTC (link)

Percy moved up to the bar, looking around in hesitant curiosity - so these were the sort of people who drank at pubs during the day. He was rather surprised not to see more Ministry employees there. With their differing levels of incompetence more than a few of them came across as drunks.

He spotted his mystery girl easily, sitting at the bar by herself.

He drew in a breath and squared his shoulders, pushed his glasses up his nose, and walked over. He cleared his throat softly.

"I wish to apologize if I came across as rude."

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	eleanor_ 2008-07-10 02:11 pm UTC (link)
	Looking up from the script El raised an eyebrow when she spotted Percy sitting next to her. "What? Oh, no worries, mate. That's fine, if you don't want a freaking drink then you don't. I can just be a bit impatient at times," She grinned, taking a sip of her beer. (Reply to this) (Parent)

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