<.< Mac/Lenore Journal Thread :: Jan 23

[auror_mac]

Mac had left the office early for the first time in, well, ever. The invitation from Lenore hadn't been entirely suprising considering their discussion last night and he had to admit her claims at her cooking skills had piqued his curiosity. Not to mention that it hadn't been a great day, to say the least, and it had been awhile since Mac had let

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[lenore_grey]

She grinned at the alcohol. Mac did know how to brighten her day. "Why thank you," Lenore said, taking the bottle from him and closing the door. "Not feeling as though you need a few drinks to be comfortable around me are you?"

Lenore liked that she knew what to expect from Mac. They shared a certain understanding, more so perhaps since her birthday and everything that had happened. At first she'd been worried that he wouldn't be alright with it but he was no more inclined to make a big deal of things than she was. It was nice, because Lenore would have hated to have needed to be awkward around Mac. She didn't do awkward.

"Shall we crack into it right away or wait? I started a bit on dinner but I wasn't sure you'd show so it's not quite together," she commented, making her way into the kitchen and looking for glasses. Lenore had, in fact, spent the better part of the afternoon curled in her chair under a blanket. A bit of napping had been done, a little reading, and by and large a good deal of trying to just be cozy and shed her nerves. She couldn't be wholly unprepared for company though. Mac had sounded rather willing to visit so she'd made herself coffee and started on pasta.

[auror_mac]

Well, of course that wasn't it at all, and Mac laughed a little at the suggestion of it. "Quite the contrary, I assure you," he told her with a grin. "I just didn't want to shwo up empty-handed and I know few people who would appreciate it quite as much as who."

Muggle liquor, after all, wasn't appreciated quite so well by most wizards, so many of his associates would have just turned up their noses and declared it not so delightful as firewhiskey or any other number of wizarding drinks. Lenore, he knew, had retained an apppreciation for such things just as he had. Not to mention.. it was alcohol.

He nearly frowned as she mentioned not being sure he would show. Sure, he kept people intentionally at a distant, but that statement bothered him more than he would have liked. He pushed the thought away and smiled at her.

"A drink should start things off nicely," he agreed. "And I do believe you owe me a tour. It's only fair.."

[lenore_grey]

Lenore nodded as she poured their drinks. She wasn't in the mood to drink much today but she could hardly turn down Muggle alcohol. It would provide a convenient excuse for clinging to him later if she totally slipped up.

"A tour?" To be honest it had slipped her mind. She really was failing today. On any other occasion her mind would have instantly jumped from 'tour' to 'so this is the bedroom' but she was off her game. "You're absolutely right. Though, I'm not certain I actually got the official tour of your flat last time," she said, giving Mac a vaguely teasing look as she handed him his drink.

[auror_mac]

"Oh, you got at least half a tour," he countered pleasantly, grinning as he lifted his glass towards her in a toast.

"To not being at work for once," he offered.

Blowing off work like this was quite uncharacteristic for the both of them. But it was also something that was definitely called for.

[lenore_grey]

Half a tour indeed. Lenore smiled though, because she was quite happy to have him here. "To not being at work," she agreed. "Even if it is odd to see the light of day." Lenore sipped her tequila and cast her gaze around the room.

"Shall we then?" She pointed out the interesting bits, such as they were, as she lead Mac through her flat. The study was a bit of a mess but, well, it wasn't as though he hadn't seen her brand of organization in her office already. "And, the bedroom," she announced.

Lenore leaned against the door frame and realized now what she should have before, which was that she would like very much to get Mac into her bed. It wasn't even about the sex right now, which was kind of strange and disappointing. Unlike her, especially considering this was the first time Mac had been here. Seemed like she should be more persistent or something. Not that she wouldn't enjoy the sex, mind you. Just...bah.

She settled more fully against the wall and looked at him with an expression that was, for the moment at least, wholly open. Nothing was hidden, not her insecurity or worry or her need to have someone here with her now. The look didn't last long though because Lenore was made herself look away and raise her glass to take another drink. "And that's the flat," she said cheerfully.

[auror_mac]

Mac liked this flat, he decided. It was comfortable and lived in, though not untidy in a bad way. It was full of.. Lenore. There was no other explanation for it.

His gaze sweapt around the bedroom and when he caught her expression, he felt almost embarassed. As if he was bearing witness to something private or not quite meant for him. He kicked himself for thinking that way, for assuming that just because she didn't wear her emotions or insecurties on her sleeve didn't mean she didn't have them.

But he didn't want to dwell on that or force her to talk about it if she didn't want to, so he merely nodded and grinned as he took another drink.

"Quite nice," he told her approvingly.

[lenore_grey]

Right, she was being a drag. Lenore shoved it all off forcefully as she pushed away from the wall. "Why thank you," she said with some of her usual good humor. Lenore smirked and walked past him rather deliberately, looking over her should as she did so to add, "I'm glad you approve."

Her glass was empty by the time she made it back to the kitchen and she refilled, despite her assertion that she didn't need to drink any more. "I'll finish dinner right quick, if you want to sit down? Or stay and supervise? Either way."

[auror_mac]

Mac opted for supervising. Sitting alone while she finished cooking would be boring and he was rater interested in the whole cooking process.

And so he followed her into the kitchen, pausing to refill his own glass and not even thinking that he shouldn't be drinking or what inebriation could lead to.

"What are you making us anyway?" he wondered aloud, leaning casually against a wall in her kitchen - close enough to get a good look, but distant enough to keep out of her way.

[lenore_grey]

Lenore was glad he stayed and rewarded Mac with a smile as she got things going again. "Food," she teased. "Pasta to be more specific though if you want any more than that you'll just have to wait and see when it's done," she informed him.

There was salad already finished in the fridge and bread warming in the oven, if he was interested. That much Lenore had known would get eaten if she ended up spending the evening alone. She couldn't turn down good bread.

[auror_mac]

"Oh, you are a horrid tease, woman," he complained, though he was smiling as he watched her move about the kitcen. He made an exagerated show of sniffing as if to try and figure it out on his own.

"Whatever it is does smell good, though," he offered. It did smell good and his stomach rumbled a bit with anticipation.

[lenore_grey]

Lenore threw a towel at him playfully. "You like it," she accused. If he didn't, Merlin knew he'd have hexed her out of his office years ago.

"And it will be good. I promise." The remainder of the dinner went together rather quickly. Lenore had never gotten into the habit of using much magic for cooking. It seemed pretentious to over use charms when you could just as easily stir or carry something yourself. Cleaning, of course, was another matter entirely because no one wanted to spend time on that, but if she was going to bother cooking, Lenore rarely saw the point in shortcutting it.

When it was all finished, Lenore retrieved the necessary plates and utensils and set everything up at the table.

[auror_mac]

Mac caught the towel and tossed it back at her with a grin.

"I admit nothing," he told her with a light smirk.

He watched her as she finished the cooking, impressed that she was doing it all the Muggle way. He tended to do the same, but it wasn't the norm in the society they lived in and he couldn't help being pleased.

He followed her as she began to carry things to the table, grabbing one of two things himself to help her. After all, it was only polite.

[lenore_grey]

"Thank you." Lenore gave Mac a quietly appreciative look as he helped carry things over. She was still feeling off, but she felt better. Look at them having an almost normal evening. Who'd have thought?

Oh, I'm sure you can fix that if you really want to.

Lenore smirked at the thought and sat down now that they had drinks and food all settled. "Help yourself," she nodded. "I don't entertain nearly often enough to presume to serve you."

[auror_mac]

Mac did as instructed, helping himself to a respectable plateful of pasta and also taking a bit of the salad and bread. He made an exaggerated show of sniffing over the meal.

A moment later, he took the first bite, giving a little "mmm" of appreciation. The dinner was just as good as promised.

"Delicious!" he pronounced aloud before taking a second bite.

[lenore_grey]

Lenore smiled self consciously. "Thank you." It pleased her a little too much that he liked it, but she was probably just glad that Mac was here and enjoying himself. She didn't really want him to go anytime soon.

"Better than what you usually live off of? Or do you actually cook for yourself when there aren't women around to impress?" she asked teasingly.

[auror_mac]

Did Mac want to admit that he spent so much time at the Ministry that ninety percent of his meals came from that cafeteria? No, he most certainly did not. So instead he gave her a look of mock offense.

"Of course I cook for myself," he told her a bit haughtily before taking another bite. "And I don't need to coook to impress a woman..."

He paused and smirked.

"Though you're obviously admitting you were impressed."