Stopping in to say hello...

[prof_stargazer]

Date: Saturday August 11, 2001
Time: around noon
Location: The Imp's Inn, Edinburgh
Rating: PG
Characters Involved: Stella Sinistra, Caleb Moore, and Stephen Stebbins

Caleb and Stella had slept in this morning, having returned to Caleb's flat after the party at the Malfoy's.  When they finally managed to get out of bed, Caleb had offered to make

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[barmaid_matilda]

Matilda Murray preferred to check in on the pub midday. She had never understood how her elder brother had found the sort of person who frequented pubs an enjoyable type to be around every evening, and things around lunchtime were inevitably (and thankfully) quieter. She did enjoy it, in a way- her brother wouldn't have wanted it handed over to the highest bidder, and she did find Stephen to be a charming young man

[prof_stargazer]

As they entered the pub, Stella glanced around to see Stephen behind the bar, chatting with a woman. Stella smiled when she caught Stephen's eye, and led Caleb over to the bar to introduce the two Hufflepuffs.

Stella was thrown off, though, by Stephen's conversation partner not only introducing herself, but seeming to know exactly who Stella was! Trying to hide her surprise, Stella shook the woman - Matilda's hand, allowing herself to gather her thoughts before she spoke.

"I, ah, it's nice to meet you," Stella finally sputtered out, glancing back at Stephen, who was smiling. "Hello, Stephen, it's nice to see you. This is Caleb," Stella said, nodding back at him. "Caleb Moore."

She wasn't quite sure how she managed to get out introductions - having told Caleb that "I doubt we'll see anyone we'd know", and having a complete stranger know her name in a matter of seconds, Stella was feeling rather confused.

[wolf_caleb]

Caleb looked nervously at Stella, then back to the woman at the bar. He held out his hand and said, "Pleasure to meet you." He glanced at Stephen, and nodded. "Hello."

He recognized him of course. He was the man Stella had been talking to at the rally. The one who had inspired his nightmare. At least it had been a random man he had savaged in his dreams, and not actually Stephen. He wasn't sure how he would get through a polite conversation with someone he'd dreamed of murdering.

Caleb forced a smile, and shoved his hands into his pockets. "Nice place you have here," he said awkwardly.

[stebbinsthescot]

"Matilda here's the owner of this place," Stephen said by way of explanation. "Nice t' have ya, Caleb." As the two of them shook hands, he gave a quick wink and jerked his head in Matilda's direction. "Dinnae worry, she can be trusted. So what can I get you two?"

[barmaid_matilda]

She had wanted to introduce herself, but continuing to hang around when they were clearly Stephen's guests seemed a bit awkward. "I suppose I'll leave you to it," she said, keeping up that smile. She began gathering up her copy of the Prophet. Surely if they didn't mind her company they would say something.

[prof_stargazer]

Oh, she's the owner, Stella thought to herself, the introductions making a bit more sense now. Stella was appreciative of Stephen's comment that Matilda 'could be trusted', and felt herself relax a little.

"Oh, please don't leave on our account," Stella said, thinking it would be rude to let Stephen's boss just leave. She noticed the copy of The Prophet in Matilda's hand, and nodded towards it. "I have been so busy this week, I haven't gotten to glance at a paper at all. Anything interesting lately?" Stella knew that there had probably been some mention of the protest, but she'd been taking care of Caleb the next day, and it had just completely slipped her mind.

[wolf_caleb]

"Yeah, don't leave on our account," Caleb said, his smile a bit more genuine. "I mean, we don't want to keep you from anything, but you can stay."

He'd never admit it, but he didn't want it to just be Stephen, Stella and himself. The dream was still nagging at him, and he was afraid of saying or doing something that would embarrass Stella. The more people around the better.

[barmaid_matilda]

One who knew Matilda well enough would see her smile change as well, from somewhat businesslike to a more truly friendly one. She pursed her lips in thought at Stella's question. "Sort of a slow day, I think. The biggest news seems to be about the Malfoys' ball, which this lucky one got to attend," she grinned, and poked at the air in front of Stephen's chest. "Perk of being employed at Hogwarts. I'm just a lowly peon."

[stebbinsthescot]

Stephen rolled his eyes at Matilda's selling herself short. "She designs jewelry," he explained to Stella and Caleb, then turned back to his boss. "Which plenty of high-and-mighty rich types probably end up buyin', by the way." Then with a curious look he was back to Caleb. "What d'you do, then?"

[prof_stargazer]

"Oh, yes, I should have expected that," Stella smiled. "The society pages always love events like that. It really wasn't all that bad, was it?" Stella glanced at Caleb, then at Stephen. "Although, I'm surprised we didn't run into you, Stephen. Just different places at different times, I guess." There had been quite a crowd at the party- Stella knew she couldn't possibly have seen everyone there.

She was about to ask Matilda about the kind of jewelry she designed, but Stephen was already posing a question to Caleb, so Stella bit back her question, taking a moment to squeeze Caleb's hand as he answered.

[wolf_caleb]

Caleb interlaced his fingers with Stella's. "Well, I was a bit of a handy man for awhile, but I'm going to be starting a new job working for the Finnegans. Don't know exactly what I'll be doing, but it will pay the bills. "You're a Quidditch coach yeah? Sounds like a fun job."

[stebbinsthescot]

"Aye," he nodded when Caleb brought up his other job. "Kinda fell into it, actually, but I really enjoy it."

He'd been sizing Caleb up from the moment he first seen him: not in any malicious way, but a barman needed to know how to read people. Caleb seemed shy- or perhaps just insecure about himself- and extremely straight-laced. What other kind of person wore their shirt buttoned up to the top in the heat of summer?

He turned to Stella. "Would've liked t' see you at the ball, too. You could've met Kelly." Stephen was about to go on, but then he caught a pointed look from Matilda and gave a short laugh. "Sorry, but it seems I'm neglectin' an important part of my job. Can I get you anythin'?" he asked a second time. They hadn't answered the first, but maybe they hadn't heard him.

[wolf_caleb]

"Just a Butterbeer for me thanks. What'll you have lov- Stella?" Caleb asked, eyes widening briefly in panic at his slip up. Oh well, better it happened here amongst her friends than in public around people with less than good intentions.

[prof_stargazer]

Stella blushed a little at Caleb's slip- she supposed they had gotten so used to using it among themselves that it was difficult to adjust around other people. Still, she also couldn't help the grin that appeared on her face- it wasn't as if she hadn't clued Stephen in last week, after all.

"The same for me, thank you, Stephen," Stella replied, nodding.

This was nice, Stella decided. Being able to be out in public together with Caleb. The protest last week had been difficult, and the Ball last night nearly impossible- having to watch what they said, who was within earshot, calculating every movement. Today was a welcome change, indeed.

[stebbinsthescot]

Ignoring the 'slip-up', Stephen took a few steps to the right to fetch the drinks, and as he was doing so a new thought occurred to him. There was one other possibility when someone was dressed contrary to the weather: it could be a sign of someone who was hiding something. Like a Registry tag.

He didn't quite brush the thought aside, but rather stored it away as a possibility for future reference.

The drinks were set on the bar, and with a quick tap of Stephen's wand the caps flew off and into his free hand. "Two Butterbeers," he said automatically.

[barmaid_matilda]

Miranda had been a bit slow to recognize the name of Finnegan, so she tried to make up for it by showing extra enthusiasm. "The Finnegans! They run that new sporting pub in Diagon Alley, don't they? Well, congratulations. I'm sure that'll be wonderful."