RP: We'll need more than an umbrella today

[rar_terry]

Date: 15 August 1999
Characters: Terry Boot, Lisa Turpin
Location: Ministry of Magic, then the Pink Umbrella Cafe, Diagon Alley
Status: Private
Summary: Terry and Lisa go out to lunch.
Completion: Complete

Comments

[rar_lisa]

Lisa was grinning before she even looked up at Terry. Hell, she was grinning before he'd even come over to her desk, because she'd looked up and seen the clock. Taking half a second to scroll another line on her report--and to tone down the smile to office-appropriate brightness--she set down her quill and then looked up. "Yeah, I'm ready. You need anything? We're going to the Pink Umbrella." she added over her shoulder.

"Nancy food," Hardy grumbled, not looking up from his report. "Nah, you go have fun while I stay here and work. It won't reflect on your review. Much."

Lisa rolled her eyes at Terry, laughing, and grabbed her cloak and bag. "I'll bring you back a sandwich." Then to Terry she said, "Let's go. The floo is fine."

[rar_terry]

Terry watched in amusement as Lisa's mentor, Mr Hardy, mumbled something to her as she made to leave for lunch. He met her eyeroll with just a flash of a grin. Hardy was a pip, as Terry's Muggle grandfather would say; he was glad he'd got Sibley, who was a bit more mellow, as his mentor.

"Sounds great," he said as Lisa joined him. They took a lift to the Atrium and made their way to the Floos, where they waited in a short queue. Stepping into the first available one, he said, "The Pink Umbrella Cafe" and found himself, a moment later, in the Floo of that establishment. A moment later Lisa joined him. Looking round the cafe, he saw a small table available near the entrance. "That one okay? At least it's not right next to the front door."

[rar_lisa]

They waited in the queue for the floo, then Lisa followed him through to the Pink Umbrella. It was pretty busy, which wasn't surprising for the time of day. Terry indicated an empty table, and she nodded. "Yeah, it's fine. So long as we're not getting pelted with rain every time the door opens, I'm good."

They sat down, and Lisa pulled a menu over to her, but didn't look at it yet, watching Terry instead. It was good to get away for lunch, and even better to get away with him. "So Sibley's got you filing today, yeah? Hardy's been grumbling over that same bloody report he's been trying to finish all week. You know, that crazy case we had on Monday?" She shook her head, rolling her eyes a little. "I may come hide out at the filing cabinets with you just to get away from the grousing a bit."

She was pretty used to it by now, but on slow days like today it could get old. Perhaps bringing him some food would help, she thought as she looked down at the menu.

[rar_terry]

When they'd sat down at the table he'd suggested, Terry took a minute to study the menu. "Sibley's always got me filing, if there's nothing else to do," he said with a shrug. "That crazy case in Chipping Sodbury, yeah? That's practically in my parents' back yard." Not really, but the town was quite close to Bristol, and he'd been a tad envious that Lisa and Hardy had drawn that case, while he and Sibley had to deal a problem up in Leeds.

"Hide out in the filing cabinets, yeah?" He couldn't help a smirk. "Could get up to a bit of mischief back there, Lise."

[rar_lisa]

"Oh yeah, it is pretty close, isn't it?" Lisa mused. Then she shook her head. "You'd think people would learn to properly research spells before trying them. I mean, really. I didn't think we'd ever get that bloke's house to stop singing. Muggle neighbourhood, too. Had to call in the Obliviators and everything...for the third time in the last year." She stopped, flashing him a sheepish grin. "But then, I've told you all that already, haven't I? Well, anyway, Hardy's still mired in the paperwork."

She nudged him with the toe of her shoe. "I've no idea what you're talking about, Mr. Boot. When I hide out at the file cabinets it's so I can get extra work done."

[rar_terry]

"It's amazing how much trouble people can get into due to plain ignorance, y'know?" He shook his head in disbelief. "Seems like a lot of the cases we go on are people who never got trained to control their magic." He'd heard that Hogwarts was open to any witch or wizard whose name was in the book; some chose not to attend, and he was learning just how much trouble those folks could get into. "You already told me, yeah, but I don't mind hearing again."

He nudged her foot in return. "Certainly, Miss Turpin." As much as he might want to pull Lisa aside in the dimly lit room that housed the squad's case files, he'd barely missed having a run-in with higher authorities when he and Katie were both interning at the Ministry. The last thing he needed was to get caught snogging Lisa, his co-worker, on Ministry time.

A server came up and asked if they were ready to order. "Ladies first," he said, wondering what Lisa would order.

[rar_lisa]

"Not sure why anyone wouldn't want to get trained. Then again, I guess not everyone has the right support for it." Lisa frowned a bit, thinking of how Angelina's family apparently was. Then she pushed the thought aside and poked him lightly. "You lot that are born into it have no excuse, though. And this bloke was definitely born into. Had all sorts of family paintings in the front hall that did nothing but complain about the singing. It certainly wasn't my fault that the house was so far off pitch."

She smiled beatifically. "Besides, it's not as if I could actually get away with half the things I could imagine, so it's probably best to save that for after hours, yeah?"

The waiter came, and Lisa ordered tomato soup and a half cheese sandwich. It was simple, but the bread was much better than what she got at the market, and that made all the difference. And soup was always good for rainy days like this one.

[rar_terry]

"No, you probably couldn't," he said with amusement, "but feel free to continue to imagine them. Then you can test your ideas...after hours."

Terry ordered a half sandwich of ham and swiss cheese and a cup of bean soup. It seemed Lisa had the same idea, to eat something that would warm them up on such an ugly day.

"So how goes the planning for the big beach party?" he asked.

[rar_lisa]

"Hmm, you might be onto something there, Mr. Boot," she said, nudging him lightly with her shoulder.

Once they'd both ordered their food, Terry asked about the beach party and she rolled her eyes a bit. "It's ridiculous, honestly. Not that I don't appreciate it, and I'm really looking forward to it, but how many bags of crisps can we possibly eat?" She paused, then laughed. "No wait, Corner's coming. I rescind that comment. Colleen is just making a much bigger deal than I would have." She shrugged.

"But it's going to be great, I think. Assuming the weather cooperates." Lisa glanced out the front window, practically glaring at the rain. Then she thought of something and grinned, leaning her shoulder into his. "Bought a new swimsuit for it."

[rar_terry]

"Well, if Corner's coming, you'll be lucky if you have any food left, no matter how much Colleen bought," Terry said with a laugh. "Though I reckon he's not the only bloke who could eat his own weight in food."

He nodded about the weather. "That's always the big if, right?" he said. "We'll just have to hope it's a nice day." Since Muggles would be attending too, there was no way Lisa or any of her friends could use magic to lessen the impact of any bad weather. When she mentioned a new swimsuit, his face brightened. "Don't suppose you'd model it for me before then?" he asked cheekily.

[rar_lisa]

"You can put away your fair share before he decimates it, I'm sure," she teased.

"If the weather's bad, I guess we can cancel the outdoor party and keep a smaller group around at the beach house. Beck's wedding reception was there--it's quite nice." Terry asked about her swimsuit, and Lisa grinned. "I'd say 'yes, gladly' except that I'm fairly sure this is one of those things where I'm supposed to make you wait, lest it ruin the surprise."

[rar_terry]

Terry grinned. "I'll see what I can do. Can't let Corner eat everything, yeah?"

He hoped the weather would cooperate. "Maybe 'm being selfish, but I hope you don't have to cancel," he said, smiling as the server brought their orders to the table. "Because if you're going to make me wait more than two weeks to see you in that new swimsuit, it would be too cruel to have to cancel the whole reason for wearing it."

The server raised an eyebrow at Terry's remark but wisely said nothing. Maybe she was hoping for a bigger tip.

[rar_lisa]

"I don't think you're the only one being selfish here," Lisa said, giggling a little at the server's expression. Once the woman had gone, she looked over at Terry, grinning. "Besides I'm sure I can find an excuse to wear it even if the weather's bad."

The soup smelled really good, and she spooned out a bite, relaxing back in her chair.

[rar_terry]

Terry liked the sound of that. "As long as I get to see you in it before anyone else does, 'm fine with that," he said, squeezing her hand lgihtly.

He was quite hungry now and took a bite of his sandwich while his soup cooled a bit.

[rar_lisa]

"Well, it's a bit too late for that, since I went shopping with Tracey. I think she's seen me in half the swimsuits in London," she said with a slight eye roll. Not really, but it had sure seemed like she'd tried on a million just to find two. Lisa pulled his hand up and kissed the back of it, smiling at him. "Think you could settle for second this time? I'm sure I could make it up to you somehow."

She'd eaten here before, but it tasted especially good today. Perhaps it had a bit to do with the company. "Is the bean soup good?" she asked. "I almost got that one, but the tomato just goes too well with cheese sandwiches."

[rar_terry]

"Lucky Tracey," Terry said, his tongue tracing his lower lip as he imagined himself accompanying Lisa as she tried on swimsuits. He suspected she wouldn't tell him whether or not she'd bought another bikini. It seemed she was determined to surprise him at the beach party. Lisa kissing his hand took Terry by surprise. It was a much more public display of affection than he usually saw from her, and he answered it by squeezing her knee under the table.

"The bean soup is very good," he said, dipping his spoon into the cup of soup to offer some to Lisa. "Here, have a taste, if you want."