RP: A Friendly Pint

[shh_ernie]

Date: 5 July 2005
Character(s): Ernie Macmillan, Wayne Hopkins
Location: Five Alarm
Status: Private
Summary: Ernie and Wayne have a pint. Completely without any ulterior motives.
Completion: Complete

Comments

[shh_wayne]

"It's north on Alpha, past the market. It's an old Muggle private school, it looks like. There's some damage, but, thankfully, nothing so major that it'll take months to fix. Davies figures it'll be renovated and ready to open by the end of the month or early August

[shh_ernie]

"Lavender Brown is quite good at teaching healing charms. I had to learn some as part of my training," Ernie offered. "Not that Luna isn't good. Just another possibility."

He listened as Wayne described the other things he'd like for the community centre to do. "Daycare?" he muttered to himself. "Never even thought about that." But what else would they do? Eleanor wouldn't close up the store, especially if it were successful. And he wasn't planning on quitting his job. Perhaps he should talk to her about that. Not that they were planning on having a family anytime soon. He cleared his throat and focused on Wayne again. "Er...that all sounds quite interesting. While I no longer have much in the way of money," he gave a sheepish smile, "I'd be willing to help out in other ways."

[shh_wayne]

"Lavender Brown? All right. I'll remember her when it comes time for that, in case Luna is too busy. She's working on a committee to get funds for the hospital, I think."

He laughed. "Yeah, it's been interesting dealing with a job that basically doesn't pay anything at all right now. I'm good for awhile, fortunately, but it definitely makes for a change."

"After they're done with the renovations, there'll be a lot of work still to do, with painting and all that shite. I'll be asking for that help then, I'm sure."

[shh_ernie]

"Have you spoken to someone in the Ministry? Not that they necessarily pay a lot, but I do get meal vouchers. Which come in handy. And if they can't pay you, are they at least contributing to the centre? Or perhaps you can get a grant. The Musical Club has a grant to buy instruments, I think." He shook his head. "This is your idea. You've likely thought of all of these things. I didn't mean to...er...take over."

When Wayne mentioned painting, Ernie smiled. "Now that is something with which I can help. Elle and I painted her entire shop." He'd finally gotten around to painting the office. "I'd be glad to help."

[shh_wayne]

He nodded. "Yeah, that was one of the first things we did. Spoke to them and the town council, since it's a community centre for the whole British wizarding community but it's located here, so both were consulted. There's a little money available, so it's a good start."

"Great. Painting is a bore, but if we can get a few volunteers to help, it'll go faster. It's not a huge property, like the museum, but there's several rooms and levels, so it's quite enough to keep us busy."

[shh_ernie]

The server came with their meals and Ernie ate several forkfuls of stew before setting his fork in his bowl and sitting back to consider Wayne. "Smith? You're really mates? He hasn't put you under any spell, has he?" He half-smiled to show that he was joking, well, half-joking anyway. He trusted both Eleanor and Wayne which made him think that perhaps there was something to Smith that he wasn't seeing. And he didn't like looking foolish.

[shh_wayne]

The food arrived, so he tucked in. When Ernie mentioned Zach, again, he arched a brow. "You know, to dislike the bloke, you sure think about him a lot," he remarked. "Yes, we're really mates, and there's been no magic used. How's the stew?"

[shh_ernie]

"The stew is fine." He ate a bit more. "And it's not that I'm thinking of him so much as I'm thinking of you." He shook his head. "That's not precisely what I mean. It's just...well, I trust Eleanor obviously. And you and I have a lot...in common. Which makes me think that perhaps I'm being foolish about the Smith situation." He ducked his head down. "That's all," he finished. Feeling rather inarticulate about the entire thing, he dug into his food again.

"I went bowling the other week. With Kingsley and Ron Weasley. Was complete rubbish at it, but it was fun. Have you ever been?" he asked by way of a subject change.

[shh_wayne]

"I'd never call you a fool," he said simply. "But maybe you're holding on to childish rivalries and not giving him a chance now that we're a lot older and have all been through a war." He shrugged. "Or maybe you're both arses, so you can't get along."

He ate part of his fish and took a drink of his pint before he grinned. "Bowling? Really? Bloody hell, that must have been brilliant. I've been before, but not in years."

[shh_ernie]

The last thing Ernie wanted was to think on whether he was being an arse. He was fairly certain he'd come up short on that one. So he declared, to himself, that the rest of the evening would be a Smith-free zone.

"There's a bowling...alley, I think it's called, in Exeter. We should go sometime. And Ron took us to this brilliant pizza place. Even the peppers, mushrooms, sausage...and pineapple pizza tasted good. Had ourselves a real boys' night out...food, beer, bowling, and talking about birds."

[shh_wayne]

"That sounds great. The lanes and the pizza. Been ages since I had that sort of night out. Might be fun," he said.

"Pineapple pizza? Can't say that I've ever had that, but it sounds interesting. We'll definitely have to go sometime."