Having concluded the final part of a rather lucrative business transaction (all completely legal, of course, because who in the world would be silly enough to conduct talks of an illegal nature in broad daylight? obviously an absurd idea!), Geoffrey happily stowed away his (in his opinion, at least) hard earned Galleons and rose. He had been intending to leave (perhaps find Nita and see if she'd sorted out her employment woes yet, and complain about his own some more), when he spotted a familiar face across the room.
Striding over, Geoffrey collapsed in the seat across from Lenore, his face a mask of despair. "Hey," he said mournfully. Maybe if he played up his unfortunate circumstances, the Unspeakable would find it in her heart to try and cheer him up, either by buying him a drink or possibly in other, even more pleasant manners.
Somehow the appearance of Geoffrey here didn't surprise her. Lenore took a drink as he flopped into the chair as though this happened every night.
"You really are stalking me," she said lightly, setting her glass down with a thunk as it hit the wood. A glance at the man made her smile. In fact, Lenore worked to hold back a laugh. "I would ask what has you looking so pathetic but word has it you've taken a job at Hogwarts."
She smirked. "You haven't even started yet. It can't be that bad."
"Am not. You just have excellent taste in watering holes in that you keep choosing places I'm already at," he shot back, unable to resist despite his need to maintain a dismal air.
"And it is that bad. Putting aside the primary problem, which is that I will be stuck in one place for an extended period of time - really, it's like clipping a bird's wings, complete cruelty - were you aware of the fact that most of the student population at Hogwarts is, for lack of a better word, disgustingly beautiful? And that they're all off-limits to authority figures, which I'll be." It suddenly hit him again, and Geoffrey gulped.
"And you didn't think of any of this when you applied? Or accepted?" She tried not to think too deeply on the temptation of all of those very underage students around Geoffrey. Geoffrey of all people, mind you. Lenore shook her head. "You realize you dug this hole yourself." Oh, there was no way she was going to let him off of this one. It was priceless.
"I'm surprised Dumbledore took you in at all. Or is he hoping to keep a closer eye on you?" she speculated.
Geoffrey was not terribly surprised to learn that Lenore was less than pleased with her work, currently. After all, Nita of all people was considering quiting her job, and while he realized that the Ministry wasn't the same as the Daily Prophet, the way things had been going lately, they might as well be. Still, something to keep in mind. Maybe he should try and milk Howell for information the next time he saw him. Not that his brother was generally very forthcoming about his work, but there was a first time for everything, right?
He perked up significantly when Lenore mentioned the Ashworths, though he was careful not to show his interest. "Ashworths? I might've heard a thing or two," he admitted casually, sipping his Firewhiskey. "What kind of letter did you get?" Best to know whether she was being given an offer or offered a threat before admitting to too much.
A 'thing or two' from Geoffrey probably meant it depended on who was asking. Lenore settled comfortably back in her chair, balancing her drink in her lap as she kicked a leg up onto a free chair again. "Apparently," she said, being careful with her phrasing, "they're looking to recruit someone tutor a problem niece. At least that was the gist of the letter," she said skeptically. "I'm inclined to think the unspoken implication is that she's slipped free of their grip and they want someone to chase, be ditched, and follow under her around under the guise of chaperoning." Lenore paused and thought over again how strange a request it was; especially from an apparently well connected family she had never dealt with before. Her interest was piqued, for sure. How and why had they tracked her down, of all people? Still.
"It's interesting," she admitted, "but I'm not a baby sitter." Connections though, didn't make themselves. It was something to think about, anyway.
"Well..." Geoffrey said slowly, "there are various several you should consider when looking at something like this. First off, realize that if this niece has been able to slip the grasp of the Ashworths, she's probably absolute genius. Might not necessarily be good genius, but genius nonetheless. And that means you could probably learn as much from her as she can from you. Secondly, you have to realize that Ashworths tend to keep their problems internal. If they've approached you, it's either because they want to size you up, or because they want a specialist, and they feel you're the kind of specialist they need." Or you've got in the way somehow and they want to dispose of you discretely, he added mentally. He wasn't going to tell Lenore that, however - the chances that she'd pissed off the Ashworths to that degree were slim, and really. If they wanted her gone, there really wasn't much that could be done about it
( ... )
Lenore raised a cigarette to her lips and glared before lighting it. "You're supposed to back me up, here," she informed him. "It's all your fault that I get this way." In the sort of way that it completely wasn't his fault. Lenore and Geoffrey were, however, a dangerous combination when they were both on their teasing game. She rather liked it.
Exhaling a contented a contented air of smoke, Lenore leaned back and toyed with her glass. "Maybe I'll have to start trying harder."
Geoffrey watched longingly as Lenore lit up. God, he hadn't smoked in ages, it seemed - had had to give it up when Gillichu had gotten up on his moral high horse about the whole thing and cracked down on Amaury smoking (which apparently meant that Geoffrey couldn't smoke either, though he thought it dreadfully unfair). "Those things'll kill you," he pointed out, unable to disguise the edge of want in his voice, "or so my nephew tells me."
"It's all your fault that I get this way."
"Excuse me? My fault? Oi, you were like this long before I ever met you, Geoffrey insisted. "And trying harder could only do you good."
"Something has to," Lenore returned in an unconcerned tone. If it was one of her varied vices that ended things, she was content to know that at least she would die without regretting it. Getting killed pointlessly was Lenore's concern. Besides, there was a lot to be said for potions, tonics, and wizard healing in general.
Mostly she just wanted to get by without anyone telling her what to do.
Geoffrey's longing look and tone didn't go unnoticed and she smirked. Such a blessing not to be a role model. She took another drag with deliberate care before answering to the rest.
"And trying harder could only do you good."
Lenore smiled. "Probably," and here she paused to lean into the table as she exhaled, "but it's far less fun, don't you think?"
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Striding over, Geoffrey collapsed in the seat across from Lenore, his face a mask of despair. "Hey," he said mournfully. Maybe if he played up his unfortunate circumstances, the Unspeakable would find it in her heart to try and cheer him up, either by buying him a drink or possibly in other, even more pleasant manners.
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"You really are stalking me," she said lightly, setting her glass down with a thunk as it hit the wood. A glance at the man made her smile. In fact, Lenore worked to hold back a laugh. "I would ask what has you looking so pathetic but word has it you've taken a job at Hogwarts."
She smirked. "You haven't even started yet. It can't be that bad."
Reply
"And it is that bad. Putting aside the primary problem, which is that I will be stuck in one place for an extended period of time - really, it's like clipping a bird's wings, complete cruelty - were you aware of the fact that most of the student population at Hogwarts is, for lack of a better word, disgustingly beautiful? And that they're all off-limits to authority figures, which I'll be." It suddenly hit him again, and Geoffrey gulped.
"Hell, I'm going to be an authority figure."
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"And you didn't think of any of this when you applied? Or accepted?" She tried not to think too deeply on the temptation of all of those very underage students around Geoffrey. Geoffrey of all people, mind you. Lenore shook her head. "You realize you dug this hole yourself." Oh, there was no way she was going to let him off of this one. It was priceless.
"I'm surprised Dumbledore took you in at all. Or is he hoping to keep a closer eye on you?" she speculated.
Reply
He perked up significantly when Lenore mentioned the Ashworths, though he was careful not to show his interest. "Ashworths? I might've heard a thing or two," he admitted casually, sipping his Firewhiskey. "What kind of letter did you get?" Best to know whether she was being given an offer or offered a threat before admitting to too much.
Reply
"It's interesting," she admitted, "but I'm not a baby sitter." Connections though, didn't make themselves. It was something to think about, anyway.
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Exhaling a contented a contented air of smoke, Lenore leaned back and toyed with her glass. "Maybe I'll have to start trying harder."
Reply
"It's all your fault that I get this way."
"Excuse me? My fault? Oi, you were like this long before I ever met you, Geoffrey insisted. "And trying harder could only do you good."
Reply
Mostly she just wanted to get by without anyone telling her what to do.
Geoffrey's longing look and tone didn't go unnoticed and she smirked. Such a blessing not to be a role model. She took another drag with deliberate care before answering to the rest.
"And trying harder could only do you good."
Lenore smiled. "Probably," and here she paused to lean into the table as she exhaled, "but it's far less fun, don't you think?"
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Callum returned with a full bottle and three fresh shot glasses. He plucked the cigarette from Lenore's fingers and took a drag.
"Ah," he sighed, "it's so nice to be with adults." Grinning he returned the cancer stick to her and filled the glasses. "Cheers!"
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