Comments | outside_leaky: RP: business

prefect_penny in outside_leaky

RP: business

Jun 25, 2006 13:34

Date: 25 June 2001
Characters: Penelope, Theodore
Status: Private
Summary: Theodore joins Penelope for tea and discussion
Completion: Complete!

Happy that he had settled on Sunday because next week was looking to be more and more stressful, Penny had gotten the water for their tea ready and set out her own choice of white tea, not knowing what ( Read more... )

penny, theo

Comments 62

nottanaddict June 25 2006, 23:38:55 UTC

Theo slept a bit late the morning after Terrence's much-anticipated return to Blighty, unsurprisingly, and missed eating before it was time to go. Still, he wasn't much fussed about looking prim for a Muggleborn, as she probably didn't give a fig about formal robes and tall boots and such. So, reticent as he'd been to kick his arse out the door, he settled for pulling on Terrence's denims and tshirt so he could keep him close to him somehow while they were apart.

Theo showed up at a quarter past noon just as he'd said, finding her flat easily enough and taking the lift up to the second floor. He stood outside Penelope's door for a few moments deliberating, still uncertain about revealing his secrets to her. Hopefully things would go more smoothly without Luna's feelings to worry over...

Assuming an expression of pleasant interest to cover up the insecurity, he knocked twice and then leaned against the wall beside the doorframe to wait.

prefect_penny June 26 2006, 00:06:22 UTC

Hearing the knock on the door, Penny got up and walked over, her curiosity on what he needed her help with growing with every step. Opening the door, Penny took a deep breath and tried to stay composed. That was a horribly tight-fitting shirt, and some terribly low jeans. Shaking her head at herself, she looked smiled at him. "Come on in. What kind of tea do you like? I'm assuming tea is all right with you? Oh, and feel free to sit down wherever," she added, heading into the small kitchenette and opening her tea cabinet.

nottanaddict June 26 2006, 00:33:41 UTC

"Tea's brilliant," Theo murmured, looking around curiously as he followed her inside ( ... )

prefect_penny June 26 2006, 02:20:52 UTC

Looking through her cabinet, she bit her lip, not sure whether she still had some... "You're in luck," she called out, "I have one bag left of the Darjeeling." Putting the filled tea egg into the hot water, she looked around the corner at him. "Milk and sugar?"

Finally she came out of the kitchen with both their teas and set them down onto the coffee table and seating herself next to him. "It's probably a lot smaller than you're used to, but I'm afraid for now it'll have to do." Taking a sip, she looked back up at him. "So? I've been studying Wizarding curses for up to three months now. I'm pretty sure I've heard of whatever it seems to be plagueing you. What exactly is it that you're cursed with and why? Who started it and when? I'm more than eager to help; I find the topic fascinating. But of course you'll have to open up to me and tell me all the details..."

Thread 19

nottanaddict June 28 2006, 20:11:05 UTC

Theo tugged Penelope well into the centre of the aisle in hopes she wouldn't touch anything disinclined to her presence. Leading her deeper into the library, he willed the space to accordion and fold in, becoming smaller and allowing them to reach the back of it in only a few moments. Off to one side along the great expanse of neat mahogany panelling was the desk Terrence had appropriated, and grouped nearby were long tables laden with all the books, scrolls, and artifacts they'd found relating to the case... or almost. Theo suspected some of their finds were in Ter's office at PH&N HQ, but those things were likely too sensitive to show to Miss Clearwater yet anyway ( ... )

prefect_penny June 28 2006, 23:17:36 UTC

The place was changing as rapidly as Theodore seemed to, occasionally morphing to accomodate... he'd been rather uptight most of the time in her flat until they had left, opening up a bit on the ride, becoming serious again on the way upstairs into the library as well as through it, and then completely light-hearted again now that they had reached the back, where there was a desk located, filled with things, presumably research on the curse, she presumed. She'd taken a seat, feeling somewhat uneasy about the general presence. She loved the library, no doubt, but if she couldn't trust the place to like her... well, she blamed it on age-old discrimination, not Theodore ( ... )

nottanaddict June 28 2006, 23:43:03 UTC

Theo raised an eyebrow at her mentions of her mother, then began to mix her mojito with the finesse of the accomplished drunkard. He passed the glass to her and poured himself a hasty g&t, which he downed quite a bit more quickly than was gentlemanly before pouring another as he replied to her question ( ... )

prefect_penny June 29 2006, 19:33:31 UTC

"Mmm, very good," Penny commented after she'd taken a taste of the mojito, not missing the somewhat disturbing way he handled the knife. She nodded occasionally at what he was saying, even smiling at the sound of the carnival in Venice. She'd never been, but she'd always wanted to go, knowing it was quite an event. And judging from this 'penthouse,' she could only assume the size of his palazzo there.

She set her drink down and nodded at his question. "Certainly. Where is it undertaken? I completely believe you when you say that you've done plenty of research; after all, this is not a subject matter to be taken lightly, considering the time-crunch." Laughing slightly at his choice of words, Penny finished her drink a bit too quickly and nodded again. "It is my area of expertise, after all. I think I'll be one to enjoy myself thoroughly doing this sort of work."

Thread 20

nottanaddict July 2 2006, 20:37:55 UTC

"Forgiven. Still, as I'm a twenty-one year old bloke, shock is an inappropriate reaction, don't you think? Besides, I'm a junkie. Getting my fix always makes me a little... happy. And, of course, you'd been mucking with my pockets. It's all quite ordinary, isn't it?" He paused, rethinking what she'd just said. "You're not used to men -- what did you call it? -- 'spontaneously getting hard' around you? That sounds rather a dull life. If men didn't get spontaneously hard around me, I'd think there was summat wrong with me, Penelope. Besides, don't tell me you don't believe enthusiasm is a fortuitous element for any business relationship?"

prefect_penny July 3 2006, 00:12:01 UTC

"Right." Well, that made sense then. Trying to chose the right words for what she was about to say next, Penny paused for a moment, thinking. "It's... been a while, y'know? I spent a long time only working and not really maintaining a social life. I just got out of my hole recently, and... well, it really has been a while." Hell yes it had been a while. It had been eight years.

"Enthusiasm, yes..." Well, that wasn't something she called 'enthusiastic,' but she could live with that, certainly. She'd be lying if she'd be trying to tell herself that she wasn't attracted to Theodore. Or the fact that she could use the lay. It really had been long enough. "I don't mind, I really don't. And, well, I don't blame the men; there really isn't anything wrong with you. I just wasn't used to such spontaneous enthusiasm, is all." Really now, she felt somewhat awkward. Of course, this wasn't something that just happened to people randomly, but apparently she was the odd one in this situation. She really wasn't used to that.

nottanaddict July 3 2006, 00:18:35 UTC

Theo sensed Penelope's frustration and embarrassment, and while he'd not have felt awkward for himself, he felt awkward for her awkwardness. It seemed odd that she be so uncomfortable about such things; they were natural after all, and not the slightest bit unusual amongst those he kept company with. Perhaps it was one of those Muggle things.

"Have I made you uneasy? I do apologise. I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable, Penelope. Shall I make it up to you? We could..." Theo trailed off, not entirely certain what they could do to make things less tense. Then an idea occurred to him and he gave her a brilliant smile and finished, "...have some chocolate cheesecake with raspberry sauce? That always helps, doesn't it? This doesn't have to be all dull business, hmm? And I should hate for you to go home disliking me over something so stupid."

prefect_penny July 3 2006, 00:41:31 UTC

"Oh, no, that's not at all..." she had started to shake her head and reassure him that this wasn't the case, even if she wasn't used to this sort of thing... anymore... but then he mentioned cheesecake and her face lit up. "I love cheesecake! Yes, let's! Thank you..." then, with a smile, she added, "oh, I couldn't dislike you over something like this. You've been nothing but gentlemanly to me, really."

Still, that was no reason to go all silly over him. He had problems, right? Opium, alcohol... and yet... everyone had problems, even her. Like eight years of nothing. She really couldn't blame him. Hrmph.

Thread 20

nottanaddict July 4 2006, 22:32:19 UTC

"Mmm," Theo murmured thoughtfully.

Facial expression and body language completely unreadable except insofar as they indicated deep thought, he sat inscribing circles on her palm with his thumb as he considered his choices. He didn't really know her well enough to call her a friend; friend was an extremely meaningful title for him to bestow. She had not treated everyone as she treated him, and he wondered if it was something significant.

It should be significant, considering she'd known him on sight. No Muggleborn who'd any knowledge of current events of the past few years would be so friendly to him without ulterior motive. If it was only a shag or a fling she'd been after, she'd have chosen someone more suitable, wouldn't she? Surely there were men she could better focus her attention on, ones less likely to eat her heart ( ... )

prefect_penny July 4 2006, 22:59:51 UTC

Penny lowered her head, smiling out of embarrasment. She'd really hoped he would have said no, but no such luck. "The reason I'm so hesitant to tell is... well, you'll think me a fool once you find out, I'm sure of it. It's too simple, it really is ( ... )

nottanaddict July 4 2006, 23:46:51 UTC

"Oh dear ( ... )