RP: Coffee

[tt_lavender]

Who: Lavender Brown, Dempster Wiggleswade
When: March 26th, 2002 (morning)
Where: The World's End
What: Coffee between colleagues?
Rating: PG?
Open/Closed: Open: Public

It was just coffee. Maybe even a bite to eat, Lavender thought, warming to the idea of a piece of hot, buttered toast before she went out to the Portal for her security shift. There were a handful of Quidditch players due through today, and any other time she might have been looking forward to the prospect of processing a group like that. But the fact of the matter was that she'd spent far longer on her appearance this morning than she normally would before a shift. Lavender wasn't fooling herself, either. She was putting in the effort for Demp.

During the storm, she had worried about him more than she had about anyone else. Lavender knew he worked a great deal and had been struck with images of him offering to do some sort of dangerous job out in the elements. Her relief at knowing he'd been safe had only been eclipsed by her delight at him asking her to meet him for a coffee.

Lavender arrived at The World's End with anxiety gnawing at her. Maybe she was reading the situation all wrong. Perhaps all Demp wanted was coffee with a coworker and friend. But Lavender wasn't sure that was what she wanted. She wasn't sure what she wanted at all, actually. Which was her main problem these days. Unless, of course, you counted the way that she felt decidedly squirmy inside when she saw Dempster already sitting at a table waiting for her.

Comments

[tt_dempster]

Demp's shift had - thankfully - been a quiet one. He'd even had a moment to take out his datapad and get some reading done on the legal system in the new settlements, he was particularly interested in the new systems set up thanks to magical outness. As the sun had risen he'd headed to the command center to take a quick shower and threw on his usual day wear - shorts and a tank top - usually being one to apparate to the edge of the market, stop and grab whatever he might be needing, and then jog the rest of the way home to relax his body post-shift.

He'd gotten to the pub a little earlier than he planned, but looked up with a smile when Lavender entered. It was still empty save for them and grumbling, pre-tea Paul in the back, but he'd already ordered a pot of coffee for them so hopefully Paul would keep his grumpiness to himself. There was something about seeing Lavender that just made Demp feel lighter, despite the strangeness - and if he were being honest, the totally inappropriate nature - of their friendship. He'd meant when he'd said that he admired her, her dedication, her drive, and her attitude were all incredible qualities to find in anyone, let alone a witch of her young age. And it didn't help him any that she was certifiably gorgeous in that perfect, young hot way. Of course, when he thought of her that way he would remember Sandra and think of how she would laugh at him, old man crushing on a 21 year old. Thinking of his ex-girlfriend and all that he'd put her through was usually enough to take his mind off of Lavender, but not this morning as she walked to him. She looked particularly pretty this morning, as if she'd tried, but then he remembered the Quidditch teams were coming through today, so of course she had.

He stood as she reached him and leaned down to give her a quick, friendly kiss on the cheek and a squeeze of her arm. "Evening," he smiled to her with a tip of his head.

[tt_lavender]

"Hi," Lavender said softly as he kissed her in greeting, smiling widely enough to make the scars on her cheek crinkle. "It's good to see you." And it was. There were awkward nerves, yes, but also a part of her that she realised was now wonderfully content now that she was near Demp. The feelings that had lingered after the love potion didn't seem to be going anywhere; it was frustrating and exciting at the same time, no matter how inappropriate anything between them might potentially be.

"Did you already order coffee?" she asked, noticing the pot as she took a seat. "Perfect." Lavender flashed him a grin and tucked her hair behind her ear. "How was work? Good shift"

[tt_dempster]

When she smiled, Demp found himself doing the same. She seemed quiet this morning, but he supposed it was early for anyone but him. Nodding, he said, "I hope you don't mind? Paul isn't exactly what I'd call a morning person, he hates having to come in this early, but Lisa works the lunch shift on her own so she makes him work breakfast." He explained.

"Shift was good, it's been quiet, you all are going to have the real work today though, all those young celebrities coming through," he chuckled deep in his chest indicating her specially handled hair.

[tt_lavender]

"No, I don't mind at all. I need a little something to pep me up." Lavender peered over at Paul. "I might even order some toast in a minute when he's stopped looking quite so grumpy." Her eyes sparkled with a sort of mischief. "Got to have breakfast, after all. Most important meal of the day."

Lavender wrinkled her nose as she started to pour herself a cup of coffee. "Yeah," she said, nodding. "I was checking the arrival schedule on my datapad before I left. "I hope they're nicer than players I met back on the other side when I was a Hit Wizard. They had a tendency to literally look over my head for my colleagues, assuming that I wasn't in charge." Lavender added a little sugar to her coffee. "Which I wasn't. But, still. Kind of insulting." She smiled wryly, pausing before taking a sip.

[tt_dempster]

Damp chuckled at her, "Paul doesn't get less grumpy, it's part of his charm," he sipped his coffee, "and Lisa keeps him in line but she doesn't wake up this early for the life of her." He waved for the grumbling muggle and smiled dazzlingly at him, "A spot of toast, please?" Paul simply nodded and headed back into the kitchen.

"I can't imagine anyone overlooking you," he said sincerely before coughing quickly into his cup and adding, "Plus you're a very commanding security witch," and he smiled over the brim at her, his eyes shining goofily.

[tt_lavender]

"I can hardly blame Lisa for not wanting an early start. She probably works more than even you." Lavender turned to give Paul a smile in thanks, but it was a little hard to concentrate on him when Dempster was smiling like that. Her cheeks turned a little pink as she looked at him. He was unfairly handsome for this time of the morning. But, obviously, far from the worst thing to wake up to.

Lavender bit her lip, holding back a laugh. "Thank you. I can be bossy when I need to be." It was hard not to let a giggle slip out, though, and she quickly took a sip of her coffee. "And you're very sweet."