RP: Kicking Back After Work

[tt_alicia]

Date: 25. April 2002
Characters: Alicia Spinnet, Lisa Turpin, Remus Lupin and OPEN
Setting: The World’s End
Content: Worksafe
Status: Open: Public


…and then she needed to tighten the stitch juuuuuuust. With a sigh, Alicia watched how suture easily ripped through the fragile skin of her grape number she-stopped-counting-after-the-first-bowl. After Doctor Sloan had given her the task of suturing up a cut grape yesterday, she had spent her free time trying to make that happen, her goal being to learn suturing without leaving horrible scars behind without using magic. By the time she had left the Med Center yesterday, she had reached a point where she could sew the grape back together, though it would still shift when it was picked up. Today’s goal was to fill that lack in her skill-set.

Annoyed, she popped the massacred grape in her mouth, wincing when her tongue registered the sutures she had conveniently forgotten about. With a sigh, she spit the fruit into the rubbish bin, and sliced another grape in half.

It had been a very slow day, and about an hour – and several injured grapes– later Alicia had tied the final knot, slowly sitting up straight and with a small gasp noticed that the grape in front of her now had been sutured together with eight perfect stitches, tight enough to keep it from shifting yet without tearing the skin. That had earned her an approving nod from the older doctor, who had tossed an orange at her – which she had easily caught, much to his amusement – and had informed her that tomorrow she would be working on her running subticular stitches.

Sending Viktor a message that she was going to the pub and that he was welcome to join her when and if he could, she packed up her things, changed out of her scrubs and carefully carried the sutured grape with her across the Settlement Center to the pub. Gently she set it down in front of her and ordered celebratory plate of chips and an ice tea.

Comments

[tt_lisa]

"Doing alright; turns out running a pub is a lot harder when you're a muggle," she joked, "You're over at the med center, right? Ginny said it's been a madhouse over there, though! How are you dealing?"

Lisa nodded and smirked in agreement about Paul. "Some of the families that come in mumbled about him, but I keep them in line. And him, it helps," she laughed.

At Alicia's point about the hangovers Lisa cocked her head and put a hand on her hip, "You know, come to think of it, I could make a killing getting people drunk Saturday nights and selling them hangover remedies in the morning," and laughed again.

[tt_alicia]

“Oh, I can imagine. I’ve always prided myself at not being dependent on magic, but wow. That’s one illusion that’s been thoroughly broken,” Alicia sympathized, before she nodded. “It’s… yeah, it’s a bit of a mad house over there, mainly because we’ve had to bring in extra Muggle doctors to make up for the lack in the treatments we’re providing. I mean, sure, we’re all being trained in Muggle techniques, but that’s a matter of seven months of practice for the Healers that’s been here the longest.” With a slight roll of her eyes, she shrugged regretfully. “So we do what we can with potions and the things we’ve learned like… tests, for instance, and work our bums off trying to pick up new skills to keep from being stuck doing pregnancy tests for however long this solar flare storm whatever will last.” Yes, Alicia felt rather incapacitated, a feeling she had never dealt well with; her success with the grape was a result of her trying to get past that feeling. “On a more positive side, it makes it easier to not take a whole lot of extra shifts, which is nice, for a change.”

Dipping a chip in her tartar sauce, Alicia considered Lisa’s suggestion. “Better yet,” she mused, “you could make a hangover special brunch. Serve up the works of grease and fries complete with a virgin bloody Mary and a hangover potion… or a couple of Aspirins for the Muggle crowd. That way they’ll be staying longer than just to get potion and then go back home.”

[tt_lisa]

Lisa listened closely to Alicia's description of things at the med center, her eyes wide. Shaking her head she admitted after, "I'm a Ravenclaw, and nearly every word of that went over my head." She chuckled. "I bet you guys are learning a lot, though, and from the looks of your lunch companion," she indicated the grape on the bar, "you're very good."

When Alicia suggested a hangover brunch Lisa lit up. "That's brilliant! And I know off the top of my head a few fellows who would be in nearly every weekend for it. James Potter has made this his brunch spot even without any hangover potions in the bloody marys." She smiled to herself thinking that she had 'regulars' and quite liked it.

"So, other than everything at work, without magic and all this drama, how are you liking life here? I always knew who you were in school - hard to miss one of best Chasing trio in the history of House teams," she laughed, "But how are you adjusting?" It was in Lisa's nature to make new friends and to honestly want to know how people were feeling... Despite her bookishness and brains, it came to her sometimes that she might have been born to be a barmaid.

[tt_alicia]

Lisa’s comment had Alicia laughing. “You Ravenclaws…” she giggled. “Nigel, my Ravenclaw brother, it just killed him that I knew and understood things he didn’t.” Then she held up her hand. “You know other things, though. I mean, I couldn’t ever run a pub for the simple reason that inventory and book-keeping, that’s just… Not me.” Then again, she had never bought into the belief that Ravenclaws were smarter than Gryffindors or that Hufflepuffs were weaker than Slytherins; she simply saw it as different ways of approaching the same subjects. And then there was the fact that Lisa, despite claiming that she hadn’t understood what she had just said, yet nevertheless complimented her sutures simply had her chuckling and nod at her as thanks.

“Thank you, thank you, I have my moments,” she chuckled at Lisa’s assessment of her suggestion. “If I was one to have hangovers, I’d go for it, but I think I’ll settle for your regular brunch instead” Picking up another chip, she swirled it a couple of times through the tartar sauce as she considered Lisa’s question. The mention of the trio she had been part of made her lips twitch into a wistful smile. “Oh, I knew you too, well, that you were Ravenclaw at least,” she started before she shrugged and ate her chip. “I’m missing my old friends and loving the new ones I’ve made here. I’m no longer burying myself in work, which is an improvement, I think, so… yeah. How about you?” She gestured to the place around them. “More plans for this place or do you have something else entirely in mind?”

[tt_lisa]

"Oh, well, we're starting a community garden, for one! I know a lot of people are growing their own stuff, and I won't be selling anything from it - don't want to compete with the Market of course... But yes, people will be able to come and take what they like and we'll use the fresh herbs and food here in the Pub, too." Whenever Lisa was asked about her business, she couldn't help but get outright bubbly.

"Adrian Pucey has offered to help out with it, he's a brilliant gardener, if the herbs he's been bringing around say anything for his talents. And I'd love to have a second floor put on for lodging sometime, too, I live out back but with the settlements expanding and people traveling to see family and the like between them, it just sort of makes sense, right?"

[tt_alicia]

“Really?” Alicia’s eyebrows shot up, her smile broadening into a grin mimicking the change in Lisa’s demeanor. “That’s a great idea! It’ll be perfect for all those things you don’t need enough to keep a full patch growing, but still can’t do without.” Still considering all the possibilities, Alicia washed down her latest chip with the rest of her ice tea and pushed it towards Lisa. “Can I have another, please? Maybe with an umbrella or something to make it look not quite as innocent?” Batting her eyelashes she sent the other witch and all too sweet smile. “Thank you!”

Picking up her grape, Alicia rolled it – gently – between her fingers. “I didn’t know Pucey gardened,” she mused aloud. “That he makes some of the best Potions, yes, though I’ll never admit to having said that, but that he actually could grow things too?” Slowly she shook her head, put down the grape and went back to her chips. “Seeing as how we’ve no Knight Bus here or even regular cabs for the Muggles, lodging could be for some of those in need of your new hangover brunches.”

[tt_lisa]

"Exactly! Honestly though, it was Pucey's idea!" Lisa's excitement was palpable. She nodded at Alicia and grabbed the empty glass, turning to make the new drink as she continued talking.

"And please, don't admit to Adrian that you like his work, I'm pretty sure he'd take out on an ad on our datapads or something, bloke's got an ego to rival even Potter's. But yes, I guess even a Slytherin potionsmaster can get his hands dirty sometimes. I'm clueless about things like that, so I was grateful he brought it up." She chattered as she handed Alicia her new drink.

"Oh taxis, I'd love if they brought those around, think there are any plans to?" It was funny for Lisa, to think of all the things they would make like here 'permanent'.