a drinking chat (ben/lizzie)

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For the most part, most people liked the weekends because it gave them some time to relax from work before having to go back. Of course, some people had to work on the weekends, so they weren’t given the same opportunities as those who were off. Elizabeth Quinn was one of those people, though her job could potentially have her working every single day of the week if she needed to. As the Editor in Chief of the Daily Prophet, she was always working and making sure that deadlines were met and the publication that she ran was printed and sent out as it was needed every single day. Of course, that didn’t mean she had to be in the office every single day. Naturally, she checked in every day, but she didn’t stay and actually work every day. She did during the week for sure, but the weekends she did half days, if only to give herself some time to herself.

Elizabeth wasn’t the sort of woman that needed much time off, or at least not for any specific reason aside from being stressed out from work and just the crap going on in the wizarding world. she didn’t have a family and didn’t spend a great amount of time with her friends. Deep down, she wished she still had her family around, both her parents and then also her late son and husband, but they were all gone now. she lost her mother when she was ten, her father when she was twenty-one, and then her husband and son both only four years ago, and she still had the scars on her own back to remind her, even though they were currently covered up by a tattoo. She didn’t show it to many people, even though some parts of it could be seen depending on certain outfits she wears when she has to attend a formal function, but she’d rather the tattoo show than the scars that it hides.

Lizzie had been at the office for a good few hours that Saturday and was now ready for a much needed drink. She could easily have gone into the Leaky Cauldron to get one, or even have gone home for one, but she didn’t feel like being anywhere near her job. Both the Leaky Cauldron and her home were both in London, and both not too far from her Diagon Alley office location so, instead, she decided to head on up to Scotland and to Hogsmeade for a drink. To any normal person, it might seem a bit out of her way since she lived and worked in London, but for a witch like her, it was as simple and easy as a slight flick of her wrist to apparate there and back. And with a pop, Lizzie left her office and appeared on the cobblestone streets of Hogsmeade. She could go to either The Three Broomsticks or the Hog’s Head, and she decided on the latter so she could see if her friend Ben was working.

Lizzie met when he first became a Hit Wizard, and had been involved with a case that had made the front page of the paper. He was nine years her junior, so it was only after they were both out of school and in the working world. she had been only recently made the Editor in Chief, but was still covering stories as well as working at a desk. In regards to Ben, however, she was actually checking up on some facts from the reporter that had interviewed him. from her questions, to make sure that the quotes were accurate, she found that the reporter had blundered a few facts and misquoted him once or twice. After that, Lizzie found that she started to see Ben more often than she ever noticed before, and they became acquaintances, and then, eventually, friends. They haven’t yet had any serious heart to hearts, but they know enough to be on friendly terms, though there was still plenty to learn about one another.

She pulled open the door and walked inside, letting her eyes scan the place to see if he was there. she caught sight of him just coming out from the back with a crate of either alcohol of some kind, or fresh glasses. Lizzie began to make her way over to the bar, her black boots clicking and clanking against the wooden floor as she did so. She nodded to him when he caught her eye and she slid into one of the bar stools that lined the bar front. "Why hello there, Mr. Hayes,” she said, even though they were far from formal with one another. She often spoke to people like that when she first came into contact with them, unless they were that close to her that she didn’t bother with such formalities. "I’m in the market for a drink and some good conversation,” she said as she pulled off her jacket and placed it on the empty stool next to her. "Can help me out?” she asked him as she folded her hands in front of her on the bar top.

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she is wearing this w/black pants instead, and black boots

It had been the weekend and Ben had woken up in a box of pizza, it wouldn't be the first time this had happened. First thing to come to mind was, where was his wallet, after that he'd try to map out his previous night. Ben pushed him from his leather chair and walked over into his bed room in search for his wallet. It wasn't that he was worried about the money, more along the lines of his hit wizard badge. If he had lost that, he'd didn't want to think of the hell he'd go through at the ministry trying to acquire a new one. His green eyes glanced around the room and there it was on his night stand. A sigh of relief and he was off and running to the shower. Ben had left the Hogshead drunk the night before, skipping clean up and what not. It was just one of those days he'd have to go in early and use a little magic. The warm water ran down his muscular physique, as he soaped himself up enjoying the feelings of simply being clean. After a rough night, a greasy breakfast and a hot shower was key.

Ben got out toweling off and walked to his kitchen, he scrambled around in the fridge to find nothing but liquor and instant coffee. Being a single male was always a pain. Ben could only imagine himself going grocery shopping. He'd be all caught up in the frozen food aisle with the cougar mothers. A smirk crept to his lips. Of course he had always been a pig a heart. Commit wasn't his strong suite, at least not now in life. Upon making his next decision, he just got dressed in his simple jeans and a black t-shirt. His leather jacket and he was by the fire place ready to go. Ben did a quick man check making sure he had not forgotten anything, before traveling to the Hogsmeade by the floo network. In the back of Honeydukes he made his way up to the counter grabbing a quick bar of chocolate. Ben shamelessly flirted with the young girl in the shop for a bit before he made his leave. The morning was going perfectly so far, with the exception of his empty stomach.

Ben would wing it, he'd make sure he had something to eat before he began work. On of the cooks would be in around noon and it was already ten in the morning. Not much longer now. he reminded himself walking up to the tavern. Ben slipped the key into the slot and walked in looking around at all the misplaced furniture, his jaw dropped as he looked around. "What a dump." Ben mumbled out loud pulling out his wand. He secured the door and waved his wand using the Scourgify charm to clean up fast. Ben watched the room clean it's self as he walked to put post putting on his bartender apron. This was going to be a long day and he could tell already. Ben walked over and cleaned the counter tops doing his rounds of inspection. He took the plastic wrap off the bottle tops and looked over his working area before he got his first set of customers. Mixing up some drinks, he started to get into the swing of his day.

Hours had past and it was being mid day. Saturday was a hectic day and he hadn't properly ate his lunch so he was becoming a bit cranky. Ben walked back and fourth and someone had ordered a bottle he was fresh out of up front. He explained he'd be right back, walking to the back room. Ben went to the freezer and grabbed a couple bottle walking out front and placed the bottle in front of the man. Out the corner of his eye he saw a familiar face. A smirk crept to his lips as he took the cash stuffing it in his apron. Ben puffed out his chest and walked over to the lovely Elizabeth Quinn as she addressed him by his last name. What? Was this Hogwarts? Everyone in the bar called him Ben so she didn't need to be proper. "Call me Ben, Mr. Hayes sounds old." He insisted leaning on the counter. It had been quite some time since he became acquainted with the women. She seemed very nice the first time the two had met. Only a light conversation was in play back then, and now he could change that.

"Of course I could help you out with a drink, it takes two for conversation though." He mused with a wink, he wasn't quite sure what to get her off the bat but if he remembered correctly she enjoyed red wine. "I got the perfect drink, for you to start with Ms. Quinn." Ben mused walking over to the small cooler grabbed a cold bottle of wine and a glass. He walked over placing the glass on a coaster, and proceeded to pull his cork screw out and open the bottle. "Did I hit the nail on the head?" He asked quirking a brow, with a hesitant smile. Ben poured her a glass of the fine liquid and leaned forward. "First rounds on the house." Ben mused licking his lips as he set the bottle in a marble holder. "So what new in the life of the great daily prophet editor Elizabeth Quinn? Any new juicy stories in the media?" Ben asked trying to make proper conversation and keep to his manners at least for now.

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She was sure that calling him by his surname, in such a formal manner, would take him by surprise, and his initial reaction to her doing so was rather priceless. Lizzie laughed when he told her to call him Ben because Mr. Hayes sounded too old for him, and she nodded her head in understanding of his request. She had to agree, even though she was called Ms. Quinn all the time, so it was usual for her to do the same. “Sorry, Ben. I’m just usually in formal mode and I forget to turn it off sometimes,” she admitted. “I’ll try not to do it again though,” she said with a playful wink of her eye. She knew that she’d have to remind herself to do that the next time she saw him, but they weren’t as acquainted with one another for her to not think about doing it informally from the start, yet.

She gave him a genuine smile when he told her that he’d be able to oblige her with a drink, though her eyebrows rose slightly when he told her that it took two to hold a conversation. “Well, then I hope you aren’t going to have me talking to myself,” she said playfully. Before she could order herself a drink, he told her that he had the perfect thing for her, calling her Ms. Quinn, as he went to uncork the bottle of wine he’d gotten from the cooler. “You did indeed, thank you, Ben,” she said as he began to pour the wine into the cup he placed in front of her and asked if he got it right, “but, please, you don’t have to call me Ms. Quinn. I’m not that old,” she said with a small smile, “you can call me Lizzie, or Elizabeth, whichever you prefer,” she told him.

“You’re too kind,” she said as she smiled at him when he told her that the first round was on the house. She had barely lifted up the glass to her lips when he asked her what was new in her life and if she had any new juicy stories she was working on. before she answered him, however, she took a sip from her glass and then set it back down on the coaster before her. “Nothing new and interesting for me, I’m afraid. I don’t do much besides work,” she admitted. “Sometimes, my workers think I work too much, but it’s not like I have much else to do with my time. I have few friends and no family, so there is only so much that can occupy my time that isn’t work related,” she admitted, though mentally kicking herself for allowing herself to get depressed for no reason. Well, she had a reason, but she didn’t need it to come out right now.

She then shook herself back to the moment and cleared her throat as she lifted her glass to her lips for another sip. “As far as the media goes, there is always something going on,” she said as she set the glass down. “Aside from the murder of Harry Potter and the suspicions that those who practice the dark arts are trying to make another rise to power, there is the dignitary’s ball that is going on next weekend that the Minister is throwing, and then just your everyday happenings,” she said as she twisted the glass around in hit’s place. “Are you going to the ball? I would think most of the Ministry workers would be invited. I’m going, but because the Minister wants me to report on it,” she said with a grin. “Perhaps I’ll see you there, if you’re not working here, that is,” she told him with a sweet smile.

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she is wearing this w/black pants instead, and black boots
wow, lots of talking there. lol. nudge me for changes