A brandy, a fish, and some validation (invite Victoria)

The news flickering across the pages didn’t show the greatest global picture. Having just gotten back from the Italian tournament, Quinn was doing his best to catch up on what had happened over the last couple days. As per his own self creed during tournaments he shut out the world, and focused on only the task at hand, though afterwards it always seemed as though more things happened than possible.

Currently he stood out in the leaky cauldron. Wearing blue jeans and black boots, a flannel shirt with a light weight wind breaker, and a orange and black baseball hat, he looked distinctly muggle in a world of wizards. On the bar next to his half drank glass was a tackle box and leaning on the bar was a fishing pole. His plan was to go out for some stress relief, given the global disappear was nothing to his personal one.

Shortly after returning from Italy, very shortly given he attempted to go to wear he thought he lived, it had come to his attention his position had been eliminated. “Improper results” was the official reason, despite his absence not even being a noticeable one. He had taught classes, perhaps he could have been more involved, but straight to the boot had kicked him right in the teeth.

Taking the glass he took another sip of the dark amber liquid. Exhaling again, he started to talk to the bartender about it. Explaining the story in details that mostly spun his view in a positive light. Their conversation was one where party A was looking for validation, and party B wanted to sell more alcohol. This of course led to Party A Ie Quinn, feeing pretty good that he had been unfairly persecuted. That headmistress.....what a bitch.

It wasn’t her arrival that had brought attention, no instead it was her order. Sitting at a bar and ordering just an orange juice, what a peculiar way to start the day. At least for him it would have been, orange juice was merely a vessel for Champaign after all, specifically at this time of day.

Finishing his glass of amber liquor he would look over at the woman. She seemed to be engrossed in her work, flipping through a muggle phone. A folder ever present on the desk, undoubtedly containing a variety of “important” documents. “A mimosa..”. He would say waving down the bartender. Standing he would shimmy down several barstools to sit next to the newcomer.

“You forgot one of the ingredients to your drink.” He would say with a smile clinking his to hers as it sat on the bar. He would proceed to take a sip after his own toast. He wasn’t normally one to just approach someone at the bar, but he was deep into the glass, and his fishing trip was looking like it was going to be on hold, so might as well find something else to do.

“Quinn, nice to meet you.” He would say, trying to hide how much he had had. It wasn’t to bad, but the path ahead was beginning to be clear. “Working in something important?”

He considered her quandary with true attention. Vodka or Champaign, well that wasn’t a hard decision at all. “I’d say it depends on how the morning is going.” He would say taking a drink. “And of course how fancy you are feeling.” He would give another smile and continue to listen to her as she spoke.

He felt as though she was appraising him, which in his current state was just fine and dandy thank you very much. She had given her name, and then mentioned something about a client and a case. Which seemed terribly official and important. However before he had to much time to consider this she asked him a second question.

“Me, well enjoying the refreshments before I go fishing........though I may end up spending the day here and seeing what I can catch. Wrongfully terminated aye.” He would say raising his glass and gaining not only a meaningful if not exaggerated nod of agreement from the bartender but a free second glass. Though this was likely an investment for more glasses that certainly would not be free. “Don’t have much to do until I find something else after that.” He has had several to drink, so explaining all the details didn’t occur to him. After all, the barkeep knew the story so shouldn’t everyone?

“Cases and clients.....are you some kind of lawyer? Or maybe a detective, though not a very good one if you easily mention what your doing, unless your being so overt as to be covert.......very smart.” He would add considering it.

Laughing He would push his glass towards her as a second was placed in front of him back to the darkened whiskey. “Lawyer......I think you need this more than me.” He would say making a joke at her profession, compared to him that was much more of a grown up living. “To bad, detective wild make a much cooler business card.” He’d day giving a wink.

What do I do, he mulled over the question. He did several things at the moment, and probably needed to do a bit more. “Right now......waiting for the next gig.” He would say. That much was true. “I’m a duelist.....proffesionaly.” His hand moved the new glass stirring the liquid around to the brims, though his hand was sill steady enough that nothing was wasted. “Apart from that, I gave lessons for a bit, worked for Hogwarts until unfortunately that came to a close, and between tournaments I find odd jobs to keep me busy. Got something coming up soon actually, in Sweden.” He would finish moving on to the whiskey, the mimosa he had pushed near her seemingly forgotten.

“You in any specific part of law?” He would ask. “Favorite kind of client sort of thing?” He would say interested in what she might do. The prospect of working a “real job” had no appeal to him. His finances were constantly varied and changing but he had grown accustomed to it. Even when he had worked on the muggle fishing boat hauls determined pay and seasons were different.

He hadn’t missed that she had seemed interested in his wrongful termination comment, though the drink had caused it to lapse in his mind.

Laughing at her shock of his profession he merely took a drink. It wasn’t the first time people were surprised, however in the professional circuit such talk had ceased. It didn’t matter much to him if people believed it or not, in the end only result mattered.

“Going with the Runes Professor, he’s apparently got a job there, so hired me to make sure nothing happens to him I reckon.” He would continue, “first time in Sweden myself should be fun......at least I hope so, and profitable.”

Victoria began to explain her current situation. Mentioning law had been bad enough, but corporate law seemed even worse. It idea of understanding all that made his head swam more than the whiskey. He thought he had heard the worst of it, yet he girl continued to surprise him with her acknowledgment of her love for pro bono work, working for free.......now that made no sense.

“I’m not sure what there is to do chicka.” He would respond to her offer. In his mind things like this were closed deals. It was over so why look back into it, or that’s at least how he felt about it. “I mean it is what it is. You think you have the time and leave to go, travel to Italy, win a tournament and come back. Not my fault I got a little delayed with injury, but aperantly they think it is. Hogwarts must not be the high holy they make it out to be.” He’d say drinking again. His comments came because of the drink it was done off handed kind of manner.

As they spoke several customers came in, and the lunch rush must have been picking up. The chatter picked up as they say and talked.