Mackenzie Armstrong

If you think, even for one second, that I won’t stuff my face with pumpkin pasties tomorrow, then you are dead wrong. It’s one of my many talents, eating.

"So you are going then? I think I'm going to try to drag my siblings out to it, but I'll be lucky if I can convince them."

  Atticus breathed a silent sigh of relief at her suggestion. He could do with  the Three Broomsticks. He frequented it often when feelings became too much and he wanted something to dull them, to silence them. Nodding slightly too enthusiastically, the male let himself be steered in the direction of the bar thankful for both the fact that she hated his idea as much as he did (or so he assumed) and the fact that none of the students were out and about for the day. It wasn’t that he didn’t like teenagers and the younger pre-teens, he just hated talking to them. Whenever they came into the shop he worked at they’d treat him as if he was their Herbology textbook and could help with anything and everything they came to him with. Some recognised him from outside of the shop and would stop him on the street and that was the part he could stand the least.

She laughed and shook her head at his comment. There was certainly a time when that might have ended up being the case. The period right after her father's death it had been very rare that the girl would not have been found drunk or high, usually right along with her younger brother. Mackenzie was coping better now though, and usually only ever got that drunk if she had gone in planning on it. "Don't worry, my mind's more on food that it is on drink."

  She could tell from appearances they were similar, the Asher siblings. Beau smiled, taking a seat in a spare chair opposite Mackenzie’s desk. “I remember my internship, I think they always are. I spent a long time translating things, it seemed like they preferred to use me instead of the paid translator for a long while.” She pushed a loose hair off her face, adding, “Rosalind is impressed with your progress here, we were looking to have you accompany us on a diplomatic venture. To Iceland.”

She chuckled and smiled back at the Minister, and giving her a small nod. "That sounds about right. Between things like that and coffee fetching, its refreshing to get to do things that realistically represent the job." Mackenzie felt her hands grip in her lap beneath her desk at a sudden rush of nerves. There were high expectations of her because of her brother, and apparently she was meeting them more than she expected. She only hoped she could keep it up. "I'm glad to hear it, I've definitely been trying my best." She nodded. "Yes, she told me. I'm honestly really excited for it. Certainly a change of pace from office work. It's actually that and my brother that have me contemplating the Aurors Office for my next rotation."

  In all honesty, Atticus hated the shop. The only mildly tolerable thing was the woman who ran the shop and even she grated on his nerves. She was peppy and lively and naive - a combination of things he could do without in life. Still, Atticus hadn’t really ever been on a date and certainly not with a girl. The only person he’d ever been with made all the plans. Elias took him places, but he hardly counted those trips as hard set dates. He didn’t really want to go to Madame Pudditfoot’s, it was just the only place that really made sense. Wasn’t it a date at least? Maybe it wasn’t. Perhaps he was over thinking everything. Again.

Yes. This was her window to get out of going to that damn shop without blatantly disapproving of his choice of restaurants. There were plenty of other places in Hogsmeade and frankly Madame Pudifoot's was the last one she would have chosen. Putting on a small grin, she shrugged her shoulders. "I don't care either way." She slipped her arm through his and used it to steer him away from the shop. "However I do feel like we might enjoy ourselves a bit better at the Three Broomsticks. Doesn't look like the Hogwarts students are out, and I could almost always go for drink." She smiled at him charmingly as they walked, not releasing his arm.

  After saying his goodbyes, Asher quickly returned to his work. The meeting with the entire office had gone surprisingly well, aside from the usual protests, and didn’t hold him up longer than expected. Everyone must’ve been stunned to see him take the rest of the night off, especially since he had been working well-over his scheduled time for no pay. He didn’t say much, but just grabbed his belongings to head home. ‘Imagine the surprise on Mackenzie’s face,’ he would remind himself the entire commute home. With his extreme track record for standing his family up, it would definitely be worth it to see a smile on her face.

Most of Mack's day had been filled with work as it usually was. As much as the young woman complained about her siblings being workaholics, in reality she wasn't all that much better. She was just a bit better about keeping some semblance of a schedule. Leaving the office right on time, she had some time to go home and get changed before heading to Asher's apartment. Even then it was still almost an hour wait until he would be getting back. Maki had tried to escape as predicted, but given her no other trouble. She took it upon herself to play with the energetic dog for a bit as she waited, but somehow the pair had both ended up settling down on Asher's couch. By the time he got home, both Mack and Maki were fast asleep, the dog with it's nose buried into Mack's neck.

  "I guess that I did say I needed food. Uhm, Madame Puddifoot’s is just across the way. If you at all like sweets that is."

Mackenzie never once showed it outwardly, but inside she was sighing with disappointment. While she was a fan of sweets the girl had always hated Madame Pudifoots. Far too much pink and hearts to the point where it even made the food less enjoyable for the eyesore. That and the only people that ever went in were typically Hogwarts couples on their Hogsmeade dates. Which brought something to mind.

  "I can do that."

"Now that's what I like to hear." She grinned and reached out for his hand to pull him from where he had taken a seat. "Anything you would prefer to eat?"

  "And if I want to have that conversation?"

"Then you have to come out to eat with me."

  "I think you’re mental."

"That's another discussion entirely, and has nothing to do with me liking you."

  "I’ve been told that I’m not very good company and I agree with the statement. I don’t know why you keep coming around me."

"Because I disagree. I find your company pretty enjoyable actually."

  Asher could see the complete and utter doubt in her expression. It made him feel bad for all the times he had stood her up. Determined to make this an exception, he fumbled in his pockets for his keys, and handed them off to her. “This one is the key to my apartment. You can meet me there. Don’t let Maki out, though. Sometimes, she tries to slip through the front door, and bolt for the weird lady at the end of the hall’s room. If that happens, don’t take any of the cookies said woman offers.” 

The doubt began to slip a bit from Mackenzie's eyes, and she couldn't help but crack a smile at Asher's instructions for his dog. Maki was so high energy, it was a wonder how a guy like Asher ever chose a dog like that. Reaching out she gladly took the key and gave him a nod. "Alright, I'll make sure she doesn't. I'll see you at six." The words sounded more hopeful than before as she gave him a small wave and made her way back out of the office to find some other plans for lunch.

  "Work." He replied automatically despite that not being the actual reason at all. "I’ll be fine." Came a soft reply as he squeezed his eyes shut and willed the ache in his head to subside and the sick feeling in his stomach to dissipate.

"No offense, but you look like shit. Come on, if nothing else come to keep me company."

  He waved her off, turning his head to look at the floor. “It’s just a stomach thing. I’m probably just tired. It’s happened before when I don’t eat and sleep enough.”

She pulled her hand bad looking less distressed, but still looked slightly concerned. "Maybe we should get you some food then," she offered. She shakes her head. "Why haven't you been eating or sleeping?"

  "I don’t know. I just - I just need to sit down. I’ll be fine."

She presses her hand to is forehead, to check for a fever. "What feels off?"

"No, I don’t - I don’t feel well. Just… I’m sorry, excuse me."

"Are you just sick? Or have you been exposed to any particularly weird plants? Should I be calling a medi-witch?"

  Asher could see the disappointment on her face. He had agreed to being there more often, but it was hard to let his work go. “Dinner?” He suggested in hopes to cheer her up. “I can technically clock out at four-thirty, if someone doesn’t reel me in to help with something. If all is well, I should be home around five-fifteen, and ready to go to dinner by six.”

She wanted to believe him, but a large part of her just expected to get a text later that night. First saying that he got held up. Then another saying that he wouldn't be making it. She tried to put on a smile, but it looked entirely forced and didn't make it to her eyes at all. "Yeah, sure. Dinner at six then."

So much for being there. "Fine. I'll just eat by myself like I always fucking do."