Young and A Menace

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Trusting wasn’t exactly a word that described Valentina Nott and she liked to think it was an advantage instead of an issue when you were living in a world at war, especially since she credited it with the fact she was still alive. There were a few people she trusted, of course, a couple that earned the title of found family, but strangers that sat next to her on a bench did not qualify, even if they did look vaguely familiar.

“I didn’t expect you to stay sitting no matter what your motivations.” People that weren’t tentative around her because of her last name usually decided distance was a good move after she snapped at them since most of Valentina’s acquaintances said that she was an acquired taste and the rest usually just admitted she wasn’t a pleasant person to be around.

Taking another bite of her cotton candy, Valentina flicked her eyes over her unexpected companion, taking in the scar and the ill-used skirt that more of the purebloods Valentina knew would declare marked the woman as cheap. Not as put together as she was acting, clearly, and Valentina went ‘hmph’ before turning her attention forward again. Either the woman could start threatening her or pull out a wand so they could fight, but unless she started something, Valentina fully intended to try ignoring her in favor of enjoying her cotton candy even if she wanted to point out that there were other places to sit, a fact that made her think the silence wouldn’t last.

.

Pip looked at the other as she spoke, but her face was just a mask of pleasant indifference to what the other seemed to want or not want. She wasn’t exactly trying to be annoying, after all, just more amused by the weirdness between the two. 

“It’s a pretty nice bench.” Pip said shrugging taking a bit of her popcorn and looking around at the park. It was pretty nice, and the shade was cooling her off better than if she was on another bench. She could see why the other had chose it, especially as she was an auror and you could see a lot of the park from this area. 

After a few moments. Pip held out her popcorn to her unwitting companion seeing if the other might want some of it. 

Of course she was right. Pip might’ve gotten the better of her this time, but Zara still knew what she was talking about.

“Yeah, I definitely need to eat something soon. Otherwise I might go a bit crazy.” After an intense work out like the one she’d just had, Zara craved something sanguine. However, she knew as long as Pippa was around there was almost no chance that an opportunity to feed would present itself. Zara could survive on regular food until she was home. She’d learned to mentally curb her hunger at Durmstrang.

“Did you want to grab something together?” If Pip did, Zara hoped she had a restaurant in mind. Though she could usually be the deciding factor in the tireless debate about where to go for dinner, that night, Zara’s mind drew a blank. She’d eaten food at several restaurants lately, but the names of all of them escape her right when she needed them. “Where were you thinking?”

Pip nodded at the statement stretching slightly and tapping at her own stomach. “Understandable. I’m pretty sure I could eat a horse - not literally. Is that a saying over here? And sure I know a Diner around here if that sounds good? They make good hamburgers and it’s the only place around here that will let you do them medium rare instead of making them into a hockey puck and they have good milkshakes.” 

With a nod from Zara, Pip started zipping towards the restaurant wondering out loud about the weather and other small things. Finally sliding into a booth she laughed and said “Sorry I’m just shooting the shit. Any of their milkshakes are good if you have a sweet tooth.” 

“Are you applying for that job instead? I’d take it. Offer it. Whatever.” Patrick said, not entirely sure how to phrase it and missing Hilda fiercely in that moment, the kind of sharp, slicing pain that left him holding his breath. He wanted to do well, wanted to make something out of this job so that he could prove something to her. Just exactly what he wanted to prove depended on the day.

“See, already working for me.” Patrick wondered if this meant he was already a drunken mess that needed to be babysat and he couldn’t decide if that made him feel annoyed, pathetic, or just grateful. Probably all three to some extent and Patrick sighed as he slouched against the bar, deciding that pathetic was likely the ruling emotion as Pippa insulted his booze.

“I’ll take it. I can’t afford to be prideful right now. I can’t -” His voice caught and Patrick scrubbed irritably at his face. “I can’t afford to fail at this.” It seemed infinitely important and increasingly improbable as the alcohol went to his head and Patrick reached directly for the bottle because if he was going to be pathetic, he might as well not make any sense while he was at it.

Pip frowned a bit thinking that this might not be normal banter from the other. “Pat what’s is this about? Why do you keep offering me a job?” She said lightly looking at the other man to try and understand his sudden wanting to higher her. 

Pip wasn’t a bad employee, she hadn’t been fired yet despite some responses that were probably not her best. Still, that was hardly reason for wanting to keep subtly offering her a job. 

Then pretty overtly offering her one. Leaning on the bar she tried to figure out what he was going on about. It was hard enough on a regular day with his accent, but now he seemed emotional too. 

Her face turned more into concern as he seemed to get more flustered. “Hey - Pat. Watcha going on about?” She said for a moment wondering if she should stop him from drinking but not quite having the heart to do it. “Do you need help? Or is something just specific bothering you? Whatever it is, I can help I think.”

Could she? If it was just about the bar business maybe but this seemed deeper and she wasn’t quite sure if she could help there. “ In any case I can try.” 

“You sound like a sore loser.” Zephyr drawled, smug with his victory he hadn’t even experienced, but was still certain of. “I don’t think it’s cheating and no one but a loser complains about cheating.” Which was something of a rich statement coming from Zephyr, who hated anyone that was taller than he was and wouldn’t hesitate to call them a cheat. Zephyr was quite comfortable with his position as one of the tallest guys you were likely to meet and he didn’t particularly care to have that threatened.

Pippa, regardless of how short she was, certainly had spunk and never seemed to back down from a fight, no matter if it was on his side or against him, and he let out an amused huff at the idea of her being teamed up with Henry. “Pretty sure Henry needs to flirt in order to breathe. I don’t see him being good in a physical altercation, though.”

As delightful as it was to gossip with Pippa, it sounded as though Zephyr managed to hit a sore spot, which caused him to frown while straightening up. “Jesus, Pip, it’s not like that was an attack. It was a question, not some kind of test. Have you been getting shit from someone about your ten year plan or something?” Zephyr asked, not sure why else she’d be getting so defensive.  

“Sore loser?” Pip said with a slight laugh knowing it had to be a trap. “Darling, Zephyr, dear, I’ve lost teeth and still been shook the guys hand. I’m not a sore loser I’m going to win one day.” She rolled her eyes at his logic and continued. “No shit sherlock. Who else would complain when someone wins unfairly? If you lose the situation is when people care about fairness and rules, or at least a lot of people.” 

“He’s not,” Pip said with a shrug. “To be fair I don’t think he normally does have to be though. He seems to get far with his flirting.” 

Pip hadn’t meant to get uppity, more so that she didn’t like the needling. After all, she wanted to be a lawyer now and that wasn’t going to happen anytime soon. She wanted this war to be over so she didn’t have this weird guilt mixed with pride keeping her here. 

She wanted Constance to come to her senses, but every day that seemed less and less likely. 

“Sorry I just - I’m rotten at planning okay? I don’t really want to think about plans or what I should be doing. I didn’t mean to be an ass, I just don’t like the question.” 

I'm fresh out of patience, I'm sick of all the sameness I'm not in your circle, baby I'm hot like a thermal, baby And I'm a controversial lady I'm popping like a kernel lately

She was officially no longer on patrol and Valentina was beyond pleased with it since she’d spent the past four days wandering around and trying to find any sign of trouble among the various fair goers. You’d think the crowd would have thinned out by this point, people having experienced their fill of the fair and finally deciding to stay home, but no, it remained just as crowded as the first day, if not more so. 

A false sense of security was creeping over them, if she had to guess, and Valentina despaired of them all. After yet another day of people coming up to her because their child had lost a toy or they themselves had dropped their wand (which really, how did someone survive so long in a country at war when they were so careless that they lost their wand?), she wanted nothing more than to sit in peace with her cotton candy.

Of course that wasn’t the way it happened, and Valentina frowned as someone sat down next to her. “If you have anything to complain about beyond the stupidity of people, go find someone else,” She commented, popping another strand of cotton candy into her mouth.

Pip wasn’t one to be around Auror’s and for the most part, she tried to dip around people who looked like they could destroy her future. However, the fair was always a fun exception of what people usually do. That and if she was honest there was something to the mutters by her dad that she was a bit to much like her mom. 

So without the hesitation she probably should have, she sat next to a lady she was pretty sure was Valentina Nott with the grace and elegance she never possessed.  Crossing one of her legs, feeling very lady like in her skirt even if part of it had been torn three years prior and she didn’t bother fixing, she raised her eyebrow slightly. 

“I mean I don’t have any complaints at the present, or any you’d probably be able to help but if I figure out someone to complain about I’ll let you know. I was just trying to get out of the sun.” Which was true enough as she leaned down to her bag to pull out her bag of popcorn. They might look like a miss match between the two, but that wasn’t about to bother Pip. Besides, she had cut off most of the rip on her skirt so she doubted anyone would really notice. 

“That’s not me complaining about the sun by the way, just you know pointing out my motivations.” 

“Nope. Baby, if you can’t do both at the same time you truly are fucked.” 

“Nope. Honey, they already knew what happened to me. I don’t tell them the gruesome details, but they know this is a war zone. My family just knows this is something they can’t help with.” 

“I guess kinda but if you’re having a debate you are objecting to the other person in some way. I think the premise is faulty. If you agreed it wouldn’t be a debate would it? I don’t turn everything into a debate though that’s why it’s only a kinda.” 

“Maybe this means I’m not much of a bartender. Maybe I should hire you, let you handle being good at the bar and I’ll do the books or something. Except I’m shit at maths, I’d lose us money.” Somehow he considered that more Hilda’s area of expertise, his rich wife that learned how to make fiscally responsible decisions after she married down to a man that couldn’t afford to buy her anything she wanted. If he couldn’t manage to be a better pub owner than he was a husband, that meant the Three Broomsticks would fail in less than two years and he’s probably be chased out of Hogsmeade for it.

Finding that thought fucking depressing, Patrick set down the bottle and two shots back to back, wincing between them as he did so. Chances were that he was going to have a headache at the least tomorrow, but that would be tomorrow’s problem. “I’m not going to start blubbering,” Patrick said, not even sure if that was true because god knew he’d broke down crying when he realized Hilda was gone, something cold and miserable spreading through his chest as he sobbed on the floor where Seamus learned to crawl. “You’ve got yourself a deal.”

And on that note, Patrick reached for his next shot, adding, “Come on, drink up.”

Pip snorted but pondered the thought a little. She didn’t really think he was serious but it would be nicer to work here then where she was. “Balancing a book isn’t to bad, but when you start making more money you might want to get a guy for that anyway. I don’t know the equivalent but the IRS is a bitch and a half if you don’t do it right. You aren’t a bad bartender though. People like you a lot too.”

That was half of the battle sometimes. Bartenders especially at local pubs needed to be charismatic. Or at least that’s what she found when she first started out. No one wanted a uncharismatic bartender, and tips were better if you were fun or funny. 

Pipped hummed slightly at the deal before getting her shot as she said, “ Hey now, I was cleaning up your mess give me a second.” Without the orange she picked up the shot without much fanfare and knocked it back. Giving it a second she reached for the other one and said, “If you want I can help you find some well booze that doesn’t taste like nail polish remover.”  Without another thought she knocked the other one back knowing that she was probably not going to go around her friends tomorrow. 

“It’s not like I drink much anymore with Katie in the house, but still, sometimes I just want a beer. I’m a simple guy with simple tastes,” Zephyr declared grandly, partially because it was true, but mostly to see how Pippa responded to the idea.

Personally, as Zephyr listened to her, he found that he wanted to hear that rant and wondered if Pippa’s dad would accept a call and tell him about it if Zephyr volunteered to pay for the call time - he’d even let him talk to Pippa, if he wanted. (Which, of course he would, because he was Pippa’s dad.) “Okay, so no outside food made out of livestock, but chocolate is okay? What about shit like jam? Can I send my dad jam and get back jelly? What are the rules here?”

It was quite a conundrum and likely something that Zephyr would be thinking about later while he sorted through pictures and tried to determine which ones he most wanted to put out and decorate the house with. That could be a hard call to make considering how many pictures he took and it might take some time, so he didn’t need the frames immediately.

“Yes, please. I want to see what those rules are and see if there’s a way around them. Like is it only store bought beef jerky? If you make homemade jerky, can you put it in a ziplock bag and ship it?” He asked, knowing there was a difference in those types of jerky and wondering if it would help. “Oh, and I guess I’ll let you know if my dad sends me anything I don’t need? We can just swap like kids with Halloween candy.”

“There’s nothing wrong with a beer occasionally,” Pip said with a nod. After all, she wasn’t worried that Zephyr was on the edge of anything which if she was honest was a bit of a new experience. He’d calmed down with age in a lot of ways that if she thought to much about she was a bit envious of. Ties that bound you down were always presented at something scary in movies and stuff but Pip couldn’t help but want a tie or two. After all, being grounded seemed a lot better than floating around. 

Still at the second half of the statement Pip had to stop herself from responding and snorting at the idea of Zephyr being simple. She figured it was a trap, and although she was always down for a fight she thought it might annoy him more to not respond. 

Pip also thought Pandora and her had something in common as he continued talking, “I think it’s livestock and produce, but I think Jam would be fine because it’s processed. It’s something about - uh planting? Like I know currants are considered invasive in the US that’s why we didn’t grow up with it. Something about that, I don’t really know why.” 

She sighed and nodded, “I’ll ask the post office person next time I go and ask the rules. Although I don’t really know, my dad did make the jerky so there’s that.” She laughed slightly and said,” Why not.” 

“No, and I’m not sure the best materials to go about transfiguring one if we’re being honest,” Levi said. Theoretically he’d known some things back in the day because American wix drove much more than the British ones did, but Levi couldn’t remember. Plus, his dad had always said that while magic was great, it was only a quick patch until you could buy better tires. 

“Hey now! Faithful? Yes. Boring? Not on your life. I’m incredibly exciting, and he knows it.” Still, Levi grinned. She was right that camping wasn’t exactly Marcus’ idea of a fascinating trip. “Wait, never? I’ve never been to Chicago, but it sounds dreadfully boring. Yeah, this one will probably take you halfway up! Come on, I’ll give you a boost if you need it.”

“Probably rubber, and I don’t think we’ve got that.” Pip almost hummed looking at the branch curiously trying to see if it would hold like a ladder pull she’d become accustomed too. They were supposed to pull down so people could get out of their fire escapes obviously but when she was a kid she could never get them pulled down, and just would hang and scramble to get up them. 

Pip snorted on the comment and said, “You’re a dad and you work with itty bitty children, Levi. You’re a little boring and that’s not a bad thing. Better than being super exciting and miserable.” Pip rolled her eyes and said, “I mean there’s trees around, but they don’t like you climbing them in the park. Or at least that’s what my Auntie said but between you and me I think she just didn’t want me to fall.”  She looked up and shook her head slightly and said, “I think I can get it. Let me try at least.” 

She wasn’t that short after all, and at one point she could jump pretty high. Without much thought she jumped up and felt her hands catch the branch and for a moment she paused before laughing and pulling herself up. She was sort of proud she still could, but then again the war hadn’t made her soft. Still, she didn’t think Levi would appreciate that idea. 

“It’s solid but I don’t think both of us should be on the same branch.” 

“Ugh, I don’t like bloody maries.” Patrick sighed, although by the time you were hungover, there wasn’t much in the world that you did like, so that part probably wasn’t important. It didn’t register to Patrick that by admitting he didn’t like them, he turned the situation from something that would benefit costumers to something that was to his use alone, the alcohol dulling his senses.

Pippa was good at what she did, Patrick had to give her that. She was likely better than he was, if anyone asked, and Patrick gave her a lazy sort of smile as she chastised him. “Not getting a profit on it if I drink it, neither. Thanks for that.”

Since Pippa was taking care of the clean-up, Patrick turned around and used his wand to have a couple oranges float over, then set about slicing them up himself, the sweet citrus scent coming up strong in the air. “Sure, I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be? Got a job and a roof over my head, don’t I?” He muttered, not looking at Pippa as he stuck an orange slice in his mouth before beginning to pour out the line of shots.

“You clearly haven’t been hungover enough to appreciate them.” Pip quipt back leaning on her stool closer to put her elbow on the bar for a moment. “The spices in one of those has gotten me out of a bad hangover before just with a snap.” 

She sighed slightly at his observation and said in a kind tone, “That’s true but you might as well not waste it anyway. And No problem, I might not work here but it is my job. ” Stretching slightly she watched Pat trying to figure out what wasn’t said and being frustrated by it. She wasn’t very good at reading between the lines, and even drinking he seemed to keep things in. Which, if she was being fair, was his own prerogative. She shouldn’t be trying to be Zephyr anyway. She watched him pouring shots, and realized that tomorrow might be rough for her anyway. Still, she wasn’t about to back out now and she had a feeling it would be fine. 

“That’s true, Pat. You got me there. I won’t ask again, but if I drink you under the table and you start crying I’m going to make you drink a bloody mary in the morning. Fair? ” 

“It’s a way to turn a profit from something that’s self-serving. Like… I don’t know, getting a tip for staying in bed longer or something. Or for getting out of bed and letting someone take a nap there, that’s probably a better comparison.” Zephyr said, not sure if he was accurately describing to Pippa the financial advantage of having rental property that you sometimes lived in. Considering he didn’t think either of them were ever going to become landlords, it probably didn’t matter.

Laughing as Pippa explained how she was being a sweetheart, Zephyr shook his head and quite truthfully didn’t feel the least bit threatened at all. “Yeah, yeah, tough stuff. You’d try to make a move and I’d throw you over my shoulder, we all know how this fight goes. And if you mean Henry Fawley, he probably needs that.” Zephyr certainly didn’t cater to Henry’s ego, even if he did feed Henry at times.

Slouching further down and getting truly comfortable, Zephyr knew he needed to get up and make his way home soon, but it wasn’t that late yet and there wasn’t any reason not to enjoy catching up while the opportunity lasted. “Okay, yeah, but that’s after you get out of school. I mean right now. Would it just have been whatever job happened to come along or do you have a job for if this falls through? Don’t be difficult.”

He was a fine one to talk about being difficult. Zephyr hadn’t really had a plan in mind when he showed up in England and it was pure luck that he found his job at the WWN and it was certainly luck that he ended up loving it so much. He’d served a very short stint as a bartender back in America, but it hadn’t been a good fit for him, then he’d trained people in defense, which was a better fit, but nothing worked for Zephyr as well as simply talking and getting to rant about his opinion.

“Eh I don’t think I’d like people staying in my bed if I can’t nap there,” Pip said shrugging and knowing that she was being obtuse. “Have fun with it though.” 

Pippa huffed at his dismissal  and wondered how close she’d get to breaking the bottle before he caught her. “Hey now. I’m a much better fighter then the last time, Zephyr. You don’t know what would happen. Also picking me up is cheating and you know it.” She snorted lightly and said, “He keeps trying to run off and hit people so I mean I’m just trying to train him a little bit.” 

She paused a moment and said, “Moody keeps giving me babysitting duty with him, although he’s not bad after he stopped trying to flirt with me.” 

She rolled her eyes and said, “ Fuck Zephyr I don’t know. Probably any job that would pay me. I’ve not gotten fired yet, and I’m actually a pretty good bartender. So as long as there’s a bar I’m pretty sure I can get a job. Why? You think I need a backup plan for my backup plan? How about this, if I have to stop being a bartender and I haven’t finished school yet I’ll finally cave and marry a rich person and be a trophy wife. Is that a good plan for you? ” 

@pippaxstrout​

Levi grinned and leaned back against the tree. “You could almost put a tire swing on that branch,” he said, jerking his up toward the one in question. Obviously they weren’t in any need of a tire swing, but something about being out in the woods with no purpose besides having fun brought out the kid in them. Reconnecting with Pip again was proving to have great possibilities.

“You know my husband only gave me one rule this weekend,” he commented. “Don’t break myself.”

They had finished putting up the tent. Levi knew step two was collecting firewood, but he wanted to explore and he wanted to do something fun. Was it best to start their shenanigans without a fire in the way? Levi suspected as much might be true.

Pip was used to a more -concrete jungle then an actual forest however when Levi had mentioned he was going out into the great outdoors Pip had asked if she could go. One, she’d always wanted to go camping and didn’t mind if it was camping with Levi in the slightest. Two, Levi was probably the safest person to go on an adventure like this with seeing as he actually knew something about the great outdoors. Besides it was fun to tell her Granny she was going into the forest. She’d gotten a chuckle out of it. 

“Huh, we don’t have a tire do we?” Pip said looking up at the branch. “We got rope I’m pretty sure.” 

At the comment she snorted and teased, “ So your husband thinks your extremely faithful and boring, two things we already knew that.” She was joking, the glint of mischief dancing across her eyes. After all, there was loads to do and Levi wasn’t boring. It was also a great way to hide out after the Church trial, her face still healing up from her refusing to heal it. At least out here, she didn’t have to deal with it all.   “You think those branches would support a person? I’ve never climbed a tree.” 

Zara stumbled back. Though she wanted to tell herself that it was because she was tired, because she’d been out drinking last night, or some other excuse, none of them were the case this time. Today, Pip had genuinely gotten the better of her and won their training session. While some training partners didn’t like to declare winners, and Pip and Zara never formally did, Zara always noted who ‘won’ that day in her mind. And today it wasn’t her.

It wasn’t nearly as loud as muggle clocks that rang out on the hour, but as the minute hand hit twelve, the clock mounted on the nearby wall gently sang. Before their session started, Zara charmed it to let them know when it was 6:00 pm to remind them to take a break and get some food.

As Zara walked over to where she’d set her jacket, she offered light congratulations to Pip. “You got me today. And that last bit.” Zara mimicked the movement of the spell that Pip had used that caused her to stumble backwards. “That was good.”

@pippaxstrout​

Pip wasn’t a stranger to the wrong side of a fight. Hell, most of her childhood was trying to fight people she’d never get the upper hand on. The thing was, no matter how many fights she lost she always learned something in it. That was one of the reasons she liked fighting Zara, she in a lot of ways was a bit better strategist then herself. Pip might use shear force of will, but well she wasn’t getting any younger and she didn’t want to just be a bag of broken bones when she was forty. 

That’s why when Pip had gotten her to stumble back she couldn’t help the little grin that formed on her face, glad she was reading the other better. As the clock rang out she felt a bit of wind leave herself as she went for her water bottle. 

“Thanks,” Pip said not wanting to fill her own ego to much but still having a small moment anyway. “Figured out what you meant last time about the footing. You were right I was going to much to the left. Are you hungry?”