The friend is the man who knows all about you...

[rule_britannia]

WHO: Arthur Kirkland, Greg Lestrade
TONE: Let's go with friendly.
RATING: G
WHEN: Sunday 12th August
WHERE: London
WHAT: Arthur meets up with Greg to get away from his family for a while.
STATUS: Ongoing.

It was Sunday morning, and amidst the bustling London morning a teenager with scruffy blond hair and thick eyebrows hurried out of a hotel, a backpack slung over one shoulder. Never hurt to be prepared. He looked back, scowled, and rubbed his arm, before descending the steps towards the street and glancing down to check his watch.

"Half eight," he muttered to himself. "Bloody hellish time. Why did I agree to this?"

Another twinge in his arm reminded him, and he frowned again, moving down to the pavement and putting himself out of sight of the front of the hotel to wait for Greg. Everything had already been cleared with his mother, who was just glad he had some friends that he wanted to spend time with, and he'd managed to avoid his brothers' questionings with only a punch on the arm for his trouble.

He perched on a wall outside the hotel and watched the people passing by as he waited, kicking his heels against the dusty brick.

Comments

[rule_britannia]

[Cue Arthur putting his head in his hands. He groans quietly]

This is so unnecessarily complicated.

[di_intraining]

[He wasn't even directly involved in this, but he felt for his friend all the same. Reaching over, he gave Arthur a pat on the shoulder.]

At least he's no longer annoying you on purpose. That's a blessing in itself.

[rule_britannia]

I suppose.

[There's a sigh, and he sits back]

This feels like the kind of problem Victoria should be having, not me. It's such a bloody feminine thing to be fretting over a boy.

[His nose wrinkles in irritation as he says it]

[di_intraining]

[Greg shrugs and shifts in his seat slightly, his eyes flicking briefly away before returning back to Arthur.]

I wouldn't know; I've never had much time for gi-, for relationships.

[rule_britannia]

[One eyebrow goes up slightly at the slip]

What was that, Lestrade?

[di_intraining]

[Just, coughing. God he is bad at this isn't he.]

I said I've never had time for relationships. You know how I am about work.

[rule_britannia]

All too well, but I do believe you were about to say something else.

[di_intraining]

[Ah, interrogation time. It's so much easier to fake being comfortable with a subject when it's over a journal than face to face.]

Nope. Pretty sure that's what I wanted to say. I'm just plain bad at relationships. Got no experience with'em.

[rule_britannia]

[He waves one hand and sighs]

Alright, alright, you be that way. If you don't want to trust me after everything I've done for you.

[Now, he's just being dramatic]

[di_intraining]

[Greg's eyes narrow at that comment. Part of him knows that Arthur doesn't really mean that; that he's just being teased, being baited. Still, he can't help but feel irked.]

I do trust you. Which is why I can even tell you that I've never had a girlfriend before.

[rule_britannia]

[That eyebrow goes up again, and he shifts back in his chair, sounding genuinely puzzled]

You and me both, mate. What's the big secret?

[di_intraining]

[Another sigh escapes him as he runs his hand through his hair. Stop being difficult Arthur, sensitive topics aren't his forte at all.]

I'm not ready to talk about it yet. But I tell you what; the moment I am, you'll be the first man I'll call. Promise.

[rule_britannia]

[Arthur frowns, and just briefly his lips twist slightly in displeasure, then he rolls his eyes and smiles, shaking his head]

Okay. I'll hold you to that.

[The best of distractions is a plate of food being placed in front of him, and it conveniently happens right at that moment]

Bloody hell, you weren't far wrong. This looks fantastic.

[di_intraining]

[Greg was about to think God was punishing him for skipping church; right now, he's thanking the highest Heavens for the lucky timing of things.]

Dig in. It tastes better than it looks.

[rule_britannia]

[He does dig in, making a few quiet, appreciative sounds]

Much better than the pitiable spread they had at that hotel. Who eats grapefruit for breakfast, anyway? It's a bloody travesty, is what it is.

[di_intraining]

[He chuckles slightly at that. Compared to the breakfast they get at Hogwarts, grapefruit was definitely quite a setback.]

Health nuts, I think.

[At that moment, the waitress returns with a cup of coffee. Winking, she slides one over to Greg. "On the house, Greg, so you can lighten up a little. You're not even at work and you're being a drag." The only reply she gets from him is a roll of the eyes, but he does thank her for the cup before he glances back to Arthur.]

Is there anything you want to drink? They've got a selection of teas here.

[At that prompt, the waitress hands over a drink menu.]

[rule_britannia]

[What the waitress says to Greg brings a faint smirk to Arthur's lips, but he's quickly distracted with the mention of tea]

They do? I don't suppose they have a good Darjeeling.

[Oh, a menu. He skims it, holding his fork in his teeth, removing it when he discovers that they do, in fact, have Darjeeling. He orders some, and hands the menu back]

It's a little gem, this place. I'm almost jealous.

[di_intraining]

[He takes a sip of the coffee; it's funny how he's worked here over the summer but never actually tried it. It tastes just as good as it smells too.]

It's a whole lot different when you're the one serving people, but yeah, the food here is decent, and it's not a rip-off on your wallet either.

[rule_britannia]

I must say, I've wondered what it might be like to work in a place like this.

[Despite how much he's been exposed to Muggle things by his cousin, Arthur is still a Pureblood, and the idea of not having magic is.. a strange one]

[di_intraining]

You've never had a job before?

[There's a teensy hint of incredulous in his tone, but he does seem slightly surprised.]

It's hard. Long hours, demanding customers and the boss is always breathing down your neck. A waiter is pretty much the pits; you're everyone's favourite person to blame when things go wrong.

[rule_britannia]

[Arthur shakes his head, and glances about the place again. A good-humoured smile quirks at his lips]

You're not really selling it, you know.

[di_intraining]

[Greg ticks off the facts bluntly, one by one.]

The food's good, the service is decent, and the price is reasonable; most people don't see much reason to look any deeper than that for a good cafe.

[rule_britannia]

I mean the work, Greg, not the place. Honestly..

[There's a smile when he gets his tea, and he sips it]

You're being terribly prickly, old boy. Is something the matter?

[di_intraining]

[There's a small quirk of his lips, twitching upwards to form a small smile.]

I'm just being honest here.

[Looking left and right to ensure there wasn't anyone in earshot, Greg lowers his voice and leans forward.]

Seriously, the manager's a bit of an overbearing cow. I know I'm lucky to get the job, but honestly? I can't wait for my last day of work here.

[rule_britannia]

[He leans forwards in turn to hear what the other says, lowering his cup to the table. There's a crooked grin, and he nods]

You want to join the police or something, don't you? I'm sure you mentioned that once.

[Probably more than once, but as well as being the King of Losing Things, Arthur is also the King of Forgetting Things]