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

[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]

[di_intraining]

[Greg nods and sit back, crossing his arms again.]

Yeah. I'm still thinking on it. Either the local force or the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Not too sure which on which one just yet.

[rule_britannia]

[Arthur sits back, and taps his fingertips idly against the table]

I don't know how Wizarding qualifications translate into Muggle ones. If they do at all.

[di_intraining]

Me neither; guess we're in the same boat then.

[He sighs.]

I've always wanted to be a cop, ever since I was little. I mean, I could still do something like that on the Wizard side of things, I guess, and I am seriously considering it. Just...you know, my Dad.

[rule_britannia]

He's still not completely on board with the whole magical thing, huh.

[Arthur frowns, and spears the last morsel of his meal with his fork, popping it into his mouth and making a quiet, thoughtful noise. He swallows, sets his knife and fork down together, pushes his plate away an inch, and sighs]

You'd think, after all this time..

[di_intraining]

Yeah. He's pretty set in his ways; it's hard to change his mind. He still thinks that I shouldn't be a wizard.

[rule_britannia]

It isn't as if you can decide to not be a wizard. What a load of rubbish.

[di_intraining]

That's what they tried to tell him, when they first came with my letter. He didn't buy it. Mum had a row with him over this though, and that's how I got into Hogwarts. She was worried I wouldn't be able to control my magic.

I don't really have the heart to tell Dad that the twins might be magic users next. He might just have a heart attack.

[rule_britannia]

Bloody Muggles.

[Pause.. Oops, there's a little of the Pureblood bias coming out, there]

... Er. No offence, Greg.

[di_intraining]

[Bad move Arthur. Greg's eyes narrow at that comment; he knows Arthur, knows that he doesn't think any less of him for being Muggle born. Still, it hurt a little to hear his friend say something like that.]

I'd like to say none taken, but I'm afraid that would be a bit of a lie now, wouldn't it.

[rule_britannia]

[Wince. He continues tapping his fingers, a little more quickly to display his anxiety]

Ah.. look, sorry, you know I don't mean it like that.

[He rubs two fingers against his temple. Half his family is half-blood or Muggle-born, and he's inwardly kicking himself]

It's just.. you have a gift. I will never understand why he can't be proud of that.

[di_intraining]

[His hand on the table tenses slightly, almost as if he was about to clench it, before he sighs and relaxes.]

I know you don't mate. Sorry.

Dad's an old-fashioned sort; he thinks I should've stuck to Muggle school and tried for the police academy. He sticks to what he's seen that works. It's not that he isn't proud but...he just doesn't trust magic because he's not used to it.

[rule_britannia]

[Arthur nods, but a small frown draws a line between his eyebrows]

I.. guess I can understand that. Sort of. But he's not going to understand it any better by having you ignoring the fact that you can do it.

[di_intraining]

Doesn't see a need to understand it, because he doesn't see a need for me to use it.