(Hogshead) Drinking Games

[Quinn Locksley]

It was another night and Quinn had sent out all her men to patrol. She, however, point blank refused to patrol. She had been posted for months in the bleeding hell hole where very little to nothing happened that needed her highly trained, highly efficient brain. "I'm not getting paid enough for this," Quinn thought alone when she was making her way, slowly, towards the Hogshead. It was the best place to get away from work, which constantly followed her. But as she made her way to the infamously dodgy pub she knew that all who thought they knew her would know she didn't want any work related issues this evening.

So, when she got to the small pub, she pushed the door open and walked in. Many heads turned to face her. They were all dirty, dingy, dusty people that looked like they had just walked out of books from some forgotten section of the library where as she was immaculately clean, as ever, and well groomed. She looked sorely out of place and everyone knew it. Quinn didn't want this feeling on her all night so she looked over all the enquiring faces and spotted a particularly large, burly warlock. Striding right towards him, Quinn scooped up the drink of the man across the table from the warlock and eyed him. Understanding, the two began to down their drinks.

Swallowing as fast as she could, Quinn slammed the empty tankard down a second before the warlock. He scowled at her for a moment, she scowled back, and the pub was quiet. Suddenly, he began to laugh and chatter began again, everyone returning to their business. The warlock called for another round and insisted that Quinn join them. Not minding particularly who she drank with, she sat and gratefully accepted her drink. "Cheers, lassie," the warlock chuckled, his rosy cheeks shining above a big bushy beard, and they clapped the tankard together.

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

Dan looked at his watch; he still had almost a quarter an hour before he needed to met Dia in the Three Broomsticks. So instead of sitting in there waiting like a muppet he decided to have a quick warm up drink in the Hogshead. So reaching the far end of the village be walked towards one of his favourite bars and pushed open the old door.
As he did the warmth and fumes hit him and within a few steps he knew the smell was going to cling to his robes, but he hoped Dia would not mind too much. As he walked up towards the bar he heard a loud cheer and the sound of glasses being slammed down on the table. Raising his eyebrows Dan turned around to where the noise was coming from and saw the normal bunch of locals, but also someone else, Quinn Locksley.

With both hands on his hips Dan started on open mouthed, she was having a drinking game with this man. Dan had met Quinn once before, and it was not the most pleasant of circumstances and he knew he had not made quite the impression he had intended at the time. If his memory served him correctly he actually had tried hitting on her, which unsurprisingly failed.
With this memory in mind Dan strolled up to the bar and ordered himself a pint of bitter before wondering over to the table, summoning himself a chair and joined the group. A few of the other warlocks gave him a few evil glares at the sight of another new comer to the group; others smiled having talked to Dan before.

“Mind if I join in. I have a knack for this sort of game.”

With a toothy grin Dan looked from one to the other, letting his gaze linger a little longer on Quinn. After his relationship with Dia Dan had found out a lot more about this little character and was keen to try and get into her mind set some more, find out what made one of the Ministry’s top hit witches tick.

[Quinn Locksley]

Quinn had, in the short time from arriving, learned all at her table’s names. Gabit was to Quinn’s immediate left. He was a tall, lanky man with a long, gaunt face and deep set shockingly blue eyes. Next to him was a squat, rotund man that everyone called Mole. He had clearly had too much to drink already as he was dangerously swaying on his chair and every time he lifted his tankard to sip he hit his cheek and threw the content onto his chest. Next to him was a very respectable looking man, tall too, bespectacled with a beak like hooked nose. His name was Alcis Maroon, she had found out, a noted historian and philosopher; he had a quiet unassuming manner but Quinn noted that he drank like a camel at a well in the heat of midday. Barbula was next. He was well built and perhaps a few years older then Quinn was with a small beard and shaggy hair. Then came Magnus, the warlock Quinn had challenged. His wide girth betrayed his capacity to create a ruckus all by himself. He found everything Quinn said funny and loudly guffawed his pleasure, shaking the table like an earthquake when he belly nudged it.

All in all a good bunch of men but Quinn knew that if they knew where she worked they would be slightly less pleased with her as company. A growing dislike for the ministry seemed to be spreading like a plague through the country, so the less they knew of her the better.

So far, Quinn had not bought a single drink. Magnus seemed keen to keep supplying her with beer, even Alcis bought her a whiskey but when she had left it unattended he took it for himself. Quinn laughed with the men, drank with them, but knew she was still the outsider though to an onlooker she was as much part of the group as Magnus was. He clapped her on the back gruffly and laughed before beginning to down another drink. This was the signal, Quinn knew, and she did the same. Their tankards clapped down on the table together, or so it seemed but Barbula seemed convinced that Magnus had won that round. Quinn barked a laugh and retorted with fiery venom. This argument, growing louder to hear each other over the rest of the noise, died suddenly when another joined their table.

Gabit and Mole didn’t seem to notice as they were talking to a witch with long greasy grey hair that stood in all directions. Alcis looked keenly at the new comer as soon as he sat but Barbula’s, Magnus’ and Quinn’s gazes moved slowly to him. Slightly taken aback but not showing it, Quinn glared at Hubbles for a moment before returning her gaze to Barbula. “Man, don’t be ridiculous,” she said with finality, “mine was definitely down first.” But it was clear that Barbula had lost interesting in their heated debate as he was looking Dan up and down, a smirk lodged on his face. Magnus seemed just as interested. Quinn rolled her eyes and sighed heavily not that anyone noticed but it made her fell better.

Turning to Hubbles, Quinn fixed him with a glare and spat, “if you think you can handle it, Hubbles, I have no qualms with you joining us. Though, doubtful that would have stopped you from sitting in the first place.” Magnus laughed again, pushed a drink in front of her and Dan. “I’d like to see if you can keep up with this young lad,” Magnus chuckled, his red cheeks shining brightly as his smile, half hidden beneath beard. Quinn, without any hesitation, picked up the tankard and held it up to Dan. “If you’re game…” she said, a hint of disdain in her voice.

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

Dan felt many of the people’s eyes upon him, they were judging him already, Quinn however had already an opinion formed of him and she was clearly showing it already. Her harsh gaze was upon him heavily and it matched the tone of her voice as she almost challenged her, and Dan was never one to turn away from a challenge. With a wide grin Dan looked at Quinn and gave her a small wink.

“Oh I am more worried about you being able to keep up with me. I mean by the looks of it Quinn you have already had a few.”

Moving his gaze from Quinn pointed features to the many empty glasses on the table Dan could not help but chuckle. It looked like he was going to be here for a while, so he might as well get comfortable. It was the one problem with a pub, the heat from the fire was only intensified by the many bodies pilled into a small room, the strong smells of alcohol and pipe smoke added to the atmosphere. So sliding off his jacket, undoing his tie and flicking open the top few buttons Dan slumped in his chair and reached for his first drink.

Noticing that Quinn too had the tankard in her hand and was rising it up to him Dan did the same and gave a small bow of his head in agreement to her challenge. He would almost make his duty to beat Quinn once again, last time it was a fight of stubbornness and pride, this time it was stamina and experience, and drinking was something Dan was good at.
Moving his tankard closer he tapped the side of Quinn’s and watched the liquid overflow and run down the side and over his hands and dripped onto his trousers. With a small laugh Dan pulled the drink close to his lips, breathing in deeply through his nose letting the intoxicating smells fill his lungs before he started to down the drink.

His method was simple, slowly angle the tankard so a constant flow of liquid is pouring into his mouth and let the liquid slip down with the occasional assistance of swallowing hard to clear some room. It was never the most pleasant of experiences, on many occasions he just wanted to spit it all out but Dan had the will power to keep going and ignore the urge to be sick. Soon the tankard was almost vertical and the final few drops dripped onto his nose signalling the tankard was empty.
Slamming the empty tankard onto the table in front of him Dan let out a long breath and looked around the other wizards with a large grin. This was going to be simple.

[Quinn Locksley]

He winked at her. Quinn knew this to be an arrogant display and sneered all the more for it. She didn’t need to make such gestures to prove that she was better then him; she knew she was and that was enough for her. However, with Magnus cheering them on and Barbula’s hot, silent gaze on her, and Dan too, she couldn’t turn away now. And why should she when she could drink Dan under the table any day? He was right though, she had had at least five whole tankards of warm frothy beer before he came, she would have to find some way to cheat, without attracting suspicion. But such thoughts can wait, she thought, now, to put him in his place and show him what a real woman can do.

There it was, his acceptance of her challenge, by a slight incline of the head. She was in too far now, turning back would be just as treacherous as going forward, though going forward meant truly achieving what she had gone there to do that night so forward it would be. From the smirk on Dan’s face, Quinn could surmise that he felt very confident and sure he would win. Quinn wasn’t going to take this lying down or hand him the name of reining champion on a silver platter. She too, lifted her own tankard to her lips, eyeing the arrogant man over the edge of her tankard, and then she was off.

The warm liquid flooded her mouth and carefully she swallowed so that she wouldn’t chock. Quick as she could she downed her tankard and slammed it, empty, onto the table before Dan’s had even left his mouth. Magnus was chortling next to Quinn; he clapped a meaty hand onto her shoulder and congratulated her. Quinn didn’t remove her eyes from Dan, she was burning a hole into his egotistical head. HA! she thought mockingly, and he thought he could beat me! Pushing her tankard away, Quinn stole a glance at Barbula, and then continued to swing her head towards Alcis Maroon. “And what do you have to say about that, Alcis?” Quinn asked conversationally as though their conversation had merely been interrupted. She cared little for what Dan was doing so avoided looking at him like the Plague. “What do you have to say about the Great Daniel Hubbles being beaten by a mere girl?”

Alcis said nothing but merely smiled from Dan to Quinn. She didn’t like the smile; it was suggestive and about what Quinn not say. She didn’t like being in the dark so didn’t like it one bit. Magnus guffawed again and swapped both her’s and Dan’s empty tankards for full ones and added with a furtive glance at Quinn, “how about a bit of conversation for half a moment before you two youngins go at it again?” Quinn took the tankard and took a long sip before lowering it again. She smiled harmoniously at Magnus and said, “if he’s civil, I’m sure I could try the same.” Magnus howled with laughter again, rocking back and forth in his chair and almost instinctively Quinn lifted her arms and her half full tankard off the table before it was rocked by Magnus’s great belly.

[Cattrim Rallon]

The pub was bustling and raucous with many people having a good time drinking away their sorrows or simply pouring gallons down their throats to prove they were hard enough. Cattrim would usually be one for such behaviour and a part of him sorely longed to win the argument that said he'd look less suspicious by blending in. But his naturally competitive nature would have led to impaired vision; from too much booze or even a blow to the head if he was that unlucky. If the fierce drinking competition between a man and a woman was anything to go by then he'd end up drunk far too quickly. Not that he was particularly a lightweight; more so they were owning the drinks as if their lives depended upon it. Cattrim had to admire them for it.

He'd been unsuccessfully dozing in the corner, well that's how it was meant to have looked, really his half closed eyes had been alert scouring the pub, for he had settled down after a bit of a grisly meagre soup. The Hogshead wasn't known for its quality. His empty scotch glass had been removed but he'd declined the pressing offer of another, even though it had been tempting. He'd been about to retire to his bed; luckily in the Three Broomsticks and not here, for he had given up on his informant meeting him, when the striking woman had arrived. She wasn't a real beauty particularly, though easy on the eyes of course, but it was the cold flint like eyes that had raised his eyebrows and pursed his lips. He'd chuckled to himself softly as she easily won the trust of the regulars, she had a knack, but he guessed she rarely used it.

When the teacher arrived Cattrim had smirked wondering quite where the man would fit in, but realising quickly that he was in fact more regular than most, in the dark recess of the corner he hadn't been seen, least he didn't think so, but he'd been able to view them clearly deciding that his colleague wasn't likely to appear and that it would be a waste of an evening not to enjoy a little frivolity he stood and stretched yawning loudly and expansively as he confidantly strode over in his usual smooth way. "Give yourself some credit, you're no mere girl," far from it in fact, "my guess is you'd never have challenged him if you weren't certain you'd win, am I right?" He asked with a pleasant smile to all present.
"Don't mind if I join you lads and lady?" He implored nodding at Magnus whose brow creased in concentration as he tried to place his face. Alcis wore a half interested, half uncaring look, Barbula just looked happy to have another drinking partner as he made space for Cattrim who sat down gratefully between Magnus and Barbula, "my thanks," he murmured.

Seeing Magnus' continued look of trying to recall his name Cattrim supplied a clue, "the largest stash of Firewhiskey you've ever laid eyes on," explained Cattrim with a grin as Magnus' eyes widened in recollection as he recalled the somewhat dubious dealings between them. "Catt?" He muttured in disblief, "well I never, what can I get you?"
"How's about a Firewhiskey," chuckled Cattrim "your generosity with drinks is as strong as ever I see," he remarked
"Aye, but what a good haul that was mate, I can still remember it all, and I've had a fair bit to drink since." He guffawed his beer belly rolling.
"We've had dealings with each other," explained Cattrim seeing the others bemused looks, "all strictly legal of course." He grinned giving the lady a particularly mischeveous look.
"Course Catt's one of the best, made me plenty of profits," Catt smirked as Magnus' tongue flowed freely without thought of danger due to the excessive amounts of drink.
Seeing the threat Catt moved quickly clapping Magnus' shoulder, "that I did, but we'd best not bore the pretty lady and young...ish gent with our old stories, even if they are damn good tales." Cattrim smirked as his firewhiskey arrived, taking a swig he began to feel relaxed once more easily settling in to chattering.

(ooc hope you don't mind me joining and inventing the history, it fits really well with Catt's character!)

[Quinn Locksley]

Magnus had clearly seen the challenge gleaming in her eyes for he guffawed and patted her on the shoulder. He lifted a large finger and pointed it at her, as though about to give her the most important advise of her young life. But his eyes soon wondered past her, past Quinn's head and to a gentleman walking towards them. Quinn did not turn her head, she did not watch the man walk towards their table as the rest of the men did. She was concentrating on Magnus's face. There was something pleasant about it that reminded her of her poor father, her beloved mother. They had always encouraged her to do her best and she did want to please them, to see the very same grin that was upon Magnus's face.

A small voice in the back of Quinn's mind brought her out of her memories and into the musty room where she was sitting. Her brow creased into a small furrow of confusion. No... she thought, not my voice. She shrugged off Magnus's heavy hand and turned in her seat to see a tall man standing near. Quinn let out a cold, hard, barked laugh and turned back to the table. The man was seated now. He and Magnus clearly knew each other and by their obvious display by some dark and unruly occasions.

She glared at Dan for a moment, but quickly turned to the new comer. "So then would you call me some girl, or is this some sort of manly devise to fetch me in?" Quinn said curtly, and she drained the rest of her tankard. Magnus guffawed and a slight glimmer of a smile streaked across her face but was gone as soon as it had come. "But surely I am not that easy to read? Asking a question you know the answer too or demanding a challenge you know you will win ensures no surprises. Something I live by and that's as good advice as I can offer after having had ..." Quinn stopped herself and looked away for a moment, then, frowning, looked back to the new comer. "I did not catch your name, sir."

[elizabeth]

Elizabeth curiously watched the group of drinkers, from her small cozy corner. She had decided that today was a good day to get out of the castle. Now, she was trying to decide if she should crash their little party, they seemed like an interesting group. Although the woman, Quinn? Was that her name? Seemed a bit scary. But then again, Elizabeth was dead. What could the woman possibly do to her? Mind made up, Elizabeth glided over to the group. "Hiya." she said cheerfully, smiling at everyone, but fully prepared to leave if she had to.

[Cattrim Rallon]

Tilting back in his chair and craning his neck back to gulp down the last of he firewhiskey he willingly obliged Magnus' offer of another. "Who can say no eh?" He wondered aloud as his eyes were inextricably drawn to the lady, given the present company she was clearly the most attractive, but she may have been in most circumstances; only the hardness in her eyes put him off. Even though she laughed aloud here it was plain for all to see that she wasn't the kindest lady ever. But that wasn't something to put of Catt, no sir, her being able to handle herself, and drink most of these guys under the table was definitely an attractive quality, but there was a little implaceable nagging doubt about her in the back of his mind; she was trouble, exactly what she was thinking of him quite probably.

Lifting his eyes to meet hers as she addressed him he grinned, "well now I couldn't call you just some girl, no. It's whether you're anything special, that's the real question." Exaggeratedly sighing Catt pulled a purposefully guilty look, "fraid it's no devise to pull you, sommit tells me it wouldn't work somehow. Is my guess right?" He asked to a dry chuckle from the assembled men.
"...too many," he finished her sentence with a shrug of the shoulders as if to say you were asking for that
"Pretty educated though aren't you?" He chuckled then nodded in agreement with her ideals, "but sure you've got me there, if you don't want surprises then its a good strategy for life, some people prefer to live life more on the edge." Eyes twinkling Catt aplogised, "oh sorry, the name's Carl Hannover," as Magnus' eyes popped Catt warned him off with a glance and e clamped his mouth over his tankard rather than finishing off the sentence, well, she doesn't know that's a fake name now does she?, but in the end he knew he could get himself clear of any trouble his tongue or fists got themselves into. Swigged more of his refreshingly strong drink as he lazily surveyed his companions Catt's eyes swivelled back to the young lady, "You've mine, so what's yours?" He asked nonchalantly, but then leaned in closer enquiring a more intrigued tone. "And what brings you into this...lovely establishment?" Leaning back in his chair Catt hooked an arm around the back, then looked at the relatively young man, "being presumptuous, but ain't you a teacher? I can tell the sort you see."

Lifting his eyes as the ghost appeared from thin air it seemed at first glance, Catt greeted her by rising his voice saying with a gesture to her, "now here's someone who can drink till dawn, she'll definitely be the most hardy of us." He smiled up at her and winked as if to say that should get you welcomed with drinks.
"So anyone want another?"

[Quinn Locksley]

Quinn was amused by the new comer’s ignorance of her ever so charming disposition. She chucked into her empty tankard before lumping it onto the table and pushing it away. She glanced around the table and saw Gabit and Mole were once again conversing with the ugly old witch and Alcis seemed more interested in the vision in his emptying whiskey glass. Quinn snorted a laugh and glanced at Hubbles. It was unlike him to remain quiet but if he did her situation would not become jeopardised. He was not an idiot, though Quinn wondered some times, and hoped that if she stood on his foot if he would get the picture.

Turning back to the rest of the table, Quinn brushed a stray lock behind her ear and stole a glance at Barbula. He was happily watching the group in a silence, unassuming manner and there was something about him that Quinn knew she recognised but couldn’t place. Quickly, Quinn shifted her gaze to the scraggly, in comparison to both men on either side of him, man and angled her head slightly. How curious a manner he has,[/i] Quinn thought and she made a mental note that if it came to it a nom de plume would be necessary. None of these men needed to know who she was for she knew she would not be welcomed with her reputation.

A dry mirthless chuckle escaped Quinn’s lips. “Indeed,” Quinn said, “nothing but the finest education for Daddy’s dearest so, no, no such luck would come from anything you could possibly possess or by any measures you could take to pull the wool over my eyes.” A complete fabrication, of course, for Quinn’s father was so oblivious to anything magical that he would through her wand for the dog if she ever took leave of her senses and left it lying around the house and he wasn’t the wealthiest gentleman out there either but that was hardly common knowledge and no one needed any dirt on her, so to speak.

Carl Hannover, have to remember that one, Quinn thought and looked again at her empty tankard. Magnus had not yet offered to get her another drink as he had so many times before. He was too busy gawking at Carl for some reason. Quinn frowned at the two men for a moment but wasn’t given long to ponder the matter as he asked for her name. She had seen this coming, what did her name matter really, it was just a bunch of letters stuck together to form a basis of identification. Why was that so important? She chuckled with genuine delight when Carl suggested she was a teacher. He has no idea! she thought as the laugh faded from her face.

“I’ll take another,” Quinn said at the offer, “and it doesn’t matter what.” Quinn ignored the ghost who had arbitrarily appeared. Thinking quickly, Quinn said, looking at Dan (unsure if he remembered her name), “Name’s Amelia Grey,” she turned back to Carl, “and it amuses me greatly that you think I’m a teacher. No, far from it, I write for The Whiskey Bugle.” She waited for the slow coming sounds of recollection that came from some men at the table as they recognised the name of the biweekly newspaper. A good cover, Quinn though, which also would for the intuitive types such as Alcis explain her hard stomach. [/font]

[Cattrim Rallon]

Quite blatently rolling his eyes as the witch dubed herself daddies dearest he thought it cute but also pretty pathetic if she leaned too heavily upon her parents for income, he naturally assumed she came from a wealthy background as her demeanour and eloquent put words suggested, she even hinted it herself. He pretty much scorned those from wealthy backgrounds whose families hadn't done an honest days work in their life, he had no qualms with business men and women who had worked their way up in the world, using brains, wiles or brawn; effort was still needed.

"You think?" He countered, "education ain't everything you know, just cause daddies some money doesn't make you smart." Catt fixed the witch with his bright eyes as if boring into her soul, he hoped she wasn't so posh and upper class as he feared. The drink suggested she wasn't, but rich people could afford to drink all the booze they wanted, maybe that's why she wasn't off her face already. She instantly agreed to another and Catt's look of suspicion altered to a relaxed carefree smile.
"Good stuff, Magnus?" He knew the old veteran would never decline a drink, even if he was paying for it.
"You know me lad," he applauded clapping a hefty hand upon Catt's broad shoulder.

Grinning Catt signalled the waiting waitress, who was keenly waiting to pounce and make as much money as possible from the drunkards who were drinking like there was no tomorrow, she might even end up with a tip if she was quick. "3 firewhiskeys...please," he asked baletedly in a commanding but still friendly tone in a tell tale way of someone used to relaying orders. Dragging his eyes from the waitress who quickly bounced off to fetch their order, Catt smiled Amelia Grey was introduced and furthermore she was a writer, for The Whiskey Bugle. "What a lovely name," he commented dryly eyes twinkling "funny I don't remember an Amelia Grey writing for 'em, but then again I don't much read posher papers, The Daily Prophet suits me fine. I'm not so educated as you...obviously." Tilting back on his chair Catt folded his arms with a lazy grin as he continued to study Amelia; she was definitely interesting.

"I'll have to have a little ganders at one of your articles then, what sort of stuff d'you write?" He asked with genuine interest, getting somebody who worked for a paper to help his cause would be perfect.

As their drinks arrived the waitress asked innocently, "any more sir?" Giving an enquiring look to Amelia he was beaten to it when Magnus answered in a hearty roar
"o' course girl, keep them coming, put 'em on my tab if necessary." Smirking and shaking his head in a mock expasperated way Catt added, "yeh keep them on his tab and not anyone elses, I don't want a huge bill come the end of this long night." As drinks were distributed he called, "a toast, to a good life." Banging glasses and purposefully spilling more liquid than he drank Catt smiled around in clear enthrallment; pretending to be far more drunk than he was. Tipsiness was setting in as the whiskey flew to his head but it took a bit to floor Catt, especially when he was being wily and not drinking all those purchased for him. He needed a clear head for the morrow, and besides he had secrets he couldn't afford to spill with a loosened tongue.

[Quinn Locksley]

When her drink came, noted a Firewhiskey, Quinn took a sip and slowly set the glass down on the table. She had to slow down on the drinking front. She had had twice as much as most of the men at the table, except for Mole who Quinn was sure never stopped drinking. What a sad waste of potential but Quinn also needed to keep a tight leash on her tongue as she tended to get very chatty about things she was under orders to kill people over. Naturally, Quinn knew her limitations and liked to push them but she always worried that one day something might slip, then she would be forced to kill someone who wasn’t attacking her first and keep it low profile. Quinn was cold but not that cold.

The heat from the whiskey filled her chest and she sighed contently. “It certainly doesn’t,” Quinn commented after a moment of staring at her glass, “but it sure does help. And Daddy is smart, therefore he has money, not the other way around.” This Daddy person Quinn kept talking about sounded like a wonderful man and a smile, small but definite, came to her down cast face. Taking on a different persona was always lots of fun for Quinn. She had a wide imagination for people and this was the only way of extricating it. This particular person happened to be real and Quinn was thankful therefore as Carl began to question her on her supposed work.

“It’s not particularly posh,” Quinn informed Carl with a gaudy roll of the eyes, “it’s just another paper.” Quinn had to think very quickly about the last article of Amally’s she had read, for it was her life Quinn was basing her façade on. Unable to remember Quinn made something up. “Oh it’s usually just a review on whichever place the boss sends me to,” Quinn informed Carl, fixing him with an even glare. “I haven’t been allowed to choose for … oh, it doesn’t matter. Mistakes are made and learnt from and we move on, don’t we Mister Hannover?” She took a slightly larger sip as she felt uncomfortable with all the eyes on her, so heavily present.

Quickly changing the subject, Quinn lifted a hand to point, almost, at Carl. “And what is it you do?” she asked, “we’ve all heard about me now. Your turn.” It was well known that men enjoyed speaking of themselves and Quinn was certain stories would start to flow about Carl’s and Magnus’ long lost days of gallivanting and such. Quinn had no taste for such twaddle but preferred it to a spotlight on her. She leaned back in her chair and fixed Carl with a nonchalant expression with a hint of interest, with a slight tweak of the brow.

[Cattrim Rallon]

Catching the merest hint of surprise at getting a strong firewhsikey, only because he'd been waiting for the look Catt's grin grew, sure she could handle her drink, but just how much was the pivotal question. Her tongue would undoubtedly loosen and he'd be able to extract more information about this newspaper she worked for. He'd have to tread lightly though.

"Oh good," Catt breathed a sigh of relief on hearing she wasn't just the daughter of some aristocrat with heaps of money, but rather the daughter of a successful business by the sounds, maybe he shared more in common with her than he'd first thought, but would her father really be in his line of work? Doubtful. "I can't really hate rich toffs who've just got their money from land and inheritance, success should be earned, don't ya think?" Leaving his glass prone upon the table unlike the other men who just kept glugging down whatever came to them Catt kept his eyes fixed upon Amelia his expression one of interest and just a little enthusiasm. Eyebrows raising as she defended her paper he had truthfully expected nothing less and agreed, "Yeh as ye can tell I'm not one for posh, apologies for making the mistake."

Smirking lightly at Amelia's soft glare he nodded, "course you're right again, we've got to make major mistakes otherwise we'd never learn from them properly." About to add how many mistakes he'd made given his dodgy career and dangerous life, he just managed to hold his tongue sliding into taking a swig of his drink, bringing down his glass slowly as the inevitable question came he kept his look jovial a smile hovering rather than predominant now. Catt had guessed the third degree would swing is way eventually, hat was why he'd kept up his barrage of questions to think of what 'facts' about him he could let slip to allay her suspicions but not perk curiousity too much. The fact that Magnus was right there and knew Catt's more adventerous lines of work really didn't help, and cut down his options significantly.
"Me? But you've a far more interesting life, writing for a paper and all..." he was playing for time but the hinting of interest that showed she wouldn't let it rest forced Catt to add, "whereas I'm just an honest business man selling my whares to make a way in life." Magnus set down his glass with a loud guffaw, "haha ye can say that again laddie, honest," he wiped away a tear of laughter as he continued to hoot clutching his sizeable belly, luckily his words naturally became incoherent. Chuckling along with his old friend Catt raised his hands in mock defeat "most of my stuff is legit, and you know that you old rogue."

Catt hoped that little laugh would be enough to satisfy curiousity but Magnus kept rolling on, "I remember those Dragons, good God man, I dunno how you managed that..." bursting into laughter Catt thought it best to join him as eyebrows all around were raised in avid curiousity, "I cannae help but always see ya with burns all over...charred clothes and the grimiest face I've ever laid eyes upon...funniest thing." He hooted clapping a hand roughly upon Catt's back.
"The very best I tell ye, the best..." Catt jumped in quickly before his secret was spilled "dragon you ever did see yeah you've told us mate."
"Those Jarvey's," he cried, "the rudest little buggers they really did create one hell of a diversion."
"That they did," agreed Catt having given up trying to waylay Magnus' reminiscing, it would only seem more suspicious that he try to hush it up.
"A diamond necklace was one of my favourites though." Catt said with a gleam in his eye.
Suddenly becoming very excited indeed Magnus asked in a hushed voice in a way that spoke of talking of dread things. "You've not still got the locket have you?" He breathed eyes wide. Catt tried to remain calm but anyone studying his expression woudl notice the slight narrowing of the eyes.
"No...no of course not. That little...oddment is long gone." Magnus breath came out in a rush as he sighed in relief, "good lad, I feared ye'd want to keep the damn thing."
"Nah, way too much hassle," commented Catt, "but I've still that little chest, got my treasures in that,"
"Gold eh?" Chortled Magnus not noticing Catt briefly touching his neck as he picked up his drink once more, finishing it quickly.
"But we're boring the lady aren't we?" He asked Amelia dryly with a flat look.

[Quinn Locksley]

Quinn took another sip of the whiskey she had been given and smacked her lips in satisfaction. Setting her glass on the table, she leaned on her elbows, arms crossed, and fixed Carl with an amused look. “Hating people isn’t worth the effort,” Quinn said simply, “no matter if they have money or not or how they got it or lost it.” She laughed, something Quinn was not accustomed to doing, when he said her life was more interesting and watched Carl closely as he began to answer her question. He seemed taken aback by the question, or perhaps unprepared to answer such a question. Still, Quinn kept still as she listened to him dance around the topic. Why? she wondered but kept her theories to herself.

Something surprised Quinn though, another something that didn’t happen often. Magnus seemed to know a great deal about this Carl Hannover character and was more willing to share then Carl. It was entertaining to watch Carl try shush Magnus. Rogue? Quinn was surprised by this too but did not let it show, did he say Rogue? Did he mean that Magnus is a rogue Rogue or is it just a friendly joke that I’m not privy to? Quinn’s interests were perked all the more. “Dragons?” Quinn repeated in forced interest as she tried to work out what unscrupulous undertakings they were talking about. Perhaps I can never get away from work or maybe it just follows me wherever I go, Quinn mused to herself as she took another swig of her Firewhiskey.

One thing Quinn had learnt about Magnus was that when he got started on a topic there was no stopping him. He just kept on going. Dragons, diamond necklaces, treasure, and he thought Amally’s line of work was interesting? She barked a laugh abruptly. Quickly recovering, Quinn said, “of course not. I’m rather enjoying the stories. Much better then stories I’m used to.” Quinn tired to sound as excited and intrigued as a young school girl might when listening to a teacher she fancied. Quinn smiled at Magnus and pushed his tankard closer to him. “Please,” she said, “continue.”

This, Quinn decided, was going to be a very interesting night. She smiled at Carl then remembered another of their party had been inextricably and uncharacteristically quiet. She leaned back in her chair and threw her head towards Dan. She took the final sip of her Firewhiskey and set the glass down gently. Quinn smiled at him before catching the eye of the animated and thrilled waitress. “Two more Firewhiskeys on his tab please,” Quinn whispered sweetly into her ear and pointed to Magnus. The waitress soon reappeared with their drinks and Quinn handed one to Dan. “Go on, mate,” Quinn said teasingly, “you’re looking a little parched.” She giggled and turned back to Carl and Magnus, smiling sweetly.

[Professor Daniel Hubbles]

Slowly in front of Dan empty glasses and tankards began to spread across the table, he was no longer thirty for drink but addicted to the taste and the buzz of the alcohol. The room slowly began to spin, Dan started to rock from side to side laughing at everything everyone said even if it was meant to be funny or not. He even over looked the fact that Quinn had started to use a false name; in fact Dan seemed to find it as a rather fun game.

Quinn clearly did not want this new guy, Carl, to know her name. The first thought that jumped into Dan’s mind that maybe they were ex-lovers, and with this a small grin spread across Dan’s face and as he looked at Quinn he started to see her in a new light. She was in her own way very attractive and had a mystery around her that attracted him to her. He remember feeling like this before by the lake that time, but then his feelings for Dia had pushed that out of the way. But with common sense and normal feelings slipping out of his mind things did not seem normal, Dia for some reason did not seem all that important, she was not here and Quinn was.

He soon realised that Quinn was leaning over towards him, that she was offering him another drink. Well if it was free and he did not have to pay then he would be fine with that, anyway another drink would not harm really. So with a small tip of his head Dan took hold of the glass that continued the fire whisky and threw it down his throat in one quick motion.

“Thank you Amelia that was very kind of you.” Dan gave her a small wink and blew her a quick kiss. “But sadly I think that I may still be taking this drink better then you sweetheart!”

Sliding his glass across the table he heard the cling of it hitting others but he did not look, his gaze was fixed on Quinn, with a drunken smile on his face.