[Hogshead] Impressive Instant

[Warren Hubbles]

Warren was sitting one of the many barstools that ran along the counter, he was in fact the only person in the pub and had quite frankly gotten sick of standing behind the bar like a nonce waiting that someone would turn up. Sadly this meant that Warren was going to have to entertain himself and the only way he could think about doing that was to sit down with a cup of coffee and the mornings paper. There was nothing particularly interesting to read about, naturally he has turned to the sports pages first off and read up on all the latest Quidditch news but no games had been played so everything was just speculation and rumours.

Further into the paper there was a picture of an old Witch and her collection of cats and that entertained Warren for a bit. The toothless grin of the old prune made him laugh but the crazed look in the eyes of the hundreds of cats that surrounded her just added to the atmosphere of the picture. The story that partnered the picture was far from interesting (she had broken some old standing record about the longest living cat or something stupid…Warren did not really care for the creatures so did not care for the article.)

Sipping on his instant coffee Warren looked around the empty pub and sighed, Bailey was not working until the evening, Girty and Dan both had work stuff and Trish had not been around in a while either. But then just as Warren was thinking that he might as well shut up shop and go back to bed the door opened.

[Prof. Victoria Potter]

"Oh why not just shut your mouth" she barked at the man who placed his hand on her leg for about the fourth time while whispering the most filthy things in her ear. Vicky didn't want to cause more of a scene so she refrained from slapping him and moved off the stool. Usually The Three B's was more innocent than that but this man didn't seem to know that. Her face flushed as she turned on her heel and left. The nerve of him to think she'd do such things....

She had no idea where to go or what to do she had wanted a nice drink and a calming atmosphere instead she got the drunk derelict and her blood pressure was up. Placing her head down she chose not to look at anyone in the eyes she didn't need any more lewd remarks thrown her way.

She wanted to go somewhere, anywhere, but where? Then the sign gleamed in the sunlight the Hogshead. Warren would be there and it had been some time since she had seen him. The man was cute and sweet too plus she knew he'd protect her from that kind of non sense. Briskly walking up to the door she opened it and found the place empty save the person she was hoping to see. "So what is it you've done to force your patrons out of here so early?" giggling she took a seat at the bar her favorite seat, since she frequented the place so regularly.

[Warren Hubbles]

It was strange that the one person who walked through the door had been someone he had not thought about in his list of friends. But then Victoria Potter was someone that Warren did often think about, she was an interesting woman and her face would appear in his dreams but he could not make his mind up about her. She was beautiful, friendly and so often Warren just wanted to take her upstairs and have her all to himself…but something stopped him every time he thought about this and planned on acting upon it, but he did not know what that was.

She greeted Warren in her usual chirpy manor and it was hard for him not the grin back, even as she gracefully walked across the floorboards of the pub towards the empty barstools by him the Landlord could just laugh. “I cleaned, can you not tell?” The cheeky grin spread across his features “I do not think they liked me getting rid of the cobwebs and grime off the windows.”

In all honestly Warren had no idea why no one was around and although it was not doing his bank balances any good it was nice to get a bit of peace and a break from the drunks that normally lingered in the pub. Not that Warren would complain openly about the drunks seeing as they did pay his wages and keep the pub open, it would be nothing without them. Placing his coffee back onto the counter Warren could barely tare his gaze away from Victoria or wipe the grin from his face for that matter.

“So what brings you here today then Vicky? More importantly what can I get you this fine morning?”

[Prof. Victoria Potter]

Victoria simply couldn't get the feeling that Warren wasn't displeased by her appearance.out of her mind and for that she was glad. She came in there so often because she couldn't resist her attraction to him. One thing she didn't do though was flirt, perhaps because she didn't think he would take the bait. Something seemed to put him off though she knew that there was a little something. Maybe she was reading too much into it, or perhaps she was pushing her feelings onto him. No matter she would do her best to keep things to herself, if he wanted her he could have her but that was left up to him.

As he smiled at her Vicky felt herself warm up just a little. Nice smiles were a dime a dozen and he had a great one. It gave her joy to see especially since at that very moment things seemed rather quiet in his pub. He wouldn't discuss it with her she was sure but having no patrons couldn't be good for business. "Oh yes and a nice job you did too, place looks good" as does the owner. Vicky bit her lip at that thought, she was being bad and she knew it.

So many nights she fantasized about him, wishing he would notice her even if for only one night. The fantasy she wanted to become a reality but she didn't think it would happen. Grabbing the edge of the counter she forced her mind to think of something else.

He placed the mug he had been holding down onto the counter and she could smell the coffee from where she was sitting. The smell is not what caught her attention though it was his gaze on her that did the trick. He was too handsome to be allowed and as masculine as they come, right now he was focusing all of that masculinity onto her. Vicky licked her lips wishing she could think of anything but him, he was making it so hard for her. What was it about men that caused her to act like such a girl?

He asked what brought her in that day, she wanted to say the The chance to get you alone but instead she told the truth "After being molested at Three Broomsticks I figured I'd go to a place where the clientele wasn't so touchy feely."

[Trisha Baldwin]

Trish had had a wonderful morning so far. It had started out, as most days, in the Head but only for a few minutes as she had a breakfast to get to with her Chudley Canon keeper friend. Of course she had milked that for all it was worth while she could, knowing how much Warren enjoyed Quidditch. She left there with high spirits, chuckling to herself for a long time after at how Warren had taken the taunting.

She had arrived at The Bird just after eight o'clock to find Grace and Sianna hard at work already. Breakfast was interesting as both the women Trish was eating with had to occasionally jump up at run off for a few minutes. That certainly made any form of conversation very jolted but interesting none the less. The meal was made even more interesting when her little sister came in, all wet from swimming. The four sat together for a while, eating, talking, laughing as they did whenever they got together. Sigh soon had more clients to look after so Trish thought it would be a good idea to say goodbye.

After her breakfast was settled in her stomach and she was out in the warmth of the day again it was clear that what she needed was a drink, something cool yet interesting and tantalising and she had learnt that the only way she was going to get that was if she made it herself and where better to make it then at The Hog's Head? She gingerly made her way towards the run down pub, smiling gingerly at the tall man buying an ice lolly from the the ice cream stand, arriving in good time.

When she walked in there were two things that struck her as odd. The first was that there were next to no people in the place. Besides Warren, who didn't count, there was one person in the place and not the sort of regular Trish had become used to during her time in Scotland. The second strange thing was that Warren was sitting down. He was actually sitting. Trish couldn't help but laugh. As her laughter poured out of her it filled the empty dingy pub so much that her hand shot to her mouth and her pale cheeks coloured lightly.

"Hiya," Trisha said and walked towards the bar, smiling from the woman to Warren. "Alright?" Instead of doing the usual thing and taking a seat at the bar, Trish went straight behind the bar and began fishing bottles out. She threw a few things together in a beer tankard, smiling happily to herself. When it was full of a liquid that looked like peach coloured liquidised chocolate, Trish took a sip and smiled at the two sitting in front of her. "Can I pour anyone something while I'm here?" she offered smiling sweetly from the woman to Warren.

[Warren Hubbles]

“They did what to you?” Warren could not believe what he was hearing. It was so early in the morning and let still some of the lower scum of the wizarding world were trying to make a pass on beautiful women. “Well I am glad you came here then, cause if those gits come into my pub I will give them what for. No one does things like that in my pub unless it is me.”

Warren gave a small laugh, it may not have been the perfect topic to be making jokes about but then in his eyes if you could not make light of a situation then something must be seriously wrong. Yet even though he had joked Warren wanted to reassure Vicky that nothing like that truly would happen in his pub. The Landlord held the Professors gaze and offered her a small comforting smile and was about to accompany that with a few words of wisdom when the pub door opened.

The gaze that Warren could barely remove from Vicky features did however soon take a detour, to the person who had just entered the pub. When the Landlords eyes fell upon Trish Biggerstall a perplexed smile filled his face, particularly when she started laughing at him and Warren had been around Trish for long enough to know she was laughing at him. He did not care to ask however instead Warren just watched as the witch strut her way over to behind the bar and started to pour herself a drink.

Trish, in Warren’s eyes, had a natural talent for mixing drinks and after the many evenings they had spent making all sorts of concoctions he had never tasted one that made him want to gag. A few had set his mouth on fire, or turned his tongue multiple colours but they always tasted so nice, so it was with a fascination that Warren watched Trish throw this drink together and by her own reaction it tasted nice and that was a cue for Warren to have some.

“I will have what ever you’re having Trish me dear.”

Warren teased with a wide grin as he pushed himself off the barstool and tried to take the tankard off Trish. The presence of the counter made it harder to reach out and Warren’s attempt failed miserably at first, but the fire was in the mans eyes as well as a strong amount of determination. It most likely would have been easier to give Trish the puppy dog eyes and beg her for a taste of the drink but then where was the fun in that? He was already off his bar stool now and soon found himself on the other side of the counter and slowly heading towards Trish, a playful smirk tugging on his lips as he lunged forward in an attempt to get the tankard.

[Prof. Victoria Potter]

Warren's reaction caught her a bit off guard, it shouldn't have but then a lot of things like that happened when she was around him. Talking about what happened caused her to think back on her time at the other pub she figured if any of her friends had recounted that story to her she probably would have said the same thing. It was shocking to have a man think it alright to touch a woman, or say what he wanted to a woman if the woman never gave him any indication that she wanted him to. The man didn't even seem phased by her reaction which scared her even more.

Warren saying he would not have that happening at his pub did little to alleviate her anger and disgust, but holding onto it made no sense either. No the man had done enough she was not going to let him ruin the rest of her afternoon. "Yeah I'm glad I came here too, this is the swankier of the two pubs" she smiled once more already feeling better.

The two stared at each other for some time before the door to the pub opened once more. Soon Warren's eyes turned away from her to see who had just entered. Suddenly there was laughter filling the room though no joke had been told. Vicky too turned her head to see who this boisterous new arrival was. A pretty dark haired woman who seemed very well acquainted with the place walked in and went behind the counter.

On all her nights at the bar she couldn't recall seeing her before but she seemed friendly enough. A friendly "Hiya" was uttered from the new comers lips and Vicky couldn't help but smile and give a "hiya" of her own. Behind the bar Vicky could hear bottles bumping together, the sound of pouring liquid. The concoction being made was one she sure didn't recognize. Her brow quirked as she was asked if she'd like something to drink. Vicky was thinking against it but when Warren took a chance and had some Vicky couldn't resist. "Sure I'd love something" hopefully this would be good she had already finished being sick.

[Trisha Baldwin]

Trish was holding the tankard in her small hands, it might have belonged in a giants had you compared it with her hand the beer mug was so large, or was it that her hands were so small. The small woman waved the large glass back and forth in front of Warren as he reached over the bar to try and take it from her. Trisha knew that he enjoyed her drinks and wouldn't have put it past him to go through great lengths to get it from her.

The woman agreed to a drink, despite the earliness of the hour. She could not believe that less then an hour ago she was having breakfast and here she was, drinking before mid-day. She knew that if her mother - or her brother for that matter - saw her they would freak out. Her mother had strange notions on sensibility that Trish simply wasn't akin to. That was why she stood out of her family so much ... just like her metamormagus sister, Jac. Both were Gryffindor's in their time, a first for the family, and neither conformed to what their family wanted of them. It was no wonder that Jac had found her earilier.

Trish nodded to the woman as she took another sip from the large glass. She would have said something along the lines of "sure, no problem, is there anything in particular you fancy?" but she didn't get that far. Warren had stood up and was now striding towards her with a determination that was a little scary. Even so, Trish laughed and turned around, shielding her drink from him with her body. She peeked over her shoulder at him, smiling as she watched him come towards her.

There was no doubt that Warren could, if he wanted, take the large drink from her. He had sheer size on his side, that was for sure, because Trisha was slight of stature and didn't stand a chance (pun unintended). But one thing she did have for her was that she was quick and nimble. She managed to evade him, her long curly black hair bouncing as she swung her head from side to side as she knocked every advance Warren made on procuring her drink. She laughed loudly, her ice blue eyes full of laughter and enjoyment.

"No!" Trish shrieked, "you can't have this one. I'll make you another. I'll make you a different one, Warren!"

[Warren Hubbles]

Oh if Heather could see Warren now, he would have been hexed so much that he would be on the Long-term residence ward in St Mungo’s with all the other deranged people. But luckily for Warren and the preservation of his own sanity Heather was not up in Scotland, in fact she was at the other end of the country and so she really would not know if he harmlessly fooled around with Trish. Because that is all they were doing, having a laugh.

The Landlords first dive in was not successful as the slight dark haired witch easily moved away from the man blundering attempt to get the drink. This routine between the two carried on for a while, Warren reaching out trying to get the drink from all angles while Trish just danced away from him protecting the tankard. He must have looked like a caveman trying to catch a butterfly with his bare hands, the task really was complete pointless but then as his son Wilson always said there never was a point to fun…it was just fun! The last time Warren could remember having this much fun with his clothes still on was…well was the other day when, yet again, he and Trish were behind the bar mixing a few drinks and it got to the point where they had to stop because they were laughing so hard they were missing the glass when pouring the vodka from the bottle.

“I don’t want another one.” Warren laughed as once again he reached out trying to snatch the drink from the quick moving Trish. “I want that one, saliva and all.”

It was during this slight lapse in Trish’s concentration that Warren seized his opportunity and wrapped one arm around Trish’s waist so she could not escape and then with his free hand tried to get hold of the tankard, but still the witch would not comply. With a small huff Warren knew he would have to divert to much more dirty tactics and so his attention went from the tankard to Trish’s torso and before even truly thinking about what he was doing, or for that matter the other person who was at the bar, Warren started to tickle Miss Biggerstall.

[Trisha Baldwin]

Trish shrieked with laughter and squirmed in Warren's arms as he tickled her. She wasn't entirely sure how he had found out that she was so ticklish but it didn't seem to take him long to do so and now every time they had a bit of fun he had to pull out this hidden ace out of his sleeve and waved it in her face. Well, no, not quite, he more used it to render her useless and inoperable. She laughed, squirmed a little harder and suddenly –

THUD! followed by a loud SPLASH!

Trisha had dropped the tankard in an attempt to stop Warren from tickling her. The hot chocolate-thick peach-coloured content had splashed out for the large container all up onto her legs and through them too, and slowly ran down her jeaned legs. The glass tankard itself stayed intact, through a strong desire to remain in use Trish had no doubt … or else through a strong desire to remain out for the rubbish heap that was quite the potent lot, that was for sure. Trish froze, watching it fall almost in slow motion, gasping that she had been so clumsy, and when it splashed all around, splattering everything behind the bar, Trish had gasped and cringed at how cold the liquid was.

For a moment she stood as she was, unable to think of anything to do or say. Things like this always happened when she was being silly, no matter where in the country she was. It was a lucky thing that the glass had in fact not broken. As the dark haired woman stared at the glass, so near to her feet, the thought crossed her mind that Warren might have put some sort of charm on them so that they didn’t but there was no knowing if she didn’t asked. Which she wasn’t going to.

Trish, feeling her pale face flush with colour, turned around carefully and looked up at Warren. “Sorry bout that,” she said, nodding her head downwards to the thick liquid that was determined to cling to the cupboard doors. “I’ll be sure to pay for it this time,” she said softly, blinking up at the man who was standing so close to her, “and I’ll make you that drink I promised. Shall I?” Her gaze was searching. Though she knew that Warren wouldn’t be too worried about the wastage, Trish had never liked the idea and couldn’t stand it when it could have been prevented. Compensating for it would be the least that she could do.

[Prof. Victoria Potter]

She had been about to answer the newcomer when suddenly things turned. Vicky watched the display between Warren and the pretty dark haired woman. There was no denying some sort of chemistry between them. So much so that Vicky started to feel a little uncomfortable. Words suddenly failed her and she had this weird ache one she wasn't sure of. Her lips shut tight and formed a thin line as she looked down at the floor.

Even the sound of a thud and a splash didn't quite cause her to look up. Vicky assumed that what the woman had been holding had fallen because Warren was being so very touchy feely. Again that strange aching in her chest started again. Vicky didn't want to think about it or put a name to it. Perhaps she should have stuck it out at The Three Broomsticks that man hadn't been so bad, perhaps had she closed her eyes...Ok none of that, she chastised herself.

Perhaps this would be as good a time as any to make her exit, didn't really seem as if her presence or lack there of would make much difference. Again she was the bottom two with a man she fancied. Sighing she figured she better start getting used to it since it seemed to be a habit lately. Trying not to make too much noise she began to get up from the bar. She had her back turned and still hadn't bothered to look up. Biting her bottom lip she wondered if she should just head back to where she had just come from. That other bloke had to be gone by now.

Walking to the door Vicky's face looked worn and tired. In just a few minutes she aged about 5 years. There would be a lot more drunk nights in her future. She had already been thinking about the drinks she'd be having.

[Warren Hubbles]

Tickling was not something that Warren did that often with grown-ups, his own children and his younger cousins’ yes…but never grown-ups. Yet this still did not stop him from attacking the woman, her laughter drowning out his own or at least it was until the tankard slipped from her hands and crashed to the floor. It seemed to fall in slow motion, the liquid slowly falling out and as the thump sounded out Warren was sunned silent for a moment, still clinging onto Trish, but then suddenly the laughter erupted from him once again but he had to try and keep it slightly controlled as Trish started to talk to him.

The laughter burst out occasionally at first as their gazes met and Trish half heartily apologised. “Its fine.” Warren chuckled but Trish continued to ramble on about other ways of repaying him. “Honestly Trish it is fine I…” Warren broke off as his he soon noticed that Victoria was no longer sitting at the bar counter, in fact she was heading towards the door.

“Vicky! Where are you going?!” Warren let go of Trish and made his way around the bar towards Victoria. The bar man was still laughing as he went and it was only added to when he tripped over one of the barstools in his haste to reach the door before Victoria. “Come on sweetheart.” He grinned as he reached out and grasped onto her upper arm and tried to pull her back towards the bar. “Please stay, drinks are on the house…or at least we shall add it to Trish’s tab.”

He gave Victoria a rather cheesy smile accompanied by the traditional Hubbles family wink, which was about as sentimental as Warren Hubbles normally got. Those who knew Warren very well knew that he was not the kind of guy to run after women when they turned their back on him, he normally let them get as it was their loss more then his. But for some reason, even with this in mind Warren had run after Victoria and that was something he could not get his head around.

[Prof. Victoria Potter]

Vicky was still wondering why she was acting this way. What did she care if he was making goo goo eyes at another woman while she was sitting only feet away? She was simply a patron of his bar they weren't even real friends or anything. Now she was upset because of her reaction, she had to stop doing this to herself. At this age, being boy crazy like this only led to heartbreak it had already happened to her and she was dealing with it in a most unhealthy way drinking constantly. Now here she was going down that same path. Leaving was probably best, the door was only a few inches a way fresh air and no Warren.

Before she could reach the knob, she heard him calling her. It would have been so easy to throw the door open and just start running for it. Running away was something she knew a lot about so she had no qualms about doing it but she couldn't because the sound of his voice left her standing there frozen. Not again, she couldn't be letting a man get to her like this again. Try to deny it all she liked the moment he said sweetheart she nearly melted it was happening all over again.

Dammit she muttered to herself before she turned around slowly not quite looking at him, she leaned back against the door and suddenly it dawned on her that he came out from around the bar to stop her from leaving. What reason did he have to come after her it was not as if he was lacking company? This thought made her look up at him questions in her eyes questions she could not voice. Then she felt this flash of heat as she took note that he had come after her. There was no doubt in her mind she was going to stay knowing it was a mistake. Moving from the door, she went to stand next to him, “So on the house huh? You’re really trying to get me to get up on that bar to dance aren’t you?” The joke made her feel better though it was a cheap attempt to divert attention away from her over reaction.

[Trisha Baldwin]

It was at times like these that Trish cursed herself for letting the likes of Warren Hubbles know that she was ticklish. It always ended in disaster: either someone fell over and hurt themself - which was generally her - or they fell over and ended up hurting someone else - which invariably ended up happening - or something ended up breaking - just like what had happened now. It gave the small woman a sinking feeling, a feeling like someone had put a large rock on top of her stomach and left it there to dry.

Trisha stared at the glass on the floor, transfixed. Not even the woman moving away from the bar tore her eyes away from it. Warren ran after the woman - a curious action for the man, to be sure - and not even that worked. It was oddly beautiful. That was one thought that came to her. "Oddly ... artistic," she said softly, thoughtfully, cocking her head to one side. Her momentary panic had past and now it was just the glass and the thick liquid and her shoes in the picture. "How weird."

Trish heard the two people talking but it was only when her own name was said that she took a step backwards and looked up, her chest heaving with the deep breath she took in. "Oy," Trish yelled across the room to the two people now coming to take their seats, "Nobs! I didn't know I had a tab?!" Trish then did something that made her blush terribly: she put her hands on her hips and cocked her head. This was something her mother often did and it curled her toes to know that she did it too.

It wasn't normal for Trish to go this long without laughing so, naturally, a laugh burst forth from her, high and girly. She quickly pulled out her wand, gave it a wave and the honey gold liquid that had been in it all flew up and then flew behind the door to the outside where Trish knew there was a drain. The glass itself was fine, she realised when she bent down to pick it up, though there was a rather nasty looking chip in the base. "This'll be mine from now on," Trish said proudly, placing it on the bar.

Warren and the woman, who Warren called Vicky, had joined her again and Trish sent her a winning smile. "Welcome back," she chortled. the woman's comment about dancing on the bar made Trish laugh loudly, her cheeks flushing with happy colour. "You'd better watch out, first it's the bar, then it's the bed and you don't know how many bodies had been there in the past fortnight!" Trish rolled her eyes disappointingly at Warren, before giving him a toothy grin. Looking back to Vicky, Trish couldn't help but think that that was exactly what this woman wanted.

"Right, what can I fix for ya?"

[Warren Hubbles]

The land lord could not help but give a sigh of relief when Victoria agreed to stay, if she had left even with him trying to stop her he would have left a complete nonce running after her, and had she left without him trying then he would have felt bad for ignoring her. Maybe that is why Warren had done it, to try and make sure he did not feel an ounce of guilt, or maybe he just truly did have a heart and cared about others…it would be more likely to be the former.

“There would be no dancing on the bar without me.” He said wrapping an arm around Vicky. “I bet if we were fuelled by enough alcohol you and me would be the King and Queen of the dance floor.”

Warren did not whether to take offence or not by that comment by Trish, was she trying to insinuate that he was a man that would sleep with anyone who entered his pub? As this thought lingered in his mind in dawned on the barman that his track record was actually pointing that way so there would truly be no point in arguing it, so instead Warren looked over at Trish and gave her a begrudging nod of agreement.

“However I would like to add that I do change the sheets regularly.” Warren shot both women a cheesy smile before continuing to chuckle away to himself. It was nice that Victoria had agreed to stay; he could imagine that if all three put in the effort they could have a few laughs seeing as he enjoyed both of these witches companies anyway. Leaning against the bar counter Warren grinned happily over at Trish as she asked what she could fix up for them. There was one problem with this question, Trish had asked it. Any other person behind the bar he would have asked for something nice and simple, but since when did Trish deal with plain boring stuff?

“Remember the other night when we mixed that cheap wine with the whiskey?” He raised his eyes brows hoping that Trish would remember. “Well not that one…the other one we made with the absinth. I shall have one of those.”