[T.Broomsticks] Looking For Something Witty to Say

[Alex Cromwell]

It was the Friday leading into one of his rare weekends off so perhaps Alex's drinking could've been acceptable. However, the fact that he had started at 3:00 in the afternoon probably wasn't.

He smirked slightly as he sipped his scotch, if only his dear old mother could see him now. He was getting old, unmarried(and glad of it), stuck in a job he did out of necessity and a love of besting others in a duel. And yet she was proud of him in her own desperate mournful way so he told her he was happy and looking for the right girl. He laughed bitterly, after all these years he still felt the need to take care of the old woman who had forced him to become the leader of the family after the death of his father. He downed the rest of his scotch in a gulp, mocking his own pathetic life. It was times like these he was glad that his sister traveled abroad regularly.

He looked at his empty glass and felt the familiar buzzing sensation warm his brain. He smirked knowing that tonight nor tomorrow morning would be a good day.

"Rosmerta," he said with(what he hoped was) a charming grin. "Be a dear lovely and fetch me another scotch. You know I shall love you for it!"

"No doubt you should love anyone for it," she said smirking as she poured him a glass of water. "Drink it."


"You're killing me," he said taking a sip of the water anyways.

"You're killing yourself," she said walking away.

He tried desperately to come up with something witty to say in return but the only words that came to his mind were, No doubt.

[Ashlee Van Dort]

Ashlee had closed shop for the day and decided she needed a treat. She walked into the Three Broomsticks and took a seat at the bar. She smiled at Rosmerta, "A dry martini, Rosmerta, if you don't mind," she said to the woman.

Rosmerta grinned, "Coming right up, Ash," she said walking away for a while.

Ashlee turned her body around to see the other inhabitants of the pub. Some she knew, others, she didnt. Once the bartender returned with the martini, Ashlee smiled and sipped it slowly. She noticed a man sitting by himself. She smirked as she picked up her glass and approached him, "You look like you could use some company," she said taking the chair next to his. "Hi," she said with a grin, "I'm Ashlee Van Dort."

[Alex Cromwell]

"So you give her the alcohol she asks for," he said finishing his water. "I call it sexism. Now how about that scotch we talked about."

He laughed as she rolled her but placed the glass in front of him nonetheless. "Thank you for that my charming lady!"

He turned and looked at the young witch now sitting beside him with a slight smirk. She was a pretty young thing certainly, although too happy for his tastes. Still, it was no use not talking to her-wouldn't want to be rude or anything.

"Always glad to have the company of a beautiful young witch." He said grinning. "Ashlee Van Dort...that is quite the name now isn't it. Sounds familiar.

"I'm Alex Cromwell, auror extraordinaire."

[Ashlee Van Dort]

Ashlee gave a slight nod in the direction of the bar tender, a gesture only between the two. She returned her attention to the man who she knew looked familiar. She didn't realize until he had given her his name, "From the Ministry? I used to work there. Maybe that's why I seem familiar. I was head of the Improper Use of Magic Department. I own a shop here in Hogsmeade now," she said taking a sip of her martini.

AJ looked down at her martini. She swirled the contents around and watched the olive spin. She wasn't a big drinker but when she did drink, she'd often overdo it. She gave a sigh before looking at the man. Ashlee smirked as she spoke, "So what brings you here so early in the night?" she asked him.

[Alex Cromwell]

"Perhaps," he said smirking. "The world is full of familiar people.

"Improper Use of magic Office, hate that place. They take all the fun out of this world. Bad fighters as well, despise it when they send the buggers with me to do something important. Completely useless." He said in his usual blunt manner. Hopefully she wouldn't take his remarks too personally, not all of them were fools-just the vast majority. "Probably a good decision to leave anyways," he said taking a sip of his scotch. "Can't have worked at the ministry too long though, you seem young but perhaps my eyes are deceived if you already own your own shop as well. Though who knows, wars always mock up the economy and working conditions."

He smiled at the question as he swirled the contents of his glass, enjoying the sound of the ice chips hitting the side of the cup. "What else would I be doing? Frolicking about in the open air? Don't get too many weekends off, thought I'd take advantage of it by getting an early start."

[Ashlee Van Dort]

Ashlee took a sip of her drink as he ranted about her old department. She knew exactly what he meant and that's why she did leave the Ministry. There was just nothing for her to do, except send owls to those that made the tiniest mistake. In her book, that was just pathetic. She looked at him and shook her head slightly, "You're right. I haven't worked there long but I am not that young, I'm twenty-five years of age," she answered him.

Ashlee couldn't help but smirk at his answer to her question, "An early start, eh? You must not have much of a social life. Then again, who am I to judge. I haven't one either," she said, downing the rest of her drink. She stared at the olive that sat in the now empty glass. "The War took everything from me, so why start a new life," she said giving a sad smile.

[Alex Cromwell]

"I'm glad you're not insulted." He said taking a sip of his drink. "Not so young indeed, but certainly younger than I. Though I do find it difficult to find people who aren't younger than me these days." He said laughing and taking another swig of his drink. "Most people under thirty are fighting, dead, or dying. Luckily, I am too good to die in a battle."

He laughed as she finished her drink off. "Don't want to get too drunk, some horrible man might take advantage of you. Simply dreadful if that were to happen." He smirked and winked at Ashlee.

"To have a lived and to have had memories is certainly better than to have become a cynical bitter old man like myself." He said laughing as he finished off his drink and called for another. "Better to start early and end late I say! More drinking and less memories!"

"Thank you my lovely Rosmerta," he said as she pushed another drink in front of him.