i can do bad and you can do better || nala

"Chérie, don't you know who I am?" A thick French accent was easy to detect, even from behind parted lips in which an unlit cigarette dangerously rested. "I am a dancer," The eighteen year carelessly spun on his heels in an attempt to prove his prowess and nearly broke an ankle in the process. The smug smile on his face almost immediately broke out into a toothy grin, his eyebrows raised as if to say 'told you so'. With the free hand that was not occupied by a bottle of scotch, Monty gave a flippant wave over his shoulder, sauntering through the door marked for crew only as if he owned the place.

Monty Python and the Holy Grail were playing the following night on their inaugural headlining European tour. Sure, the venues weren't Quidditch stadiums... yet, but the frontman was certain it was only a matter of time until they were selling out in every city. London had been particularly good to the boys; Due to high level of communication between Beauxbatons and Hogwarts, word of mouth spread fast between the two wizarding hubs and they were nearly sold to capacity.

It was during a small press tour at a local London underground radio station that Montgomery made a discovery far more exciting than anything the disc jockey was spouting out. At first, the small poster directly behind the man with thick framed glasses hadn't caught the musicans attention, a handful of dancers twirling gracefully around a stage, nothing he hadn't seen before. His eyes glazed back over, pretending to pay attention once again; That was, until a familiar figure spun across the poster and paused at the forefront of the frame, if only for a moment. Nala.

"I'm looking for a Miss Jauregi?" Montgomery spoke in the most serious tone he could manage, his smile sickeningly sweet, swinging happily through the crowd of dancers as they exited the stage. Although he only arrived in time to see the end of the performance, he was certainly impressed. "I'm her father, just here to congratulate," In the corner, he noticed the look of recognition from a red head who had been eyeing him. "Beautiful work ladies," He cooed.  Just as he raised his hand to blow the red head in the corner a kiss, the very person who he had been searching for emerged to the hallway behind the stage.

"My love," Montgomery broke into French, quickly pulling his old friend into an embrace after touching either side of her cheek with his own, being careful not to lose the cigarette. "Suits you," His free hand ran from a strand of the young woman's hair to her ballet costume as he took in her appearance. "Very posh, your new school," She looked good. Adult, even. It had been a long time since they had last spoke, and even longer since they last saw each other; to be honest, he didn't even know she was based in London until that very day. "I brought you a gift," Monty held up the bottle of booze with pride, ignoring the glares surround him.

@Nala Jauregi

"Oh! Merci," Nala reached forward, grabbing the large bulk of flowers from the man in front of her. She let them rest on her arm as she smiled, her eyes once again meeting the blue eyes of the older man. Nalaia didn't know his name, but he'd been at the last five showings of the Nutcracker and he'd brought her something every time. Now she had a small hair pin, two arrangements of flowers, a simple band to be worn on one of her fingers, and even one of those bottomless bags. The dancer felt quite famous, despite the fact that she was only a supporting character in the ballet. "You're so kind to me!" Her English was broken, but he didn't seem to mind. "I thank you so much."

With a singular nod, she started to turn away to make her way backstage. Nala appreciated the man - he made her think that maybe moving away from her family was a good idea. She'd been on the fence about the whole thing since she'd graduated, although having one person come to multiple shows in order to see her dance over and over and over just made her think that London was where she was supposed to be. The eighteen year old missed her parents, but she'd sent them tickets to one of her upcoming shows. Hopefully they weren't busy and she could see her family for the first time in a few months.

Rehearsals had been killing the girl, figuratively. She had no time to do anything that she'd wanted  - Nala had been in London since the end of July and she had yet to go shopping at any major store. The blonde hadn't had time to go home or time to even take a long bath before she collapsed back into her small bed and went to sleep. After her audition, she'd started training as one of the fairies in the Nutcracker ballet, morning to night. Ballet at this level, at her level of talent, was serious.

Nala thought she'd heard a familiar voice from behind the stage, although she'd assumed it was just voices in her head. Switching the flowers from one arm to the other, Nala entered the backstage area, her head down as she surveyed the bouquet in her hand. It was pretty, rather expensive she assumed, which she didn't mind. They'd look good in her apartment, next to the others.

Her head only turned up when she'd heard that damned voice again, but this time, she was sure it was real. Brown eyes met the face of Montgomery Lachapelle, her face contorting into one of surprise. "Montgomery," She said, wrapping her arm around him for a second before she surveyed the eyes of the women around her. They were as surprised as she was, if not more. Nala could have sworn she saw a glint of fear in the eyes of one of her fellow fairies, and she didn't blame her one bit. Madam LaRue would have a complete hayday with Nala's trespasser. The former Papillonlisse didn't even want to think of what she was in for when she'd went in for the next performance.

As Monty talked, Nala grabbed his hand and pulled him back, past all of her colleagues and into the small bathroom that lay in the corner of the dressing room. "What are you doing here?" She asked, dropping her best friend's hand and turning to face him. He looked different - his hair was a little longer and he looked a bit happier, more rugged and more... chaotic. "I could get in so much trouble." The girl sighed, furrowing her brow as she looked back down at the flowers in her hand. It didn't take her long before she looked back up to him, her eyes narrowed as she took him in. It wasn't long before she started laughing, her face breaking out into a huge smile as she set the flowers down in order to wrap her friend in a tight embrace. "I missed you!"

Trouble. Montgomery Lachapelle practically salivated at the mere sound of the word as he was pushed into the bathroom, legs clad in torn black jeans falling over themselves in the process. Of course, though, the eighteen year old was careful to not drop the valuables. "Miss Robinson, are you trying to seduce me?" The Frenchmen fell into the wall, his lack of coordination a stack contrast to that of his dancer friend who seemed to float through every movement without fault. "In a bathroom, no less?!" His eyebrows furrowed in mock disappointment, his faux-English accent reverberating across the marble. "And here I'd thought London had taken the French right out of you!" The singer continued on his slurred charade.

"So..." Monty searched for the word as he struggled to open the bottle of Scotch in his hands, the unlit cigarette in his mouth slipping to the corner of his mouth. "Just no fun, these English people," He held the newly opened bottle up with pride comparable to that of someone with a newborn, the mop of dark hair falling over his illuminated face. 

"I've missed you!" He mirrored, tucking Nala into his chest and using his free hand to cradle the back of her head. After months of travelling it was good to see a familiar face. He wasn't sure if it was the bottomless screwdrivers the band had partaken in at lunch, but the place was buzzing and the man was the happiest he had been in what felt like years. Nala felt like home. Forget France. Home was the bathroom of a London performance centre with her and a bottle of scotch.

"You were unreal," He kissed the top of her head affectionately before taking her shoulders in his arms to get a better look at her. "I've got the night off, we need to celebrate, where will we be off to?" He wiggled the bottle of booze in front of her mouth, daring her to take a sip. "We've got a show tomorrow, you'll be there," He continued, taking a sip for himself before she could answer. "Bring your colleagues," Monty's mouth broke into a smug smile.