[TGH] Bring on the thunder [Greg]

What do you even wear for a date? Tatum Atherton went through about four different outfits already. Dates were not her thing. Normally, she just failed horribly at them because she just treated the guys like her friends. Tate was a tom boy and was not the biggest flirtatious person in the world. Her brothers' taught her how to flirt and even play coy- which was bunching the arm of a guy or being extremely witty to them. That worked for girls with joking, but guys they just pushed you in the friend zone.

Tate ran into Greg Cartier while working the other day. They ended up hitting it off talking about tattoo and owls; surprisingly he asked her out  to get some drinks. She was not sure if he was asking her on a date per-say or just asking her to get some drinks like the typical bro code hang out. Tate was used to getting drinks with her guy friends. Usually they would get trashed and yell at some quidditch match. In her family they would get drunk and yell at the football match. She was just going to treat this like any other hang out and get drunk, get to know him, and watch the game if its on. She was already sweating on her palms even thinking about this as a date.

Quickly she put on her black tee-shirt, blue jeans (even through they were a little torn), and tennis shoes. She was done dressing to impress. It was just time to be herself. She kept her multicolored hair down today, but did wear a baseball cap. They decided they were going to meet at The Goblin Hole. She liked the place. They had amazing chips. She used the floo network to get there. She threw some powder to her fireplace and spoke the words and instantly pooped into the destination. She still had the fear of pronouncing something incorrectly and popping up in the middle of nowhere. There was floo powder now covering her hair and hat, some still residing on the clothes. She took off the hat and banged it upon her leg trying to get the dust off. This filling the area she was standing in with dust. Oh- fun, the first time hanging out with someone and you are covered in floo powered this would be a great day.

She located a table in the back and sat down, ordering a pint and two glasses as she waited for him. She was still fidgeting trying to get the dust off of her.

July 2000 

Dating was not really something Gregoire thought he would still be doing at his age. Sure he was still young but he was so ready to find a real partner, someone he could settle down with and have a family. He might not seem like it from the outside but the French man is 100% hopeless romantic. So naturally he thought by now he'd have a nice little house, a beautiful wife to spend the small amounts of sickles he had, and maybe a kid or two... he didn't think he'd still be going out on first dates. Never the less, he wasn't about to give up, so after chatting with Tate for a while the other day he got up the courage to finally ask her out on a date. He'd been thinking about it since they met but it hadn't been the right time until that day. He spent the morning finishing things up at the shop, it might of been early in the morning to him but to some it was the end of a very long night, and that meant they were usually busy. After the morning rush he left early, leaving the shop in capable hands, and headed upstairs. He showered, shaved, and got dressed, even managing to find a brightly colored shirt and pair of black cargo shorts that weren't completely stained with paints.

Getting ready took only a small amount of time but that didn't mean he wasn't nervous. Gregoire wanted things to go well, he always wanted them to go well. Smiling into the mirror he made sure he didn't have any food in his teeth, pushed black hair back and completed the look by throwing a black baseball cap onto his head. His old worn in sneakers beat down the pavement as he made the familiar trip to the Goblin Hole. Most people probably wouldn't of chosen this particular establishment for a first date, it didn't exactly give off the best impression, but Gregoire wasn't most people. Places like this were his fancy restaurants and Gregoire had always been okay with that. Thankful he didn't live far as his stomach started to rumble Gregoire pushed into the small vestibule before entering the bar and looking for Tate. She wasn't hard to spot with her wild hair and it made him smile. He tapped his fingers on the bar, signalling the tender he knew by name to bring a few drinks over, whatever he felt like making was fine with the French man.

When he got to the table he realized she had ordered them drinks as well, another thing about her he liked and he offered her a toothy grin. "You look great," he said softly as he took a seat across from her at the table. He was thankful she had chosen a two person table, it took all the math and consideration out of the decision of where to sit. He would of wondered all night if he chose the right seat, directly next to her for closeness? or across from her for better conversation? Scooting his chair in loudly he put his hands on the table, trying to seem casual. "How was your day?" He was genuinely interested, she had a cool job, and mostly he just wanted to hear her talk about herself. He wanted to know all the things about her.

As he mentioned how she looked, she glanced down at her outfit. "I actually had no bloody clue what to wear." She smirked back up at him. Greg ordered them drinks also. Great minds think a like. Tate just really loved to drink. Half the time when she drank she got very violent and angry, but that is what happens when you are the only female with three brothers who all love football. The house would get rowdy and their mother would be having a heart-attack from the play fights and sailor talk. Tate just dug herself into the a hole and became just like her brothers- words, drinking, and love of sports. As he moved his chair in and then put his hands on the table asking how her day was she smiled at him, before taking a swig of an ale. "Well- my dog decided to chase the owls around for a good three hours with me working on trying to collect them all for inventory. He thought he was helping- but rather getting me more work. I thought having a dog was a good idea to keep the bloody cats away but he just makes me more exhausted." She thought she was talking to much, she quickly closed her mouth and took another drink. "How about your day? How's the shop?"

Greg had the same love for tattoos as her, but his love went a little more. He actually owned a tattoo shop. That is how they met. He ordered a owl from her for his business and she got to meet him. He was attractive, even now, but she probably would never had the courage to even tell him that. Tate really was bad around guys. Half the time she just ruined it with just acting like one of the guys. She really didn't even have a boyfriend that lasted because she could never act girly enough- as they said- around them. She just really acted like herself and if people did not like that then screw them. She was happy to be an independent, vegan crazy girl.

"What drinks did you order? Sorry- I am used to ordering beer that I automatically do it." She bite her lip slightly. "Thanks for inviting me though, I really needed to get away from the birds for a while. I think I might be turning into a crazy bird lady." She smirked. "There's no feathers coming out of my hair right?" She took off her hat feeling the top of her hair- obviously joking with him.

"Oh the shop is doing pretty good." He said politely with a smile. She was friendly and he enjoyed her company, especially since she was so unlike any of the other shop owning neighboors he had met recently. Most of them were stiff suited wizards out to make a sickle and not fraternize with inked denizens like himself. She didn't seem to mind one bit, in fact, she seemed to enjoy tattoos just as much as he did and the French man could appreciate that. "I mean, its always better right before the students go back to school, probably because the artsy ones stock up. Thought about opening a shop in one of the school shopping districts, like Hogsmeade, I just don't have the funds for it yet ya know?" He shrugged his shoulders after he was finished speaking and offered her a toothy grin.

"Beer is totally fine with me." He said before chuckling, its about what he would of ordered himself so he didn't mind it at all. He wasn't really a fancy drink topped with an umbrella stirrer kind of guy after all. And then she mentioned getting away from the birds and he couldn't help but laugh outright at her joke. She was amusing. "I don't think so." He said, stretching his neck a little to play into what she was saying before shaking his head. "I don't think its gone that far ye." He laughed again, taking a drink of his beer before continuing.

"Good thing we got you out of there just in time then yea? Guess this means you'll have to spend the evening having drinks with me, really detox ya know?"

"My owlery is located in Hogsmeade. I would love to open one here, but the city is to busy. The birds would feel uncomfortable and probably would start plucking their feathers out. Hogsmeade is a little more secluded and a nice escape for them." It would be nice to open another owlery but she was already lacking anybody to run it with her. If she opened anything new she would be running herself dry. Tate needed to stop overwhelming herself with work and relax once in a while. This man had such a nice smile. Tate liked watching him. His art was gorgeous and he probably managed to get so much work for his tattoos because his smile was so welcoming. Tate had a hard issue being rough with people. Most of them were not accepting of a rough, tumbled, brutally honest sales person. She was so over protective of her owls that sometimes she would not care about the person around them.

At least he was fine with her ordering beer. Most people if they went out with her at the bar would just order her fruity and annoying drinks. Tate hated that. A great ale was her best friend. Drink, watch a quidditch game, or even watch a soccer game. She was one of the boys at heart. Blame that on her big, boy family. As he studied her hair to see if she was growing feathers she chuckled. At least he got her joke. "I probably do have some feathers in there, but I swear their not mine."

Tate smiled about the detox. "I am totally fine with that detox. I drink like a man, I must warn you." She chuckled once more. She put her finger up to show one minute. She grabbed a pint glass and filled it close to the rim. She took a gallon out of her pocket and flicked it into the cup and then picked up the pint cup and chugged it completely down grabbing the gallon in her teeth. She smirked at him as he placed the cup back down. "And I love to drink."

She was quite the woman, her display of her drinking ability made him laugh again and he clapped at her feat. "Nicely done bird lady." He said with a throaty chuckle, he was of course just joking with her and he thought this night was off to an excellent start really. "You say you drink like a man but I wonder can you drink me under the table?" He said with a daring grin before chugging the rest of his beer, not missing a beat or letting a drop go free.

"Let me just tell you I drink here quite often, I've got more than enough practice in." And that was bloody true too because he spent way too much time drinking at the Goblin Hole. One might call it his spot but he didn't mind that at all. One might even call him a drunk but he didn't mind. He shrugged his shoulders before smiling at her and filling up both of their glasses. He held the mug up toward her, so they could cheer before another drinking race and then he spoke.

"Drunk, tattooed, employed. And they said I'd amount to nothing after Beauxbatons." Hah.

"Oh its on like Donkey Kong." Maybe he did not know what Donkey Kong was. It was a muggle thing. She smirked at him gently. "I can definitely drink you under the table. The thing is- will I be able to feel my feet at the end. You might have to carry me home." She chuckled at him gently. Tate was good at drinking but holding it in was another story. She was a lush but if she got drunk she probably would just instantly turn into butter and want to sleep. This was going to be a fun night though. She was already excited for the games to begin.

As they filled up their mugs and held it up to hers, she hit it slightly and chugged her down as quick as possible. As soon as she finished she placed it back down on the table. She wondered who finished first. She was unsure. At least she was having fun with it.

He mentioned about after Beauxbatons, she chuckled. "At least you weren't called Mudblood." She smirked, "I was on the run couple years after school so I didn't think I would be where I am. I am glad I am though. Had a rough time getting there but glad to making new friends and drinking buddies." Tate wouldn't mind more with Greg, he was cute and fun. She was still getting to know him though. She filled the mugs this time. She held them up and smirked. "Ready?" After this one she might need a break. The room was not spinning yet, but she was definitely feeling it. Her toes were tingling and her face was flushing. It might because he was cute though, she was unsure.

He laughed at her joke before looking around for the goblin waitress, at this rate they would need a new pitcher soon and he wasn't going to make Tate wait. He liked that she was down to get drunk and didn't seem to care what anyone thought, not that any of his thoughts were bad. She was a cool friend to have and he was glad that they had met each other. "That is the real question isn't it." He'd carry her if he had to, he wouldn't mind.

He took a fast drink of their next glasses but he was pretty sure she had beaten him. He used the end of his sleeve to wipe off some of the beer foam that had managed to get caught on the side of his mouth. He didn't mind the foam, though he much preferred what came after. "You are good at this... gonna' have to up my game now."

G offered her another quick smile before seeing her refill their glasses yet again. This girl was going to get him drunk so fast, not that he minded, but he was more of a leisurely drinker. He frowned a little at what she had said. "I'm sorry you had to go through that, but at least its all behind us now yea?" He hoped so. He had been able to open his shop back up, and things felt like they were back to normal but he wasn't even sure what that meant anymore. Apparently Beauxbatons had some kind of cave in and there was who knows what under the Academie, Hogwarts had some freaky dome over it keeping every one out and no one knew what was going on inside, and he heard the Bulgarian school had merged with some other school he hadn't heard of before. Things were strange out there.

She asked if he was ready and he nodded brightly at her before chugging down his glass. This time he might of won, he thought, but he couldn't be certain. "Is it just me or does it feel like were taking shots over here?" He hadn't done shots since he was in his twenties but he had to admit it made him feel young.

Or maybe that was just the beer talking.

Tate chuckled at him. It was nice to get out and drink with someone. Getting away from the birds is what she needed. He mentioned picking up his game, she shook his head. "Trust me, you probably won't win. Have you been in a house with Manchester playing on the tellie and your brother's going crazy over it. I don't think so. They blood worship that game and my house is a big load of drunks during football." She chuckled gently. She probably sound even more muggle. She has been a witch since she was eleven but still could not help to put away her muggle side. Even when she was hiding she preferred doing it the muggle way. It was like the muggle way was so much simpler. That might just be because that is what her family does. "My bloody family is nuts and drinking is one of their passions." She chuckled gently.

As he mentioned the school times was behind them, she nodded. Many of those students were locked up for being snatchers or just in their own families having to convert to the new way to life of not making fun of muggleborns. There were still people that were not accepting of it, but she can't change them all. She was more upset that she ruined lives by trying to hide from what she really was. If she accepted it maybe people would still be around.

As he said mentioned the beers seeming like shots, she nodded. "I might need to stop. Toes are numb." She chuckled as she looked down at her feet and back up at him. The room wasn't spinning yet but she was feeling full. Maybe she just needed to burp. No way was she gonna do that in front of him. If he was her brothers that was different. This was someone actually out drinking with her. "Want to say you win and we slow it down a bit?" She raised an eyebrow at him. She adjusted her baseball cap. It was started to feel uncomfortable with the heat coming from drinking. She ended up taking the hat completely off and setting it on the table. She ended up fiddling with the rim for a second then looking back at him. "Thanks for inviting me out, I really needed it."

She could definitely drink and Greogire couldn't help but be impressed by it. The French man was always one glass from being fully plastered when he wasn't at work so it wasn't surprising that he felt that way. He was such a staple in this bar that they basically named a drink after him already. He laughed at her joke about being in the house with all of her brothers and actually he could kind of relate. "No idea what that is like but I do know what its like to have a lot of people in a house, got twelve siblings myself." He said with a proud grin, he loved his family even though he didn't go home nearly enough to see them all. He finished his glass just as she began to say she needed to slow down and that was when Gregoire took a look outside.  It had gotten dark before he had even realized it and he was kind of disappointed by that. He was really enjoying spending time with her and that was when he decided maybe they could go and do something else. He wasn't the type to invite her back to his place on the first date so his mind wasn't even close to there but he did have something in mind for the two of them.

He did like the sound of him winning too, though he was the type of gentle man that he would of let her win if she hadn't said something first. She probably would of won in the end because though he could drink and party for hours on end once it hit him, truly hit him, he was out like a light. "Yeah of course, this has been really fun. But I think were missing something." He said with a goofy grin as he chewed on the ball of his lip ring. "We need some greasy diner food, I know this joint not far, kind of skivy looking but it has the best food." He stood up slowly and held his hand out to her. "You can lean on me if your feet are numb." He said with another grin before leading them out of the hole and down the street. Apparating would probably make them both sick, if Gregoire was even sober enough to get them where they were going, so instead he just walked. The cool night air was nice this time of year, maybe a little chilly being September, but the alcohol in his system served as a nice jacket.

[[out]]

"Oh so you know about big families?" She chuckled. Tate's mom always wondered why she never wanted children. It was because she had three big brothers that were like children. Not many people could say they have a muggle twin brother that was older and always picked on you in the wizard world. The night was starting to show even darker. Tate couldn't believe how fast it got dark during this season. She wished that she didn't drink much and took her time so that she could spend more time with him, but she knew that it was going to end eventually. She stared at the empty class for a second, then back at up at him. She was trying to focus on her surroundings. It was at the point where things were spinning slightly. Okay, she was becoming drunk. Not many men could say they got Tatum Atherton drunk but he was now one of them.

As he mentioned taking her somewhere else to get food, she smiled. Greasy food would be a perfect combo for a drunk stomach. As he held out his hand for her she smiled at him. "Are you sure you can handle walking me?" She chuckled gently at him slightly grabbing his hand. She leaned her body into him slightly. He smelled good. A mix of paint and ink. She always loved the smell of ink or hot skin when you get a tattoo done.

The cold night air was no concern for her, due to the alcohol in her system. That was warming her up, but she leaned a little more in Greg as he walked her to the destination. She could stay here, it was nice.

[out]