[MP]Sister and Adviser[Jo]

Frankly speaking, Elizabeth loathed her lifestyle right now. Working as a sales clerk didn't afford her much of a net income. Sure her boss was nice enough and though nothing had happened she remembered his apprentice from school. She felt like she was in a ticking time bomb of an occupation. Elizabeth needed out of her job and quickly, but to do that she needed connections or at the vest least be able to get recommendations to some kind of workplace. Maybe she should try for the ministry again? Wouldn't hurt right? Who knows maybe they didn't keep records of all their interviewees. "Yeah right," Elizabeth said with a scoff to herself rolling her eyes in the process. She was probably red-listed or something from even applying she should just try looking for another profession.

So she needed a pick-me-up and the best idea she had was to get wasted or at the very least find someone to pick up at a local pub. She found herself in Burning Beard Pub which was holding a miniature version of Oktoberfest. This meant many candidates to speak to and get information from or even to have a fun night with. She could also use her wiles to get a few drinks from some unsuspecting men. It didn't take long before a rather intoxicated gent asked to spend some time with her. She agreed if he bought her a drink which he did. Elizabeth knew this man was a cheapskate though as he got her a gillywater. "Couldn't do anything harder huh?" she asked him as she got up from her seat. "I'm going to touch up my make-up," she said gently with a wink as she headed to the restroom.

When reaching the restroom she headed straight for the mirror and pulled out her handbag. Digging into its content she pulled out some eyeliner and began to reapply as she began to talk out loud not caring for who heard, "Couldn't even get me a butterbeer or a firewhiskey. Ugh. Yeah, definitely not going back out to him again." She turned her head slightly to get a better glance at the wing of her eyeliner making sure it was even with her left she corrected a small mistake before continuing, "Honestly being poor sucks I don't see how people can deal with such insufficient funds?" She put away her eyeliner pencil and pulled out a tube of gloss and touched up her lips. "I need a better job one day, but what?" She never expected anyone to answer her or anyone to give her advice of the sort she just needed to vent. Elizabeth was beginning to think life sucked so much for her and wished she hadn't taken that year or two off to enjoy the world and got a job like other students when they graduated Hogwarts.

@Joanna Hennings

It had been a long week, even if not a very eventful one. Work had been filled by dead ends on leads and the frustration that had accompanied it. And the ever-present linger of fear ever since she had read the loathsome Sylvester Walker’s opinion clung to her, like an unwelcome pest. Joanna rationally knew that most people did not feel the same way he did, but she couldn’t help but worry that if that was the message displayed in the media, how long before tensions reached breaking point again? The country had only just rebuilt itself from Tom Riddle’s reign of terror, it couldn’t cope with another one especially one led by awful men who gave the appearance of elegance and charm. And if you didn’t really analyse what they were saying, then it was easy to be drawn in. Especially since this time around, it appeared foreign support was already high. Stupid Sweden!

It was in an attempt to deal with this rising emotion that Joanna decided to go support Delaney for her mini Oktoberfest celebrations at The Burning Beard. She was trying to be a better friend to her ex-flatmate, and it didn’t hurt that it was in close proximity to alcohol. While Joanna was happy to drink, and drink a lot, she was less than tolerant of other drunks and so would usually avoid such an event. She could only imagine the unnecessary yelling and calling that would occur along with clumsy idiots spilling beer everywhere because they couldn’t pay attention to where they were going. Sometimes people were the worst! Despite having had doubts up until the moment she apparated there, and then questioning whether she could leave without being seen until she had a drink in hand, Joanna was there.

She was proud of what Delaney had managed to accomplish. The pub was crowded and everyone seemed to be in good spirits as beer flowed and German music played. It almost seemed like everyone who wasn’t at actual Oktoberfest was there, eager to share some of the fun. And Joanna, several drinks in, had a warmth spreading through her that seemed to radiate from where the hard spirits she had been tipping back had settled in her stomach. She had considered beer, but honestly, despite the theme she was happy to stick with her usual choice of alcohol. Having stopped at various tables to talk to acquaintances, mostly from work, Joanna was now in the bathroom, slightly swaying as she stumbled into the toilet cubicle. Drinking was great. Needing to pee was... not. Sitting on percy - her affectionate nickname for the toilet currently supporting her weight - Joanna contemplated what she should do.

About the state of Britain? Of course not! There was far more pressing issues, and not just the liquid sitting heavy in her bladder. Should she stop now, get something to eat then floo home? Or should she ask to crash with Delaney for the night and continue the fun? Joanna pondered, the thought spontaneously springing into her head that she really should move back in with Delaney, as she decided. Obviously she was getting another drink. Giving a small shimmy on the toilet to ensure all urine had left her body, Joanna wiped, flushed and stood up to less than gracefully pull her tights back up before exiting the stall.

One sink blocked by a younger woman, Joanna went for the one next to her and washed her hands as she listened to the other vent. Feeling a surge of affection rise within her for the poor girl, Joanna nodded in sympathy with her, locking eyes through the mirror. “You poor thing!” She exclaimed loudly, “you should have a better job, you deserve it!” Fully confident that her new friend was an amazing human being, she continued being motivational. “You can do absolutely anything you want to!” She assured, nodding enthusiastically as she spoke. “I mean, look at your eyeliner! I’d love to be able to do my make up like that!” Joanna wore light make up, a swipe of mascara and dab of eyeshadow being as complicated as she ever got. Eyeliner seemed far too fiddly for her.

Shoving her hand into her small bag, she withdrew two wrapped boiled sweets and offered one to the girl next to her. “Fruit sherbet?” She said as she popped the other in her mouth. The flavour hit her tongue, and Joanna decided she really wanted something sweet. Maybe a cocktail. Screw beer. Screw society’s expectations! She was still young, she was in control - she could do what she liked! Her own self belief suddenly running through her, Joanna decided to share it with the other. “You’re a strong, fierce lady who deserves a great job!” Suddenly, it was the most important thing in the world that Joanna help this person out. Female solidarity and all that. “We’re going to get you that job!” She declared. “Whatcha wanna do?”

Was she surprised someone responded to her aimless venting? No, she knew someone was bound to answer it was always something that happened in the bathroom. It was the perfect getaway from the crowds for one and the best place to dish gossip when needed. For Elizabeth, though right now she was too foul of a mood to really care about holding in any form of manners she was taught as a child. So this strange probably inebriated woman was a welcome change of pace for her. She could vent all her frustrations out from the terrible living conditions she placed herself into or the failing standards of the ministry.

She had to raise an eyebrow at the comment about her deserving a better job. She agreed of course as Elizabeth did quite well in her school work and should have been able to get any job she wanted to yet here she was scrounging with the low income she was gaining from her current employer. Elizabeth didn't want to be a sales clerk forever that's for sure. A plan hatched in her mind quickly though as she thought maybe she could use this poor unsuspecting woman. She didn't know this woman nor where she worked but it was most likely better than where she was now. Giving off a nice smile while not trying to come off as fake she thanked the woman, "You are so kind." Then the woman made a comment about her make-up application and she put her best face to encourage the woman back, "I'm confident you could do this with enough practice yourself." Elizabeth took a small pause before adding, "Though I wouldn't change a thing about you as you look fabulous already."

The woman ended up offering Elizabeth a sweet and the first thought that came to mind was that she was being treated like a child. If she wasn't trying to get something out of this woman she would have most likely swatted the candy out of the woman's hand and stormed out of the restroom and out of the bar. Yet she was on a mission now to extort as much possibility of new employment out of this woman one way or another. Elizabeth decided to respond with, "I must decline as I'm watching my figure at the moment." She gave a small hand gesture to her slender physique as she put away any make-up she had in her hand still.

That's when she was asked the dreaded question though. What did she want to do with her life? She mostly just coasted in school with no real direction outside of being with her friends and doing well in her studies. At one point she thought about working for the ministry and doing something with that, but ever since she bombed that interview she didn't want to try again. Was she scared to try again? No, she was more annoyed than anything else. Annoyed she lost her temper, annoyed she threated someone without any form of proof or backup to make her claim true, and annoyed that she let such an insignificant being such as that worm get under her skin. It always put her in a rage both at herself and him that she didn't realize she had clenched her fists and was grinding her teeth slightly. Elizabeth took a quick breath to calm herself before continuing their conversation. "I once dreamed about working for the ministry, but due to some," she paused again to collect her thoughts on how to word her next statement, "issue that dream has been crushed." She sighed slightly as she pulled out some hairspray from her bag and tried to fix her do a bit as a form of distraction from her own thoughts. "It's not all that bad I guess seems like I dodged a bullet really with what the prophet is saying about the ministry after all. You read about it right?" Elizabeth questioned the woman to keep their conversation away a bit from her own problems so she wouldn't lose her cool any more than she already had.

“Oh, you’re too nice!” Joanna cried, “thank you so much! You look fabulous too!” And she did look fabulous. Her eyeliner was definitely en pointe. People with sharp eyeliner always looked ready to go into battle and win. Her new friend, she looked like a Sarah, Sarah was lovely. “I don’t think I could ever get it as nice as yours,” she continued, Sarah’s just looked so precise. When Joanna attempted heavy make up it just looked shaky and like she had been trying to stab herself in the eye repeatedly.

Joanna gave an exaggerated gasp, not that she was aware enough to know that it was exaggerated, at Sarah’s response. “You don’t need to watch your figure!” She exclaimed in wonderment. “You’re like so skinny. Like a wand!” Joanna haphazardly gestured at Sarah’s stick-like body. “I could just snap you in half!” Nevertheless, Sarah did not want the sweet so Joanna popped it in her mouth to join the other one there. Two sweets were so much better than one! Why did people try and portion control things? It was so mean. Maybe people wanted multiple sweets in their life? What was wrong with that!

“What department?” Joanna asked airily, getting distracted by her appearance in the mirror. Why did she have so many fly away hairs? She was 28, surely that was old enough for baby hairs to have disappeared? Both hands trying to flatten them down, she was doing a better job at messily backcombing it into a tangled mess. It was doubtful that she would even notice until she tried to brush it the next morning…

“Most of people here work at the Ministry!” She declared enthusiastically, if not pointlessly. After all, it was well known that the Burning Beard was frequented by Ministry employees. “I know MLE is looking for a new tea lady.” Joanna offered helpfully. Well, Sarah had just said she wanted to work for the Ministry. Maybe she really wanted to be inside the building? The atrium was certainly a sight. Going off on the tangent supplied by her brain, Joanna continued, “there’s lots of perks and I know you get free tea and coffee. Plus you’re not tied to a desk!” All those sounded amazing to Joanna, especially the free tea and coffee. Who wouldn’t want free tea?

Unaware that she had talked over Sarah’s last sentence and so had missed the less than complimentary comments about the press portrayal of the government, Joanna smiled broadly at the younger witch. “If your dream’s been crushed then you need a new dream! I’d love to go on holiday!” She stumbled slightly on the spot, grabbing the counter to steady herself. “A really nice beach and lots of sun!” She described happily. She could drink as many cocktails as she wanted on the beach. Joanna definitely wanted a cocktail now, maybe a margarita or a mojito? Definitely not anymore beer.

what was this woman? Was she so much of a lightweight that she frequently was intoxicated or was she this friendly normally? Certainly, she wasn't someone she would have spent her time within Hogwarts. In fact, she probably would have made fun of the girl even if she was much much older than her. She did take well to Elizabeth's shallow pleasantries though. She could be manipulated easily probably and getting out of her crummy retailer job might be easier than she thought. The thought of Michael appeared in her mind and the smug look she would give him when she ended up working for the ministry despite her disastrous interview would fill her with such retribution.

Wait does she even work for the ministry? Elizabeth might just be assuming since the bar was so close to the ministry that this woman may, in fact, be like her. Someone wandering place to place or enjoying the festivities. She would have to pry this information out of the woman, but how without being obvious? Elizabeth would have to employ all her best tricks to do this through an inebriated target was a lot easier to manipulate than a sober one so maybe it won't take much.

Elizabeth practically ignored the comments the woman made on her figure. Though it was nice to get a compliment from someone she wasn't here to be complimented she was her to dish them out for her own advantage.  So putting on her most friendly face she responded, "I hope not I need my back in order to stand." Elizabeth gave a fake chuckle at her joke while on the inside she was gagging at the idea of what she said coming from her mouth. honestly, how could people make such corny jokes so easily and undisturbed? People were strange and Elizabeth felt like she was going to need to shower after this to scrub the shame away from her body.

When the woman asked Elizabeth what department her eyebrows raised up in interest. If she was asking her which department that means she did indeed worked for the ministry. Elizabeth had her foot in the metaphorical door of the situation. Time to turn up the charm and really bring things home. "It was for the Public Information Services Department," she then sighed slightly and continued, "Oh well must have been fate saying it wasn't meant to be." She gave a soft giggle to make it seem she was attempting to hide her sorrow from her past failure. This witch was far from sad from that interview though. In fact, she was still quite frustrated about it, but this woman didn't need to know about her more aggressive mannerisms.

The woman then talked about a job opening as the tea lady for the magical law enforcement department. Really tea? That wasn't much different from being a sales clerk she doubted she would get much fulfillment from it. Even if she got free tea out of it she could only imagine the orders that would be barked at her from her coworkers. Yet Elizabeth wasn't about to look a gift horse in the eye and refuse it. "I shall look into it then," she said politely leaving it as a possible last resort if she needed to. Though the idea of not being tied to a desk did seem promising to Elizabeth.

Then the woman went on about following dreams and what not. Elizabeth's grin faded as she began to think about this topic again. What did she even want to be? She knew she wanted to leave comfortably that's for sure, but what would that entail? Elizabeth would have answered the woman with an honest answer, but she noticed she had stumbled slightly. "Oh no! We need to get you back into a seat," Elizabeth said as she cautiously attempted to put the woman over her shoulder to carry her out back to the party.

Joanna batted Sarah’s hands away. She may be a lovely girl who was trying to help her, but Joanna was a grown up woman. She could stand on her own two feet! She had two feet! They were perfectly functional. One foot in front of the other. Trying to proceed in a straight line, although had Delaney added charms into the bathroom to make it like Hogwarts’ moving staircases? It may be wrong as a Ravenclaw to say this but Joanna was not a fan of the moving staircases. They made things unnecessarily difficult. Clearly Rowena Ravenclaw was just showing off. “Silly Ravens!” She muttered, making complete sense as she steadied herself against the wall.

Suddenly remembering she had company - the delightful Sarah - Joanna turned back to her new friend with a broad grin. Wow, tonight was just what she needed. There really was very good alcohol available. “You’re so kind,” her words were punctured by a slight giggle. “But…. but….” Joanna lost her train of thought before it had even fully entered her head. “You know what you need?” She interrupted suddenly. Oh, she had only interrupted herself? Oh well, it couldn’t have been very important.

“Let’s get a drink!” Joanna announced joyfully, her own hand reaching out to capture one of Sarah’s. She may have previously not wanted to have Sarah’s hands on her but it had changed now. Sarah might get lost in the crowd and they couldn’t have that! Intertwining their fingers, Joanna stumbled out the bathroom, pulling Sarah into the crowded bar. Compared to the bathroom the bar was a buzz of noise and movement, and Joanna was held up by the bodies pressed on either side of her. It never even crossed her mind that Sarah may be a reluctant participant of this new friendship and drinking session.

Once she had crashed happily into the counter, Joanna turned back to yell over the noise, “What would you like?” The delight of alcohol. The warm, fuzzy feeling that spread through her and left her feeling like she was flying. Carefree. Worry free. Could conquer the world if necessary. If Sarah replied, Joanna didn’t hear her and turned back to flag down the bartender. Perks of knowing the owner, Joanna was always served promptly.

Sloppily thrusting one of the two strong drinks into Sarah’s hand, ignoring the small splash that went over her hand, Joanna raised her own glass. “To your dreams!” With the toast she downed her drink. The alcohol passed smoothly down her throat. The mixer soothing the burn. “Happy Oktoberfest!” She yelled excitedly, her own words greeted with cheers from a few people around her. Could you believe that she nearly hadn’t come out?! Joanna was having so much fun!

She didn't take her offer to help and in fact, batted her away. Elizabeth felt offended almost. She was trying to be somewhat nice for once in her life and here this woman was straight up ignoring her offer to help. She rolled her eyes in annoyance at the woman. Did she really have to deal with a drunk tonight? Maybe she should have stayed home and maybe then she wouldn't have to babysit a grown woman. This was beneath her at least taking care of children would have been more manageable than this. Give them something heavy to eat that wasn't sweets and they would probably fall asleep, but this was just ridiculous.

Was she babbling now? How drunk was she? How did she not know her limit? "Really?" Elizabeth muttered to herself as she followed the woman with her arms crossed. There was no point in trying to hide her dissatisfaction or disinterest from the woman as she most likely wouldn't remember any of this tomorrow. What's the point of trying anymore anyways? She could probably leave the woman and do her own thing now as she was no use to her, but then again. If Elizabeth kept her safe for the night she would owe her a favor. The temptation of being owed a favor overcame any real doubts she had about staying. A devilish grin creaked across her face as her stance became more gentle again. Time to play the caring friend card.

Suddenly the woman turned towards her remembering that Elizabeth was even there. Did she want to drink more? At this rate, she was going to pass out or poison herself. Not that either made much of a difference to Elizabeth. The passing out just meant it would be easier for her to take the woman back to her place to let her sober up while if she poisons herself than she wouldn't have to deal with her anymore. Both were a win-win situation for the young witch. Things were turning quite well to her favor tonight maybe she would get to get a more dependable and income heavy occupation. So when the woman grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the bar Elizabeth relented without any force against it.

The woman asked what she wanted to drink and Elizabeth responded cooly with, "Whatever is fine." To which the woman turned around a flagged down the bartender who gave them two drinks quite quickly. She was then handed a drink by the woman quite hastily and made a toast to her. Smiling awkwardly Elizabeth responded meekly, "Yeah dreams." Raising her drink to her mouth she pretended to take a sip but drank nothing. She needed her wits of her and that meant no more drinking. Elizabeth needed to keep a level head if she was going to take full advantage of the situation she was offered.

"Happy Oktoberfest," Elizabeth responded though with not as much enthusiasm as the people surrounding them. Still, she did put on a smile to show she was apart of the crowd in some way. As the crowd went back to their own business she began to strike the conversation back onto the woman. "So tell me about what you do for the ministry? Within reason of course." The more information she got out of the woman the more she could use both against her and for Elizabeth's own deeds. 

There was a part of Joanna that noticed that Sarah didn’t seem to be having as much fun as she should be. A small part. Most of her however was concerned with relaxing and having fun and enjoying herself. She worked so hard most of the time, she was entitled to let her hair down on occasion. Well, the tiny amount of hair that she had, given that it was taking an age to grow back. But, she was letting it down and shaking loose.

Tonight was for celebrating. Well, maybe not celebrating, but definitely having fun.

And Sarah wanted to ruin it by talking about work.

Joanna was trying really hard to forget about work. At least for the next twelve hours anyway.

And so, she sloppily leaned towards Sarah with a lazy grin on her face. Joanna raised her finger drunkenly to Sarah’s lips, pressing hard as she shushed her. “Sssssssh. Tonight isn’t about work. I’m not talking about it.” She removed her finger before gesturing dismissively in the air. “No arrest reports or WB250s or public disorder call outs for me!”

Was Sarah judging her? Sarah was totally judging her for taking the night off. How dare she? Joanna was totally entitled to some time off, wasn’t she? It wasn’t like there wasn’t anyone else on duty. It was just a severely reduced staffing because most were in Germany. Should she be there? What if something bad happened? What if they couldn’t cope? No, no, she couldn’t think like that. Joanna was allowed to take some time off. And she didn’t take a lot at all, so one night wasn’t going to be the end.

But Sarah was definitely killing her buzz. And there was a guy staring at her from the other end of the bar top. And if he wasn’t staring at her then she would just have to go introduce herself. Liquid courage and all that.

And Joanna definitely thought that he looked very fun.

Her own glass empty, and Sarah’s apparently untouched, Joanna grabbed the cup out of her acquaintance’s hands and gulped it down.

She fluffed up her hair and made sure her boobs were sitting vaguely prominently in her top, before even acknowledging Sarah’s presence once more. “See you around!” She called dismissively as she walked away ready to hopefully meet the person she would spending the rest of the night with (and maybe the next morning too).

[/OUT]

Despite her efforts, this woman just didn't seem to want to contribute to the discussion at hand. Was this woman always this distracted or was it just the alcohol controlling her? Maybe her tactics were a bit of an issue too and trying to take advantage of this woman wasn't the best idea. It came as a surprise though when the woman pushed her finger upon Elizabeth's lips to silence her. It was a tad foul that this woman was so clingy and touchy-feely. Still, she seemed to have an unpredictable mind of her own. It was hard to read for Elizabeth.

She came out defeated though as the woman took her glass from her hand and chugged it down. The woman then checked her hair and her boobs before leaving Elizabeth standing there stunned. She hadn't failed often to make people follow her demands and prodding. It was usually her temper that stopped people from giving her the answers she so wanted. So this was another fail at her attempt at getting into the ministry. A formal interview didn't work and an informal one also failed. Maybe she would just have to give up on the ministry life.

Elizabeth sighed and then sharply turned around away from the crowds of people who were celebrating the occasion. This was a toxic place for her and she had no reason to stay anymore. Everything about this place stunk of defeat and sweat. There was no paint of staying and she made her way to the streets to head back home. Maybe if she was lucky she would forget about this night and find some other way into the life of luxury she so wished for.

[OUT]