{two strangers in the bright lights} harlan

He had to hand it to her— Roslyn was nothing if not committed to not letting him off the hook easily. It wasn't something he wasn't used to, of course, both in a professional and personal sense. In fact, he preferred it that way. As with most things in life, Harlan found the thrill of the chase just as rewarding as the win itself. This night, he was beginning to think, was going be no different.

She needed more incentive. Than payment. In a store that sold books. Harlan's eyes narrowed once more, edging on a roll but he stopped himself.

"Am I to take it you're looking for a bribe then, Miss Hayes?" A questioning smile crept over his mouth as he turned to face her more squarely, mirroring her use of the last name without thinking much of it. "And here I didn't take you as corrupt..." He clicked his tongue in mock disappointment, sitting to lean against the back of a nearby leather armchair, folding his arms casually over his chest.

"What did you have in mind?" He wondered, glancing at the bookshelf for a moment before his gaze washed back over her. "As if my saving you from your horrorshow date wasn't enough," Harlan added as an afterthought, the shimmer of mischief in his eye good-natured.

As she wasn’t in the business of lying to herself, (Refusing to acknowledge things and filling them away as unimportant was lying. It was pushing unpleasant truths away.) she could admit that the wizard currently narrowing his eyes at her was definitely amusing her. Annoyance aside Harlan was quite entertaining, which was a bit of a surprise. She wouldn’t have really expected a professional quidditch player to frequent book shops. Much less all the way in Scotland.

Momentarily distracted by the mans smile (it looked like a cross between shy and challenging and she couldn’t quite make sense of it, alright, other than it being fetching) his words took a second to sink in. But when they did, well. “That’s absolutely low Harlan!” she said, eyebrows and lips scrunching up. Ugh. Did that count as cheating? She was sure it did. His words could be easily taken as a threat and a guilt trip. Which was impressive if it wasn’t so bloody underhanded. “For the record, do try not to bribe an Auror.” she said, put firmly in place.

“I guess you did sort of rescue me, though. That’s just a fact.” She admitted with a sigh. Guess she had to loose this one. Despite being stubborn to a fault she also had a very firm line from wrong line. Low as it was he did make a good point. He’d been her savior. “It’s right over there.” She said, motioning to the shelves to the right with her head.

So chagrined she didn’t even take of acknowledge the out he’d given her. Just as well she supposed.

Harlan's eyes went wide. Roslyn's voice picked up, she used his name— both of which he feared did not bode well for him. Clearly, he had struck a nerve in bringing up bribery, though wasn't that what it had been? In what way could an incentivized offer be construed when not actual payment? Harlan's brow furrowed in return, though he stopped short of shifting uncomfortably against the armchair. He intended on standing by what he said. Unsurprisingly.

"Look—" He began, his own tone far from sympathetic. She spoke again before he had the chance and he listened, this time more intently. "I was just giving you a hard time," On second thought, continuing down the path of an argument with someone who was still virtually a stranger wasn't the best laid plan. Particularly when her shop was one of the last on his list. And Merlin, did he need that book.

Thankfully, Ros seemed to have thought the same, softening slightly as she directed him toward where he needed to be. Harlan suppressed his usual grin and paused with a smile, pushing himself to stand in full before stepping around her, a fraction closer than necessary. "Thank you," He added as he swept by, only lingering for a moment to look her in the eye. Scanning where she had indicated, the shimmering gold script on the spine of the novel caught his eye— The Trials. Fucking finally.

"Didn't take you as a quitter..." He hummed thoughtfully only after having secured the book, venturing a glance over his shoulder. Ros seemed good-spirited enough to take the joke. At least, he hoped.

The brunette witch bit her lip, feeling oddly wrong footed but earnest all the same. She could feel her cheeks heating up and cursed internally. “You’re welcome.” she managed quietly twiddling with the edges of her sweater. She felt oddly guilty for having held him up, really. Her feelings in the subject might not make a lot of sense to Harlan but, well, he’d scored some serious service points from her perspective for getting her out of a dicey situation and she felt compelled to ... be of service herself in a way.

Anyone else and she would have teased, fought, and tortured endlessly because it was just how she was. She wasn’t someone who held to a lot of restraint on even the good days and Harlan seemed like just the type she’d enjoy teasing. (Emotional restraint, yes but that was something else entirely wasn’t it?) There was the added factor that she genuinely had enjoyed his company on both occasions of running into each other.

She wasn’t quite so rude as to assume he’d want to meet up intentionally but she did want him to leave with a favorable enough impression to not hate another chance encounter too badly, should they run into each other again. “I’m very rarely do, usually.” she admitted honestly, gaze averted, as she ran a hand through the spines of a few books. Her gaze flickered up to his face as she smiled ruefully. “But you really were quite nice when we met and I’m quite grateful for your assistance and so.” she gestured helplessly but earnestly. “I’m glad I could help you find something suitable.” she added, rubbing the back of her neck sheepishly before walking out towards the door. “Let’s get this wrapped up for you yea? We have a nice selection of gift wrap downstairs. I’m assuming it’s a gift, really, since you didn’t say it was for you so I’m just-“ babbling. She was ... babbling. Her cheeks were still quite red she was sure when was the last time that had even happened?

Too long, probably. Best to shoo Harlan on before she said something else that would cause some more mortification.

Well, that certainly was a change of pace.

In an instant, they had gone from friendly enough banter to the witch retreating just as quickly as she'd come upon him mere moments before. Harlan combed through the interaction as he studied the look on her face for any sign he might have taken things too far, but couldn't pinpoint anything concrete. "Yeah, thanks," He palmed the book carefully and eventually bore his gaze away from where she was pulling at the hem of her jumper.

Harlan paused again as Roslyn spoke up, this time expressing her gratitude. What he had done that night, in his mind, was what should be expected of any person with a fraction of conscience. Though she seemed to be holding it in a high enough regard to almost make him uncomfortable in return. "Really, it was fine—" He found himself interjecting before she could continue.

"It is a gift," A small smile pulled at his lips as he confirmed, this time more earnest than their interactions prior. It was what he got, he figured, for being so bold with someone he didn't actually know. One night over pizza and bad beer lamenting about a terrible date did not warrant him feeling as comfortable as he had. "What do I owe you?" He asked, only a sliver of mischief in his eye as the reminder of bribery caught him. 

fin

Her gaze flickered up towards his, eyes wide but grin in place, as she studied the wizard before her. She felt a bit silly, now, didn’t she? But then she’d always had extreme and unprecedented reactions to things. She really wasn’t the type to reel that part of her personality in. In her experience it was slightly off-putting to those reserved sort of people that valued their quiet and their space. She truly tried to be mindful of that when meeting new people and the thought she’d failed that with someone she wanted to, well, think good of her sent her mind spinning a bit.

The only time she could really turn it off, though, was in a job. That, she knew, had mostly to do with needing to be alert at all times and focused. She’d surprised many of her fellow Hogwarts alumni with the single-minded intensity and complete focus before when they’d met her at the ministry. Truly there were dark parts of her - it came with the job, really - but those were tramped down viciously because this was her home. The safe little haven she’d built for herself that didn’t invoke feelings of anger, sadness, or heartbreak. This was a place of quiet, reading, relaxation, and reflection for her.

She supposed Harlan had inadvertently stumbled upon the Roslyn Hayes funhouse mirrors unintentionally.

Still,at his interjection, she ceased her words feeling still like someone had cast a confundus on her. It happened, sometimes, when her thoughts fought with her wishes and wouldn’t reconcile. It usually meant she should enlist in a dueling tournament or see if any of her colleagues were up for some drills. She’d wanted to relax but, perhaps, what she really needed was to exhaust herself. There was probably plenty of overtime work she could dabble in. Something mindless enough to take her mind away from her current casework, anyway.

She couldn’t help but appreciate the wizards smile, though, because she figured he should really use it more often. (In reality he’d been using it quite often enough, she just enjoyed the sigh of it and so to her he should probably always be sporting it) “Pizza and drinks?” she said cheekily, eyes lighting up with mischief as her brain finally got in her with her desires. Perhaps... there was a way she could win this and still be doing a nice thing. Most of the cost of the books were so exorbitant because of the time and the skill it took make them sellable again. They were old, too, of course and therefore valuable to those who could appreciate their value. But really she didn’t feel bad not charging him, if it was her work, right? Her magic and her time. If she wanted to exchange a nice meal with some company for it, that was her decision.

She guessed, instinctively, that he’d balk at the suggestion. Which would amuse her greatly wouldn’t it? Especially with all his teasing at bribery. She bit her lip again, using her hands to cover the grin she could feel curving her lips,   as she gestured downstairs. “Come on then. Im sure you’ll have plenty to argue with me about the price. But really, I must assure you, that the price is quite non-negotiable .” she added, eyes glittering in what could only be described as pleased triumph.

Fin~