{l a y m e o n t h e g r o u n d} reed

Reed honestly wasn't sure what he liked best about Roslyn, her dauntless athleticism, or the fact that she was just as eager to rub their victory in everyone else's face as he was. "You would have made a decent Slytherin." He mentioned offhand, that penchant mischievous tone in his words, despite his ragged voice. He needed to get some water, too, he realized. While Reed knew Roslyn hadn't intended to invite him for a shower, he couldn't help but ask. Partly on the off chance, she said yes, but mostly to see that little blush rise in her cheeks.

"I suppose I could see what Kathy from accounting is up to..." Reed said impishly, turning his wrist over to look at his watch as she moved away. "It's about lunchtime for that department." But of course, he was kidding—mostly. If he asked, Kathrine would probably agree, but Reed didn't plan on spending his afternoon with anyone other than his teammate.

Roslyn teased him with a very intriguing choice of words, and Reed wished she meant it. It would be a good idea, he assured himself, because they would both have a good time. He could separate it from the work they did and everything else; he was good at compartmentalizing. "I wouldn't stop you, though," He joked back but shrugged because he knew it wasn't going anywhere.

Agreeing with her plan, Reed headed for the men's showers with a nod. He washed up quickly and changed back into his standard (but not at all common) Marchesi suit. Three pieces, magically enchanted to keep him cool and made of the finest Italian fabrics. He pulled each of the cuffs, used his wand to sharpen the crease in the legs, and buttoned the vest. Slipping on his rings, fixing his hair, and checking his timepiece, Reed headed back out into the halls of the ministry to wait for Roslyn.

"I'm too reckless to have fit in well with you cautious types." she admitted, taking the comment like she figured it was meant as: a compliment.

Roslyn instantly narrowed her eyes, crossed her arms, and took a step forward and stop just short of jabbing him in the ribs with her elbow. She'd reserve that action in case he actually left her hanging. "You better not ditch me for a quick shag, Stringfellow. I'll bloody gut you the next time I see you, if you do." she threatened. She mostly meant it, too. It was a very good thing she'd decided to become an Auror, honestly, otherwise she'd be in... a lot more trouble with the law most likely. Her temper tended to get her into trouble and it was very difficult to stem sometimes.

"As expected from an opportunistic Slytherin like yourself." she teased, feeling a bit more secure that she wouldn't be left behind.

As they parted she thought about where to actually go to eat. She was in the mood for something particularly caloric. She took a shower rather quickly, going straight for her locker and pulling out her dress and her outfit. She made sure she was dry after having moisturizing before slipping on her dress. She smoothed it over her thighs before strapping on her beige heels. She put a black headband on and finished with her hair before powdering her face and putting on some lipstick. She was rather fond of the sleeves on her dress since it had a disillusionment charm that hid the wand holster strapped to her forearm. and admired herself briefly before walking out to meet Reed.

"Where would you like to eat?" she asked him once she walked over, she motioned over to the floo network before pausing briefly.

Reed had seen a pretty witch in a nice dress before, but he'd never seen one so well put together in so little time. Roslyn defied everything every high maintenance witch in his life had ever done by looking that good, that quickly. "I'm impressed." He told her genuinely, both at the speed and at how beautiful she looked right now. He had seen her in her school uniform, quidditch outfit, and auror cloaks, but he didn't remember ever seeing her dressed like this. He'd have to go to lunch more often, if this was the dress code.

"I could go for some maghmour." He motioned with his tattooed hands how big of a plate he planned on eating. After a work out like that, his body was screaming for a power meal. It was heavy, but it was worth it. "I know a Lebanese place that makes a good fattoush, if you like pomegranate?" Reed didn't work in the import export business by chance, the wizard had been determined to work in the one office that would really allow him to travel the world. And his favorite places were by and large, in the Arabian Peninsula and the Middle East.

"It is only one floo away," Reed said as he stepped toward the large hearths wrapped in blackened stones. "Shall we?"

"My hairs a bit damp still." she admitted, feeling sheepish. The black headband she was wearing kept her hair away from her face so that the rest could dry naturally. Roslyn was the type of woman that wanted to look good at all times but also wanted to put minimal effort in. Naturally that meant she had quite a few dresses in her closet and most of her outfits were already coordinated in her closet as well as her locker. She also wore minimal makeup - usually just some eyeliner/mascara, some powder, and some lipstick and she was basically done. Truly getting ready took her no time at all. Now, settling on for the night, thats where she took her time. She quite enjoyed pampering herself and making sure she was taking care of herself.

"That's a lot." she quipped, amused. "Honestly it all sounds good, and I'm starving. The more calories the better." she mused, stepping closer to the wizard as they made it towards the floo. "I like pomegranates." she added, tilting her head to the side. Honestly half of the reason she worked out so much was so she could indulge in as much food as she wanted. She'd lost count how many times Aiden and Ollie had spirited her away when they were working on cite somewhere. Food, she reasoned, was to be enjoyed

Reed was a charming guy, and he gave compliments freely when he thought he could get something out of the deal, but that hadn't been his intention now. The compliment for Roslyn was freely given, so Reed felt entitled to disappointment when she replied by putting herself down. The wizard had always wondered why women chose to do that in the face of a compliment. Was it instinctual, said without a second thought to keep the conversation moving and in balance, or did she really think her damp hair made her look any less beautiful? Either way, Reed gave her a little frown and then motioned toward the floo.

Roslyn shared his interest in eating up all of the calories they had just sweated off, and somehow that only furthered the comradery. Like the carb-loading would also in some way be a team sport. As a child, Reed had always preferred to be on his own. Even with his siblings, it was often Basil with the girls and Reed off on his own. Somewhere along with the line, things had started to shift in the other direction, and now the wizard found himself most at peace in the company of others. Whether it was a one-night stand or a close friend, a total stranger, or someone from his past, it didn't matter. He found his zen around others, probably because it was easier to pretend as nothing phased him when he thought others were watching. Stay calm & rage privately later.

"That's good because they load the fattoush with a pomegranate dressing, it's pretty overbearing, actually, but I enjoy it." Even in the middle of London, every Lebanese place was a little different; Reed liked the hummus at this place but hated it at the one across the street, for instance. Stepping into the floo together, Reed took up a bit of powder, careful not to let it dust-up his suit, and called out the name of the shop next to the restaurant. In a flash, they were transported to the fireplace of the broom repair shop next door. The fireplace here was bigger and safer. "Last time I flooed right into the restaurant, I nearly took out a waiter with a tray of meals. Hearth placement was clearly an afterthought. This way," Reed ushered her out of the hearth, past the brooms in the window, and out onto Diagon Alley.

He held the door for her as they got to the restaurant; powerful (and delicious) smells wafting out beside him. "Window is open," Reed mentioned, though he thought it would be crass to explain that the owner kept a table by the window reserved for him at lunchtime during business days. He didn't have to brag.

Roslyn ducked her head a bit, feeling her cheeks burn up again, and wanting to dismiss the compliment entirely less she start feeling... girly. She was a grown woman for Merlin sake not a bloody school chit. What was the problem? It was just... easy to dismiss when she thought he wasn’t being serious. (And it was a rather specific reaction wasn’t? She usually preened quite obviously when she was complimented by anyone else) In the face of sincerity she honestly wasn’t sure how to take it. This was Reed, though. Which made it rather simple and complicated. Deciding to be a bloody Gryffindor about it was a simple decision, in the end. It was her default reaction to rush forward with action when she felt like she was being a coward about something.

Her hand thoughtlessly sought out his own, fingers fluttering along his wrist before she slipped her hand in his and gave it a gentle tug and squeeze. She was sure the flush was still a telltale sign on her face and she cursed him internally for making that little frown that prompted it all. “Thank you.” she said quietly, full mouth quirked up in a small crooked smile as she studied him with sparkling blue-green eyes. She bit her lip, hand still clasped in his, as she followed him through the floo network.

“Mm. That sounds delicious.” she murmured contently, imagining the burst of flavor on her tounge. She didn’t need much convincing to try a new place and was always open to trying a suggestion from someone, especially if it sounded good. Roslyn liked all aspects of adventure in her life - and that included trying out new cuisine. It was something she felt tied many cultures together and it was something that effortlessly made you contemplate something different than you were used to.

“It usually is.” She said with a laugh, grinning a bit, as she thought about the sheer insanity of badly placed floo addresses. A lot of places didn’t have the space for a separate receiving room unless it was a little more upscale - and you ended up paying extra for that convenience one way or the other. As she followed Reed into the restaurant after murmuring a soft thanks for his gentleman behavior she couldn’t help but to admire the place. She glanced around, taking it in, before taking a seat. “I’m completely unfamiliar. Want to just get a bunch of food and just pick through it all? I promise I ... eat quite a bit.” it was a habit really, to let the person she was dining with know that she wasn’t ... a dainty eater.

Probably from being forced into terrible dates by her doting mother. She winced at the thought knowing there was impending blind date soon and she wasn’t in anyway thrilled about it.

Reed was a frugal and responsible man. He saved his coins, managed his finances closely, and made sure there were always galleons available for a rainy day, but he wasn't stingy. The idea of ordering a bunch of things from the menu seemed irresponsible and wasteful, but this was the reason why he guarded his paychecks so closely: so that when a good reason arose, he would have plenty to spend. "I like the way you think." He said with a flash of a smile, Reed had never shied away from spoiling a pretty girl, and he wasn't going to change today.

Taking the same seat he sat in every time he was at the restaurant, Reed didn't bother to look over the menu. Instead, he took this moment to survey the other patrons, check for obstructions near the exits, and eye each of the waitresses if one of them was new. Years of paranoia and training had turned him into a calculating man, everything was sized up, and Reed quickly registered any changes. The young witch at the counter was new, but he could tell from the way she rolled her eyes at a waitress with the same dark hair and thick eyebrows that she was related, and thus, not currently a threat.

Reed turned back to Roslyn as a waiter approached them; the wizard gave her a slight nod as if silently announcing that he would handle the ordering. "Afternoon, Joseph," Reed offered, catching the waiter's eye respectfully before launching into the full list of things he would like for the table. Shawarma, tabouli, veggies, baba ghamouj, labneh, mezza, and everything in between. As the waiter returned to the kitchen to relay the order, Reed smiled at the chef's boisterous sounds, obvious approval of the order's size.

"We did very well today; I would bet that no one beats our score for months, if not longer."

"Well I am brilliant." she teased, eyes sparkling. She had every intention of splitting the check, of course. In her mind it was only fair since she'd suggested a fair amount of food. She wasn't a wastrel but there were some things she tended to splurge on: food, rare books, and travel. All of them tended to go hand-in-hand with eachother but she quite enjoyed living out of a trunk when traveling. It helped of course that the money she earned was purely her own. She had no bills to speak of and she didn't really intend to settle somewhere quite yet. Her family was quite comfortable and truly she knew the bookshop would be hers as soon as she had time enough to run it full time. It was always surprising how much someone was willing to pay to repair magical tomes. Her mother had added quite a bit to the Hayes coffers.

As much as Reed was watchful of everyone else, she took the time to study him in detail. Her eyes roved over his face, down to his hands, and she became quite lost in her thoughts. She had wondered, more than once, what it would be like to just give in. This could easily have been a date, she knew, and the food as well as the aftermath would be gloriously indulgent. The more rational side of her brain protested, though. She couldn't let herself give in to possibilities when she knew, ultimately, she'd be left disappointed. The truth of the matter was that she had men around her that satisfied portions of what she really wanted in a partner but not the whole picture. There were puzzle pieces missing and thats what stayed her hand.

Momentary loveliness with Reed wouldn't be worth loosing him entirely. Wasn't that why she'd never tried anything with Micah? Micah, who'd built moats with her and played knights and princess, and who'd been her defender and friend throughout their lives, while Reed had teased and bullied and somehow became someone dependable to her too. The protagonist to Reed's antagonist, she thought wryly. She was too sentimental and too emotionally attached to those she cared about. That final vulnerability would shatter her, as it had done once before, if she wasn't careful. Best to to just enjoy the food and the antics and put away her more sentimental thoughts for another day of ruminating.

"Jenkin's will be frothing and the rest of the DMLE will be impressed and annoyed." she laughed, her grin wide at the thought. It chaffed some that she could use a wand better than they could. Perhaps if they showed a bit more dedication. "Some wizards are under the impression there needs to be an active threat in order for them to train." that or they were satisfied to let Harry Potter do all the heavy lifting, when push came to shove. It irked her because it was that type of complacency that could get you killed and had gotten their country in the state that it had been. Let it never be said that Roslyn Hayes had ever been complacent a day in her life because she was never satisfied to live in the staus quo. There would always be room for improvement.

The idea of Jenkin's and his merry band of overweight and highly useless Aurors seething at their scores put another smile on Reed's face, and he turned to share it with Roslyn. It had been over a decade since the two had shared the Hogwarts pitch, but he remembered how much she used to irritate him. Gryffindors had the annoying trait of always thinking they were the heroes as if they were born with a self-righteous spoon in their mouths, and Roslyn had the uncanny knack for always being right.

Seeing her now, gloating about their shared victory, was a reminder of all the times he was on the other side of the equation. It was nice to be on the same team, and all of the things he used to hate most had morphed into the things he liked best about her. The attitude and recklessness, the bravery with the strength to back it up, and the fact that she had grown up to look like a model on the cover of Witch Weekly certainly didn't hurt either. And as his thoughts came back around to that, Reed was once again left wondering why they hadn't slept together yet.

"Lazy bastards," He commented absently, his attention only half on her words as his mind drifted elsewhere. "Not everyone has the sort of stamina we do." Reed's eyes flicked to Roslyn's lips as he licked his own, imagining how useful that stamina could be in a less clothed activity. Maybe it was the after-effects of such a demanding workout, but Reed felt light and energized, high almost. "Now that we've beaten the gauntlet, I suppose we will have to find new ways to test that stamina together." A devilish grin spreading across his face, everything about Reed said that he had some ideas.

She couldn't help but laugh at the look she was getting. She knew, with certainty, that she'd mellowed out considerably since Hogwarts. Maturity and being in her career field for as long as she had, changed her perspective on things. Not to mention the war. When she was a doe-eyed Hogwarts student she'd been filled with a certain idealism. Everything had been black and white and clear to her. Now she felt as if the world was tinged in grey. Sometimes, she knew, it was difficult to remember what side she was on and the things that mattered. It helped that she'd never stopped being irritatingly headstrong and positive.

For her it came down to a few simple truths. Most people, baring a few, did bad things but weren't necessarily bad people in the grand scheme. At this point, seeing half the stuff she'd seen, she was less likely to care about minor illegal activity. In her head they were squabbles as long as it didn't hurt anyone. She was in the Investigation Department not part of the Law Enforcement Patrol, though technically she still needed to uphold the law. The things she took seriously were dark wizards that knowingly put others in danger, or things that hurt other people. At the heart of it Roslyn really just cared about people, especially those that weren't trained to protect themselves against the things that were... unnatural. She walked a fine line but she'd gotten better at living in the grey area and using her own judgement.

No idiot in a suit was going to deter her from doing what she thought was the right thing. Definitely not some spineless, fat, cowardly men that had long-since met their prime. It satisfied her immensely to parade in with Reed and smash some records, knowing they'd be simmering in their own impotence. Jenkins was the least irritating of the lot but she was always happier when she could duck out of his presence as quickly as possible.

The brunette witch took a moment to gather the long strands of her hair up, twisting it  into a chignon, and securing it as she smirked up at Reed. They definitely were lazy. Unappealing in every way, actually. "You'd need work very hard to keep up, I think." she murmured, smirk still fixed in place. She knew exactly what he was talking about and it had been a very long time since she'd allowed herself the intimacy. It was like riding a muggle bike, really, though she supposed with Reed it'd be more akin to a wild stallion. You never really forgot, though, was the point.

"Never met a challenge I couldn't rise up to," Reed replied, a wolfish smirk still playing on his features as the first of their meal began to arrive. With the number of plates he had ordered and the restaurant's customs, Reed was confident that Joseph would stagger the delivery. Otherwise, it indeed would not have fit. Yet another reason he preferred this restaurant to the one across the street. One could not undervalue good service, after all.

"Try this," He said as the waiter tiptoed back to the kitchen, leaving a table full of spicy and delicious smelling dishes in his wake. "This is meze, like an appetizer, but in Lebanon, it is a whole meal unto itself." Reed motioned toward the number of plates — olives, salad, labneh, and salad to start — on the table and chuckled. "Next comes the meat, fish, and more substantial vegetable plates, so don't fill up all at once." Reed enjoyed this dining style; it wasn't just eating food for sustenance or gluttony, it was true enjoyment, and it brought people together. Reed made most of his deals after a hearty meal.

"Not every culture is hell-bent on making dinner as bland as possible." He said with another laugh, dipping a cucumber slice into yogurt and popping it into his mouth.

"I'm sure thats true, some people enjoy being on top, though." this she could do. Even if it was a different sort of trash talk, in the end, it amounted to the same. A game of wills and words. There were few things Ros liked more than verbal sparring. Reed was never one to disappoint, of course.

"It smells lovely." she complimented, inhaling the pleasant aroma of spice permeating the air. "I'll try - I love olives." she admitted ruefully. She could probably down that whole little plate by itself and still have plenty of room for plenty more. Being in polite company it would be best to just... pace herself though. It would be rude to eat like she came from a pack of wolves (though admittedly she felt like she'd grown up with enough boys for all that to be fairly accurate)

She'd grabbed quite a few olives by this point, making little appreciative sounds as she went, before settling on slathering some labneh on seasoned pita bread. She was surprised for a moment because it sort of tasted like cheese but, well, not. There were a lot of different flavors and she understood why someone would want to take their time with it. "That is good." she said, thoughtful, as she stole another slice of pita bread and dipped it. "I never would've thought olive oil would pair so well with yogurt." she added with a bit of a laugh. She was starting to get addicted to the dip. "What have you been up to then? Anything interesting?" she inquired, curiously, as she stole a cucumber.

Reed loved a woman who wasn't afraid of a good innuendo, and he smiled at Roslyn, a devilishly handsome look on his face. "On top, on the bottom, pushed up against the wall..." He stared at her over the top of his water glass, taking a sip and finishing the thought, "I'm not picky."

Watching her enjoy the food on the table reminded Reed why he loved Lebanon as much as he did and so many other countries worldwide. And while he wasn't the type to gush, he could have gone on and on about the countries natural wonders if he was. The Baatara Gorge Waterfall, the Kadisha Valley, and no one could forget the Cedars of God, the forest mentioned in the epic of Gilgamesh. Of course, as much as Reed loved the vast green expanses of Lebanon, he spent most of his time in the cities and municipal buildings. And he was even more unlikely to divulge details of those adventures.

Roslyn broached the subject, and Reed deflected skillfully. Taking a bite of pita and shrugging, he answered but didn't really answer. "Lots of paperwork, mostly. With the upcoming Potioneers Guild competition, every master and apprentice is rushing to get last-minute ingredient shipments." Reed hadn't lied precisely, and he did not need to lie to Roslyn, but he wasn't incredibly forthcoming with how he had instructed his office to handle the sudden influx of requests. The ones that could pay were, of course, moved to the top of the waiting list.

"Anything noteworthy happening in the law enforcement office?" Reed asked, casual as always, but it'd be a lie to say he didn't always have one ear to the ground for this sort of news. In his life of work, both legitimate and otherwise, information was gold.

Laughter bubbled up from deep in her chest, the sound clear and bright, as she shot Reed an impish grin. “I suppose when it’s good it doesn’t really matter.” she allowed, smirking a little as she grabbed another olive. Spending time with Reed was always an uncomplicated thing. Fun, exciting, and uncomplicated.

“I would’ve imagined it’d be more interesting than all that.” But then she was the kind of woman that led a pretty active life. “What sort of potion are you brewing, then?” she asked curiously. “The usual. Lots of work. I’m working on a few cases currently.” She said, frowning a little. She specialized in warding and tracking so she tended to get specialized assignments. “You looking for an inside scoop?” She teased, with a flutter of her eyelashes

“You looking for an inside scoop?” Roslyn’s question brought a knowing smirk to Reed’s features; he was always on the lookout for information. That was part of his job. “Perhaps,” He half-answered and popped another olive into his mouth. If she had something noteworthy, Reed liked to imagine she would share it with him, but only if it wasn’t against the law (or her ethics) to do so.

Roslyn was a great Auror, whip-smart and tough as nails, but she did have those awful Gryffindor attributes that kept her from breaking her sworn oaths. It was a shame, really; Reed’s less-than-legal way of doing things was often more fun. Still, he would never push her further for information than he thought she was willing to go. Reed had learned the hard way that gathering intel was a balancing act. Everyone had a breaking point.

“Have you got anything I’d be interested in, then?” His voice was soft as he asked, very little of that trademark slickness to it.