All your life you were only waiting for this moment to arrive | lev (apr 04)

Another night back in London. Another night at the Leaky Cauldron dwelling over notes and photos. She was becoming a regular here that the employees began to remember her orders and name. Was that a bad thing? She could've cooked at her apartment if she wished, but then that would have taken up her time to write her next article. As pitiful as it was that these people knew who she was now, she hated being at her apartment. It was small, plain, and very lonely. The young woman loved traveling and learning all she could. The job was ideal for someone who couldn't sit still. She missed her friends and family though. There were too many times that Valda wished she had been able to share more of her adventures with people she knew and loved. At least here at the Leaky Cauldron, she could talk and share a little about her trips. There were some relationships being built this way. More as acquaintances than true friends. It was refreshing to talk to people though.

At some point, Valda needed to stretch her legs and get some fresh air. She needed to clear her head to focus once again on the task at hand. Valda left her table and stepped outside, enjoying the springtime air. The streets were bustling with the evening customers, but she could smell rain in the air. The rolling clouds coming in looked almost menacing. She smiled upon seeing the darker clouds overhead. Perhaps tonight she'd sleep with her window open just to listen to the rainfall outside.

She took another deep breath before stepping back inside. Once the door closed behind her, she heard a slight buzz of excitement from some younger girls not quite old enough to be attending Hogwarts. "Oh my gosh, is that him?" "It has to be!" Her eyes followed where the girls were pointing. At first Valda didn't think anything of the guy sitting alone at the table, but then she had to do a double take. That was when she saw him. Lev Leskov.

Her mind raced with questions as excitement swelled in her chest. Her celebrity friend was here and it happened just by chance that they happened to be in the same place. Valda gathered her things, eyeing as the younger girls worked up the courage to ask Lev to sign something of theirs. It was kind of cute, she would later admit, to see him have such young fans. She took her time, ordered another drink, then snuck her way over behind him.

"You're in my seat," she changed the way her voice had sounded so that it was deeper, raspy, and almost like she had been a heavy smoker for eons. Her Russian accent hugged her English tightly. Hopefully that didn't give her away. She set her drink down beside him rather distastefully but still keeping her face hidden from his view. Instead of jumping onto him and pulling him into a hug, she figured she could have some fun with him. "Everyone who comes to Leaky Cauldron know not to sit there." The younger girls in front of him who looked like they wanted to ask more questions got frightened and began to retreat. "I'll ask one more time for you to move before I make you." She had her notes tucked under her arm and her free hand on her hip.

@Lev Leskov

He absolutely wasn’t used to being recognized by young girls in England, but here he was. He had played in a game recently and had been getting a good bit of press over it, but he was still technically a reserve and that meant that he wasn’t really in the limelight, at least not here. In Russia, he was followed by press all over the place, getting recognized nearly every time he left his apartment. Here, actually, it had been nice to fly under the radar a bit. He wasn’t ready to play press darlings after his breakup with Mihaela. He was ready to be drunk and disorderly. He was well on his way now, too, though the disorderly aspect was not quite present. He was subdued, sitting in his booth, brooding, and keeping to himself. He heard the girls giggle and looked up, flashing them a small corner-of-the-mouth smile, which they swooned over a bit, before he heard a raspy voice. He peeked up and had to do a double-take. It didn’t sound like Valda but looked like her. 
 
“You didn’t need to scare them away.” He said, after the girls had retreated and he and his ex-girlfriend were alone by the booth. “They’re harmless, not even school age. I even gave them a little smile that they can remember me by.” He joked, offering her the empty seat. 
 
“Long time no see, V.” He offered, looking her over. She had grown up quite a bit since he last saw her. Looked good. Pretty. He had grown too, muscular and thick-built, more mature in the face, but the tell-tale scowl was still fixed in place. He had changed, but he also hadn’t changed much. If anything, he was a bit disillusioned and bitter. 
 
“Sit. Want a drink?” He offered, peeking up at the bar and wondering if there was a waitress. He didn’t trust himself to stand up on his own yet and didn’t want Valda to see how absolutely hammered he was, at least not yet. 

She cleared her throat once he acknowledged her. Her face was beaming as she took her seat across from him. "Of course I did. We couldn't let the paparazzi believe that you got a new girlfriend already. Girls talk. Parents talk. People talk." She laid her folder of notes down carefully beside her before she out her full attention on Lev. "No, thank you." She retrieved the drink she had set next to him during her act and pulled it close. "Perhaps a little more vodka for my drink?" She motioned a small amount with her index and thumb held up by her face.

"It's been so long, Lev!" She studied him carefully but was ecstatic to be in the company of old friendship. Last she saw him, he was stressing out over what ring to propose to Mihaela with. Then things went south for reasons she understood completely. Valda didn't know the full story to their breakup, but that wasn't her business. What she could relate to was breaking up because the people involved had different plans for their future. One had duties and responsibilities at home while the other wanted to live life, do all they could, and explore the world a little. "You should have written to me that you were coming. I would've gotten you dinner. I'm in and out of London enough, it's practically a second home." If only she weren't so lonely, then she could make it home. Lev being here helped it a little.

"How've you been?" He looked tired. He'd filled out from his skinnier self that Valda remembered. He had more muscle and body mass. not enough to make him look awkward, but he was a healthy build. That was to be expected when he was playing quidditch professionally, even if he was on the reserves. She noted how his face seemed to fill out a little more taking on more of a manlier look than the boyhood she recalled from school. "What brought you here? I don't remember hearing the Metalmen were coming to the area. Did I miss something on the radio or in the newspaper?"

“Yes, yes. Can’t let them thing I have a new girlfriend.” He teased, looking at her sitting across from him, asserting that it was her seat. If the paparazzi thought anyone was his “new girlfriend” they would definitely think it was her. Vaguely, he considered this thought. He had been with Valda before. He loved her, and always would. He had loved her when they dated and that would forever be etched in his heart, no matter who he loved after her. He didn’t know if there was anything still between them in that way, but he knew he was still attracted to her and the thought of her being his girlfriend still thrilled him just a little bit. They had been cheated out of a proper ending, and it had been his fault, and as such he felt there was some unfinished business between them. 
 
“If you go up to the bar and ask for a shot or two, tell them to put it in my tab.” He offered, not wanting to get up. “In fact, while you’re up, if you want to have them get me another firewhiskey…” He grinned, definitely not needing another. “I didn’t know you were hanging around London, but you’re right. I quit the Metalmen. I’m on the Gravesend Griffins now, just moved here in January.” He admitted. “If I knew you were so close, I would have hit you up to hang out earlier.” He admitted. 
 
“So, how have you been, girl?” He asked, eyeing her up. She looked good. She was glowing up. 

Her mouth dropped open after hearing the news he'd switched teams and was living in London. How had she missed this? She hadn't exactly been writing letters to her friends, so she could blame it on that. Nor did they really write to her. Valda understood. Life was busy and chaotic. She didn't hold a grudge against her friends for it.

She was going to get them more drinks per his request, but he kept asking questions so she made a note to fetch them when there was a break in the conversation. "I suppose I need to take down all of my Metalmen merchandise and replace it with the Gravesend Griffins," she teased. That was a lie, however. Valda didn't have much in her small flat by the means of decorations. She was rarely there so why should she bother with decorum?

"I've been good," she smiled as she tucked her hair behind her ear. "Can't say it's been too exciting, but I just got back from Stonehenge and trying to uncover it's mysteries and secrets." Her hand rested on the folder as she mentioned her trip. "I don't sit still for long, which is fine. I get lonely sometimes though but I have Tsvetok here for some company and now I've run into you." She sighed softly a little worn out from her day. "And you? Moving to London is pretty big chance. How are you doing?"