Jelly Sea Legs

"Hey, I took Muggle Studies." Cygnus said defensively. "It's just the pictures in the book of what a 'laptop' looks like varies differently from life. I think the books in the class are a little outdated." He muttered.

He straightened up. "I told you already, I haven't a thing against Muggles. In fact I find them all rather interesting. How can they live without magic? I mean it's unimaginable for me. Think about it - well I suppose you don't - but other magical folk should. By our standards what they are doing is impossible, yet they are making it possible." He was smiling now. "It's pretty wicked."

Aileen grinned in spite of herself. He had impressed her. She didn't know if she would use the term wicked to discribe the life of a muggle, but his enthusiasum was cute.

"Well the things we do without magic are easy enough for us right? Brushing our hair, going to the bathroom, kissing...I would assume not only those things, but everything else is easy for them to do. They're used to it, you know?

The waiter returned and Aileen ordered a grilled sandwhich off the menu before returning to Cygnus. "Anyway, enough about them. What about you? Do you work?"

Cygnus ordered some pizza with some mushrooms on top. "I suppose so. But I don't know if I'll be able to survive." He laughed at the image of himself trying to get a laptop to work. "Their technology puzzles me to no end."

"I do work," Cygnus grinned. "We all need to make a living don't we?" In all honestly, Cygnus was actually set for life with the fortune his grandparents had left him and Corvus. Unfortunately Corvus decided that since he was in fact several minutes older than Cygnus, he was well within his rights to take everything. Cygnus could do nothing about it, nor would he if he could. Ever the pacificist, Cygnus didn't see the point of fighting for it if he was more than capable to earn his living with good honest work. It was just money anyway, Corvus could have if all if he wanted. "I work at the ministry, boring old desk job." Not exactly right but the miserable tone that came with it was genuine. "Not exactly my first choice, but hey it pays the rent. And yourself?" Cygnus was quick to change the topic.

"Daily Prophet." Aileen added, deciding not to go into her journalist details. Wizards usually weren't too keen on learning they were talking with a reporter, even if it was a social call. "I am one of hundreds of paper minions slaving to bring news to wizards like you." She said in her best newscastor voice.

That earned a laugh from Cygnus. "Are you a reporter then?" Cygnus didn't actually know. He was just wondering. First thing one thinks when someone says working for the Daily Prophet is reporter. That would explain her ability to question him easily enough.

"Something like that." Aileen said quickly. "You don't have anything interesting to say that I might make in to a story would you?" She teased. A tease but an offer none the less. Why shouldn't this ministry worker not have a story to tell. Not that it would matter, he would be a fool to tell somebody he just met a story worthy of her kind of news. Besides, for the first time in a long time, Aileen wasn't in this for the scoop. He seemed like a genuinely nice wizard. He captivated her for some strange reason.

"No, no, no at all." Cygnus said quickly enough. "I am not witty enough to say anything note-worthy. I lead a rather boring life. Well unless you count the events of today." He added thoughtfully. 

Then he smiled impishly. "Well if your really pressing for a story, I happen to be a witness to a very interesting event earlier today. What do you think of this: Prophet reporter threw a young boy overboard more on page six?"

"Oh, ha, ha." Aileen said dryly. "That's not really news to anybody. My own mother would say my tactlessness is nothing new to write about. Of course me having lunch at an established cafe with a strange wizard would probably give her something to faint about."

Cygnus looked pleasantly curious. "Why? She doesn't like 'established cafe's or something?" Cygnus leaned in genuinely interested. She was a very interesting witch he thought. Very interesting indeed.

"Oh hates them." Aileen said with a wide smile. "She gets hives when she enters them."

Aileen took another sip of her drink. He was funny, in a very sarcastic British wit sort of way. He was different from the other kind of his gender who seemed to struggle to keep up intellectually.

"And what would your mother say if her lovely magical son was seen in a muggle establishement?"

Cygnus mirrored her smile at the punchline. Witty, witty - he briefly wondered what house she was in at Hogwarts. At her question though, he had to think about how to answer. He took a long sip of his drink so she wouldn't realise. He wanted to keep the conversation light, yet he didn't exactly want to lie to her right of the bat. He really didn't want to kill the mood but really he couldn't do anything else. He kept his smile - made it slightly apologetic. "Your guess is as good as mine." Vague enough to be truth. He decided to change the topic so they wouldn't dwell. "What house were you in at Hogwarts?"

"Ravenclaw." Aileen replied. "Is it that obvious?" She laced her fingers together and stared at Cygnus searchingly for a moment. "And I'm going to guess...Gryffinor? A tad over zealous but at the same time, a heart in the right place. Am I right?"

He tilted his head to one side and smiled. "It's a little bit obvious - you know just a tad." It was mildly teasing.

"More or less," Cygnus nodded. "You are a Ravenclaw. Most wizards and witches cannot seem to guess my house correctly." Mostly hecause they mistake him for his brother, but that wasn't exactly important. He folded his arms. "What gave me away?"

"Well you're dashing, which is a Gryffindor thing. And you know that you're dashing which is DEFINITELY a Gryffindor thing." She joked. "You know, Ravenclaws had a slew of Gryffindor related jokes when I was at school. Actually to be honest we had a slew of all other house related jokes. I wont deny we were a tad full of our brains."

That earned her a heartily laugh. He put his hand through his hair and gave her his most 'dashing' smile. "Think I'm dashing, do you?"

"Well I wouldn't expect anything less. The Ravenclaw wit is renowned! Why don't you give me a sample?" He sat back ready to defend his house or if it actually was true, laugh.

"Oh I don't remember, it's been years." Aileen said with a bit of a flush. Most of the jokes she remembered were quite rude. "I remember once I oversharpened my pencil and somebody told me to send it over to a Gryffindor, as they could make it dense and dull in a minute."

"Aw," Cygnus scrunch up his face but there was a hint of a smile there. "That's absolutely dreadful. I am insulted that you can't properly insult my house."

"And does it usually take this long for food?" Cygnus looked around. He went from 'could eat' to proper hungry.

Yeah, it's one of those smucky places were you go for the atmosphere and not the food. Aileen said with an over dramatic eye roll. The only reason I brought you is becuase as a Gryffindor you're all brawn and no brain, didn't think you'd notice."

The server arrived with their food just as she finished.