Sabbatical

It had been a very long time since Calixta had last stepped foot in The Three Broomsticks. Nearly ten years now, she realized, shuddering at the thought. That was certainly one thing magic couldn't stop -- aging. Oh, you could trick it for awhile, and once upon a time, when the Philosopher's Stone was still in existence, you might actually succeed for hundreds of years. But it had been destroyed long ago now, fading into distant memory with all the eclat of a legend.

Now this place was fading in her memory, too -- which was why she had chosen to come back. It was amazing how familiar the old hangout still was, with the same old tables and chairs, and many of the same old faces behind the counter. Memories nearly lost suddenly bloomed to the surface, putting Calixta in a very weird mood, tinged with nostalgia and longing for something she couldn't quite understand. So she did what she usually did when she was feeling a bit off -- she sidled up to the bar, took a seat next to a complete stranger, and ordered a round.

Bastian was in having a Drink, it was just after a major case and he was trying to unwind. his opponent was starting to irritate him. He noted a woman sit next to him and ordered a round, he hadn't seen her there before, and he was there pretty often. Then again he wasn't the most socail person while in the bar. Usually it was just him and his drink and thinking about his next case unitl he was to drunk to care about it.

But this time it was still early in the evening and he had only just arrived afew moments before so why not try a bit of socailzing he thought to himself.

Taking a drink he looked at his bar partner and found himself with wondering what to say. Anything he thought of sounded stupid and awkward.. or it gave off the wrong idea.

He sighed almost givng up on the thought of talking to the woman, convinsed he would only embaress himself if he oppended his mouth to talk to her, he merely turned his head back to his drink and orderd a plate of fries from the bartender.

The bar tender brough a large plate back and set it infront of him.

Then Bastian got a idea, food often broke the ice right? So he pushed the plate a litte to his left..

"You can have some if you want" he muttered though metally cursed himself right after saying it.. he must have sounded stupid... really he should just ignored her. Those kinda awkward silence he could deal with.. But this..

Oh he would need a couple shots later...

Calixta looked over at the man sitting beside her at the bar, appraising him fully with just a quick glance.

Her sharp observational skills were terribly useful that way; for example, she could tell even in the dim mood lighting that the man beside her was older -- he had about ten years on her, give or take a few, but he was still attractive, in that kind of rugged way some wizards had. His clothing appeared simple, yet well made. She assumed he had money, but was not filthy rich-- probably some kind of Ministry job, well-paying although not prestigious enough that he'd feel the need to worry about his wardrobe too much. Definitely not a politician -- but perhaps a member of the Wizengamot, she'd guess, and single too from the lack of a wedding band. Calixta supposed he could still have a girlfriend or a fiancee, although judging from the way he seemed to perk up when she entered, she'd guess not. Either interested, or a regular just noticing a new face. There was only one way to find out which it was, and she'd never been the shy type.

"Thanks, I'd love some actually," she replied, flashing him a brilliant smile. "I love chips! I did miss them while I was away. They don't make them the same in Guatemala, and this place in particular has always been a favourite. Reminds me of my school days, I suppose," she mused, helping herself to a few.

"I'm Calixta, by the way," she added, extending the hand that didn't have grease on it. "Calixta Harper."

Bastian couldn't help the small smile that appeared on his lips as Calixta talked, she certian was energtic, he'd give her that. he put is drink down and looked at her and listened while she talked. She was rather pretty looking now that he looked, she had a briliant smile if anything.

"Bastian Kaizer, pleasure to meet ya dear lady" he said shaking her hand and giving her a bow of his head.

"Yeah the food isn't bad, there's better in Germany though" he said earning a glare from the bat tender.

"Just kidden ya Dan, of course the Lady is right, best chips this side of England Ja?" he muttered with a smirk to Calixta beside him.

"Now.. what in Merlins name were you doing in Gumala..Guatatemala?" Bastian as he foundered to say it right.. "Guatemala! that is.."

"There, you got it in the end," Calixta replied with a smile at his botched attempts. "I had trouble with it too, at first. Had to slow it down -- gwah-tah-mah-lah. I think it's the repetitive sounds that makes it tricky, I kept mixing up which order the syllables came in. But anyway, I went there because Scotland sounded boring, and the Tikat Temple sounded more exotic and exciting," she finally answered, although that was hardly an answer at all. She picked up her drink, swirled the ice cubes with her straw, and sipped before continuing.

"You see, Bastian," she started, attempting what ended up being a fair approximation of the proper accent, "I'm a code-breaker for Gringott's. They send me all over the world with a small team of people, and I bring back gold and priceless artifacts. I am not a treasure hunter, however," she added, rolling her eyes at the term. "I've nothing to do with that lot of luckless idiots."

Bastain chuckled at her job discription and nodded, though he personal saw now difference he wasn't about to argue with her.

"A Code breaker eh? Interesting job dear lady, you must be good, Gringott's only hires the best" he said taking another drink.

"I am a international Wizengamot lawyer, I guess you could say, someone hires me to win there case in the Wizenagmot courts. I work Russia, England and France... wherever my employer wants me to be" he said thinking it only fair he tell her what he did for a living now.

"So what "Priceless Artifact" brings ya back to Good ol England?" he asked curious.

"My Aunt Julia, I suppose," was Calixta's laughing rejoinder. "No, but in all seriousness, the way it works is that Gringott's sends us out and then we return, to bring back the treasure or what have you. Then we just hang about for a few weeks, visiting relatives or doing whatever we please until they've finished painstakingly cataloguing everything so they can pay us each our portion. We catalogue it ourselves as well, so as to prevent getting cheated, and of course sometimes there are disputes when the figures don't match up."

Calixta took another sip of her drink and hit ice cubes; the bartender was quick in refilling her glass, and she smiled and thanked him before continuing. "Those times, it can take months before it's all settled -- very tricky business. We get sent back out someplace else immediately if the researching department here in England has found a lead; if not, we wait until they do. The trips abroad can last anywhere from a month to a year, depending on how well the researchers did their job and how well we did ours. I was in Guatemala for six months -- about average trip, pretty decent returns and very little dispute about about pay, which is great because we don't get paid until it's all agreed upon." She considered it all for a moment, having not really thought over her job description since she was hired.

"You know, it sounds an awful lot like the Wizengamot, to be honest," she concluded with a shrug. "We get hired and shipped abroad, and then have to debate ourselves to death for awhile before finally agreeing on a price, and in the end it hardly matters anyway because both parties consider themselves swindled."

Bastian listened as she explained further on her job and how it worked, it seemed like a rather interesting job now that she explained, and quite nerve wracking.. or it would be for him.. imagine all that time only to be told it wasn't worth what you thought..

He chuckled "That is what my father defined as a comprimise, both sides are miserable" he said shaking his head.

"Only thing with working with the Wizenagmot. there is no comprimise, one looses, one wins.. one is happy one is not... one gets paid.. one does not" he explained his mind almost shifting back to case that he was currently, if he was honest he wasn't sure of the out come yet...

"So ya back here visiting family be being shipped off again?" he asked slightly curious.

"In a manner of speaking, I guess I am. At least, I am visiting some of my family. There are others I'd much rather avoid," Calixta admitted, looking sheepish. "I would describe my relationship with certain relatives as being more like the world of the Wizengamot...except that my side is usually the losing one," she explained cryptically.

Bastian rasied an eye brow at her comment about her family and then lightly clicked his drink against hers making a click.

"I hear ya Dear Lady, Ex Wife won more then her fair share of our assest I'll tell eh that" he said before taking another drink. Thinking of his ex wife almost made him drink more.. "Yeah best keep away from Exs.. they are like Vampires, the suck everything out of ya. You don't an Ex-Husband do ya Dear Lady?" he asked not realizong the nickname he seemed have dubbed her with.

"Ah if ya ever need someone ta argue your side to and talk sense into there heads, give me a call Lass, Tis what I do best" he said with a slight chuckle.

"Oh no sir, not I!" Calixta replied, widening her eyes and placing a hand on her chest for comedic effect. "I've managed to dodge that curse, although my mum doesn't see it that way. I keep tellin' her, most curse-breakers don't marry until after they retire, and I've got a few years to go for that. She thinks thirty is too old to start looking for love, but what sense does it make now, when I can never be sure when I'll be back in England, never mind how long?" She shook her head and finished her second drink.

"Although I'll you what, I'll take you up on that offer. Next time there's a dispute, I'd be happy to have you represent me. If you're available, of course."

Bastian smiled slightly as he listened to her, 30? That wasn't to old, here he was 37 and single, no kids, no commitment ecept his job.. yet why did he feel like he didn't really have a life. "Me Brother says the same ta me, easy for him ta say though, has a devoted wife and my sweet little niece at his side" he said.. "Lucky brat.." he muttered as a after thought.

"Ya never to old lass.." he muttered as he finished his 3rd drink of the day. "And you're right, a job like that and married life never end well.. somethin always breaks" he said as if speaking from personal experience.

He smiled when she expecpted his offer, weather she was kidding or Serious it didn't really matter. He took out a card from his pocket and spelled it to Float to her.

"I'll be a floo call away Dear Lady, if not in a courtroom anyway" he said good naturedly. All kidding aside the offer stood true.

Calixta accepted Bastian's card and presented her own in exchange. "I do a bit of investing on the side, if you're interested. Or just bored," she told him with a rather flirtatious smile. "Of course, it can be a bit more difficult to get in contact with me, but I feel it's usually worth the wait."

She got up from the barstool and paid off her tab. "I really ought to get going, though. My Aunt is expecting me. It was lovely meeting you, Bastian. I hope I see you again soon."