Restaurant Across the Street

Across the street from the entrances to the Ministry of Magic is a restaurant open from noon to 10 P.M. If your character is on break from their work within the Ministry, he or she may want to take some time to step into the restaurant and enjoy the wide selections available on the lunch menu. Looking for a nighttime family outing or the perfect place to bring your Ministry sweetheart? The restaurant also offers a lovely selection of dinnertime meals, as well.

Be careful, though! You're in Muggle London, which means you're not just amongst the magical anymore!

Armen had stopped by the restuarant earlier that day on his lunch break to set up the reservations for his date with Isobel that night and had hoped to Merlin they hadn't given away their table. They shouldn't have but it was a busy night in London you never knew. He arrived at around 6:30 at their specified time dressed in a new suit he had bought for the occasion and was taken to the table by the matre de. Hesipped from his water glass and glanced at the menut as he awaited his new girlfriend.

Isobel was feeling kind of excited. She hadn't been on a date in a long time, not since before her divorce, and she knew that it was going to be a good night. Well really Isobel thought that any time she spent with Armen was good, but she was probably a little biased. He was her boyfriend after all. Wandering along outside she smiled to herself. It made her happy that Armen cared enough to take her to a nice restaurant and not leave her like a certain person. After talking to the matre de for a few seconds, she was led over to a table where a very familar, and very good looking face was sitting. "Hi Armen." Isobel smiled at him.

Continuing to look through the menu, Armen had been caught up in trying to think of the dessert he was going to get afterwards that he almost hadn't heard the arrivial of his date. "Oh, hey Isobel!" he stood up quickly and kissed her on the cheek before motioning her to join him, the matre de was going to pull her chair out for her of course.

"Was your trip here ok?" he said sitting back down in his chair and placing his napkin back in his lap. He hadn't waited long but the thought of her travelling here in the dark, alone was a bit nerve-racking, he didn't care that she was an auror. What with all the disappearances and beatings but those cult members he was pretty sure knew they were together and wouldn't do anything. Armen was still worried sometimes. He smiled at her again tonight was going to be a good night.

Mmmm. Isobel had to smile as she saw Armen. He looked so handsome, not that he usually didn't, but he scrubbed up very well. Aww. She got a kiss on the cheek. That was nice. Armen was fall of nice things really. She liked it a lot. As the matre de pulled her chair out she sat down, before looking back at Armen, and smiling again.

Her trip? She shrugged. "It wasn't that entertaining." It had been quite boring really, but then she was glad that it had been boring. It would have been typical if something had happened and she'd have to go all auror on someone. Thankfully nothing like that had happened, and she'd arrived for their date on time. She was glad of that, she wouldn't have wanted to be late, not at all. "How was yours?" She asked, as she picked up the glass of water, and took a sip.

Hearing that it was normal and everything had gone ok Armen relaxed a little bit and joked about itnow that he was assured of her safety. "Well at least I know that I don't have to try and fix anything transportation-wise tonight." he said cheekily, truthfully he would have been pretty disappointed had he had to leave their date tonight because of something to do with work.

"Oh my trip, if you can really call it one." he chuckled. "My flat is just about 5 blocks over." he said with a nod and a slight shrug. He didn't care that it was close to work, he was tired of Apparating all the time so it allowed him to just walk to work and such, besides with his Department Head Salary and some undetectable by muggles magic, he had renovated his little apartment nicely. "And it's a good thing it was ok too, because I didn't have a big strong auror with me." he grinned boyishly.

"Well..." Isobel paused for a second, placing her glass back down on the table, and smirking. "I wouldn't have let you go anyway." Not eithout taking her with him anyway. And in reality she didn't really want to have to go back to the ministry at night. She spent enough time there during the day as it was.

Oh...he only lived 5 blocks away? "Wow..." She was a little bit shocked really. "You live pretty close to work." Really close. She lived quite a bit away really, well rented somewhere quite a bit away. It was good that she was good at apparating. "Must be useful." Although it wouldn't give him an excuse to be late to work, but then again he was the boss so it hardly mattered really. She laughed, before quickly placing her hand over her mouth. Opps. She'd forgotten where she was for a moment. Hopefully nobody was staring at them now. "I'm hardly big Armen...." Strong maybe. But she wasn't big....and she really wasn't your typical auror.

Armen chuckled and made a show out of considering not going if somehting indeed had happened. He would have to to keep his job but he would take her with him and then they could do something afterwards but it wasn't going to happen so it didn't matter.

"Yeah close is good sometimes, other times its not." he had grown up in the country and the big city had had a huge toll on him when he first started at he Ministry but obviously now he was used to it and all. "Gives me a break from-" he paused and looked around slightly at the Muggles eating their meals around them and then whispered closer to Izzy, "our forms of transport I have to deal with all day." he finished before sitting back.

"That's true Isobel, but size rarely hinders a good wandsman or woman. Besides I was never a good Defense Against the Dark Arts student at Hogwarts. I was a Ravenclaw and stuck true to my roots and was a conesuier of Arithmancy." he chuckled. "I also did well in my Transfiguration and Charms work, which helped me in landing this job." he chuckled. "So if I was attacked on the streeet, Merlin forbid, I would be much safer with a Auror like you, unless I decided to confuse them with a caculation and then run for it." he had been speaking low the whole time to avoid being overheard and then laughed after he was finished, imagining himself on the street with two mugger's writing an Arithmancy problem down.

"You'll have to show me sometime." And then maybe she'd be convinced to find someone closer to the ministry to live. Although she did like her little flat. It served it's purpsoe well, and she wasn't there that often. Mmm. Isobel nodded. She could see where he was coming from really. He did have to deal with their modes of transport each day. "I can see where you're coming from." Yup. She totally did.

Mmm. Isobel nodded. "You speak a lot of truth." Because she knew that she was very good with her spellwork. But...then she kind of got distracted by something else. He'd been a ravenclaw? "I was in ravenclaw too...." She mused with a smile. She'd enjoyed school, it had been very fun. Although she had been a bit of a swot, but she'd known that she'd wanted to be a auror since she'd been in 4th year, so she had been working her hardest, and it had paid off very well. "Well in that case..." She giggled again, grinning at him. "I think I shall have to escort you around....seeing as I doubt your arithmancy skills will save you."

"Sure thing, anytime you want." he said, nodding. He was clean and there would be no need to rush about straightening up for her besides some clothes here and there. Armen picked at the corner of his menu with a finger and wondered slightly where their waiter was... "You might just have to escort me." he chuckled.

He knew he did, but he wasn't about to say that. He had been a total nerd at Hogwarts and had hoped for a Prefect-ship but hadn't gotten it, he suspected it was because he was too introverted but oh well. "Oh you were? Huh, that's interesting." Obviously they hadn't hung out together or anything but that was still so bizarre that they had been so close in proximity as kids. "I think I might remember you..." he wracked his brains for a minute or two. It was kind of hard to be honest and he didn't blame the Headmaster now, because apart from hanging out with his best friend from Slytherin and a few upper classmen Ravenclaws he was studying....that was it! "You were always studying too!" he said excitedly having figured it out. "I'm pretty sure we even sat at the same table a few times." he said laughing because he couldn't believe it. Maybe that was another reason, unknowingly to him, why he had been drawn to her on the street awhile back where they 'met'.

JUst then their waiter arrived and Armen pointed at the meal he wanted and spoke, "Yes, I would like the Salmon fillet with garden vegitables and a side salad. What would you like Isobel?" he asked her wondering what she would get.

"Anytime?" Isobel grinned at him. She was looking forward to seeing his place though. It would be nice. "oh...I'll definetly be willing to escort you Armen..." She winked at him, before smiling again. She did think it would look a little wierd her escorting him home, but then again Isobel wasn't really conventional, not that much.

"Yup....I was the local swot." Isobel rolled her eyes, picking the glass of water up again, and taking a sip. She hadn't liked being called a swot when she was at school, but she kind of accepted it now. She wasn't that swotty anymore, not since she had got the job that she'd wanted. She didn't need to look at books that much anymore, only when she needed to update her skills, and such. "Mmm....maybe I do recall you." She smirked at him, glancing down at the menu, trying to decide what she wanted. "Although I would've thought I'd have remembered someone so handsome, but maybe I was too distracted by my books...." She teased with a little grin. She was speaking some truth though....she had been very distracted by books when she was younger.

Oooh. A waiter. "Can I have the...." She paused, glancing at the menu for a second. "Chicken Caeser Salad please." Yup. She liked that particular dish a lot.

After the waiter took their order and left, Armen looked back at Isobel in the soft lighting and smiled. He was excited he was on a date with by far the prettiest girl in the resturaunt and he knew the other guys had noticed. He was then even more pleased when she mentioned she would have noticed someone as good looking as himself back then. "Oh Im sure I could distract better than books." he teased.

"So how is work, the Auror office booming?" he said off topically. He hadn't been down there since the remodel and he thought he should go visit Isobel down there soon.

Isobel was really enjoying this, which was quite good, even though they'd only been here a short time. It was obviously a sign that Armen was very good company. She already liked him a lot, and it wasn't unusual for her. She tended to fall very easily, but hopefully Armen would be there to catch her. "Mmm...." Isobel mused, resting her hands on the table. "I think I would like that...." Yes. She really would. Armen was much more attractive than her books were, even though she loved her books.

"It's interesting...." She shrugged. It was work afterall, she hadn't really expected much more. "Finally getting used to it now...." It had been a bit weird at first. But then it had been expected. "I like it though."

Armen played took of her hands in his own and squeezed it gently on the white table cloth. He was happy with her and he hoped she was the same with him. He had been through some rough things recently and he was glad to have happiness back in the picture again. "I would like that too." he whispered.

Ok back to conversation... "Oh well Im glad you are settling in. I knew it would take a little getting used to. You don't come off of field work and instantly feel at home in an office. But glad things are ok. So how are the others treating you?" he meant Evander but he wasn't going to ask that directly.

Isobel smiled as he took her hand. Aww. They really were cute. It was kind of like they were teenagers again, even though they were in their thirties. "Thats good..." She was glad when he liked the same things as her. It kind of showed that they had a lot of things in common, which was good. Maybe it would mean they'd have a very nice relationship. That was what she wanted now. She was done with heartbreak.

"Yeah...especially when I've never done it before." Yup. It had been a bit weird, but she had gotten used to it now. She was really enjoying it too. It had been a very good decision to come here. "There very good, most of them are very nice." Things were still really odd, and awkward with Evander. She still hadn't told Armen about her history with Armen....she didn't exactly want to scare him off.

This relationship was working out better than the one he had had with one of his old co-workers in the Apparation Testing Center when he first started the ministry for sure. Back then they only really met because of work and didn't talk much once she changed jobs and then they fell apart. But this, with Isobel was real. He could feel it.

Armen was happy that she liked her job. "Well glad you like the Ministry, I hoped you would so you could think about staying here awhile." Yeah he planned to be with Isobel for a while, this wasn't just a fling.

And now their food arrived...

Aww. He had hoped that? Isobel smiled, feeling her cheeks turn a little while. "It's not only my job thats making me think about staying for a while...." No. A certain department head was keeping her here to. Isobel had a good feeling that she wasn't going to be leaving London for a long time. Not unless something bad happened between them, but she had a feeling that was not to happen. They might have only been together a few weeks, before she was starting to really like Armen.

Oooh. There food arrived. Isobel smiled at the waiter. Mmm. "It smells so good." She grinned at Armen. Yes. She was going to enjoy this food a lot. There was only one problem really. The fact that they were still holding hands. Part of her really didn't want to let go. But reluctantly (and with a small pout) she let go of Armen's hand, and picked up her fork instead.

Yeah Armen was doing awesome at this date tonight. The whole atmosphere was perfect. The weather outside, a calm night 75 and balmy, perfect walking weather, the resturant was nice, the staff well behaved, and his date was breath-taking.

The waiter had begun to place their food infront of them both and he eyed his salmon hungrily. It looked amazing. "Thank you it all looks great." he said to the waiter politely and waited to speak until after he had left. "Remind me to have us come back here soon, ok?" he said grinning slightly at the little sadness Isobel's face showed as she had to release his hand to eat.

Mmm. He was grinning. Isobel figured it was probably because of her sadness of having to let go of her hand. She hoped though that after they'd eaten that there would be another opportunity to hold his hand. It would be nice. "I'll try to remind you." That would be if she didn't forget herself. She didn't think that she would forget though, not when it had been such a nice evening so far.

Once the waiter had gone, Isobel took a bite of her salad. Mmm. It did taste very nice. She couldn't remember having food this good for a while. She looked up, smiling at Armen. Yes, she really was enjoying herself a lot this evening.

Armen had enjoyed hanging out with Isobel in Diagon Alley and now the Ministry. They had eaten ice cream together at Florean Fortesque's, walked the cobbled road between the shops, and people watched. He had left right after they had met to go visit his family and returned the week afterwards and then they had their first date.

Come to think of it they had talked a bit about their pasts but they never really talked about therir family. Armen thought that a family that raied someone like Isobel was worth knowing about. "So Isobel, what is your family like? I haven't heard you speak about them much yet." he hoped that wasn't for a reason.

Mmm. This dinner was really yummy. Isobel could've probably eaten lots more of it, which would've been bad, considering that she didn't really want to get fat. It wasn't too good for her job really. Placing hr fork down for a moment, she picked up her water, and took a sip. She smiled at Armen, she really was enjoying this evening. She liked spending time with him. She hadn't had this much fun in a long time.

Her family? Mmm. She hadn't seen her family for a while. "They're nice...they live near Bristol." Maybe she should go see them, it would be good. "I have four siblings." Big family haha. "They weren't that happy when I joined the international task force..." She gave him a look. Yeah. She could see what they weren't that happy....seeing as she'd left the country when she was just 22.

The evening was turning out rather nicely, and they were definately having a good date in his opinion. Isobel seemed to be having fun as well. Good. Because he definately planned to take her out more often now. This was fun.

"Oh Bristal, sounds nice. I've been there once." he had only been there to retrieve an illegally created Portkey, not much time for sight-seeing really but still. "Four siblings? Wow. I only have a three siblings, my older sister Michelle and younger twin brothers Eli and Toni." he said commenting about his family, when she mentioned her's. Then she mentioned the burden her job placed on her family relationship. "I'm sorry for that. Work and careers can be hard on parents, most of the time they aren't ready to let us leave." he chuckled remembering his mother every term as he left for Hogwarts and literally everytime he visit nowadays as well.

"Maybe you should come there more often." Isobel suggested, with a little smile. She was sure her parents would love him, but maybe it was a bit too soon to meet the parents just yet. See if they could stay together a bit longer then maybe she'd suggest it.

"Yup...my parents prefered my eldest brother though..." She mused, as she ate some of her salad. "He was amazing at quidditch, he used to play for Pride of Portree." Isobel shrugged though. She had hated how it had been when she was younger, but she didn't really care anymore. She'd been succesful with where she had wanted to get, so really she thought that she was just as good as her brother. "Yeah...they're glad I'm back in the country." Probably so that they could poke at her to get married, and settle down. She decided not to tell Armen that though, didn't want to scare him away.

"Perhaps we can go together one day." he nodded. He needed a holiday and maybe Isobel could take him up there and show him around sometime. It was a bit soon now, but a few month from now it wouldn't be. He took another bite of his salmon and a drink of water as he listened a bit about her older brother and the slight over-shadowing she expereinced as a child.

"See I had almost the opposite situation than you and your older brother. My older sister Michelle graduated Hogwarts and then immediately ran off to work in some animal reserve and do things will muggle Peace Corp groups." he said with a grin. "I adored her for doing it and had even thought about joining aswell. My parents were furious. She had been studying to be a magical school teacher but she didn't love it." he sighed as he remembered those few weeks as he too was fresh out of Hogwarts, deciding if he would follow in his sister's path, but it was of course clouded by the past he wished to forget sometimes and he had been pulled back into presently. But Isobel needen't know about that.

"That'd be nice." Isobel smiled, eating some more of her salad. It was nearly all gone. Mm. She really had enjoyed that, it had been very nice. It would be nice to take him to meet her parents, but she wanted to make sure they really did work before she took him. She knew her mother would probably push them to get married (she really wanted some more grandchildren) So Isobel was feeling a little reluctant to go see them with Armen straight away. Didn't want to scare him away.

"Oh..." Well people did see that opposites attract, so maybe that was what was going on here. "I'm not surprised that they were furious." Because her parents would probably have killed her if she ran away like that. "Things are better now..." Kind of, it had been a little awkward when she'd gone, and worked abroad so things had definetly improved. Isobel frowned as she watched him. Something appeared to be a little wrong. "Are you okay Armen?" She asked, seeming worried.