Mason grinned. Lovely. It was lovely. He took another sip with Meredith. Oh right, food. That's generally what you do at restaurants, right? He picked up his menu and skimmed through the items. "Hmmm..." He remembered all the lessons his mum friends had told him. Spaghetti was too messy. Salad left spinach in your teeth. Garlic left your breath stinky... "I think I'll have the chicken parmesan." He noted. "What about you M'Lady?" He asked with a wink.

He lifted his eyes from his menu and looked at Meredith. Good gods, she was gorgeous. How in the world did Mason get so lucky as to take her on a date? He was such a doof when it came to girls, and yet here he was. On a date. With a girl. And a pretty one at that. It was their first date, and he hoped it wasn't their last.

Nath slowly sat into one of the comfortable chairs, slowly twirled his wand from hand to hand, and watched the door. He had a feeling in the back of his head, and he was prepared to fight his way out of yet another trap, set for him by his brutal enemies. Not to say that he didn't deserve it however....

Ramona pulled her hair out of it's crappy hairband so the chocolate waves spreader down her neck and shoulders and walked into the restaurant, breathing a sigh of relief, the tanned woman had just ran from her office and was no doubt getting the sack later on but at that moment she didn't care. Really didnt care. Looking around she scoped out the busy restaurant for any place she could sit. There wasn't, typically. Except there was one spot, next to a rather intimidating looking man who looked somewhat deranged. Still it was a seat, she was hungry and she could always clobber him with her sky scraper Choos if she needed to.

She walked over to the man, excuse me, she said smiling pushing her hair off her neck, is this seat free?

Nath's eyebrows shot up, mixing with his grey and blonde hair. His hand tightened upon his wand, and he kept it aimed towards her. Whoever this girl was, she either was a lost and confused soul. Or another террорист (Assassin) employed by the sinister Ministry. However, it was not his thought to randomly start blasting up a restaurant on a whim. He had already done that too often. And Magical entities had stopped him from doing it again. Unless he could slip it under the radar somehow....

He shook himself from his stupor and gestured to the seat. "Sure, take it. I am sure another table needs the chair, I am not expecting anyone anyway." His thick russian accent smothered many of the words. It had been some time since he had spoken English, he was far more used to the languages of his home, and his recent escapade in Outremer.

Woah. This guy...creepy. And she was going to be sitting next to him at the only free table. Yays. And he was russian. Double creepy, wern't they the Mafia or something....So what if she'd only just passed her muggle History degree she still knew her onions. Sort of. Thanks she muttered smiling at him none the less, she'd only tried to be nice and he'd acted like she was about to stab him with something or hex him into oblivion. And she wasn't going to. Obviously.

She sat down and quickly scanned through her emails on her blackberry before ordering the pasta of the day. Putting her BlackBerry in her shiny handbag that was, truly, her life. Now what was she meant to do....Asides from talk to weird man next to her.

Ah well. Life sucks sometimes and she was bored. So she said, looking at him, Russian huh?

Well not the greatest of conversation starters but it was something

Well the definitely took the chair, yet instead of taking his advice for taking said chair and moving to a different table with it, she sat down there. Right bloody there. And here he was, faced with a new opponent. One far...prettier than his last. Which would mean a far harder fight against this opponent than the rest he had so far faced. He would hate to have to fight her. The Ministry kept getting trickier and trickier.

Now she was asking about his nationality, typical. "Yes I am Russian, what gave me away?" So he said with thick sarcasm.

Ooooh. Glare much? She thought, inwardly rolling her eyes, and he was being so rude, she was only trying to make polite coversation, seeing as she'd taken his chair, it was what she was taught, but nooo the weird man couldn't be nice. Oh well the accent was a bit of a hint she nodded, sarcasm escaping into her tone, if he was going to do it, she'd do it back. Though if she had her old plummy accent it really wouldn't of work. As it was, it did.

I've been to Russia...I think she said slowly, tipping her head to the side as she thought, it was Russia or was it the Greenland?, she wasn't sure, Siberia she nodded again, pausing, it was cold. She smiled at him, so where are you from? The Oxford girl asked

Nath smiled a bit and sat back, "You have been to Russia have you? Did you see the estates or did you dare the ghetto where so many of us grew up? I myself grew up in the ghetto of St. Petersburg, where I watched the strict oppression of the Ministry at its finest." He didn't meant to be confrontational at all, surely the woman knew of the crimes the Ministries had inflicted upon those of lesser ability. And those who did not seek to follow rules on magic.

"Yes it was very cold from when I last remember it."

Wooah. Someone had issues, she nodded, umm...well I was a student and couldn't afford anywhere that nice so yeah, I must of she nodded slowly. It had been in her gap year, and her parents had been SO stingey after the 4th country. She smiled at him, see he could be nice...sort of.

So you grew up in a...rough place? She asked hesitantley, one could definatley say she hadn't grown up in rough city

Nath laughed heartily "A rough place? Yes, yes indeed it was. You couldn't go twenty metres without running into the authorities, and they were brutal. Yes it was rough, though a few of us made it into school, only to find our true struggles in front of us." Wow he was totally forcing his life story on the poor woman.

"I am very sorry for that," Nath extended his hand, "I am Nathaniel Corun, at your service"

Oh. Um, she didn't know what to say to that. It was interesting, but she couldn't really empathise, she'd grown up in a privilidged home and she'd always gone different, if longer ways when she'd stayed for that one month. Were you one of them? I mean, educated She asked, he seemed educated, but she couldn't be sure. Con men wern't always educated but she'd been taken in by many a con man...and had a relationship with them. And that had always ended well of course. Not.

It's fine she nodded, sometimes you need to get things out in the open she said, smiling at him in her welcoming hostess way, he did seem like a nice person, even if he did have foul mood swings. Much like her. Why thank you, I'm Ramona, Ramona Marqueen, and I'm afraid I work at the ministry, though, before you shoot me, I hate it, she said. It was the truth. Admin in the ministry had not been how she planned her life to say the least

Nath looked around then back to the pretty girl's eyes. "Yes I was, I was educated at the Institute. There was no other choice you see, it was either that or ... something else that was a little more foul." He shrugged, "We were taken in by Durmstrang, and they taught us the techniques needed to survive in a hostile world. We formed gangs and clubs to survive, you had to have someone at your back, otherwise you were a gonner..." He shuddered, the fights that had happened there, they had taken quite the toll on the students. The teaching methods were horrible, the emphasis had been on making warriors, not scholars. There was no room for failure.

He sheathed the wand and shook her hand, "Well at least we have a few things in common, we both hate the ministry!"

Oh, nice she nodded, smiling, a little naively, she didn't actually want to think about...the other option. I mean, not nice, but you know, good for you and..stuff, she finished a little lamley. Oh Durmstrag. She had never been keen on Durmstrag, they always seemed a little bit angry, and intense. Hogwarts lot were always much calmer. Not that she was biased at all. Nope. Not. At. All.

I was in a gang, she nodded, I mean not like your one, but you know a gang. A weedy one really, the prefects gang. I was the rebel prefect though to be honest she grinned, she'd never been keen on following rules. Rules were for boring people. And she wasn't boring. She'd always wondered why she had been made prefect. Probably to try and reign the Lion in. Wild was she...apparantly.

Hate them, but they pay well she nodded, laughing, you work there too? Or are you a free reigner?

Nathaniel smiled coldly and ran his fingers through his prematurely greying hair. "Yes." He blinked his steel blue eyes, "Good for me I guess." He tried not to think of Mailen or the others, "You were a prefect?" A shot of terror long forgotten passed before his eyes. "A rebel prefect, good for you. My gang fought against the prefects of Durmstrang, we lost horribly in the end, but it was a good cause. Tyranny cannot be allied with. It cost many of us our freedom and a few...." He let his voice trail off, cracking with emotion. He couldn't bare to think of the duels again. 3rd year, he had lost many friends that semester. He shook his head.

"They pay well indeed, I work as an obliviator, but me department is nearly empty. My friends are gone I guess."

Well, I mean if you hadn't then you wouldn't have a career..she faltered, tailing off and blushing slighty. This was just a little bit embarassing, she was practically frothing at the mouth and just jabbling madness. Embarassing? Yes. Yeah, she nodded, I prefered to...live up to my other title, she grinned, blushing a little. She hadn't been named the Hogwart's Heartbreaker for nothing you know?

Oh, well I'd have fought with you she nodded, she couldn't stand anyone who tried to take over and be all dictator like. That was why she'd never got on with the head girl. And her relationship with the Slytherin head boy had been...tense to say the least.

Oh. Um, I'm sorry... she said, bowing her hed slightly and chewing her lip, it was awkward around him. So much death and disaster, you should come and visit me, I'm on the sixth floor she nodded, smiling

Nathaniel nodded and adjusted his crimson tie. "True, having no career would be rather bad. So while it was very painful, I am sure in the end it will be worth the price." He leaned back and took a sip from his coffee, it was bitter, and he had forgotten to add the cream again. He was so forgetful when it came to those things, there was just so much else to think about. He grinned widely, "Well I would have loved to have you fighting at my side, but I doubt you would have the stomach to do some of the things we did. It was hardly as tame as Hogwarts."

"I will visit you, what was your title at Hogwarts then?"

Sophia walked into the restaurant, not really sure what to expect. She'd found herself in a habit of walking home immediately after she finished up at work... which mostly seemed a bore, but almost as soon as she entered she was met with a seemingly familiar figure.
"Nath?" she questioned, cursing that it came out in the horrid Australian accent she regained after only 3 weeks of taking care of her siblings.

Can't deny she grinned, the pay was...okay, not so much so she could afford her dream house on Blackheath common, but enough to get a decent sized flat. One day she'd be able to afford that beaut of a house without getting into debt. One day.
She took a sip of her own green tea, because, whilst caffine was truly amazing and a gift from the universe, she couldn't drink it now otherwise she'd go slightly bonkers and Nathanial WOULD run a mile. They all did. That was why she always ordered a coffee on a boring date, just to speed up the evening and get back to her multitude of Friends DVDs.
You never know, I did once plan to become a healer and I have watched all of the Saw DVDs in one night. Something she was still proud of to this day, it may of been when she was 17 and with a group of people and she had been terrified but she was still proud. But maybe you're right she nodded, blood and guts, not my thing to say the least, she grinned, good, oh the Hogwarts Heartbreaker she nodded smiling, she'd grown up a little but not that much. Did you have any titles? She asked, she still had her yearbook, and frequently flipped to that page just so she could see a young 17 year old version of herself. She was 22now. Old practically

Nath looked up from their conversation when he heard his name spoken from the crowd. His hand snapped to his holstered wand and brought it straight to the person who had spoken. "AVADA KEDAV-Oh! Hi Sophia! How are you doing?"

Nath looked slightly ashamed and holstered the wand, a slight pink coming into his pale face. He looked slightly confused, "Saw? That's a little extreme, but I am sure it would help understand what happened in the Russian ministry, blood and guts were seen quite...often. You might not have liked it very much!" He grinned slightly and looked from side to side. Was he going to tell him his title, he had so many, The Butcher of Kiev , or perhaps the one he was known many years later after he left the ministry, Liberator of the Black Sea. Or maybe the most simplest one, Sedition, his codename when he joined the resistance.

"I was named Sedition as a codename by my brothers in arms...."

Sophia was slightly startled as she heard the beginning of the killing curse, but immediately tried to compose herself.

"I'm pretty good, how are you? You definitely seem a lot more jumpy than last I saw you!"

Nathaniel laughed heartily, "I am indeed a little jumpier, I am hunted you see." He wished to ask her if there were any shady characters outside waiting for him, but he figured a conversation would be better. Plus, now he had two people to talk to.

Mason showed up to the restaurant about ten minutes early. He didn't want to be late, he didn't want to be on time. He wanted to be there early so there was no chance of the dark haired woman getting mad at him. He didn't bring flowers; she said she hated them. He dressed casually, just like she had said to do. He sent her an owl at 10 AM, much before the deadline of noon. Was that it? He wasn't missing anything was he? Hopefully not...

To say he was nervous was an understatement. But, for lack of a better word... Mason was nervous. He stood by the door of the restaurant and patiently waited for her. He had her name in his head, hoping she would like it. Merlin, what if she didn't like it?! He might die!

For some reason, he felt the need to be good enough for her. Even though she was scary and slightly condescending, Mason didn't want to let her down... She wore a hard shell on the outside, but she was vulnerable. He could tell.

Medea was never late, she hated people were late. There were few excuses she accepted for tardiness. If the boy-man was late she’d have an excuse to rip him a new one. Alas, he was there waiting on her at the door. The woman would have taken pleasure in giving him hell. It was what she did best. Oh well, she’d just have to come up with another reason. That shouldn’t be too hard. She smirked as she walked toward him.

As she reached him she returned to her typically stony expression. Her white dress swishing just above her knee. And the magenta boots?! They were one of her favorites. She looked awesome. She did however change 4 and ½ times before deciding on this dress and these boots. What had gotten in to her? She never fussed this much over a date.

The former Slytherin stopped about 2 feet front of him. He looked yummy presentable at least. Her tone was just as cold as the last words she spoke to him in Diagon Alley, ”Well, Leo are you going to escort me in!?” That was it, his name. She was not going to drag it out or give it a grand ceremony. That was his name, that was all she had to say about that.

His hands in his pockets, Mason waited for his date to arrive. He looked up from the ground when he heard the footsteps and saw her. She looked... Fantastic. The white dress was such a difference from the red "Black Widow" shirt and Mason absolutely loved it, but the magenta boots let her personality kick in. A small smile appeared on Mason's lips and he took his hands out of his pockets. "You look beautiful." He told her. But not to lovey-drooly in fear that she might strike him.

She still wore the cold expression that she had when they first met and Mason wondered if she ever smiled. Like, really smiled, not the teensy smile she gave him by the Leaky Cauldron. He wanted to know what her laugh sounded like...

Leo..? Leo?! Huh. He actually liked it. Now he just needed to find a name dictionary to make sure that didn't mean snotty-nosed-child or something. Oh, right. They should probably go inside. To eat and stuff. "Ah, of course." Mason said, but still wouldn't give her her name. He stepped forward and held the door open for her, ushering her in.

Once inside, a few couples were seen scattered here and there throughout the small restaurant as Mason led them to a table near the back. The table was finely set with a cup of white wine at each place. Mason slid a chair out. "For you... Cora." He said, finally giving her name. Oh Merlin, please let her like it? Pweaase?!

He complimented her?! Most people didn’t because they were too intimidated by her. Her face shown a bit of shock, she couldn’t hide that she was taken aback by it. ”Umm, thanks.” Quickly realizing her vulnerability was showing she brought back her typical expression. Cold and judging.

Medea couldn’t tell if he liked the name Leo, but it didn’t matter anyways. That’s what she would call him from now to as long as he lived. Which if she dated him wouldn’t be that long (judging by previous relationships)… 12 months at best.

He very gentleman-like he took the lead. While she thought it was maybe a little romantic, he’d better not try and order for her. He’d get blasted for sure.

She was not ready for him to lay the name on so quickly, so unexpectedly. Her brow furrowed as she considered the name.

Medea said nothing as she sat and adjusted herself. Her silence continued as she picked up the wine, tipped it toward him. ”Cheers.” And she uncharacteristically winked. Maybe she was remembering when she didn’t cheers him back, maybe she was impressed with the name either way she playfully winked. Taking down the wine in one swallow she put the glass down with a loud exhale.

The green eyed woman picked up and flipped through the menu. Without looking at him she spoke, her voice soft, but demanding, ’Why Cora?”