Elinor laughed when he declined the entire booth, before turning and requesting two popcorns, salt and butter, and Nigel's butterbeer. She, herself wasn't thirsty, which was good since she'd have to drop it if anything happened. If. After handing over the money, she turned and handed Nigel his popcorn and butterbeer before picking up her own.

"I really probably shouldn't, since I can't forget i'm technically on the job", she told herself outloud as she took a bite of popcorn. "but I can always say it's part of staying inconspicuous," she rationalized before picking up a few more buttered pieces.

She thought for just a second about the popcorn... And how childish it probably seemed to him. Of course, Nigel was pretty skinny, at least by her standards, and probably ate, like, two bites of every meal and was done. BUT he hadn't objected, so there.

"Well, I'm afraid I won't be very much fun, seeing as I can't leave this area of the carnival, and you're certainly under no obligation to stay with me. Carnivals don't come in every day, you know," she said. She really WASN'T much company, at least while at work, and the last thing she wanted to do was take away the few moments of leisure he had.

...But were it up to her, he'd never leave, so THOSE WORDS she never actually said. Nosir. She was simply reminding him that he, being Nigel, did not have to stay around people that weren't his cup of tea. Which, she had gotten the impression, wasn't hardly anyone at all. But at least he was acting like he didn't mind. That made her feel better.

"It's like you read my mind," Tori murmured, smirking to herself as he practically voiced her thoughts. Yes, he had passed, but she wasn't about to just yell that out like a crazy woman.

That would be most undignified for a Princess.

"Well, that sure sounds like the only solution," she agreed, giving his hand a cutesy squeeze before letting go. "Only time will tell."

Unless he was ready for callbacks, already? Heh.

What could he say, he was a genius? Okay, that was a stretch.

Paulie gave a lopsided smile as Victoria agreed, then glanced down briefly when she dropped his hand. He took hers back and leaned down before quickly kissing the top of it. "I forgot the traditional hand-kiss, ya know," he added, looking slightly up at her as his torso was still leaned over. The boy then straightened up to his usual lankiness. "I think it's a requirement for Princesses."

A thought then occurred to him, one that had passed through his mind momentarily a few minutes ago. "Uh, so.... how many guys are trying out?"

Oh, oh? Princess Tori was getting a bonus kiss! YAY Sir Lemonade Knight YAY! She was torn between giggles and a giant grin as Paulie bent and gave her hand a smooch and everything.

AWWWWWWWWW!

"Hehee," the Princess giggled evilly. "That's for me to know, and you to.... not find out." She winked. "But if makes you feel any better, you're the first."

Yah yahhhh, Paulie felt that he had actually done a half-decent performance here. Mhmm. 'Cause she was grinning and giggling and those were good signs, weren't they? They were indeed!

PFFFFT. He made that sound, too. Pfft. 'For her to know and him to find out'?! Here he was, trying out all nicely and protecting her from airborne lemonade, and she wouldn't even answer his question. Tsk, tsk. "Fiiine," he said, shoulders sagging in disappointment. He smirked and shook his head. The first of many, he thought. "Hmm.. well, I guess it's comforting to know that I didn't kiss you right after you were sucking face with a bearded twit or something." He didn't know why, but he was picturing a lumberjack.

Victoria laughed out loud now, not even bothering to disguise her giggles. Look at how disappointed he was! That was a good sign, right?

"Nooooooo nooo," she tsked, patting his hand again. "I don't do beards. I like the clean-shaven look. Maybe a little scruffle, a shadow or whatever, but there's nothing wrong with seeing a boy's tidy face."

Like his. Tidy. Good chin. She likey.

Paulie eyed her. No beards, huh? Okay, she looked like she was telling the truth, so he decided to take her word for it. "All right.... good! I better not see ya kissing any bearded seventh-years, then." If there were any seventh-years who could even grow facial hair..

The boy sighed and looked down at the tee shirt in his hands, then back to Tori. "Welp, Princess, I think my shirt is just about dry.." Despite it's new yellow hue. "But I'll probably catch you on the train or at that feast thing." And, Merlin help her, she better not be drinking exploding lemonade at that feast.

"Psh. No beards for me." He didn't say SHAVEN seventh-years were off limits though. Heehe.

Tori also sighed at the sight of the dry shirt. Shame. She was really getting used to being in the company of a shirtless boy, too. "I'd better see you at school," Tori corrected, giving Paulie a little poke in the chest. "Until then..."

She started walking away, stopping just once to blow a kiss over her shoulder.

Brittany made her way behind him towards the food stalls. She noticed that he was doing a lot of pushing and shoving to clear a place for her to walk evenly. She smiled slightly, Bradley seemed to be such a gentleman.

The crowd around the stalls became thinner as people were spread around, she was glad about this and sighed in relief. "This is better, I hate crowds." She told him, stopping in her tracks and holding his hand back so that he stopped with her. It was much easier to breath here, for her anyway as she always found trouble in breathing in crowds.

"Shall we go get something then?" She asked him, pointing ahead to what seemed like the main stall that had the menu.

He was glad when the crowds began to thin as he got further into the carnival itself. As he walked he looked left and right at the various attractions which were full of laughing people young and old, he also looked at the waiting lines which were far to long for his liking. While he was admiring all this he still searched for a food stand.

It was quiet a surprise when he felt Brittany tug on his hand to stop him, he turned as she spoke wondering if something was wrong. Oh right crowds, he didn't mind them most days. "There alright, you just need someone like me to help you get through them" He joked chuckling.

He turned towards the way she was pointing then and saw a food stand staring back at him. How'd he miss that? Maybe he'd been admiring the rides too much. Hm. Brad looked at the stand for a moment before turning back to Brittany smiling. "Sure, anything in mind?" He asked leading her over.

Brittany grinned, it seemed like a long while since she'd been out somewhere with someone. She felt good and actually quite interested in this carnival, even though she didn't usually appreciate things like this. "Yes, you're definitely the gentleman, "She praised him, squeezing his hand. It was true, she hadn't really felt the crowd a lot this time, because he helped alot in making a way and parting the crowds as they walked.

She noticed that Brad was glancing at the rides in something that looked like admiration. She followed his gaze and saw the long lines of people waiting to get on rides; everyone was shouting happily and smiling that Brittany couldn't help but smile as she saw people's faces. She then followed Brad as he led the way towards the food stall. "Umm, I'll just have a burger and some firewhisky, "She answered him, revealing just how hungry she was. "What about you?" She asked him as they reached the food stall and stood looking at the different things offered.

"Thank you," Nigel said simply with a nod as he accepted the box and drink from the woman after she had paid for it. He momentarily tried to decide how best to handle things so he could eat while holding both items, finally setting on holding onto the neck of the bottle with a few fingers while the same hand held the popcorn she he could grab hold of either then he wanted to.

"Yes...You wouldn't want anyone to question your appearance here for a reason thats easily fixed," he nonchallantly agreed as he took a piece of popcorn and popped it into his mouth. "And its alright. Not like I came hear intentionally for fun," the potions maker remarked once he was free. Not to mention for some reason he couldn't think of a reason to leave the woman behind to her duties. Other then not risking interrupting her attentions but even that wasn't strong in his mind.

Besides werent they trained to pay attention to two things at once?

One tall, unobtrusive shopkeeper casually eating popcorn wasn't going to do much harm. One currently casually walking away from the both as the few others in line moved around them. Nigel might not currently mind being with Elinor but that didn't mean he was so comfortable around others. Wait did he just think that?

Was he really comfortable around the woman?

Elinor ALLLLMOST couldn't tell if he was being sarcastic when he said he hadn't come here for fun. Then she remembered that Mister Garrettson probably had the wrong idea of the definition of the word. Poor man. Doesn't know an opportunity when he sees one. Or maybe he does, and he's taking it by staying.

"Do mine eyes deceive me?," she squinted at him incredulously. "Are you ENJOYING someone's COMPANY, Nigel?" she asked jokingly, not noticing her casual use of his first name for the first time. "Or are you just THAT GOOD?"

She also just unintentionally backed him into giving a compliment, by her standards at least, unless he really WAS 'that good'. In which case she just made a total fool of herself. But this thought lasted only for a moment. As they moved towards a less chaotic part of the area, she smiled. More to herself, but he was welcome to enjoy the sight. "I'm honored."

In the process of chewing a popcorn kernel or two, Nigel nearly choked as he heard and registered what she said about him. Coughing once to recover from the action, the shopkeeper tried to regain his composure, taking a sip from his drink as he gathered a response.

"Perhaps..." he said finally finding his voice again and leaving it open for interpretation at first. Nigel found himself fighting the urge to allow his sheepishness to show. He couldn't help but wrinkle his nose slightly as she spoke of being honored as if already certain of his opinion. "Perhaps it isn't...totally horrible," he mused quietly taking another bite.

"...just don't let it go to you head," he commented in addition, straight faced as he looked out into the crowd, a faintest bit of amusement in his gaze.

He stepped up to the stall and dropped Brittany's hand, he was sure she'd be alright here as most people were gathered around attraction after attraction. He gave her a smile as he took in her order and turned towards the person begin the counter. Before he made their order however he quickly glanced at the board with all that was to offer and pricing.

"I'll have a firewhisky and a butterbeer please," He paused before continuing, "A cheeseburger and..." Brad turned to Brittany.

"What type of burger would you like?" He asked taking out him money pouch getting ready to pay. He smiled at her.

She felt him drop her hand as he stepped up to the stall. She gazed unseeingly at the menu, not really focusing on what was going on. When she had walked out of the Leaky Cauldron earlier today, she wouldn't have dreamed that all this would happen. Yet, she was glad. She got to know a new person, who is a very nice man and she ended up visiting a carnival with him. She guessed that she's been living up to the promise she'd made herself, and she was proud that she has. At least there was no more of the what would've happened if I'd have tried questions.

Coming back to her surroundings as she heard Brad ask her what type of burger she wanted, she looked around at him. "Um, a veggie." She answered him. She saw that he took out his money pouch to pay and she could not have him pay for her. No, no that wasn't right. Or at least Brittany didn't feel that it was right. She reached out for her own money pouch that was in her bag and looked at the large board doing the mental math.

Veggie burger? Right he got it, Brad turned back to the person serving them with a smile and added, "...and a veggie burger please" She was a Vegetarian then? He'd tried to become once himself on a few occasions but had giving up. It was so hard! Specially if you lived with someone who had no intention on changing. And beside's he loved his meat to much.

Bradley stepped away from the stall to wait for their order and turned towards Brittany once more. He noticed she'd been reaching for her purse and he placed him hand over her's lightly to stop her. "No I'll pay. Don't worry I have enough" He told her giving her a smile before taking his hand away and putting them in his pocket. "So do you have any intention on going on a ride or two?" He asked casually.

She hadn't thought closley about what she had ordered, or she would've realised that it gave an impression of her being a vegetarian. It was unusual for Brittany not to be focused on small things like this, as usually, every little detail mattered to her. Yet, here she was, not giving a second thought to what she was saying or thinking. She looked up at him as he put his hand over hers to stop her getting her pouch, he was a gentleman alright, just like in the old stories her mother used to tell her when she was a kid. "I'll let you this time, but only 'cos we're in a carnival," She pouted.

Brittany was somewhat taken aback by his offer to go on rides, but then she shook herself mentally. They were in a carnival after all and she might as well try something fun here with Bradley. She hadn't even said the word 'fun' out loud in years. So much for being a sulky unspeakable. "I'd like that, "She nodded. "But nothing too wild." She added smiling.

Elinor reached out a hand, about to clap him on the back, then withdrew it. Shouldn't push her luck, she figured. Plus, he wasn't actually choking. She'd seen that reaction in him before, and pressed her lips together in a supressed smile.

"Well... I'm honored that it isn't 'totally horrible'," she settled. "I've seen how you are with people. And I'm glad I'm not like the rest. They don't know what they're missing," Elinor said, a little offhandedly. Then she thought about it. And it was true. Nigel didn't get close to people, and people didn't get close to Nigel. At least, that was how she'd seen it. He didn't strike her as the very layered sort. He had his way of life, and that was that. He spend his days in his shop, with his potions.

Well, she would fix that.

The carnival was getting rather quiet. Well... not TOO quiet, but there was a noticable difference from a little earlier. "We ought to do this more often. Sometime when neither of us is engaged in work," she suddested as she took another bite of popcorn. Indeed, it seemed that whenever they had the chance to meet, one of them had something else to get back to. Were she not on the job, she would've left the area and actually enjoyed the carnival... with him, of course.

"No it's the gentleman thing to do to pay" He corrected Brittany as he put away his pouch but kept a handful of coins in his hand. He gave her a smile before turning back to the counter to see how much longer they needed to wait. He didn't find his answer. He turned back to Brittany when she started talking about rides. Nothing to wild? No fair, he said as much; "No fair" He pretended to pout before laughing.

"What would you count as too wild?" He asked after a few moments when the laughter had died down. Brad had been to many muggle carnival's when he was younger and the rollercoaster was always his favourite. He hoped there was one here today he was so going to drag Brittany on it if there was.