Let Me Buy You A Drink [Tracey]

[brielle wu]

Brie had been working hard most of the day. Compiling her stories, working on articles, some would be bound for the prophet, others may not see the light of day. She'd even send the occasional piece to the Quibbler. Writing, and figuring out which piece might be suitable for which outlet was time consuming in and of itself.  Actually going out and finding a story was another matter entirely. Luckily Brielle had an edge in that respect. She was a legilimens, and so she had more than her fair share of anonymous sources, even if the system wasn't fool proof and she could only get the beliefs of others, and the things they saw. Not always all the context and sometimes their memories weren't perfect. She still did need sources, and contacts. She still needed people who would talk to her willingly. And that was what bought her to the Leaky Cauldron this evening.

A lot of ministry officials would drink here. Aurors, unspeakables, even heads of various departments. Any one of these people would have made for an ideal source, and making friends was the best way to get anyone to speak up, or to look into things, Brie found. The Asian girl  made her way to the bar, ordering herself a glass of Pinnock's gigglewater. She'd had a particular fondness for the American beverage and in such bad times she could definitely use a little liquid glee. 

Brielle looked around the room for likely candidates - though she didn't have to look far, as her eyes fell on a brunette, older than herself, but pretty, and she had the demeanour of someone who seemed to need to relax. The stern posture of an Auror, or some similar official. Brie didn't want to risk simply probing into someone's mind and so instead she leaned over, offering her best attempt at a smile. "Long day?" She asked, letting out a chuckle as she sipped her giggle water. This stuff really took the edge off, and Brie reflected that its lack of popularity within England was positively sinful. Nothing helped the reporter unwind quite like this. 

"When she was asked about the prohibition in America, Seraphina Picquary once said gigglewater was non-negotiable. Can I get you one?" She said. She wasn't flirting with the older woman, but she was trying to break the ice. for her own purposes. Though even she had to admit the woman she'd spoken to was pretty.

tracey davis

[tracey davis]

And while you are sitting indoors
waiting for the storm to pass
I will be outside dancing in the rain

❧

Tracey had a long day with many calls, fake calls, paperwork and of course the whole damn war on her hands. Sure she didn't want to come off as a class one bitch who didn't do as she was told but she did want to show others not to mess with her. Tracey hates war and honestly after the last one she really felt like she shouldn't be fighting in this one but there were kids out there that needed to feel safe. 

The woman finished her firewhiskey and ordered another when someone had sat down beside her. "Yes giggles, yes it was." she said with a slight sarcastic tone hoping to let the other woman know she was not interested in a conversation. Sadly the woman wouldn't have it and Tracey actually hat to start paying attention.

"You're adorable but I'm going to stick to the strong stuff love."

word count ● brielle wu ● notes

[brielle wu]

"Firewhiskey it is." She said with a grin, motioning to the bartender to refill the brunette's drink. She studied the other, her mind opening to the day that this girl... Tracey, that was how she thought of herself, had been through. "Work's never pleasant... But to be an Auror right now? Yeah I see why you're not in the mood." She said with a sigh. "This stuff's not weak either. Don't let the laughing fool you, most of the stuff that came out of the prohibition was harder than what came before." She said putting her historical acumen on display. As the other woman's mind drifted to the children, Brie smiled. "Honestly a drink's the least I could do for someone fighting for our children." She said gently hoping to catch the woman's interest with just a little bit of mystery.

As the bartender refilled her drink she stifled a laugh caused by her drink, not particularly willing to let the side effect of the substance make her too socially awkward. She leaned against the bar, not too phased by the fact the other had tried to get rid of her. Tracey didn't know her from a bar of soap. Sometimes she forgot that she knew more about the people she talked to than they ever did about her. As she eyed the military woman, Tracey felt quite a bit of respect. She could see that this woman had no love for Delores umbridge either.

"I'm Brielle." She said introducing herself with a single little snicker bought on by her drink as she offered a handshake.

[tracey davis]

And while you are sitting indoors
waiting for the storm to pass
I will be outside dancing in the rain

❧

Tracey didn't know this woman and people who knew Tracey knew that she could be a grump when she preferred to be left alone. The brunette sighed as she drank from her whiskey and eyed the bartender giving her another. "Mmm thanks." she mumbled and sipped from her glass again. 

"Excuse me?" she did not tell the girl her job and she wasn't dressed for the occasion either. "How the hell do you know my job?" she asked and turned to look at the woman now, giving her Tracey's full attention. 

"Tracey but I am sure you already know that." she shook the woman's hand and drank from her whiskey. "Why do I feel like you are not here to give a lady some drinks." Tracey took another sip before grabbing the new glass. 

word count ● brielle wu ● notes

[brielle wu]

"Oh." She  shook heer head slightly, laughing. Was that the gigglewater or the combination of embarrassment and wry amusement at herself? She wasn't even sure herself. She was a little nervous about how she might explain that, she could feel the fact that this woman was grumpy toward her as much as she was fascinated. She felt as though this woman's gaze could burn her, if she played her cards wrong, but Brie was brave, even if she was a little nervous. She met the other's gaze not flinching again at this point. She shot the other an apologetic look.

"I'm a legilimens, and sometimes I don't even realise I'm doing it. It won't happen again." She said closing her eyes for a moment, her mind retreating from the other woman's. She already knew what she needed to know, and now she felt a little bad for being intrusive - not too much of course she was here on a mission and she needed to keep that in mind. "I'm sorry." She offered. It wasn't untrue, even if it wasn't entirely so. She wasn't trying to find anything that might the other woman uncomfortable, or to learn anything that was too personal - The reason she hadn't used the other's name was to depersonalise her information a bit, but obviously she'd showed her hand a little too much. She probably would have reead the woman's mind anyway, but the connection hadn't been deliberate yet.

"I did." She confessed. "As it so happens, Tracey, I am here to buy ladies drinks. It's why I'm buying ladies drinks that you should be interested in." She wasn't trying to be obtuse, but she hoped the auror, secretive as that profession was, might understand that not everything could be said out loud.