never tell me the odds (railynn)

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The bar was just about to close up for the night. It had been another uneventful day. The Hog's Head had its usual business, but Uriah's smuggling job on the side had been suffering. He supposed it was maybe normal since people were likely more worried about the goings on in places like the Hog's Head these days. People were trusting others less and less, and as both an occlumens and a legilimens, Uriah had never been more on his toes when meeting strangers.

Uriah stood behind the counter tapping his hand against the counter. The bar was empty now, and he had half a mind to close up early but he knew if the owner got word of that he would never hear the end of it. So he stood there, practically watching the clock waiting for the next thirty minutes to pass by and hoping that no one walked through that door.

@railynn

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Rai was no stranger to The Hog's Head. She had been in and out with group and secret meetings plenty of times, but generally someone else was with her who ordered the drinks and brought them back to her table. She didn't really order a drink for herself often, it was one of the tactics she used. Let the other person feel more comfortable by ordering a drink for her, whatever they recommended. It was a good way to gain people's trust when making a deal or before stealing something together. Her and Vik often came here, but she insisted and taking charge no matter where they went. He was the smart one, after all.

Tonight, however, it was a September storm outside and she arrived at the Hog's Head alone. She hadn't planned on going in, especially not this late, but she also wasn't quite ready to go home just yet. Finn wouldn't be back, and she wasn't really in the mood to be alone... that happened sometimes, where her loneliness pushed her into a state of panic where being alone was impossible. Especially since Poe wasn't around so much anymore. She had Finn, of course, but that was different and not always available.

At least this place would have a few customers and a bartender or two that she could be around, right? Wrong. There was only one person there when she walked in, the heavy door shutting behind her and the rain dripping from her clothes and hair. She recognized him. He was here often, as well as another time... she had seen him in Knockturn. She remembered him now.

She thought about reaching her mind out to his, but she stopped herself. She slowly approached the bar. "Firewhiskey, neat?" she asked.

@uriah

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Uriah could not help but snap his head up to the door when he heard it open, the sound of the rain outside reminding him of another reason why no one was venturing out for a drink tonight. He stared a bit coldly at the girl who entered, silently cursing her for walking in so close to closing time even if she was dripping wet with rain. That was when he recognized her. It was like something clicked in his brain after a moment, flickering on like a light switch. This was the girl from Knockturn Alley. The Occlumens. Uriah's face flinched and he hoped that she had not seen the very brief look of surprise he had on his face. She had, after all, caught him off guard. Just like she did that day in Knockturn.

The girl asked for firewhiskey, neat, and Uriah obliged. Normally he probably would have snapped at someone for walking in this late but this girl had really piqued his interest that day and he needed to find out more. Who was she? A smuggler? Someone looking for his skill in smuggling? A spy? It was hard to tell. She was an Occlumens, that much he knew. When he had tried to look into her mind, he had hit a wall that day. However, he could have sworn that she had opened up a small piece of her mind in Knockturn that day. Like she was trying to let him know her name. But all Uriah had been able to get even remotely close to picking up was the name of some type of rock.

Uriah slid the glass of firewhiskey across the bar to the girl and he watched her. He was careful to keep his own mind guarded, and he didn't yet try to pick at hers. He wanted to make sure she didn't end up having friends waiting outside or something. He just stared at her blankly and waited for her to drink her whiskey before leaning onto the countertop and saying, "do you know what time it is?"

@railynn

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The bartender slid the glass of firewhiskey toward her and she caught it, lifting it immediately to her lips to take a short sip before setting it back down on the counter, using her pinky to soften the sound of the glass making contact with the wood. He then leaned forward, asking her what time it was. That was and interesting question... maybe he was implying that she shouldn't expect to hang around long, because the bar wouldn't be open too much longer, or maybe he was just trying to get in her head. She leaned forward a little, too, her hand playing at the side of her glass gently, just grazing it with her fingertips. It was always easier for her to focus if her hands were doing something.

She kept her mind guarded as she met his eyes, and shrugged. "Not exactly, no. But I'm sure you're in a hurry to get home? Maybe to a girlfriend?" she questioned, her eyebrow raising in a teasing expression. Yes, Rai was teasing him. This was what she did when she was trying to read someone. Break their concentration, their focus, by seeming a little more vapid than she really was.

@uriah