Walking on Broken Glass | Alyra & Ares

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Mid Day December 31st 2024

Lee was slowly getting more used to the area that she was now going to be working and living in. However, she was not at all prepared to come to a place where it snowed regularly and rained when it wasn’t snowing. She missed the sun already and it had only been a matter of days since she arrived in the UK. The nice thing about arriving when she did, was the time off that came with the New Year. So here she was, New Years eve, currently alone, and standing in the snow covered Alley, looking around and trying to read the signs above the shops further down the road to find the shop she was looking for. She hadn’t remembered there being so many curves in the alley when her co-worker showed her around yesterday. She thought it would be easy to follow but she felt like she was constantly getting turned around, or maybe she really was just turning herself around. Lee was an extremely smart and competent woman, how was she getting so lost in an alley? She let an aggravated sigh escape her lips as she passed the broom shop for the third time. She was definitely going in circles. She crossed her arms over her chest, wearing a cropped hoodie as a jacket since it was currently all she had that even resembled something warm.

ares edward lestrange

[ares edward lestrange]

cheerful and childish.

DIAGON ALLEY WAS one place Ares was familiar with but never particularly seen in. With his job in Hogs Head pretty much surrounding his life, Ares was never usually seen outside of Hogsmeade. From what he gathered, his presence wasn’t needed at the bar until later in the evening, when most of the patrons would have their friends gathered for the evening celebrations. On a day like New Years Eve, Ares knew what to expect: Complete and utter chaos. Though it was something to worry about once Ares arrived later on, his main priority for the day was…Well…Nothing! So the wandering around the infamous area was mindless, a choice made on the spot instead of planned.

Diagon Alley was filled with inches of snow and thick snowflakes falling, leading to a grin being plastered on the Lestranges lips as he looked up. Winter and snow were two of his favourite things about England as a whole, considering the Summer and Spring had their own…Mood swings. As his feet pushed through the snow, eyes gazed amongst the minor crowds around him, until one woman who seemed to be…Walking in circles caught his attention. The Lestrange chuckled, noticing her annoyance from where he stood as she circled around the Broom shop again. When the time felt right, Ares walked closer, standing not too far from her as she paused in her spot.

”Ma’am…Are you potentially lost?”

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In an attempt to never look like a tourist, Lee wanted to be able to do things and adjust to living here on her own. One of her co-workers had given her a tour of the alley yesterday and she wanted to prove that she was competent and could remember her own way around. In her head she had made mental note of where things were and usually she was good at remembering things like that, it was her job to remember little facts after all. Maybe it was the cold, maybe it was the jet lag, maybe it was a number of various things that had her lost right now.

Lee stopped in her tracks when she heard a man speak. He was speaker to her, she knew, but how ridiculous was it that she even had to ask for directions? While the alley had a few twists and turns, it seemed relatively straight forward, she wasn’t sure how she got to be so lost walking down a lane. “Um… potentially yes.” she admitted, turning around to face the stranger. “I’m looking for a clothing shop and somehow I keep getting turned around.” she explained, hoping that by swallowing her pride she’d be able to reach her destination and find something warmer to wear a little faster.

ares edward lestrange

[ares edward lestrange]

cheerful and childish.

SADLY ENOUGH THE woman stuck out like a sore thumb. Most people who wandered the streets of Diagon Alley knew where they wanted to go and the direction to wander off in. This…Unfamiliar but still rather attractive lady seemingly or most definitely had no clue. ”Potentially?” He repeated, lifting a dark brow. ”Are you sure of that?” He teasingly asked, waving off his tease with the raise of his hand. But at her next few words, Ares was left dumb-founded. ”Are you sure you’re in the right place? Diagon Alley’s only got two odd clothing places. One suitable for upcoming first years. So unless you’ve got an eleven year old in need for Hogwarts robes, Twilfitt and Tatting's is your place.”

Ares then smiled down at her, given their slight height difference before his hands clasped together. Aside from causing chaos, he didn’t truly see any harm in not helping the woman out. ”I could walk you there? Gathered that is the place you’re trying to head towards?”

@alyra

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

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He asked if she was sure that she was in the right place and Lee threw up her arms in defeat. “No, I have no idea. My co-worker told me there was a clothing shop here.” she admitted, but she could have misheard her, or misunderstood what she meant by clothing shop. Lee certainly didn’t want to buy school robes. She was over 10 years out of school, she had no desire to look like she was going back. He explained that the place she was after was probably Twilfitt and Tatting's. She had no idea if that was the place that she was after, but what else was she going to do? It was actively snowing and she was wearing a cropped hoodie. She had to get something. “If you don’t mind.” lee nodded when he said he could walk her there. “I’d appreciate the help.” she admitted. She didn’t like to depend on people she didn’t know, but what was the harm in allowing a stranger to help her. She certainly was beyond finding it herself. “I’m Lee, but the way.” she introduced herself, keeping her last name and her full name to herself. There was no reason to get too buddy-buddy. What were the odds she’d ever see him again?

ares edward lestrange

[ares edward lestrange]

cheerful and childish.

SMILING AT THE WOMAN’S clear act of a damsel in distress, Ares shook his head. ”Never fear…I’ll help you. Even if it isn’t the right place you need, at least you’ll find your way around if you do need it.” Giving a tour of Diagon Alley hadn’t been slotted into the Lestrange’s schedule, but now he was here, there was no turning back. Gesturing in the right direction to head in, Ares began the walk, his hands stuffing themselves into his coat pocket. London only seemed to be famous for one other thing except its tourist attractions for stupid Muggles: its insane drop in temperatures. ”Cool name Lee.” He responded at her introduction.

Considering she was a stranger and Ares had no intention to actually…Meet her again, Ares smiled down at her while his mind briefly wracked for a name. ”I’m Andy. Nice to meet you.” He had noticed the accent and while Ares didn’t enjoy small talk, he was the King of feigning things. ”So what brings you to London? Aside from clothes shopping. Seem to be far away from home.”

@alyra

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

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Lee frowned, she had already gotten a tour of the alley, how complicated could it be? It was an Alley for goodness sake. It was pretty straight forward, right? Maybe it was just the amount of information that she had been given over the past two days. There had hardly been a moment where her mind wasn’t thinking about a million things at once and flooded by information. “Thanks.” she said again, trying to sound more upbeat about it all. Snow continued to fall and the woman really just wanted to find somewhere to buy a real jacket. He said that she had a cool name and she gave a little laugh and a nod. She loved her nickname a lot more than she liked her full name: Alyra. Lee seemed to fit her more.

He told her his name was Andy and she nodded. “Nice to meet you, Andy.” Lee had no reason to think he was lying about his name. She had never seen the man before, and odds were she never would again. What did she care? As an investigator, if she found out, she would find it suspicious. He asked what she was doing in London, obviously noticing her lack of English accent. “I was sent here to investigate the outbreak.” she told him. Her job wasn’t a secret. The British Ministry couldn’t do it all on their own, they were in way over their heads.

ares edward lestrange

[ares edward lestrange]

cheerful and childish.

HER FROWN WAS EASILY MATCHED with a sly smile, one that was typical of Ares to have, but strange enough to have amongst strangers. She thanked him but the Lestrange raised a hand, waving off the thanks. Lee was unusual for most women, perhaps a nickname? With the two of them moving forward now, Ares nodded at her greeting, keeping the smile on his face. Her accent was a clear giveaway that she wasn’t a UK resident, and once she revealed her purposes here, the Lestrange’s lips formed a small ‘o’ shape, his interest in her only rising.

”The outbreak?” He parroted. ”The fall of Azkaban right? Just like all the news reports have been detailing?” With all the chaos that the Purifiers had somewhat driven up, it was always interesting to meet those who believed they could provide some change to all the tragedy. ”It must be hard for the Ministry, first Hogsmeade…now this. I’m glad none of my Patrons or those poor school kids were hurt.” It was no secret that he worked in Hogs Head.

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NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

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Lee nodded when he asked if she was investigating the fall of Azkaban. It really wasn’t a secret that she was doing that. The things she learned and what exactly she was doing would be confidential, but not her purpose. The public knew people were looking into the outbreak. “that’s the one. she confirmed. Lee nodded. It must have been hard on the ministry. Luckily she wasn’t a ministry employee. She was just here to clean it up. “your patrons?” she asked.

ares edward lestrange

[ares edward lestrange]

cheerful and childish.

HOW FASCINATING THAT IT WAS that Ares Lestrange found himself by the side of a Ministry Official. Or MACUSA considering she was from the States. Mentally, it felt like a jackpot. To ask as many questions as he could and repeat the messages to Elaine, to prove how many straws the Ministry were grasping at instead of catching up to the Purifiers. ”Interesting…It still confuses me as to why they’d break out certain prisoners. Those suckers must have a plan.” Ares stated, feigning a frown while his mind smiled as wide as it could.

”Yes! Some are old buggers, some are young and some we need to double check the IDs.” He chuckled, before looking down at the woman. ”Patrons as in the customers I serve. I work in Hogs Head you see, finest drinks in Hogsmeade and only exclusive to adults. No child allowed in.” It was a great job in all fairness, one that the Lestrange couldn’t see himself doing for life, but still…Rather enjoyable. ”I bet I could guess your favourite drink.” He teased as he turned the corner of the alleyway.

@alyra

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Deleted]

Lee nodded along when the man spoke, asking questions in a way that wasn’t really asking, but she wondered if it was more along the lines of digging. She shrugged “I suppose that’s what I’m here to find out.” since the ministry couldn’t seem to do it on their own and had to ask for help. She was not exactly happy about being the one who had to help. But she couldn’t exactly say no.

He went on to explain that he worked at a bar in Hogsmeade that was exclusive to adults. She nodded, she’d hope that he wouldn’t serve children. He then said that he could guess her favorite drink. She smirked. “I don’t drink”. she admitted. She couldn’t let anything distract her. Sure, she might consider a sip of wine at a fancy meal, but that wasn’t common and certainly was never more than a glass. Lee needed to keep her wits about her at all times otherwise she’d fail. As they turned the corner she saw a sign down the lane. The clothing shop, the one she was looking for. She hadn’t remembered it being this far down the alley. “oh there it is!” she exclaimed. “thanks for your help and your company. Maybe I’ll pop into your bar sometime.” she insisted before giving him a friendly nod and running off, her sandaled feet sloshing through the snow as she went. Frostbite nipping at her toes.

(You and end it)
ares edward lestrange

[ares edward lestrange]

cheerful and childish.

HOPING THAT THE WOMAN HADN’T somewhat already suspected Ares, he formed a grin at her response, nodding along with her. ”All the best of luck to you then!” He said cheerfully, directing her further to the place she wanted to head towards. Telling her of his day job was only best for his alibi if shit hit the fan and any member of the Purifiers was suspected. Ares had always been careful with how things planned out, the infiltration had been gone over a few hundred times, Merlin, even the times he murdered those Muggles with Andy, clean dispose of their body and only a missing poster sign went up about them! Job done.

”Ah you don’t? My apologies.” It was a shame though, Ares would’ve been joyful to see another pretty face in HogsHead, but he didn’t voice it. After all, he still had his fair returners like Mina and Harper. Once they turned, the woman saw the store before the Lestrange could even point it out to her. At this, he mentally frowned, hoping to have more time to speak with her and learn more about her. Her ministry stuff and simply…About her. Maybe next time. ”See, not hard to find at all.” He smiled. ”Any time. I hope to see you there Miss Lee. Have a good day.”

She nodded in his direction before taking off in a run, the cold hitting her the same way it hit him. He didn’t mind it though. Ares turned, to walk back in the direction he came from, but he briefly looked over his shoulder with a grin. One day they’ll run back into each other again. After all, Ares walked on nothing but broken glass.

END!

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