Land Ahoy [Luthien]

[Deleted]

July 1, 2025
@luthien

Ah, Hogsmeade. It'd been a long time since Bjorn had walked these cobbled streets. Despite being a rather small Wizarding village it had a large shopping district, and that included one of the best "crime bars" around. The Hog's Head was a space that didn't ask questions. The employees had most definitely overhead a number of heinous discussions but they kept their mouths shut. On top of that, because everyone was so tight lipped about the goings of the bar, you knew immediately if Ministry employees were there. Because the moment you didn't hear something questionable you knew everyone was on their best behavior. Best behavior meant authority presence. 

Today though, as Bjorn pushed the heavy door open and entered the bar all seems well. Only a few tables were occupied, and you could hear the distant chatter of someone sharing a story of selling a dragon egg. Good. It meant Bjorn's didn't have anything to worry about tonight. He could just drink and enjoy his evening.

It'd taken some time, getting through the quarantine restrictions. Bjorn had been forced to hand out a hefty payment to the best forger he knew for documents. Normally, Bjorn didn't bother with entering countries legally, but a magical lockdown was very different than a non-magical one. Non-magical he could just slip in and out and no one could stop him. Magical? Well, it tended to get a bit tricky. Now though that he was inside the quarantine, he didn't have to worry. He and his "crew" had made it through the health checks and ID checks without issue.

So, Bjorn was celebrating. At least one night off before starting to chase a few leads. He would need to rebuild his contacts in the countries, and start plotting out the next job. Obviously, being confined behind the quarantine would mean less options, but it was worth it, in his mind. But that was a story for tomorrow.

Bjorn ordered a pint, and sat down at a table, heavy booted feet propped up on the other chair, as he took a long gulp, chugging half the pint in one go, then slammed the pint glass down on the table.

[Deleted]

Lúthien had not been in Hogsmeade for quite a while and she was starting to remember why. The Hogs head was perfect, especially in the sense that criminal activity was barely seen as any sort of problem. Shady deals were welcome and shady people no less so. It made for a perfect environment to strike up interesting conversation and deals. This guy was just too happy about his dragon egg. She'd rolled her eyes countless times behind the veil was was imagining the various ways to kill him. Still, buying an egg? Possible.

Well it was until she noticed the new patron. Like, fully noticed. She had noticed in passing that he'd entered but her mind had been on the mind numbing sales pitch. It was a dragon egg, you wanted it or not. Lúthien figured her ideas about omelets were not exactly purchase proof to begin with. She shrugged at the man. "I'd be more interested in a horntail. I'll buy that if you ever get one." She said a little bluntly before walking off and uninvitedly taking a seat at the table with Bjorn, pulling the veil off her head and half tossing it on the table in dismay. It was a risk of sorts but nothing too impressive. She had her regular face with a few minor differences that could easily have been conjured up. As a metamorphmagus it wasn't that, but she had kept that secret closely guarded all her life. "Hi Bjorn." She said with a small but mostly friendly smile. She couldn't help but look like she was up to something. She figured it was a curse of sorts she carried with her. 

She didn't know why but life had been kinder to her lately. After her conversation with Casi she'd gone to her parents in Austria to talk to them and put the past behind her, once and for all. It was time to move forward, even if she wasn't fully sure yet how to do so. Now she was trying to figure out where to go when the answer seemed to present itself on a silver platter. Legal business was not her thing, even less so as a wanted woman. She wanted to be happy, but also free. Not to mention that a change of scenery would do her a lot of good by now. She could function under authority if she managed to respect them. She knew Björn from school, at least in passing and she had no reason to dislike or disrespect him, although she knew a lot could change for her in a single conversation. From what she knew from her criminal contacts he was a pirate with his own ship and crew now. It seemed like exactly the kind of opportunity she would be foolish to not, at the very least, entertain. It offered a change in perspective and quite possibly the chance to once again allow herself to bond with others in ways she hadn't allowed herself to do for quite a number of years.

She took her ring off and played with it idly. She'd decided in that conversation with her parents that she wasn't going to go through with that entire mistake. It hadn't even been the worst one she'd made since her world had fallen into pieces and it seemed better to make sure it wouldn't become a bad mistake. Besides, the most value she had found in her time away was her own. She was silent for only a short while before she looked at Bjorn again and smiled slightly. "It might be a bit out of nowhere, but from what I hear you've got a ship these days. If you have a slot open on your crew I'd like to attempt to fill it." She leaned back as she put her glass down and shrugged. "As a thanks for entertaining the idea I'll buy us drinks tonight?" She offered, asking more if he was willing to consider it than if he wanted a drink. Most people didn't object to those when coming to a bar. She knew she could mean something for the crew, if nothing else she was good in a fight and her skills with the flute offered up modes of entertainment. She was certain other types would be plausible, but far from certain she wanted to head that direction now that she was steering for a new course in her life, so to speak. Only time could tell that.

@bjorn

[Deleted]

July 1, 2025
@luthien

Bjorn wasn't alone for long. A woman, completely uninvited, had joined him without any hesitation. She tossed her veil aside and greeted him by name. Bjorn's eyes narrowed. Interesting. This woman knew him. It took another moment until he realized who it was. It had been some time, but once he made the connection he couldn't unsee it. He sat up, feet back on the ground as he leaned forward in his chair. "My my, You're a sight for sore eyes. Didn't I see you in the news not to long ago?" He didn't say her name, considering her history. While crime was normal, a known Azkaban escapee would definitely draw extra attention. He wasn't judging though. He wasn't exactly a law abiding man himself. He just hadn't been caught like her.

Luthien was quick to talk, mentioning the rumors of him having a ship. He smirked, though it was hard to see behind his thick beard. "Let me guess, Lotten told you? She's here too. So you two can get up into your usual mischief." Though the offer of joining the crew... was interesting. Bjorn pursed his lips for a moment. "I'll consider it. But let's talk business later. Tonight's for drinking." At her offer to buy drinks he grinned full on, and it was clear even behind the thick bear. "Who am I to say no to a pretty woman and a free pint?" Though he had one already... That was easily remedied. He raised his half full pint, and chugged the rest, slamming it down on the table once empty. "Anything strong works. let's show our stoic Durmstrang pride and outdrink these British sobs."

[Deleted]

Lúthien very much had problems. She had escaped prison and was running from the law. Apart from that she had a very strong weak spot when it came to attractive men and Durmstrang seemed to be full of them, especially those that had opted to move abroad. Casimir, Titus and now Bjorn. Three highly attractive men she'd been friends with and all of them at least a little bit shady in their business. Even if Titus owned a fair and square casino these days Lúthien considered it to be a legal way of stealing money from people. She grinned at Bjorn as she casually shrugged. "I get around. People don't always appreciate my contributions to society." It was probably because it involved corpses from time to time.

Lúthien smiled at the mention of his sister. "I did encounter her a while back, but it seems to run in the family not to want to talk business. I like that. Casimir has done nothing but talk business lately and it's ever so disappointing. Sometimes a girl just wants to have some fun!" She said with a laid back smile and generally easy expression. She felt rather comfortable in her current situation. People that were not all about business were far better company on average, but very few things managed to beat the game of chess she and Cas played. She ordered five glasses of the strongest stuff the barkeep had, asking for pints rather than shotglasses. "Let's see how serious you are about Durmstrang pride and drinking." She said with a wink and a coy smile after the drinks were put the table. "Unless you'd want to turn it into a competition, but you'd have to call your reward first so I can decide how much to ask in case of my victory." She said with a playful wink as she took the first sip of her pint of... vodka? It tasted like it, which was good. She had been to Russia often enough to learn to appreciate a good Vodka when she had one. While not quite up to the standards she was used to, it was very decent for their location. At least the drinks were good.

@bjorn