| Details for No Thanks |
| Summary: | Cooper tries to thank Bannon for a helping her on a difficult case. |
| Date: | September 16, 1937 |
| Location: | Leaky Cauldron |
| Related: | None |
| Characters |
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Leaky Cauldron London
Sun Sep 16, 1937 ((Sun Sep 16 03:14:56 2012)) (E,4 NE)
It is a summer night. The weather is cool and clear.
This cramped, angular room is the taproom of the Leaky Cauldron. A long bar runs along one side of the room, plain wooden stools set out before it. Smoke from pipes and candles fills the air. The patrons of this curious little bar, many of them elderly, sit hunched over their mugs at the tables. Waitresses bustle back and forth bearing trays of food and mugs of ale. Many of the people seem strangely out of place, dressed in cloaks and floppy hats, it almost seems as if you've stumbled into another century. Notably absent is any modern muggle devices or electric lighting, or any sign of electricity at all. Still, the occasional muggle does find their way in here, usually declaring it to be 'quaint' and 'atmospheric'.
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With the day already having bid adieu to the sun long ago, the activity in the Leaky Couldron has died down quite a bit. There are smatterings of people here and there, some of whom are staying at the inn, some others doing everything they can to avoid going home. Not exactly letting on as to which group he falls into, Bannon has found himself alone at a table in the corner. There is a tea tray in front of him, with a tea cup filled to the top with still warm tea. The string leading to the tea ball is hanging off the side of the cup. He is reading today's copy of the Daily Prophet, probably after having got off to a quick start earlier today.
After pulling another late work night, Cooper slips in through the door of the Leaky Cauldron, briefcase in hand and glasses still on. Judging by the way her sleeves are rolled up and the messy way her hair is tied onto her head, she's had a busy yet successful evening. The success part shows in her tired yet eased face. She's here looking for Bannon in particular. A few office mates said he was off to the cauldron and so when she successfully spots the bowler hat from across the room she weaves through the tables to reach his. "Knock knock," she says actually knocking twice on the table top.
Bannon looks up from the paper, eying Cooper with a raised eyebrow. He folds the paper back up, setting it down and replying to the knock, "Cooper, please tell me you are here to instill journalistic integrity back into the printed publications of the day." He stands, offering her the seat across from his, "May I offer you a cup of tea?" He peers at the teapot, "Today we have… black Darjeeling, I think." He seems unsure.
Cooper pulls out the chair and settles herself by putting the briefcase at her feet. "What'd they print in the Prophet that's got you all in a knot now?" she pulls off the frames and massages the bridge of her nose before place them back on again. She hmms at the offer of tea, eyeing the pot before she says, "Actually. How about I offer you a cup of…something…er…anything…er food maybe?" Either she's tired or she's flustered, regardless she realizes how inarticulate she sounds and waves her hand in the air as she continues, "Scratch that. What're you doing tonight? No plans?"
Bannon shakes his head, glancing towards the paper as he retakes his seat, "Everything. I'm quite sad to report that I would not use today's edition of the Daily Prophet to line a bird cage." As he, in turn, is offered something, Bannon shakes his head with a frown, "Though I am much obliged, Cooper, I dare say I'm quite satisfied with… whatever this may be." He lifts the pot to freshen up his cup of tea, then looks backtowards Cooper with his eyebrows knitted together. He clears his throat, "I'm sorry, Cooper. I enjoy keeping my private life and my professional life seperate. Were I not involved with someone already, I assure you that I would take you up on your offer, but I am a man of honor."
"Well that's harsh. Give it to someone else then. Maybe they'll use it for their bird," Cooper snorts, grabbing a cup and reaching for the tea pot to pour herself some. She manages to do it easily with one hand as she grabs the sugar. Of course when he declines her invitation, she looks up from what she's doing to quirk a brow at Bannon. As best as she tries, she can't contain her grin and politely waits till he's done to give a hearty laugh. "You think I'm asking you out then? Well that's great! Does that happen t'you a lot? Women must really take to the bowler, don't they? My word, I really underestimated the charm of that thing," she grins and stirs in the sugar. "No no. You're a fine, posh man for sure. Your lady is a very lucky one, but I -don't- want to go on a date with you. I want to celebrate with you! After you gave me suggestions on the case, I made significant progress. 'fact, I pulled a late night at the Ministry now because I was on a roll."
Bannon smirks, "I honestly can't tell if its the hat or the walking stick." He shakes his head, "Certainly not. I won't use it to line a bird cage out of respect for the bird." He watches her pour her own cup, shrugging his shoulders momentarily and taking a sip from his own tea cup. He then continues, "Anyway, your inquiry regarding my plans for the evening left me very few conclusions. I merely addressed the one that we would not be able to see to its logical conclusion. It saves time. By the by, would you do me the tremendous service of writing a letter to my lady to tell her just how lucky she is?" He blinks once, his eyes widening, "Really? You caught a break on the case?"
Cooper ahhhs nodding her head at the misunderstanding and then comments, "You really ought to talk in regular English, mate. I really can't keep up with your fancy language." After taking another sip, she scrunches her nose at the blandness of the tea and instead puts five more scoops of sugar in it. But she continues casually as if it were nothing strange, and she sucks a bit of sugar off her pinky before grinning, "I did! Turns out there were a whole set of records I wasn't looking at and I went out following up on it. And I finally got a location on our man. I can't tell you more than that, but I really can't believe it. So, I need to buy you a thank you drink or dinner or cake. But for God's sake. Don't ask for tea. You already have -way- too much tea." And chuckling at the idea of a letter she nods, "Sure thing. Tell me where to send the owl and it'll be on its way as soon as possible."
Bannon blinks, "Dreadfully sorry, Cooper. I shall refrain from speaking the proper English of my upbringing from here on out." He listens to Cooper's success and nods, replying in an East London accent, "I guess its all robin hood then, but I dan't need a gift. Can ya address the letter ter Dear Madam, biscuits and cheese?"
Elly is passing by and nearly causes herself whiplash as she double takes the sudden change in dialect from Bannon. She nearly spills everything on her tray from the laughing she breaks out in and then continues on with taking care of her customers with a "Cheers loverly." to Bannon.
Cooper grabs a scone off the table as well and breaks off a piece of it. Deadpanning, she shoves the piece into her mouth and chews before replying, "I said to sound like a coherent human being. Not a pain in the arse." Swallowing the scone with some tea, she searches in the pocket of her outer robes to pull out a pack of cigarettes and slips one into her mouth. "Anyway, I didn't ask you whether you wanted a gift or not. I simply said that I was going to pay you back and also celebrate the progress of a case that hasn't see any movement for years." A bit more shuffling and she finds a lighter, puffs up and offers a cig to Bannon. "However, you do have a choice of what form it comes in, and when we shall do the said celebrating. And if you -continue- to refuse, I will have no choice but to have a horridly embarrassing gift delivered to your desk at the office in front of -everyone-." Smoke rising from the tip of the cigarette, she gives her trademark bright smile to Bannon and awaits his answer.
Bannon looks towards Elly with a grin, "Wotcha, Elly. Ye mind grabbin' me another shot a' rosy lee?" He looks back towards Cooper and shrugs his shoulders, switching back to his milder accent, "You requested that I speak a less proper English, thus I decided to speak English English. A skill I picked up in my early days as an Auror. One never knows when they must part with their well known characteristics to survive the dodgier situations." He frowns slightly as she lights a cigarette, shaking his head as he is offered one as well, "No, I'm quite well. Thank you, Cooper." He peers across the table, measuring the Auror on the other side of the table, "I daresay I must continue to refuse. I will not accepts gifts or rewards for simply doing my job."
Cooper blows smoke out in the other direction and laughs at his continued accent. "You're really good at that. I'd almost take it to be natural. Is there something you're hiding, Bates?" she smirks and sips her tea before taking another drag. And when he refuses once more, she sighs and puts her face in her palm briefly. She then warns Bannon, "You do know that you're opting for lavish, ostentatious thank you gift in the office then? This is your last chance to change your mind."
Bannon shakes his head, "Not neccesarily, Cooper. I grew up in Oxford, and spent some time in London, but not much until I was assigned here by the office." He then leans back in his chair, bringing is hands together in front of him as he considers Cooper as one would consider a tragedy. He shakes his head after a moment and continues, "You aren't considering this with the full scope of who exactly you are speaking too."
"Oxford, well that certainly explains a lot," Cooper nods suddenly putting things together in her head. "I grew up mostly in Wales by the sea. But I never did pick up the accent." Still she scratches her chin and gives Bannon that bright grin of hers again. "I think you're right. I think I'm not. But I'm also know that I like thanking people who help me, and that I'm good at giving gifts. So given those last two facts, I believe its sort of worth making a mild mistake." There, she considered it! Boy is she one pushy kind person. No wonder she's a Hufflepuff.
Bannon removes a watch from his pocket, looking over the time. He glances up towards Elly and calls out, "Elly, please give that pot of tea to Miss Cooper." He looks towards Cooper now, "I'm afraid it is time for me to depart." He replaces the watch back in the pocket, leaving a few sickles out with the other hand, "Please enjoy the tea." He stands, collecting his walking stick, "Good at giving gifts, hm? Fair enough. From a master of transfiguration to a master of gift giving, thanks for the pen. I'm sure it will be wonderful in every way." He raises a hand, tipping his hat by the brim, "Until then, Cooper."