I need a Break...

[angel]

Having to combine Order duties and aurora study duties was hard work, for anyone. And Raffaella being the somewhat unorganized person that she has had to go against everything she was used to, and often everything she could physically manage, to be able to manage both. But she wanted to be able to do something, and her Aurora training helped her in more ways than she could count, and she was grateful for it.

But no matter how grateful she was- she needed a break! It had been over a year since Hogwarts now and she still missed the common room… even when she had felt bogged down with work she found she could work better after even only five minutes of relaxing in the common room… even if the Mauderers were being needlessly loud. It was strange to think now they were in the same Order as herself… didn't seem that long ago that they were the annoying first years getting too big for their boots… Black and Potter in particular.

She sighed and sat down heavily at the bar. Reminiscing about Hogwarts when she felt this bogged down was a bad idea. She was still a little jealous of her brother's being able to stay there, and she having to leave. Hogwarts safe… at least it felt safe. Now she felt in danger of her life just sitting here. Which was the very reason she had joined the Order.

"Miss Ella," said Tom, the bar keeper, he had long since given up trying to say her first name, and she refused to let him call her 'Thompson', "why so glum?"

"I have an exam," she complained, "it's not for another month, but I'm studying for it now and it's driving me mad. And I have my job on top of that- and Hogwarts have said if I help mark some in school tests and papers they'll pay me. It's driving me mad Tom! But I need the damn money."

"You need a drink," chuckled Tom.

"You're an angel," Raffaella sighed, "oh- and Natasha's decided to be a general pain again. She's got an attitude that one."

"Just like her sister," muttered Tom, with a smile.

"I heard that," Raffaella replied dryly, accepting the fire whiskey off him. Blowing out the fire, swollowed the drink in one gulp and slammed the cup back down again. She shuddered a little. "Yep, needed that."

[Talla Coma]

A day that had gone from bad to worse Talla thought as she walked the street of Diagon Alley. The meeting Greyback held at his domain was what she expected however, the out come was not. He ordered her; because she is the only female that is allowed to train with the warriors of the pack, to kidnap the next child for Voldemorts’ use. She was pissed to say the least. When that little girl ran into the Orders hands Talla was relieved to say the least. Now she was back in the heat of collecting another child target from a Ministry of Magic official, something in her heart she didn’t want to do yet was being forced to do by her pack. A pack that would kill her with out thought if they knew her true intents.

Her boots made not a sound as they struck the cobble stone walk toward The Leaky Cauldron. The black leather of her ankle length coat fanned out on the whiff of air as she walked. Opening the door the tinkle of the bell gave notice that another customer was willing to lay down coin to drown in the mead of the Cauldron. Talla looked over the clientele, cold eyes hitting everyone taking in body language, any possible threats and exactly where everyone was stood or seated.

The lean muscular frame clad in black made its way to the bar, now a predator keeping eye on the prey of patrons she passed. Coming to a stop just past where the barkeeper was talking with a female Talla turned so her back was pressed against the bar protected and her eyes searching the expanse of the room. Long red hair flowed over one shoulder down the back of the black leather while the right side fell along her face hiding the scar along her eye.


Their conversation went on though Talla could care less. Finally, the barkeep sat down the females drink and looked in Tallas’ direction.

“What can I get ‘cha?” Tom asked while still standing in front of the female.

“Mead and keep it comin’.” Talla replied.

[angel]

Raffaella chuckled. "Second that," she told Tom quietly.

She glanced over at the other woman. It was the fiery red hair that caught her eye. Raffaella had an obsession with fire, not to the extent to pyro-mania, but as a child it certainly frightened her mother. Somehow, this also translated to her adoring red hair as well, partly because it reminded her of her favorite element.

She accepted her first tankard of beer from Tom with a smile, then made the desicion to speak to the stranger beside her. She had noticed the aura of danger that surrounded the woman she didn't recognize, but chose to ignore it.

"Rough day?" she asked mildly, before taking a gulp.

[Talla Coma]

“In more ways then you could imagine.” Talla replied wearily.

Mental stress is more strenuous then actual physical excursion, at least that is what Talla thought. Give her a vigorous backbreaking work out any day over this pretending and hiding who and what she truly wanted to be. She watched Tom sit two tankards on the wood bar top then separate them by sliding one in Tallas’ direction and the other toward the female.

Talla sat a red velvet coin bag on the counter, pushing it in the barkeeps direction. “Thanks,” she said with a nod. “Keep them coming as long as that holds out.”

Keeping her back to the bar Talla took the empty barstool next to her, climbing up to let one leg hang as she sat with the boot heel of the other on the foot rest. Tankard in one hand her free hand subconsciously felt for the dagger sheathed at her hip. She looked to the female seated next to her, taking a swallow of mead and relished the burn to her throat.

“You here drowning your sorrows or has your day been that bad?” Talla asked between sips.

[angel]

Sighing Raffaella just shook her head. "Bad day and stress…" she let her head fall towards the counter, "studies on top of about two jobs was possibly the biggest mistake of my life," she said quietly.

Not that she regretted joining the Order, but they had put a lot of pressure on her. She had originally been one of the youngest members, and one of the first. At first they hadn't wanted to take her, now that they knew how useful she could bed, despite her clumsiness, she was called upon to do a lot of the dirty work. She felt a little used at times, but she knew over all it would be for the greater good… ad she'd rather sacrifice herself than the rest of the world just for her piece of mind.

Her memory vaguely drifted over the events of that day. She was beginning to feel bad about shouting at MacGonagal… she had just been doing her job. Then there was Dumbledor… she shouldn't have had ago at him either. He wanted to make the world better. It wasn't his fault sometimes the job… would end up being messy.

She smiled at the woman beside her. "While I'm still sober," she grinned, "I'm Raffaella." She offered her hand to the other woman.

[Talla Coma]

Geeze was that all this young female had going is just studies and a couple jobs. Probably part-time jobs at that. Talla thought the female should walk in her shoes…..duties that lasted all day and into the night…werewolf training, Voldemort and his Death Eaters and now Greyback on her case! This one thought she was suffering from stress and a bad day, what a laugh Talla sighed then lifted the mug of cool drink to her lips.

Talla looked the young female over realizing she must be several years younger so perhaps studies and jobs were detrimental to her at this age. Gawd, what she would give to go back to the days when her worries were to chase a rabbit on the full moon. Talla gave a sigh, she could sympathize with the female.

“Your mistake, would that be handling two jobs while still doing studies? Why don’t you quit one or both jobs? I hear handling study courses is consuming enough.”

Talla took a firm grip on the offered hand. “Nice to meet you Raffaella. I’m called Talla.”

[angel]

"Nice to meet you too Talla," she smiled at her. "Quit both jobs- thanks Tom," she accepted the drink, "I can't do that…"

Quit the order? Hardly. She had worked hard to get in, she was needed amongst them and she was a good insider. Someone like her could be over looked because of her age, or thought stupid because of her automatic response to everything being 'i'll fall over this'. Most people didn't seem to mind her being in important place. They seemed to figure 'oh she's just an imbecile… what does it matter?' To their expense of coarse.

She had been tempted in the past. Just quit… be a normal girl… study like hell and get far being an aurora. But she knew her conscience would never allow it. Seeing what death-eaters would do to muggles and muggleborns alike, it made her sick. She was constantly scared that something would happen to her grandparents. She'd never be able to live with herself if she could possibly have prevented it.

She shook her head. "I don't think I could. I'm needed in one of them, the other is more like a favor to an old friend." Marking was not her idea of a good time, but it helped out the teachers if they were called away and brought in some more money into her house. With three little siblings that practically lived there, the more money in the house is better.

"I couldn't quit anyway- no matter how much time studies consume. There's so much theory at the moment that I'd go utterly mad. This way I can put what I'm good at to good use," she too a gulp from her drink, "still… still stressful." She looked at Talla.

"Though I guess you'd have a proper job, so that's definitely going to be far more stressful than what a part timer like me has to put up with." She looked at Talla, "c'mon, my turn. Talking to a stranger might help," she winked before tipping the tankard back again, allowing the sweet drink to slide down her throat.

[Talla Coma]

Setting the empty stein down Talla gave a nod to Tom indicating she needed a refill. He acknowledged with a slight wave of his hand as he tended to another customer. Talla listened as Raffaella briefly touched on why she couldn’t quit her two jobs. Though the explanations were not in depth Talla could feel that she held these positions more out of loyalty. Loyalty could be a good thing as long as those you were loyal to didn’t abuse ones trust. Still as Raffaella went on Talla narrowed her brow puzzled at the words the female spoke. This way I can put what I'm good at to good use. Just what was this female good at? Mayhap that would be a good question to ask after Raffaella downed a few more drinks.

Though I guess you'd have a proper job, so that's definitely going to be far more stressful than what a part timer like me has to put up with …..c'mon, my turn. Talking to a stranger might help

Tom couldn’t have set the second drink down soon enough, for Talla grabbed the handle and chugged. How the bloody hell is she to answer that question. Oh, it’s all in a days work. Let’s see where shall I start, this morning I tortured an innocent and for pleasure this afternoon I’ll kidnap a child for the Dark Lord to kill in front of said child’s parents. And it won’t be pretty as the child screams for mummy and daddy as she writhes on the ground in pain from the Cruciatus Curse. Praying Avada Kedavra only came soon enough to stop the child’s suffering. Talla was brought from her thoughts finding herself choking on the mead she seemed to be inhaling instead of air. Lowering the mug, she wiped her mouth on the leather sleeve of her trench coat as she sputtered a few more coughs.

She looked at Raffaella with tears pooling in her eyes. Were they from her choking fit or was she truly emotional over what Greyback and Voldemort were doing. “Sorry,” Talla said as she lowered her head to look at the top of her boots. At this moment, she was not a proud werewolf; her heritage was killing her in pride and spirit. She was curious just how much she could put trust in this female. As she regained her composure Talla did not look into Raffaella’s eyes, instead she looked out over the patrons as she spoke. “One could say I am in customer relations, though I do not care for my employer.” She pushed the quickly emptied mug to the back of the bar to be replaced with a fresh one.

[angel]

The tears in Talla's eyes swam with tears, Raffaella was stunned. The way the red head carried herself, what she wore and her general attitude… no one could ever expected to see her cry, in any shape or form. Without even realizing it, Raffaella was reaching out towards her to hug her. When she spoke again, she wasn't looking at the younger girl, and she spoke very steadily. But Raffaella… she could almost sense the pain coming from Talla. She didn't know what it was from or why she sensed it… but she did. She had always been told she had an uncanny ability to know what a person near her was feeling… even if she couldn't always do something about it.

Raffaella sighed, finished off the mug and signaled for her third one. Before she spoke again, she accepted the mug and tipped the mug into her mouth, finishing about half in one go. She looked at Talla.

"Sounds interesting… customer relations," she said mildly, "must be tough having to deal with the different customers. But… if you don't like your boss? Why don't you quit? Bet you could do a number of other jobs."

[Talla Coma]

“It is one thing to be loyal to a job because you are friends with employers or coworkers. However when you are born into the job there is no quitting.” Truth is the only way out for Talla is death. If she turned on Greyback, he would be relentless in hunting her down. No one could protect her against the clan. She was no longer a pup therefore the submissiveness of the young would not work.

Tom switched out the empty stein with one full of cool mead. Talla lifted it to her mouth, there was something comforting about the burn to her throat the drink gave. Starting to shed some of the unwanted stress, Talla felt the muscles in her shoulders loosen and sag a bit. Emotional fatigue was coming to the surface as she eased under the influence of the mead.

Talla kept her voice low as if a patron would overhear then tattle back to Greyback. “I don’t want to hurt anyone anymore.” Finally the words were spoken as if it would lift a burden from her soul. It eased nothing. Talla knew the stranger that sat next to her could do nothing in the way of helping her from the grips of Greyback. Drowning in the mead was a good choice as Talla finished her third.

[angel]

“It is one thing to be loyal to a job because you are friends with employers or coworkers. However when you are born into the job there is no quitting."

Born to a job? Was that even possible? There was feeling like you were born to be something, or do something. But born into a job? She'd never heard of it before. Her mind was racing at several hundred mile an hour trying to figure it out. But Talla wasn't done.

“I don’t want to hurt anyone anymore.”

Even as she said this, Raffaella knew that it was doing nothing to help ease what ever pain she was in. That expression was still on her face, that tone just as forlorn and her body still hunched as though the world had crashed to her shoulders. This was more than a simple job related stress… this was more than most 'adult' stress. And as much as Raffaella wanted to help, she simply had no idea what to do. She didn't know if Talla liked being hugged or left a lone… she began feeling helpless.

She finished off the mead, ordered the next one, then decided not to fuss so much. She might have just met Talla, but she couldn't stand the idea of the older woman being so hurt. She was just as human as she was, and the fact that she was a person was all that mattered.

"You know what?" she said gently, "I know you say you can't escape from your job… and I have no idea how it feels. I would love to say 'of coarse you can! Just be forceful- stand up for yourself', but that doesn't always work… and I get the feeling…" she paused, trying to think of how to phrase it. "I get the feeling there is more to your work than meets the eye, and anything I say might be redundant…"

She took a breath. "But- you're clearly a strong woman, and what ever you chose to do with the situation, will be right for your. You're not stupid. As for today? Forget about it, forget about the jobs… the baggage with it and everything else," she grinned, "tonight is about you, your drink- and the fact that you need to be your own damn self some times. And I would be honoured if I could join you." she raised her mead to Talla, and took a large gulp.

[Talla Coma]

Talla lifted her stein in acknowledgement to what Raffaella said. No Raffaella didn’t know how it felt but her words rang true that Talla needed to be forceful and stand up for herself, no one else would do it for her. Talla took a long draw from the mug in her hand then noted the awareness the girl conveyed that there was more to Talla’s work than met the eye. How true.

Giving a nod of agreement Talla finished her drink and sat the empty mug on the wood bar top. “Agree, stupid I am not. So for tonight I will enjoy the friendly company and the pleasure mead brings.” Talla took a look out over the patrons that filled the bar and for the first time turned her back on potential enemies. Being vulnerable to enemies was one thing, now her soul was just as vulnerable.

Tom refreshed the two womens drinks like clockwork. “What are you good at Raffaella, that you can put to good use?” Talla looked at the young lady seated next to her, it was time she gave a little of herself up like Talla had done.