Just a Little Bit of Magick • ONC 2020 • ✓

The 'Perfect' Place is a Flipping Tea House

It'd been a few days since we found the field, and I was sitting at the window in my hotel room, staring out the window.

William had yet to arrange the training day, despite the fact that he could arrange a meeting for the next day.

Something about checking the safety of the field.

So I made him promise me that he wouldn't give away the flamelily secret. At least until it wasn't possible to hide it anymore.

I glanced out the window, analysing the people below.

You must be seriously bored.

Yup.

Then a certain MI6 agent caught my eye.

Theodore Wilson was walking down the street, eyes subconsciously alert for danger.

I sat up, grabbing the Shakespeare I had borrowed from him. No better time to return it.

And though I was loathe to part with it, return it I must.

It's so strange when you go all medieval on me.

It's the Shakespeare, it's corrupting the air.

I pulled on my coat on the way down, not bothering to lock the door. What do I have to get stolen anyway.

Despite the various weapons hidden around the room.

I ran out into the street, just missing a motorcar (which honked angrily at me), and looked for Theodore.

Luckily for me, it wasn't that hard. His scarlet coat sure stood out a lot.

I slowed to a halt as I reached him, giving myself a couple of seconds to get my breath back. A short shot of fé later and I was much better.

I tapped Theodore on the shoulder.

He turned, a smile lighting up his features, 'Miss Scott! How nice to see you in um- better circumstances.'

I grinned, 'Likewise Mr Wilson.'

He grimaced, 'I'm not Mr Wilson, that particular title is my father's.'

'Theodore then?'

He grew even more alarmed, 'Good heavens no! That name makes me seem like a snob. Call me Alex. That's what my sisters call me.'

Huh. Siblings.

'Well if I call you Alex, you've got to call me Alicia.'

We shook hands very seriously.

'It's great to meet you uh- informally Alicia. Well more formally than the first time.'

I giggled.

His face seemed to light up.

And then we were both laughing.

People stared unashamedly as they walked past, some glaring at the crazy couple laughing in the middle of the road.

Only the honking of a motorcar behind us broke us from our almost-hysteria.

Trust me, it was definitely full hysteria. There was literally nothing funny.

Alex tugged me out the way of the motorcar, pulling me onto the pavement.

He didn't let go of my hand until I cleared my throat. He went red.

I pulled the Shakespeare out of my coat, careful not to damage the bindings. That book was precious enough in the seventeenth century.

He took it, seemingly glad of the change in non-verbal conversation.

Now it was awkward.

I cleared my throat again, opening my mouth to speak.

He beat me to it, stammering in an adorable way, 'Do you- do you want to grab a drink with me?' -He saw my metaphorical eyebrow raise- 'Just as friends of course.'

'Please! I've been so bored for the past few days. My friend has been busy doing Military stuff so he's left me at the hotel.'

Not entirely true. Visiting the Authority would be just as boring as the other hundred or so times I'd visited it over the years. The first time was fine, just not any of the other times.

He grinned at me, nerves disappearing, 'I know the perfect place.'

»--«

Turns out the 'perfect place' was a tea house. Which only sold one type of coffee.

Alex ordered a tea pot, pouring the milk into his china teacup, then filling it with the amber liquid.

I ordered a cup of coffee which came in a plain white mug.

I took a sip, 'What you British see in that tea I'll never know.'

Alex eyed my mug, 'Likewise.'

We sat in silence, drinking our hot beverages.

'Where do you come from anyway?'

I frowned, 'I've been living in America for most of my life, New York you know, but before that Europe.'

Alex didn't press me, despite noticing my vagueness.

We made pleasant conversation for a while, him regaling tales of his childhood with his sisters, me hurriedly modernising mine.

He didn't seem to notice though.

One story left us in such things of laughter that we were escorted from the premises by an irate manager. Wiping tears from our eyes, we walked down the street, slowly heading back to the hotel.

William was waiting outside the foyer, smoking on the front step. He caught sight of me and Alex-

Alex and I.

-and gestured not so subtly to his watch. I nodded -much more subtly might I add- and turned my attention back to Alex.

Alex caught sight of William waiting there, 'I guess you've got to go now huh?'

I nodded, 'Yup. It seems he got back early. Which is incredible.'

Alex grinned, 'Well you better get going then. Wouldn't want to keep you from a boring conversation discussing the defence strategies of some obscure country.'

I grimaced and he laughed, turning to walk away.

I grabbed his arm before he could, 'That was fun by the way. We should do it again sometime; despite your terrible taste in drink.'

He laughed again, 'Of course. And look at who I'm talking to.'

'Rude!'

»--«

I walked towards William, still grinning like mad.

Once inside he pulled me over to a flamelily he'd found, demanding I take us somewhere private.

Rolling my eyes, I did so, stepping through a door into some forest somewhere.

Looked a lot like Germany.

'You do realise that he's an MI6 officer!? And do I have to remind you that you are part of a secret community and German. Just a whiff of suspicion could get you arrested. And he's MI6, they're trained to look out for suspicious.'

I rolled my eyes again, 'William honey, I am perfectly well aware of all of this. Hell I even stole some secret documents from him back in New York. I am perfectly well aware of the danger I am in. And I'm pretty sure that's not what his job is.'

'Just be careful okay Alina,' He sighed, pulling me into a hug, 'I don't want to lose another friend to this blasted war.'

I smiled, hugging him back.

'I'm not going anywhere.'

[10,582 Words]