Same Old Procedure ((Lacey))

[giselle]

Giselle looked at the security man with pure disgust. What kind of job was this? She felt pity for the man doing it, as he looked like a complete fool. And, what could a fifth year do? Destroy Diagon Alley? Maybe this fifth year, hah, but they didn't know that or probably even guess at it. Indeed, the man looked tired, worn, and annoyed at the same time. Giselle walked forward as she was next in line to be checked. The man first checked her bags, which was full of Christmas presents she was going to return. That took quite a long time and even the man became impatient when he removed what looked to be the last box and found another underneath. Finally, he finished with that and Giselle walked through a sensor thing that she had only seen at a muggle airport. Ideas much? Honestly, were they using muggle materials now? He then asked for Giselle's wand, which she had brought (just in case. You never know what might happen) and he checked it over thoroughly before giving it back to her. She moved forward to the second man, who asked her name in that dull, dreary tone that hinted he was about to commit suicide from lack of interest.

"Giselle Dumas," said Giselle Dumas. She watched as the man scribbled her name down on a notepad and nodded, allowing her entrance to Diagon. Giselle wasn't sure if she enjoyed Diagon Alley like most other people did. It wasn't any fun anymore. Seeing people look around nervously like they were about to drop dead at any moment and other people looking frantic... there was nothing fun about it, just dark humor. Giselle thought it funny as people scattered about, going as fast as their legs could take them. Giselle herself had nothing to fear, much less nothing to do, with Diagon Alley. Death Eaters wouldn't attack her, as she assured herself in the past upon speaking to Kris Graas. She had thought they had attacked him but it turned out to be accidental, as he was protecting some Ravenclaw... Giselle shrugged, To each it's own. Diagon Alley wasn't as busy as before, thank goodness, as Christmas was over. A few people like Giselle looked like they had packages to return, but otherwise it was nearly deserted. She liked it better this way; no rubbing shoulders with mudblood filth. She smirked and went to the first shop, returning those high-heels from Cathy for a different color. Didn't her twin know she hated white unless it went with a white dress? Giselle finished that, already feeling the dull drag of shopping descend upon her. She didn't like shopping if it meant returning things. Mother had given her no money to buy anything. Giselle had grown angry but didn't throw a fit, as that wasn't allowed anymore.

Giselle walked toward a coffee shop in order to stay awake. This was so utterly boring and slow she could hardly stand just going from shop to shop. She dumped the packages at a booth before going to the counter to order something. She took a glance at the menu but it was no use, as no one was there to take her order. Honestly, what was this? No one doting upon her? Making sure she had everything she needed? Giselle glared at nothing and leaned against the wood, tapping her foot on the floor with irritation and impatience. Wonderful. When it still remained deserted for a good five minutes, she rapped on the wood with her knuckles. A person bustled out of the doorway (finally!) and looked at her, a plate and rag in his hands, obviously being busy washing it. He was a good looking young man with curly brown hair and light green eyes. Giselle's eyebrow rose as she realized it was someone she knew. Marcus! Catherine's crush! Ooh la la. "Giselle?" Marcus asked with surprise upon seeing her standing there. "The one and only," she said with a wicked smile. "Why are you working here, Marcus?" Giselle asked with a snark grin that only signaled trouble. He sighed. "Long story short, my Mum got frustrated with me and I had to get a job so I wouldn't have to stick around that house with her inside." Giselle laughed and leaned farther against the counter so she was inches away from him. "Can I have coffee?" She smirked before adding, "please?" He nodded and turned away, making Giselle lean back with satisfaction.

Her dark coffee was slid across the counter for Giselle to grab. She took it, feeling her fingers warm against the hot cup. She smiled at him with a suggestive raise of the eyebrow. "Why thank you." She said, taking a seat at the bar so she could talk to him longer. Marcus had extraordinary tan skin that matched his curly brown hair and his green eyes stuck out behind it all. Giselle stopped admiring his looks and focused on what he was saying. "You're lucky to have it rich like you do, Giselle. My parents actually have to work and they send me here..." He paused and looked at her. "I know," Giselle said with that snark grin. "Um, are those your bags?" He asked suddenly and Giselle turned to see someone sitting close to her bags, which was far too close. It was her things! Giselle marched over to where the girl was sitting. "Excuse me, but I was here first. As you can see, these bags belong to me and you have no right sitting here." Giselle said as soon as she got close enough for the girl to hear. The bags had been slightly hidden from view, but still, who did the girl think she was? Just sitting anywhere without looking first to make sure someone of better worth hadn't stopped by before and still had custody of it? Giselle glared at the girl. "Did you plan on stealing my bags when I had my back turned?" She demanded, feeling a laugh creep up her throat. It was always fun to play a game with strangers.

[lacey]

“Happy holidays.” Lacey wished the tired looking man who was checking her purse. The man replied in a tired a worn out tone while handing Lacey’s bag back and asking for her wand. Lacey observed just a bit curiously as some spells were cast on her wand before Lacey’s name was noted down. It was sad. Sad that even at Christmas when everything on earth should be peaceful and calm aurors had to check people and be on duty. Couldn’t he-who-must-not-be-named take a winter break from everything? But Lacey understood that it was necessary for all this extra-security to be in place. After all Diagon Alley had been practically destroyed once already. A gruff voice shook Lacey out of her thoughts as she accepted her wand again.
“Thank you.” Lacey murmured softly while pulling her hat more snugly over her ears before stepping into Diagon Alley. The sight of the Alley cheered her up a little. The buildings were new and you could almost feel out your hand to touch the new hope and unbroken spirits that had stayed in the Alley with it’s new houses.

Lacey wandered lowly through the Diagon Alley stopping for a bit longer only once when he needed to buy a new cauldron. Her old one was just that. Old. It was started to wear out so Lacey had taken a bit of money and bought herself a new cauldron today. It was her OWLs year next year. She needed to have time to get to use to the cauldron because Lacey couldn’t afford anything less than an O at her potions class. Holding the rather uncomfortably big parcel under her arm awkwardly Lacey stepped out of the store and looked down the street that had only a few persons scurrying from one direction to other never stopping to exchange a few kind words.
She still had to go to the bookstore to find that book about muggles for Dad but for right now Lacey felt cold. Pulling her old and a bit out of shape hat more snugly over her head once again Lacey scurried down the street towards a coffee shop.

Ordering a cup of tea for herself Lacey slowly wrapped herself out form her clothes. She took off her cloak and hat and gloves but even as the coffee shop was warm she decided to leave her yellow scarf. After all it kept her warm and the wool was still soft on her skin even after a couple of years of wearing it. Finding an empty table Lacey sat down and wrapped her fingers around the teacup while staring thoughtfully out of the window. People were scared on the street. But as she stared at two children making a snowman in front of the quidditch store Lacey felt a smile slowly creep over her face. Maybe people were scared but not all good and innocent was lost yet. Finding a few pencils and a notebook in her bag Lacey started to sketch and draw quickly not even glancing at the boy and girl anymore who had given her the idea for this picture. Just as Lacey was colouring the red scarf a voice cut in sharply startling her out of her thoughts.

Lacey stared back at the girl who had snapped at her with big and startled eyes. Gaping for a few moments Lacey swallowed and glanced at the bags she only now saw helplessly. Finally being able to find her voice Lacey answered. “I’m so sorry, I though this table I was free. And I… NO! Of course not! I wouldn’t have stole your things. I just thought this table was free and I kind of got lost in my own thoughts and…” Feeling completely flustered Lacey glanced at her notebook and pencils shyly before murmuring again. “I’m terribly sorry, but I didn’t mean any harm. I can find an other table if you want.”

[giselle]

Giselle smirked. "That's what they all say," she sneered, narrowing her eyes. She glanced at her baggage. It all seemed fine - besides, Giselle knew the girl meant no harm, but playing this game was fun. The girl obviously didn't like being under such pressure, she didn't even make eye-contact! Giselle felt herself raise an eyebrow, but turned as she heard a noise behind her. It was Marcus, moving away from the counter and into the back of the shop. This only made Giselle's esteem go down the drains, and she turned back to the girl with a fading smirk. She looked at what the girl had been doing. It was a notebook and pencils, and a drawing. The drawing didn't look half-bad.

"You call this... art?" Giselle asked, gazing at the thing with disgust. "Well - I guess you did just describe it as 'thoughts.' But still - what were you thinking?" Giselle continued to stare with distaste at it for a few moments before looking back at the girl. "Yes, yes. Well - I'm bored, and if you want to keep drawing, go right ahead. I need someone to talk to, and you seem to be a good punching bag." Giselle smirked and slid into the booth that held her bags as well. The whole thing seemed hilarious. Something off a movie. The girl was obviously embarrassed and she seemed to have no pride for herself. A good person to pick on, really. Giselle was curious to see if she would defend her work or not.

((Sorry, kind of short. But - I got it out. ))

[lacey]

Lacey chewed her lower lip nervously as the girl sneered at her drawing. Surely, Lacey couldn’t draw everything and her drawings weren’t always even good. But they weren’t that bad either! And they helped Lacey calm down and relax and clear her mind. “I never said it was art. It’s just something I draw for… for myself.” Lacey softly replied to the girls spiteful comment as she gazed at her open notebook before her with the finger of her right hand clutching it almost protectively as her left hand grasped the blue pencil tightly. Lacey wasn’t good enough to ever become a professional artist but she drew well enough to sometimes and her friends liked her drawings. It was really something for Lacey’s own pleasure. A part of her own being that Lacey poured out into her drawings.

Lacey’s head snapped up as she stared at the girl as she took a seat in the booth as well. Lacey usually preferred to avoid confrontations and arguments but that didn’t mean she just sat back and let herself be insulted. Lacey offered the girl a bit shaky smile not even knowing it completely herself why she bothered with smiling. “I think I would prefer an other table and I’m not a punching bag.” Lacey said quietly her voice holding a little bit of quite pride as she gathered her jacket and tried to gather all her pencils. Blushing furiously as the pencils rolled and slipped form her grasp some falling on the floor Lacey finally managed to gather everything and stand up. “I’m sorry for disturbing you.” Lacey told the girl quietly before she stumbled over to the next table and put her things down there again. Lowering her head over the sketchbook Lacey let her hair tumble forward to shield her flushed face from the girl and anyone else.

[giselle]

Giselle made a note to avoid people like this. They just weren't any fun, and this girl was a perfect little goody-goody, apparently, and couldn't deal with looking someone in the face. Giselle pushed back a few stray strands of hair in annoyance. "Oh, I see," she muttered with an arched eyebrow. "You admit it's not anything better then 'something for you own self.' You're saying it's not art, and is therefore is nothing good." She patted her bags as she noticed the girl was clutching the note-book rather protectively. What a girly. Giselle rolled her eyes under her closed lids, with a snark grin on her face. Well - wasn't this an amusing little girl. Giselle twisted the plastic handles of the bag around her finger just to busy them as she stared at the girl, who was giving Giselle a smile. Smile! Wasn't that something?!

"Oh, thank you, darling." Giselle said when the girl said she would move to another table. "That's very considerate of you. Just to rid yourself of this table, I might have to take a table-cloth to it, but at least you moved voluntarily." Giselle smirked and sat up in the booth. These were really rather bothersome, as they always made her slid down and make her look like a slob. And what good was that, when Giselle was exactly the opposite. Unwinding her finger of the plastic, Giselle watched the girls pencils fall everywhere. Clumsy much? Giselle raised a perfectly plucked eyebrow, but bent down quickly to grab up a pencil. The girl must not have noticed her, for she left after saying something Giselle thought extremely amusing.

"Oh, it's nothing. I deal with it all the time," she commented with a smirk. When the girl had settled down at the next booth, Giselle fingered the pencil she had in her hand, considering giving it back or keeping it just for spite. It was a green blue pencil, not exactly the prettiest color, but it was enough. Giselle picked herself up from the seat, gathered her bags on her shoulders, and put the pencil on the table after walking over to it. "I believe you forgot this." Giselle said with a blank expression. "Green blue is too good a color to waste, and I'm sure you'll need it for that." Giselle nodded toward the little picture the girl was making. She gave the girl a satisfied smirk and sauntered out of the shop and back to the crisp, chilly air.

((Sorry, I left so abruptly and the reply is kind of late. I couldn't think of anything, and since Lacey moved, Giselle wouldn't be seen moving to that table, you know? ))