The Hog's Head Inn$3$[1]

[Rafe Hitchens]

*Watches her actions intently, enjoying some of the contrasts between Tallia and his girl, Tallia flirted like a girl ought to*

Every girl wants t'be called babe and besides, every girl is a babe a haven't met.

*Wonders if that was coherent, shrugging his shoulders*

Right, right, th' story. Now, my dad was a muggle. He was a git who happened to be a muggle anyway. So I know stuff like tha'.

I was thinkin' o' fashionin' a historical romance. Dun't girls fancy tha'? I reckon I insert some fancy dress parties, a dashing fellow, and a silly princess. Th' dashing fellow could be flawed in some way... he could be a letch or a drunkard.

*Nods a few times to convince her of the quality*

[Tallia Gauthier]

Tallia nodded, snapping back into Editor mode. His idea sounded good. She knew from past experiences that her readers liked romantic novels. "That could work..." she murmered. "We could publish in installments." A smiled dawned on her face. This could be exactly what the magazine needed to give that extra va va voom. "I'm very intrigued, Mr Hitchens. If you could show me some written work, I'd love to look it over, and even discuss figures...."

[Rafe Hitchens]

*Eyes shine with grateful happiness*

Ya mean it? Oho, thank you, darlin'!

*Looks around his person, props up his guitar and shakes it until several crumpled bits of paper fall out on the table*

There. Tha's th' first bit, I would think. I should revise it some more 'cause I can't spell and my grammar doesn't score high.

*Smooths out some wrinkles and reads the first bit*

"She knew of my rich father so talkin' was optional. At the time I was young, pampered, and completely used to being treated like a prince. I still don't remember her name. After she threw my tunic asunder I forgot about such trifles. She may have had a title, six children, and a rake of a husband. I never asked and would never know..."

*Smiles proudly, passing the rest of the story to Tallia*

Tha's just a flashback o' his first time. The rest is about his descent into poverty and the haughty princess. Should I have magic or should it be completely muggle?

[Tallia Gauthier]

Tallia listened carefully, nodding every now and then. The story was good, exactly the sort of thing her readers would like; something to get the blood pumping. The question was, how to present it. She knew there was still a great deal of anti-muggle prejudice, however, so many people liked to fantasise about the way the other half lived. "Let's keep it muggle for now; see how the first insertion goes. If it doesn't go down well, we could look into making it magical." She smiled at Rafe and sipped her drink. She could almost see the galleons rolling in.

[Rafe Hitchens]

*Smiles broadly, visions of galleons floating around his head*

Brilliant! I'm gonna try and get some help from a friend o' a friend for th' next installment. Now, I know you can't read tha' copy verra well, so I'll write ya in a letter or swing it by soon, all right?

*Stuffs his crumpled piece of parchment into his guitar for safe keeping*

Would ya be preferrin' by owl or in person, babe?

*Prays to several entities for the latter*

[Tallia Gauthier]

Tallia shrugged. "You decide. You can always find me at Witch Weekly Head Office." She smiled, swilling her drink around the glass, enjoying the sound of the clinking ice. Nodding towards the guitar case, she asked; "So, you a musician then? I mean, apart from working in the pub?"

[Rafe Hitchens]

Great, I dun't wanna be a bother, tha's all.

*Places his guitar on his knees, with care*

Yes, yes I am. I play in any pub tha'll allow me. Just me and Mardy, my guitar. Th' pub is only for money. Used t'be in Never Been Cast, if you can believe it. I made a forgivable mistake and got kicked out. They owe me everythin', they do.

*Shrugs*

[Tallia Gauthier]

"Ah," she said, smiling. "I used to like Never Been Cast." She'd used to listen to them over the WWN while she'd been living in France. Smiling still, she downed the rest of her drink. "So, Mr Hitchens, you going to buy me a drink, or would you like me to buy you one?" By the looks of him, he didn't have many visable means of support.

[Rafe Hitchens]

*Appears somewhat bitter*

Yeah, they had one hit and they ran wi' it. I dunno if they got more nowadays 'cause I try t'avoid th' wireless, I highly doubt it. Tha' song they play was mine, but I dun't let it get t'me, no.

*Smiles, showing all his teeth*

Ehhh, would ya mind terribly, babe? I spent most of my gold on hair dye, clothes, debts, and stuff tha' you smoke. Next time ya come to th' Haunt, it's on th' house, all right?

[Tallia Gauthier]

Tallia laughed, making a mental note not to mention the band again. It obviously bothered him. "Not at all," she said, grinning and pulling out her purse. "What will it be?" As the barman approached, she leaned on the wooden surface accentuating the curve of her chest below the blue flowered corset she wore. "I'll have another of the same and..." She looked at Rafe, waiting for his response.

[Rafe Hitchens]

*Smiles cheerily at the barman, being a fellow bar employee himself*

Do ya got any gin? If ya dun't than firewhisky will do nicely.

*Turns back to Tallia and her cleavage, not bothering to hide where his eyes traveled*

Merlin's teeth, you're a right pretty one. And you'll only look better, eh?

*Laughs at his own joke, hoping that the professional bit is officially over between them and he can behave normally*

[Tallia Gauthier]

She grinned and straightened up again. "You like what you see, huh?" She bit her lip, before taking her drink from the bar and sipping gently. Of course, she knew the effect she had on men, and knew exactly how to exploit it. Why not have a bit of fun while she was young and pretty?

[Rafe Hitchens]

*Pushes his long hair away from his face*

Can't ya tell tha'? I'm not subtle, as you can see.

*Has a brief thought about Lucretia babe, who accused him of being a womanizer*

*Buries that thought and raises his drink*

Cheers, eh? To loads o' galleons. To swimmin' in 'em!

*Downs it with ease of practice*

[Tallia Gauthier]

Tallia laughed. Subtle he certainly was not! Still, hinting rarely got you anywhere. Lifting her glass, she clinked it gently with his before following suit and downing the drink. She shivered slightly as she felt it slip down and grinned at Rafe as she put the glass back on the bar. "Mmm, nice." It wasn't quite clear whether she meant the drink or the man, but it didn't really matter to her. The vodka was slowly but surely affecting her head and she giggled as she asked him, "Another?"

[Rafe Hitchens]

*Feels a headache fast approaching and hesitantly shakes his head*

I was already half-drunk when I got here, babe. I can hardly speak. I'd be o' no use t'you, honest.

*Winks suggestively*

'Ey, I'm gonna seek th' help o' a friend and personally deliver tha' first installment t'you, all right darlin'? I'd hate to disappoint my growin' fan base, eh? Ehhh, maybe I got one fan, tha's a start.

*Rises, trying not to sway too much*