Gail Lawrence
Witch
Leaky Cauldron Waitress
Just looking for something new.
Posts: 274
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Post by Gail Lawrence on Jan 12, 2009 17:04:04 GMT -5
October 13, 2009
Gail sighed as she turned the sign to ‘Open’. It was far too early in the morning for this sort of thing. Granted, she had signed herself up for it with all the studying she had to do now, but this was ridiculous. After nearly two weeks of this shift, she knew that no one, not even another employee, would show up for another hour. On the third day, she had tried to leave the pub closed for that hour. It had gotten back to her boss, and he threatened to fire her if she did it again. The money was really going to be needed in January. So, with much grumbling, she started her shift at 5:30 every morning since.
The sad part was, she was starting to get used to the early hour. She was rather becoming ‘grey-eyed morn’. But, when (if) she got into college, full-time classes on top of this schedule were going to kill her. Even now, only studying for entrance exams and working on applications, she was stretched too thin. She shuddered to think what was in store for her next year.
Gail took a seat at a table near the employees’ door with a good view of the barroom. Over the past weeks, she had mentally labeled it ‘her’ chair. She could always tell if she had the right one because the back left leg was a little shorter than the rest. Though it had initially annoyed her, she now absently rocked back and forth on them as she pulled out the Times and the crossword from the Herald.
She had read through most of the front page she was interested in and was about to start on the crossword before anyone entered the Cauldron. Glancing at the clock, she noticed it was still a little early for the cook to be coming in, so it had to be a customer. She wondered who could be entering the pub at such an inhuman hour.
((Drew only please, once again))
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Drew Thornton
Ministry of Magic
Auror-in-Training
I didn't do it and you can't prove otherwise...
Posts: 14,114
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Post by Drew Thornton on Jan 12, 2009 21:27:59 GMT -5
Drew was just getting off of work and couldn't be happier about it. After spending the last month and a half doing just about anything that was asked of him, the Auror in charge of his training put Drew's name for a special assignment. Okay, so he hadn't been able to go out into the field, but he had been asked to help with the organization back at the office... and he hadn't been sent for a single sandwich or even a cup of tea.
But the raids had gone on all night and it was after five in the morning before his supervisor finally convinced him that he could go home and get some sleep. He was to take the day off and they'd catch up on his training the following day.
Drew agreed, and while he was exhausted, he was too pumped to actually go home and hit the hay. Deciding on an early breakfast, he wandered to the Leaky Cauldron, hoping he could at least get a bowl of oatmeal and some coffee. What he got instead, he hoped, was the company of a friend. Heck, maybe he'd still get some bangers and eggs too.
"So! What do I have to do to get a decent table here?" Drew asked loudly, looking at the empty room.
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Gail Lawrence
Witch
Leaky Cauldron Waitress
Just looking for something new.
Posts: 274
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Post by Gail Lawrence on Jan 13, 2009 22:25:38 GMT -5
Gail was surprised to see Drew walk in the front door of the pub. It had been a couple of weeks since she had seen him last, but they had spoken late last month on good terms. They had even run into each other at a muggle restaurant near Leicester Square and shared an impromptu dinner. She was pleased to see him, but it was difficult to register that on her face this early in the morning. She was not that used to her new schedule yet.
His sarcasm was infectious, and she replied, without looking up, "Speak at a human volume this early in the morning."
After a short pause, she finally worked up the ability to smile. Folding the Times section away from her face, she brought her gaze up to her only customer. "Well, long time, no see. What brings you to this far corner of the world at this forsaken hour, eh? The only things that should be out right now are bats and the graveyard shift."
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Drew Thornton
Ministry of Magic
Auror-in-Training
I didn't do it and you can't prove otherwise...
Posts: 14,114
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Post by Drew Thornton on Jan 13, 2009 22:34:03 GMT -5
Drew laughed at her admonishment and made his way over to where she was sitting. She asked what he was doing there and he laughed again. "Or maybe both," he answered, pausing to do a quick happy dance, still a little giddy from his accomplishments tempered with a lack of sleep.
"I just got off of work and thought I'd grab a bite before heading home," he told her, settling down enough to complete his path to her table. "I really wasn't expecting to see you here this early though."
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Gail Lawrence
Witch
Leaky Cauldron Waitress
Just looking for something new.
Posts: 274
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Post by Gail Lawrence on Jan 21, 2009 23:13:30 GMT -5
Gail laughed at his silly dance. He did always love to be the clown, and with what she could only assume was no sleep, he was even more giddy than usual. As Drew came up next to her, she put the Times down. "It must have been quite a night at Auror HQ for you to just be getting off.
"I'm here because I am supposed to be, innit? I've been working the early morning shift since we talked last." By habit, she took a surreptitious look around before saying, "Studying for A-Levels and uni is not as easy as it looks."
Gail had kept an ear out, and she had not heard any rumors passing through the Cauldron over the past two weeks about her nighttime studies. So, she felt safe in trusting him further with that information. So far, Drew was the only person in the wizarding world she had told about going to uni, though she had not initially intended to do so.
"Well, if you're here for a bite to eat, you've not come at the right time. The cook's not even in yet." She took another look around, this time more conspicuously. "If you're willing to take a risk, we can head into the back and see what we can scrounge up."
Her boss would not like her taking a customer into the back, but she could not make breakfast on her own. Besides, she did not even know what he would want, of their stocks. They were running a little low this morning. Bangers would be right out, if they wanted enough for the rush in a few hours.
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Drew Thornton
Ministry of Magic
Auror-in-Training
I didn't do it and you can't prove otherwise...
Posts: 14,114
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Post by Drew Thornton on Jan 23, 2009 22:32:01 GMT -5
"Raids and stuff," Drew explained with a wide grin, looking like he had personally convicted a dozen Dark wizards. Truth was, he had to stay in the office. "I can't go out in the field yet, but I got to help with the co-ordination back at the Ministry." Drew shrugged and his smile slipped a notch, remembering Gail wasn't all that impressed with the Magical government. Yeah, it had it's problems, but so did every government and he wanted to do what he could to make things better by working from the inside.
He perked up as she mentioned the kitchen. If she would let him back there, he was sure he could find something to fill his stomach. "Since when have you known me to decline anything because it was risky?" he asked with a wide grin.
"But the university prospects are looking good, I hope?" he asked in a low voice, sure she wouldn't want it to get out, not only in her place of employment, but in a public tavern where anyone could just walk in. He could only assume that A-levels were like the tests his Muggle friends had been stressing over back home. Now that he was officially done from school and in the Academy (he did nothing to dispel the belief that it was with Scotland Yard), going to school a thousand miles from home didn't look so stupid to them. He just hoped things were going well for Gail here in London. There wasn't much he could do to offer his help with the studying.
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Gail Lawrence
Witch
Leaky Cauldron Waitress
Just looking for something new.
Posts: 274
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Post by Gail Lawrence on Feb 25, 2009 20:15:08 GMT -5
Gail smiled as he accepted the challenge. She should have known he would have agreed. With a small flourish, she gathered the two papers under her arm and began to head toward the kitchen as Drew asked about universities.
She turned back toward him and let out a short laugh. He was showing his American background in more than just his accent now. The A-Levels were still at least a year away, and that was if she could test into higher classes at the college.
“I’m looking at universities, but I can’t apply yet. I have to take my A-Levels still, and it takes two years’ worth of classes to get there.” There was a very apt analogy for this in the wizarding world, oddly enough. “It’s like I’ve taken my OWLs but not my NEWTs, so it’s really hard to do anything substantial with just Ordinary Levels. The A-Levels are kind of high school and the SATs all rolled into one.”
Well, now she was really mixing her references, but if it got the point across, she did not much care.
“Let’s go see what we can find in the kitchen, shall we? Before anybody else shows up this morning.”
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Drew Thornton
Ministry of Magic
Auror-in-Training
I didn't do it and you can't prove otherwise...
Posts: 14,114
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Post by Drew Thornton on Feb 25, 2009 22:40:14 GMT -5
Drew had actually been thinking along the lines of the SATs or probably closer to the AP exams, but it sounded like the GED was thrown in there for good measure. It kind of made sense considering Gail had spent the last few years outside of the Muggle educational system. He wasn't sure why she laughed though. All of his Muggle friends back home had taken their SATs, the APs, and started at one university or another. He wasn't too sure how the transfer between Magical and Muggle schools went, but it hadn't be too silly to think she'd be closer starting University.
He grinned and nodded as she mentioned the kitchen again, pretty sure he'd have no problem finding it if push came to shove. "All I need is a few eggs and I'm good to go," he answered. And if there was bread or maybe some meat and pancake mixings, he'd be really happy.
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Gail Lawrence
Witch
Leaky Cauldron Waitress
Just looking for something new.
Posts: 274
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Post by Gail Lawrence on Mar 30, 2009 20:16:08 GMT -5
Drew smiled broadly and said he only wanted eggs. Gail was feeling twitchy. She was now far too awake for this hour of the morning. Eggs might be good for Drew, but she was feeling a need for something more. She had never really been a breakfast person, but if she was going to be fully alert before 6 am, then she was going to need something to sustain her until lunch.
Gail led the way into the kitchen, setting the papers down on the counter. "I'm too not sure what the cook's got back here. I don't make the food, I just serve it. I do know we're low on bangers, but surely we can pull something together."
She smiled as she had a thought. It had been far too long since she had had this particular breakfast. Her mum had made it very well, as had her mother, but somehow Aunt Dev had not been let into the Llewellyn recipe. Hers were horrible, though Eli had either been kind or blind enough not to tell her.
Fortunately, Gail had been taught the recipe her last summer at home. "If you're willing to be a little adventurous, though," and she figured he would. From what she saw, he ate almost anything. "I think we might be able to find a substitute for bangers." She raised a brow. "You in?"
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Drew Thornton
Ministry of Magic
Auror-in-Training
I didn't do it and you can't prove otherwise...
Posts: 14,114
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Post by Drew Thornton on Apr 1, 2009 23:00:10 GMT -5
Drew couldn't help the small smile that formed on his lips when she made her suggestion. Sure, it was kind of juvenille, but even after seven years in the UK, some British phrasings were still something to get used to.
But there was another reason to smile about the offer of bangers. They were pretty darn good. He agreed enthusiastically, doubting the need to be too worried about what she was suggesting. "Hey, I'm up for anything," he answered, knowing that even if it turned out badly, he most likely have no problem eating it.
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Gail Lawrence
Witch
Leaky Cauldron Waitress
Just looking for something new.
Posts: 274
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Post by Gail Lawrence on Apr 3, 2009 13:47:11 GMT -5
Gail smiled. She figured that would be the response. It would take a bit of work to pull this off, but by the time they were done, people would be starting to arrive. They would have to hurry, though.
She went looking for the dry ingredients. There were many more of them, and asking Drew to get them would involve quite a bit of direction. He would have to help, though. Pointing toward another corner, she said, "The milk and eggs should be in the ice box there. Could you pull them out? Also, we're going to need a good, hard cheese." A soft one would not hold its flavor or texture nearly as well.
Then she gathered mustard, parsley, salt, and pepper, along with flour and breadcrumbs. She knew they did not have leeks in the kitchen, so she pulled some onions for the weight and texture. The taste would be a little off, but they would have to do. Placing them on the counter, she fetched a mixing bowl, a frying pan, and the cooking oil.
Gail peeled a small onion with quick efficiency, then pulled a cheese grater from a drawer. "If you could use that on the cheese, that would be great. About 200 grams." She began to chop the onion, still talking. "We're making Glamorgan sausages, which are very Welsh. This is my Mum's family recipe we're using, but we're substituting onion for the leeks."
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Drew Thornton
Ministry of Magic
Auror-in-Training
I didn't do it and you can't prove otherwise...
Posts: 14,114
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Post by Drew Thornton on Apr 5, 2009 17:28:17 GMT -5
What ever they were, they sounded good to him. He jogged over to the refridgerator and grabbed the milk, eggs, and cheese. He placed the first too near where Gail was working, figuring she'd know what to do with them, and he took the grater she had pulled out and started working on the cheese. He had found a good Cheddar, but had opted for the Parmesan just because it was harder and she had said hard.
"I don't think I've ever had those before," he told her, but by looking over the ingredients, he was pretty sure he'd like them. Even with the substitution, he was confident they'd be good to eat.
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Gail Lawrence
Witch
Leaky Cauldron Waitress
Just looking for something new.
Posts: 274
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Post by Gail Lawrence on Apr 19, 2009 20:34:58 GMT -5
Gail grimaced a bit and wiped her eyes of the onion tears. She was English herself, but she had lived in Wales for a couple of years now and had lived with Welsh culture all her life through her mum. Most English, however, did not have that experience. The Welsh were given the stereotype of being backward. However, as with nearly every stereotype, those perpetuating it were wrong.
Unfortunately, it had its effect. So many Welsh characters on the telly were comic relief, which only spread the negative image.
"I'll grant my family never went to many restaurants," she said. The Lawrences had lived paycheck-to-paycheck until her dad's family had acknowledged them, and since then she had spent most of her time at Hogwarts. "But I've never seen Glamorgan sausages on a menu outside of Wales. The effects of the negative image of the Welsh, I suppose." That was succinct enough. Drew would not care about her extensive thoughts on disparity between cultures in the UK.
Finished with the onion, Gail pushed it into the mixing bowl and measured the mustard, parsley, salt and pepper into the bowl. As she waited for Drew to finish with the cheese, she created two piles of breadcrumbs. One would cover the sausages; the other would be inside. “When you’re done with the cheese, just shove it in the bowl, and give it a solid stir. Take the breadcrumbs closest to you, and mix them in there too.” The last was said over her shoulder as she headed off to find a smaller bowl where she could mix the eggs.
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Drew Thornton
Ministry of Magic
Auror-in-Training
I didn't do it and you can't prove otherwise...
Posts: 14,114
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Post by Drew Thornton on Apr 19, 2009 22:49:14 GMT -5
Drew went back to grating the cheese quietly, not sure what he said to make Gail suddenly sound so bitter, but instantly wishing he could take it back. He hadn't been in the UK long enough or thoroughly enough to see any infighting between the British Muggles, so he wasn't even sure what she was talking about. All he had exerience with was the conflilct between Purists and Muggleborns.
The cheese done, he tossed it in the bowl as he had been told, stiring it and then adding the breadcrumbs. After another good stirring, he stood back and waited for new directions. British food wasn't his favorite, but he had enjoyed everything he had tried of the cuisine to this point. He was sure the sausages would be no different.
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Gail Lawrence
Witch
Leaky Cauldron Waitress
Just looking for something new.
Posts: 274
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Post by Gail Lawrence on Apr 20, 2009 9:28:05 GMT -5
Gail noticed Drew was suspiciously quiet as she returned with another bowl. She broke two eggs into the bowl and began to beat them together. When he was still silent at the end of this, she looked up at him. She thought of saying something further, and then thought better of it.
Considering what she had said last, she figured some part of her comment on the Welsh had made him uncomfortable. It was not a topic normally discussed outside Britain, but she was so used to Drew's presence, she had forgotten he would likely be unaware of the Welsh stereotype. She, on the other hand, had seen her mum lose a few jobs because of it.
Gail sighed as she dumped the eggs into the mixing bowl. "Could you mix that up too? Nice and even, now." Then she broke open two more eggs. "Oh, and add a splash of milk in there too, then pass it this way." She could see, as she began to beat the new eggs, that she would need it to make the eggs go a little further.
The silence was bothering her. The happy chatter of before reminded her of working with her mum in the kitchen. The lack of it was uncomfortable, and she was not usually the type to engage in pointless discussion. However, her shoulders began to twitch in the silence, so she sought out a topic and tentatively asked, "So...how is Auror training going? I know you were out all last night, but I mean, you know, besides that. 'Cause it's been a couple of weeks since we talked, and...yeah, I'll just shut up now." She had not rambled like that in years. What was the matter with her?
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