Exploiting the truth

[Shay M. Loire]

"You could say that, yes," Shay said with a nod, her expression saying something like, "You caught me. Guilty as charged." But seeing as he had phrased it in such a way caused her to think of her position as a photographer in a different light. Before she had thought of it as someone who displayed truth that was seen and read by others, especially when it came to the profiles of notable people of the community. But when he busted out with the word 'exploit', she wondered where that part of her job was. It was almost a door opening, and she wanted to see in it.

"I've been told before that my pictures can tell a bit more of the subject than he, she, or it would like," she commented blindly, her focus on nothing but a little crumb on the table as she drank her two drinks one after another.

[alfonztytusjedynak]

He laughed lightly, and took another sip of his drink. "There are two sides of every coin, Mrs. Loire. It's only the way one perceives what what they do or what another does that is important," Alfonz explained. He thought of how this was what he had been waiting for all night. This directly related to Celina, and how he could help her without her perceiving of knowing it. The problem was, how was Alfonz supposed to help Celina make the right...influences....if he wasn't at Hogwarts?

"That's the issue I suppose, how does one look after another, if they are unable to be near them," Aflonz said, almost thinking out loud. Shay had mentioned something about exploiting in the bookstore. What had she meant? "You came up with something in the bookstore, what were you thinking?"

[Shay M. Loire]

"That sounds almost idealistic," Shay responded his view of it. "It sounds simple and clean... but I honestly can't tell anymore." Her eyes rested upon his for a moment, trying to conjure what he could be thinking. In retrospect, he must be thinking he was taking a chance. After all, he did meet a strange girl in the bookshop and invited her to a drink to talk about how he should handle his baby sister in terms of trying to keep her off the wrong side of the tracks. And though she couldn't explain things as a sibling because she was technically an only child (until her step-sister was born), she could at least do it as an observer, a female, and as one who felt a family sense in Hogwarts with her Gryffindor clan.

"What was I thinking? You mean, about 'exploiting' her, to put it in better terms?" Shay gave it a bit of a thought. "It's just this: expose her to the good, the bad, the ugly. Try to see what she thinks of it, and if you have to, correct what she thinks is right but is wrong." On the side, though, she thought if maybe his kid sister was probably able to decide for herself without any bias but her own. But she couldn't really meddle in that family business.

[alfonztytusjedynak]

Alfonz nodded. Expose her to what was good and what was bad. Being as far away as he was, however, he needed someone with the capabilities to do such. He tought for a moment and smiled at the girl who sat in front of him. "That's an interesting technique," he said still thinking about how to organize such a basic move. There must have been someone, maybe even in the building where he lived that could get onto the grounds of Hogwarts and do what exactly was suggested. She needed to be shown by someone, why those who were unpure, were such. Or, at least unpure for her to be around.

"The only issue now however, is finding someone who can do it while she's attending Hogwarts." He thought outloud again, not even realizing he was doing such. The person he would be looking for would have to be what fit in the idea of 'pure'...unfortunatley, for a bit, Shay did not fit those requirements for Alfonz but she had done her job quite well. He looked at her and met up with her eyes. The delicatness of them would have made a normal man's heart melt and the ideas of the process fade away, however, Alfonz saw in them new hope....even if she was just a half-blood.

[Shay M. Loire]

"I wish I could tell you, but I don't think I can't. There are people I don't know there. You see, I left there in sixth year because of some family problems, so there are many people I don't know there and I especially don't know their judgement," she went on about it, but she thought about who exactly could help him help his sister. All of her friends that she could closely trust were now graduated, but maybe there was...

"I know a few girls from Gryffindor," she began, her mind straining for more names. "They're very reliable and they have good heads on their shoulders. Also, almost anyone in Huffle has great judgement, though I admit their a little mischeivous. And I'm sad to say Slytherin is a house I don't know very well... Then there's my roomate's brother-- I love that kid. He's a guy you could also trust." She nodded along to her list. She could mention professors as well, but she figured Alfonz had something to say about her current suggestions.

[alfonztytusjedynak]

Something told Alfonz that anyone Shay suggested would just not take the job as seriously as Alfonz needed. No, he needed someone who though the same as he, and he would need to find them soon. A time was nearing in Celina's life where Alfonz would not only need to worry about the friends she made...but also the boys she met. "I'm sure someone will present themselves when the time is right," Alfonz said, smirking at the girl. She had done her job and yet it was as if Alfonz was almost sad to see the night end.

“Anymore to drink?” he asked her. He held up his empty glass and gestured to it with his eyes. “Or shall I be the gentleman that I wish I could someday be,” he said with a chuckle, “and walk you home, my dear lady.” He smirked as wide as ever. He couldn’t help himself, being smart and fresh was just the way he liked to play sometimes. And when he looked at the girl in front of him, studying her once more, he almost asked himself…’well, why not?’

[Shay M. Loire]

Shay wasn't sure how to think about the night ending so soon. There was a definite ambivalence to her choice of the options given to her by Alfonz, since she had liked being with him although she knew there was a sliver of a chance that they could clash again. And despite it, she also wasn't sure if she fancied him or if it was really just a feeling of having gained another friend. For most things in her life, she would let time tell her.

"Going home seems like a very good idea, although I doubt you'd want to go out of your way to Soho just for me," her response hinted her location as well as the slight implication that she would have liked him to walk or apparate with her. "I'll be fine, though. I'm a big girl."

[alfonztytusjedynak]

"It's up to you, Miss Loire," Alfonz said as he sat back against the chair and crossed his arms. The night was young yet, and he had nothing better he could be doing. His new apartment at the Wendelring was bare with just the basics of furniture. "Though, I'd like nothing better than to make sure that on a dark night like this a big girl such as yourself arrived....where did you say you lived....Soho?" Alfonz for once looked at her with the most puzzled of expressions on his face.

[Shay M. Loire]

"Yes, Soho in Central London. But no-- not in the red light district," She rolled her eyes at it. Upon her exploration of the neighborhood-town, she often found some things surprising about it in contrast to the towns of California and Veracruz. Either way, Soho was beautiful for its Muggle theatre area. "I live down on Artanis Lane in a complex. Quite safe-- I doubt I need my hand held to go that way," it was exuding sarcasm, but she kept at it with her smile.

[alfonztytusjedynak]

"Needs and wants are two different things," Alfonz smirked over the empty glass he picked up, not realizing that it was empty until the cold glass touched his lips. Damn, his eyebrows furrowed and a disgruntled look appeared on his face. "However, I may need another drink really quick before we leave." He was completely serious, but at the same time knew that if she wanted to leave, she had all the right to do so.

He started to get up from the booth. "It's on me again, if you'd like another." He smirked and tipped his head in a mini bow. "But it's up to you."

[Shay M. Loire]

He caught her there without being obvious. Even in his blatant manner he had subtlties that needed to be looked over once and again. If you didn't, you were bound to miss the meaning of everything he said. Surely this was the time during her fluctuating awareness for things around her that she read between the lines. And what he said kind of lowered her resistence to having him walk her home.... kind of. At this point, though, it was hard to deny her romantic side sort of kicking in. However, it was embarassing. She was lively, but not necessarily flirty, especially when she wanted to.

"I can do with what you're having," she said, although she knew she had sternly decided against it before. But because it was the last drink of the night and she had much more control over herself than some of her relatives, then she had nothing against one Firewhiskey.

[alfonztytusjedynak]

As she requested a stronger drink, he smirked a little debating whether or not to comment. Thinking better against it he walked up to the bar and stuck a hand out to call over the bartender from standing in a corner.

"Two Firewhiskeys."

Alfonz wasn't much for beating around the bush and when he got the two drinks, he lowered his head slightly in a bit of a bow to thank the man and then went back to the booth. Setting Shay's drink down in front of her and his on his side, he sat back down and looked at the girl. He took a sip and let the alcohol swish in his mouth a bit before swallowing. He sighed slightly and tried not to enjoy the drink to much in front of the younger woman. "Is it to your liking?" He asked her gesturing at her drink.

[Shay M. Loire]

Shay wasn't hesitant in taking it, but she was in taking a sip. However, once the alcohol slipped into her throat and caused a burn different than her usual intake of jalapenos, she had to give a bit of a cough and a clearing of a throat. Just to be careful, she quelled the fire with some of her mysterious water. "If that's the way it tastes, then I'm quite satisfied with it." Now that she could become familiar with taste, she could brace herself with finishing it. She took a bigger gulp of it and inhaled carefully. "So that's what all the rage with Firewhiskey is about."

[alfonztytusjedynak]

"It does pack quite a punch," Alfonz said as he lifted the glass to eye level thinking about if he could compare it to anything. He was about to compare it to a bludger when some men from the other side of the bar started to yell something. Putting his glass down, he slowly turned his head to see what was going on and if he recognized anyone. Seeing that he did not he turned back to Shay and shook his head. "Some, however, can not handle the drink as well as others." He smirked and a small chuckle escaped his lips before taking another burning sip.

"So, you said that all of your family is back in North America? Do you manage then by yourself here in London?" He meant it more out of curiosity more than anything else, and he tried to word it just right so that she didn't think anything of it. She seemed to be a pretty capable individual, for a half-blood, and Alfonz was intrigued by her nonetheless. Now what he searched for was the reason why.

[Shay M. Loire]

"I only hope I don't end up being one of them," she commented offhandedly. It was honestly odd to her, how she felt no effect but at the same time she did. Now with more of it in her bloodstream, she found herself unable to feel absolutely uneasy about talking to someone who was still a stranger in her eyes. Still she measured his question and figured it was worth answering.

"I depend on myself... a good 70 to 80 percent. I mean, to start myself off here, I had saved up in California, and my mom still sends over money. I have a roomate, so that's another dependency there. But the money I get from my job is my strongest lifeline." She nodded and fidgeted her foot under the table. There was something that was making her even more tired, and she wanted to keep herself awake for just maybe an hour longer. What she almost didn't realize however was that whatever she had kicked for the fourth time now wasn't the table leg, but probably Alfonz's own leg. She looked under for a split second and smiled, adding, "Sorry there."