Unfriendly Competition [OPEN]

[Maestro]

“Thank you, everyone!” Maestro’s wide grin showed bright with his sweeping bow as he stepped off the small stage into the writhing, drunken crowd of late-night Wizarding London. As much as he liked his new residency in Hogsmeade, when it came an actual, reliable income he nearly always had to escape to the city. Gigs were coming a little more easily now with word spreading about his Hogsmeade show, though, which meant good tips for Maestro. What else did he need, really?

Maestro came up from the basement club into the crisp fall air of the London streets, pipe in hand. He tilted his hat up to light his pipe; it was supposed to rain tonight, so he wrapped his hair in a bright magenta-patterned silk scarf before topping it with his trusty pork-pie hat. He lit Merlin with his wand, smiling and nodding in reply to several complements on his performance. He was engaged in some idle flirting with a group of patrons when he heard that fateful call:

“I know he’s here! Where’ that Fwooper-lookin’ bugger?!” An angry growl from another wizard seemed to float above the chatter of the rest of the crowd.

Ah, shit. Maestro had a pretty good idea he was the aforementioned Fwooper-lookin’ Bugger. The club had advertised the show, and if he wasn't mistaken that was the same off-key voice of the last front man for the Three Broomsticks' previous house band. He tilted his hat back down over his face, holding his pipe in-between his teeth and slouching around the corner of the venue. See, this was why he didn’t like playing London. Too many burned bridges.

Thinking quickly, Maestro linked arms with a passerby on their way past the club. He leaned into the person he’d linked arms with, keeping his eyes down. “Oi, mate, help me get past that angry blighter in the middle of the crowd and there’ll be a free drink in if for you. I’m a lover, not a fighter.” He smiled wolfishly, winking.

[Eden Fletcher]

It had been a very tedious and exacting 72 hours for Eden Fletcher. At first she'd been thrilled to be commissioned to do a magical portrait of a seemingly sweet eccentric matron. However that sweet wrinkled face, toothless grin and gray curls hid a demonic hellion. The great, great, great grandaughter who'd hired Eden was only suppose to pop out to the market and be back quick like. That quick trip turned into three days. Apparently living with your 275 year old Nanna was a challenge. The old biddy had been a rather ingenious Charmer back in her day. Now, that she was several centuries old though her magic was a bit erratic and her mind a little gone. She kept calling Eden servant and required Eden to curtsy when asked a direct question. Eden had tried to escape several times, preferring to do the spell work required in her own little studio but the codger had firmly insisted that Eden do it all in front of her. The insistence had been a tight grip by a gnarled claw that dug painfully into her forearm.

After finishing the portrait, Eden decided she deserved a night out in London. Since crowds weren't really Max's scene. Eden had gone with a few female friends that she rarely spoke to outside of clubs. She'd call them more acquaintances who were up to go to shows and stuff. It had been a fun night. They'd dance to the music that Mastro had been playing. They took shots and got more than a bit tipsy. Okay, Eden got a bit smashed. She'd said her good byes and was about to just take muggle transportation to her flat when an arm looped through her and knocked her off balance a bit. Eden came to a stumbling halt, using her other arm to stabilize herself as she looked up into the face of Mastro. The drunken retort on her lips faded as she stared into his eyes.

“Oi, mate, help me get past that angry blighter in the middle of the crowd and there’ll be a free drink in if for you. I’m a lover, not a fighter.”

Eden glanced over her shoulder spotting the man who was practically foaming at the mouth. Eden looked back up at Mastro and grinned. If she'd been sober she'd have flipped the guy on his arse and walked away. But this was inebriated Eden and she liked reckless adventure. She wasn't so far gone that her words were slurred but her reaction was a bit slowed.

"I can be both," Eden said with a cheeky smile. "I'll help. Anything in particular in mind darling?"

[Maestro]

"I can be both," Eden said with a cheeky smile. "I'll help."

"You're a literal lifesaver." Maestro looked back at his would-be attacker with an embarrassed cringe before turning into the night with his new beautiful accomplice. He pushed down his glasses to the tip of his nose to look her up and down with his amber eyes. "I saw you in there, dancing with your friends. Glad you danced, it takes so much to get the rigid British people to loosen their limbs! What's your name, love?"

"Anything in particular in mind darling?"

"Have you finished dancing for the evening? Because I was so busy behind the piano I haven't gotten to dance with a single soul yet." He spun them in a circle by the elbow to turn the duo down an alley, where a violet-lit café could be seen a few blocks down with a sign out: LIVE MUSIC. "I have a few friends playing tonight. If you loved me, you'll adore them. They're a bit more mellow, but fantastic." He smiled, flashing is bright teeth down at her as they stepped together. Honestly, moving with the sway of her body, it would be better if the drink he bought her was a cup of coffee, rather than another firewhiskey. He could use a tea to offset the buzz of the show, as well. 

They entered the small Café Jamal, which was busy for a coffee place in the evening. The walls were covered in ornately patterned curtains and old wooden bookshelves, packed with books. The purple light came from dancing fairies who lived in muggle birdhouses, moving with the sway of the band's music as much as the rest of the customers. They were supplemented with brass light fixtures what pulsed along with the fairies' glow. If there were ever a place to make the word 'Magical' have new meaning in the Wizarding World, this was it. At least, to Maestro.

The band were three wizarding musicians: a bald man at the piano with a midnight complexion, a drummer who one could tell was tall just by how he sat behind the set, and a woman with dreadlocks pouring out of a headscarf on her head playing a wizarding instrument that sounded like many flutes playing at once.

Maestro smiled at the band as the walked in, the pianist smiling and nodding back with a flourish to his playing. He suddenly spun Eden like a ballerina with the music across the dance floor towards the counter, laughing with her surprise. "What will you have, love? Anything." He took off his glasses and tucked them into a pocket in his robes, perusing the café menu himself. 

[Eden Fletcher]

His eyes were the color of an expensive whiskey and Eden drank them in. Pretty. There was a bright exuberance around him that was so different from Max. She took in his magenta scarf and hat. This man was a character. He made her rainbow plaid mini skirt and he rmuggle stabby the unicorn shirt look normal.

I saw you in there, dancing with your friends. Glad you danced, it takes so much to get the rigid British people to loosen their limbs! What's your name, love?"
“Eden,” She said with a friendly smile. It was true that it took a pint to get a Brit to just tap their toes. Eden liked dancing especially in a setting like the bar. She felt safe among the people and didn’t really care if they saw her sway off beat. Her grandmother hated that kind of dancing. She thought dancing should be formal and preferred dances with actual steps, like the magical version of the fox trot. Eden had a dance tutor as a child. Eden felt confined by the rules and the lack of ability to express herself. She was always a few steps behind or ahead, or not pointing her toes. It was so regulated that it wasn’t fun.
"Have you finished dancing for the evening? Because I was so busy behind the piano I haven't gotten to dance with a single soul yet."

“I’m just getting started,” Eden said with a wicked grin as she walked beside him down the alley. She was curious to see where this man would lead her. He intrigued her and she wanted to see what would happen next.
I have a few friends playing tonight. If you loved me, you'll adore them. They're a bit more mellow, but fantastic."

“You were wonderful,” Eden said as they entered Café Jamal. She hadn’t been there before but she instantly fell in love with the place. It was like a fairy garden met a bookstore but instead of plants it was curtains that created the atmosphere.

Eden had been watching a fairy dance when Mastro spun her across the dance floor. At first she was a bit awakard, caught of guard and stumble just slightly, but then she laughed as her hair spun around her in a wide circle and she went with it allowing him to guide her towards the bar. She collapsed against it laughing in delight.

"What will you have, love? Anything."

Eden bit her lip as she looked at the menu. Her head was spinning from the dancing and drink. She needed to pace herself. “Coffee, I want to still dance. Want to split some pie?” She asked tilting her head to the side and trying out her puppy dog eyes on him.

[Maestro]

“Coffee, I want to still dance. Want to split some pie?” She asked tilting her head to the side and trying out her puppy dog eyes on him.

Maestro grinned and laughed, his chuckle rising musically above the sounds of the band. "With a look like that? Take anything you want, love!" He ordered a lavender tea and paid the woman behind the counter, his eyes lingering on Eden the entire time. Maestro almost leaped into the air When the band started up their next song. "Eden! This is our song, I can feel it!" He held out a hand and held hers tight when she took it, swinging her gently out onto the dance floor. The music was laid-back and improvisational, easy to dance to. Especially for someone who had already had a few drinks, like his friend. Maestro sang along to the music as he danced, humming it in Eden's ear every time they came together on the floor. 

"Coffee! Lavender Tea!" The barista's yells came just as the song was dying down. The duo stumbled off the dance floor, laughing with the joy of the music. They took a table and two chairs at the back end of the dance floor, the slice of chocolate mousse pie sitting between them with two forks. Maestro sipped his tea, watching the band and every now and then stealing another glance at Eden.

"So, tell me your story Eden. There's something special about you, I can see it in those big blue eyes."

[Eden Fletcher]

The man had a good laugh. It made Eden's smile brighter. She wanted to make him laugh again.
"With a look like that? Take anything you want, love!" She leaned back, the puppy dog look replaced by a devilish grin. She looked him up and down and placed a hand on his forearm.

"I just might make you regret the carte blanche invitation," She said with a throaty laugh. "But I think no today," She said before giving her order to the barista. The man moved fast. The song had just changed before he dived into the air as if the chair was on fire. She put her hand in his and slid off the chair allowing him to pull her into the dance. She swayed to the music spinning closer and away. She found herself dancing closer as he hummed into her ear. She liked his voice, could listen to it for hours. She wondered if he had anything recorded. Would it be weird to ask him?

The song ended and Eden followed him back to the table, laughing. She hadn't had this much fun in a long time. It felt good to feel herself again. To live her life without fear.

"So, tell me your story Eden. There's something special about you, I can see it in those big blue eyes."

The question startled Eden and a quick flash of fear darkened her eyes. She took a sip of her coffee as she thought about the question.Something special. The bitter cynic in her wanted to laugh coldly. Tell him about her special gift and send him running. No sane person would stay with a woman who could see their future. When people found out about her gift they tended to think she knew the exact moment they would die or get rich. Or she was faking. Or that she was one of those seers that went into trances and said poems.

I see the future was too dark. Too much like I see dead people. Too serious for the moment. Eden opened her mouth to say something flirty like I'm an heiress, or a woman of mystic.

"There isn't much of a story to tell. At least not one worth telling. I draw people. I sketch the face of the dead, the missing, the cruel. I paint dreams." She said taking a bite of pie. The last bit was too close to home. She left out a groan.

"This is the best pie ever. I could live off this pie." She said taking another bite.

"What about you, what is the song of your life?" She asked tilting her head to the side to get a better look at him.

[Maestro]

"There isn't much of a story to tell. At least not one worth telling. I draw people. I sketch the face of the dead, the missing, the cruel. I paint dreams."

"Ah, see?! An artistic soul!" He grinned, squeezing Eden's hands in his. "I knew it, I knew you were special. I always know. It's like I'm psychic." He winked cheekily, the steam from his lavender tea fogging his glasses as he took a sip. "You say there's darkness in your work? No shame in that, we all have it, don't we? Gives our work more depth. There's no fine line between your visual art and my performance, just the gumption to put it on stage. We'll get you up there in no time." He smiled wryly.

"This is the best pie ever. I could live off this pie." She said taking another bite.

Maestro laughed again. His big, musical, throwing-his-head-back laugh. "I like you, Eden. Your priorities are in order."

"What about you, what is the song of your life?" She asked tilting her head to the side to get a better look at him.

He stroked his chin in thought, swaying lightly with the music of the band as he thought. "Would you believe it if I told you I just sprung from the earth this way?" He laughed, straightening the bejeweled brooch closing the top button of his shirt and dusting off the shoulders of his embroidered robes. "No, I'm from London but have been away in Paris for a few years. The music, though. That's always been in me."

As the band finished their song to take a short break, Maestro went wild for them. He whistled loudly, clapping over his head. "LeON!" He shouted loud enough to float above the rest of the café.

The pianist laughed and shook his head, nodding at Maestro in greeting from across the dance floor. "We're going to take a short break, folks. Maestro, would you like to step up?"

"Ha!" Maestro grinned, leaning back in his chair and pushing his glasses to the tip of his nose. He winked at Eden "I'm off duty, Leon! Let a man rest!" Maestro stood up to address his friend more clearly, but when he did he saw a familiar figure looming in the doorway.

"THERE'S THE BUGGER!" It was their friend from earlier, finally catching up with them. There was only one door in or out of Café Jamal, and he was standing in front of it. Looked like they wouldn't be lucky enough to slip away into the night again.

[Eden Fletcher]

"Ah, see?! An artistic soul!" He grinned, squeezing Eden's hands in his. "I knew it, I knew you were special. I always know. It's like I'm psychic."

If only he knew. Eden took a sip of her coffee to hide the twinge of annoyance she felt when people used the word psychic. Still, Eden wasn't going to not say that his feelings weren't psychic. Maybe they were. Maybe not. Who was she to say that he wasn't?

"You say there's darkness in your work? No shame in that, we all have it, don't we? Gives our work more depth. There's no fine line between your visual art and my performance, just the gumption to put it on stage. We'll get you up there in no time."

Eden laughed. "Get me up there how? Painting to the rhythm of drums?" The thought amused her. She wasn't afraid of showing off her work. She enjoyed it actually. Which was why she always displayed a copy of her sketches in her cubicle at work.

"Would you believe it if I told you I just sprung from the earth this way?" He laughed, straightening the bejeweled brooch closing the top button of his shirt and dusting off the shoulders of his embroidered robes. "No, I'm from London but have been away in Paris for a few years. The music, though. That's always been in me."

"Art's always been in me. Where in Paris? I really love the art district. Sometimes I just go for the day to watch the muggles sketch tourists."

Eden clapped when the song ended. She grinned when Mastro called out to his friend. She gave a welcoming smile to the musician.

he pianist laughed and shook his head, nodding at Maestro in greeting from across the dance floor. "We're going to take a short break, folks. Maestro, would you like to step up?"

"Ha!" Maestro grinned, leaning back in his chair and pushing his glasses to the tip of his nose. He winked at Eden "I'm off duty, Leon! Let a man rest!" Maestro stood up to address his friend more clearly, but when he did he saw a familiar figure looming in the doorway.


Eden winked back as she finished of her coffee. She liked talking with Mastero. He was fun. The shouting interrupted Eden's thoughts. Of course the prat from the alley had to show up. Fate wouldn't have it any other way. Eden glanced around for another exit but found none. Sighing she stood up.


"What did you do anyways? Steal his beer?" She asked as the man and his cronies approached them. Eden took out the small coin purse she used as a wallet. "I'll distract, you escape," She whispered as she stepped up around Mastero, so she was standing in front of him. "Hello handsome. You're looking thirsty and I need a someone to help me drink. Can I buy you one?" She said, with a wicked smile as she singled the bartender with a snap of her fingers.

"You wouldn't want a lady to drink all alone now would you?" She simpered, lightly running her fingers up and down the guys arms.

[Maestro]

"THERE'S THE BUGGER!"

Shit. Shit shit shit. Maestro stood, taking Eden's hand in his as if to run, but he was paralyzed. There was nowhere to run. His hand found is wand, as if that would be any help; Maestro had never been in a proper duel in his life. He was usually able to talk his way out of situations, but as he had talked his way into this one, he wasn't sure that was an option. His charm rarely worked on those who'd wound up on the wrong side of it.

"What did you do anyways? Steal his beer?"

"More like his job..." He shrugged, pulling Eden  back towards the back wall with him, behind some of the curtains that decorated the café. As if that would disguise them; Maestro was hard to miss. "You know the old Three Broomsticks' band? The one no one went to see, because they were terrible?" He gestured at the angry wizard and his friends: there they were!

"I'll distract, you escape," She whispered as she stepped up around Maestro, so she was standing in front of him. "Hello handsome. You're looking thirsty and I need a someone to help me drink. Can I buy you one?"

The big codger in question looked down at Eden with a furrowed brow. "Out of the way, lady!" The man put a big hand on Eden's shoulder, pushing her out of the way. He pulled out his wand, ready to aim for his adversary.

"Oi, oi oi!" Maestro stepped forward when he put his hands on Eden; he may not be a fighter, but Maestro still had some sense of chivalry. He held up his wand, the tip sparking lavender. "If you've got a problem, take it out on me!" Oof, famous last words. He straightened, holding his wand in front of him with perfect posture. Maestro's very first duel: how curious.

[Eden Fletcher]

"More like his job..." He shrugged, pulling Eden back towards the back wall with him, behind some of the curtains that decorated the café. As if that would disguise them; Maestro was hard to miss. "You know the old Three Broomsticks' band? The one no one went to see, because they were terrible?" He gestured at the angry wizard and his friends: there they were!

A laugh burst out of Eden. She remembered the band. Even drunk they sounded like banshees. No amount of alcohol would make them tolerable. Poor deluded sods. Their mummies probably told them they were such good singers and players. So talented. The lead singer sounded like a mermaid out of water.

Eden tried to defuse the situation. Maybe offering to buy drinks and sexy flirting wasn't the best way to do it but she was still a bit tipsy. Rage at being pushed aside because she was a girl took over and she saw red. She didn't get pushed to the side like a child. Reacting on her fury she cocked her fist back and punched the man who dared touch her in the nose, her knee rising up to make contact with his groin.

"I was trying to be nice, but you didn't want nice did you?"She hissed, stepping back. She whipped out her wand and pointed it at the others.

"Want me to vanish your balls? You're already acting like pussys. Picking on a guy because you suck at performing. I will do it. It's not his bloody fault you're trash musicians," Eden said prepared to hex their manhood gone.

[Maestro]

An involuntary flinch shuddered through Maestro with the sudden movement of his adversary getting punched in the face. When he realized the movement wasn't towards him, he opened his eyes to see an incredible scene in front of him. His mouth dropped open in an ear-to-ear grin, dumbstruck. For someone to small, Eden packed a whallop!

"I was trying to be nice, but you didn't want nice did you?"She hissed, stepping back. She whipped out her wand and pointed it at the others. "Want me to vanish your balls? You're already acting like pussys. Picking on a guy because you suck at performing. I will do it. It's not his bloody fault you're trash musicians."

Ever light on his feet, Maestro came up behind Eden and linked his arm in hers once more, leading them out the door with a spring in his step. "Let's go!" His laugh was a sweet jazz of its own as they skipped through the crowded streets of the London nightlife, disappearing into anonymity once again.

"That was amazing! You're amazing!" When they were far enough away to have fully disappeared, Maestro pulled them around the corner into a quiet alley to get a good look at his new friend. "Are you alright? Didn't hurt your hand on that big git's face, did you?" He grinned, holding Eden's hands in his to inspect them. "Heaven knows I don't know what I'd do with myself if you couldn't paint again after defending my honor."

[Eden Fletcher]

Eden was a impulsive passionate person who reacted on instinct, sometimes to her detriment. Which was probably one of the reasons why she wasn't actually an auror. She didn't take kindly to people dismissing her. Eden shifted her wand from her right hand to her left, blowing on her reddened knuckles. She hadn't burst the skin but they were smarting. The man had rocks for brains.

A minute after the punch, before his cronies had time to do more than cry out and check on their mate, Maestro was ushering her out the door and down the street. Eden followed covering her wand by holding it inside her coat flap. When they stopped, Eden put the wand in it's inside pocket. She grinned up at Maestro, adrenaline still pumping in her veins.

"That was amazing! You're amazing!" When they were far enough away to have fully disappeared, Maestro pulled them around the corner into a quiet alley to get a good look at his new friend. "Are you alright? Didn't hurt your hand on that big git's face, did you?" He grinned, holding Eden's hands in his to inspect them. "Heaven knows I don't know what I'd do with myself if you couldn't paint again after defending my honor."

"I'm fine. Just a bit tender. Nothing a suave can't heal," She said touched that he cared so much. Even if she had broken a bone she could have Max fix it.

"That was fun, we should do this again." She said with a grin. She didn't removed her hands from his and she liked staring up into his face. He had an interesting face. She found herself distracted by his cheek bones, the way his hair fell. She wanted to sketch him. Maybe while playing.

"You have an interesting face. I want to paint it. I could create a flyer for you. Something to advertise your skills?" She said hopeful that he'd take her up on the offer. She'd do it anyways but then the picture would just be for her collection and she believed art should be seen by the world.

[Maestro]

"That was fun, we should do this again."

Maestro grinned, looking deep into her eyes. Her eyes were pale and round, like an early-afternoon sky. He squeezed her fingers affectionately before letting go, falling back to lean on the opposite wall in the tight alleyway. She was so vibrant, he wanted to take a picture. It made sense to Maestro that Eden was a painter; she was color. She was bold, bright and sparkling. "With you? Anytime, Eden."

"You have an interesting face. I want to paint it. I could create a flyer for you. Something to advertise your skills?" 

Somewhere above the two in the alley, music faded down to them from a rooftop bar. It was slow and calming, and made Maestro want one last dance. He pointed up at the sound, smiling warmly as he reached for Eden's hand. He pulled her into a slow, swaying dance she could handle. "That sounds wonderful, Eden. I would love to have you paint me. If it's anything like tonight, I'm sure it'll be an adventure." He turned her out in a slow spin, letting go of her hand with a wistful smile. When he let go, a small folded piece of paper with his information was in her palm.

"Until next time, my dear." He smiled, and his bright grin was the last thing she saw as he apparated away.

ooc: Exit Maestro. Hooray, this was fun! These two work well together Should we do a portrait session thread??