on the c l o c k (open)

[human]

Xiu tied on her apron, and looked at herself in the mirror. Today she had opted for a simple pair of dark jeans and a white polo for work, her trusty pair of well-maintained blue Converse high-tops upon her feet. The apron itself was burgundy, monogrammed across the abdomen in an elegant golden cursive was Madame Puddifoot's, and the same stitching (although much smaller) spelled out Xiu on the top right-hand corner. It was summer, and as usual, business had dropped significantly.

The customers would come back with the start of the school year, but as for now Xiu was the only one on shift (spare for the chefs in back that were making pastries), and there wasn't a client in sight. At least she had come prepared. Xiu reached into her apron pocket and pulled out a bottle of royal blue nail polish. She began to carefully paint her nails, trying to ignore the pervasive smell of the polish. Once she had finished, Xiu blew on her nails to dry them. Just as the polish was dry the little bell over the door dinged and Xiu looked over at...

[littlebit]

Dean slipped into Madame Puddifoot's, practicing his latest hobby, avoiding Cora. Needless to say, Dean was still angry with her, how stupid could she have been to go joining the Death Eaters like that? Normally he would never go to a place like this without a date or something, but he knew it was the least likely place that Bradly and or Cora would look for him. He had enough cash on him to pay for about half a day's worth of tea, so the people wouldn't nag him for loitering. Dean took a table in the corner of the room.

[human]

Xiu eagerly jumped up from the seat that she had taken to greet the first (and most likely the last) customer of the day. A small smile came to her lips when she saw that it was someone who was relatively familiar to her, Dean Ressel, he was the captain of the Ravenclaw Quidditch team. Although she had been a bit bitter that it had been him chosen for Captain and not her, Xiu had gotten over it, Dean was, in fact, an amazing seeker. "Hi Dean," said Xiu. "What can I get for you?"

[littlebit]

"Oh, hey Xiu," said Dean, smiling at the semi-familiar face. "Just some hot tea, then," He had never really talked with Xiu much. But he had caught wind that she was going to be the Co-Captain of their Quidditch team, and since there wasn't some sort of stupid tournament next year they would get to talk a lot more often. He was a bit preoccupied with his thoughts at the moment, so many things going through his head... Dean would normally welcome a surplus of things to think about, but not now, these thoughts were highly stressful.

[human]

"Okay, I'll be right back," said Xiu. She walked back to the kitchen and filled a teapot with hot water. While it was filling Xiu grabbed one of the wooden boxes that they kept tea leaves in and tucked it under her arm. She picked up the teapot and then walked back to the table where Dean sat. Xiu set down the teapot and tea box, and then turned over the teacup on the saucer in front of Dean. "Here you are," said Xiu as she opened the box with tea leaves so Dean could make his selection.

[littlebit]

"Thanks," said Dean once Xiu had brought him all the fixings he needed for his tea. He selected normal black tea leaves to make his tea, and added the appropriate amount to the hot water that he poured into his cup. "Would you care to join me?" asked Dean. "It doesn't look like there's going to be anyone around for a while," He sort of felt bad sitting there by himself while Xiu was probably helplessly bored, and besides, Dean wanted someone to talk to for a while.

[human]

Xiu blushed, never before had she been asked to sit with someone that she did not know all that well. Come to think of it, even with her social standing, flawless grades, being a prefect, and having a position of the Quidditch team to boot, Xiu did not feel that she had any true friends. Perhaps there was an opportunity for this with Dean. "Okay," said Xiu, it wasn't like her boss was there or anything. She awkwardly slid into a seat, as usual her feet did not touch the floor.

[littlebit]

Dean wasn't exactly the best with starting conversation, he wasn't sure what to do or say to Xiu. He had not noticed until then how pretty she was... He hurriedly pushed those thoughts out of his head, that would only make his tongue tie itself in knots and he would never be able to fore out so much as half a sentence. "So what have you been up to?" Dean asked after a pause.

[human]

Xiu wondered if it would be intruding too much to pour herself a cup of hot water to make some tea for herself; but after a quiet moment of mental debate she decided that it would not be, as Dean had asked her to join him. She poured a cup full of hot water and then added peppermint tea leaves. "Not a whole lot, I've been volunteering to hold down the front room a lot. It's kind of boring, but the hours are nice." Xiu said.

[littlebit]

"I can imagine," said Dean with a nod of his head. He had actually been planning on getting a summer job this break, just to have a valid excuse to be out of the house for as long as possible. Perhaps he might look into applying here, try to get the same hours as Xiu, so she wouldn't have to be by herself all day. Plus, Dean felt himself mildly attracted to her, but he knew it was hopeless, Xiu was older than he, and probably not remotely interested in him.

[human]

Xiu nodded, and then picked up her tea cup with both hands, allowing the hot liquid inside of it to warm her hands. Even if it was in the middle of summer her hands were always ice cold, just like her feet. Xiu supposed that it was just because she had poor circulation, the fault of her biological parents. Unlike many other adopted children, Xiu did not feel awkward around Neville and Morgan, they had raised her ever since she was a baby, she could tell them anything. "What brings you out here?" Xiu asked curiously.

[littlebit]

"Change of scenery," said Dean with a shrug after he forcefully swallowed a mouthful of tea that was a bit too hot for his liking. He set the cup back down on his saucer, he was going to wait a while longer before attempting to drink from it again. Dean wouldn't dare tell Xiu about the situation between him and Cora, the only person that knew the story was Tristan. He looked around the shop, he was not accustomed to seeing it so empty.[/blockqote]

[human]

Xiu in noting Dean's discomfort at trying to drink his tea too early, decided that she would wait to drink hers, not wanting to accidentally burn her tongue. Besides, she was perfectly content with holding to cup to warm her hands. "I suppose that's a good idea, but we don't see many single guys in here," said Xiu. "Probably too cutesy for most," Xiu put her cup down to stir in one cube of sugar with a spoon. She did this cautiously, as not to make clinking noises against the porcelain.