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{ newt scamander }

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WHO: Newt Scamander and Tina Goldstein
WHAT: It's not a date ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
WHEN: Evening Justinian 27
WHERE: A tavern in Kirkwall
NOTES: They're a warning label on their own

When she arrived three months ago Tina Goldstein had never anticipated settling into any sort of routine. She still carried a sense of unease around others, but then she supposed that was to be expected. Coming from a land where who she really was happened to be a closely guarded secret, without living by those same laws in Thedas it was often unsettling. She still rarely used her magic publicly even after the Tournament-- vouching instead to learn non-magical weaponry to not draw more attention to herself.

Which was difficult to do being a rifter and a rifter who had a demiguise all but refuse to leave her side most of the time. At least Malka had started to listen, whatever that meant, and was currently safely within her shared room at the Gallows-- Said sharing being another issue altogether. She still wonders if it had been the right idea, but nothing short of a few flustered moments and Malka's playfulness had occurred so for the moment it remained fine... But, well.

She's all too aware of a certain feeling of loss her roommate leaving her once had been. She'd hate to find out now how she would feel should he disappear from Thedas, or worse. Given their close proximity on a day-to-day she hastened to admit that whatever feelings she felt-- and was uncertain of what to call-- had only grown worse. An admission she would not admit to herself let alone the man that seemed to shape them, but it certainly made moments like this a little more uncomfortable than she'd like to admit--

--That was meeting with him at the tavern. An occasion that seemed to become more frequent in the past weeks, with the both of them finishing whatever jobs they were on and agreeing to meet for a meal. It was just a meal. But there rarely felt to be "just" anythings when it came to Newt Scamander.

Today, however, it seemed it was she who was running early. Not too rare on occasion either, that one, but she rarely let it bother her (unless it got to be too late and she subsequently began to wory he'd either gotten hurt or arrested, the latter he'd somehow avoided). But since she had time she got herself a drink today for want of something to do other than worrying if he was going to show up with some new scratches.

At least she stopped believing he just wouldn't show up anymore because he didn't care for her company. That, she thought mildly as she took a drink, might have actually been preferable to the constant worrying he'd show up injured.

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Newt might regret a lot of things when it comes to Thedas, (happening to be a rifter stranded in a medieval world with magic only the tip of that particular iceberg), but he does not regret how much closer he's become with Tina because of both of them being currently stuck here.

The roommate situation seemed practical when he suggested it. Of course, being who he is, he failed to take into consideration the mechanisms of his own heart in the process when making the offer. He thinks about Tina a lot, especially as of late. Being in such close proximity to her here, he can't escape from thinking about her, the way he might have done back home. (Though he suspects he wouldn't be able to escape those thoughts back in England, anyway.)

Their frequent meeting for meals like this is one of the highlights of his day. Typically, Tina arrives first, not surprising since Newt always feels as though he's running everywhere on a daily basis.

He's coming back from work, several nasty papercuts on his hands. But no new scratches. Yet.

"Sorry," he smiles as he slides into the chair across from Tina, ragged and covered in soot. "Ran a little late. Papers caught slightly on fire, but it's fine now."

Yet. It's always a yet.

Her brow arched in disbelief before letting out an exasperated sigh. "You're the only person in the world who can show up and say something caught slightly on fire and look like he came out of a chimney," Tina answered readily, dark eyes glancing at him in her attempt to see if he was more injured than that, "honestly, worrying about you will be how I die here."

She shook her head, bringing the drink in her hands to her lips before she colored slightly. "You coulda at least cleaned up a little," She added wryly, after a moment, quick to try to move to gentle scolding to avoid lingering on her worry.

"Surely not," he protests, mostly in jest. "I hardly think it's a unique skill, things slightly catching on fire. Quite a lot of soot though, you're certainly right about that." He manages a sheepish grin; almost apologetic.

"I did mean to head to the baths before meeting you," he explains. "But I was late enough as it is. I didn't want to keep you waiting."

It's a fair point she raises, worrying about him here. Already, he's found plenty of trouble for himself. It is, frankly, a miracle he has yet to be arrested.

"I do apologize for my state," he adds, ducking his head a little. "I know it's not quite...dinner attire."

She snorted. Newt Scamander had been so awkward when they met, she hadn't thought him capable of a joke. But then few people thought she was capable of smiling, so she supposed it was just the way the world worked at times. Casting Newt a wry look she sighed.

"Oh, it ain't 'dinner attire' I was worrying after," She mentioned, glancing around the small tavern, "I was more worried about the poor bar-maid who's gonna have to clean up the mess you leave behind."

It's a teasing statement-- A part of her wanting to suggest he could have just used scrougify, but given how their magic was she only even used hers when it was necessary. She's amused, though, all the same, when she reached across the table to dust off his lapel before she caught herself and cleared her throat.

"I'm just glad you made it in one piece," She added before jabbing on, "especially from the looks of it."

"I can clean up after myself," Newt protests. "Cleaning magic is one of the few spells that comes almost easy to me here." He takes care to lower his voice when speaking of his magic; he might be reckless most of the time, but with tensions running high regarding various rifter circumstances, even he knows when not to take chances.

And then he realizes she's joking. Oh. Good as Newt has become at catching social cues, some things still go over his head, even when he's joking himself.

"Sorry," he flashes her an awkward, hopefully endearing smile. "Yes, well. I'm in a better state than the papers. Poor sods."

Tina's brows pinched together at Newt's immediate vehement dissent. It was a joke, of course, but it was clear the man didn't see it that way--- Though he seems to realize it quickly enough that it earns a scoff and a sharp shake of the head from here.

"Well," She mentioned grimly, "if the spells I'm best at are combat and defensive based I'd say if you put the two of us together we might make a whole wizard." She cast him a look, grin settling on her features before she gives a small sigh of disgruntlement and takes a sip of her drink.

Newt snorts at that. "Well, one whole one is better than two halves? Or more useful, at least." He relaxes visibly, his shoulders settling as he orders a drink for himself, something simple but full of spices.

"How was your day today?" He asks her, watching and waiting for her response with an aptness he doesn't want to examine too closely for the moment.

It's enough that they have the time to meet for a meal like this; it's enough that, for a little while, at least, they have some small space that almost feels like home. If one squints, perhaps.

"Are you implying I'm useless?" Tina retorted quickly, brows pushed together. For a moment she looks ill-amused, but the quirking of amusement in her lips prove otherwise. "I'll let you clean up the room next time by yourself." Though she did that largely by hand, as she'd always done. She'd never taken much stock in household magic, so she didn't feel much at a disadvantage now.

Her shoulders rose and fall, fingers tapping her cup as she glanced over to nod the barmaid over. "Oh," She answered, "nothing different than usual. Everything gets a pattern eventually." Even being an Auror had its patterns, though the days and what were done remained different. She didn't like "seeling in" at all, but then she only found any kind of solace in this place because the man across from here was here.

"The opposite, actually," Newt insists with a quirk of a grin. "We both know I'm the useless half of this wizard." His eyes sparkle with mirth as the bar tender brings him his drink. He takes a long sip, grateful for the coolness of it.

"Even in a world of demons and rifts in the sky?" Newt asks her curiously. Tina's ability to adapt to her circumstances is one of his favorite things about her. She might be as impulsive as himself sometimes, he thinks, but she takes things in stride with much more confidence than he ever could.

"I'd have to disagree," Tina retorted immediately, earnestness in her tone despite herself. Dark eyes flickering to the man before she added, "You fair better here than myself." As a wizard or not, Tina still resisted-- Still took things as hard as ever.

Her brow shot up, mouth twisting into a frown before she said carefully. "You do realize I spent the past eight years of my life tracking down criminals in the North Eastern part of the United States, don't you?" She managed, turning towards half a joke, "they mightn't have all been as interesting as you, Newt, but there was hardly ever a quiet day. Despite that, even that had a steadiness to it. No demons, but--"

She paused, then added as a joke, "Well, I imagine the call for that's still out on you." Tina pressed the cup to her lips for a moment before breathing out a sigh. "Though, of course, things are getting worse around here, too." She meant, of course, with the events that had started at the end of the tourney-- there wasn't a doubt in her mind that they'd have to do something soon.

"I think we're both fish out of water here, in our own ways," Newt says with a smile more earnest than he usually gives. In many ways, really, and not just in this strange new (or old, technically) world. "I'm glad you're here with me."

"I mean," he says hastily, clearing his throat. "I mean I'm glad neither of us has to face all that this Thedas has to throw at us alone."

Of course, the skin beneath his freckles is now a bright pink. If pressed, he'll chalk it up to the alcohol and not the stuttering of his own heart.

"Things have a habit of getting worse, I find," he says before taking another drink.

Tina was ready to agree with the man until he continued on. I'm glad you're here with me, he said and from any other person it'd be a normal response. Most people didn't want to be alone and yearned familiarity, herself included. It's the hasty add-on that makes her look at him more inquisitively.

"It's all right, Newt," Tina answered, brow furrowing, "you don't have to go explaining yourself. I feel the same." Her own response earnest as she offered him a smile, though it remained tentative-- As if unsure admitting as much would send him into more of a state.

A sigh soon followed as she tapped a finger against the cup. "That's no different than anywhere else, either."

I feel the same.

He's determined not to read anything into that statement. He's made an ass of himself for assuming before, and he doesn't want to do the same. Not with Tina.

But he does allow himself to smile, a genuine smile, and he feels himself relax somewhat. Truly, he is so very grateful for Tina's presence here, for many reasons. She is a part of home he never knew he was missing.

"No, of course," he agrees. "And it's odd, perhaps, but I find that strangely comforting as well."

"I'm not sure about strangely comforting myself," Tina answered with a frown, brows furrowing. Finding patterns were only comfortable so long as the pattern remained. But things getting worse was always something to be apprehensive about-- Yet, then, she was trained to always be on guard.

"What are you planning on doing from here?" the woman offered, "if you're planning anything."

"Well, I suppose for now, at a distance, it brings some small comfort. However this phylactery issue plays out, well, I suppose we'll see," he admits, shaking his head. He has the feeling that said issue is far from over; indeed, he wouldn't be surprised if this leads to even greater issues, going forward.

"Learn more about this world," he answers. "Better prepare myself for facing battle. I'm still working with a sword, but I want to learn how to use one of the mages' staffs they have here."

A pause before he offers her a sheepish smile.

"And, I admit, I would very much like to see one of the high dragons I've heard of," he says, ruffling a hand through his hair.

"What of you? What are your plans?"

"That's all we've been doing," Tina reminded him idly, brows coming together at the thought. It wasn't just magically they were powerless here. They held no real political standing. They had to wait, listen, and hope for the best--

All things she wasn't necessarily very good at.

She nods while she listens, though. Learning not to rely on her magic was something she'd been forcing herself to do. Though she shoots the man a look and a sigh at his sheepish grin. "Of course you would," She breathed out, "just be careful, would you? Doubtful that they're much like your dragons."

A frown while she bit down on her lower lip, shoulders rising and falling. "I don't have any," She said simply, "I want to find a way home, but that's it." Sure, she practiced using non-magical weapons and tried to participate in some way. But the thing she wants to do is return home to her job. To her sister, most especially. There's an emptiness in her stay in Thedas with the lack of Queenie.

"From what I've heard, they're much more dangerous," Newt says. But whereas a normal person might say this with apprehension, it's clear from his tone that Newt delights in the possibility that the dragons of Thedas are more dangerous. He manages a grin that makes an attempt at being sheepish before giving up and turning into outright glee. "I'd still love to get the chance to observe one."

Newt nods. It's a fairly reasonable goal to work towards. He can understand that Tina must miss much about home. As for him, well. This is it's own sort of adventure; he can't say he's entirely sorry to be away from home, at the moment.

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