Closed Adversarial is an Understatement

[Jacob Kingsley]

Jacob had fumed all evening long, but this morning he was dressed in his trainee robes and managed to arrive right on time to wait near the front of the Ministry entrance for his partner. He could have saved them some time by meeting Analei in his neighborhood which was no doubt closer to their destination than coming all the way to the Ministry, but there was no way he was going to share his address with her.

At least, training had been going well for the young man. He had been athletic his entire life, but as an Auror trainee he was in the gym frequently and running in his spare time. The physical aspect of the job was a challenge he'd welcomed. His cheeks had lost the chubbiness they'd maintained throughout his teenaged years, and he'd cut his hair into a crew cut. The mental aspects of the training were tough. Jacob spent many nights studying, not wanting to fall behind and be cut. Practices were usually fun. He'd thus far managed to avoid too many interactions with Analei. Yesterday, had just been the worst when his excitement at being in the field was ruined by finding out she'd also be there.

The man blew out the smoke of his magical cigarette before taking another puff. He hoped Analei would get a move on. Jacob double checked to make sure he was in the right spot. They'd agreed to meet on the left side of the doors by the cafe. He was certain of it. Jacob pondered whether he had time to grab some tea. He figured he'd wait another five minutes before he ran in for a cup.

 

[Analei Westwick]

Analei was not looking forward to this day. If this weren't for Auror training, she would have flat out refused. How was she supposed to work with someone like Kinglsey? Did he even play nice? Did he know how to share? She was sure it was going to be a disaster of a day, but she sure as hell was not going to let him ruin this for her. Analei had trained so hard and so long for this.
It was hard work, but she was enjoying it. She was in her element. And it was nice that she sometimes got to have lunch with Edmund too, working in the same building.

Not wanting to be out-shon by the old Gryffindor boy, Analei had arrived ten minutes early, before deciding to go get a coffee. By the time she got to the front, she decided that it was probably polite to get one for her partner as well. Unfortunately, it took awhile for the coffees to be made. Huffing, Analei barely muttered a thanks to the barista as she grabbed the coffee and rushed to leave the cafe, walking outside right into a cloud of smoke. Coughing and trying to wave it away, Analei turned to see it was Jacob. She scowled, handing over his cup of coffee. "That's disgusting."

 

[Jacob Kingsley]

The retort sat on Jacob's lips, but he'd learned a small measure of restraint that he put into practice on occasion, this being one of them. Instead of saying what he'd meant to and what he knew was a great retort, the young man blew out the smoke he had as slowly as possible. He made sure the magical cigarette wouldn't burn him before stowing it away for good this time. Then he reached for the cup of coffee that Analei was holding out to him. Jacob wasn't a coffee drinker; he was a tea drinker. Surely, she'd seen him with the leaves and dunking the teas to steep in class before.

He managed to hold his grimace in, and was fairly proud of himself for showing two instances of restraint in so short a span. Then he paused just before he took a sip. Suspicion crept into the lad's mind, the thoughts that when things were too good to be true it was because they usually were swirling around. "Did you throw an Oobers Ultra Lax in this?"

Analei was cut-throat. She had been in school, and he couldn't see that she'd have outgrown that particular trait not when so many other of her lovely traits continued to persist. He wouldn't put it past her to take him out before they headed off so she could get all the credit for this assignment they'd been sent out on. Field time was still few and far between, and Jacob was not going to miss it on her account.

 

[Analei Westwick]

Analei glared daggers at the boy as he blew the smoke out slowly. It was incredibly rude. Passing the coffee, Analei scowled yet again as he didn't even thank her. It was ridiculous that she had been in his presence for two seconds and already wanted to murder him. She snorted laughter into her keep cup, taking a small sip as Jacob asked if she had snuck something into his drink. Edmund had suggested poison, and it was highly tempting but - "Don't flatter yourself Kingsley. As if I'd risk my career for you." She said, taking a small sip of coffee again. "Shall we get moving, or do I need to get a sippy cup for you?"

 

[Jacob Kingsley]

Jacob found her answer to be enough and took a sip. If she had sabotaged him in any way, it would be easy to tie back to her and he was sure Little Ms. Perfect wouldn't want that marring her reputation amongst the Aurors. He took a sip and then another. "After you" he sighed, following behind her so he had enough time to roll his eyes behind her back before they moved towards the flue they'd need for their travels.

"What did you think of the file?" he asked, not liking too much silence. He'd read it last night and then skimmed it again this morning. It was a pretty interesting case, big if true though Jacob wasn't sure how much they could trust the person they'd be interviewing.