An Encounter in Madrid [Closed]

Khalidah had decided to do something much more fun than to roam the streets of England. She had apparated to Spain. She didn't quite know why. She had never really been there before. But she had always heard that Madrid was a beautiful city. So she had left the manor behind and she was now walking along a very busy street. Cars and cabs everywhere. And a lot of beggars. Khal didn't like beggars. It was pathetic. Thinking they could get anywhere by playing on human's conscience. Had they not learned yet that humans didn't have a conscience?

She certainly didn't have anything left for beggars, so she walked past them, obviously seeing them as beneath her. She made a turn and walked into a slim street for pedestrians. As she continued to walk, she could easily tell that this was a rather popular street. And then it ended. And she was standing in front of a huge square with loads of people and the smell of really excellent food. She smiled. Maybe she'd find something to eat here.

This would have to be the popular Plaza Mayor. So much history. So many hangings. Khal found she liked this square better and better. She walked around, avoiding people. It wasn't completely jammed, she had loads of space, so she didn't get impatient. A rather good thing, really. Khal as impatient was not a sight for sore eyes. She walked onwards and saw the large monument of the horse and the rider. Fine sculpture.

As she stood there, admiring the work, something gnawed at her. Something familiar. Khal stood completely still, trying to figure out what it was.

Open to:

As a child, Damien had been a regular visitor to Spain, Madrid in particular. His father loved the location for holidays and they went at least once or twice a year. He enjoyed it, but like usual, his father didn’t pay any attention to him and basically ignored him for the whole trip. It had been years since he’d last visited, however. Seven years, to be precise. After his father died, he hadn’t really felt the desire to go again.

Now he was bored. He spent most of his time holed up in his apartment and nothing much was happening with the Dark Ones. So why not apparate to Madrid? There would be something to do there. Maybe he’d watch a muggle movie or some muggle sport. Perhaps, better, he’d find a little league Quidditch match to watch instead. Whatever, it was better than lying in bed regretting everything.

He’d forgotten how nice the hangings and sculptures in the Plaza Mayor were. True, Damien wasn’t one to appreciate art and design, but it was nice compared to the graffiti and cigarette ends that could be found in the surroundings back in England. Maybe he should come and live in Madrid permanently. That wouldn’t be so bad. He could find an apartment, learn some Spanish. Yes, maybe one day that could happen.

If it had not been for the red hair giveaway, he wouldn’t have noticed her. She would have been just another passer-by. But when he saw the hair, Damien confusedly glanced in her direction. It was her. He took a few steps closer, approaching her from behind. “Khalidah,” he smirked. It was Khalidah, right? It must be, he didn’t forget names like that.

Hearing her own name being spoken was not something Khalidah had anticipated, but she understood instantly that it had been a familiar aura from someone, not something. And she was pretty sure she could guess the person. Sure, she didn't know Damien all that well, but something about him was very recognizable. So she turned around with a smile on her lips.

"Damien," she greeted, and found it very odd to see him standing here in Plaza Mayor. Not that she had ever been there, but it was still weird. Probably because she had taken off to this place to get away from her everyday life. But Damien wan't an unwelcome sight. She actually found it fun that he was there, and thought of this as an opportunity to get to know her allies better. Being a part of the dark ones she had learned to get to know them. Because that often lead her to a safe place where they wouldn't turn against her. She had a very winning personality when she wanted.

"What brings you here?" she asked curiously, trying to make the image of him here fit. That was still a problem. But she did like the problem.

It was a coincidence indeed that they’d ended up in the same place at the same time. It wasn’t an obvious place, either, such as somewhere in London. This was Spain. Damien hadn’t expected to recognise anyone here, let alone someone so… not close to him, not a friend. How could he describe Khalidah? A colleague, that might be the most appropriate description to use. An acquaintance, even.

“Boredom,” he responded simply. It was as good a reason as any. Sitting in his apartment for one more hour would have ripped his head apart. As would have wandering around the same places, Knockturn and Diagon Alley, anywhere in London. He needed something to do: he wasn’t the type of man to sit around and do nothing for days and days. It was rather difficult finding suitable activities to do and places to visit. Spain was good. Maybe tomorrow he’d visit Ireland, or America. More interesting than his usual day. “What about you?” It was probably a little bit more of a story than his reason.

Damien wandered what would become of this meeting. Would they exchange a few more words and go their separate ways? Or would he actually find out a little more about Khalidah? At the moment, she wasn’t much more than a stranger in terms of how well he knew her.

Boredom? Was that the reason for everything? Apparently, yes. She was here because the walls of Morgenstern Mansion were getting boring and cell-like. Getting away was always a good thing. Be it from people, scenery or boredom. All of it was legitimate.

She wondered how much she ought to tell. James had yet to invite people to his home. Sure, it probably wasn't unknown that she stayed there with him, but talking about it might be something he wouldn't want her to do. And Khal would never want to disappoint him. "Ah, bit of the same, really. Just wanted to do something different," she said with a shrug.

Killing off that girl had been exciting for a week, but it had been a couple of years now. It was boring now. It didn't matter now. So she needed something to live on. "Madrid has always been an interesting place, so I decided that, why not?" She tilted her head to the side. "So, boredom drove you out of England, but why Madrid?"

Khal looked around for a second and her eyes fell on the pizzeria that had looked so tasty. She looked back at Damien and smiled coyly. "I'm hungry," she hinted. Was all the Dark Ones destined to be lost on the gentleman way? Or would Damien pick it up? Either way, he'd either agree that they should eat something, or he'd say no, and she'd go on her own. Because she was hungry. And no man would ever stop her from eating.

Interesting, yes. Madrid had the customs, traditions, festivities. A lot of history and interesting culture. If you were one to care about that type of thing. That wasn’t what had made him choose here, not so much as the food and nightclubs. He’d originally thought about eating and then later this evening heading for one of the areas around known for its nightlife. Now he was here with a… colleague, as it were. His plans might go ahead if he left, or he might end up staying with her for a while longer.

“Like you said, it’s interesting here,” Damien nodded. “I came here as a child. For whatever reasons, trips here were memorable.” That was cause enough to choose here over another country. It was the first place to spring to mind, so he’d just gone with it. One of the many, many perks of apparition was the ability to just go anywhere at any time, without any difficulty. Muggles stressed about aeroplanes and the cost of flying, but wizards had it so much easier. The superior race, of course.

Ah, she was hungry too. That was good. He intended on staying on good terms with fellow Dark Ones like Khalidah, so his manners had been pretty good. But if she wanted food, he couldn’t possibly food and deny accompanying her. “Yeah, I could have pizza,” he agreed. If it counted as agreeing when he was simply taking a not-so-subtle hint. He didn’t plan on standing awkwardly and waiting for her to respond, so he turned to look at the place she seemed to have spotted. That looked good. “Let’s go.” And he started walking.