This Was Meant To Be Bros Night

Keiran ambled into The Leaky Cauldron casually, waiting for his best mate Robin to show up. They had planned a night of drinking - though Keiran was hardly the type to drink excessively, he could definitely appreciate the subtle relaxation the drink brought - perhaps some Quidditch watching, and general good times. After meeting at a Quidditch after party a good while back, Keiran and the other man had gotten on incredibly well, and the Transfiguration professor considered Robin to be his closest friend besides Avery.

As his thoughts drifted to the girl, he smiled at his inviting her to join them for the night. He hadn't exactly told Robin, but if Keiran knew the younger man like he thought he did, Robin probably wouldn't be all that offended. The Durmstrang graduate seemed to have many women in his life. Whether they meant anything to Robin in reality, Keiran wasn't entirely sure. Sometimes it seemed like they did, but that might have just been the casual hope that his friend would find that right person for him.

As well as Keiran knew Robin, he had known Avery Bishop since they met in AETAS University their first year. Studying had come easy, and they'd been best mates ever since. It wasn't so odd that he would owl her and request that she join him at The Leaky, their usual go-to pub for an evening get together. She was snarky, and entertaining, even if she wasn't a big Quidditch fan.

Sitting down at the bar, Keiran lifted a hand to call over the bartender as much as to greet him. They knew each other for a good few months, especially with Keiran living in his flat nearby and having many times dropped in to visit friends as well as spend time in one of his favorite little places around London. Requesting a rum and coke, Keiran turned to rest an arm on the corner of his seat back and waited for someone to join him.

"Thanks, mate," Keiran said with a smile to the bartender as his glass was settled in front of him.

Robin was the man who walked into a party, knew everyone, and everyone knew him. His job was of no particular importance and he held little personal power but never the less people remembered his name. He was charismatic as he moved about the room, laughing and joking, buying rounds for strangers. It was rarely a ploy for attention but rather his nature and it just so happened that his nature was incredibly attention grasping. People didn't quite recognize him on the streets but couldn't miss him at the bar, the place that he was at his most comfortable and happy.

Where Robin knew many people in passing, he was more selective about those he considered friends. Friends of Robin tended to fall into four groups: 1) The Extremely Wealthy, 2) Quidditch Stars and Benefactors, 3) Politicians and Death Eaters, 4) Those He is Sleeping With. That was the common denominator about anyone Robin kept close - they all offered him something. Wether it was advancement in his career, securing his finances, or keeping powerful people in his sights, Robins friends were rarely just given the title for his enjoyment of their company.

There were a few notable exceptions, naturally. One of whom he was going out for drinks with tonight. Keiran might be a powerful wizard who also had Quidditch connections but beyond all of that Robin just really like the guy. They had gotten close over the last year and frequently gone out for drinks or whatever else they could dream up. Keiren had saved Robin's arse a couple of times and for that the Durmstrang boy had to be grateful.

As Robin entered the Leaky Cauldron he scanned the room for the familiar face of his friend. He spotted the back of his head and began to make his way across the room.

"One firewhiskey please!" he called out to a just-leaving bartender over the hub-bub of the bar. Robin fell into the empty seat next to Keiran with a grin. "Hope I didn't keep you waiting too long." Robin offered as some sort of apology. He hoped his arrival hasn't been too untimely. His departure from the house had been delayed slightly by the arrival of an angry owl from Audriana Swan, asking about some other case she had been put on. This one, surprisingly, had absolutely nothing to do with the Russian. He had more important stuff of his own to deal with right now.

((OOC: That set on Polyvore was for this thread))

There was something very unusual about the blonde that pushed open the door to The Leaky that night. She had managed to lose any shred of good will with her sister, and effectively her family, by age eleven. Since then, she wasn't the kind to make friends. Surface-friends were safer; people who didn't force themselves very far into her life meant she had less to lose.

Avery, known to some as Candace, had met her closest friend during her University years. He was a first year as well, which surprised Avery since he was two years older. As it turns out, there had been a bit of confusion with his family during that time, leading to his late enrollment. Regardless, they met in one of their beginner level classes and had remained best friends even during their separate trainings and the time in between.

Grasping the jeweled owl hung around her neck by a silver chain, Avery adjusted her bag on her shoulder as the door closed behind her. Seeing Keiran turn to greet someone, she raised an eyebrow.

A soft smile graced her face as Avery made her way to stand behind the two men, at their shoulders. "Evening." She said brightly. She leaned over slightly to wrap an arm around Keiran's shoulders in a half hug before turning to look at Robin. Eyebrow raised she asked, "And who might you be?"

Robin had made his way to the bar, a bit late - though Keiran was often early so he wasn't surprised that he had arrived before his friend. Keiran let out a chuckle as Robin called out for a firewhiskey, turning to greet him in return.

"Not to worry, mate. You're hardly late at all." Keiran said, wondering how late Avery would be. Just as the thought passed through his mind, she appeared at their chairs with a smile on her face.

Something about being around someone she knew made Avery more outgoing than normal. Otherwise, Keiran suspected she wouldn't have asked who Robin was at all, nonetheless with such amusement or snark.

"Hello to you, too, love." He said, knowing Avery understood his mannerisms and sayings. Most endearments from Keiran meant little to nothing. This, of course, was one of those cases. He had known her long enough that it just rolled off of his tongue. Then again, he called just about everyone 'dearie' or 'love.'

Taking a drink from his glass, Keiran savored the taste of rum and coke mixed together as he awaited Robin's reaction to the new arrival. It wasn't like he had mentioned Avery joining them. Perhaps it wasn't the nicest thing to do, considering that Keiran thought Robin to be his best mate. But if anyone knew how Robin was with girls, it was the Transfiguration Professor. There was nothing in him that doubted his friend's ability to charm girls. Avery might be a different story, though, he mused.

Before Robin had even received his glass he felt someone standing over him. Turning on the bar stool, Robin swiveled to face the newcomer. His eyebrows rose slightly as he took the sight of her in. She wrapped her arm around Keiran and made it clear that there was no mistake in her being here. But there had to be a mistake. When they had made plans Keiran had made absolutely no mention of bringing a guest. Especially a very female guest. Too much estrogen on a guys night was a recipe for disaster.

"Robin Ivanov. And you are?"

She was pretty. There was no doubt about her being pretty. And even though barging in to guys night uninvited was a terrible crime in his mind, he might just make an exception. Robin extended his hand to shake hers.

"I wasn't expecting a third member to our party, but please take a seat." he gestured towards the stool next to him with an easygoing smile. As she moved past him to take the suggested spot Robin raised his eyebrows dramatically at Keiran - a clear expression of 'who-is-this-person-you-brought-to-our-exclusive-night'. More than anything Robin was just a little confused. Had he missed something? Was she Keiran's friend? or something more?

Something Avery prided herself in was her ability to read the body language of other people. That said, she found it fairly obvious that this man had not expected her arrival, just as she had not anticipated the additional person. Whoever he was, Avery found that something about him was strangely familiar. in the same moment, he was somehow immediately interesting.

"Name's Avery." She replied, knowing her face likely held a suppressed smirk. This man, Robin, amused her.

Taking the designated seat, she rested an arm on the bar top so she could lean around Robin to look at Keiran. "Trust me," She glanced at her new acquaintance, "I was uninformed as well."

Looking at the two men she faced, she found that, while both men were attractive in different ways, they somehow seemed all the more charming when seated next to each other. The way they got on, as well as their general charismatic natures - or what she could tell of Robin's - made her all the more curious about why she had been asked to join what appeared to be a manly night out drinking. Thinking about drinking, she called to the waiter to bring her a glass of whiskey.

"Keiran, why hide it?" She asked, meaning the addition to their party. Or the fact that she could be deemed an addition to theirs.

Keiran watched the two greet each other, not truly expecting anything other than getting on. They both got on with him well enough that he had no doubt in his mind that they could get along with each other.

"Perhaps I wanted you two to meet with mutual... interests." He replied lightly. "If you're both frustrated with me, maybe you two can get on. I'd like my best mates to know each other."

As drinks were dropped off, Keiran knew Avery would be judging everything that happened over the course of the evening. She payed more attention to hand motions or glances than actual words, sometimes. Not that he didn't understand her after so long. Something about new people made her nervous. With her history, it made sense.

Robin grinned slightly when she ordered a whiskey. Not only was she remarkably pretty, he also liked when a girl could actually drink. Those fruity concoctions didn't count. Not even close. As Keiran spoke in his low, even tone, Robin and Avery's drinks were dropped off. "Well, you could have said." Robin addressed Keiran, his tone slightly teasing. "If I had known I was going to be in such company I would have worn my nice coat."

Not that he looked bad. No, he never looked bad once he had gotten his bum up and out of the house. Whenever Robin was out on the town he looked quite dashing, whether it was a fancy dinner date or a run to the post office. It was only when he was within the secure walls of his apartment did he look like the complete and total slob that he was.

"So how did you meet Keiran, Avery?" Robin asked, his eyes connecting with the blondes and holding her gaze. He hoped that his mate wouldn't mind being momentarily out of the chatter. This was what he wanted after all. His two best mates to because, well, mates. The fact that Keiran was close enough to call Avery his best mate was a surprising turn of events. She was too lovely to be considered just a friend, Robin mused.

But never the less Robin was genuinely starting the enjoy the evening's twist.

Avery smirked as she took a drink from the glass that was delivered to her. If she didn't know any better, she would guess that Robin's words implied some sort of interest. It wouldn't be the first time Keiran had been out with her and she didn't catch a man's intentions. That sort of thing had become something she looked for now, since he'd had a laugh about her not understanding the looks men gave her or the comments they made.

If she was to be good friends with Robin as Keiran so hoped, Avery decided the only way to go about it was to be herself and pretend that her quiet, somewhat awkward side didn't exist. At his comments that he might have worn something nicer she gave him a pointed once over and shrugged. Something about the way he held himself made him more attractive than his natural features suggested. He was, undoubtedly, handsome, in a rugged sort of way. But she wasn't about to go boosting his ego in front of Keiran. What trouble would that get her into?

Nearly laughing to herself at the thought, she had to return her attention to Robin who was now making rather pointed eye contact. Out of her peripheral vision, though, she could see Keiran rolling his eyes over Robin's shoulder. Hayes wouldn't mind, she knew - he was used to being slightly more reserved than most men.

"We met in University. Keiran started a year late so we were in a first year class together. We've been best friends ever since. After Uni, I went off to play with Dragons, and he headed off to teach." Avery considered the fact that she was probably talking too much, but once given the opportunity to say something, she had learned to take it without hesitation. The only time she found issues in a conversation was when she had little to say. "We kept in touch though, and get together when he's away from school."

Avery glanced down at the liquid in her glass as she swirled it around before looking at Robin again. "And you? How did you meet our little hermit over there?"

"I take offense to that." Keiran commented nonchalantly, not even looking at the pair of them as he spoke, then drank.

Robin listened intently, his eyes trained on hers as she spoke. This was the kind of attention that Robin was only able to give to people he was genuinely interested in. Listening to people's boring stories was something he had never been able to swallow, even for the sake of politeness. And now as he listened to Avery speak he knew it was not only for Keiran's benefit that he was taking the chance to get to know her.

"Ah, I think it was in Paris wasn't it, mate?" he turned to Keiran momentarily but clearly didn't expect an answer in return. It wasn't too important to the story. "No, Liverpool. Anyway, there was a party after one of my games and somehow Keiran managed to weasel his way in. I bet on his game of pool and he won me a night's worth of drinks. That's when I knew I could trust him." The playful grin on Robin's mouth hinted that he wasn't being completely serious. In fact, the exact details of the night they had met were a little fuzzy. He knew for sure that there had been a party, the rest was more of a blur.

"But the school thing is a bit of a drag." he looked to Avery, his expression as if a metaphorical lightbulb had just appeared. "But this can be okay! Now that he's brought us together we can have some company when he leaves." Robin swiveled back to facing forward to stare at the rows of colorful bottles lined up behind the bar. "Not that we won't miss you, Keiran." he added almost as an afterthought.