She shrugged. "In theory, sure, but their skills leave a lot to be desired." Female empowerment was a great concept, but it was one the Harpies let down regularly. "Last chance."

  

Lachlan sat in silence for a good thirty seconds, everyone around them seeming louder than they were moments before. He was torn between two teams, but he decided to go with his gut.

"It's Ballycastle, isn't it? They're Irish, you sound Irish. It makes sense." He cocked a questioning brow.

---

  

---

— way too attractive set by mj <3 —

She laughed. The Abernathy's were Irish through and through, but Fallon hadn't taken a single step into the region until she was well into her training. "I grew up in London," Fallin explained before taking another drink. By now, the drink was at least half gone.

"Glad to know I'm not overly predictable." Fallin was a tiny bit disappointed he hadn't suggested the Cannons, but there was a chance he wouldn't even believe her.

  

Lachlan hummed and nodded his head, impressed with her ability to surprise him once more. "So your favorite team is what, then? The Cannons?" he snorted, unsure if she even knew that he played for them.

---

  

---

— way too attractive set by mj <3 —

"Their seeker did catch the snitch against Hawaii." After a quick match, too. Lestrange's catching of the snitch shouldn't have come as a surprise though, for Fallon had witnessed many Ravenclaw victories during their school years. "They could do with some new talent for their beaters. Or so I've heard."

  

Lachlan gaped at her. Was she a Cannons fan? It was an intriguing thought—that's he'd gone this whole time without considering that she could very well know as much about him as any other Cannons fan. He dismissed her comments with a wave.

"I know, I've been telling Gallivan to get rid of the other guy for ages," he replied smoothly, but was unable to keep the corner of his lip from tugging upwards into a half-smile.

---

  

---

— way too attractive set by mj <3 —

Fallon chuckled and rolled her eyes. Macfusty was obviously talented to have made first string for the national team, but there were certainly younger stars equally as talented that might not have had to sit out a match to recoup. A younger star might have been able to replace Kirke and actually hit the damn bludgers.

Noticing her glass was just about empty, Fallon gestured to the barkeep and ordered two more beers. Macfusty was indulging her with his attractive presence, she might as well offer him a beer. "The other guy, hm?" She said with a raised brow. "He didn't miss any major matches recently, did he?"

  

A sore spot. Lachlan didn't have many, but they were there, and even the alcohol wasn't enough to soothe them. A scowled, more to himself than to her, because it was true. He had missed a match, and it seemed she was voicing what he fears others were thinking: that the national team should have found a beater who wouldn't have to sit out.

"Yeah, yeah," he grumbled. He turned and waved over the barkeep. He was going to need another.

---

  

---

— way too attractive set by mj <3 —

Well, that was clearly the wrong thing to say. Fallon looked towards the crowd awkwardly as she chugged what remained of her first beer and started in on the second. "Sorry," she muttered after another awkward pause.

Perhaps she ought to allow him his dignity and continue on for the evening. "On that note, I should probably go." Fallon's knees brushed his as she turned about in her seat to stand, forcing her to mutter a second apology. Once standing, she tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear (it was eternally too short to stay in place) and said, "Good luck this weekend."

  

He started to down his glass, convinced that just a little bit more would put him back in a good mood. That’s how it usually went: feel bad, drink, remember things, drink more. The moment she stood, though, he put it down on the table and caught her wrist, confused by her sudden leave.

“Will you be there?” he asked. “At the game?”

---

  

---

— way too attractive set by mj <3 —

The embarrassment she felt was amplified tenfold by his sudden grip on her wrist. Merlin, he was touching her! Fallon stopped in her tracks and quickly pulled her wrist from his grasp, as much as she was enjoying the touch (ths first non-violent touch she ever experienced from a man who wasn't her brother) she didn't dare risk fallout at work. Fallon's reputation had to remain stellar.

"No, unfortunately." She answered honestly with a slight sad smile. "I'll be on duty that day." And Merlin was she pissed about it, but involving Macfusty had to cause consequences somewhere. "I'll be rooting for you guys, though."

  

"Well..." he said, "I'll hit a Moroccan for you, how about that?" He was almost.... sad, but he understood. She had a serious job, one that didn't allow much time for hobbies no matter how much she claimed to like quidditch.

---

  

---

— way too attractive set by mj <3 —

"I'm holding you to it," Fallon said. The British Team wouldn't fare well if the beaters weren't hitting the Moroccans, after all. Had Lestrange not caught the snitch as quickly as he had, the game against the Hawaiians wouldn't have ended in their favor. Not with the way the bludgers were flying.

She reached for the glass she had intended on abandoning and drained it, if only for an excuse to not walk away just yet.

  

"Hold me to it all you want," he said, watching with raised eyes as she downed her peer. She didn't seem in a hurry to leave as she had a moment before, and Lach wondered if she could get her to stay with another drink... No, he didn't need to. He'd spent enough time with one woman tonight, and the last thing he needed to do was get attached. Besides, she'd already made it clear that he was something of a nuisance to her life, and that she was very much an independent woman. "Well, don't die on your next mission. I probably won't be there."

---

  

---

— way too attractive set by mj <3 —

Right, she was leaving. "I may be tiny, but I'm fierce. I assure you," she laughed as she placed her now empty glass back on the counter. Then, rather reluctantly, Fallon said, "good luck again" and headed for the door.