Sunlight Fading (Fallon)

[Iain Murray]

Plastic blue invitations in my room.
I've been waiting here for you.
Reservations made for two.
Sunlight fading.
- The Birthday Massacre

'Giovanni's Pizzeria' - that was it. 6pm - okay, so well, it was.. 6.05, but that was just fashionable, right? Being late? Iain blew into his hands. He'd forgotten his gloves in his hurry. Cailean had lend him a suit, but even though they were the same size it felt awkward and unfamiliar in its cut, stiff and restricting. 'Sod etiquette, I'm wearin' jeans tae the next date,' Iain thought and stamped his feet in an attempt to warm up a bit. At least he had a hot meal to look forward to. The girl? Iain wasn't so sure.
Oh, no - he shouldn't think like that. He should be walking in there with an open mind. Give it a shot. Be attentive. Do his best even, maybe? The photo had looked nice? No, no - couldn't just judge someone on their looks. Heck, if that was how it worked, the girl (no, no - Fallon, she had a name!) would probably not even have shown up. Iain wasn't the most attractive young man in the world, after all, and he knew it.

When he entered the pizzeria, he was coaxed inside with open arms and he looked around, trying to find their table. He didn't manage to do so. The restaurant was fully booked, couples everywhere. At least some people were getting good things out of this whole marriage-scheme (restaurant owners mostly, Iain suspected).
A waiter (oh, and a goodlooking one - 'no, shut up') led him to their table and Iain blinked in confusion a little. It was all a bit of a blur, it had seemed miles away and now he was suddenly here, next to a table, a full ten minutes late to boot.

"Oh, erm- sorry, I really-" Iain sat down, "I didnae mean tae-" Oh, wait- He got back up to shake her hand and introduce properly. "Iain- I mean, tha's m'name. Iain Murray. It's nice tae meet ye, really it is - I've jest not done anythin' like this afore an' it's kinda surreal, ye ken? Not that ye're surreal, I mean, ye're here, ye're definitely real-"
Great start, this. Late and then not allowing the lady to get a word in because his mouth ran away with him. Iain wasn't sure why, but there was suddenly a kind of pressure behind it all. He'd tried to hold onto his 'I don't really care and we'll see what happens' kind of attitude, but now that he was here he sort of felt he ought to be, well.. what she expected?

[Fallon Reynolds]

Today was the day that she would meet the man that the stupid ministry had placed her with. This was not what she wanted from her life, but she felt the need to make an effort, so Fallon was dressed in a royal blue dress and sat down at the table waiting for her date. Looking over at the clock, she noticed that he was running late, it was normally she that did such things, but she was trying to make an effort to make a good first impression since this person could be her future husband. Fallon flinched slightly at that idea, it made her feel sick to her stomach because she didn’t want to be married at twenty two and have a child by the time she was twenty seven, it just wasn’t in her life plans. When she had received that owl she felt like her entire world had come crashing around her, then she had to read that letter that told her who her match was. The name had seemed familiar and the picture that had accompanied it, well she had not been too sure but she was not one to judge a person on the first look. Who knew they might actually get along? Now that would be interesting indeed, if they did.

Fallon’s glance went back to the clock one again and she took a deep breath when she saw the man from the picture approach the table. She was slight taken back at how much he seemed to talk in the space of a minute. Fallon just listened and could tell that he was from Scotland. She smiled slightly in amusement. “It’s fine; I’m Fallon pleasure to meet you.” She spoke shaking his hand. “Please take a seat.” A smile resting on her lips still in amusement as she looked at him. This was the man from the picture and he seemed nervous. “This is strange, it’s been a while since I have been on a date, but this was not how I imagined it to be honest. The marriage law and everything.”

She ran her hand through her hair; it would seem that her nerves were starting to set in. It had been a while since she had been on a date and sadly, this one had been arranged because of the marriage law. That just sounded sad and lonely, but she was happy the way she was and she wanted to advance in her career as a healer before even thinking about marriage or children. That had always been the last thing on her mind. “So, what do you do?” She asked him almost kicking herself she was not entirely sure of what to say. “I am a healer at St. Mungos.” She smiled as she thought about the job she loved so much.

[Iain Murray]

It was only just sinking in that he was looking at who was expected to be his possible future bride. Marriage, oh gods, marriage?! That was a forever-thing, wasn't it? Only now it was starting to feel real - the legislation, the arranged dates, the fact they wanted him to be a father - a father!?
No, ho, stop, slow down. Iain took a deep breath and centred himself by biting down on his cheek (perhaps a bit too hard). Nothing had happened yet. She might not want him (and why did that thought come with both disappointment and relief?). This was just dinner.
Pizza.

"Likewise," he volleyed back when she said it was a pleasure to meet him. Iain wasn't sure if it was a pleasure, or if she even meant it, but his mother had always boxed his ears if he hadn't been polite and even if she wasn't here he was going to be nice and civil. Sitting back down, he smiled lopsidedly at her admission. "I've ne'er been on a date e'er," Iain confessed with a slight shrug (as though it didn't matter), "so ye're ahead o' me there." He drummed his fingers on the table a little before picking up the menu. He was going to have to keep his hands busy or he'd just fidget. "Dae ye prefer red wine? 'mfine with either - or none?" Was it the polite thing to let the lady pick?

He was grateful that at least she seemed more comfortable than he felt. This suit was getting more uncomfortable by the minute and he had quite a mind to take of that infernal jacket - but then that would just leave him in the white shirt and that would no doubt make him look like some ghost. Iain had no idea Fallon was outside of her comfort zone as well.
"Whit I dae?" he echoed, his mind going nervously blank - and in that time Fallon seamlessly rescued the conversation by telling him what she did. Iain burst out laughing - loud and generous - and that thankfully let off some of the pressure the nerves had worked up inside of him. "Sorry- I didnae mean tae be rude or anythin'- It's jest- I work at Mungo's too," he said, chuckling, and ran a hand through his hair (messing it up where Cailean had tried to make it look sort of respectable). "'m a midwife, or well, sort of in trainin' still. I switch'd after-" don't mention the war "-erm, sum time ago, anyway."

[Fallon Reynolds]

Fallon looked at him and he did seem incredibly sweet, it made her smile. He was different but she could not quite place it if it was a good thing or not but no doubt, she would find out the more the date went on. She found herself biting her bottom lip to stop herself from chuckling, she could tell he was nervous and it was a little cute to see and refreshing as well considering some of the jerks she had dated. “I will have a red wine.” She smiles at him in the friendly way she was told she did very well. Fallon did not know what to really say but she was going to try anyway so she did not have the ministry breathing down her neck. She was waiting for him to say something… anything really that would help him to overcome his nerves and to be able to relax just a little bit. Fallon was sure she had never met anyone as nervous as him before. She hoped that he would get better during the date and she could get to know him a little better, it would be nice to see why the ministry thought he could be a potential life partner for her. Something she was still not open to fully.

She was pleasantly surprised when he told her his job and a smile appeared on her lip slightly as she nodded. “Wow that must be different but nice.” Fallon spoke to him. “I work in the accidental spells department, there is never a dull moment on the ward and it’s different.” She said as they found a topic they had in common. “I never really thought I would be set up like this with… you know the ministry, truth be told I was nervous about this entire set up, I still am.” Honesty was the best policy right, so why not put it out there and be honest.

“Oh hell, I am not entirely sure what to talk about. I suppose I could tell you what I enjoy doing… Erm I do play the muggle piano, my parents insisted that I played a musical instrument. I find it relaxing and a pleasure to play.” She smiled a little as she thought about one of the few things she really did enjoy in this life. “What about you? What do you like to do?” She smiled encouraging him a little.