This was their second meeting. The first time, Iona Oakes was a small girl, buried into the arms of her brother, Solomon Grey Oakes as he and other warlock agents arrived at their house. After all, it was their job to fill in where the human police should not be involved. Hei, new to the force, could only feel pity for the siblings who had lost too much, much too early on.
But the girl he sees right now is different. She picks herself from the ground while the Crystalline Witch's golem steps aside. An 18 year old Iona smiles at the warlock.
"Just came here to check up on me?"
"Ah...! Um, yes. But I'm also here to..."
"Oh, yeah! Damn, accreditation's coming up so quick already?" Iona sighs, but she doesn't look deterred. The warlock can't help, but feel some faint admiration for that.
"I see I don't have much to worry about. You've been working hard for the past two years."
"Sure have! I had to cram a lot, but I'll be able to pass."
Two years of hard training. Two years of having to give up most of her youth after that incident. Hei's not sure what makes him say so, but he speaks up with earnestness he hadn't had in several years ever since he stopped aging.
"If you have any questions... I mean, if you ever need any help before or after you're done with your examination, please. You may always contact me."
❇❇❇
... Yeah. He said that, didn't he? It's probably why Hei, 45 year old warlock, found himself manning the counter of the Midnight Grind while Iona, in her own words, had to master an all-nighter in the art studio in order to get that one painting assignment done. Thankfully, it's not the first time she's roped him into taking her place so he knew his way around and how the door worked (although the first time, he had done so because his superiors were skeptical of her establishment in the first place and it didn't help that he did have to help her with other factors BECAUSE of that door letting in troublesome people...)
What's a witch doing in college anyways? AND running a magical cafe to boot??
In Hei's opinion, Iona seemed to enjoy TOO much work or at least it seemed that way. But even when he tried to protest, the warlock faltered in the face of her insistent cheerfulness. Oh well. At least most nights at the Grind were more peaceful than not and he got treated to a full meal in the end (Hei and Oren, was another thing entirely, uncomfortably enough).
So, instead of the usual curly and wavy hair of Iona, incoming customers are met with a broad shouldered man with shaggy black hair, sporting a pair of glasses at the counter. He looks up to greet them with a rather shy...]
❇ ＭＩＤＮＩＧＨＴ ＧＲＩＮＤ ii ❇
This was their second meeting. The first time, Iona Oakes was a small girl, buried into the arms of her brother, Solomon Grey Oakes as he and other warlock agents arrived at their house. After all, it was their job to fill in where the human police should not be involved. Hei, new to the force, could only feel pity for the siblings who had lost too much, much too early on.
But the girl he sees right now is different. She picks herself from the ground while the Crystalline Witch's golem steps aside. An 18 year old Iona smiles at the warlock.
"Just came here to check up on me?"
"Ah...! Um, yes. But I'm also here to..."
"Oh, yeah! Damn, accreditation's coming up so quick already?" Iona sighs, but she doesn't look deterred. The warlock can't help, but feel some faint admiration for that.
"I see I don't have much to worry about. You've been working hard for the past two years."
"Sure have! I had to cram a lot, but I'll be able to pass."
Two years of hard training. Two years of having to give up most of her youth after that incident. Hei's not sure what makes him say so, but he speaks up with earnestness he hadn't had in several years ever since he stopped aging.
"If you have any questions... I mean, if you ever need any help before or after you're done with your examination, please. You may always contact me."
... Yeah. He said that, didn't he? It's probably why Hei, 45 year old warlock, found himself manning the counter of the Midnight Grind while Iona, in her own words, had to master an all-nighter in the art studio in order to get that one painting assignment done. Thankfully, it's not the first time she's roped him into taking her place so he knew his way around and how the door worked (although the first time, he had done so because his superiors were skeptical of her establishment in the first place and it didn't help that he did have to help her with other factors BECAUSE of that door letting in troublesome people...)
What's a witch doing in college anyways? AND running a magical cafe to boot??
In Hei's opinion, Iona seemed to enjoy TOO much work or at least it seemed that way. But even when he tried to protest, the warlock faltered in the face of her insistent cheerfulness. Oh well. At least most nights at the Grind were more peaceful than not and he got treated to a full meal in the end (Hei and Oren, was another thing entirely, uncomfortably enough).
So, instead of the usual curly and wavy hair of Iona, incoming customers are met with a broad shouldered man with shaggy black hair, sporting a pair of glasses at the counter. He looks up to greet them with a rather shy...]
Ah! Welcome...!!