A Matter of Propriety

Three: Artificial Light

"Here, try this."

"No, really, I can't-"

"But it's really quite good!" Padma frowned as she sunk back into her chair. It had been trying enough to get Nott to agree to get away from his desk (and just as much willpower to do the same for herself) in order to sit down together and eat lunch away from his work (and hers, come to think of it). Since Padma had done the picking, she'd chosen Indian (because, honestly, she couldn't make most of her favourites as well as this place could) though found herself slightly disheartened to learn Nott had never tried any of it before, nor had he any interest ion really branching out. "If you don't try something, you'll never know if you like it," Padma argued as she ate a bite of her curried rice. "Seriously how can you not want to try this? It smells fabulous!"

"It's spicy and I don't like spicy," Nott argued in response as he leaned back in his chair, content with what Padma considered 'bland' cuisine. He looked impeccably crisp in his ironed suit and tie, sandy hair brushed back a bit; he looked every part of a prosecutor. Padma looked just as neat, dress slacks pressed that morning, her button down shirt wrinkled lonely from her position in the chair; arms crossed, curled in somewhat as she gave him an incredulous look.

"Well, what do you like then?" She asked, leaning forwards as she took another bite from her curried rice, raising a brow at him, challenging him to say something different this time.

"Fine," Nott placed both hands upon the table, fingers entwined as he paused for thought. "I enjoy a good debate—not surprising to you, I'm sure," She had given him a slight smirk at his comment but let him continue speaking as she picked at her food, "Old book smell, I love, because of all the interesting finds I come across when encountered with it. I like reading anything offered to me," He paused, adding in a softer voice so that Padma had to lean in slightly, "I also enjoy learning about some of the muggle technologies out today. It's all fascinating work, I have to admit, and more than I'd have thought those without magic have. So there." He quirked a brow before he added in his normal tone again, "So now it's your turn. What do you enjoy, Miss Patil?"

Somewhat satisfied with his answer, Padma ticked off her likes upon her fingers as she began, "Spice. Merlin, I love having anything spicy. Plain food can't do—it has to have some kick in it or I won't eat it. I love a good, red wine to go with my dinner. My father's library is something I've always loved, since there was always something new and interesting to find in it when I was a child. I like rainy days, even when it's cold, because it just feels refreshing to me. And I like Quidditch—not enough to play, for I'm sure I'd be an awful player, but enough to follow it on and off again when I find the time."

"Interesting."

"How so?"

"I just wouldn't have pegged you for a Quidditch fan," Nott ventured a small smirk of his own, to which Padma laughed aloud.

"I've got many surprises hidden up my sleeve, Mister Nott, as I'm sure you've become aware of in the past few weeks."

He only smiled in response before venturing into a new topic. "So, now that we've covered likes, what do you dislike?"

"Well," Padma considered a moment before she started, "the colour beige, cats, being told what to do…" She laughed. "I'm afraid my list could go on forever. I've said a few, now it's your turn."

"I hate the light the Ministry Janitors use for sunny days," Nott admitted, a look of strange discomfort on his features. "It's not real and it feels so false to have sunlight down there anyways."

"That's a strange thing to dislike," Padma commented lightly. Nott only shrugged his shoulders. Yet, as they lapsed again into silence, she caught him eyeing some of the colourful food upon her plate. Smirking lightly, she paused in her eating. "You sure you don't want a taste of this? I'm serious—it's to die for," There was a wicked grin on her face when he mutely accepted a piece of the meat, watching his reaction as he bit into it.

"Merlin!" Nott gave a little gasp, as if choking a moment before reaching swiftly for his glass of water. "Is Indian food always this bloody hot?"

There was no real response, leaving Padma laughing instead. And, once the spice had calmed, Nott managed something of a smile, if only to appease her.