Greg jogged down the stairs of the Queen Mother Sports Centre feeling better than he had in days. Finally, he'd found a Gracie Jui-Jujistu team in London that he would be willing to be a part of. They'd taken his documentation and set up a training schedule that he could more than live with. Every Wednesday, he'd be here at 10 and train until 3. That meant he would have to stop drinking. Well drinking quite so much. He wanted to honor his team with a decent showing. He decided to walk a bit as he really had no place to be. As he wandered up Vauxhall Bridge Road towards the parks and his flat, he decided to cut through St. James Park and then into Hyde Park; it would be as good a place as any to have a bit of a jog. In fact, the Parks were quickly becoming a second home to him, a place he came to outrun everything he really didn't want to deal with. Now that he had nothing to do but be alone, he would need the training more than ever.

Alicia finally settled on a spot near the Australia Gate of St. James' Park, close to the children's play area. She could hear them playing, and unrolled her mat, eager to get started. She had missed coming here, where no one knew her, to do her yoga. She decided to work on the Moon Salutations, a variation of the Sun Salutations, that were slightly more advanced. Standing in Mountain Pose, she hooked the thumbs of her outstretched arms as she raised them over her head and then reached back towards a tree behind her, stretching into the backbend. Exhaling, she folded forwards, her arms remaining linked and straight behind her head, and her head coming down near her knees. She inhaled again and moved into a high lunge, already feeling the tension easing from her. It had been a rough couple days, as her ribs still hurt a bit from her fall, but she could feel all of the stress disappearing as she focused on her breath and the coordinating movements.

Greg stretched and set a leisurely pace, going the long way round. He had kept fit, for the most part, but knew it would take more to be back in fighting condition. He let his mind wander to everything that had happened in the weeks since he returned home. His pace picked up as he passed the path that would lead to Hyde Park. Once more around, he decided. I'll do another lap, get something to drink, and backtrack to the right gate. He kept a steady pace until he happened to look over to see a woman in a tantalizing position. He stopped, walking a bit to keep from cramping. He bought a water and slowly made his way back to yoga girl. There was something familiar about her... he just needed a better look at her face.

Alicia felt eyes on her, which was nothing new. She was done the sequence and had moved into her more complicated poses, the ones she was trying her best to master. Deciding to start with the Firefly Pose, she stood and then, bending her knees she placed her hands just under her feet, palms firmly planted onto the ground. Shifting her weight, she lifted her legs and brought them to rest on her upper arms. She straightened her legs, and then her arms. A feeling of elation came over her, and she lifted her head with a large grin and a triumphant hiss of "YES!". And that's when she saw him. Tall, dark hair, sweaty... Alicia bit her lip. He looked a tad... dangerous, and very, very edible. Her smile grew, and she met his gaze full on. Sure, she was still in the midst of a game with Cormac, but that didn't mean she couldn't make... friends.

Greg grinned, he still couldn't place her. That didn't mean he wouldn't appreciate the picture she made. He walked over, not wanting to be rude. "That looks uncomfortable? How do you manage it?"

Slowly lowering herself back down, Alicia grinned. "Practice. It's kinda fun to contort into all sorts of shapes. This is advanced stuff... One starts out way easier." She looked him over, biting her lip again, "Looks like you stay in pretty good shape, and not just from running, I'd wager... What's your fix? I play... sports, and do yoga," she caught herself before she mentioned Quidditch, not wanting to scare the good-looking man away just when he'd approached her. She started rolling up her mat and putting it in her bag. "I'm Alicia Spinnet, by the way."

Greg's jaw dropped. He finally managed to say, "Greg Goyle, Miss Spinnet. Haven't seen you in years."

Alicia's grin grew and she chuckled. "The Greg Goyle, who used to make sure he hit those Bludgers a tad too hard in my direction?" Alicia smiled, and put a finger under his chin, pushing his mouth closed. "Fancy seeing you in Muggle London, Mr. Goyle. What brings you to London proper?"

Greg stepped back instinctively. There were only a handful of people that could touch him without permission. He remembered Alicia, but that didn't mean he was all that comfortable touching her just yet. "A bit of running is all, Miss Spinnet. My...fix...is just that, running. As for the Bludgers...you were wearing red and gold."

"Indeed," Alicia's smile barely faltered. Tad bit into the personal space thing, this one. S'pose one can't blame him, he probably has lost a lot since Hogwarts. Most everyone did, and just because someone was Slytherin doesn't mean they lost less or cared less. "Sorry about that," she nodded at him, meaning her unwarranted touch, and smiled again. "I tend to act before thinking. Often what won us our matches against you green and silver wearing blokes." She winked and started to walk. He was nice to look at, but if he was going to be growly, she wasn't going to just stand around and take it the whole time. She was a self supporting woman and Quidditch player still, and she was not going to be a demure little nobody for a guy, even if he was comparable in looks to Cormac. "I was about to stop at the Inn here at the Park. If you wanted to join me, you'd be welcome. My treat."

Greg decided that it was the least he could do. "Will they let me in all...gross?" he teased, wanting to not make an enemy.

"You're hardly what I'd call gross, Mr. Goyle. However, I have friends here, so you don't need to worry." She smiled at him, pleased that he had agreed. She would hate to have brassed him off so quickly. I have got to stop being so abrasive. People will think I'm related to Snape, or some such nonsense. And I always tend to annoy the really good-looking ones. She let a soft sigh escape her, and strode into the Inn, waving her friend Charles over. "Hey, I'd hate to upset your patrons, can my friend and I grab an outside spot?" She asked, wondering what Greg was going to think of her immediately calling him a friend. Well, and who gives a rat's arse? You're not enemies, by any means. She followed Charles out to the patio and felt Greg behind her. She smiled at him, and then ordered a stout for herself. "And for you, Sir?" Charles asked the burly man across from his childhood friend.

Greg wasn't sure what to make of Alicia. That wasn't necessarily a bad thing either. She was the complete opposite of Katie, something that intrigued him a bit. Having gone days without any alcohol, he decided to keep to his promise. "Just tea, please."

"So, Mr. Goyle, you never did answer me. What brings you to London Proper?" Ali asked, when their drinks were plunked in front of them. She took a sip of her stout and smiled, it was rather amusing to call a younger man Mister. She wondered if he'd ever correct her, or if this would be a one time, odd, drink. "And should I get them to give me something different to drink? If you have... a preference to not drink alcohol, I can at least not be a total hag and I'll stop drinking in front of you."

Greg shook his head. "No, go ahead." He sighed, unwilling to spill his secrets. "I was simply out and about, Miss Spinnet. I've found the parks make a wonderful place to pass the time. Congratulations on your Quidditch career."

"Thanks, Mr. Goyle, it is pretty much a dream come true. And please, you may call me Alicia." She smirked at the man sitting so rigidly across from her. &Well and so, you're not Katie, to make everyone instantly at ease. Just be yourself, and if you end up with a friend, that's great, if not, well, you're not losing one, now are you? She tilted her head to one side and grinned, "I'd ask the usual questions of what you've been doing with yourself since school, but I can tell you would be uncomfortable if I did. So I'd imagine the answer is something like, you traveled and are now home. Then you'd ask if I'd done anything besides Quidditch, and I'd say I have traveled to India, where I learned Yoga and many other fun things, and then came back and worked my arse off to get a spot on the team." She took another drink, and looked him square in the eyes, "So instead of that age old line of questioning, what's your favourite colour? And I'm saying black isn't a colour, so you can't answer with that."

Greg smirked, unable to resist a bit of teasing. "Actually, it is bright, sunshiney yellow."

Alicia grinned, "And here I thought it'd be hot pink." She heaved a mock sigh, "So much for my ability to read people. My favorite colour is green, oddly enough. You should have seen how my decorations clashed with the Gryffindor decor. Now you ask a question."

Greg was surprised at her reaction, and horrified at the mention of pink. Then his frown morphed back into a smirk at the memory of his retaliation to the ballerina threat. He didn't have any idea what to ask except for... "Do you like playing professionally?"

"I love it. It's one of those... completely in the moment things. Every time I get on my Inferno, it's like... All there is, is me and the broom and the Quaffle... I took a fairly nasty hit in the match against Falmouth, but it's all part of that feeling... where you're totally alive." Alicia looked down at her drink, realizing that she sounded daft, and then back up at the man across from her. "Sorry, I get a little intense. Are you going to that Halloween thing in Hogsmeade?"

Greg waved off her apology. "I am," he said with a light smile at the thought of escorting Tracey and River, and at his plans to accost a certain someone at some point during the event. "I'm escorting my best friend and another good friend of mine. You?"

"To be honest, I don't think I will. I don't really go out much, really, despite what the tabloids say... Just to do my Yoga. Besides... Would I dress up? I'm just not sure if it would be all that much of a good time... Or if anyone I know is going." She laughed, "Now that I've made myself sound like a complete clod, what's your favourite Quidditch team?"

He considered the question. He hadn't followed Quidditch in years. But, he was honest. "I was a Harpies fan when I was younger, but haven't really watched in years, sorry."

She laughed, "Harpies, hmm? Followed the witches from a young age." She smiled, "I don't know, Mr. Goyle. I think I like you, even if you are all stand-offish and stuff. I'm glad you came for tea. Now, if I haven't brassed you off too much, perhaps we could exchange pleasantries the next time we see each other, yeah?" She stood, and tossed down a bunch of bills, knowing it was way more than necessary. "I hate to rush off, but I have practice. And yes, I just had a drink before practice, but I have a sober up potion at home." She winked and turned to walk away.

Greg watched her go. He'd obviously upset her with his Harpies comment, but he was only being honest. Shrugging, he stood and walked out of the Inn.

Alicia smiled as she sprinted to her flat, it had been an interesting morning, and she was sure that she could get Katie to send the boy a ticket to her games, if he had been a Harpies fan. Hopefully she'd remember to owl the girl... She always had the best intentions, but was forgetful more often than not. But Greg Goyle seemed like a nice, if burly, bloke, and she'd have to see if there wasn't more to him that he'd be willing to share. Grabbing her Quidditch gear, she Apparated to practice.

{Summary: Alicia gets reacquainted with a man who hit Bludgers at her. She thinks the meeting went better than he does.}