InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "I wear a Fez now. "

Draco (draco_dormiens_) wrote in finnigans_rpg,
@ 2014-10-17 20:18:00

Entry tags:

character: dennis creevey, character: draco malfoy

Dennis is annoying
Who: Draco and Dennis
What: Dennis is sticking his nose in
Where: Draco's new shop
When: Friday 17th, early afternoonish
Rating: SFW

The interior of the shop was coming along well in Draco's opinion. he'd perhaps spend too long prioritising the back room where he intended to spend a vast majority of his time, and that was all ready for business. The front less so. The shelves were still empty, and as yet Draco hadn't considered prices and services. He didn't want to drastically undercut the apothecary on Diagon Alley, not after all they'd done for him there in teaching him the trade, but he needed something that was going to attract business, especially if word got out (as it no doubt would) that it was his establishment. Draco didn't want the place associated with the dark arts, which was why he had opted for a light and airy decor with large windows and clean walls.

At least it would be when the protective covers were removed from the windows. They currently made the place feel dark and a little foreboding.

Disassociation was also the reason he had chosen to name the place after his fiancée. That was a surprise for her, but the sign had yet to arrive. How long did it take to make a sign?

He had his stock orders arriving over the weekend, and then he was due to open for business on the 24th. Which was a shame. He was rather enjoying the solitude and the peace and quiet of the empty shop. The door was open a crack to allow for some air circulation, but Draco didn't suppose anyone would just take it on themselves to come in. Who'd do that, after all?

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dennisthebrave
2014-10-19 10:56 am UTC (link)

Dennis hurried down Monument Alley. He'd been slaving under the vast and deeply unhelpful burden of a writers block for most of the morning, so had decided to hold a 'strategic unblocking seminar' at a location 'with adequate decibel and libation standards' - aka he'd gone to the pub, and after consuming a pint had managed to finish the article. He was reading it ove as he walked down the street when a particularly affronting gust of wind tore it out of his hands and blew it down the road. "Oi," he cried after it, jogging down the road after it. Miraculously, he managed to avoid any collisions and spotted the paper just as it slid through the crack of a door and into a soon to be opened Apothecary.

"Fuck's sake," he muttered to himself with a sigh, standing and hopping from one foot to another as he looked at the door. In the end, his desire to get the article back and the fact that the shop was new and closed up won over any reservations he had about entering the premises, and he knocked on the door. The only response he recieved was a sort of affronted silence. He sighed again and opened the door a crack. "Hello," he called. "I um, a piece of parchment just flew in, if there's anyone here could they- Oooh, hello!"

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draco_dormiens_
2014-10-20 10:19 am UTC (link)

Draco had disappeared back into the room at the back of the shop, because it was pleasant and set up and professional looking and he was happy with it. Standing in the shop looking at the empty shelves was giving him some kind of mild anxiety, not only because he had no stock, but because it brought home the reality that he was, for some reason, opening his own shop.

The knock on the door startled him, his initial reaction was to sit still and hope whoever it was went away. But of course they weren't going to do that. Of course not. At the voice and the obvious implication that it's owner was wandering around the interior of the shop, Draco stood up and went back out, looking at Dennis with some displeasure. He seemed harmless, but that meant nothing.

Draco's gaze flicked to the wayward parchment on the floor, taking two steps over to it and stooping to pick it up. He skimmed the words on it, then looked at Dennis.

"There's a spelling mistake in the third line," he said, holding the article at arms length in Dennis' general direction.

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dennisthebrave
2014-10-20 03:58 pm UTC (link)

Dennis gaily noted the look of deep displeasure being levelled at him. "Hello," he said with a smile. "You look familiar, but oh well."

Dennis smiled pleasantly and took the proffered article, glancing at the offending line and snorting with amusement. "Yes 'The source, who wished to be known as Squizzzey [sic]," he read allowed and then looked at the man for confirmation. "The person took great pains to inform me that Squizzzey had three zeds in it, thus the word sic in square brackets, but thank you."

He looked around the with the bored indifference of the naturally curious and then back at the man standing in front of him, whose expression could only be described as tart. "Interesting place you've got here mate," he said with a cheeky grin. "The alley needs a... whatever this is going to be." He paused and looked around with more attention. "A shelf store. Are you shelf monger? Or perhaps you sell something more abstract - like wishes. Are you a wishmonger?"

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draco_dormiens_
2014-10-23 05:30 pm UTC (link)

Draco's eyes narrowed, wondering if he was being mocked. He looked familiar?

He bristled all the more at being corrected on his attempt at correction, pursing his lips. "My mistake," Draco said stiffly. "Perhaps I couldn't read your handwriting." He went to cross his arms, then changed his mind and shoved his hands into the pockets of his robes, the whole movement very awkward. "You should probably not put much stead in people who go by names that contain three zeds in a row," he added. "They sound dubious."

Draco's own curiosity was beginning to get the better of him. This- boy? - was oddly charming. His cheerfulness was warming the needy little part of Draco's soul that he refused to acknowledge. He was his own personal dementor sometimes. His expression softened. "It's going to be an apothecary. The supplies are due over the weekend." Draco looked around the bare walls of the front of the shop. "I may well be more successful mongering shelves, though." He pursed his lips again, though this time he was just slightly more thoughtful than before. "How would one go about mongering a wish? Selling wishes sound suspiciously like concocting love potions and handing out pieces of rock for luck." He touched his fingers to the counter beside him and then drew back, as though surprised at his own attempts at conversing with this-

"Draco," he said. "My name. Draco."

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dennisthebrave
2014-10-24 03:27 pm UTC (link)

Dennis watched the other man narrow his eyes. Really, there was something about him that was ever so familiar, but Dennis shrugged it off.

He chuckled slightly at the way the man seemed to take obvious offence at his correction being dismissed. "Sorry about that guv, I tend to be a bit messier when all I need is for me to be able to read it before I bash it out on my typewriter. At least it's not in Teeline?" He stifled a snort and nodded. "Yes well Squizzzy is an informant that wishes to remain totally disassociated from their actual position, but as a general rule yes, I'd tend to agree with you."

"Well that makes sense," Dennis replied, looking around and smiling. "I'd imagine the stock wouldn't do well sitting here for weeks on end. But I'm sure you'd do well? The potions places always need a good apothecary, and it's nice to be able to shop for stuff in more than one store." He laughed slightly, beginning to feel for the man who had obviously wrapped himself up in a protective bubble of snark. "There's wish mongers off Serangoon Road in Singapore," he replied inanely. "They claim that if you bring them teeth, they'll give you wishes. I never got around to testing it out to be honest. But I think an apothecary is a far better option."

He felt his eyes widen infinitesimally at the mention of the name. So this was Draco Malfoy. Interesting. He knew from Rolf that he was engaged to Astoria Greengrass, but it was intriguing to see him in person. "Well hello Draco. Dennis Creevey, pseudonym Finn Collins. Nice to see you after so many years?"

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draco_dormiens_
2014-10-25 04:59 pm UTC (link)

Draco made a noise, not knowing what more to say about that. He wasn't good at small talk. Clearly it wasn't something you got better with with age. "Well. We wouldn't want you to make a faux pas with the publishing, would we? Nasty legal issues can crop up," he nodded, like Dennis needed his words of advice on publishing stories.

He touched the counter again, his brow furrowing at his own awkwardness.

Draco looked up when Dennis carried on speaking, the frown dropping again at the smile on the other man's face. And then the laugh. He was taking this whole thing in his stride. Just chatting away. "I'm glad you approve. I didn't know if another one would be welcomed around here. Mr. Bobbins trained me, it was a busy shop, I don't know if old the loyal customers will be willing to try another place but-" he shrugged. "I've not been to a wish monger, but you can find all sorts of nonsense in Singapore. I vaguely remember some witch there trying to sell me some grass. Just grass." A smile threatened on Draco's lips, so he bit his finger to stop it.

Creevey. Draco knew that surname. Well, of course they'd have been in school together, but he couldn't really remember him. Creevey. He leant his elbow against the counter, his posture oddly relaxed compared to how anxious he actually felt.

"Dennis. Indeed. I'm sure this has been an absolute pleasure for you," he couldn't stop the smile that time, giving in and letting his hand drop to his side. "So is Finn Collins the new Rita Skeeter? Should I be expecting a scathing review in the Prophet? Draco Malfoy, cowering in his boarded up shop, hiding from his past- Possibly a vampire. Not been seen out in daylight for several months now-" Draco let out the softest laugh, turning away as though embarrassed.

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dennisthebrave
2014-10-26 03:48 pm UTC (link)

Dennis smiled slightly at the slightly awkward way the other man attempted small talk. It was rather cute, in a weird sort of way. "Oh definitely, publishing fauxs pas are a big thing to worry about," he replied with a serious nod. "That's why we fact check so much."

"I think you'll do perfectly all right," Dennis said, flashing another smile as the man's frown evaporated. "Monument Alley is extremely vibrant and we all like looking at the new things, plus competition is good for any business." He paused and thought of some of the apothecaries he'd been into and decided that one good turn deserved another. "I've been to a couple of apothecaries that manage to minimise the smell somehow - I reckon if you did that people would come flocking." He laughed again, particularly when the other man bit his finger to stop a smile. "Well that's Singapore for you. I had a man in Hong Kong try to convince my ex-boyfriend to shave my head and sell the hair to him. Apparently my hair needed to be used in potions."

He quirked an eyebrow at the man's sardonic and ever so slightly self-loathing tone. Admittedly it was about as subtle as being hit by a road train travelling at top speed, but still, Dennis noticed it. "It's been alright, thanks," he replied with a cheeky gin. "And no, Finn Collins is not the new Rita Skeeter. She was one of the first to be shafted when the Prophet was purged, and they tend to try and get us to adhere to journalistic ethics." He peered at him for a moment, stroking his chin and mock concentration. "Although, you do look a bit pale. Maybe you are a vampire - in a very Interview With A Vampire sort of way?"

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draco_dormiens_
2014-10-30 11:07 am UTC (link)

Draco hated that Dennis was smiling at him because it made him want to smile, too. And that was just unacceptable.

Automatically Draco took a breath, but of course it wasn't going to smell here, yet. There was nothing here to make a smell. But then of course he remembered the way the one in Diagon Alley had smelt, how first thing in the morning it would hit him and take an hour or so to get used to. How it reminded him of the dungeons at Hogwarts, the smell that lingered permanently in the potions classrooms. "Thank you," he said without thinking. It was a helpful tip, after all, but Draco rarely showed gratitude so openly.

His eyes darted quickly to Dennis and then away again when he mentioned his ex-boyfriend. Then back again to look at his hair. Then away.

Draco drummed his fingers on the counter, then moved away, taking a few steps towards Dennis. "Interview with a Vampire?" he asked. "Wasn't that a Lockhart book? I don't think you should put much heed in anything you've read of his," he said, stopping a foot or two from Dennis. "If I was that would be one of my many, many secrets. Maybe you could write my biography one day."

Was he flirting? Playing at flirting? Assuming that his open heterosexuality would stop any other questions.

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dennisthebrave
2014-11-02 03:12 pm UTC (link)

Dennis nodded at the other man's thanks, recognising that they were genuine - even if they were a little terse. Besides, it was excellent advice. Apothecaries that at least nominally managed to reduce their smell had always seemed to get better custom, if purely because people would allow themselves to spend more time there.

He quirked his eyebrows at the shifty way that Draco looked at him and then away again several times. "Obviously while he was a prat, my ex didn't actually shave my head," he supplied helpfully, vastly amused by the entire situation.

Dennis smiled as the man moved towards him slightly, showing a greater openness to conversation - or possibly a willingness to hex him. Either way, Dennis was happy to keep talking. "No actually, it's a book by a Muggle author called Anne Rice," he said with a chuckle. "The vampires in it are... Very different from actual real-life vampires. More sexy and alluring and pale for a start..." He trailed off, aware that he'd accidentally flirted with Draco, which was something he hadn't intended. "I'd be delighted to write your biography of course," Dennis said with a florid bow. "But we might have to wait a few years, let some juicy facts develop eh?"

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draco_dormiens_
2014-11-04 11:57 am UTC (link)

Draco pursed his lips, sensing that Dennis was providing more information than necessary for his own amusement. Did he suppose that Draco would implode at the thought of him having a boyfriend? He'd be disappointed if that's what he was waiting for.

"If that is the saving grace of your ex then presumably you're quite content to be without him," he said, gaze still wandering over Dennis, not necessarily sizing him up, but well-

A smile broke over Draco's face before he could do anything to stop it. He was sure that Dennis hadn't intended to call him sexy and alluring, even accidentally, but it was still far too amusing to let go. "You don't think there might be any juicy facts to be had already? You could have just uncovered the fact that I'm a fictional vampire and you're going to let that slide? To be fair, it's certainly one of the better comparisons I've heard about myself, so I'd love to read a whole book about me by you. Goodness knows my ego would enjoy it." He folded his arms over his chest to keep his hands to himself, to put a barrier between them, anything.

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dennisthebrave
2014-11-06 10:21 am UTC (link)

Dennis lifted an eyebrow wryly and nodded. "What can I say," he said casually. "Coming home to your boyfriend vigorously fucking your best friend tends to cool any relationship." He said it carelessly, as if it didn't bother him in the slightest - which obviously it did, but Draco didn't need to know that.

He smirked to himself slightly at the way Draco smiled. He wasn't entirely sure why but it was apparently important to him to break through this man's shell. Maybe because Draco seemed like he needed it, or equally possibly because Dennis was a curious little shit that liked to poked things to see what would happen. "Oh well I'm sure I could ask your affianced and ex-girlfriend," he asked archly. He could also have mentioned the things that were common knowledge - the war, the part played by the Malfoys, all those sorts of things; but Dennis was rather surprisingly imbued with an abundance of tact, and recognised that that would have been a horrible decision.

"But the fact that you're a vampire would be very interesting indeed. Although-" he looked at the light streaming in through the door. "If you are a vampire, you don't correspond to any known tropes." He smirked and bowed floridly. "I'd be more than delighted to engorge your ego sir," he said, the hint of a laugh evident in his voice. "That's what journos do you know, inflate or deflate egos."

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