InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "alice the camel has 5 humps"

Adrian Pucey (everupward) wrote in pandorarpg,
@ 2011-11-10 21:59:00

Entry tags:

!status: complete, ^date: november 02 2003, character: adrian pucey, character: melinda bobbin

Stocking up
Characters: Adrian & Melinda
Setting: Sunday November 2nd at around 6 pm, in Hogsmeade at Bobbin's Botanicals & Provisions
Summary: Adrian needs to stock up on potions and he might as well do that nearish his home.
Rating: Worksafe

Adrian was among those who weren't sleeping well, but it wasn't due to nightmares. It was his workload. Investigating Harry Potter's murder didn't lead to restful sleep at night, at least not until it was solved. Right now he and Neville had a long way to go to get to that point. However, he wasn't as good at functioning on lack of sleep as Cade Warrington was. He needed to sleep and he needed to shut his brain off to do it. Likewise, when he was alert, he needed his wits extremely honed. If that didn't call for sleeping draughts and wit-sharpening potions he didn't know what did.

Rather than go from the Ministry into the Bobbin's location in Diagon Alley, Adrian headed to Hogsmeade. It was closer to his own home, for one thing, and he simply loved the wizarding town. He made a beeline for Bobbin's Botanicals & Provisions though, intent on getting what he needed before perhaps stopping in somewhere for a drink and dinner. He'd had another long day and though he'd gotten out earlier than expected, he was certain he'd still be working on the case for a few more hours before bed.

Inside Bobbin's, Adrian simply looked for someone to fetch the potions he wanted, or if needed, take his order to brew some. While he was waiting whoever, his gaze roamed over the supplies there. He fingered the cigarettes in the pocket of his pants as he waited, noting that he also needed to stock up on those as well.

(Post a new comment)

curapersonalis
2011-11-14 06:24 pm UTC (link)

Doing inventory was a menial task, usually reserved for a stock boy or clerk, but Melinda needed something to do, something to keep her mind busy after all that had been going on lately. So that's what found her in Hogsmeade this evening, dropping in on Dandis unannounced after her last meeting for the day. The manager had been flustered at first, but Melinda had been quick to reassure him that it wasn't a surprise inspection - he'd been running the Bobbins' flagship store for decades now and he was a trusted employee and friend.

Since it was so close to closing, Melinda gave him the rest of the evening off. It was unlikely the shop would see another customer tonight. Of course, simply because she'd had the thought, Melinda was proven wrong. Even though she was in the backroom, she heard the door courtesy of a little bell charmed to chime whenever the front door opened. Shutting the ledger she'd been working in, Melinda stood, brushed traces of dust from her dress, and headed out into the shop proper.

It had been a few years since she'd worked in the shop as a clerk, but she found herself slipping on a warm, polite smile as she emerged from behind the shelves at the back of the store. "Hello! How may I help you this evening?"

(Reply to this) (Thread)

everupward
2011-11-16 02:54 am UTC (link)

Adrian was looking at a fine set of measuring tools, idly thinking that had he the time to brew his own positions, he might like a set like this one. He looked up at the sound of a voice and turned toward it. He wasn't expecting to see the lovely woman there and it took him a moment to respond. "Ah. Yes, I was actually hoping you had a few potions I was looking to replenish in stock. a few sleeping draughts and wit-sharpening potions, to be quite specific."

He suddenly seemed to notice how empty the shop was and asked curiously, "Have I come by at closing time? If so I apologise for being that last-minute customer that keeps you from going home early."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

curapersonalis
2011-11-16 04:19 pm UTC (link)

Melinda paused despite herself. It wasn't often that she ran into such attractive wizards without her parents having some hand in it. Even now, she wasn't entirely sure they hadn't directed this one her way. But no matter. She was conducting business. Her brows rose slightly when her customer mentioned what he was looking for. "I can't tell if you're planning for a very long night or a very long sleep, but I can see how many we have left. How many do you need?" she asked as she headed for the counter. Those particular potions were kept behind the counter because of their potential for abuse.

"Oh, don't worry about that. If we'd been closed, the door would have been locked," Melinda murmured as she ran her finger along the shelves in search of the potions in question, a little miffed that Dandis had taken it upon himself again to "adapt" their standardized shelving system to his own particular quirks. She found the sleeping draughts halfway down the wall and had to stoop to get to them. As expected, the supplies were low after the last few days of unpleasantness.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

everupward
2011-11-16 06:41 pm UTC (link)

She was attractive and dressed far too well to be a shop-girl, unless things had changed since the last time he'd been here. He also didn't recall seeing her her before at all; he'd have remembered her for certain. His perusal of her made it so it took longer than intended to reply with, "Perhaps both. Alternately," he responded. "Lack of sleep is making it a bit difficult to think as clearly as I'd like when awake," he amended.

"I'd like three of each if you can spare them." He watched as she disappeared behind the the various aisles and counters and followed along, oddly not willing to let her out of his sight just yet. "Sorry, I don't believe I've seen you in here before," he added, his expression curious.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

curapersonalis
2011-11-18 07:56 am UTC (link)

Melinda made a small sounds of understanding as she set the requested potions on the counter. "It has been rather...difficult for everyone lately, hasn't it? I hope you haven't been too troubled by nightmares." As soon as she said the words, Melinda wished she could call them back. It was far too personal a thing to say. Cheeks flushing, Melinda focused on arranging the potions neatly. "I'm sorry. It's none of my business, really."

There wasn't much more she could do with the six potions without looking like a complete loon, so Melinda set about tallying up the total. She paused in her calculations, though, when the handsome wizard remarked about her presence. "I haven't worked here regularly in years, actually. Are you a regular?" Again, with the personal questions, but Melinda found herself really wanting to know. Now that he was closer, he seemed vaguely familiar, but he might just have one of those faces.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

everupward
2011-11-18 06:20 pm UTC (link)

Adrian didn't seem to mind the questions. It was something to do when she fetched the potions and rung up his total. "I'm sure it has. I was only bothered by nightmares one night, but not everyone seems to be so lucky. My lack of sleep comes from being overworked." Curious, he added, "What about you? Recurring nightmares or just the one?" No one he'd spoken to had had none at all.

Adrian went for his money even though she hadn't given him a total yet and looked up, lingering on her profile before he caught her gaze. "I am, but not a frequent one. Sporadic regular I suppose. There isn't much predictability to my visits. However, I do live nearer here than Diagon, so I frequent Hogsmeade when I can." His accent, and hers, come to think of it, marked him as a Scotland native.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

curapersonalis
2011-11-22 04:23 pm UTC (link)

"One of the lucky ones, then." Melinda's smile turned a bit wry. "Though, maybe not if work is keeping you up instead." She was a little surprised when he asked after her, but maybe she shouldn't have been. He certainly seemed nice enough, polite even. His clothes certainly pegged him as well-bred. "I only had the one nightmare as well, and I admit I'm grateful. Though, I can't help but worry about my friends."

She stopped herself before she could ramble on and returned her focus to the business at hand. "Ah, I see." So he was a native Scot like herself. That probably shouldn't please her as much as it did. "Well, I have to admit, of all our shops, this one is my favorite," Melinda admitted with a hint of sheepishness. "I loved coming here as a child and that hasn't changed much since." Goodness, why couldn't she seem to stay on track? She never had this much trouble concentrating on keeping things impersonal with other customers. "That'll be one galleon and three sickles, please."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

everupward
2011-11-24 03:16 am UTC (link)

"I'd prefer an excess of work to the terror-filled night some have been having," he replied frankly. "So you have friends who'd been having the repeated nightmares, then?" His tone shifted ever so slightly from just conversational to inquisitive. She seemed talkative, and she might provide some useful information. It didn't hurt that she was attractive and pleasant to speak with.

Letting the conversation go a bit more casual and friendly, hopefully to encourage her to keep speaking, he observed, "Your accent sounds quite a bit like that of the Edinburgh area. And I correct?" He pulled out two galleons and then paused to look for three sickles rather than get fourteen back in change. Finding them, he handed over the coins.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

curapersonalis
2011-11-25 07:04 pm UTC (link)

"I suppose you're right in that regard," Melinda said after a moment's thought. "Better to be overworked and tired than terrified and tired. As for my friends, two that I know of have still been having nightmares." She noted his change in tone, but didn't think much of it as she packed his potions into a box with a handle designed for easy carrying and spill prevention. "They won't really talking about them," she added with a slight frown.

Melinda took the offered money, fingers brushing against his palm mostly by accident, and she hoped he didn't notice the color that flooded her cheeks as she dropped the coins in the till. "You'd be right. Edinburgh born and bred." Though, obviously her skintone made it obvious not all of her family was Scots-bred.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

everupward
2011-11-25 09:30 pm UTC (link)

"I certainly agree," Adrian replied. He noted the expression on her face and pursed his lips. After a moment, he added, "My mother is the same. Recurring nightmares, but won't speak in detail. In fact most everyone I know who's had them doesn't specify." Probably because the nightmares were horrific in nature. the few he'd become privy to were torturous, and he had no doubt this woman's friends were the same.

Her fingers brushed his and he didn't move his own away. Instead he focused a steady blue gaze on her, pleased to know he'd been right about her accent. The rest of her ethnicity still eluded him for the moment but he expected he'd determine that soon enough. "Would it be too impolite to ask your name?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

curapersonalis
2011-11-29 05:11 am UTC (link)

Melinda blinked when her handsome customer offered such personal information, and her expression softened a bit. "I'm sorry to hear about your mother. Here." Acting on impulse, Melinda grabbed the last of the dreamless sleep draughts from the shelf and slipped it into his box. "Maybe that will help her get some rest," she offered with a warm smile. She never did this. In fact it was frowned upon to give away store product, but Melinda felt the need to help someone in some way if she couldn't even help Ally or Theodore.

"I think the dreams must be too horrible to talk about," she added quietly. "But I also can't help but think that talking might help at least a little bit." She almost got lost in thinking about what could possibly be so bad as to lock it all inside, but the wizard's unexpected question caught her attention. "Oh, no, where are my manners? I'm Melinda." She held her hand out to him. "Pleased to meet you..."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

everupward
2011-11-29 04:06 pm UTC (link)

Adrian very nearly told her not to waste her sympathies on his mother, but he decided against that personal information. It behooved him to help his mother sleep well anyway. The more rest she got the less irritating she became to him. He gratefully took the offered potions.

"I feel the same," Adrian replied. But then as I haven't been suffering from them. I can only speak objectively on that matter, I suppose." He took her hand, grasping it more warmly than his manner and tone suggested he might. "Adrian Pucey," he responded, then added, "You may just call me Adrian. It'd be a bit cumbersome to address me by my full name should we run into each other again." There was the slightest of smiles at his lips, as though he intended to be humorous.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

curapersonalis
2011-12-07 10:34 pm UTC (link)

"Adrian...Pucey, was it?" Melinda had heard him the first time. She didn't know much about the Puceys, just that they were pure like her own family - and relations to the Yaxleys, which she knew far more about than she'd prefer.

Adrian seemed decent enough, Melinda thought as she pulled her hand back. But then, most purebloods were brought up to have at least a modicum of charm. Adrian certainly seemed to have his fair share. "Well, Adrian, it's been very nice chatting with you." And it had been, she realized, and she found herself returning his smile despite herself. "Unfortunately, I'm afraid I should probably close up now before anyone else decides to stop by unexpectedly for some last minute supplies."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

everupward
2011-12-08 01:43 am UTC (link)

"Yes," he replied, wondering what, if anything, she thought at the mention of his last name. He reached for his purchases. "Of course. I apologize for keeping you. Might I just ask your surname, before I leave?" Adrian wasn't entirely certain why he asked that. He just had a feeling he didn't want to leave without knowing who this woman was. Her smile was lovely. Perhaps that was the only reason.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

curapersonalis
2011-12-08 04:24 am UTC (link)

Melinda blinked at him for a moment, not realizing she hadn't thought to mention her last name. "It's Bobbin, actually," she admitted with equal parts reluctance and pride. "No need to apologize. I hope the rest of your evening is pleasant. And that your mother feels better soon." Despite his relations, Melinda was disappointed to see him go. But she did need to close up and get more work done. Given their families, though, they'd likely run into each other again.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	everupward 2011-12-08 04:44 pm UTC (link)
	Adrian's eyebrow rose a little at that. he hadn't realised she was a Bobbin. It had another host of questions ready to be asked - such as why she was minding the till herself - but he wasn't going to intrude on her time any longer. With a nod of his head he replied, "And you enjoy yours. Until next time," he added, and left with his purchases. (Reply to this) (Parent)