a. m. greengrass (quailing) wrote in platform_zero, @ 2016-08-02 00:09:00 |
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Entry tags: | astoria greengrass, zacharias smith |
Who: Zach and Astoria
When: Backdated to.... last week?
Where: A Likely Story
What: Grumps being grumps
Status/Rating: Complete/Low
Zacharias carded a hand through his hair. It was getting longer. Long enough to warrant a haircut, but not long enough that he felt inclined to go anywhere near Flint with a pair of shears. He’d made too many observations about Flint’s teeth to put his life on the line for a trim. He wondered if Flint would remember the one about his tongue looking like it was trapped behind Azkaban bars as he pulled open the door to A Likely Story and sauntered inside.
Maybe he wouldn’t, Zach thought to himself, in a rare display of optimism. He picked up the nearest book, made a face at the cover, and stuffed it back into the shelf. The last thing he needed was a book about soapmaking.
“Are there any books that people want to read?” Zach wondered aloud to no one in particular.
Opening the bookstore had been the best thing Astoria had done since she’d arrived on the island. Her recent breakup had been hard to deal with and in fact, she wasn’t dealing at all. The shop helped her keep her mind off the anger and pain dwelling in her heart. Still, she couldn’t prevent her thoughts from wandering now and then as she went through the motions of stocking shelves.
After a while, however, the heat became unbearable. It was merely an hour before she’d given up on her work and taken up residence on the floor. What had she been thinking when she’d asked for lots of windows? The sound of the door opening jolted her from daze. Her grip tightened on her book when she heard a voice but she couldn’t help the small smile that came to her lips at her new companion’s words.
“It’s a bookstore, Smith. I’d bloody well hope so,” Astoria said, her voice drifting up from where she sat on the floor. “Or are you only here to look for a doorstop?” she asked, pushing off the half empty shelf and rounding the corner to stare up at Zach.
It took only a fleeting moment for Zach to place the voice. They wrote to - or maybe at was the better word for it - each other often enough, yet their paths seldom crossed in person. It was a rare pleasure to hear Astoria’s sharp tongue directed at him. He found himself smiling at her question.
“My hut doesn’t have a door to stop,” Zach pointed out, absently plucking another book off the shelf. “Some kindling, on the other hand, might be useful. Never know when the weather will turn,” he said, as if Delphine might dump snow of them any day now.
“So then you’re just here for my good company?” Her lips twitched but Astoria suppressed the smile threatening to break through her gloom. She turned again, resting her back against the shelf once more.
“Are you interested in any genre in particular?” she asked, staring down at her own book as if he hadn’t just suggested burning her precious books. “I’m sure I can find something that even you are interested in.”
“Something like that,” Zach replied, hitching his shoulders in a shrug. He couldn’t deny that Astoria provided more stimulating company than half the island combined. Of course, he wouldn’t tell her that. It’d only go to her head and be used against him later. He shoved the book about quilting back into the shelf. Not really his cuppa tea.
“I like anything that doesn’t bore me to tears. Is there a genre for that?” he asked, taking a step closer to Astoria. Was she actually reading or just staring at the letters? Zach honestly couldn’t tell.
“Yes, I think it’s called a life, Smith,” Astoria retorted with a roll of her eyes. She shut the book she hadn’t been reading and set it aside on the lowest shelf. In a smooth move she was up from the ground, hands clutching primly at her skirt to make it stay. Astoria stepped closer. At that distance she had to stare up to meet his eyes.
Somehow she’d imagined him shorter.
Shaking the thought aside, Astoria crossed her arms and smiled. “So. Are you a mystery type of man? Thrillers? I can’t see you appreciating the fine art of nonfiction. Or are you looking for some rubbish erotica to stock at your shop?”
“Who needs a life with friends like you?” Zach deadpanned, refusing to give her the satisfaction of a chuckle. It was tempting, but he had to preserve some illusion of dignity. He wasn’t sure why, to be perfectly honest. He was living in total squalor wandlessly, shitting in pits. Where was the dignity in that?
He thought better of asking Astoria. Mostly because he had to answer her questions about which genres he liked.
“I’m not that invested in the shop,” Zach said, brushing off the implications. “I guess mysteries are alright. What about something… dystopian? Does Delphine allow those sorts of novels, or do they hit too close to home?”
Astoria quirked a brow. The self satisfied smirk on her face spelled victory. “Oh, Salazar. I’ve been upgraded to friend. This nightmare is finally worth it.” Not that she honestly thought he considered her a friend. And doubted that he ever would. If she felt any disappointment at the thought, Astoria promptly ignored it.
“Sure, you aren’t, Zacharias.” She didn’t mean half the things she said to him but that didn’t mean it wasn’t fun to rile him up. Using her wand, Astoria murmured a summoning spell. The books whizzed past his head and onto the counter. She still wasn’t sure what he’d like but hopefully something would suit.
“She’s more liberal than you think, you know,” Astoria finally replied, lining up each book side by side so that Zach could see the covers. “1984, Brave New World, The Running Man, The Time Machine. See if any of those seem interesting?”
Eyebrows raised, disappearing above his messy blonde fringe. “Are you my friend, or my mum? No one else calls me that - unless they’re ticked off at me, maybe,” Zach tacked on as he thought better of it.
Hang on. Had he said or done something to piss off Astoria? The question occurred to him when he had to duck his head to narrowly prevent a book from slamming into his forehead. It was difficult to tell with the Greengrass. She was enigmatical. Rolling her eyes at him one moment, almost teasing him the next. Part of him would be lying if he said he didn’t enjoy it.
“Welp, I’m happy to know my great great whatever is full of surprises,” he said, tone conveying as much enthusiasm as a soggy piece of bread. “Brave New World looks interesting, but mostly because of the author’s name. Aldous Huxley? Am I even saying that right?” Zach picked up the book, looking over the front and back cover.
“Well, I am a mum,” she started, tilting her head in thought, “But I just don’t like nicknames. And you said we’re friends, which means I don’t have to call you Smith. Besides, I think Zacharias has a nice ring to it, don’t you?” Astoria’s words were punctuated by an innocent grin. She leaned an elbow on the counter and rested her chin against her hand, fully expecting him to disagree.
Her eyes drifted back down to the books after a moment. “I wouldn’t be too happy - sometimes the surprises aren’t good ones.” Astoria wrinkled her nose in distaste. As far as she was concerned, Delphine was only there to ruin people’s lives.
“That’s correct. See? Smarter than you give yourself credit for. I haven’t actually read the book so I can’t tell you whether it’s any good. Why don’t you give it a try?”
“Four syllable names don’t ring, Astoria. See, even your name is a mouth-full,” Zach protested, despite knowing that he was only giving her more reason to use it. Honestly. If she wasn’t looking so pleased with herself, he might have glowered at her. It was the small niggling voice (maybe his conscience? Supposing that he had one) in the back of his mind that reminded him Astoria formerly Malfoy wanted to bugger off the island and maybe he should be nice.
Why he might not want Astoria to leave the island of crazy surprises and mayhem really didn’t warrant further introspection. Nope. He had a book to buy. Time to kill. Conversation to make.
Mind made up, Zach handed the book over to Astoria. “Alright, I’ll take it and let you know if it’s any good.”
“Mhmm. Sure it is.” Her smug grin smirk enough to make it clear that she didn’t believe a word he said. It felt good to have such light-hearted conversation with someone. Perhaps branching out wasn’t a terrible thing after all.
Astoria took the book and slipped it into a bag behind the counter. She didn’t bother to charge him for it. One book wasn’t going to make or break her life.
“Consider it a thank you gift for the help in setting up.” This time, her smile was genuine. She meant it. “And for allowing me to call you Zacharias, of course.”
“Thank you?” Zach said, hesitating to accept the gift. It was all fun and games until someone did something genuinely nice for him. The sincere smile was probably the most confusing part. He couldn’t recall ever seeing Astoria smile like that. Her smile was pretty…
Pretty weird.
Yeah. That’s what it was.
Zach looked down and noticed his knuckles were white from gripping the bag’s handles so tightly. Probably not a good sign. “Er, yeah, well, next time you want to pay me back, how about a drink?” he suggested, trying to loosen up whatever it was that had him all wound up.
She nodded at his question. “That would be the correct response,” she replied with a nod and a badly concealed attempt not to laugh. It was cruel, she knew, but it was certainly something to see Smith so unsure of himself. Almost endearing, if she had the heart for such a thought.
“Shall I expect more favors from you? How very kind.” Her grin only got wider then. “A drink it is,” Astoria promised.
“Stranger things have happened, and it’s not like I have many better things to do with my time,” Zach said, hitching his shoulders in a shrug. Seeing how amused Astoria looked at his expense helped restore the Hufflepuff to his equilibrium. He might not know how to react to kindness, but he knew how to deal with someone poking fun at him. That was more par for the course.
“See you around, Greengrass.” Tucking the bag under his arm, Zach gave a nod and turned to leave. The idea of finding a nice shady palm tree to read under didn’t sound half bad.
Astoria shrugged, the smile never leaving her face. "Goodbye, Zacharias."