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Tweak says, "The sky is so green today."

Xavier Selwyn (xavierselwyn) wrote in strugglewithin,
@ 2008-12-22 19:48:00

Entry tags:

*complete, adrian pucey, september 1997, xavier selwyn

RP: Recruiting
Date: 22 September 1997
Characters: Adrian Pucey, Xavier Selwyn
Location: Magnolia's - corner of Knockturn Alley and Diagon Alley
Status: Semi-private
Summary: Xavier sees a likely young lad, ripe for a new focus in his life.
Completion: Complete

Magnolia's was owned and run by a witch of the same name from across the Pond - New Orleans, to be exact - who had a penchant for putting the namesake flower on all the drinkware. Xavier guessed they didn't have much problem with glasses finding their way into patron's pockets and purses.

Regardless, they also had the finest casked firewhiskey in the city, which was why it was so popular. Well, that and rumor had it that there was very little that Magnolia's couldn't provide - for a price, of course. It helped that there was a door leading to Diagon, for those who were trying to look above-board (and perhaps those who really were, if there were any such left), and one leading to Knockturn, for everyone else.

Xavier used the Diagon entrance today, going up to the polished bar top that only hinted at what it'd seen over the years. From personal experience, Xavier knew it'd been through quite a lot, though a gentleman never kissed and told.

Ordering a glass of firewhiskey, he watched the room through the mirror hung expressly for that purpose. No one liked to have their back exposed.

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playboytoaman
2008-12-22 07:23 pm UTC (link)

Damn ID cards. Damn Quidditch practice. And damn the fucking hangover he knew he was going to have tomorrow. But he didn't care. He needed a good glass of firewhiskey to handle the letter he'd gotten from Talia today, telling him all about what was going on at Hogwarts. Apparently they were learning the Dark Arts in what should have been Defense Against the Dark Arts. Talia was disdainful as usual and hadn't sounded quite so different but Adrian could read between the lines. She was nervous. And as she was one of the few people in the world Adrian genuinely cared about, Adrian couldn't really handle her being nervous.

So here he was at Magnolia's, because this was where the best firewhiskey could be found, and the seats at the bar were comfortable even if the company was shady.

Ordering himself a glass, he looked to his right and managed not to show any sign of recognition when he noticed the man sitting a few stools down. Hmph. It was that bloke Spinnet had been at the match with, the one old enough to be her father. But he didn't want to think about Spinnet right then.

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	xavierselwyn 2008-12-22 08:04 pm UTC (link)
	Xavier watched a young lad come in and up to the bar. He looked rather familiar, though it took him a moment or two to place the boy. Pucey, of the Falmouth Falcons. Glancing over, he gave the boy a faint smirk. "Think you'll win against Portree in a few weeks?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	playboytoaman 2008-12-22 08:07 pm UTC (link)
	Adrian looked up, raising an eyebrow. "We'd better," he said shortly, taking a long drink from his glass. He didn't like the way the man was smirking. Although frankly he just didn't like the man at all. Possibly that was a bit of a premature judgment but he didn't care. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	xavierselwyn 2008-12-22 08:08 pm UTC (link)
	The boy needed to learn manners, it seemed. Ah, youth these days were becoming more and more lacking. Pity. "Or?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	playboytoaman 2008-12-22 08:10 pm UTC (link)
	"There is no 'or'," Adrian informed him, turning just a bit to look at the older man. "You a fan?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	xavierselwyn 2008-12-22 08:18 pm UTC (link)
	"There should be an or. When you say something like that, you should know what the consequences of losing will be," he advised. Without goals, one's life was empty, in Xavier's opinion. He shrugged, smirking a bit. "Not of Falmouth. I follow Puddlemere." He met the boy's eyes. "Sorry." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	playboytoaman 2008-12-22 08:25 pm UTC (link)
	"I do know what the consequences of losing will be. That's exactly why I refuse to lose." This man was annoying him. Who the fuck did he think he was? "Oh, well then. Puddlemere. They aren't awful, I suppose." He snorted. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	xavierselwyn 2008-12-22 08:28 pm UTC (link)
	"You refuse to lose?" That wasn't a bad viewpoint on life, actually, though Xavier wasn't sure how deep that philosophy ran with this one. Was he the thick type who only flew because he had no other options? "Best of luck with that, then." Taking a sip of his firewhiskey, he smirked. "Not awful? They nearly beat you a few weeks back." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

playboytoaman
2008-12-22 08:31 pm UTC (link)

"Yep. Don't accept defeat. Positive outlook and all that shite," he said, although he didn't really believe that it was shite. It had been the way he'd lived his life for as long as he could remember- refusing to believe that he wouldn't get what he wanted, not even considering it, because he was Adrian Pucey and he knew what he wanted and went after it.

Adrian lifted an eyebrow. "Yeah. Nearly being the key word. Think I saw you there," he added casually.

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	xavierselwyn 2008-12-22 08:33 pm UTC (link)
	"Oh?" That the boy had seen him made Xavier frown. That he remembered him made his brows raise. Now why had he been noteworthy? (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	playboytoaman 2008-12-22 08:38 pm UTC (link)
	Adrian shrugged, downing the rest of his glass. "You were coming down from the private boxes, I think. Course, could've been someone that looked like you." It hadn't been, though. He was definitely the bloke he'd seen with Spinnet. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

xavierselwyn
2008-12-22 08:51 pm UTC (link)

"You take a note of who watches from the private boxes?" Xavier asked. He'd known that the boy had gone out with Alicia, but perhaps it went deeper than that. That would explain her hesitance at joining him back at his flat. Possibly. He'd have to look into that.

"Some might think that's unwise." His lips pulled up in a smirk. "Not me, of course, observation is the key to getting ahead in life."

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playboytoaman
2008-12-22 08:54 pm UTC (link)

Adrian shrugged lazily. "The exit where people come down is near the exit from the changing rooms. I happen to notice every now and then," he remarked idly, as though it were no big thing.

He really didn't like this fellow. Perhaps he should warn Spinnet off.

"Observation is something Quidditch players learn is an asset early on." Quidditch players and Slytherins.

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	xavierselwyn 2008-12-22 08:57 pm UTC (link)
	"And the fact that I was with a stunning brunette of your acquaintance had nothing to do with it," Xavier said mildly, watching the boy over the rim of his glass. The firewhiskey warmed him, as so few things did these days, other than sex and his horses. "Quidditch players aren't the only ones who nee keen observational skills." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

playboytoaman
2008-12-22 09:01 pm UTC (link)

Adrian eyed the older man suddenly at the mention of Alicia, feeling suddenly very protective for some reason. "It might have. I tend to notice the people I'm familiar with before anyone else."

Placing his glass back on the bar, he signaled to the bartender that he wanted another, his movements very casual. "And, just out of curiosity, might I ask how you knew that I knew Miss Spinnet?"

"Oh? And who else needs them?"

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xavierselwyn
2008-12-22 09:04 pm UTC (link)

The answer was laughable, but the boy - and it was obvious that 'boy' was an appropriate name for him - seemed suspicious of him already so laughing probably wouldn't go over well. Not that Xavier particularly cared, but it got messy when people took umbrage with him.

"She told me, of course. Said you'd been set up on a date together," he said, seeing no reason to lie. "How else would I know?"

Smirking, he just leaned back and shrugged. "Any number of people, I'm sure."

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playboytoaman
2008-12-22 09:07 pm UTC (link)

Adrian gave a shrug, his eyes not leaving the older man's face. "Just curious. You mentioned you notice things. I just wondered if maybe that was something else you noticed." The implication was floating just behind his words, far enough back that he could deny its existence if questioned.

"What sort of people?" Leaning back, he mirrored the other man's pose and smirk. "Curiosity again."

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	xavierselwyn 2008-12-22 09:12 pm UTC (link)
	"Implying that I've been watching Alicia isn't a nice thing, Pucey," he drawled. "Not nice at all. I don't make a habit of watching young women." At least not the ones he didn't have a use for. "And I think most people should hone their observational skills, though few do." He cocked his head. "Tell me, Pucey, what are your plans for the future?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

playboytoaman
2008-12-22 09:18 pm UTC (link)

Adrian decided to let that one go, because he couldn't think of anything to say that wouldn't bring more attention to what he thought of Alicia, or indeed the fact that he was thinking of her period. Didn't need to give this man any more reason to watch her, or him for that matter. So he merely shrugged.

"Not sure. Right now I'm focusing on playing. Probably have to get married at some point, produce an heir, since that's what good Pureblood boys do."

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	xavierselwyn 2008-12-22 09:22 pm UTC (link)
	"Indeed it is," he agreed, half-leaning against the bar, though his eyes flickered to the mirror every few seconds. "There's more to life than playing, though. You shouldn't just assume that you'll always be healthy enough to play - or good enough, for that matter. In such an instance, it'd behoove you to have friends, don't you think?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	playboytoaman 2008-12-22 09:24 pm UTC (link)
	"I have friends," he said, a bit taken aback. "And I know I won't always be healthy enough to play. I'm thinking maybe I'll try for trainer or coach after that, something in the business." He shrugged. "I'm not even twenty, I don't see why I should think about it now." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

xavierselwyn
2008-12-22 09:29 pm UTC (link)

Xavier took a galleon out of his pocket and tossed it on the counter, moving to stand up. The boy wasn't ready yet, that much was obvious, but it wouldn't hurt to implant a few thoughts into that entirely empty head of his. With any luck something might take.

"It's never too early to start thinking about those things," he said, shaking his head as he stood up. "And you may have friends, Pucey, but do you have the right kind?"

He smirked at the boy as he stepped away from the bar. "Think about it."

Without waiting for an answer, he headed for the door. He might go see what was going on in Borgin and Burkes'.

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