InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "got it memorized?"

Maeve Sheridan knows she's better than you. (few_and_far) wrote in wished,
@ 2010-07-26 23:28:00

Entry tags:

!2003: 07, !complete, delaney twilfitt, maeve sheridan

Characters: Maeve Sheridan and Delaney Twilfitt
Setting: Slugs and Jiggers, Monday late afternoon//The Leaky Cauldron and Diagon Alley, Monday evening
Summary: Maeve attempts to have a nice, normal, quiet day at work and Delaney is determined she have otherwise.
Rating: PG, some kissing and awkward flirting.

Staring up at the top of the shelf, Maeve pulled her wand out and waved it in it’s general direction. Two jars on the top floated down to the table gently, directed by her wand. Both were neatly labelled with the ingredient, lacewing flies, and the date they’d started stewing. Maeve carefully removed the lids and surveyed the contents of both containers, deeming them still unripe, and levitated them back to their place. Across the shop she heard the door creak open, admitting what was surely another irritating customer in but she chose to ignore it, surely Susan or someone else was that could save her from suffering that torment twice in one day. She'd already gotten caught that morning and been forced to walk one old biddy through the differences between the Draught of Living Death and a simple Calming Draught.

She shelved away the pickled mandrake she’d brought out in the first place and picked up a few empty phials before heading back for the other side of the shop, more than ready to hide herself away in her tiny workshop for the rest of the day. There weren’t many orders to keep her busy but she had her own solution simmering that had been brewing for two days and wasn’t almost mature. She’d be damned if she was going to let hard work be ruined at this point. Before she could retreat completely she remembered she’d also needed saltpeter shavings and turned back, so surprised to find someone behind her she gasped softly.

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few_and_far
2010-07-27 04:47 am UTC (link)

Maeve spun quickly, honestly surprised that Delaney had followed her into the back. She tried to play it off and kept her expression schooled as she turned back to her potion, charming the ladle to keep stirring it slowly for her. She wasn't used to others being in her workshop, not at least without asking permission or acknowledging it in some way first.

"I-uh-you," Maeve stammered and fiddled with the apron draped across the long table she had covered in notebooks. She wasn't used to flirting and the switch from words to physical gestures threw her. Words she could always cope with, even if it required false bravado. "You must not have met many other Irishmen if my accent sounds sexy. I promise you, it's very plain."

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delaneytwilfitt
2010-07-27 04:54 am UTC (link)

Now she was getting somewhere. Delaney smirked at the obviously flustered girl and moved in even closer, wondering if she could get away with much more than she had already - and hoping she could.

"I don't know if it's just the accent," she purred in her most seductive tone, "or if it's the accent coming out of that pretty little mouth of yours. Either way..." Taking a chance, she nipped Maeve's earlobe gently as she took a half step backwards. She was still standing well within Maeve's personal space, but she was now in a position to see the younger girl's face and judge her reactions.

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few_and_far
2010-07-27 08:51 pm UTC (link)

Letting out another tiny gasp, this time out of shock at Delaney's forwardness, Maeve took a step back from the other woman and turned toward her with a rattled expression. Outright denying hadn't worked with her and ignoring obviously hadn't either, Maeve thought. "It's you," she answered, although her response was hindered by the unease she felt and lacked some of it's normal bite. "Neither of those, I promise."

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delaneytwilfitt
2010-07-27 09:01 pm UTC (link)

Leaning back in, Delaney blew softly in Maeve's ear as she spoke. "Maybe it is just me... but I can't help it. You might not think so, but I find you..." She paused, more for effect than to think of what to say. "Intriguing."

Straightening up, she took a larger step backward, and turned her back on Maeve, all business now. "You make potions, I see. Anything in the vitamin or health range? I have an eleven year old boy who doesn't eat a lot and I want to make sure he's healthy.

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few_and_far
2010-07-27 09:18 pm UTC (link)

Surpressing a shiver, Maeve purposely avoided looking at Delaney and took the first chance to scoot to the other side of the work bench. Still not sure what there was to say in her situation, Maeve let Delaney's assertion go uncommented on. Instead she made a point to open books at random and start flipping through them, searching desperately for something she hadn't made up yet.

The abrupt change in tone pulled her interest back and she glanced up to find Delaney's back to her, a welcome break. "Girding potion, for strength and endurance," she said slowly, closing her book. "But that wouldn't be the best for regular use. There are a few general health potions out there but I think an elixir of wormwood, asphodel and monkshood would be the best for you, sounds like all you want is a supplement. It would be a simple solution for energy and has minor restorative properties."

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delaneytwilfitt
2010-07-27 09:23 pm UTC (link)

Delaney turned back to face her, her face still business like, focusing on the task at hand, hoping her abrupt change of subject had either relaxed her or thrown her completely. "How much, and how often would you recommend he takes it? Does it travel well, and does it fall under the category of safe, medicinal potions allowed to be taken to Hogwarts? Or am I going to have to owl Snape and request permission for him to have it?"

She looked around herself, and sniffed a little in distaste. "Honestly, don't you at least provide a chair for your customers to sit in while you carry on consultations?"

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few_and_far
2010-07-27 09:32 pm UTC (link)

"Any brand produced health potion? I can't imagine he'd get in trouble. Their no more dangerous than beauty potions, even a first year will make worse things than that in class. If you buy it they're shelf stable for a long time and have their own instructions, most likely once to twice a day." Maeve continued to speak but started to pull open the cupboards that lined one side of the small room, pulling out small boxes of various ingredients. "An elixir won't have the same shelf life before spoiling but it will be more effective and you can tailor it to fit his lifestyle best. That I recommend once a day."

Maeve gently dropped the armful of supplies on the table and raised an eyebrow at the other woman's whining. "Customers usually don't let themselves into my workshop so it's never been a real problem."

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delaneytwilfitt
2010-07-27 09:37 pm UTC (link)

Smiling at Maeve, Delaney shook her head. "My brother and I aren't much on generic potions. I would much rather have something custom made for him, if it's not too much trouble. Is it... a lot of work?"

Resigning herself to standing, Delaney straightened her posture and raised an eyebrow right back at her. "I'm not your usual customer. Now, how much does this sort of thing cost? Consultation, initial brewing, regular supplies, and follow up consults as he grows?"

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few_and_far
2010-07-27 09:50 pm UTC (link)

"It's not," Maeve waved away the question, pulling a stool out from it's hiding spot under the work bench and took a seat, keeping all but a hint of smugness from her smile. "Not at all really. You could even do this yourself. For me to supply it..." Maeve fell silently as her quill scratched quickly across a piece of scrap parchment, jotting down ingredients she'd need as she calculated in her head. "Three galleons, twelve sickles a bottle. Which should last a month." She made a few more notions to her list and looked back up. "I don't need to meet him. I can give you a list of poor habits that the elixir could address, those answers would suffice."

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delaneytwilfitt
2010-07-27 10:03 pm UTC (link)

"I don't think I could do it myself, to be honest," Delaney said conversationally. "I mean, I did well in Potions in school, but that was after a lot of blood, sweat and tears. It never came naturally to me, and I have to admit that after graduating, I've done my best not to show myself up by trying to brew anything."

Spying another stool, Delaney pulled it out, making a show of dusting it off before sitting down gingerly. "Well, if you're sure you don't need him here for a consult, to run any tests or anything, then I'll be happy to answer any questions necessary. Perhaps, over dinner?"

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few_and_far
2010-07-27 10:18 pm UTC (link)

"It's not easy," Maeve acknowledged, allowing herself to appear as pleased with herself as she felt. It wasn't an easy art and a natural aptitude for it was something she felt anyone in her place would be proud of.

She paused in the middle of sorting the pile of papers and she narrowed her eyes slightly. "That doesn't really require a dinner, does it," she pointed out.

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delaneytwilfitt
2010-07-27 10:27 pm UTC (link)

Delaney held up her hands innocently. "Not required, no, but it might be nice. For all I'm a lost cause with Potions, I have been known to make a decent meal, you know. With my own hands. Without the help of house elves. Nico can vouch for me - I've been feeding him for eight months, and when he eats, he says my food is good."

She was talking too much, and she stopped herself. She was already giving too much of herself away by even being here, pursuing this girl despite all her personal rules against this sort of thing. There was no need to become a babbling idiot on top of things.

"I just thought it would be nice," she repeated, hating how lame she sounded, but not knowing how else to handle this situation.

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few_and_far
2010-07-27 10:34 pm UTC (link)

Maeve sighed and set her quill down, eyeing Delaney sceptically as she thought. Things were going significantly better on this side of the conversation, even if that might only be because there was now a table between them (Maeve hadn't decided yet), and Maeve had already accepted the fact she did need to try and get out more. Supposedly it was good for you, not being cooped up at work and home for 99% of the week. "A drink," she finally said, ripping off a piece of parchment for Delaney. "Is the Leaky Cauldron alright?" she asked, not looking at her as she instead quickly wrote down all the information she would need, taking just a moment before she held it out across the bench for her.

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delaneytwilfitt
2010-07-27 10:56 pm UTC (link)

Doing her best to keep her face innocent, Delaney nodded mildly, accepting the parchment and brushing her fingers over Maeve's only the slightest bit.

"I can live with that," she said quietly. "A drink is a good start. Perhaps after you make it through a drink with me, we can progress to that dinner. I've got time."

She stood, smoothing her dress, and turned to leave. "I'll meet you there in an hour, is that okay? I'll bring the answers to these questions with me." She left before Maeve had a chance to object, smiling to herself as she made her way back to her own shop to shut up for the night.

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