Marauding Magic opens its doors!

[alwaysimpure]

Who: Remus, Sirius and anyone else who comes by
What: Marauding magic opens its doors for business!
When: All week~
Where: At the Marauding Magic Shop near the outskirts of town, close to the forest.
Warnings: Magic!

[Finally the big day everyone (at least two or three people, maybe) has been waiting for arrived! Today Marauding Magic opens its doors.

Come by and discover the wonders that lie within! Potions, books, toys and tools, things that are more sentient than they really have any business being and items whose purpose isn't entirely apparent at first, but they sure look pretty.

A fire that changes colors ever so often and chairs by the fireplace, the shop is inviting you to stay a while and discover more. Behind the counter there is a staircase leading upstairs. Don't mind any of the sounds you might hear from there, magical experiments can go unexpected ways at times.

Perched on top of the counter sits an owl, watching everything that is going on, sometimes by turning his head 180 degrees, as owls do. Better don't shop-lift, that beak is sharp.

When you enter, a chime follows as the door closes. It won't be long until a wizard or two appears. Welcome to Marauding Magic, prepare to be charmed.]


[ooc: Come enter the shop and fulfill your dreams and secret desires! Or just have a nice chat with the chaps running the place. Either way, come on in!]

Comments

[animator]

Hey, I'm working on a murder case, I'll have you know. I've got a monster with a nasty set of choppers to track down. Except for the part where he's up and vanished on me.

[That's less than helpful, really.]

But various things. And a lot of paperwork. I'm sure your Ministry has plenty of that, too.

[She grins at him in reply as he laughs.]

Not that your ego really needs to be fed, but yes, of course it's a good experience.

[alwaysimpure]

Sounds dangerous...

[Also sounds exciting, so now he is stuck between that and worrying for her.]

It does. I'd have been a terrible auror outside of war-times, paperwork is just not my thing.

And you don't even know. My ego is about ninety-nine percent pretense.

[animator]

I guess it is, but it's not the most dangerous case I've been involved with. I'm a veteran with this kind of thing, remember. They gave me the case since I'm the one with all the monster experience. Glad it's doing me some good here, at least.

[Her grin softens into a more knowing smile. Yes, she's figured out his game with the ego by now. It's an act. She's already seen a fair amount of what he's using it to cover up.]

And yet still so charming. I hope you realize by now that you don't need pretense around me, though.

[alwaysimpure]

Oh, I don't need it for you, Anita. I don't need it for anyone. I need it for me. It's something, y'know. Not much else left.

[He manages to say it in a very matter of fact way.]

Tell me about the monsters you've dealt with?

[animator]

Yeah. It's something. I get that, I think.

[She'll leave it at that, the last thing she needs to do is stick her foot in her mouth again. She's been doing that a lot lately, even though she's had all the best intentions.

Instead, she addresses his question. It takes things to a less personal place for him, and that's good. It's helpful. But that doesn't change that she wishes she could keep him smiling for just a little longer sometimes.]

I'm not sure where to begin. Vampires are pretty common for me, which you already knew. Not that they're run-of-the-mill redshirts. They're usually the scariest thing I go up against, and that's saying something.

Lately, though... before I came here, it was werewolves. Or a wolf, and a wereleopard, I guess. Most of them are just people, but sometimes, they let the change really twist them into something awful. Not just when they're shifted. But all the time.

[alwaysimpure]

That's what happens with some of the werewolves. That's why people think every werewolf is like that. Murderous monsters make better headlines than victims who try to adapt.

[He sits down in one of the chairs, leaning back and watching Anita thoughtfully.]

So you kill them?

[animator]

If they deserve it? Yes.

[Her expression darkens considerably, memories of the events at Raina's farmhouse surfacing despite her attempts to shove them aside. It wasn't a night she was going to forget anytime soon. It would be a long while before the nightmares faded away, too.]

Raina and Gabriel, they deserved it. I wasn't just saving my own skin that time. There were other lives on the line. Not to mention the pack they tortured. Freaking sadists.

[And, try as she might to suppress it, she couldn't help but shudder at the mention of Gabriel's name. Shit. He still gave her the creeps. Would that ever stop?]

[alwaysimpure]

That sounds horrifying.

[He notes the shudder and puts a hand on her shoulder without thinking about it, squeezing her shoulder lightly.]

Sounds like you did the right thing by killing them. But, damn, I'm glad you're not in as much trouble here.

[animator]

[She doesn't pull away, but leans into his touch instead, even if only slightly.]

You don't know the half of it. Maybe someday, I'll be able to tell you the whole story, but I think it's still too recent, even for me. You love to tell me how tough I am, but there are some things that make even me feel totally helpless. Even when the people responsible are long gone.

[alwaysimpure]

Doesn't make you any less tough.

[Somehow he ends up just putting both arms around her, fingers tangling in her curls.]

Y'know you don't have to tell me anything. I get 'too recent'. Just if you want to talk, you can always come to me.

[animator]

[She doesn't resist the embrace, but puts both arms around his waist instead, no matter how bad an idea it might be for them to be this close. It's comforting, and she doesn't want to turn that away right now.]

I know. I'd like to tell you, someday. I'd like to get it all out of my head and out in the open. I thought there were no vacancies left when it came to acquiring new nightmare material, honestly, but it turns out you can always have more. It was just too much, too soon.