Back to School Diagon Alley Festival! – Log 2

[shnpc]

WHO: Anyone visiting Diagon Alley!
TONE: Festive and busy!
RATING: PG-13 for possible language
WHEN: August 23 & 24th
WHERE: Any and all of Diagon Alley
WHAT: There is a huge festival the whole week to let students get school supplies. People from all over are flocking to Diagon Alley for the best deals. That means you might meet new people or see old friends!
STATUS: Ongoing!
NOTE: Remember that this event is semi-open! Any HP AU character can have fun here, whether you're in the game or not, so have fun! If you missed the rush for the first log, here's a second chance to have fun, and start some of that September plotting!

Comments

[preanimator]

[Herbert West, a rather tiny sixth year boy who carries himself like he thinks he's a professor, has out an enormous list as he peruses the apothecary, his eyes narrowed behind his large glasses. He's shaking his head in annoyance and muttering to himself, because of course they don't have acromantula venom, and why would the short sighted fools not carry unicorn blood? It's not like everything it's used for involves Dark magic!]

[divinating]

[This guy is tiny too. It's okay, he understands. He's going to hang back for a moment, observing the younger man before speaking up.]

I dare say you are in the wrong place for such an interesting array of ingredients.

[preanimator]

[Herbert looks up, startled, clutching his notebook paper to his chest and staring at the other wizard with wide dark eyes, before they narrow suspiciously.]

Were you looking at my list? [demands] That's my business!

[divinating]

You were muttering out loud and you didn't realise it? That's terribly interesting.

Of course, your defensiveness coupled with your search for such ingredients only serves to condem you. It is in your good fortune that I am not a judge, nor am I judging. I'm simply pointing out that your list may be better checked in a place such as Knockturn Alley.

[preanimator]

[scowling at the older man] I've done nothing to be condemned for, these are all perfectly legal ingredients! ... besides, Knockturn products tend to be dearer.

[doctorkishitani]

[as it happens, Shinra's been wandering around the apothecary for the past twenty minutes. He does not have a list. He's just been peering at things that happen to catch his interest. However, he has just noticed Herbert's rather extensive list. So, he's going to make his way over to the other boy, smiling amiably as he does so. ]

What are you looking for?

[preanimator]

[Herbert glances up at the younger boy, noting that it's one of his housemates, and one of the more tolerable ones at that, so he doesn't say anything completely unpleasant.] A great deal. I doubt I'll find it all here, though, the supplies seem to be rather ... [sniffs haughtily] limited.

[doctorkishitani]

Limited?

[Shinra glances around the apothecary somewhat confusedly. He's always found this apothecary to be incredibly comprehensive, especially compared to the one back home.]

Well, if you can't find what you're looking for, you could look for substances with similar properties and improvise.

[preanimator]

Yes, I'm aware. [sighs] It's what I normally end up having to do, but it can be such a waste of time, and certain effects you simply can't duplicate.

[Not that West could afford some of the things on his list, anyway. But a boy can dream!] What are you getting? Just what's required for class?

[moveslikejaeger]

[You really should stop talking to yourself, Herbert. First Doc Scratch overhears you, and now a Jaeger.]

Hy ken get hyu unicorn blott!

[preanimator]

[Yeah, Herbert is not always the most awesome at being sneaky. He'll jerk his head to regard maxim, though, his lips pursing in disgust - ewwwwww, a Jaeger! - and his eyes narrowing.] Oh, yes, you'll just go drain a unicorn from the Forbidden Forest yourself, will you? It's illegal, idiot.

[moveslikejaeger]

Nah, der Schwarzwald, schtupid. [He smirks, tossing his head and flipping his hair over his shoulder] Iz practically silly vit 'em. Iz alzo only illegal to kill dem. Don' gotta kill dem for a few teeny fials ov blott, now do hyu?

[And then his smirk turns into a sneer, his hips cocking to the side] Ov courze, if hyu really don' vant eny...

[preanimator]

[Herbert's brain wars briefly with his greed - oh, but he does want some, how he wants some! The things he could do, with unicorn's blood ... but he knows full well that he doesn't have hardly any money, wouldn't be able to afford them, maybe not even from one of the annoying Jaeger brothers. Or cousins. What are they supposed to be, anyway?

Hissing in annoyance, he snatches at Maxim's arm, trying to draw him to the side, glaring around to see if anyone is watching.] What do you want for it?

[moveslikejaeger]

[Maxim's sneer only grows as Herbert grabs him, splitting his face in an ugly, twisted way. Raising his voice, he says-] Oh, sure sveetie! Hy go vit hyu! [Then slips his arm around Herbert's waist, resting his hand dangerously close to his ass. He is a bad, bad boy for taunting Herbert this way, but damn if he wasn't enjoying it. He practically sauntered after the other boy, enjoying the attention his actions drew]

[Once they were out of sight, he pulled away, leaning back against the wall, arms folded over his chest and legs crossed at the ankle. What a position of power he was in~! He had something he could tell the other boy wanted badly, and he could ask anything he wanted for it.]

Oh, iz nottink much. [He shrugs, waving his hand dismissively] Chust a leedle trifle, really. A fafor, hyu could say.

[preanimator]

[The entire time Maxim was pulling him, the Ravenclaw moved as though someone has stuck a steel bar right up his ass and through his spine. His shoulders were practically trembling with suppressed tension and his scowl twisted the lower half of his face. This was why he hated the Jaegers, they were always doing things like this! He stands trembling, once the taller boy pulls away, hands clenched into fists at his side, eyes narrowed.]

What kind of favor? You want homework done for you? Answers for a test? [Herbert's lips were a tight line, and his cheeks were red with embarrassment from the gauntlet he'd just walked through of curious looks.]

[moveslikejaeger]

Homevurk? [Maxim laughs, loudly] Don' be silly, sveethott, hyu do my homevurk, de teachers gonna know zumting iz op. No no, iz nottink like dot. [He chuckles, shaking his head]

Hyu know dot ting hyu do, vhere hyu act like hyu better dan efferyvun elze? [He arches an eyebrow, leaning forward] Hyu schtop it.

[preanimator]

... what? [looks at Maxim with complete incomprehension] What are you talking about?

[That's like asking Herbert to stop being Herbert!]

[moveslikejaeger]

[Oh sweetie, aren't you being cute?]

[He shrugs one shoulder, leaning back once more] Iz verra eazy, dollink. Hyu say pleaze und thenk hyu. Hyu haff a leedle patience vit pipple who iz not az schmott az hyu. If zumvun disagrees vit hyu, hyu accept it. Schmall tings, really, trifles, like Hy said.

Und in return, Hy giff hyu... ho, how about tventy milliliters a month, for az long az hyu adhere to de conditions ov de agreement. Yah, Hy tink dot seems fair.

[preanimator]

So let me get this straight. In return for the blood, you want me to simply acquiesce to any idiot in the school who chooses to say something ridiculous and behave as though they're right? You want me to smile and agree with people spreading blatant misinformation and their moronic view of the world? And you call that easy?

[moveslikejaeger]

Yes. [he shrugs his shoulders, the corner of his mouth curving up into a small smile] Vhat do hyu care if pipple are schtupid under wrong? Hy mean, Hy alvays got de impression dot hyu deedn't care vhat odder pipple tink, zo vhy vaste hyu time gettink zo op in arms about it. Iz not hyur problem, iz it? Zo let dem be wrong. Hyu got bedder tings to do, like playink vit de unicorn blott Hy vill giff hyu.

[preanimator]

[The problem with all that, Maxim, is it makes perfect sense and would be something someone who didn't have an enormous chip on their shoulder might actually be able to do. But most of who West is is wrapped up in how smart he thinks he is, and his need to constantly prove himself, and of course he cares what other people think, he craves respect and admiration for his brain. Not that he even really gets this on a conscious level, or could explain if he did. So he just sits there, staring flummoxed and vaguely outraged at the other boy, not sure what to say for a few moments.]

Ignorance is ... you don't understand! [Is all he can manage.]

[moveslikejaeger]

Iz not hyu problem. {Maxim repeats, calmly and patiently. It might not seem like it, what with him being the wild and crazy Jaeger that he is, but he's more than used to dealing with people like Herbert West.] Iz like dot sayink, right? Bout leadink horzes to vater, but not makink dem drink. Beatink dem vit books chust ain't gonna vurk, und neidder iz t'rowink hyu schmotts in dere face. Iz h'okay to let pipple be schtupid. Iz not hyu responsibility.

[he pauses, then reaches out to touch Herbert's face] Iz sveet dot hyu care, doh.

[preanimator]

[The smaller boy jerks away, scowling and blushing.] It's not sweet, it doesn't have anything to do with that, I just- people are so short sighted! Stupid and- I can't just ignore it! Do you know the kinds of tripe they spew in classes, and call it education? How they treat anyone who has any new ideas?

I will not just sit there and let them walk all over me again! I'm not ... not a damn mouse!

[moveslikejaeger]

[Ah.... sparks. Gotta love them]

Hyu effer hear de vun 'bout how de best revenge iz a life liffed vell?

[preanimator]

[lips twist into a bitter sneer] Oh, yes. Aphorisms. Clever little sayings meant to simplify everything and appease the idiot masses. That's a lovely little one in particular - it means sit down and shut up and mind your business. 'Don't rock the boat.' Ignore mediocrity, and let them do whatever they like. Because all the idiots who've ever scoffed at my great ideas are someone going to care and be angry if I go on to lead a happy life! That's not revenge, that's just another way of bending over and taking it.