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Post by Rowan Trace on Mar 18, 2011 14:51:10 GMT -5
Rowan stood on the street outside Gringotts, paying little attention to witches and wizards as they passed. He was counting out his Muggle money, double-checking the goblins' exchange out of their sight, where they wouldn't become belligerent and offended that he didn't trust them. Whether he did or not was unimportant; it eased his mind to be completely sure.
He intended to see his friends this weekend, and though there were no plans to go dancing, it was a better idea that he keep his wallet stocked, in case plans changed. He'd need a good amount if they headed out to a pub again, since pub proprietors didn't appreciate the little bottles of charms he kept in his pockets.
He'd considered staying in, or perhaps going to see Keith as he'd said he would, but one of his wizarding friends had sent him an owl that there might be a party, and he'd be expected in London either way. That usually meant He'd be spending a few pounds here or there.
When he was sure of the amount, he tucked the slips of paper away, then folded the wallet and tucked it into his messenger bag. He'd found it was much simpler to explain a messenger bag than to dig through a magically-expanded coin pouch for a wallet, or vice-versa.
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Post by Mano Berwyn on Mar 18, 2011 15:30:56 GMT -5
Mano didn't make a habit of strolling the streets of Diagon Alley, but he had to go to Gringotts sometimes. Seeing a vaguely familiar face potentially made it a worthwhile trip. "Hello, there," he said as he came up to the man, only remembering a little more of their first meeting when he came closer. How could he forget that conversation?
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Post by Rowan Trace on Mar 18, 2011 15:53:46 GMT -5
Rowan looked up, a niggling part of his mind saying he should recognize the well-dressed wizard approaching him, though he couldn't for the life of him place the man's face. His voice was a minor annoyance though, so Rowan assumed they must have met through his father, or perhaps they went to school together somewhere, though that slight receding hairline suggested otherwise. All the same, he'd try to be polite and figure out how they knew one another before the other man figured out that he had no idea who he was talking to. Awkward at best, but an unfortunate necessity. He forced a smile. "It's been a while, hasn't it?" he said.
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Post by Mano Berwyn on Mar 18, 2011 16:35:21 GMT -5
Mano smiled easily. "Not too very long, glad I'm getting to see you again, though," he said. It was outside of work, although it meant it was easier for the man to make an escape if he wanted to. "I'm sorry, I don't quite remember your name." Had they even exchanged names? He couldn't remember.
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Post by Rowan Trace on Mar 18, 2011 16:41:55 GMT -5
Thank you, Rowan thought, to no one in particular. "Rowan Trace, I'm teaching up at Hogwarts now," he said. "I'm sure you'll excuse me, but I've lost your name as well." This would save him quite a bit of effort, and with luck, the name would jog his memory enough to form appropriate responses. He despised the feel of being unsure.
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Post by Mano Berwyn on Mar 18, 2011 16:49:49 GMT -5
"Mano Berwyn," Mano said. He didn't see any need to remind Rowan of where he worked. Apparently the younger man had either forgotten or moved on from what happened and he didn't really intend to push buttons more than he had to. Well, for now at least. A little conversation was better than nothing, and he didn't want it cut too short. Unless there was a good story that came from it.
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Post by Rowan Trace on Mar 18, 2011 17:42:37 GMT -5
Damn. That had done no good whatsoever. The name meant nothing to him, and he'd been given no further information, nor any response to the things he'd said. Rowan began to weigh whether or not this was even worth waiting out. "I really do have things I should be doing," he said after a moment. "It was nice seeing you, give my best regards." To whoever the hell I should be sending regards to. He added another fake smile for good measure.
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Post by Mano Berwyn on Mar 18, 2011 17:44:54 GMT -5
Oh well that short of a conversation wasn't even worth it. "Perhaps you could come back by the cafe some time," he said, a smile pulling at the corner of his mouth as he shifted his weight. "I promise not to give you a hard time again...unless you're in a better mood." Though he couldn't really imagine this guy in a good mood.
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Post by Rowan Trace on Mar 18, 2011 18:22:37 GMT -5
That gave Rowan pause, and he looked at the other man again, seconds ticking by before he made the connection. Then his brows drew together, and though he only had a foggy recollection of that morning, the entire situation was heinous in his mind.
"You're the bloody cashier who couldn't leave well enough alone!" he sputtered. "Why would you even think to... Ugh!" He hiked his messenger bag up a bit and glared fiercely at the slimy git a moment before tipping his head. "Have a nice day," he said, with the most ungenuine smile he could muster.
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Post by Mano Berwyn on Mar 18, 2011 19:03:46 GMT -5
Mano gave a sarcastic little bow. "Come now, I was only having a bit of fun, have to do something to break up the day. In my defense, most of those I play around with are perfectly fine with it." Of course, if there was a bad attitude behind the worse one from needing a coffee fix there wasn't much he could do about it all.
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Post by Rowan Trace on Mar 18, 2011 20:47:25 GMT -5
"And I repeat," Rowan snapped, "If your job is so miserable that you have to drag others down with you, find another job. Excuses are like asses; everybody's got one, and they all stink." Having a bit of fun, breaking up the day, everyone else is fine with it, it was all excuses, and the more he heard, the less-inclined he was to believe a single one.
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Post by Mano Berwyn on Mar 18, 2011 21:37:36 GMT -5
"Really, would you have gotten so frustrated if you'd had your fix?" Mano asked, raising his eyebrows briefly. He couldn't imagine so, but seeing him today it didn't feel like it would take much to change is own mind. It was amazing to him how incredibly tense some people could be all the time.
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Post by Rowan Trace on Mar 18, 2011 22:11:04 GMT -5
Rowan's gaze fixed on the ground as he forced concentration into his words. He didn't need the temptation to hex the man, or worse, to initiate Muggle-style dueling. "My caffeine addiction," he said tersely, "has nothing to do with your inability to tell when your twisted sense of humor is not appreciated." He looked up from beneath his fringe. "The fact is, being prodded about one's weaknesses is miserable enough without the remedy being withheld. Take a moment some time to realize that your customers have lives, and that you're lucky I didn't report you to your manager!"
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Post by Mano Berwyn on Mar 18, 2011 22:13:55 GMT -5
Mano chuckled at that. "Well, I guess I'm not very lucky, as I was just reported," he said, an amused smile hovering on his lips. "It's my shop. And as the owner of such a place I'm well aware of how people deal, or fail to deal, with their caffeine addictions. You're one of the few that hasn't come back."
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Post by Rowan Trace on Mar 18, 2011 22:21:04 GMT -5
"Your service is terrible," Rowan said, furious at the fact that his threat had failed. He refused to acknowledge that he'd just possibly been put in his place. "You'd likely be out of business if wizards were more familiar with Starbucks™. Or do they come back to keep you from harassing them?"
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