Man About Town [Open]

[jointheclub]

A. Wandsworth

Tucked away down an unassuming little street, an innocent dilapidated building sat as it always had, and probably always would, as far as mortal eyes were concerned. They would never see the sign over the door, which itself looked as if it had seen better days: an S crossed with two bars. Spells sat on this sign and this building, an illusion that shielded it from mundane view and revealed itself to the supernatural.

This, then, was the Apothecarium of Horace E. F. Slughorn, now open for business.

Inside, the portly old witch puttered about a dozen or so cauldrons, humming quietly to himself as he added a pinch of this or a dash of that. While a younger and less-experienced brewer would hew closely to a written recipe, carefully measuring out each ingredient and confirming each step twice before proceeding, Slughorn had long passed that step. Like any skill, potionmaking became more instinctive with practice. Just as a skilled driver did not need to consciously think about stepping on the accelerator, or a skilled marksman did not need to consciously order his muscles to squeeze a trigger, so too did Slughorn not need a recipe or a cup to tell him when seven pinches of basil or six counterclockwise stirs would suffice.

So curious colors and fantastic smells filled the air, all different but never quite in painful opposition, as Slughorn prepared the first of his stock for his new business.

Now Open.

B. A Well-Earned Rest.

Evening found Slughorn quite comfortable enshrined in a comfortable corner of a tavern, a pint on the table by his side and fingers digging through a tin of crystallized pineapple for the finest pieces. Not an unusual sight, unless one were other than human. The same spells that protected his sign also protected the chair he had casually smuggled in earlier in the day. The ordinary patrons, the bartender, the passers-by all saw it as just another wooden affair that seemed lucky it could bear the witch's weight -- never suspecting the true form that keener eyes could see, a comfortable armchair well-suited for a man of his age and girth.

Part of Slughorn's good cheer, then, came from getting one over on the mundanes. But to those who could see the truth, well, it was hard to ask for a more incongruous sight.

Comments

[rules_winter]

She laughed and it rang through the room yet it only caused a few uninterested glances, she was definitely veiling. Her hand moved to slip along his jaw, like the touch of a lover though it wouldn't follow if he jerked back. "Come now my sweet, aging witch. I find you beautiful as you are." She breathed in deeply, as though smelling the sweetest air before breathing back out and moving to sit across from him on one of the wooden chairs. Mab tilted her head as she settled, looking him over. "Your years show your experiences like a roadmap." Leaning in and fixing him with an intense gaze. "So many experiences filling your cup of life."

Her eyes narrowed and suddenly the cold snapped in around them, frosting their cups over though the liquid still moved inside them. "Yesss." It came out a hiss. It was difficult to tell if that was all anger or partially anticipation. Like she might like to take a metaphysical swing at anyone who might dare try to banish her. "Tell me, Horace Slughorn, have you sealed any gates lately?"

[jointheclub]

"You always did lay it on too thick." Slughorn tried and failed not to squirm a little, though whether that was caused by her potential anger or her lavish flattery, even he couldn't say. Oh, he didn't think for a second that Mab wouldn't stoop to, ah, physical inducements if she thought they were necessary to get what she wanted, but she hardly needed to and certainly wouldn't want to for any reason beyond playing with her food, so to speak.

"I've been up north, you know that." Whether or not she did, it was an easy and obvious guess with him. "No need to get involved in that sort of thing up there."

[rules_winter]

The cold abated, as she stared at him, determining how truthful he might be. He was a coward at heart, despite occasional fits of conscience. Her head tilted in an totally inhuman motion as she gazed. "There is no need for you to get involved in such things down here either, I should think," she finally intoned. It was her understanding that, for the most part, the local fae had left the mortal population to their own devices. Interesting to attract their attention. What were the covens thinking? "But you will be drawn to the powerful." Her voice was thoughtful, referring to his penchant for taking the potentially powerful under wing. He had some fae qualities about him despite himself.

[jointheclub]

"Well, I certainly hope no one will raise such a ruckus that we have to run about plugging holes in the walls." Coward Slughorn might be, but he knew which side his bread was buttered on. Mab might be a bit personal about her business, but she wasn't foolish enough to make him disappear just because of business. Not when that would attract attention she didn't want.

At least. So he hoped.

"I only moved down here for some comfort in my old age, anyway. Definitely not in a hurry to start putting myself out."

[rules_winter]

"Is this the reason holes are being," Her expression turned annoyed at the term for a moment, "plugged?" Mab had no problem disappearing people when it suited her. But he was more use to her as source of information for the time being. Fortunately for Slughorn. And she liked the conniving little man in her own way. He wriggled about finding the most interesting ways to be important while still standing on the sidelines.

Her teeth flashed again, k9's sharp. It was a strange place to settle down if one did not want any excitement in their life. Lifting her mug, she sipped the heady liquid. The cup settled on the table again and Mab leaned in a little. "Have you collected any interesting young things, yet?" No Mab was not purposely making him sound like a pedophile.

"

[jointheclub]

"Tension's growing around here, you know. That's why I'm here-- well, that and picking up with my old friends, finding some new promising students." He pushed back into the chair as far as he could, as close to retreat as he could get. "This is where all the interesting people will be, you know."

He huffed in annoyance, his fear briefly subsided under his own nature as he looked at her out of the corner of his eyes. "You know, it's a pity you're so you, Mab. Can't even invite you to a party for fear that you'll wander off with some promising witch and we won't see her again for fifty years till she pops out of some hole carrying a giant icicle sword and vowing vengeance against Summer."

Slughorn had no real hope that Mab would ever behave enough that she could safely appear in his own circles, but a man could dream.

[rules_winter]

"Oh yes, I do know." She agreed, and she savored that thought as though tasting a fine wine.

Her laugh tinkles through the place at his annoyance. "I can hardly be blamed if a Witch decides loyalty to me has benefits they cannot find in your world, Horace Slughorn." Her smile went vulpine, "Even you might find there are benefits to loyalty."

Her finger slid along the rim of her mug. "It might be interesting to see one of your parties."

[jointheclub]

"Yes, of course, you'd never stretch the truth or conveniently omit this or that or imply they'd be getting more than they would." His eyes unconsciously flicked downward from hers when he said the last part. She traded on her looks, after all, along with anything else.

The only way to win was not to play. Even Slughorn knew that.

"You'd find my parties boring. Not your style. Or rather the style you'd want to liven up."

[rules_winter]

"I am what I am." She replied, the tone was final, as though saying the stars were in the sky, or the world turned and seasons changed. "But you know I always keep my word, Horace Slugorn." He dropped his eyes and she smiled again. "Never has a witch served me that did not get what they desired." Surely they may have done things which they later regretted but that was not the discussion. Power always came at great cost.

"Mmm." for now she did not press him about his parties. She did not particularly want to be displayed as one of his many achievements herself. And with him, you never knew if he might try to get you there as a favor to someone else. But Slughorn was not in any way suicidal so his desire to keep her away made sense.

[jointheclub]

"Desires change, Mab," Slughorn said abruptly, frowning into his almost-empty drink. He shot a look left and right, making sure no one was watching, then muttered a few words and made a pass over the mug to refill it.

Enough power to cast a Refilling charm without regretting it, and all he wanted to do with it was cast a Refilling charm without regretting it. Some desires changed.

"It's all about who can get theirs, isn't it? Whatever they end up being."

[rules_winter]

"Mmm." The tone sounded disbelieving. Mab had watched humanity for thousands of years. Generally people didn't change. They just got more sneaky. Creature comforts were Slughorn's vice of choice, evidenced by the chair he sat on and the little jar of candies next to him.

"Often, yes." She finally settled in and got down to business. Toying with Horace was fun, but she had come with a purpose. "Tell me about the leader of Redbright, Horace Slughorn." He would know her, likely personally if not by reputation. And he would have different information than the fae. What she asked was no more than gossip for now. Nothing that would compromise the woman and nothing that would yet compromise Slughorn's personal comfort in the world he was building. But she still expected pushback. Horace was excellent at squirming.

[jointheclub]

"You might be surprised how much I don't know." Rather than squirming, he looked at the fae with a frank expression of disbelief of his own. "You'll hardly believe this, but I've been out of touch for years. Hiding, if you must know. And the reason I'm down here is because she's wading in and setting things right. By my tastes," he added, admitting that Mab might favor a bit more chaos and malice going about than Sylvia would.

[rules_winter]

Malice was less a focus although fun, Chaos though made things simpler for Mab. It was true. She set her chin on her hand and frowned at him. "I hardly believe it." She agreed. "You have always taken care to know what you get yourself into. You are not a foolish man. Tell me how you believe she is 'setting things right'. What is she doing that seemed beneficial enough to bring you back into the thick of things, and more danger?"

[jointheclub]

Chaos, malice, it was all the same to the one on the receiving end, wasn't it? "I don't know why you're asking me things you could figure out for yourself. I have no intention whatsoever of coming someplace with 'more danger'. There's much to be said for power and order, and she's using the first to get the second."

leaving a little room for you to get a last word in before she disappears. :)

[rules_winter]

Mab would be happy to show Slughorn the difference sometime. Oh Sluggy so grumpy. Mab does have that effect on people. "There are many types of Order." Mab replied absently, "I ask because I will learn different things for different people Horace Slughorn. I should think that was obvious."

She lifted her mug to her lips and sipped. Her eyes studied him for a moment. Finally she set her mug down, the liquid inside icy cold. "Very well, you do not know enough right now. I will call on you again Horace Slughorn." That last sounded almost like ritual. She left unsaid that she would expect him to know more. It was even fine if he tried to get out of answering. Nothing like a little cat and mouse. The waitress walked nearby and Mab turned to go, tucking some money into the woman's apron to cover the drinks. It wouldn't be money tomorrow but that was beside the point. Slughorn would not have to pay for the drinks. A fair trade for what little information he provided.