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Post by Nuriko Elsywth on Aug 25, 2010 23:20:46 GMT -5
Diagon Alley was usually a bustling, cheerful place-- and it was so today. However, it didn't take a dim American to see that there was an undercurrent of tension and uneasiness, and Nuriko was not a dim American. People traveled in groups and packs, and adults kept a wary eye on their young children.
Even the cheery aquaette was subdued as she wandered through the Alley. She carried a broom over her shoulder, and the other hand was weighted down with a bag from Flourish & Botts, containing her supply of schoolbooks for the year... plus a number of other books that had caught her eye.
Just as she was regretting not taking the reinforced and charmed bag(it reduced the weight of the books), a man shoved past her, ignoring her cry of protest and continuing on. Nuri glared after the man for a second, then turned her head and continued on against the suddenly thicker crowd. She still needed to get robes for the year.
Thunk. Several seconds later, she realized her bag was emptier than before, and turned to find a trail of books behind her. Her manuever swung the broom, clearing the crowd around her as she crouched to retrieve the errant books.
She intended to get a candy cane after this. The stress and hassle of this wary crowd demanded the sweet mint of the striped candies.
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Post by Amara Deocaris on Aug 30, 2010 2:38:14 GMT -5
Amara walked through the crowd at an unhurried pace, her new horn-rimmed spectacles dark against her unnaturally pale skin. The crowd in Diagon was thicker than ever, but the atmosphere was dim and the chatters were low. Mara wondered at this behavior, glancing left to right at the shoppers who were busy buying everything they needed then scurrying away as if being chased by demented rabbits.
If only they knew what she knew... then they'd really have reason to worry. The break-in in the Department of Mysteries happened around this time last year, and still the other Unspeakables in the department as well as herself were busy determining what exactly happened.
She had spent nearly a week shut up in the Department, finishing up all of the loose ends and trying to get started on the research she was supposed to be doing if not for the whole fuss happening in the Ministry. It had been a long long week and all Mara had wanted after getting out of the Ministry was to sleep.
Amara had wanted to rest in her apartment, but the silence was strangely unnerving. She loved solitude so that had puzzled her mightily. She decided to go out into the world and see what had been happening in the weeks she had been technically away.
Mara had first wandered into a shop that sold eyeglasses and frivolously bought a new pair before going to find a newspaper. That had been an hour ago, which was strange since she usually found a stand in about 5 minutes. Lots of strange things were happening that day.
Suddenly, some furor in front of her widened the crowd. A man came barreling towards her and she had barely stepped aside when he ran. A shout and some thunking sounds later and the other girl the man had hit was circling around - nearly hitting other people in turn with her large broomstick. Mara realized that the girl's books had fallen out of the torn bag.
The bystanders just stared at the girl and the books, and Mara felt obligated to at least help. Gathering the ones that were nearest to her, she started going nearer to the girl till most of the books had been gathered.
"Here are your books, miss." said Mara. "Do you want to go after him?" she asked, surprising herself with the slight show of emotion. The man had been rather rude... she thought.
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Post by Nuriko Elsywth on Aug 30, 2010 11:53:07 GMT -5
[[The break-in happened last year ]] Nuriko repaired the bag and placed a reinforcement charm on it with a few simple words. She turned to accept the pile of books the woman offered, stuffing them into the bag with the rest. She smiled cheerily, “Thanks! I don’t know how long it woulda taken me to get them all alone!” her voice was as cheery as her bright blue hair, and her low, soft voice was obviously American. "Here are your books, miss." said Mara. "Do you want to go after him?"
“Go after him?” She said, looking back in the direction he had gone. “Oh no,” she waved a hand in dismissal. “He’s not worth it, one little rude man.” She hefted her packages and broom and stuck her hand out to shake. “Nuriko Elswyth, nice to meet you!”
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Post by Ralin O'Faerlun on Sept 1, 2010 2:34:11 GMT -5
"I could make 'is life miserable for ya lassie," an Irish-rich voice spoke behind her, and a young man, almost twenty, handed her the last book she'd dropped. Moss-green eyes twinkled from a freckled face, and a familiar grin fell on her.
The book he offered turned out to be bait for a trap, which he sprung once she grabbed it. Pulling her into a bear hug, the young man patted her on the back and ruffled her cerulean hair.
"Dumbledore's beard lass, tis amazin' t'see ya again! How long has it been? Yer lookin' chipper an' fine as always!" He winked and released her, holding out his hand to the other woman.
"Thanks for helpin' her, me name's Ralin O'Faerlun. How's yer day goin'?"
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Post by Amara Deocaris on Sept 1, 2010 8:52:01 GMT -5
(OOC: >_< this is what happens when I don't read things properly. LOL! Edited it.)
Amara gave the books to the young girl and smiled tentatively back in return. The blue-haired girl spoke in flat, unaccented tones -- which would make her American, most likely. It was a pleasant surprise to an otherwise dull day.
"Amar--"
Her introduction was suddenly stopped by the arrival of another person, someone the American probably knew as he sprang a trap at her and then pulled her into a close bear hug. Very enthusiastic, these people... she thought.
"Thanks for helpin' her, me name's Ralin O'Faerlun. How's yer day goin'?"
Irish. Definitely heard music right there in those sentences. "I'm ah, Amara. Amara Deocaris. And, it was no bother at all, really."
She stuck her hand out as well, remembering that Nuriko made the same gesture just moments before. "It's nice to meet you."
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Post by Nuriko Elsywth on Sept 1, 2010 10:18:46 GMT -5
"I could make 'is life miserable for ya lassie,"
“No, really--”she turned and took the book automatically, but her eyes widened as she recognized the older boy. “Ralin!” She grinned, her hair flushing a brighter blue with pleasure.
"Dumbledore's beard lass, tis amazin' t'see ya again! How long has it been? Yer lookin' chipper an' fine as always!" He winked and released her, holding out his hand to the other woman.
“Well, you are a sight for sore eyes!” she ruffled his bright red hair in return, barely having to reach to do so. It was the advantage of having short friends. “Too long! How's the adult work laddy?” She asked, imitating his accent.
"Thanks for helpin' her, me name's Ralin O'Faerlun. How's yer day goin'?"
"I'm ah, Amara. Amara Deocaris. And, it was no bother at all, really."
She stuck her hand out as well, remembering that Nuriko made the same gesture just moments before. "It's nice to meet you."
“Great to meet you, Amara!” She slipped the last book in her bag. “Come on folks! I want some candy canes!” She dragged them off to Sugarplum's.
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Post by Amara Deocaris on Sept 2, 2010 9:21:22 GMT -5
The two seemed very chummy together, all hugging and hair-ruffling going round the place. They made quite a picture, one with bright red hair and the other with blue that was getting brighter by the second. It was the kind of picture she used to see back when she was in Hogwarts, friendship that was close and lasting. Mara supposed she had had one or two of that, but... well, she wasn't very good at relationships.
She looked at the passersby on the street who seemed to be going on their way, the drama had passed. "I probably should be going.." she said, though Mara wasn't quite heard over the din of the people.
"I said -- !"
“Come on folks! I want some candy canes!” said Nuriko, grabbing her arm and dragging her to some place with a colorful and enticing looking store window. Amara couldn't help but gawk, this was not a situation she was very familiar with. And to top that all off..
What in Merlin's beard was a candy cane?
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Post by Ralin O'Faerlun on Sept 2, 2010 22:19:51 GMT -5
Ralin's day seemed much brighter now, running into his friend. She looked well, and the new girl was nice too, but he didn't recognize her. Slinging his bag over his shoulder, he joined the two young women as Nuri dashed towards the sweets shop. Sugar! Yay!
The red-headed young man followed her to gaze at the window display. A riot of tasty colors danced before their eyes, from rich chocolate truffles and bright swirling lollipops, to exotic sweets such as the sugar-spun birds flying over the display to the dancing gingerbread figures. His stomach rumbled and he walked over to hold the door open for the girls.
"'ere we are, one of the best stops in Diagon Alley! Don't be shy lass," he winked at Amara. "They won't bite. Well....actually some of them do, but just bite 'em back!"
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Post by Nuriko Elsywth on Sept 2, 2010 22:33:02 GMT -5
Nuriko grinned and bounded into the store, her hair striping red and white, giving her locks a horizontal banded look. She headed straight for one corner, where hard candies were displayed in startling number and color. She hooked a trio of hooked sticks the color of her hair out of a glass jar and handed one each to Amara and Ralin. “Mm.” She stuck the third in her mouth and continued to browse, tossing two Knuts towards a brightly colored bird that swooped low and caught the coins.
“I love this place!” She beamed.
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Post by Amara Deocaris on Sept 3, 2010 6:51:25 GMT -5
Amara turned wide brown eyes all over the gaily lit store, which seemed a lot bigger inside than its storefront suggested. Ralin and Nuriko did not look at all out of place in the riot of colors and that certain smell that indicate pure sugary happiness.
It was like coming home to a long lost childhood.
Mara instinctively caught the bright blue stick that Nuriko tossed at her, and realized belatedly that she had been gaping in the minutes that they'd been in the store. She closed her mouth, then looked at Ralin doubtfully. "Bite? What do you mean they bite?" she asked, a little note of hysterical laughter in her voice. This was turning out to be the strangest day ever.
“I love this place!” said Nuriko, beaming.
"I can certainly see why..." murmured Mara, touching one gingerbread that waved gaily at her before resuming dancing. A reluctant smile crossed her face, a smile full of wonderment. "These look too cute to be eaten!"
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Post by Nuriko Elsywth on Sept 8, 2010 22:17:00 GMT -5
Nuriko’s red and white hair swirled around her ears as she moved through the store, investigating each and every shelf for the perfect candy. There were dancing gingerbread men, boxes of chocolate frogs lined up in neat rows, sourheads with little thin bodies and huge angry looking heads.
"Bite? What do you mean they bite?"
‘Riko twirled to face Amara. “You mean you don’t know your magical treats?” She pointed at a low glass box containing what looked like flattened peppermint sticks with tapering tails and a wedge-shaped head with beady red eyes and rows of sharp white teeth. “They’re called Pepper Snappers. Peppermint with an over-bite of hot jalapeño pepper.” They slithered over each other, opening their jaws and taking bites out of whatever threatened them. Bits of pepper snapper littered the bottom of the container.
"I can certainly see why..." murmured Mara, touching one gingerbread that waved gaily at her before resuming dancing. A reluctant smile crossed her face, a smile full of wonderment. "These look too cute to be eaten!"
“They are, so they usually go stale.” Nuriko commented, turning away from the snapping treats towards her old friend. She held something delicately between two fingers, right behind the head as it wiggled and snapped.
"Here Ralin!" She threw the candy at the older boy.
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Post by Ralin O'Faerlun on Sept 10, 2010 19:50:55 GMT -5
Ralin turned from sampling the chocolate frogs when Nuri called him.
"What's up lass-" The flying Snapper latched onto his nose. "Yeowch! Gettit off me!" It didn't hurt very much, but Ralin flailed his hands at it, trying to pull the stubborn confection off of his nose. With the red Pepper Snapper dangling in front of his face like a drooping nose, the red-head reached for a handful of fluffy pastries and threw them at Nuri.
"Hah! Take that lassie!" He tugged and pulled at the Snapper in a vain attempt to pull the thing off.
The Tickling Tarts he threw at his friend floated around her like a swarm of bees, their fluffy frosted tops reaching out with feathery fingers to tickle her all over.
Ralin stumbled back against the wall and a chocolate frog jumped onto his head, croaking in alarm, then leaped at Amara.
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