Silver Serpent, Black Bird [Reckony/Theo/Open]

[Maebh Breandan]

Blue eyes trailed after Reck as he walked to the bar. Maebh was curious about this barkeep. There was something about him that intrigued her. She hadn't a clue yet what it was but from the first night she had met him in the pouring rain cursing her brother she was curious. No doubt he had a bushel of women trailing after him. He'd be a dynamite lover and he knew it to. But for some reason she wasn't put off by his blatant interest in her as a woman. While he did look at her with a knowing heat there was something else in his gaze. She knew she should get involved seriously with anyone at that time. She was about to go deep undercover and would be gone for several weeks if not months but she had a bit of time to start things, if he truly was willing and not a tremendous flirt.

Maebh managed to focus on Ralin's story for a few minutes as he talked about bullies and saving the weak. She took mental notes of the situation to put down in a report later. While bullies were minor things they did lead to much bigger problems.

"Maebh, Miss Breandan, I don't think we were ever properly introduced. There was so much going on the other night. It was inappropriate of me to walk away without checking on you. My name is Reckony Pike but my friends call me Reck." His handshake was one that he reserved for his mates but he figured he'd take his friends advice for once. "You fight amazingly well. We'd not have made it without you."

"Pleasure." She said with a sweet smile as she took his hand. her lips twisted into a wry smile when he commented on her fighting. Not everyman liked it.

"It was me who brought the demons to your door in the first place. Bloody storm ripped the door off the apothecary. The demons were actually playing with the door. The fool that I am, I walked outside to see what was going on and ended up being chased here. Thank you for your help and I'm sorry Conan was a bore that night. He can be quite the drunkard." She quipped her thoughts turning to her brother.

her eyes alighted on her old friend Theo when Ralin questioned their friendship

"Yes, how do you know each other?"

[Reckony Pike]

[[OOC: God-moding Theo because he is also my character and, because...I can.]]

Conan. So that was his name. Reckony felt his heart and stomach burn. It was like acid reflux, only it was accompanied by a longing, needy ache that caused him to involuntarily flex his muscles and twitch. The reaction was too slight to notice on the outside, but on the inside Reckony was being meticulously eaten by a piranha. Was Conan a lover? Was he an ex? Did Maebh have lascivious intentions towards this man? They shared knives. Who knew? It could be some sort of sick gypsy mating ritual. He cleared his throat in a discrete manner. Theo gave him a look.

"Yes, how do you know each other?"

Theo's eyes widened in warning and Reckony took the cue, feeling suddenly vulnerable amongst his present company.

"Uuuuuuuuuuuuh-well," The barman recovered from his open-mouthed stall with a mischievous wink and vague quick talk. "In answer to your questions, Ralin and Miss Breandan, I beg your mercy. Knowing our luck of late, one of you would be some undercover hitwizard and we'd both end up back in the clink." Out of the corner of his eye, Pike saw Theo's head sink. He had to recover. "We are brothers, not in blood or through adoption but certainly in arms. Which reminds me - we need music!" He nodded to a server who placed a knut in to a Muggle contraption called a "jukebox." The song was one of Reck's favourites.

"Brilliant." Reckony grabbed the bottle of fire whiskey, topping up everyone's goblet. When he reached Theo, he noticed the man still looking at the source of the music, nay - looking past it. Out the window.

There's so many different worlds. So many different suns. And we have just one world. But we live in different ones.

"Theodore? You're looking very sullen, my pup."

"I, uh, I have to go." Without turning, Theo aimlessly left his seat, leaving money for his tab on the counter. His suit coat was rumpled, his tie was pulled ajar. Filtered light poured through the windows and illuminated his face as he approached the entrance. Thoroughly perplexed, Reckony contemplated taking chase.

"Theo?" To Ralin and Maebh, "Excuse me."

He made his way across the room in four large steps, grabbing his friend by his upper arm and swinging him around before he could exit.

"Hey. Hey! What is it, lad? Something I said? Look I'm sorry for before. You know how I get when my heart's - you're my conscience. I need you. Where are you going?"

Reckony could not remember a time that his best friend seemed so lost. The expression in Theo's eyes devastated him and he wondered if he hadn't come to the Three Broomsticks earlier to discuss something more than business.

"I'm, I'm going to the Ministry." His voice held a measure of fear. "Something's wrong. I should have acted sooner."

"Go back where? Theo!" But he couldn't stop his friend from leaving.

Reckony turned, more confused than ever, and retreated to the bar, choosing instead to sit between Maebh and Ralin. He grabbed his drink and downed it.

"So, an apothecary? Let me know if I can replace your door. Magic can repair the hinges, but good craftsmanship will last forever. Sometimes Muggle is best. But since your a merchant, perhaps we should discuss the greater issue: our demon friends. We could use you on the Black Watch. Have you gotten wind of it?"

[Maebh Breandan]

It had been a simple question, one that shouldn't have been surprising. It was probably being asked right this second somewhere in the world by hundreds if not thousands of people. Then why did both men faultier? It was like she had asked were they gay, which she knew most definitely that they weren't. Unless, Reckony's overt flirtation was his way of masking his true feelings...but he seemed to be perfectly straight and more than a little in to her. Or was that her pride talking?

. "In answer to your questions, Ralin and Miss Breandan, I beg your mercy. Knowing our luck of late, one of you would be some undercover hitwizard and we'd both end up back in the clink."

Bullocks. Keep a straight face Breandan, it's just a turn of phrase. Your identity is not blown...Or was it? Maebh glanced at Theo avoided her gaze with a head sink. Did Theo know about her real job? Was he privy to that information? Wait, did the Minister actually know that Maebh was the gypsy undercover? Due to the new law one of her alternate identities had been registered as the undercover hitwizard. That identity looked very little like the real Maebh, she had made sure of that.

Before Maebh could comment on their apparently dubious first meeting, Reck had jumped up in search of music. How odd. So Theo had been arrested and imprisoned. She'd have to tread carefully but she needed to find out if her cover was blown. If word got out that Maebh Breandan was a spy for the ministry the gypsy population would retaliate and it wouldn't be just her life in danger but that of her family's. this could turn into a right old mess pretty quickly. Maebh slowly slipped her whiskey as she thought through this little problem. Then Theo stammered that he had to leave and dashed out with Reck trailing after him. Well this was most definitely strange. SOmething was eating her friend alive and she wondered if it had to do with her...

"So, an apothecary? Let me know if I can replace your door. Magic can repair the hinges, but good craftsmanship will last forever. Sometimes Muggle is best. But since your a merchant, perhaps we should discuss the greater issue: our demon friends. We could use you on the Black Watch. Have you gotten wind of it?"

Maebh smiled her thanks, having him help repair her business would give her an opporuntiy to poke into his caustic comments.

"It's a group of business owners in Hogsmeade right? Would it ruffle their feathers if a lawless gypsy joined?"

[Reckony Pike]

"It's a group of business owners in Hogsmeade right? Would it ruffle their feathers if a lawless gypsy joined?"

"Whoa! Now excuse me, little Miss!" Reckony spun on his stool to face Maebh head on, knocking her knees with his own and bringing up his hands, palms out, in a gesture that was supposed to have meant "now hold on" but that actually looked quite inappropriate. Reck caught himself, coughed in embarrassment, and chose instead to let his hands rest on his lap.

"We live on lawless. It's in our Bylaws. Our Code of Conduct. Our Terms and Conditions of Order. We're not sanctioned by the Ministry and we're almost certainly a thorn in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement's side. Let me ask you this: when was the last time you saw the Ministry send in a hitwizard or an auror to look after this village? Mr. Curse Kameren, I must stress, is the exception. Now he's no longer practicing but that man protects this town, much like you and Ralin do, and the Watch. But Curse wasn't assigned here. He fights because he knows what's right and I respect him for it. No, we need to protect our own."

Reckony fired back another whiskey and felt the floor move. That was his cue to stop drinking.

"Ralin, you manage to find work yet? If you want a job in the bar I would be happy to oblige. I can keep my eye on you that way, make sure those little cupcakes don't come back."

[Maebh Breandan]

She hadn't meant to in flame him but Reckony Pike in an uproar was a sight to see. Maebh could barely contain a smile and then a shiver as his knees touched hers. Awareness that a virile male was talking adamantly at her trickled up her body. He was a fine specimen of man, especially when he was in a passion about something. She smiled slightly as he went on to explain all what his little club did. Then her smile disappeared and she seemed intrigued. The Black Watch was more than what the Ministry suspected. Really, she shouldn't get invloved, one day it might get back to her superiors. Toad stools, she wasn't your typical hit wizard. She wasn't their caged pet trained to do what ever they demanded before they asked it of her. She was a part time agent. She would join this little society and help protect this little village.

"It sounds wonderful. Count me in." She said with a wide grin before swallowing her entire glass. The burn was welcome, if only it would keep her thoughts away from the manliness of Reckony Pike. Nope, still aware.

"If the bar isn't your taste, I'm sure my sister would welcome someone else's help in the apothecary. She's about your age."

[Ralin O'Faerlun]

Ralin rolled his eyes when the two weren't looking. Honestly, grownups. Wait, he was an adult too. Technically. But seriously, the barkeeper and the gypsey were clearly twitterpated. Sometimes when he caught them making lovesick eyes at each other (of course while the other's back was turned) Ralin had to bite down a chuckle.

Ah well, it was good that they were making friends. Nothing wrong with romance either. Ralin just wasn't a romantic. Maybe he might attempt some matchmaking...get Reckony and Maebh out on a date or something.

Plots began to dance around in his brain like squirrels wearing tutus, and for a moment Ralin was staring off into space with a distant smile. For those who knew him well, they would recognize that smile as one that heralded doom and destruction in the form of mischief.

It was a dangerous smile for 'Lucky' O'Faerlun.

But then he was jolted out of his reverie (sending the tutu-sporting squirrels scampering for the trees. In his brain. Oh dear, he needed to stop all that mental imagery.) when Reckony mentioned the Black Watch.

Grinning toothily, the young man raised his glass. "Lawless? Protecting innocents? Bein' a thorn in th' Ministry's side? Where do I sign up?" He hoped that Reckony wouldn't write him off as another big-eyed youngster fresh out of school with no knowledge of the real world.

After all, hadn't he shifted to an (adorable) werewolf to kick major demon butt that one night?

"How does one go about findin' this 'Watch'?"

"Oh and if ye need an extra hand or too, yer friend Theo gave me a job at his house, but I'm always happy to help out elsewhere too." Ralin winked and drained the rest of his mug.