early shift {summer/open}

[silas]

Silas yawned as he walked into the door of the apothecary, unwrapping himself from his cloak and hastily putting on his glasses. Lately the state of the wizarding world had not been good, he was just thankful that he had turned seventeen in August, and could now apparate to work instead of spending several tense hours on muggle trains, half-paranoid that he might be attacked. To Silas it seemed there wasn't much a pattern to the way things were happening, just sudden out-of-the-blue things at random. Maybe that was the plan of this mysterious dark force, instill panic in the hearts of the public.

If that was their plan, Silas thought, they were doing a damn good job at it. Business was beginning to suffer, even in broad daylight some people were getting afraid to leave their homes. Silas hung up his cloak in the back room and punched his time card before going out onto the store front to begin stocking merchandise. It was always the responsibility of the opening shift, which Silas had been assigned to that Saturday. He didn't mind coming in early, it meant that by the afternoon he would be back at the castle, leaving his evening free to dedicate to homework. The joys of the upcoming NEWT exams...

Silas shook his head as he began arranging jars on the shelf in front of him, jumping slightly when the bell over the door rang. Customers never came in this early, even though they had opened the second he stepped foot in the door. Pushing his glasses up his nose, Silas turned to look at...

[summermarieroberts]

Early mornings were her favourite!

Despite the time of year and how cold it was, Summer loved early mornings, there was something incredibly peaceful that went along with being awake and outside whilst the rest of the world continued to sleep. The attacks didn't worry in her really, Summer was in the mind that if anything happened it would happen, she could protect herself but she was not going to hide herself away in fear of maybe being attacked, life couldn't be lived in fear, she refused to hide.

The sunrise had been particulary beautiful this morning, Summer knew it had something to do with the cold weather, which she wasn't too keen on but whatever, she wasn't one to complain, she somehow managed to find all the beauty in whatever it was she was doing.

Today she was heading into Diagon Alley to retrieve some ingredients for a potion she was working on, for her next gathering out on the Yorkshire fields, it was set to be a beautiful night this coming Friday. With a serene smile she pushed the door of Slugg and Jigger's Apothecary open and stepped inside, glad to see they were open so early, it had after all been a long time since she'd been to this place so early.

"Morning..." she said softly, shooting a bright smile at the young shop assistant as he turned to look at her, obviously surprised someone was around this early, "Your are open to serve yes?" she asked, letting the door close behind her, shutting out the cold.

[silas]

Silas found himself suddenly distracted, not only from his stocking duties, but from even speaking properly. The girl that had walked in was really pretty. Though he wasn't one to be awkward in speech, maybe in movement, but never before had he had the sensation that he didn't know quite what to do or say. Of course, he had never been any sort of a romancer, being exceptionally inexperienced in that department. Silas just didn't want to waste his efforts on someone he didn't feel strongly about, and he hadn't come across someone he felt that way about.

Sure, this had lead to some teasing, though he was good-natured about it. Though of course, he felt the accusations by some of his peers that he was gay went a little too far. He didn't feel that just because he had never had a girlfriend before made him homosexual. Silas liked women, the feminine body, he just wanted to wait for someone he had real feelings for. Stop gaping, you idiot, Silas thought to himself furiously, though he somehow couldn't get his mouth to work, never before had he experienced something like this. He bit his lip, adjusting his glasses again.

He really did not like them, they were cumbersome, though he was slightly nearsighted, which made reading tiny labels on jars and bottles difficult without them. It also tended to give him headaches if he squinted too long at words that were made cruelly too small. "Erm, yes," said Silas, finally getting his mouth to cooperate with him, "what can I get for you?" He hastily put the jar that he had been holding on the shelf with its fellows, turning it quickly so the label faced outward like the rest of them.

His ears felt hot, though he nonetheless looked back at the pretty young woman as he waited for her reply. Silas wiped his hands off on his apron although they were not particularly dirty, if only to give himself something to do so he might not feel quite so awkward. Gosh she was really pretty...

[summermarieroberts]

Summer found herself smiling brightly at the boy now stood in front of her as she waited for him to talk. He was cute, obviously still of school age she'd bet, she'd always been good at determining ages of people..right now she'd bet anything that this guy was in his last year of Hogwarts. A school she both missed and was glad to be away from in equal measures, there'd been too many rules in school for her, so in many ways she was glad to be rid of it.

"Do you guys sell...erm...Salamander blood and...frozen ashwinder eggs?" she asked, crossing her fingers in front of her as she looked from the guy in front of her to glance around the shop. Honesty she really hoped this potion was worth all the trouble she was having to go through to aquire the ingredients, more than that she hoped her friends, the group appreciated all of her effort. Really she knew they would, that's how great they were, plus like her they appreciated everything.

She took a step closer to the young man as she awaited his answer, her eyes flickering back to him as she did. Summer was human after all, and he was cute, seemingly innocent looking when his ears burned red, that made her smile widen all the more. She bit down on her lip and clasped her hands together in front of her, "I'm Summer..." she said finally holding out her hand to him. Something was inclining her to get to know him, something about him had caught her interest instantly and she didn't know what it was, sure he was handsome but it was something else entirely, "And what should I call you honey?"

[silas]

Silas found that he really liked this girl's smile, something about it made him about want to freeze all over again- just so he could stop and stare at it. He pushed those thoughts from his head, surely a girl like her wanted nothing to do with a guy like him. At any rate, she did look older than him, not by much, maybe three years at most- but it certainly wasn't traditional for girls to go out with guys that were younger than they were. Silas didn't like to label, though he figured that she would probably want someone her age or older- that was usually the case.

Though all the same, she was the first person he had felt something like this toward, it was strange, though elating at the same time. Silas found the feelings particularly difficult to put words to. Though he was feeling something, and that was definitely out of the ordinary. "Yes, and yes," said Silas. He had been working at the store since he was fourteen, and while that was only three years he was very well acquainted with what items they had and where they were kept. Perhaps it was because of his prowess in both potions and herbology.

He walked over to a nearby shelf to get a vial of violently blue salamander blood, though knew he would have to get the ashwinder eggs from behind the counter. His ears went red again when the girl introduced herself (Summer, her name was, he would have to remember that) and offered her hand. Silas took it, holding the vial firmly in his other hand so he wouldn't drop it. "Silas," said he, and then swallowed although his mouth had gone suddenly dry. He held out the vial to her, and added, "nice to meet you."

[summermarieroberts]

Summer watched the guy as he confirmed that they did indeed carry what she was looking for, and he went to retrieve the Salamander blood. Summer felt her eyes light up seeing the beautiful shade of blue, "Perfect..." she said, clapping her hands together once, before using them to brush her hair back from her face and retrieve her purse from her bag. Now this was a girl who didn't carry much money, so she hoped she'd have enough, work was a little scarce as of late...not that she was complaining too much, after all she was sure she'd find something...and then probably not stick at it for too long.

"Well it's my pleasure to meet you to Silas..." she said cheerily, shooting him a flirty wink, before she chuckled and leaned against the counter. There certainly was something about him that made her all the more reluctant to leave the shop without having gotten at least some other chance to see him. She wondered what he would say to an invite to her gathering, it was to be on the first full moon of this month and set to be an amazing night.

"You go to Hogwarts right?" she asked, playing with a loose lock of her hair as she awaited his answer. Most guys became freaked out when they got to know her properly, got to know what it was she could do...and couldn't be bothered with her stance on non-commitment. Now don't get her wrong, Summer wasn't against it at all, she just thought life was too short to settle down too soon, and plus she'd never found anyone that had made her feel like it could be an option.

[silas]

Silas wasn't sure what to do or think anymore, though he did know that he didn't want Summer to leave and then never see her again. Nor did he particularly want to come in every shift he was scheduled for hoping that she might come back in through the doors. He was prone to working opening shifts on Saturdays, and sometimes Sundays too, perhaps that was when Summer elected to do her shopping. Or maybe the potion she was planning on making had to be brewed at a specific time of day. Potions were a finicky thing though Silas was highly gifted with them, he just had a knack for brewing potions and tending to plants.

Silas smiled in response to her words, though felt himself blush slightly when she added a wink. That he had no idea how to reply to. He mentally cursed himself for not even trying to flirt a little ever before, he had no clue what to do. He pondered a moment on what Samara might tell him, though that wasn't helpful either, although she was quite successful in the romance department. But they didn't get along well anyway, she would likely give him terrible advice knowing he would follow it, and he would end up humiliating himself.

"Erm, yes," said Silas, "I'm a Hufflepuff." He felt the need to add that bit, as it was usually the next question people might ask. He made a gesture for her to follow him up to the counter, where he would be able to get her ashwinder eggs. Silas brought out their container, putting it on the counter beside the register. "How many did you need?" asked Silas. It was one of the few things the shop sold by quantity rather than weight. But they were tricky to get a hold of, they needed to sell per piece.

[summermarieroberts]

Seeing the blush fill Silas's cheeks when she winked at him made Summer's smile widen all the more. She loved that she had that affect on him, but resisted the urge to tease him some more. It was different, usually she had men, guys flirting back, doing what they could to get to know her but Silas seemed different, some what inexperienced around girls, or perhaps he just wasn't the kind of guy who was smooth when it came to the opposite sex. That in itself was a trait she found endearing, cute even and increased her interest in him.

"I was a Ravenclaw myself...back when they had me trapped behind those walls..." she said following him to th counter and hopping up to sit on it, her leg dangling over the edge as she tucked the other beneath her, watching as Silas retrieved the ashwinder eggs. Tapping her finger against her lips she recited the potion ingredients in her head, "Potion calls for 3 but give me 4, just to be on the safe side..." she said.

She looked back up at Silas and smiled tucking her hair behind her shoulder as she inclined her head to the side, as though debating over something. "Say I have a question...you ever been to a midnight gathering out in the Yorkshire fields?" she asked, doubting very much he had, he didn't seem like the type of guy who would. The gatherings involved huge bonfires, music, dancing beneath the moon and stars. It also included smoking, and drinking potions meant to heighten their senses...Summer loved the gatherings, the atmosphere and moon helped her tune into her gift all the better.

"You may have heard of them...my friends and I hold all kinds of gatherings out there...only last week were down on Shell beach..." she said, it may be mind opening for him if he was willing, and the perfect chance to get to know him a little bit better.

[silas]

Silas wished he knew what to do or say, though he had never been in this type of situation, nor did he know quite how to interpret it accurately. Had Summer been trying to flirt with him? Or was she just one of those girls that acted that way around everyone? He was dreadfully confused, though decided he would air on the side of caution and try his best to not embarrass himself by not attempting to flirt back, if that had even been what she was trying to do in the first place. Silas adjusted his glasses again, although they had not been crooked or down his nose too far.

That was what Silas did when he got nervous, even if only slightly so. He would fiddle with things. Constantly readjust his glasses, organize things in an almost compulsive way, anything that would give his hands and mind something to do other than just being awkward. Though of course when he was alone he would pace. Walk around the room until he was certain that if he didn't stop he would wear a path into the floor over the area he had been walking in. Silas had not been expecting Summer to sit down on the counter, closing up any barrier of space they had had previously.

"Erm, right," said Silas, picking up an ingredient bag and an enchanted glove they used for handling that specific ingredient. The ashwinder eggs had to be kept at near subzero temperatures, otherwise they might burst into flame and burn down the whole shop in a matter of minutes. "You do know not to handle these bare-handed, right?" said Silas, it was a liability thing, he had to inform customers to legally protect the shop. He sealed four eggs into the bag before storing the rest of the container back under the counter once more.

"No," Silas said simply when Summer asked if he had been to one of the midnight gatherings at Yorkshire. He hadn't ever known someone that had, and wasn't exactly knowledgeable at what happened at one of those events. His mouth went dry again as he thought that perhaps Summer was intending to invite him to one? Silas shoved all thoughts of that out of his mind, he was jumping to conclusions, and had already mentally told himself multiple times that likely nothing would come of this. She was just a customer, however pretty and different from the rest... "What exactly do they involve?" asked Silas, trying to be casual, but still feeling completely stupid.

((OOC: So would these gatherings be kind of like an "everyone gets high to get in touch with their true potential" sort of thing? I would love to have Silas in one of those and RP him under the influence of one thing or another, lol))