☈ they've clipped your wings again.

[pinkmoon.livejournal.com]

Who: Ruby Van Alst & Severus Snape.
What: Visiting the apothecary where Severus works to discuss dream problems.
Where: Said apothecary.
When: Afternoonish, probably Givdi or thereabouts.
Notes:
Warnings: idk, Snape.

After contending with the fog (an experience she was in no hurry to relive) and making sure that she'd sent out the appropriate antidotes to the appropriate people, Ruby became interested in learning more about the methods of other individuals who tried to assist in alleviating the fog-serpents' poison. She's fairly certain that this won't be the last time that people come back from the fog with poison in their psyches, and she'd like to be prepared, in the future.

She briefly stops outside to look up at the brick building, considering its less-than-inviting exterior. Probably most people would be a little more...nervous about just wandering in to ask a bunch of questions, but this is a girl who once traveled cross-country and insinuated herself into a stranger's life on a hunch, so as a rule, she is not prone to doubting her impulses. ("Headstrong" is not even the word for it.)

She comes into the apothecary with a bag slung over one shoulder, and looks around for someone--she's sure (intuitively) that someone is there, but she's distracted pretty quickly on by some supplies to the left of her. Ruby recognizes their purpose, and thinks that even though she's here to compare notes, it couldn't hurt to do some shopping in the meantime. Ruby pushes her loose hair back, tucking it behind her ear, and meanders the tightly-packed aisles.

Comments

[inkdamage]

The instant someone steps over the mild 'doorbell' wards near the shop's threshold, Severus tenses with irritation. He is only ever in the front area a handful of times during operation hours, and even if it's never busy, he still doesn't like it. This is why. A load of books in arm, he stays quiet and continues to place them properly on a shelf. He's not a clerk, he won't be asking anyone if they need help, and if this is someone who'll be impacted by his cloaking spell and end up being forced to ignore him, it's better to stay quiet anyway.

But then he catches her out of the corner of his eye and drops the damn book - nearly loses all of them - and ends up swearing while he grabs for it.

The mistake only lasts for half a heartbeat but it's enough to throw him off, and now he's both anxious and angry, furious at himself for immediately looking like a fool in front of the one customer that's appeared all day in the single hour he's alone here.

[pinkmoon.livejournal.com]

The reaction makes her swivel around, wide-eyed and apologetic in expression; she hadn't meant to startle anyone. She smiles after, pushing her hair back behind her ear again, and she kind of wishes she'd had the foresight to just tie it back. You'd think psychic powers and intermittent precognition would come in handy with that kind of thing.

"Hi," she says, soft-voiced, "I'm sorry to bother you, but I'm looking for someone who works here per my friend Ilde's recommendation."

[inkdamage]

"There's a consultation," he says, looking anywhere but her, putting books back with the brittle movements of someone restraining themselves. If she has an eye for it, it's clear he's wearing a tightly-cast enchantment like armor, even if whatever it's meant to do isn't apparent. He shoves one last book back onto the shelf and moves away. "Not with me."

[pinkmoon.livejournal.com]

Well. Ruby is not naturally given to rudeness, and she can tell she's not entirely welcome here, but she is a persistent sort, so she doesn't give it up there. Especially since she can tell that enchantment is there, and that it's no small spell, either.

"No?" She bites her lip for a second, shifting the sit of her bag's strap on her shoulder. "Ah. I was hoping to compare notes on handling the nightmare antidote."

Just throwin' that out there.

"But I'll make an appointment and come back sometime when it's not so out of the blue. Thanks, anyway."

[inkdamage]

"I'm not about to divulge anyone's personal business without their express permission," he says on immediate impulse, and then miraculously doesn't wince for having just confirmed that yes, he is indeed the alchemist behind whatever Ilde is taking. From behind the counter - not because he belongs there but because he has nowhere else to stand - Severus watches her, and irritably clarifies: "Specific treatment is confidential, as it is virtually a medical issue. If you're prying after Ms Decima an appointment won't help."

(Way to assume the worst about everyone, Severus.)

[pinkmoon.livejournal.com]

Her eyebrows go up at once, just a tick, before she controls the reaction and shakes her head--the statement surprises but does not terribly fluster her, and she reacts like she's sort of accustomed to not particularly sociable conversations, put it that way. Sometimes it's just a hazard of how she is, and she doesn't really take it too deeply to heart, even though she also generally considers it her own fault. Ruby turns to watch him right back.

"That's not what I'm interested in--more the methodology, behind what was done to help her. I did something of my own, but...I guess I have a feeling it won't be the last time this happens, and I want to find out if there's a better way."

So, yes. You have an altruist in the apothecary, Severus.

[inkdamage]

"There is always a better way," he says flatly. "No science or art is absolute." He is not going to point out to Ruby that treating a woman who is a water fairy is enormously different than treating someone who is not a water fairy; he has no idea if Ruby knows, and is not going to be the one to bring it up in either case.

[pinkmoon.livejournal.com]

Ruby, being both cognizant of what Ilde is and not sure if her own particular methods make a huge difference with species (if one dreams, in this case, one is presumably susceptible to her particularly odd brand of magic), is biting her tongue a little. She doesn't know if she's going to get much in the way of answers here, but she's definitely going to try.

"That's why I'm here. I thought maybe it would beneficial to whoever ends up with this affliction next, if I knew a way to make it...faster, or more efficient, at the least. The treatment I was using works immediately, but it takes a week's application, or they'll come back."

[inkdamage]

"I can make single-dose antidotes," he tells her. "For someone relatively compatible to my own species I can likely prescribe something that'll work sight unseen, but it would be more efficient and less of a roulette to get a blood sample. It doesn't take very long to brew." His tone is still hostile, though it seems more like his default setting than anything. Privately, he's still wary. "If anyone is still afflicted, they're free to make an appointment."