RP: Sales are...

[shh_gilderoy]

Date: January 2, 2005
Characters: Gilderoy Lockhart, and...???
Location: The Gildery Shop
Status: Public
Summary: Gilderoy contemplates logistics while he rearranges things in his shop.
Completion: Incomplete

Comments

[shh_jack]

Jack's day had started off well enough. He'd managed to put the finishing touches on the table and chair set the Kings had ordered from him last week, and the entire thing was now drying in his workshop, aired at the open double doors. The father being an electrician, they'd paid in trade by repairing the wiring in the upstairs flat of his workshop, reconnecting it to the mains supply rather than forcing him to use the tired and in-need-of-service generators he'd been relying on since he came to Stoats. Being able to have peace and quiet in the flat, rather than the constant low hum of the machinery was a nice change. In truth he'd been on a bit of a live wire for the last few days, after the somewhat unwanted Christmas presents he and Ginny had received the other night, but working had provided a welcome and blissful distraction from more depressing matters. The construction, shaping and joining of wood and metal was a cathartic process that he'd found release in. His work roster had him listed as finishing the contract on the Malfoy

[shh_gilderoy]

A customer!?

Gilderoy's expression softened when he recognised the man standing in the doorway. "Aah, Jack. Nice of you to drop by. How have you been lately," he asked politely, extending his hand.

He took a deep breath and nodded. "Well, I'm glad you dropped by. I was just setting up this little corner here with the robes I've finished. Of course, you remember the tree was there just a few days ago. We've taken all of the decorations off of it and are using it for firewood now. Not such a bad idea, what?"

Even so, the room looked just as crowded as it had when the tree was there in the corner. It wasn't as if he could move to a larger shop, however.

"Tell me, what brings you out here today? Do you have some work to do at this end of town?"

[shh_jack]

How have you been lately?

Heh."Yeah, I've been good, ta. Yourself?" Jack lied, taking the man's hand in a firm grip as he stepped inside, grinning at Gilderoy's explanation of his concept of recycling

[shh_gilderoy]

"Oh, of course! Terribly busy. Why, I hardly have time for anything these days what with all of the work I have to do just to keep up inventory," he lied. Of course, anyone who had been at the Christmas Party could just scan the room and see that virtually nothing had changed. Sure, he had sold a few pairs of knitting needles and a dozen balls of yarn, but that didn't even put a dent in what he had in stock. The quilt he had put in the window before Christmas was still there, along with its matching pillow, and the same one - the first one he made - was still hanging on the wall

[shh_ernie]

Ernie was strolling past a shop when the sign in the window caught his eye. The Gildery Shop? He honestly had no idea what that was. Looking through the glass, he realized that this was Lockhart's shop, the one that Megan had been talking about.

Thinking about her brought a smile to his face. Impulsively, he pushed open the door. Maybe if she had some crocheting supplies, she'd give it a try again. However, Ernie wouldn't know a crocheting supply if it flew up in front of him.

[shh_gilderoy]

"Good afternoon! How good of you to stop by," Gilderoy chimed from behind his counter. Jack had just left, and he was in a good mood with all of the talk of sludge-hammering the walls. The wizarding robes had drawn some attention (although not the monetary kind) from a few passers-by, so Gilderoy was just putting one of the dress forms in the front window when the young man came into his shop. "Just give me a moment here while I stabilize her, and I'll be right with you."

After making sure the dressform was secured, Gilderoy climbed down from the window and headed over to his customer. "Gilderoy Lockhart, Order of Merlin third class, winner of Witch Weekly Most Charming Smile award, and in these difficult times, provider of the finest wizarding robes, blankets, yarns, and textiles around."

He scoped out the young man. He certainly doesn't look like a chap who knit or crocheted in his spare time, but then again, neither do I.

"What can I do for you today?"

[shh_ernie]

"Prof--" Ernie couldn't force himself to use the title 'Professor' so he settled on, "Mr. Lockhart, it's nice to see you again. I was one of your students...a long time ago."

He looked around the shop. "This is a nice shop you've got here. I'm looking for some crocheting supplies for...a...er...friend. She hasn't crocheted in a while and is looking to get back into it."

[shh_gilderoy]

"Crochet, you say? Well, I do have some of the finest crochet hooks ever made. Come this way," he said, and headed over to the sideboard near the counter.

"They're rosewood, turned and carved by Ollivander, himself, so you know they've got to be perfect. Now, I don't know if she charms her hook to crochet, or if she does it manually, but either way, these hooks are going to be the best you can find." Gilderoy selected out two crochet hooks - one large one and one medium-size one, and handed them to the young man.

"Now, the other thing she'll need is some wool. I have four kinds over here, in several different colors."

Gilderoy led the young man over toward the yarn. "So, what's your name. I know several of my former students are living in town here, but I'm afraid I don't remember anything of the year I was at that school other than what I've read in my book."

[shh_cormac]

Cormac swore as the last thread on his last set of Auror robes unravelled.

"Dammit," he shouted. "Stupid robes."

He sighed. There was nothing he could do for the robes now, they were hopelessly ruined.

He grabbed the last of his Muggle money, and several vouchers, his Auror manual with directions of proper Auror attire, and left his apartment.

He'd have to see if he could find new robes. He couldn't be an Auror with no Auror robes.

He'd just go see what good old Gilderoy Lockhart had for sale.

Afterall, he'd be supporting ROmilda by supporting Lockhart, wouldn't he?

He arrived at the shop and walked right in, taking a moment to look around the place.

He had no idea about interior design, or setting up a shop, but he thought that as far as clothing stores went, Lockhart had done alright.

"Mr. Lockhart," he called. "Anyone here?"

[shh_gilderoy]

He would have squealed with glee if it wouldn't have seemed so unseemly. Another customer already? And he was just putting away his ten pound note after bringing it out to look at it for the fifth time since Ernie left.

"I'll be right out," he called from the kitchen. Gilderoy stuffed the bill in his jar of raisins gathered his composure, and headed back out to the front room.

"Oh, Cormac! Welcome. What brings you all the way out here today? Oh, did you want me to cast another glamour charm on you? I'm so sorry that one wore off so quickly. Normally I make them last a few days, but since the kids were all upset, I was rushed and didn't cast the longevity bit."

He pulled out his wand and lifted it as if he were ready to cast.

[shh_cormac]

Cormac backed up a bit and held up his hands.

"No, that's, um, alright."

He scrambled for some way to politely say, 'If you would kindly fuck off'.

"Not everyone can carry off looking as..." what was the word? "dapper as you. I um, came to see if I could commission a set of Auror robes from you? As well as a couple of everyday robes. Mine have, well, fallen apart."

[shh_gilderoy]

A set of Robes? Dapper?

"Oh, of course!" Gilderoy stumbled out, his face lit up like the Christmas tree that had until recently been right in the corner where the aforementioned robes were now.

"Robes, this way," he said, motioning to the dress form he had just set out. The other dress form - the one with the children's size robe - was still in the front window. "Now, First I must say that most of these will fit any wizard with just a few simple alterations. Of course, for someone such as you, I might need to make a custom set of robes, seeing as your shoulders are broader than most.

"Now, what colors are you thinking about, and is there something I should know about Auror robes that makes them different from regular wizarding robes? I sure seem to be meeting a lot of Aurors today, what with that Ernie chap coming in here earlier to buy a crochet hook and some yarn."

[shh_andromeda]

Enough was enough. Andy was in desperate need of some new medi-witch robes and possibly a couple of new everyday wear robes. She needed new clothes, that was for sure.

She stepped into Gilderoy's shop, impressed and a bit proud of him. When the last she'd seen him, he'd looked a bit lost, but now he looked to have found a purpose, something he obviously loved if the care of the shop was any indication. She looked around with a small smile when she came upon Gilderoy kneeling in front of a young man. It looked highly suggestive, but Andy knew that looks could be deceiving and this was a tailoring shop. She just didn't understand why Gilderoy hadn't taken the other man to the fitting rooms . . . unless there were no fitting rooms? That was a bit alarming, to be measured as everyone was coming in and out and in front of the window no less.

Andromeda cleared her throat. "Evening Gilderoy," she called out when the two men looked up.

[shh_gilderoy]

Oh, sweet Merlin, and the horse that brought him to camelot.

Just as the young man was giggling with glee at Gilderoy's touch on his naked flesh, Andromeda Mediwitch came in and saved him. "Thank Merlin," he whispered under his breath.

Gilderoy stood and went over to her, pulling her into a tight hug. "Thank you," he whispered. That Cormac person certainly wouldn't be coming onto him with her around.

Realizing that he was hugging another potential customer, and it was not particularly appropriate behavior in a workplace, Gilderoy backed off and straightened himself out. "Ahem. Well, I believe I have only to get numbers to your waist, across the shoulders, and from your hip to ankle."

He went back over to Cormac and stayed on his posterior side. See if the man still thought about doing all of those naughty things to him while he couldn't even look at him. Still, it was sad the lengths he had to go to for the simple fact that he was far too attractive for his own good.

[shh_cormac]

Cormac sighed in relief as someone new came into the shop. Maybe now the inappropriate touching would stop.

He was about to pick his shirt back up, when he felt a gentle touch on his backside.

He jumped, whirled around and glared at Lockhart. "Really, now, that's not all appropriate for the workplace!" he exclaimed.

He recognized the woman, the exceptionally attractive woman he realized, from the hospital but couldn't place her name.

He turned back to Lockhart, his best glare in place, and said, "Do you have enough meausurments?" he asked.

[shh_andromeda]

At first Andy was startled by Gilderoy's abrupt hug, stiffening in surprise even though her arms automatically went around him. And then his heart felt "thank you" made her wonder what the hell had been going on in here when she walked in.

But at the young man's yelps, Andy couldn't help but press the fingers of one of her hands to her mouth trying to suppress the giggle attempting to escape. In the end it was a futile gesture and she couldn't help the couple of giggles that got through her defenses.

They were both quite jumpy and even though it seemed as though Gilderoy was being professional, he looked a bit, well, ruffled. The young man was not taking his fitting well at all which surprised Andy a bit. Most boys were accustomed to tailor fittings at an early age due to a lack of mass manufacturing in the Wizarding world.

"I'm sorry, am I interrupting something? Shall I return later?" she asked schooling her features and voice into something a bit more polite than the giggling that had slipped out.