Good to Be. (Tag: Luke)

Subject: Good to Be. (Tag: Luke) Mon Feb 24, 2014 3:52 pm

(Hopefully this rp will serve as a revival for any and all my other muses :3)

Everything in the store had been adjusted, fine tuned, and polished off to Clovis's exact liking. Of course, there were so many antiques and odd bits of things that it would always feel cluttered, and there were some stains in the wooden counter that would just never come out- but overall, it was the closest to Clovis's vision as it would get. How he came about owning this wizard equivalent of a pawn shop was actually quite an interesting story; blackmail often was an interesting tale after all. It was a suitable debut for his business, and it was also the reason he'd already spread the news- like gossip, if you will- through the Alley. Because the truth of the matter was, he wasn't here to sell antiques. Yes, he would run the business for appearance's sake, but it was a front for his true plans. For a select audience, he was not simply this boring, day-to-day business owner, but an information broker of the highest order- or at least, he planned to be.

For now, he had to work his way up, and for now, on this early afternoon, that required for his shop to look pristine, and aside from the coffee stain near the register, and some of the dark objects he knew not to handle, the shop was in much better condition than before he came along. Now he just had to take inventory. Before Clovis headed into the back room for the catalog, he first stopped at the shop's window to flip the 'closed' sign over. Then, after crossing into the backroom, and taking a few minutes finding the damn book in the mess of files and paperwork, he returned to the front counter, awaiting his first customer as he started flipping through the book.

Subject: Re: Good to Be. (Tag: Luke) Sat Mar 01, 2014 9:35 pm

No well-respected witch or wizard would ever find themselves prowling about down in Knockturn Alley. It was the blight of the wizarding community of England. The back alley cesspool was known for its underground black market, acquiring cursed objects and among other things, it’s where they gathered. ‘They,’ the types of people the Wizarding Community, the Ministry of Magic itself frown upon. The undesirables, they call them. It’s the gathering place of scoundrels, crooks, mercenaries, snitches, dark witches and wizards, people hiding from the law, and crooked politicians. That’s just to name a few, and Luke had dealings with all of them one point or another.

Luke was well known in these parts, if he wanted to be or not. Not under his given name mind you, but under the alias he went by. He grew up in this network of streets, longer than he could remember or recall. The faces might have changed, the players running these streets and stores of all types had come and gone, but one thing still remained, the putrid vile stench coated the cobble stone walkway. Green and black slime caked the walls of the building mixing well together with the sewage grunge look the Alley was looking for. That did not even mention the people who frequently visited the alleyway.

Well, Luke could not judge on the matter on how they dress. He wore his usual tattered and patchy robes, that seem to be falling apart at the seams, but around his hands and face, were loosely wrapped bandages. The only thing that wasn’t cover was his sapphire eyes and patches of his sandy brown hair. For the most part he went unnoticed, knowing the back alley streets very well, except for running into Frick, the snitch. The sight of Luke made him tense up and high tailed it out of the vicinity, knowing that he was not in Luke’s good graces at the moment. Finally he found the hole in the wall he was looking for. A sign saying closed was in the glass window, but Luke was not much for taking orders, especially when they say do not enter.

The bell rang above the door as Luke came in, announcing his presents to the proprietor of this establishment.

Subject: Re: Good to Be. (Tag: Luke) Fri Mar 07, 2014 1:33 pm

As the bell above the door marked his first visitor, Clovis glanced up from the catalog to see the man covered in bandages. But just as his new visitor had his face, so too did 'Clovis' have to hide his true face. So instead of irritably responding to the man's intrusion, as Dein would, he instead took to a lighthearted sarcasm as he said, "Glad to see my sign's working." He smiled as he glanced to the flimsy bit of cardboard in the window. Personally, he would have preferred more time to get into character, but he couldn't say he expected anything more from the filth of Knockturn Alley. He could just as easily adjust to the situation, no matter who this man was.

"Can I help you?" His tone was not aggressive, nor inviting, because he couldn't scare off potential customers, and yet, could not leave the impression that he was a push over. The fact that the man covered his face was somewhat concerning, urging Clovis to reach for his wand in his pocket, out of the man's sight.

Subject: Re: Good to Be. (Tag: Luke) Mon Mar 10, 2014 4:17 pm

Alexander looked dead ahead into the proprietor's eyes, never once wavering to the peculiar items lining the selves. His actions, his outer appearance was in conflict with his inner nature, but he could not show any signs of weakness. Not here. Not now. There was a time and place to be juvenile but this was not the time or place. Instead, his expression, which was hidden behind bandages, but mimicked the expression in his eyes reflected a stone cold look.

"Maybe I have the wrong person," he said offhandedly, taking a few steps forward with one hand in his pocket to see what Clovis would do. "For a man who deals in information, you would think researching the clientele who frequent visits Knockturn Alley before setting up shop here. Especially with my caliber. Maybe I should take my business to Brunt or Joule. I can see you're still very much an amateur in this industry." It wasn't a threat, it was a promise. With that promise, came along with hidden meaning that could ruin Clovis. Alexander did not have to do anything, Frick, the snitch, would do all the work for him. Somewhere outside was where Frick was lurking, watching. If a deal wasn't made, he would sell that information to Clovis' opponents, who would use that information to crush him and his business.

Subject: Re: Good to Be. (Tag: Luke) Sat Mar 22, 2014 9:06 pm

He could see now that the man had come to get a rise out of Clovis, or test him even. Bit of a waste either way, as Clovis was hardly effected at all by the threats the man so carelessly threw about. He gave a wry smile, as he turned a page in his book, taking his sweet time to reply to such a direct confrontation. When he finally did speak, it was plain that he was perfectly comfortable with the situation, "You certainly sound well-rehearsed, but its a bit over the top, don't you think? I'm sure the man you're looking for would agree." Clovis gave a light shrug as he set his book aside, "I can't say I'm your guy, but I have heard of him, and I've also heard he's into bigger game than Brunt and Joule. So if you're looking for your lost cat, sure, go running back to your small time boys."

"Nice alias by the way, have something against detectives?" Clovis smirked as he rested his hand on his wand, on the shelf below the counter, out of sight from 'Moriarty's' prying gaze. Sure, Clovis could just come out and tell him who he was, but this was a business built on information, and Clovis didn't give anything away for free, especially when someone like this guy came in hooting and hollering like an angry banshee. It smelled too much like a set up for Clovis, so of course he wasn't going to come right out and tell this idiot he was in the right place.

And speaking of idiot, he couldn't help but find the man's voice disturbingly familiar. Someone he'd met before then? It made Clovis grateful that his voice was not his own today, else two identities would be revealed today, whereas Clovis would much prefer leaving it at the one. He could chalk it up to one of the voices he may have overheard on the streets during his few weeks of recon in the Alley, but that didn't feel quite right. An acquaintance of Dein then, as there was little opportunity for Clovis to have met anyone in such a short amount of time.

Subject: Re: Good to Be. (Tag: Luke) Wed Apr 30, 2014 3:32 pm

"Rehearsed or not, my threat still stands. How long would this Clovis last if I diverted all his business to...How did you put it? oh, yes, to the 'small time boys.'" The underground was an organization built on networks. It was a tapestry of people woven together by their greed and ambition; but with one tug, even the well knitted fabric could be undone, and Luke knew he had enough influence at least for this, to cut off Clovis before he even had the chance to garner any influence in the network.

Knockturn Alley was full of people with numerous of aliases. The three types of people only who walked around without anonymity were the stupid, the inexperience, and the rich and powerful. Alexander was not foolish enough to use his real name. Names were to sensitive information to be given out willy-nilly to any block in this part of town. Especially to those who were brokers of information.

"Yes, I do. That and nuisances," Alexander said turning his back to Clovis. Yes, he knew who he was before even stepping foot in the parlor, just as Clovis knew Moriarty's identity as well. They were both playing cat and mouse, but each of them thought themselves as the cat. He wasn't playing games anymore. This was business, and Clovis had more to loose than he did. Alexander already had waited a third of his life for this, he could wait another third if he must...but Clovis?

His hand was on the door knob. It was slightly ajar, letting the sunlight filter into the musty room. But before he stepped out onto the street, Alexander turn back to the man known as Clovis. "If you see this Clovis, tell him that I was looking for him and...Good Luck."

Subject: Re: Good to Be. (Tag: Luke) Wed Jul 23, 2014 2:49 pm

Dein inwardly sighed, taking a moment to steady his thoughts, before Clovis chuckled at the sight of Moriarty's swift exit, but just before the man could find his way out of the door, Clovis revealed what he knew, "You won't go to any other information brokers, Mr. Moriarty. You've frequented these streets quite a lot these past few weeks, and not once did you visit either of their establishments." Clovis paused to accio a book from his storeroom, the book where he wrote about all the tabs he kept on mostly everyone in Knockturn Alley (he was still small time after all). He opened the book thumbing through it as he kept talking, "My sources spot you frequently at the local pubs and the herbalist shop. You've also visited nearly every bookstore nearby at least once, and you even ventured into the dark antique store. You weren't looking for any brokers, but you do seem to be looking for something."

He studied the page for a few moments longer, before closing it and slipping it under the counter. The words on the page had been merely words, but now that the man stood before him, it had become a mystery Dein wished to unravel. Clovis watched Moriarty intently, waiting for his words to draw the man back in. All the evidence told Clovis was that there would be some traveling involved in the job, Moriarty had already spent the last two weeks in pubs and stores alike, looking for this precious object, and to no success. It meant that whatever he was looking for, it likely wasn't in Knockturn Alley at all.

"If you want to talk, come around the back." He pointed behind him, towards the storeroom. A back door awaited there, and the room was charmed with everything Clovis thought would be necessary, so he had no fear of anyone listening in on him and his clients. He thought it would suit the both of them well enough, for a man who wrapped up his face, surely he didn't want his information getting around either. Once Moriarty closed the front door, either to go about his business or heed Clovis's instructions, Clovis locked the door, and flipped the open sign to closed with a couple flicks of his wand. He then headed to the back room, where hopefully, a new client would be awaiting outside for him.

Subject: Re: Good to Be. (Tag: Luke) Sun Aug 10, 2014 3:19 pm

Alexander was part way out of the door. The afternoon sun filtered in through the crack doorway, illuminating the dust that lingered in the stuffy store. The dust did not seem to ever settle as a nice lingering breeze went by, sending the dust into a tither. Alexander's pride was getting in the way of reason, but he would not be bullied into yielding, especially not now, when so much was riding on this meeting. What prevented him from stepping fully out onto the streets of Knockturn Alley was Clovis chuckling behind him.

Alexander was known for his discretion, especially under the guise and hidden behind the name of Moriarty. It was best to be a footprint in the sand, a shadow not really seen but always present, than to be the center of attention. It seemed that his motto, to go un detective into the darkest depths of the criminal underworld was futile. The man known as Clovis had seen to that. The information broker could be a powerful alley or Alexander's worse nightmare with such resources at his disposal.

Alexander hesitated for a moment, weighing his options. Calculations were his forte, instinct and survival was second nature to him and they were all screaming at him to leave, and never have dealing with this man again. Fly, fly you fool! "Good day to you," he said with a slight bow. His oceanic blue eyes never leaving Clovis as he backed out of the store and back out in the evening sunlight, which set the sky ablaze with hues of red and orange streaking across the sky.

The door clicked behind him, leaving him with two options: to stay or go. Both options had their pros and cons, and even he did not know which one to take at the moment. Only when he saw Frick, the snitch, poke his overly lopsided head from between to buildings across the street did he know which course of action to take. Even as he came to the conclusion, his wand was in hand and a spell forming on his lips. "Confundo." No light and no sound imitated from his wand but the daze look on Frick's face told him the spell worked. He looked more drunk than confused, bumping into the brick walls, apologizing to post for hitting them. Alexander did not uproot from the spot till Frick was out of sight and only than did he take the route outback to meet with the broker. This time a knock at the back door and not barging in as if he own the place. His animal like instincts telling him this was the wrong move, but still he trudged on into the darken room of the antique shop.