| Details for Big Brothers and Little Sisters |
| Summary: | Niamh tells Keenan about the goings on in her life currently. |
| Date: | 21 September 1937 |
| Location: | Kilkenny Apthecary Shop |
| Related: | None |
| Characters |
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Kilkenny Apothecary Shop Diagon Alley
Fri Sep 21, 1937 ((Fri Sep 21 11:47:34 2012)) (B,2 SE)
It is a fall day. The weather is cool and overcast.
The store's interior is packed full of goods, with barrels of Purple Toad Warts, Flobberworm Mucus, Leech Juice and other large quantities of potion ingredients on the floor. Jars containing Knotgrass, Aconite, Newt Eyes, Ground Scarab Beetles, as well as other herbs, roots, and brightly-colored powders line the walls. Bunches of feathers, fangs, and claws hang from the ceiling. The combination of smells coming from all these different ingredients combine to create an overall stench of bad eggs and rotten cabbages that permeates every corner of the store.
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After a restless night of tossing and turning, lights on and off during the run of the evening, the day has broken cool and fair. There's a small bag packed downstairs in the shop, tucked away behind the counter, and Nia's tending all that needs to be in order to have it continue during the course of the day. She flits around the room, a whistled song upon her lips, though rather than an upbeat one, those that are usually heard, this one is a little more slow and staid. Still Irish, certainly.. but more a reflection of her mood and thoughts now. She glances up on occasion to catch the outline of the constable 'assigned' to keep watch over the place, lest something happen to it. It's more out of an overabundance of caution, Nia's more than happy to tell herself.
Dressed in his green St. Mungo's robes, Keenan makes the little loop outside from his door into Niamh's shop. He pauses as he hears the whistling, and approaches a little slower. "Y'all right, there, Niamh?" he asks, looking her over from head to toa.
"Hmmm?" Hazel eyes look up from her work, and while there's a smile there, there's a touch of worry that also lies beneath. "All's right wi'the world, I suppose. As right as it has any right to be." Nia looks to her brother and tilts her head, "Are ye?" It's not a couple of heartbeats, however, before she begins to deflate a bit and points to her bag that holds some of her clothes. "I've been asked t'go stay with Eddie. I just need to talk wi'her an' see if it's alright. Seems.. tha'handsome Hit Wizard has people who'd do him and his harm."
Keenan leans against the counter, and goes past the question directed at him. "Which Hit Wizard?" he asks curiously. He's taken that relaxed posture he gets when his eyes are at their sharpest, keenly watching her reactions and assessing the information he's receiving.
Now, Niamh knows that look in his eyes, and she straightens automatically; not quite defensive, but .. close. "His name's Inspector Adamantus Gideon. A Scotsman.. an' a good man." Even if he is a little hard around the edges. "Seems he an' the family what owns the Natrix Dance Hall don't get along well." To say the least. "The way he described them.. Keen, they're bad people." But! "I don't think there's much to it all? But, it doesn't hurt.."
"An' ye still haven't explained ta me how this pertains ta m'little sister," Keenan says. "Ye aren't bein' related to this Gideon bloke, so I'm failin' t' see how ye figure in this 'him an' his' situation."
"Well.. no, I'm not," and here, a small smile quirks on her lips. "I am sort of seen with him, though. Last Friday? I went to the pub with him.. after the Cauldron. An' we had a nice lunch.." Nia lets her voice trail off before, "That night at the Natrix, I'd seen him before you all came tramping in. I said 'hi' t'him, but he didn't answer it. Now, I know why. He was being careful so they wouldn't think there was something between the Inspector and I."
The posture doesn't change. "An' is there somethin' between ye an' this Inspector?" the brother wants to know.
"We've had lunch t'gether, taken tea, and I've been to the pub wi'him. He's no playboy, not someone looking for a quick romp, Keen." Nia's back is up now, and from the sound of it, there's something there. "As for 'somethin' between us? I can hope. If he's going, I'll be meeting him at the pub again tonight, an' we'll sit on the couch t'gether again, an' maybe, just maybe, he'll put his arm about me."
The little muscle twitches at the corner of Keenan's jaw, but he says nothing. He gives a curt nod. "Tell Eddie I said, 'hullo'," he says shortly. "Don't need t' be late t'me rounds." He straightens and turns on his heel to head for the door.
"Keen.. what?" Nia steps forward, her eyes fairly set upon her brother, her brows rising. "This nonsense," and she gestures generally with her hand, "will pass.. an' then things'll be right. An'.. he wants t'talk to you, an' Eddie, an' Sloan. I told him that if ever he was in trouble, to look for ye.. that you'd put him back together, because you were good."
Keenan spins back around. "Jesus, Mary and Joseph, Ni, ye weren't tellin'im t'look fer me here, were ye? Ye have any idea how many these same people he's tellin' ye're so horrible have been there. Ye want yer new boyfriend lockin' me away?" He pulls a hand through his hair and shakes his head.
Nia's jaw drops and she stares at her brother for a long moment. "Keen.. they killed his wife an' babe.." Shaking her head, her fingers clasp as her hands begin to worry at each other. "The same people?" That, she's having a little bit of a difficult time with. "He knows ye live above me.. because he wanted me to shut ever'thing down. The Floo.." and she points to the fireplace in a quick gesture. "I can't do anything here because it might interfere wit' what you need. An' I told him I couldn't because o' the fact you live here too. An' ye needed the access."
Keenan's face is drawn, but he shakes his head. "Niamh, this isn't news ta ye, lass. I heal anyone that needs it, an' I don't ask who they are or how they came by their injuries. An' sometimes I don't need ta ask I recognize 'em. It doesn't mean I'm gonna let 'em die. I don't judge who should live or die or else I'd be just like them." He pauses a moment, his jaw working again. "An' if they killed his wife and babe, that's more'n nonsense, Niamh."
"Y'made it sound as if ye were their personal healer, Keen." She's trying to keep her voice from rising, "Tha's different. That, I know. But.." What? Nia falls silent, and tries again, opening her mouth to say something.. and closes it again. "It'll pass.. now," and she looks to her bag, "I should write a note an' owl Eddie, askin' her to meet me at the Cauldron or some such."
"Don't be daft, lass," Keenan replies. "I be no one's personal healer, an' well ye know it. But I don't turn anyone away, not even Montague's men. But, what?" he asks softly. He shakes his head. "It's no different, Niamh. Other men may use their God-given talents ta choose who lives or dies. Not me. Not now, not ever. An' ye know not many of yer boyfriend's friends would take that kindly."
Nia bites at her bottom lip, her expression now settling in to one of being horribly torn. She did know, does know that Keenan doesn't turn anyone away, but happily, she's been so blissfully unaware as to who and crimes, until now. Now.. now that she's found someone that she'd like to get to know better, to spend time with, there's a distinct conflict of interest, as it were. "Why'd ye have to do this to me?" It's not a question that's directed at her brother; not really. If all the 'players' were in the same room, it'd be for all of them. Keenan, Montague (pick which one!), Gideon, and each and every shady character that's ever crossed paths.. "I need to find Eddie, an' ye need to do your rounds," comes out, finally. Softly. "Keen?" Taking a deep breath, she lets it out slowly, "You're my blood. Fair and true."
Keenan lets a long sigh, raking his hand through his hair, and he steps back to his little sister. "Course we are," he tells her. "I'm sorry, Niamh, it's really not in the way of bein' fair." He takes another breath. "Just be careful what ye say to this lad until ye get t'knowin' him better. I don't like ye bein' in danger just 'cause ye're associated with him… or anyone. I'd find ye a nice, quiet librarian, or some such, if I could."
"I will, Keen." And there, hope springs eternal in those eyes of hers. "Y'know.. in a way, ye could be in trouble too, if one of those folk didn't like the way things worked out." Nia does give her brother a smile; it's a hard pull, but it's a genuine one, and she chuckles, shaking her head. "I bet Eddie would love to keep tryin' t'set me and Sloan up. Don't think I don't notice these things." Now, she wiggles her hands at her favourite, her self-proclaimed guardian. "Shoo. Off with ye. I'll let ye know where I am at all times so ye don't worry. Ye may not like it," and here, she gives a mischievious smile that does reach her eyes, and are reflected out, "Are ye willing to run the risk?"
Keenan's eyes narrow for a moment, but it's more to cover for the brightness in them as is the hand he reaches out to ruffle her curls. "Niamh-lass, ye know I'd risk anythin' fer ya. You just be makin' sure that this is the bloke ta make ya happy if ye're going to be running these risks."
"I'll make sure," and she laughs, playfully swatting at the ruffling hand. "When I'm sure, ye'll be.." and here, she pauses before the smile relights upon her face, "Hell, I think ye'd be the first t'know, the way you know me." Nia gives her big brother a playful shove. "I'll be careful. Promise." Now, she turns about to gather her things in hand and begins to turn the gaslights down. "We're still in the Floo, an' if I put anything on the shop, and my door, I'll.. find the time, perhaps, t'tell ye."
"Aye, ye do that," Keenan tells her with a glimmer in his eye. "Now I'm going to have to apparate to not be late, ye wicked wench."