(1940-01-09) Under New Management
Details for Under New Management
Summary: Michais and Veruca meet to go over the books from the holidays, and are surprised by news of a change in partnership.
Date: 9 January, 1940
Location: Prewett and Fawley World Imports
Related:
Characters
ArlaMichaisVeruca

In the let down from the holidays, the shop is quietly ticking along, or at least, the clock near the door is ticking along, keeping time for those inside. A shopgirl directs a feather duster with her wand as it it cleans the shelves, and the man at the back is pulling out the ledgers from the busy season just concluded. Michais runs a hand through his hair again, spiking the dark blond strands rather than smoothing them as was the intent. He glances towards to the tea setting, where he's set a restrained plate of cucumber sandwiches and simple biscuits. Mrs. O'Shea's favorite brand of tea (or, hopefully, from the little trouble he went to asking around he hopes is her favorite brand) is ready to brew. Letting out a sigh, he returns to his favorite place, the back room, to open the latest crate of Aliphora's discoveries.

Veruca lets herself into the shop from the Alley, closing the door behind her against the chill winter wind. Keen eyes have a quick dart around, a few items that are not in their places any longer are noted, and her optimistic assumption is that the season treated the business well. The dark haired witch pulls soft gloves off as her eyes find the shopgirl. "Lovely to see you again, dear," she says fairly warmly although she's forgotten the girl's name. "Would Mister Fawley be around? I know I'm a bit early for our meeting."

It's cold outside, and that is just the way winter goes. Unless that is, you live in some place tropical. She does not. And because of that Clara is wearing a long winter jacket and gloves to keep her warm as she stands before the door to the shop. This is it, her new place, as directed by family. It's a big thing, a change to her life. Not able to hold it off forever a hand reaches out and turns the knob to open it and enter.

When she does, the warmth is welcoming. Her cheeks and nose are hinted with red from the cold, and her long hair is swept back into place now that the breeze is done with it. Looking around in small wonder, she shifts the satchel a bit and sees if there is anyone around to talk to.

As Veruca enters, the assistant smiles and nods. "Mister Fawley asked that you please make yourself comfortable with some tea, and he will be right out. I will let him know you've arrived, he's unpacking." With the last bit, the girl gives the dark haired older witch something of a conspiratorial smile alluding to her employer's habit of becoming engroessed in new arrivals.
No sooner does she return from the back room, than the door opens again, she moves to the front to greet Clara, with a gently smile and a bob of her head.

Rue nods to the girl, her smile widening. Yes, she has already become rather familiar with that particular habit. She's not scheduled anything more today for a few hours, just in case. "Thank you, dear." She moves toward a chair, slipping her coat off as she moves, and then draping it over the back of the chair before she sits. It's a very smart looking wool garment, navy blue with a cloak-like design that fits well in Wizard or Muggle society. She sits, crossing her legs comfortably, to wait. When the door next opens, Rue looks toward it, offering a polite smile if the woman chances to glance that way. Veruca would assume it's a customer, since she's not seen the woman around the shop before.

With the approach of the shop hand, Clara gives the girl a bright smile. "Why, hello!" Is the friendliest of greetings. "I hope I am not coming at a bad time, see I'm looking for a Michais Fawley, I'm told he is part owner of the shop. My name is Clara Prewett, I come with some information for him. If he is not busy, could you by any chance fetch him for me darling, I'd much appreciate it.""

Those silver eyes glance around the shop, and befall the other unknown woman. A kind smile is passed to her as well. And since it is warm, there is a shuffle out of her coat and it hung on her arm. If the shop hand is off to get him, she would look around the shop idely while reaching into her satchel to pull out some envelopes.

"Mrs. O'Shea, I'm sorry to keep you waiting," Michais greets with one of his solemn smiles and his usual half bow of greeting. "I have pulled all the ledgers and receipts for you, here on the table…" a flick of his wand brings the table arond to the chair the witch has taken. Before he can say more, he hears the new voice asking after him, and the name of Prewett. He turns to study the woman for a moment, his eyes going to that undreadable glaze that hides concern and a myriad of other negative emotions. However, judging from the cheerfulness of her demeanor, it is unlikely that she bears bad news of Miranda, and so he excuses himself to Veruca, leaving her with the books to go over at her leisure while he approaches the newcomer.
"Good afternoon, Miss Prewett," he bends at the waist in a greeting that would be quite proper in most Asian countries. "How can I assist you? Are you bringing news of Miranda?"

Veruca doesn't rise, but her smile is a touch warmer to the shopkeeper. "Not at all, Mister Fawley, I'm afraid that I'm early again." She motions toward the other woman, inclining her head. "Please. I'll just have a look at the books until you're free." She seems not the least put out by it, but picks up the first ledger, flipping it open and scanning the page.

"Ah, Mr. Fawley! Please call me Clara." Greets Clara, she is a chipper sort, some might say. The envelopes in her hands are fiddled with, and she may show now a little unease over this meeting. "First, let me say it's a pleasure to meet you, I hope we will get along well. And.. secondly" For a moment those silver eyes look to the others, then back to him. "Sorry, sweetie, I wish this was done better." And all that she can really do is hand over the envelopes, it says it all. "I wil l, ah, give you a few minutes."

Stepping back with a small kind, if not slightly sad smile she intends to give him space to read - or skim, over what was handed.

Taking the papers, looking to Clara for another moment before he reads. He takes his time perusing it, skimming through, then flipping back to read a couple sections over again. "Soo…" he finally says. "She's not coming back." He looks over to Clara for confirmation, then he gives a nod, that unreadable xpression returning. "Well, it does seem that your timing is impecable. This is Mrs. Veruca O'Shea. She has lately taken on the books here, as I cannot be here full time. Come, I shall introduce you," and he gestures to the young woman to accompany him over to the tea set up.

Veruca hasn't been eavesdropping, per se, but one cannot help but overhear pieces of conversation here and there. Most of her attention remains on the ledger as she slowly pages through it, her eyes darting over the figures. It looks like a rather casual perusal, but her strength with numbers has her gleaning more information than a quick look typically would. She does hear as her name is mentioned, and the book is set aside at once. This time Rue does rise, looking expectantly toward the pair in anticipation of their approach.

Clara just gives a small shake of her head to his question, with a little frown. Her eyes say enough of how sorry she is to bring the news. With a deep breath, perhaps she had been holding it there is a visible release of tension from her shoulders. Nodding and turning on her heels in one swift motion the young woman goes to follow him to said other woman.

Though the moment had it's sadness, she turns that frown.. upside down, and offers the woman a friendly smile. "Hello! It's nice to meet you! I'm Clara Prewett." A hand comes out to go and shake the woman's with a side ways glance at Michias. "I am.. ah, co-owner of the shop, now."

"Mrs. O'Shea, this is.." Michais breaks off as Clara offers the news, and gives a nod. "Yes, Aliphora has signed over her interests in the shop. It appears that her interests have… moved on." He falls silent for a moment, then he gives his polite smile to both women, and lifts a hand to indicate the books. "Perhaps, you can introduce Miss… Clara to the economic aspect of the shop, and how we are faring."

Veruca's arm extends, hand clasping Clara's for a moment and releasing, her smile still holding at pleasant. "A pleasure, Miss Prewett. I have been handling the accounts, and do hope to continue to be of service should you choose to agree." She looks to Michais, and speculates mildly, "I wonder if the young lady might rather get acquainted over a cup of tea, first? Perhaps look around at the wonders of the shop, rather than just push her immediately into the finances?" There's a touch of amusement even, because, men. Throw her to the wolves, why don't you?

"Mrs. O'Shea, a pleasure. Please, call me Clara as well." She greets with a friendly smile. Looking quick to Michias there is something amusing in the background of her eyes. "I like her idea, since we all will be working together, it's good that we get to know each other." And having come in from the cold, tea sounds wonderful! Warm and flavourful. "You can throw me to the wolves in the morning how is that?" Grinning, and assuming there are two chairs, she goes to grab a third. "I know this is.. sudden, and I'm sorry for that. It was sudden for me as well. But I hope to do you both proud, truly I do." And truly, she means it! It's a given by her tone and that smile. Sitting she seems to be eager to listen to them both, for there must be many stories and bits of information. If tea is not poured, she goes to pour them some.

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Some time later


After the surprise (putting it mildly) that was Michais's new partner in the form of Arla Clara Prewett, leaves, the male half of the store partnership stands transfixed staring at the door that closed behind her. Luckily, there are no customers at the moment, as the man collects his thoughts. "I, perhaps you could take a look at these for me, Mrs. O'Shea, I seem to have left my glasses in my office. I will return in a moment." Despite the fact that he read the letter attached earlier just fine without his glasses, he only waits long enough for the dark haired witch to take the papers before he moves towards the back room.

There's a bit of a quirked eyebrow marking Veruca's expression as well, as she reaches to accept the offered pages. It was a fair 'getting to know you' session over tea, but certainly the news is shocking to Michais, and Rue isn't oblivious to the fact. "Certainly, Mr. Fawley," she says smoothly. She'll give him the time to take to himself, letting her eyes scan the pages more than once after she returns to her seat. No sense standing around.

The man doesn't return very soon. In fact, through the windows to the back office, he can be seen standing once he has his glasses, then he moves to sit down at the desk.

Rue gives it a minute before looking up, catching sight of Michais as he sits. She shuffles the papers back into order, then rises, and crosses slowly to the office. When she's near and reaches up and taps her knuckles lightly on the doorframe to announce herself. "Your papers," she says quietly, offering them back to the wizard.

At the rap on the doorframe, Michais slowly looks up from the small frame in his hand, and blinks once, slowly, in his owl-like fashion. "Right," he glances around, and opens a drawer to drop the picture in it before he takes a breath and pushes himself to his feet. "Thank you, Mrs. O'Shea," he takes the papers from her fingers and crosses to the filing cabinet, opening a drawer and tucking them into a folder. "It was silly, really." His voice is quiet, almost as if he's talking to himself. "Thinking that just because she'd collected so much to sell that she'd come… home." He clears his throat and turns his head ducking his gaze away from Veruca, furtively to one side than the other. "It's ah, all to rights, yes? Legally, that is?"

Veruca relinquishes the papers, her eyes on the man's back as he speaks. It feels like intruding, in a way, on a very personal moment, his words speaking volumes in just those short sentences. She doesn't force the eye contact issue, but inclines her head. "It seems to be, but my strength is in numbers and not law. You might want to have a solicitor look them over just to make sure everything is proper." She pauses a moment, unsure where to go from here, and when she speaks it's hesitant. "The books… look all in order. I can take them for a more careful look and have them back to you first thing in the morning."

Michais manages one of his polite smiles. "If you wish to finish here, that is fine Mrs. O'Shea." He pauses, and countering her lack of nosiness, he seems off guard enough to indulge in some of his own. "Have you been married long?" he asks, perhaps questions of another can deflect both their attention from himself.

"Not very, no," Veruca answers easily, "Only four months." She pauses, considering for a moment, before going on, her tone conversational. "Mr. O'Shea and I met about three years ago, originally. Then I had some work that took me across the pond, and we fell out of touch." That's putting it diplomatically. "I was back for my brother's wedding when we bumped into each other." There was no plan to get back together, sometimes things just work that way. She wants to say. But instead she declines his offer, "I want to give them a proper going over, and will have the time to spend later this evening." Not that she has any doubts, but with a new person coming into the works, better to make absolutely sure.

With a smile, Michais nods, then gives his little bow, clasping his hands behind his back. "It sounds like it has worked out for the best for you. I appreciate your effort, and I will see you tomorrow." He falls silent, it seems almost in a sort of dismissal, letting her leave. But then, before she can actually exit, his voice pops up again. "Mrs. O'Shea, I am almost sure that we will continue to require your expertise. If I still have enough say, we will."

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