Dark Witches' Night Out (Morgaine)

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Valentyna was having a dull night at work. Tuesdays were always dull, especially when the teens were away at school. Some of her best business came from those silly teens who automatically thought they were cool for shopping at her store. Val wasn't crazy about the idea of alternative wizardwear being so accepted those days. It was originally created for a certain type of wizard and witch to stand out... not belend in. But whatever. It was money and the wizardwear wasn't exactly cheap.

No one had been in her store in the last two hours, and though she usually stayed open later than most shops in Diagon, she wondered if there was any point in staying open on this particular one. Finally she looked over at her weasel Snitch and sighed.

"Five more minutes and we get the hell out of here," she said. "Maybe grab a few drinks at the Cauldron and go back to the old apartment... hopefully not alone." Val smirked at that that.

@morgaine

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Morgaine was passing by The Devil's Flair on her way back to Borgin and Burke's, then noticed Valentyna's light was still on. It had been too long, a week or two at least, since she had visited Valentyna, she decided, so she altered her course for the door. The bell rang eerily when she pushed it open, something she enjoyed about the shop. It never sounded cheery, and once or twice when some clearly underage thrill-seeker had tried to come in, it had sounded downright unimpressed, for something so inanimate. She smiled darkly at Valentyna and Snitch.

"Hello, my darlings," she grinned. "Have you missed me much?"

Yes, she enjoyed visiting the shop. None of the other shop keepers had warmed up much to Morgaine in the few months she'd lived with Dathan, with one or two notable exceptions, and she had been getting quite fed up with the whole situation, until she met Valentyna. They had got along instantly, and were now moderately close friends. Morgaine often thought that their friendship was similar to so many regular people's, except that she and Valentyna talked about interesting things, like the best way to skin a cat, rather than the fluff and twitter Morgaine had overheard at so many restaurants.

@cristelle

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Val was a notorious flirt. She flirted with both men and women. If one was eighteen or older, one wasn't safe from it. But aside from the cases with some who she intended to go home with her for a bit of passion, her flirting with others was all in good fun. Her friend and ally in the Black Army, Morgaine Deluna was one of the latter. When Morgaine walked in, Val smirked and approached her, not embracing her but kissing both her cheeks.

"When do I not miss the most beautiful woman in Knockturn Alley?" she said. Snitch just watched her from his bed, seeming neither overly or underly whelmed by her presence.

"I'm glad you have come though," said Val. "I'm about to die from boredom and was about to leave this place for the night." She then turned and smiled at Morgaine. "Say, are you busy? Why don't you and I go out for some drinks? I can apparate Snitch home and be back in a second. Unless you want to browse a moment at the new jewelry." Val licked her top lips. "Got it off a croaked dark witch. I think it's cursed. Make ya a good offer?"

Val was of course joking... well sort of. The stuff was probably cursed, but there was no way in hell she was going to sell Morgaine cursed items. She liked having the woman around after all. She had few lady friends that made her smile like Deluna did.

@morgaine

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Morgaine laughed. "Oh, you flatter me, as always, Val..." she replied, grinning and allowing herself to be kissed on both cheeks. Her mother would have said it was terribly Continental, but Morgaine enjoyed disregarding her mother's opinions when it suited her. She smiled when Val said it was too boring in the shop; she often had the same problem at Borgin and Burke's. Of course, if people did come in, it was almost guaranteed there would be about fifteen people in at once, and that none of them would buy anything. Such were the horrors of working retail.

"Oh, I could bare a few drinks, I guess... I'll have to pass on the necklace, though," she replied, smirking. "I like to be there in person when my enemies wither. I'll send a note home to Dathan, to let him know that I'm out and not to fret." This last was said ironically, of course. If either Dathan or Morgaine had ever seriously suggested that she might need looking out for, the illusion might have held for a second or two, but it was doubtful either of them could help themselves laughing even for that long. Still, she sent a quick beam of light from her fingertip around the corner to Borgin and Burke's. There was no sense in being careless, in these troubled times, especially with the Ministry breathing down their necks. "I'll just wait here."


@cristelle

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"You flatter me with your visits, darling," winked Val. Exchange of idle compliments were the usual between the two dark witches. Val found it amusing and she believed Morgaine did as well.

Val frowned a bit when Morgaine mentioned Dathan Burke. She loved Morgaine liked a wicked bestie, but she did not like Burke. However, she was respectful enough not to give her thoughts on the man around Morgaine. She knew well of their weird, non-sexual "romance" thing. She figured Morgaine knew she didn't like him, and hopefully respected that she was as civil as she was.

Val took hold of Snitch and apparated. A moment later, she returned and smiled at Morgaine.

"The little rascal's all tucked in," she said. "He really is a fun companion, and quite a clever thief... when I need that. Anyway... ready, my darling?"

Screw the Leaky Cauldron. Val liked the little place in Knockturn. She liked being around the cutthroats, gamblers, and other various trouble-makers. She established a long time ago that it didn't pay to mess with her... not unless they wanted to contend with her ferocious animagus form. And she knew that no one in their right mind would mess with Morgaine either.

"Demon's Cauldron and keep then coming, Old Joe," she said when she sat at the bar. "Put my friend's drinks on my tab."

@morgaine

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Morgaine grinned. "He is delightfully wicked," she agreed about Snitch. "Weasels do have a certain charm that some other animals lack." She took Val amicably by the arm and they strolled together like that to the Devil's Cauldron. Morgaine enjoyed the easy bond they shared; Val was perhaps the only person besides Dathan she felt properly comfortable with. She didn't have to watch what she said, like with Nim and Isolde, and she didn't have to use an edge in their banter.

She thanked and took a seat next to Val, and smiled at the barkeep. He was suitably devilish to work there, she always thought. Casting her glance around the room, she spotted a number of individuals who would most likely not want to be recognised in such a dark and public place. She pointed them out to Val with a nudge, then chuckled darkly.

"So, my dearest Val, it feels like it's been an age... what's new with your life? I have noticed a drop in silly teenagers coming into the shops along here since the school term started. I hope you've had the same." 

@cristelle

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Val smiled as Morgaine took her arm. As much as she casually flirted with Morgaine, she saw the woman like a sister to an extent. In a way, they were... sisters in darkness... sisters in the Black Army.

"Indeed they do," said Val of weasels. "I considered getting him a companion, but knowing Snitch he'd see another weasel around my apartment and the store as competition." Val smirked at that.

At the pub, Val smirked again when Morgaine pointed out the individuals who seemed to not quite fit in. She gave Morgaine a look as if to say, "Want to have some fun with them later?" but didn't utter it. Val was a wise one as Morgaine was. Even whispering a sneaky plot with their potential targets nearby could ruin the fun.

"True I hate the drop in business with the kiddies," she said. "But the younger adults keep me in the galleons, thinking they'll still be 'cool' by buying my merch. It's really funny to watch." The drinks arrived. "Now what about you? I heard one of those damn Weasley brats and Malfoy's kid attacked Burke's shop and did a number on Dathan. Please tell me at least one of those two goodie-goods are rotting by now." True Val didn't care all that much for Dathan, but since Morgaine was now residing at the shop, Val was concerned that her friend might have been heard in that attack. And besides, she despised anyone with the last names Weasley or Malfoy a whole lot more than she disliked Burke.

@morgaine

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Morgaine's face darkened at the mention of the attack. "And on Eligos," she growled. "And of course they're not. They're the precious, golden ones. The law is for lesser mortals, they haven't even been charged. I can see why, of course," she added. "Dathan wants to avoid drawing too much attention, and now that we have Lottie, the shop is usually well-guarded. Still, the fact that it happened at all... you can imagine my first reaction." She grinned darkly and knocked back her drink, signalling to the barkeep for another.

"If it were up to me, they would be dreaming fondly of prison as I inflicted a proper punishment on them, but apparently such things are frowned upon these days..." She chuckled, then rolled her eyes and sighed. "It wasn't really about us, though. The damned Weasley had some bee in his bottle, and thought Borgin and Burke's was the right place for a showdown. I'm sure his mistake will be corrected, soon enough if not already. And, well, there was that nasty poison sent to Weasley senior not long after..." She grinned wickedly.


@cristelle

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Val bit her tongue again when Morgaine mentioned Eligos. She loved wolves well enough, but she liked that one as much as she liked Dathan. But that was to be expected. The wolf himself was extremely picky about who he wanted to be around. In fact, she had only recalled seeing him be friendly with Dathan and Morgaine.

"It's probably for the best," she said. "None of us need to be anywhere near a trial, even if we're not the ones on it. I don't think our Mistress would approve." Her voice of course lowered at the mention of the Dark Lady. She liked being part of the somewhat elite club that was the Black Army, and didn't want to spread details about it to listening ears.

Her Demon's Cauldron then arrived. The drink lived up to its name. The cup was cauldron shaped, the liquid was a wicked red, and the drink smoked hot. She sipped it and smiled as Morgaine spoke of punishing the Weasley and Malfoy boys.

"Mmmm... when you do can Val play too?" she asked. "Val likes doing naughty things with her good friend Morgaine." She chuckled at this. She then laughed harder when Morgaine spoke of what she and Dathan did to Arthur.

"Brilliant," she said. "Ooooh Morgaine, you've been working over-time I see. Seriously, you must let me in on these games. I'm a working girl. I need a bit of a thrill now and then."

@morgaine

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Morgaine licked her lips, wiping the excess drink off them, and nodded in agreement. "Exactly. If Various Things weren't so reliant on discretion, those boys would be bleeding in the gutters by now, mark my words. This is the one instance I miss living in the country; if you nail a skull to a stick outside your gate, people learn. Very quickly."

She grinned, her demeanor instantly more girly, when Val suggested they do naughty things together. "Of course, Val! I'm sure there's an opportunity for fun on the horizon, just you and me. Actually, speaking of fun, I had a very interesting encounter just the other day..." She lowered her voice and briefly related what had happened with Vanessa Veltrino - sorry, 'Velmont', then raised her eyebrows and tutted. "There were a lot of people looking for that girl, as I recall. She is in for one hellish surprise when she realises that hiding in plain sight doesn't work." She took a sip of her drink.

"I know, darling," she said, resting her hand on Val's for a moment. "I'm sure there'll be lots of fun for both of us, soon enough. Then all the tedium we've had to endure will be behind us." She noticed a rather large man waddling shiftily off to the WC and chuckled, pointing discreetly. "Haha, look. Good old Aries Cragg. I heard he was on a diet. Doesn't look like it much."

@cristelle

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Val smirked at the nailing a skull to a stick line.

"Hmmm... maybe I should do that outside my store when the bloody Ministry comes around to ask those annoying questions just because my shop is a bit... controversial," she said, a bit of bitterness in there. "Bloody uptight buffoons. Not a shred of personality in them."

Val then listened with glee as Morgaine spoke of her very interesting encounter. She was fond of the Veltrinos and had even stayed in their fancy hotel with a date once.

"The long lost Veltrino girl... right there working in Diagon Alley?" she laughed. "Bloody hell, Morgaine! Are you gonna tell her dad and mum? Oh I would love to see their faces. I have to be there in the pet shop when they take her away... could say I was just picking up some things for Snitch." Val then laughed wildly.

Val grinned when Morgaine promised some fun, but then shook her head.

"To hell with waiting... let's do something tonight!" she said. "Something... wrong... very wrong." When Morgaine pointed out the heavyset man, Val grinned again with an idea. "Aeries just needs to attention from some pretty ladies. Let's give him that attention, shall we?"

@morgaine

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Morgaine chuckled darkly. "Normality is the last bastion of ignorance. You and I, Val... we've seen some things. Things that would shatter their tiny brains. They should no more expect us to fit in with them than they should expect a dragon to befriend a lamb. Perhaps we can find a more modern equivalent of the old ways to keep them out of your way."

She grinned wickedly at the Veltrino comments. "I'm sure we could arrange something... I think my father still has some Veltrino contacts. If he can make me an introduction, I'll inform them by the end of the week. I'm sure they'll be very relieved to know their darling daughter is safe and well, after all these years..."

She laughed out loud when Val suggested that night, then hesitated slightly when she suggested they pay some female attention to Aries. Then she considered it, and shrugged. She trusted Val not to get her into anything too complex. "Hmmm... Why not... I'll follow your lead, my dearest." She stood and offered Val her arm, grinning.

@cristelle

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Val was eating this up. She loved Morgaine's keen mind and her dirty ideas of dealing with the Black Army's own list of "undesirables".

"Always was a fan of the classics," she said, regarding the old ways. "And you're the clever one, Morgaine. I just like to go along with these wicked schemes of yours."

Val laughed wickedly again as Morgaine spoke of informing the Veltrinos. She then sighed as due to her own business, she probably could be there as she wished to see the Veltrinos' reaction.

"You'll have to come by and tell me all about it afterward," she said. "Every juicy detail."

Val then smirked as Morgaine agreed to idea of tormenting the large man. She rose and raised her finger.

"One moment, darling," she said. Val stepped over and placed her arm around Aeries. She spoke to him for a moment, pointing him out to Morgaine as well. A big, ugly smile formed on Aeries' face and then Val stepped back over.

"It's a date," she said. "He'll be at my apartment... one hour. And I have a book of curses that makes the Cruciatus Curse look like a tickling session."

@morgaine

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Morgaine pursed her lips and her eyes twinkled wickedly as Val approached Aeries. She looked aloof but inviting. This was a game they had played many times; she was well aware of how to play it.

"How are your silencing charms these days? I admit, with my most recent contracts of this nature, I haven't needed them." She took her cues from Val on this one. She had been all business for so long now, she couldn't recall quite how to have fun anymore. That was why Val was the only cure to what could be a very nasty situation for Morgaine. She was too good at working, and nowhere near good enough at relaxing. This would reignite that spark she always felt like she was losing, that joie de vie that was so essential for her to stay sharp and passionate about her life and work.

"Shall we head back now then, or later?" she smiled.

@cristelle

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Val raised an eyebrow at the mention of silencing charms.

"Silencing charms?" she asked. "Awww come on... don't you want to hear him scream?" She knew what Morgaine meant though, but still it was fun to hear a victim scream. It gave the Dark Witch quite the thrill. "But I do have one reliable silencing charm that always works... turning into a panther." Her eyes flashed her panther animagus form's eyes for a second and she winked.

When Morgaine asked if they should go now or later, Val downed her drink and licked the rest off her lips.

"Let's boogie," she said. "We can have a few more drinks there before he shows up."

Later...

With it being a few moments before Aeries was expected, Val poured more firewhiskey for her and Morgaine. Music was blasting in the place, and Val was getting a bit on the drunk side by then. She laughed and staggered before plopping on the couch.

"Hmmm... wonder where our macho man is?" she laughed. She then heard the knock. "Aaaand there he is. 'Cuse me." She made her way to the door with a minimum of stumbles and answered it. "Zeus baby, come in!"

"Aeries," corrected the man.

"What the hell ever," she said. "Sit down and get cozy. It's gonna be a loooong night." She sneaked Morgaine a wide-eyed wicked look. The girl was in "party mode" and that was a bad thing for her male guest.

@morgaine