Looking around the shop

[Krutika Gehi]

Krutika entered Zonko's Joke Shop - her favourite place in Hogsmeade village. Like in all Hogmeade weakends, the shop was full with Hogwarts students. Krutika looked around the shop to select joke items she wanted to buy.

[sindarin]

Gregori watched all his happy customers buzz about around the counters and shelves. He saw one in particular who looked ready to buy something exciting, so over to her he walked.

"Hello, there," he greeted her, holding out his hand. "And what can I help you find today?"

[Krutika Gehi]

"Hello," said Krutika, shaking hand with the owner, "Do you have Dr. Fillibister's No-Heat Wet-Start fireworks?"

[sindarin]

"Of course!" he said, thrilled to have come by customer who knows her joke magic. "We have some stocked near the pygmy puffs, over there," he said, pointing to the other side of the shop. "We'vejust developed newer, faster spinning carouselwheel sparklers as well, should you be interested."

[Krutika Gehi]

"Oh.. that seems great," smiled Krutika.

[sindarin]

As she walked off towards the fireworks, Gregori looked around at the other customers. Maybe there would be another he could help... ((here enters another student... or possibly another shopkeeper or someone))

Meanwhile he used his wand to summon a pair of raccoon shades from the far shelves. He put them on, waited a few minutes, then took them off and looked at himself in his reflection. He now had dark rings all around his eyes. He smiled and settled them on top of his head, providing the next conversation starter and merketing ploy.

[gwen]

[[Will you object to Miss Gwenie joining this thread?]]

Gwen yawned looking around The Three Broomsticks. The last person had just left the bar, and already she was begining to become bored. ~Why in the world is business so slow lately? Ah, well...Perhaps a break would be a good idea.~ Grabbing a jean jacket from behind the counter, she threw it on as she walked out the door, flipping the sign to closed. ~Now...where to go...~

Folding her arms for it was a bit chilly, Gwen began to walk down Hogsmeade's street, looking at all the shops. Ones she remembered had now closed, while new ones had opened. She caught sight of Zonko's and realized she hadn't visited since it reopened. Why shouldn't she now? Not finding any reason, Gwen walked up the stairs and pushed open the door. Turquoise skirt rustling around her legs, she entered and looked around.

It looked exactly the same; the likeness to the old Zonko's was amazing. She smiled as she caught sight of all the happy little third years, the ones that were visiting for the first time. Gwen remembered the thrill of that--the pure excitement of visiting a magical community. Looking around a bit more, she caught sight of Greg. Smiling, she wove between the throngs of people over to him. "Hello. Ho--" Catching sight of dark circles beneath his eyes, Gwen paused. "Are you okay?"

[[Oh. And just so you know, in your display name it says 'Gregoi' instead of 'Gregori'...thought you might want to know.]]

[sindarin]

((of course not! And lol I hadn't noticed the name! I'll try to fix that...))

"Gwen! How lovely of you to visit the store," he said. He meant it-- as much as he loved to see so many happy children in his shop, it was still nice to see a friendly face amidst the chaos. "Why, whatever are you talking about, am I okay?" He said this last bit with the most innocently inquisitive eyes he could manage.

[gwen]

[[haha. Now I kind of want to start calling you Gregoi. I struggled for ages trying to pronounce it before I realized it was wrong...]]

Oh. So he was not going to tell her outright; okay. Fine; she'd play along for now. "What am I talking about? Greg, really, if you can't even remember what that means, you really must not be getting enough sleep. Perhaps you should take some time off. I never exactly pegged you as the kind to lose sleep over anything, but, goodness, it certainly seems I was wrong. Honestly, as one friend to another, you should stop worrying and get some much needed beauty rest." A smile played on her mouth. Now that she knew he was fine, mock-concern was fun.

[sindarin]

((I don't know how to change it! Should I owl Ms. Schwimmer?))

Greg dropped his jaw in mock scorn. "Beauty rest? Well gee, Gwen, you don't have to be so cruel about a few dark circles. After all, that's what these are for," he pointed at the glasses on his head, "and the only reason I'm not wearing them is because I thought it rude to wear them indoors. But honestly, if all you're going to do is make fun of my appearance, then I guess I don't need them at all, do I?" At his point he took the glasses off his head and put them in Gwen's hands, then folded his arms. *Put them on, put them on* he pleaded silently.

At this point Greg had been purposely speaking louder, so that nearby eyes were being drawn to the scene that seemed to be unfolding. Most of the students had come to appreciate Gregori as a kind, gentle wizard and they were surprised and curious to see what was getting him heated. *Excellent,* thought Greg.

[gwen]

[[You go to your profile, yes? And then down to where it says "display name" and type it in there. I'm sure it'll fit because Guinevere Gwendolyn Greyson does and that's much longer...]]

Gwen scoffed, quite realistically at Greg's response. "Oh, honestly! I wasn't being cruel, simply stating the facts. A little spell might fix those right up for you...I could cast one if you'd like, with you being so tired and all, I wouldn't want you to exhaust yourself." She raised an eyebrow as he pointed to the glasses on his head. "Glasses are going to help mask your circles? Let's think realistically here, shall we?"

Startled as Greg handed her the glasses, again she scoffed, this time it sounding a bit less real and a bit more like a laugh. "Greg, thanks, but if you're implying I need them more than you do, I'm afraid you're sadly mistaken. It's the thought that counts though, I suppose. You know, for all I know, it could be these glasses that are giving you those dark circles. I bet that's it. Are you losing sleep over having to wear them? If you wouldn't lose sleep then you wouldn't have to. So, look. I'm doing a favor by taking these off your hands." A smirk still playing on her face she placed the glasses on a nearby shelf. Gwen was aware of the people staring around her, though she didn't really think anything of it. What did it matter what they thought?

[sindarin]

*Alright, plan B,* thought Gregori, positively thrilled with how much attention Gwen was helping him get. *She has quite a knack for this.*

"All right, you all," he now said, addressing the crowd around them, still with the ridiculous rings around his eyes. "Who wants to wear the glasses?"
Immediately, all the little third year girls raised their hands. Greg's charm and rogue good looks worked quite well for him most of the time. Smiling with squinty eyes, he picked up the glasses again, and handed them to the little girl at the front of the crowd. She put them on, and the crowd was silent. Suddenly... poof! The girl took the glasses off in surprise, and everyone laughed delightedly as they saw that she too had the rings. Immediately they were all crowding around Greg, who stood at least a foot and a half taller than most of them, trying to buy a pair all at once.
Laughing, he summoned a few boxes of them onto a table nearby, and he was able to breathe as the throng of students crowded the table instead. He smiled as he watched them go, then glanced over at Gwen.

[Krutika Gehi]

Krutika was coming back to counter with bags of fireworks in her hands when she was surprised to see that Mr. Leodices's eyes.. 'What happened? He was alright two minutes ago..' she thought, and then it clicked to her; he was talking with Gwen and she was sure all this was about some new joke product. Slowly, people gathered around and then Mr. Leodices offered who wanted to try those glasses. She raised her hands so did every one else in the crowd. As she was in front of the crowd, she was glad that, Mr. Leodices gave her those glasses and after trying them, she laughed with everybody else when she too had rings around her eyes.. "Oh wow.. these are brilliant.." she said as she headed towards the counter to buy one of these glasses. "Mr. Leodices, how am I suppose to remove these dark circles?" she asked.

[gwen]

As the crowd focused their attention on Greg, Gwen stepped back a bit, shaking her head and laughing. It was amazing how eager little children were to get their hands on the newest joke gimmick. Absolutely amazing. Still, Gwen remembered the excitement of having the best and most amazing new book. Perhaps the majority of students looked at jokes in the same way. Perhaps.

As the students cleared from around Greg, Gwen, still giggling slightly, said, "That is quite a way to attract business. It certainly seemed effective though." She glanced at the excited students briefly. "It's nice to know that there are still things to put a smile on one's face. Very nice to know." When Krutika came up to Greg to ask how the circles were removed, Gwen nodded. "That's a very good question. How do you get them to go away?"

[sindarin]

Greg laughed, "It has most of the same properties as dirt, so it comes off with a simple cleaning spell, as stated on the inside of the box. For those incapable of magic, it just has to wear off. Lasts about a week if you don't do anything to it." He turned and watched as his assistant tended to the customers at the desk.
He turned back to Gwen and Krutika and grinned. "So," he said, "Can I interest you ladies in some Pygmy Puffs? They now come in the color teal!"