If Looks Could Kill :: Vini-Mae

Shirt on, buttons fastened to the neck. Blindly, he reached for the vest, putting one arm in, then the other. It was muscle memory at this point. He could pick his suit in the dark and still walk out looking completely put together. He was, after all, a Blackwood. Pocketwatch safely nestled in the front pocket, pants pressed perfectly, grey jacket last, gliding over his left arm, then the right. Pocket square in a deep orange matching the primary color of his herringbone tie, perfectly arranged. It was almost like he had done this before, a few thousand times. Gideon walked out of his closet, buttoning the jacket deftly as he descended the stairs, not stopping before exiting the beautifully appointed London Brownstone.

As the door shut, the lock clicked into place and with a pop, Gideon apparated into space, landing with a fluid ease on the cobblestone streets of Diagon Alley. The dim afternoon light begining to set, a fog settling over the street making the street lamps give off a sinister glow. His steps never faltering, Gideon didn’t smile as he walked down the street towards Blackwood & Sons, him being the second oldest of those sons. He made eye contact with the witches and wizards he saw on the street. Pure confidence oozed off him as he nodded at some, tipped his chin to others and with one, stopping to glare. Sending a pure message, don’t fuck with me today, you won’t like the outcome.

Stupid piece of shite Tommy Crows, was never again allowed in Blackwood & Sons. Caught trying to rig a bet. Gideon had had men beaten to a pulp for less.

Seeing the storefront come into view, Gideon surveyed the family business with a sense of pride. The best men’s clothing store in Europe, magical tailor on staff at all times for quick turn around. Luxury fabrics, high end accessories, the best leather and textiles available.

Gideon walked through the door, bell ringing as he made entry. His eyes met those of the closing manager, a quick nod and chin lift towards the back told Rafferty all he needed to know. There was one thing about Gideon that took some getting use to, the man never said two words if one would do. And if no words were an option, all the better. His face could convey most things with a simple raised eyebrow, tilt of his head, upturn edge of his lips or glare of his eyes. Only those that were closest spoke his language fluently.

Walking though the curtain to the backroom, Gideon looked over his shoulder to make sure no one was watching as he took out his wand and tapped the door to a broom closet. Without the proper password, when you opened the door it would show a small cupboard filled with cleaning supplies. If you were lucky enough to know the code, when the door opened it revealed a long stone staircase descending into a secret basement.

Beyond the second door, was the Blackwood and Sons supplemental source of income. The speakeasy and betting club.

Walking behind the bar like he owned the joint, because he partially did, Gideon’s eyes zeroed in on one of his favorite humans. “Vini-Mae!” He said with more affection in his voice then most would expect from the man. “Hello, luv, how are you today? Any of these old ass-hats giving you a hard time?” He asked, coming up behind her, kissing her on the temple before hopping up on the bar.

Looking at his beautiful younger sister, Gideon reacted in a very uncharacteristic way. He smiled, a real genuine smile. Grabbing a cherry out of the dish used for mixed drinks, he popped it into his mouth and playfully kicked her in the hip. “Whatcha up to today?”

“Vini-Mae!”

Lavinia inwardly groaned at what her, arguably, favorite brother called her. She carefully set the empty glass on the shelf after drying it with a towel, then turned just in time to be kissed on the temple. She scowled and picked up her dish towel.

“No, Giddy, none of them are giving me a hard time. They know better,” Lavinia responded and looked over at a particular regular who did so often try to get handsy with her. However, her wand was always at the ready and her carefully practiced defensive charms ready to lash out if they needed to.

She glanced over at Gideon as he hopped up onto the bartop, spotting the smile on his face. A grin – dare she say. What had gotten into him?

He gently kicked her hip and she attempted to hit it with her towel, though she missed and looked at him. “Same stuff, like always,” she said and rolled her eyes. “There’s supposed to be some big to-do tonight, a stag party I think, so I will be sure to be fully armed,” she said and nodded over to where her wand lay at the ready.

Vini really didn’t mind working at the bar, she didn’t, but what got old sometimes – not all the time at this point because most had learned better now – was being groped by older men. She learned quick to never leave her wand far from her hand so she could be ready to defend herself at a moment’s notice.

“And what’re you smiling about, Giddy? You’re downright… well, Giddy,” Vini commented, laughing at herself.

“No, Giddy, none of them are giving me a hard time. They know better.” His eyes rolled in a dramatic, over the top fashion. Giddy, for the love, she was the ONLY human on the face of this earth that wouldn’t suffer large amounts of pain for using that childhood nickname.

In the last hundred years, Gideon could count on one hand how many girls had been born into the Blackwood line, and funny enough, he was looking at the one and only. When Lavina Mae was born, no one believed it was true. That was until they saw her face and how clearly she looked like her older brothers. Same dark hair, same eyes, same mischievous expressions. She was a Blackwood through and through.

“Same stuff, like always. There’s supposed to be some big to-do tonight, a stag party I think, so I will be sure to be fully armed.” Fuck that, he wasn’t leaving her alone with a group of drunk, posh idiots. No way in hell.

“And what’re you smiling about, Giddy? You’re downright… well, Giddy.” Vini asked as he hopped off the bartop. Taking off his jacket, tie and vest, Gideon folded them all up nicely and put them in a stack at the end of the counter to take to the office before the nightly rush started up. “Me, Giddy, you must be confused. Those words don’t go together.” Grabbing an apron, he deftly tied it around his waist and began rolling up his sleeves, exposing his forearms, his left sporting an intricate tattoo of the Blackwood family crest, with a snake wrapped completely around his arm and going up his sleeve. Many wouldn’t expect it. Some would hate it. He didn’t care.

Sleeves rolled up, Gideon filled a pint glass for a patron, falling right back into the routine like he had never left.

He worked beside his sister for a few minutes, satisfying all the inebriated before they got another minute to talk. “I have an important question for you. How would you feel about living alone for ten months or so?”

She knew about the job offer, but until this morning it was just a rumor. Gideon had submitted his application and resume, interviewed a few times, but didn’t actually think he would get it. Being in charge of a large number of children in the castle was slightly daunting, but being close to his nieces and nephews was a plus.

Gideon hopped off the bar and took off his jacket, vest, and tie – a sign that he would not be leaving anytime soon.

“Me, Giddy, you must be confused. Those words don’t go together.”

Vini smirked and shook her head. Maybe, but also maybe not. There wasn’t much that made her brother happy these days, not since his wife died, so she loved it when he let his guard down and showed some actual emotion. Well – the good kind, anyway.

While he put on an apron and served a patron, she checked the bottles of liquor that were on display. One was empty, so she picked up the bottle and took the spout out so she could wash it and put it in a new bottle.

Once the new bottle was situated, another intoxicated fellow was at the bar ordering another drink. She refilled his glass and then handed it off to the man before Gideon began speaking again.

“I have an important question for you. How would you feel about living alone for ten months or so?”

Vini gasped and looked up at her brother with widened, blue eyes. She knew he had applied to work at Hogwarts – a decision that she thought was random but also fit. Their niece and nephew were starting this coming fall, and he wanted to be close to them. She didn’t blame him for that; she couldn’t picture him settling down and having a family – not after what he’d been through already.

“You got it? Did you really get it?” she asked, jumping at Gideon to hug him. “Oh my god, that’s so cool!” she added. “I can’t believe it,” she shook her head, still grinning. She’d miss him like crazy, but she was so excited for this big change in his life.

“You got it? Did you really get it?” Vini squealed, jumping into his arms. Oh my god, that’s so cool! I can’t believe it,” He squeezed her tight, lifting her up off her feet, then setting her down and kissing the top of her head. The smile on his face was only for her.

Leaning back on the bar, arms crossed, legs crossed at the ankles in front of him he watched as his baby sister came back down from the excitement. “Yes, I did get the Deputy position. Not sure what they're thinking really, but I’ll take the job nonetheless.” Grabbing a cherry from the garnish dish, he popped it in his mouth, chewing slowly.

“Wanna hear the nutter part? They made me Hufflepuff Head of House as well. The fucking badgers.” Shaking his head. The Head of House position hadn’t been part of the original job proposal, but once they offered the Deputy job, they tacked on the badgers as a consolation prize. Being a snake, it felt sacrilegious to don the yellow and black, but he’d learn to tolerate it.

”I gave my notice today with the Ministry, but they obviously already knew. I have some time before I need to pack and move to the castle… Blimey, that sounds bonkers. Sounds like Halloway, the last Head Master, did a number on the castle. Lots of new staff. Something is wrong with the magic. It should be an interesting year. So you’ll be ok by yourself?” He asked, looking closely at Vini. Yes, she was an adult, but he liked being close. If anything happened to her… he couldn’t think about that. He wouldn’t survive another loss. She was the light of his currently very dark life.