Have a Gay Day

[Threnody Mohr]

December 17th

• What did one buy for owls?
  
  Threnody stood uncertainly in the shop, one hand holding a handkerchief to her nose to block out the smell of bird poo, the other raising the hem of her skirt ever-so-slightly to avoid it trailing in the stuff; though most of the excrement on the floor looked dry, one could not be too careful if one lacked the magical skill to clean garments with ease.
  
  ‘Something for his owl’ had been the veela’s mental response to her question of ‘what to get Donald’, but beyond seeing her arrive at the store, that train of thought had been unable to go very far. Seeing a rather well-dressed employee, Threnody was about to ask for help when her open mouth emitted a shriek instead as an owl swooped down from its perch towards her.

  

[Ozias Lovegood]

Oz had been minding his own business as he worked in the Owl Emporium when he heard a feminine screech that had his head snapping up. Quickly, the tall man went and shooed the offending owl away from her hair.

"Are you all right, Miss?" Oz asked, and he found himself staring at the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen.

  

[Threnody Mohr]

• Her breath left her entirely for a brief moment before returning in earnest, heavier than before as the veela tried to settle herself. While not typically afraid of birds, she was also not accustomed to them flying directly at her, and so—to say the least—had been rather taken off-guard.
  
  “I’ll live,” she offered dryly, “Though I cannot see why they’re allowed to fly about and assault patrons. The shop sells perfectly good cages; I cannot think for a moment why they wouldn’t be used!”

  

[Ozias Lovegood]

"I'm very sorry, Miss," he said; he was deeply convinced that this woman could not have a husband. That would be an affront to any claims that the universe might be fair, unless she was the wife of a saint. "They're usually very well behaved."

He honestly could not understand why one of his owls might have attacked this angel; it simply made no sense. "Something must have upset or frightened him. I cannot fathom why he might have behaved that way."

  

[Threnody Mohr]

• Was he implying that she had frightened them? Threnody bristled momentarily, before the look on his face assured her that that could not have been the case.
  
  “You must keep a better eye on them,” she instructed, though the veela’s tone was now less severe.

  

[Ozias Lovegood]

"Of course, Miss!" Ozias said earnestly. "I will assist you myself so that we can be sure that no other owls misbehave. Someone must have spooked them just before you came in."

He offered his arm so that he could escort her about the shop. "What are you looking for today, my lady?"

  

[Threnody Mohr]

• “A gift, for my…” both step-son and brother-in-law implied married. While Threnody did not actively lie about her status, she did not publicize it when it did not benefit her to do so. “For my brother. He has an owl, but I am afraid I am quite a terrible sister—I know little of his interests beyond that, and so it was the crux of my gift-buying scheme,” the veela offered, taking the man’s arm.

  

[Ozias Lovegood]

The touch of her hand, even through his clothes, was enough to cause Oz's heart rate to quicken. No woman had ever made his pulse quicken like this. It was too bad that he was wed, because otherwise he would be proposing marriage this very moment. It would be no difficulty at all to produce children with this creature.

"Do you know what size an owl he has?" he asked, his throat slightly dry. He had never reacted to a woman like this before, and he had known some very beautiful women. He was married to one, and he had only gone to her bed because it was necessary. It was men who made his pulse race with desire, and he could hardly think past the confusion over his reaction. "Is it -- uh -- a large one, or a -- small one?"

  

[Threnody Mohr]

• Threnody’s nose wrinkled. Had her earlier outburst not shown her disdain for the birds? Frankly, she thought she was doing well to know Donald had one.
  
  “I suppose a large one?” she offered, tone not at all certain (or even particularly interested). “Is one not the same as the next?”

  

[Ozias Lovegood]

"It makes some difference, as they eat different sized treats and take different size cages and perches," Ozias said vaguely. She was so beautiful ... if other women were like this, he would have been able to ignore his freakish leanings.

"There is a very nice selection of things in the back," he suggested, although he could not think of one thing in the back that she might like for a gift for her brother. "Perhaps something will be to your liking."

  

[Threnody Mohr]

• The back. If all the foul birds were out here, then the back would surely be safer. And cleaner. Happily the veela gestured for the wizard to lead the way.