Sneaky Sneaky

[Agnes Lorentz]

Aggie wasn't exactly thrilled when her father asked her to run an errand. Neverminding the fact that she was terrible with people and preferred to avoid interactions when possible but the idea that she was going to get his sneakoscope repaired made her even less inclined to agree. But she had, inevitably, agreed. She lived under his roof and was hardly the type able to deny people anything and so she'd said she'd do it. She tried not to acknowledge why he had a sneakoscope but it was difficult to ignore. Ever since it was found out that Amelie was not his daughter but instead a product of infidelity on her mother's part, he had been exceptionally suspicious of her. With good reason, Aggie thought. She thought idly that at least he had not cast her out. It was likely more to avoid scandal than any great attachment or love for her but nevertheless Aggie was glad that her mother had not been divorced and ruin, even if it would have been entirely just.

Though she was certain her mother had entered an Unbreakable Vow, her fathers paranoia was hardly put at rest. It was all terribly awkward when they sat for dinner - even still. Every one of her mother's actions was scrutinized and questioned and Aggie knew that even if she had been unfaithful that her father was being quite unfair. After all, if she were guilty of more infidelities she would have dropped dead, would she not? Aggie gave a soft sigh as she continued to only halfway watch where she was going. Her eyes inevitably always found her feet and she had to force them back upwards to keep from running into people. How terribly awkward it would be for her! It was bad enough that she stood nearly a foot over most normal women - and even a head over most men - she would hate to cause further embarrassment by barreling into someone. It was to her eternal relief that she quickly saw the sign for Dervish and Banges and with only slight hesitation that she pushed the door open. A bell rang signalling her arrival and she cringed ever so slightly at it, eyes instantly dashing back to her feet. She knew attention would need to be paid her way but it was still rather uncomfortable.

She gathered her wits for a moment before taking almost-cautious steps forward, willing her eyes upwards and towards the counter where she noticed a man, eyes trained on her. She had to fight to keep her eyes up and forced a slight, cordial smile. She hated this part. She hated that she was so awkward and large and entirely unfeminine and was instantly aware of how strange her langly form must have looked in her plain dress. Taking in a deep breath she stepped up to the counter and made to speak, faltering a slight moment before finding her words: "Good afternoon..." She stopped for a moment, "yes...I need to have a sneakoscope inspected to ensure it's working properly." Her words almost came out as a question, a product her her inclination to always second guess herself.

  

[Devraj Choudhry]

The bell above the door jingled and Devraj twitched; he would never get used to that sound, and rather wished that they could discard the bell entirely.

He managed to shake off his discomfort by the time the obscenely tall woman reached the front desk. Tall, and pale, and ginger - Devraj tried not to study her too obtusely as she made her way over, because though she was not pretty, not at all really, she was interesting looking and he supposed that when she was that tall she had to be used to people looking at her curiously.

There was also something slightly off about her accent - not quite British, but her pronunciation was very good nonetheless. Dev supposed that he would not be able to figure out where the accent had come from and so mentally let it drop.

"Good afternoon Miss," he said with a nod and a smile, "I can certainly help you with that." He was good at sneakoscopes - that was why he invented them, not because he was paranoid (at least not on that level) but because he was good at them. She really had come to the right place.

He wondered why she owed a sneakoscope. It wasn't really any of his business, but he wondered anyways.

He held out his hand, palm up. "May I see the instrument?"

  

[Agnes Lorentz]

She shifted uncomfortably under his gaze. She tried to tell herself she was just sensitive, that he wasn't thinking terrible things about her and that she was perfectly fine but as always she could never be too certain. Regardless she pushed the thoughts away. She didn't expect anyone to not notice how she was strange, overly tall and entirely unattractive. So she instead went to fishing in her little purse that was always attached to her and enchanted with an extension charm, fumbling to grasp the sneakoscope despite it being incredibly easy to find. She mentally told herself to calm down, that it didn't matter and that he couldn't be judging her too harshly but it hardly worked. It took her a good handful of minutes before - with a blush creeping across her freckle-stained face - she procured the item and placed it on the counter before him.

"I'm not entirely certain it isn't functioning..." She said it softly. "I'm not even sure there's a sure way to tell." She sounded silly. She wanted to spout off on how she didn't know the first thing about sneakoscopes because she didn't use them. It was her fathers - not hers. She didn't want him to think she was some strange person who went around trying to figure out what people did. Oh Merlin...what if he thought she was some sort of weirdo who was prying into everyone's affairs? Her nerves were increasing by the second and she knew she was being entirely ridiculous. First he was sure to note how ugly she was, how strangly tall and unfeminine she was. Then of course he'd assume she was some freak who was constantly sneaking around and being nosy.

After a moment, unable to contain herself, she blurted out: "My father insists it isn't working but he wouldn't come to have it looked at himself." They were hardly loudly spoken but to Aggie she was certain it was some sort of demented screech. She turned her head for a moment and made as if she were looking at the shelves though she could hardly see anything at all given how dark it was in the shop. Oh goodness she was sure to look a fool! But she didn't want to be rude so she managed to turn back towards him, although with eyes darting downwards. If he spoke she would respond but she clearly was not going to say anything else unless she needed to, lest she stick her foot completely in her mouth.

  

[Devraj Choudhry]

"I'm good with sneakoscopes," Devraj said. It was not bragging, but a statement of fact. He twisted the instrument in his hands, turned it over to look at it from all sides. There was nothing obviously wrong with it - at least not from the outside - but Dev did not know enough to call it either way yet.

He had pulled his wand out of his pocket and was prepared to fully immerse himself in the workings of the sneakoscope when the girl spoke again, very quietly.

Devraj looked up.

So her father had made her come for him; how cowardly of him.

"I see," Dev said with the slightest of nods, "He doesn't trust us?" Well, sneakoscope owners were typically paranoid.

Dev looked back down at the sneakoscope and tapped it with his wand to open it up; it popped open, and he ran his thumb over the workings inside. Nothing felt rusted or loose or otherwise broken; Dev frowned slightly and picked up his wand again.

"I'm going to see if the security charms have altered," he said, "Did your father try to tamper with the spells? It's very easy to disturb them." If one did not know what they were doing. Dev held his tongue, but only barely.

  

[Agnes Lorentz]

Agnes wasn't entirely certain what to do. It seemed like a sensitive enough task to work on a sneakoscope that she didn't want to bother him. When he spoke she just nodded softly and watched him open the device up. She hated that she was so easily swayed into doing things like this. She quickly realized that it was no better saying it was her fathers than before. Now he'd surely think that her father had reason to sneak on her and while the idea that she could be doing anything tawdry with anyone (who would have her?) it still was not lost on her that perhaps someone could be delusional enough to think she could successfully be a harlot.

His question brought her eyes back up and for a moment it hit her that it was a young man who was not entirely unattractive. She felt ridiculous for noticing that but he was quite lovely if a bit young. "Uhm..." She started softly, feeling terribly rude for letting it slip. Her father always said not to stutter like that, not to say anything if she was not ready to speak clearly. But she couldn't help it, she was nervous as she always was. Especially since this was an entirely unknown person before her. "To be honest, I haven't a clue if he's tinkered with it or not." She was inclined to believe he hadn't - he seemed more sensible than to do that - but then again where her mother was concerned he could hardly be accused of being sensible.

"I would rather think he hasn't but I can't be quite certain." She said it honestly, knowing that he must think it terrible irksome that she came in to get something fixed and hadn't a clue if it was even broken or if it had been messed with. "I apologize for being so terribly unhelpful - I hadn't thought to get more information." She said it cordially with perhaps a hint of self deprecation. She thought for a moment of just saying that she'd return at a later date but he seemed to be quite knowledgeable on the item so perhaps he could figure out if something was wrong with it.

  

[Devraj Choudhry]

"Ah," Dev said simply, muttering a spell and tapping the sneakoscope with his wand. Nothing happened - which was, tentatively, good. It meant that the sneakoscope was not broken enough that the most inner workings, where the magic was most tightly wound, could be unraveled - which meant that it could be fixed, and would not have to be replaced.

Or it meant that the spell inside had lost the ability to detect anything entirely. Devraj muttered another spell and prodded the sneakoscope.

"It's fine," Devraj said simply, looking away from his work for only a second, "Why is he convinced that this is broken?"

The sneakoscope was still doing nothing. Devraj ran his thumb over the inner workings again, rotated a sprocket slightly, and prodded it with his wand again. He still could not tell if it was broken or perfectly fine - but the solution to that would come in time. Sneakoscopes liked to keep secrets as much as they liked to reveal them, and they were a magical object that occasionally seemed to have a personality of its own... though Dev supposed that he may just think that because he was so used to fiddling with them.

  

[Agnes Lorentz]

While a perfectly reasonable question on his part, Aggie could not help but feel awkward. How did one explain why they did not think a sneakoscope worked? She hardly wanted to divulge that her father was a paranoid man, adamant that her mother simply must be doing something wrong even despite having taken an Unforgivable Vow. Aggie was not unaware as to how gossip could travel and while she didn't think he'd really say anything - even if he had she hadn't given her name - it was still all family business that his father was perpetually suspicious of her straying mother. She fiddled idly with her hands, trying to think of exactly how to say why her father was convinced it was broken.

"Well, you see..." She started awkwardly, not wanting to say too much but also not wanting to be entirely dishonest. "The owner - that is to say my father - has reason to believe...well, that someone is being dishonest or unsavory in his presence. He is quite convinced this is the case..." She trailed off, clamping her eyes shut for a moment and gathering herself. "and well the sneakoscope has not alerted to such - what he believes to be - truths and as such he has concluded that there must be fault with the item." She managed to finish her sentence only mildly fumbling here and there. She hoped that he would assume it was because of some business endeavor rather than think of infidelity but then again she could hardly dictate what one thought. She just prayed he would not speak aloud such things.

"I'm quite an outsider to the whole ordeal," she felt bad for fibbing but it wasn't entirely untrue. She didn't know what it was that was causing his paranoia to flare up again. Just that, assuredly, it was because of her mother. "I am afraid my father was none too eager to divulge specifics. I should have pressed but it hadn't occurred to me that you might need more to go on." Her tone was quite apologetic. She felt certain he thought her a fool. It was not enough that everyone must have thought her strange and un-comely but to be thought a fool too! She simply wanted to disappear!

  

[Devraj Choudhry]

Her father thought that someone was doing something unsavory. Devraj was willing to bet that it was adultery - of course, it also could have been something like a corrupt business partner, or a lying child, or anything else that a paranoid coward could think of.

"It's fine, Miss," Devraj said, pulling his wand out of the instrument and carefully putting the pieces back together. They clicked back into place and he inspected it for another moment, half-wishing that he had someone shady to test the sneakoscope on. But he knew that he didn't need to, not really. "You've been more than helpful." Perhaps she was not quite as helpful as he had wished - she did not, after all, have all the answers he required - but she did know some things, and the things she had known made for interesting conversation. That was more than he could say for some of his coworkers.

Dev held the sneakoscope out to her. "The sneakoscope isn't broken," Dev said, "It's not as sensitive as it could be, but that would be because it is a few years old. If your father would like a newer model, I can make one for him."

  

[Agnes Lorentz]

She was quite certain that his assurances were just to be cordial. Her mind was abuzz with remarks on her own stupidity. She shouldn't have consented to doing this task for her father. She should have had the backbone to say no to him. After all it was hardly her business that he was paranoid beyond repair. It was hardly her business that he and her mother had no business being married. It was hardly her business that they could hardly stand a moment in one anothers company. If he wanted to sneak and make sure she wasn't doing things untoward then he should have taken matters into his own hands! For all that Aggie knew these facts, however, she could hardly bring herself to be upset with him. And even less so could she even fathom saying such things to his face. Instead, she just nodded when the man said that the sneakoscope was not broken and took it from his hand gently as to avoid touching him.

"What is the price of a new sneakoscope?" She inquired meekly. She really ought to have told her father to bugger off and get his own damned contraption and yet here she was instead ready to pay out of pocket to get him a new one. She was terribly weak willed, wasn't she? The thought caused a brief sigh to escape her lips, quiet and nearly inaudible though present nonetheless. She was resigned to her fate, however. She'd always be the one that helped others out, the one that was selfless. What else could she be? She had no life of her own to live - it was out of the question to become a wife and mother. So why not be a dutiful worker and daughter? It was her destiny as far as she was concerned and she would strive to perform admirably. And if that meant appeasing her father's worries by getting him a new sneakoscope then so be it.

  

[Devraj Choudhry]

For a moment Devraj regretted offering. It seemed that he had upset her - perhaps she suspected that her father would make her retrieve this sneakoscope, too; Devraj did not know - or at the very least she was speaking very meekly. But it was not his place to worry about the emotional state of over-tall women in the shop, not when he had Kavi's education to help pay for. Dev refused to have another sibling drop out before their OWLs, and he knew that Jayashri felt similarly. So he shoved the sensation aside and forced himself to have faith in the girl's ability to handle herself.

Devraj told her the price.* "Does that sound agreeable?" he asked, after a beat, hoping that the price would not be a problem. Sneakoscopes were not too expensive - they cost only slightly more than a remembrall did - but it was still not the sort of thing that the less fortunate could afford on a whim.

But in Devraj's experience, rich people were more prone to that sort of paranoia anyways.

*i am not going to make up a price because #buhhhhh

  

[Agnes Lorentz]

Aggie gave a moment of thought over the price before deciding that it was useless to even ponder. She would, of course, front the cost for her father's ridiculous device because that was just who she was. She had the amount he asked and saw no reason why she shouldn't go ahead and get a new one. The problem was, she wasn't entirely certain how to go about that. Were sneakoscopes ready made? Or would she have to place an order and pick it up at a later time? She could feel the anxiety mounting at the very question. Did she go ahead and give him the money? But what if it was something she'd have to get at a later date? Then she'd surely look a fool handing him money that he could not take until the item was prepared. She could feel the blush on her cheeks as her mind went into overdrive and when she opened her mouth to speak it was nothing more than incoherent babbling - even she wasn't certain there'd actually been words among it.

She took a moment then to take a deep breath, trying not to make herself look even more pathetic than he already surely thought her to be. "I - I'm afraid," She started, voice still shaky, "that I'm not familiar with such things." There, her voice was starting to sound at least slightly more even. "Is this ready-made or will I need to retrieve it at a later time?" She fought the urge to bite the corner of her lip out of nerves but - inevitably - failed. She could only hope that she would be able to get done what she needed to then leave. And never, ever return to the shop again. Ever.

  

[Devraj Choudhry]

She was rather skittish, or so it seemed, and Devraj felt bad for her. He always felt bad for people who were - or seemed - shy, because while he himself was quiet and disliked loud noises, he had never been shy. He supposed that being shy had to be exhausting, especially when paired with her massive height.

"I don't have one pre-made," Dev said, having decided to ignore her shyness for the sake of getting things done, "It should be ready in one to two weeks; if you give me your name, I can send you a letter when it's finished and you can pick it up." He hoped that that would not be too much for her. It was not as though he had other options at hand.

  

[Agnes Lorentz]

"Oh." Aggie said it and instantly felt dim for saying it but there wasn't much more she could add. She had hoped that she could get this over with and never again have to see this man because he must have thought her terribly ridiculous. And she was ridiculous, she knew that, but that didn't mean she wanted people thinking such of her. She shifted on her feet slightly, cheeks red despite not really having a reason to be so, before it hit her that she should probably give him her name so that they could both go on about their business. And so that she could leave and not have to see him for at least another week.

"Miss Agnes Lorentz, I reside in Bartonburg." She said it quickly, adding a hasty, "Thank you." Before turning to leave because she didn't know what else to do. She just wanted to get out of there and get out of there right then. She didn't even give a passing glance as she all but ran from the shop, holding her breath and only exhaling when she was back on the street. And she'd have to return! How terrible.