WHO: Amycus & Alecto Carrow
WHAT: Amycus does something stupid, and it leads to rather drastic action
WHEN: September '78
WHERE: Agrippa's
NOTE: Amycus → Liv

Amycus Carrow had done something incredibly stupid. He knew it was only a matter of time before something like this happened - he'd known it the second Vivica had returned to school - no, even before that. Vivica leaving had no been good for him. And now he'd gone and done the stupidest thing he'd done in a long time. He'd quit his job. And he knew that he ruddy well had to find another one - and a bloody good one, at that - before Aland found out. After all, it was Aland who had secured the position, which was supposedly a good one. To be quite honest, though, Amycus hadn't a clue the entire time what his job actually was. His days consisted mostly of sitting at a desk and reading the Daily Prophet whilst he got paid for it. Perhaps that had been part of Aland's plan? To keep him out of trouble?

Damnit, Amycus had gotten sick of it. The Daily Prophet was rubbish, after all, and one could only read it for so long before feeling insanity encroaching on them. So, he'd quit. Told them they could shove their job - if that's what you could even call it - where the sun didn't shine. And walked straight out of the Ministry, never wanting to go back ever again.

His actions after those were perhaps a little smarter. Amycus had marched straight to the nearest barber's and gotten his hair cut, and his face clean shaven. His pale jaw set firmly and smooth, his hair cropped shorter, Amycus now looked like someone who he had always wanted to look like; a professional, someone who meant business, someone who wasn't going to take shit from anyone. At the barbers', he'd had quite a long time to think, and he had made up his mind as to how he was going to fix this unemployment mess.

Alecto.

No sooner than the barber shop's bell had tinkered to signal Amycus' exit, and Amycus had arrived at Alecto's apothecary, opening the door with another tinkering sound. There was no-one in the shop. Good. "Alecto?" He called out, rubbing his hand over his smooth jaw (he had to admit, it was a nice feeling to be clean again).


Always shit to do, always so much shit to do with this shop--for all the times she had wondered why she hired Vincent, Alecto knew now why she had. It was absolutely wonderful to have someone working in the back; then she could focus on being there for customers, didn't have to run back and forth, didn't have to worry about the mind-numbing task of organizing all the stock. She shouldn't allow that man to have days off, she was damn generous for paying him and giving him days off, Alecto thought bitterly as she sat in the middle of several jars of unlabeled ingredients, trying to figure out what they bloody were so she could alphebetize them.

It was disgusting work, having to actually open and look at them... some of that shit was pungent in the worst way. She wished she could give this up and keep it until Vincent came back to work but it was the weekend, so if these things sat here it would be for days. Which would only irritate her each time she walked by them, which would result in her doing the work anyway so really, it was pointless--but maybe she could take a break.

It was like Amycus could read her thoughts, the way that he happened to walk into the shop at just the moment that thought had passed through her head. "Back here," Alecto called, throwing off the old apron she had been wearing and standing up. With the utmost care, she stepped out from the ring of jars surrounding her and into the main area of the shop, nearly stopping in her tracks at the sight of the very... cleaned-up version of her brother that her eyes were introduced to.

"Well, Merlin's beard. What's wrong with you that you're looking so nice?"


Amycus was ashamed to admit that it made his heart jump a little higher to see that she'd noticed how sharp he looked: his heart thumping a little harder in his ears, he gave her a sauve smile, shrugging his shoulders a little. Was this possible - Amycus Carrow looked almost shy? He cleared his throat a couple of time, and then blurted it out. After all, Alecto was going to find out what an idiot he'd been sooner or later. Amycus was much better being upfront with her straight from the start. Experience had taught him that much.

"Well - you see - I kind of - ...yeah, I quit my job. The super flashy one, that Aland Avery scored me at the Ministry. I worked there for months, Alecto - months, and my days pretty much consisted of sitting at a desk and reading the Daily Prophet, waiting for something happen. It was ludicrous! No doubt part of that bastard's plan. Keep me out of trouble, and subsequently keeping Vivica out of trouble and well provided for." Amycus stopped short, realising he was on the verge of a very long - and undoubtedly rather boring - rant. He sucked in a breath, and then spoke as he exhaled, "So I quit. I need to show Aland I can make it on my own. Which is why I'm here."


Alecto's arms crossed over her chest, not in stern analysis, but as an aid to casual thought. Her brow rose high when he said that he had quit his job... after all, she had thought that it was his plan to go along with everything Aland set up for him, therefore keeping him happy, therefore keeping him from getting trouble about marrying the slag, therefore keeping his life hassle-free. It was an interesting revelation to say the least.

Despite itching to insert a comment or inquiry about every five words, Alecto kept her mouth shut and let Amycus finish his ramble--she was relieved when he finally shut up about it, although she was disappointed with the lack of outright saying what he wanted that she had expected. Of course she understood what he wanted, but he could still go ahead and ask. Maybe she'd make it difficult for him, just to hear him say it--anything to prolong her self-imposed break.

"And what exactly is this which that would bring you here?" she asked, her eyes filling with false skepticism. "I don't see what any of that has to do with me."


Amycus looked exasperated, with no clue of Alecto's underlying motives. It was embarrassing enough to admit that he'd been stupid enough to put up with Aland's crap in the first place, let alone have to come all the way over here and beg for a job. Because really, that was what he was doing. If he'd thought that he could maybe get a "good" enough job elsewhere (one that Aland thought was good, anyway), then he would certainly be there. But surely...surely (Amycus hoped) Aland would be impressed with the idea of a successful family business? Something that would provide a great cover, something that was safe and money-making and...surely Aland would appreciate that.

"I was..." Amycus frowned, resisting the temptation to scuff his shoe into the ground, "...just...wondering...if you'd...you know...have any work...for me?" There, he'd said it. The tips of his ears glowed pink with his embarrassment. But after all, it was his own fault he'd gotten into this mess, so he was going to have to face the embarrassment of getting out of it again.


Okay, so it was probably the most amusing thing ever to watch Amycus actually blush and be flustered... when was the last time she'd had the good fortune to see that sight standing smack in front of her? Far too long, she was certain.

Alecto uncrossed her arms, but now went to lean against a shelf of ingredients beside her, still looking as if she were deeply analyzing him. As if she were deeply debating whether or not she should give him this job (not as if she would ever refuse the opportunity to be close to him again, but this was something of a game). "I wonder..." she mused aloud, although it was obvious that she was addressing him as well as herself. "... Why would you quit your boring, stuffy office job that your boring, stuffy future brother-in-law has set up for you and risk inciting problems with your boring, slu--stuffy fiancée? Just because you were bored? I don't believe it a bit."

"Besides that, aren't you afraid that you'll get in trouble?" In more ways than one, although she was sure that he more than anyone else would understand that.


Although still flustered, Amycus was quick to growl at her,"You will not insult Vivica in front of me, Alecto. You've made it quite clear you're pathetically jealous of her, but I will not allow you t-" He broke off rather quickly, knwoing that he was hardly going to convince Alecto to give him a job if he insulted her, even if she was wrong to lash out at Vivica like that.

He bit his tongue and considered for a moment. Alecto clearly had a particular answer that she wanted him to say in mind, and he was pretty sure he knew what it was. The thing was, Amycus wasn't going to have to lie to answer how she wanted. "No, no, perhaps it wasn't just boredom. Perhaps I want to be closer to my sister - if that's alright with you." His tone was a little grudging, perhaps, but it was soft. As for her suggestion that he might get in trouble...Amycus really didn't want to imagine the look on Aland's face when he found out he'd quit the job he'd specifically secured for Amycus. Amycus really wasn't looking forward to facing him, especially when there would be no Vivica to shield him.


Maybe she was jealous (the pathetic part she could really debate), but he was in no position at the moment to call her out on it, as both of them knew. The way that he cut himself off before he could say more told a thousand words of how much power she held over him right now, and how well he knew it. Amycus was doing naught by insulting her than making this game that she was playing with him so much more fun.

"Well, if you're going to be like that, then I won't bother," Alecto said, ignoring the part of his speech where he explained himself for the most part. She shrugged and turned around, beginning to head back towards the stock room from whence she came. "If that's any indicator of how you're going to speak to me as your employer, then it would be a waste of time to hire you. Now, I've got work to do, so if you'd show yourself the door..."


"No! No, no, please, Alecto," Amycus grabbed onto her arm as she retreated. She would be pleased to hear the hint of panic in Amycus' voice. He didn't have a back-up plan, if she didn't give him the job and he was sure that he would have no chance of finding work that was good enough anywhere else in such short notice. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to speak to you like that. I'm just highly stressed, that's all. I really, really need you to do this favour for me. Even just a trial period? I'll work hard, harder than anyone else here, I promise you. Can you just give me a chance?"

Aha, he was such putty in her hands.

"A trial period?" she asked, her brow going slightly higher as she turned slightly to face him. Alecto knew her answer, but for the sake of the façade, she made herself seem to fret over it for a moment. Finally, once she had given him a few seconds to panic a little more--"... I suppose that wouldn't be completely horrible." Oh, this was perfect. "You can start right away, there are plenty of jars to be sorted in the back right now."

"Oh. Right. Yes, right," Amycus seemed a little taken aback - sorting jars? Not exactly what he would call being in the thick of things, but it would have to do. He gave her a curt nod. "I'll...get started then, shall I?"