Banished: Chapter 9
Apr. 14th, 2007 07:23 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
zephyr_macabeeIt was loud. It was bright. It was huge. Severus had never been in a store this large. If Nat had not been with him, he thought, he would probably turn tail and run. As they entered the store an elderly man in a blue smock greeted them. Severus courteously returned the greeting, getting a startlingly large smile in return. Nat lead him towards the rear of the store where a sign on the wall proclaimed “Men’s”.
“You’ll need a couple pair of jeans at least. They are comfortable and hard-wearing, good for outdoor work.”
“Do they come in black?”
“As a matter of fact they do, although blue is more usual.”
“I prefer black”
“Black it is then, let’s get a few sample sizes and see what fits you.”
Severus had not bought off-the-rack clothing since before he started working at Hogwarts. Wizards with money and pride had their clothes tailor-made and as soon as he could afford it he had gone to a Diagon Alley haberdasher to be measured for suits and robes.
Nat guessed at Severus’ size and gathered several pairs of black jeans. He handed them to Severus and pushed him towards the changing rooms. “Ask the girl to put you in a room and try these on. I am going to get you some other slacks and shirts.”
“Long-sleeves please, Nathanial, I only wear long-sleeves.”
“All right, but not black, you’ll get sun-stroke. Let me see what I can find.”
Severus found a young woman in a blue smock outside the changing rooms. When he asked to try on the jeans, he got a blinding smile. He was escorted to a small cubicle and instructed to call for Hannah if he needed any help.
Stepping inside, he removed his woolen slacks and pulled on the heavy cotton jeans. The first pair was too tight and pinched his privates. The second pair was looser, but too short, ending above his ankles. The third pair was just right. As he checked the fit in the mirror, he heard Nat’s voice.
“How’re you doing Severus?”
He stepped out into the corridor. “I think these will do.”
Both Nat and Hannah were staring at him. He quickly looked down to see if he had left his fly undone.
“They look good on you Severus.” Nat was grinning as he handed him some other slacks and shirts to try. Hannah was nodding in agreement. Severus retreated to his cubicle in some confusion. He could not remember the last time someone had complimented him on his appearance.
Nat had given him some shiny cotton slacks called ‘Dockers’. They were navy blue, but they fit well and he decided to keep them. The shirts had the required long-sleeves with knit cuffs, which would allow him to push them up in private. They had buttons at the neck and a narrow collar. The ‘medium’ fit him quite well. Separating the successes from the failures, he quickly re-dressed. The failures he gave to Hannah. He had Nat direct him to the source of the shirts, where he picked out a dark green, a soft blue and a muted red. He also picked up a second pair of black jeans in his size. On their way to the cashiers, Nat selected for him a pack of boxer-briefs, several long-sleeve T shirts, a pair of swimming trunks and some cotton athletic socks. “You are going to need all these this summer.”
Nat maneuvered him into line at the check-out, providing instructions in a low voice. “Put your purchases on the belt, the cashier will ring you up, tell you the total, and then you give her the cash.”
Severus was astonished by the fingernails of the women at the cash register. They were the longest he had ever seen, blood-red with some kind of appliquéd design. How on earth did she press the keys on her machine with talons like those? Distracted, he missed what she said to him. “I beg your pardon, could you repeat that?” he asked.
Although she had been frowning, upon hearing his voice she grinned and repeated the total. He was surprised at how low it was. Counting out the cash, he handed over the bills and received his change. Gathering up the bags, he and Nat exited the store to a pleasant farewell from the cashier.
“Nat, why is it that every time I speak people smile at me?”
“It’s your accent, Severus, Americans love a British accent. You better get used to it, because it is going to be happening a lot. Now we need to make one more stop before we are finished outfitting you.”
Nat drove them to Rancher’s Supply. There, upon his instructions, Severus purchased a pair of work boots, a pair of sneakers and a straw cowboy hat.
“OK, I think you are ready now. It is past noon, are you hungry?”
Severus realized that shopping had given him quite an appetite. They stopped at a small café outside of town. Nat suggested chili. It arrived in a deep bowl, dark red, laden with beef and beans, with an enticing aroma. His first spoonful took his breath away. Never had he tasted anything this spicy hot, not even the vindaloo at the Indian take-away near Spinner’s End. Tears streamed down his face as he gulped some water. Nat offered him some bread.
“Here Severus, eat this, it will ease the burn. I’m so sorry, I didn’t think.”
The bread did help cool the fire. The waitress and the other patrons went back to their own affairs when it became clear he did not need first aid. Embarrassed, he considered going out to wait in the truck, but before he could move the waitress returned with another bowl.
“Try this sir, it is our mild chili.”
Hesitantly, he tried a spoonful. This time the flavor outweighed the heat. He thanked the waitress and tucked in with a will. Nat relaxed and returned to his own meal.
Hunger satisfied, Nat and Severus climbed into the truck and started the long drive back to the Institute.
next http://zephyr-macabee.livejournal.com/7247.html
“You’ll need a couple pair of jeans at least. They are comfortable and hard-wearing, good for outdoor work.”
“Do they come in black?”
“As a matter of fact they do, although blue is more usual.”
“I prefer black”
“Black it is then, let’s get a few sample sizes and see what fits you.”
Severus had not bought off-the-rack clothing since before he started working at Hogwarts. Wizards with money and pride had their clothes tailor-made and as soon as he could afford it he had gone to a Diagon Alley haberdasher to be measured for suits and robes.
Nat guessed at Severus’ size and gathered several pairs of black jeans. He handed them to Severus and pushed him towards the changing rooms. “Ask the girl to put you in a room and try these on. I am going to get you some other slacks and shirts.”
“Long-sleeves please, Nathanial, I only wear long-sleeves.”
“All right, but not black, you’ll get sun-stroke. Let me see what I can find.”
Severus found a young woman in a blue smock outside the changing rooms. When he asked to try on the jeans, he got a blinding smile. He was escorted to a small cubicle and instructed to call for Hannah if he needed any help.
Stepping inside, he removed his woolen slacks and pulled on the heavy cotton jeans. The first pair was too tight and pinched his privates. The second pair was looser, but too short, ending above his ankles. The third pair was just right. As he checked the fit in the mirror, he heard Nat’s voice.
“How’re you doing Severus?”
He stepped out into the corridor. “I think these will do.”
Both Nat and Hannah were staring at him. He quickly looked down to see if he had left his fly undone.
“They look good on you Severus.” Nat was grinning as he handed him some other slacks and shirts to try. Hannah was nodding in agreement. Severus retreated to his cubicle in some confusion. He could not remember the last time someone had complimented him on his appearance.
Nat had given him some shiny cotton slacks called ‘Dockers’. They were navy blue, but they fit well and he decided to keep them. The shirts had the required long-sleeves with knit cuffs, which would allow him to push them up in private. They had buttons at the neck and a narrow collar. The ‘medium’ fit him quite well. Separating the successes from the failures, he quickly re-dressed. The failures he gave to Hannah. He had Nat direct him to the source of the shirts, where he picked out a dark green, a soft blue and a muted red. He also picked up a second pair of black jeans in his size. On their way to the cashiers, Nat selected for him a pack of boxer-briefs, several long-sleeve T shirts, a pair of swimming trunks and some cotton athletic socks. “You are going to need all these this summer.”
Nat maneuvered him into line at the check-out, providing instructions in a low voice. “Put your purchases on the belt, the cashier will ring you up, tell you the total, and then you give her the cash.”
Severus was astonished by the fingernails of the women at the cash register. They were the longest he had ever seen, blood-red with some kind of appliquéd design. How on earth did she press the keys on her machine with talons like those? Distracted, he missed what she said to him. “I beg your pardon, could you repeat that?” he asked.
Although she had been frowning, upon hearing his voice she grinned and repeated the total. He was surprised at how low it was. Counting out the cash, he handed over the bills and received his change. Gathering up the bags, he and Nat exited the store to a pleasant farewell from the cashier.
“Nat, why is it that every time I speak people smile at me?”
“It’s your accent, Severus, Americans love a British accent. You better get used to it, because it is going to be happening a lot. Now we need to make one more stop before we are finished outfitting you.”
Nat drove them to Rancher’s Supply. There, upon his instructions, Severus purchased a pair of work boots, a pair of sneakers and a straw cowboy hat.
“OK, I think you are ready now. It is past noon, are you hungry?”
Severus realized that shopping had given him quite an appetite. They stopped at a small café outside of town. Nat suggested chili. It arrived in a deep bowl, dark red, laden with beef and beans, with an enticing aroma. His first spoonful took his breath away. Never had he tasted anything this spicy hot, not even the vindaloo at the Indian take-away near Spinner’s End. Tears streamed down his face as he gulped some water. Nat offered him some bread.
“Here Severus, eat this, it will ease the burn. I’m so sorry, I didn’t think.”
The bread did help cool the fire. The waitress and the other patrons went back to their own affairs when it became clear he did not need first aid. Embarrassed, he considered going out to wait in the truck, but before he could move the waitress returned with another bowl.
“Try this sir, it is our mild chili.”
Hesitantly, he tried a spoonful. This time the flavor outweighed the heat. He thanked the waitress and tucked in with a will. Nat relaxed and returned to his own meal.
Hunger satisfied, Nat and Severus climbed into the truck and started the long drive back to the Institute.
next http://zephyr-macabee.livejournal.com/7247.html
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no subject
Date: 2007-04-15 01:07 pm (UTC)Love the way everyone reacts to his accent. Yep, a plummy british accent still works wonders even up here.
I also love how you've got him into more relaxed garb. The outer man will, I hope, soon reflect the inner one.
Looking forward to more. Frankly, these days, this is the only reason I'm coming to lj. I've learnt the hard way to dump my mail every day (otherwise the spam numbers in the hundreds!) and while it does so, I come to see what new bit you have up. Thanks. I seem to be averaging one grin per post.
Oh, the fingernails. Yep, I've always wondered how they do that. Right now, mine need trimming and I'm forever hitting the wrong keys. And they're not really long. One of life's mysteries. :-)
no subject
Date: 2007-04-15 05:56 pm (UTC)I took a long walk this morning and came up with a rocking new ending, but we have a long way to go first, so let me get started.
no subject
Date: 2008-05-06 03:03 pm (UTC)Phhh Severus in black jeans sounds divine. It is so sweet how Sev is kind of oblivious to the fact people find him attracktive.
annakas